Monday, June 29, 2009

Some truths and some outright lies - A look behind the scenes of Blog Camp 1.0

How else could we keep it interesting?

The theme song to the great show BLOG CAMP plays as the dashingly handsome host runs out to the stage. The Blog Camp participants eye each other warily as they take to the stage. Someone in the audience whistles, but he is quickly silenced by the security officer and dragged outside. The atmosphere is calm but something is definitely brewing...

The dashingly handsome host: Now. Before the final episode of Blog Camp airs, we have had many requests from the viewers regarding the reality of making this show happen. And we have decided to honor your right to some answers. The ladies are here ready to take some questions. Who would like to start?

One bloody hand rises.

The dashingly handsome host: What is your name? Yes, you in the fur hat and sunglasses. And the green face paint. Yes, the woman carrying around the severed head of a beloved neighborhood postman. I'm pointing at you.

spudballoo: Erhm. ...Spud? Yes, Spudballoo. SPUD! SPUD BALLOO-oo-OO. Sing it OUT!

The dashingly handsome host: Yes, let's calm down now miss and try not to spill the blood like that. You have a question to these brave ladies Ms. Spud? Balloo-oo-OO?

Spudballoo: Why, yes I do-OO-oo. I would like to know whether it is just me or do you all look like sisters?!!!

There is a hush amongst the audience. It is obvious the person posing the question has not read the coverage concerning what is known as the licking feud between julochka and Extranjera. julochka is being represented by Seaside Girl, whilst Extranjera has engaged the services of Polly. Court documents have been sealed. Judges have been, ahem...shall we say...greased.

The dashingly handsome host: Erm. Now who would like to answer this? jjj....? E-extranjera? Please?

Extranjera raises her axe, but as if to only scare the host. She glances at her fellow stars. There is tension in the air.

Extranjera: We look nothing alike. On purpose. Early on, Blogger sent out a memo on how the Blog Camp cast was to be like the Sex and the City group of women: each different, each with their own special sort of look, each making their own daring fashion choices, each having their specific quirks... The cast was chosen because all of the women were naturally like this and the choice had nothing to do with alleged sponsor deals. We are all different, yet we are like sisters.

J asks, in a very quiet voice that no one thought her quite capable of, "i'm carrie, right?"

There is some confusion in the audience as Extranjera appears to be reading from a prompt and the other ladies wave about their Converse All Stars and Starbucks mugs.

The dashingly handsome host: Thank you for that, Erhm Extranjera. Now, onto someone else. What is your question? Hello! Yoohoo! The lady in the white coat. Stop passing around the bags of pills and ask your question please. (Also, the producers would like for you to wait with the dealing until the end of the taping of this segment and Harry from lighting would like some more of those blue pills).

rxBambi: Hello everyone. let me just tell you I'm a big fan, a big fan, like a really big fan. I love you all! But I really need blogger impressions versus real life impressions?

The dashingly handsome host: Well, Kristina? Would you like to take this one? Yes? I know the knife weighs heavily on some nerve endings right now, but please. For the fans?

Kristina turns her head slowly, making the light flicker on the blade sticking out of her head. She has the faintest smirk on her face.


Kristina: I think we all agreed that we found the others very much like their blogs, even though there are of course some things that are surprising. Extranjera's niceness, for example.

Someone in the audience gasps, but Extranjera seems to not have been listening. People in the audience nervously shuffle their feet, someone sobs quietly.

rxBambi: Oh, oh, oh, I forgot. Please! I forgot to ask for pictures of shoes, but how were they?

The dashingly handsome host: You are in luck lady. We have prepared a little, how should I say, ode to the shoes...








Hrmph? How did that get in there?
(nice stains, J)

rxBambi: Oh, oh, oh, I have one more! Please mister host. I have one more superimportant question. Here it comes: Who was the most similar to what you thought they'd be like and who was the most different?

The dashingly handsome host: Well, thank you for your insightful questions Mrs. xrayBambi, but let's give someone else a chance too, why don't we? Eh? But just this once: B, would you have something to say about this?

B looks up a little dazed. She has been zooming in with her Nikon into her pretty yellow shoes. The audience sits patiently while B tries to focus her eyes, without the help of her camera. julochka snarls at licks Extranjera (platonically on the cheek). Extranjera breaks out in hives.

B: Julochka was the most similar. Just like her blog. Spooky! And Polly was the most different and we love both Pollys, and although Polly isn't her real name, we have decided to call her Polly anyway!

The dashingly handsome host: Thank you B. We all know how hard it is for you to keep your eyes open without the help of your camera.



The dashingly handsome host: Sad but true. And, onto other questions. I have been told that we have someone special in the audience. Someone related to Extranjera.

Audience looks around bewildered. Everyone is looking around for one thing - a person with an axe.


The dashingly handsome host: Yes, indeed Extranjera's siamese twin is here in the audience today. VEG please stand up and ask the ladies your question. I think it's Seaside Girl's turn to answer?

A small-headed woman wearing a baseball cap and a pair of sunglasses over her actual glasses raises a largish yellow axe. She lets out a powerful scream. The seats around her empty quickly.

VEG: Hello everyone. Don't be afraid. I would never cut down with an axe anything that is alive. I prefer a knife. Also, what was the best story of the weekend?

Seaside Girl lets out an involuntary giggle and rushes to tell the story she has in mind. The axe she is holding seems almost an extension of her.

Seaside Girl: The best story of the weekend was when julochka's friend accidently let slip that husband was well known for opening champagne bottles by slicing the cork off with his sword. The fact that husband had a sword had hitherto not been mentioned. Nor was the fact that he was pretty darned accurate with it. We all blanched slightly at the thought that the whole axe murderer thing might be a double bluff and actually husband was a sword wielding maniac instead. So glad he turned out to be neither....

The dashingly handsome host: Thank you Seaside Girl for sharing that story. Erm...What fun indeed. Now, VEG you mentioned there was something else on your mind as well. Something you had really, really pondered about.

VEG: Yes, I asked my sister, but she only said she didn't know, and this is something that is really, extremely important to me personally. I would like to know whether anyone snores?

Everyone can feel something big is about to erupt. A scandal perhaps.... B closes her eyes and chants softly to herself. Polly joins B's chanting and a beautiful harmony is created only momentarily broken by Seaside Girl's giggles and a soft moan from Kristina. julochka and Extranjera have not broken stare for minutes now. Finally B looks up.

B: We were lucky enough to have our own rooms. And Seaside Girl was the luckiest, as she got to sleep in the blue room.

Seaside Girl shrieks loudly.

The dashingly handsome host: Now, ladies, use your inside voices please. Remember what the producer-man said. Think about it. There are some more questions. How about you? What is your name? And what would you like to ask the campers?

Elisabeth : Hello, all! My name is Elisabeth and I would like to know how breakfast was? Did julochka's husband rise early to get something nice and fresh from the bakery?

All the ladies' nostrils flare, it is as if at the mention of coffee they smell and crave it. The host knows he has to act fast before all coffee-related hell breaks loose. Extranjera runs off the stage with her arm extended and her Starbucks cup in hand. B is visibly torn between leaving the stage on Extranjera's heels and staying to answer the question. B manages to resist the pull of the imaginary coffee. Extranjera can be heard backstage wreaking havoc. julochka relaxes and waves at husband and Sabin in the audience.

B: Fantastic! Plenty of coffee, and lots of cheeses and pastries whose names some of us couldn't pronounce but loved anyway! Husband was fantastic! He went to the bakery every. single. day.

Elisabeth turns towards julochka who is blowing kisses at the blushing husband. Polly and Seaside Girl wave at Sabin, before waving their axes at each other and smiling.


Elisabeth: How is your husband anyway, did he survive all these blog-girls?

Husband looks as if he is looking for the quickest exit. Julochka lowers her axe she has been using to blow kisses with and turns to answer. Kristina moans again and longingly looks at julochka's flowery Converse All Stars.


Julochka: well, long-suffering husband couldn't really say much about it, could he. because the whole thing was his idea, tho' i don't think he was quite that grey before the weekend. and there's the part where when we first got home, he did try to lock us out of the house, saying it was closed until 2010...i wonder if he was trying to tell us something with that...



The dashingly handsome host: Julochka. Nice of you to join us in your spirit too. Don't we all just wish you and Ext could settle this thing. What do you say audience?

The audience looks baffled as the prompt reads "applause". No one moves a finger. A pregnant silence ensues, until one woman raises her hand. People next to her cover their noses. A strong odor of rosemary, ginger, lemongrass and orange fills the air. An old lady collapses.


The dashingly handsome host: Do I smell the Blog Camp Blend? You must be the Fragrant Muse? Do you have a question?

Several other people collapse and some flee to the other end of the rows of seats from TFM. The host covers his nose.

The Fragrant Muse: Oh pshaw. So I like to take essential oil baths. You get used to the smell. Just wait and see how calm and creative this blend will make you. From you women, I'm wishing for auditory peeks into the weekend - like how everyone sounded. Tell us about the various accents heard this weekend.

Polly jumps up from her seat. This is the question she has been waiting for. She holds up her axe and lets out a battle-cry. Kristina moans again and her dog, Vigdis, lets out a sympathy bark, as do julochka, Seaside Girl, and B. Extranjera is nowhere to be found.


Polly: yeah!!! aiii!!! Everyone was loud! Pretty much all the time, yeah!! Like this! Hurray! Go-OO bloo-OO-og camp!


Dashingly handsome host raises a hand to quiet overexcited Polly who doesn't want to sit down and two dashingly handsome, possibly Danish, bodyguards need to be called to calm her down.

Polly, finally calm and collected: Accents? I ain't know nothing about accents but I'm pretty sure we all sounded totally, like, Danish, like, by Sunday.

The dashingly handsome host: Thank you Polly. Also, what an excellent battle-cry. Must get myself one too. The Fragrant Muse, did you have some more to ask? From everyone?

The campers remaining on the stage stare at the Fragrant Muse with apprehension. There are certain things they don't want to talk about. There are things no one is to talk about. Could this be about blackmail...?

The Fragrant Muse: Did anyone get a tattoo?

Everyone breathes a sigh of relief, and Seaside Girl patiently expects someone to ask her about her tattoo. No one does. Julochka, Kristina, Polly and B scream in unison.

The Campers: We forgot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The dashingly handsome host: Ladies, inside voices. Don't make me tell you again... Now, there has been a question that has been asked by several of our viewers who wish to remain anonymous. I have been told they are unwilling to take up this issue in person. However, Blogger feels the issue needs to be raised.

What exactly did Extranjera crochet?



The dashingly handsome host: No one knows. Sadly, no one knows. No one. Not even Extranjera herself.

Several people in the audience nod their heads. An air of sadness and loss permeates the room. Suddenly a young woman barges in. She is out of breath and carrying a tiny dog. She brandishes the dog in front of her as if it were a symbol of some bygone era.


Fidgeting Gidget: Am I late? Oh no! I need to know something. Did you all refer to each other by your real names or your bloggy aliases....because once I know someone as one name, it's really hard for me to switch.

The dashingly handsome host: Oh, okay. This is not scripted... What? Oh. Who? B? Yes, B will answer this question.

Seaside Girl smiles knowingly. Had she bribed this person to barge in, in hopes of creating a distraction? Where have julochka's shoes disappeared to? And her Starbucks cups, her Nikon, her Mac? In fact, what exactly has happened to Extranjera? Seaside Girl places a large backpack behind her chair and whistles. She twirls her axe with ease and strength.

B: This was a mix! I think we used Julochka's and Seaside Girl's real names most of the time. Kristina was the easiest one, no confusion there! B and my real name alternated. We all tried to call Ext by her real name but it was too hard to pronounce. And we all called Polly, Polly, even thought that's not her real name. But she liked it!

The dashingly handsome host: Thank you! Ladies you are free to go.

Campers scatter like cockroaches. 


And that my good folks is it for today.



Disclaimer: Thank you Kristina for putting all the questions together. Please don't blame her for the final result, but instead direct all of your complaints to Extranjera, but she'd rather you didn't complain. Thanks.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

lessons learned from blog camp 1.0



what i learned from blog camp 1.0 and will do differently at subsequent blog camps:
  1. order blog camp moo cards.
  2. test the damn stickam ahead of time.
  3. plan the online times better and then be there.
  4. don't have book club discussion scheduled for during blog camp.
  5. order blog camp t-shirt farther in advance and in larger size than you think you should (zazzle is really, really SLOW!)
  6. be more realistic about how much time will be spent online and promise accordingly. i knew it would be great, but i'll admit i hadn't taken into account exactly how wonderful it would be to be together with my blog friends analog. 
  7. buy a larger french press (or two) (or perhaps just smaller cups).
  8. more video (which for me means buy video camera).
  9. allow more time for photo walks (turns out when you are six people stopping to take pictures every two feet, it takes a lot longer than you would imagine).
  10. go to tivoli (this is for blog camps in denmark, obviously).
  11. don't forget to get a tattoo.
  12. don't forget the G&T sorbet you made and put in the freezer (i told you i was going to forget something).
did you guys learn anything at blog camp that would benefit future blog camps?

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Blog Camp Material award


it became very evident during blog camp, that since we were bloggers, we would have to come up with a special blog camp award. there were a lot of people who wished they were here with us and some who couldn't be here, but went far above and beyond to make blog camp something special. so we decided to create the blog camp material award, so that we could let those who really stood out know that we think they are, in fact, blog camp material.

so, we hereby award the very first blog camp material award to the following bloggers:

we know you wished desperately that you were here and we wished you were too.

you figured out a little late what blog camp was all about or you would no doubt have been here. you're so hilarious, we simply wished you were here. plus, you have both a nikon and mac, which are two signs of being a true blog camper.

you went far above and beyond the call of blog camp duty--you created a special blog camp blend of essential oils and sent us a whole box of fun goodies. so this is a big thank you to you!!

the blog camp blend by the fragrant muse
we anticipate that although blog camp 1.0 is over, others will prove worthy of the blog camp material award. those who have been to blog camp and those who have received the award have the right to pass it along to bloggers who you think are blog camp material - so basically any blogger you'd like to hang out with in real life.

may the blog camp material award travel far and wide and live on and on in the blogosphere.

Please remember to link back to this here Blog Camp blog. so that we can see the campers. Thank you.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

blog camp best of...


funniest blog camp moment: looking at the jump photos on maria's camera (even funnier than actually doing the jumping part).


bravest blog camper: seaside girl. we knew the least of her and she knew the least of us when she signed up, but she was so totally blog camp material. yay for seaside girl's bravery!


biggest surprise: finding out in the eleventh hour that extranjera knew how to crochet! (tho' kristina did have to point out to her initially that she was knitting and was likely to run into problems when she didn't have a second knitting needle.)

least like blog self (a.k.a. much more wacky in real life than blog self reveals): polly!


one who posed for every picture: polly (but she is really cute, isn't she?)

bloggy name that sticks the best: polly again!

best idea to come out of blog camp: it's a tie: 1) iwantadanishman.com (must check on availability of both domain name and cute/available danish men) and 2) blog camp 1.5 in the UK in august.


most like her blog self: Julochka! What you read is what you get! (and the camera really is attached to her face!)


most clever photo of blog camp (and there were MANY): kristina! she wins this one hands down!

most memorable quote: Extranjera "I am actually quite pleasant."(said perfectly seriously with a faint note of surprise in her voice)

most determined: B - there was no way she was leaving Denmark without seeing the little mermaid

It's very little. Like the size of B's head and bears none whatsoever comparison to B's head.

blog camp: quotable

gratuitous shot of blog camp loot
nothing to do with this post
i just can't post without pictures

overheard at blog camp...

"it's amazing that there are real people behind these blogs." - polly, 19/6.09

"i'm rude in my blanket." - B at café le zinc

"small towns always creep me out a little bit." - polly at café le zinc

"i'm really quite pleasant." - extranjera at café le zinc

"i can't close my mouth when i know you're looking at me." - seaside girl, 20/6.09

"this is not the tequila from your childhood." - extranjera to polly at buresø

"i think we need more wine." - extranjera, during the kongespil (that game with the sticks) at buresø

"i don't write a lot on my blog because if i did i would just spew out darkness." - kristina, in the old toyota, copenhagen, 21/6.09

"i make pretty things." - extranjera, langlinie, copenhagen, 21/6.09

Monday, June 22, 2009

INCIDENT OF NEAR-LICKING LEAVES BLOG CAMPER DISTRESSED

Stay tuned for further updates as this horrifying story unfolds. 

how husband survived blog camp

husband spent quite a lot of time during blog camp looking like this:


naah, in all seriousness, he was an exemplary husband. he fetched pastry and fresh bread, he brought us strawberries and cream, he opened bottles of wine, he chauffeured us back and forth on our saturday evening activity. in short, he's a keeper.


and he even had a little bit of time to relax and read the paper in the sunshine. plus, he's really kinda cute, for an old guy with a bit of a farmer tan on his arms.

Blog camp's got talent

Can you guess who this is?

Sunday, June 21, 2009

taking questions

edited: because you keep asking for it:
back row: polly, seaside girl
front row: B, julie, sabin, extranjera

i'm getting some specific questions from various commenters on my blog and others who are asking if they can ask us some questions.  so please leave your questions in the comments on here blog camp and we'll do our best to answer them in the coming days (along with a lot of other fun stuff we've got planned). :-) so stay tuned. blog camp 1.0 may be over, but it's definitely going to continue here in the blogosphere!

We can be taught.....

Proving the old adage that practise makes perfect here for your viewing pleasure is proof that the blog campers can be taught. After attempts in a variety of languages Finnish proved to be the one that resulted in a co-ordinated jump. I have no idea why there is a complete lack of sound but am too shattered to be able to fix it right now. Also I have no idea why I seem to be doing a walk like a constipated ostrich at the end there....

Saturday, June 20, 2009

we're hyppää-ing all over the place


crouching (some are better at this than others)
apparently we can't all count
should have counted in polish, perhaps?
oh look, two in the air at once. that's pretty good.
go B!
and now it's seaside girl's turn.
and yes, that's really her.
she's not a boy. despite all of our attempts to convince you otherwise.

note to self: not only axes are dangerous

for some reason I had such a headache today.

to not get you seriously worried: I had a migraine today, which meant I missed day 2 of blog camp. so I'm just as envious as the rest of you today.

hmm. on the stickcam

stickam is being strangely slow to load, but i shall keep trying. i've made it public tho' and if it starts up, you should be able to find it by looking for "blogcamp!" and joining in the chat - stickam.com. otherwise, we're here, so tawk to us in the comments, people. ya know. like usual. :-)  we're also on twitter at the moment. you should see us all sitting here at our computers at the dining room table....


we will be here this evening, on the blog, chatting here in comments and posting what's going on.

Not so much of Girl after all....


So a few of you have been wondering who is who. This is me on the right. julochka and co got a bit of a surprise when they met me. Found the conversation a little boring for a while ....

ask and ye shall receive

you wanted pictures of day 1 of blog camp (far more offline than we intended...will explain that later)...

on the metro, wondering how it's all going to turn out
in front of tivoli - already laughing
i fear all of polly's pix are going to be a bit skewed
oh wait, that one's straight
hmm, i'll bet there's a similar one of me...
we observed some interesting fashion choices
scary stuff!
busy today on strøget
even the tudors were out
so, do you guys want to climb that tower?
naah, i don't think so.
perch's tea house
the best tea ever.
see anyone you know in the reflections?
quite a lot of smiling going on.
oh man, i WANT those shoes.
we KEPT SEEING this guy!
seaside girl has a dress like that.
these guys had a lot to tell us about ACDC
my friend irene came to give several warnings to blog campers:
1.) do not let husband show you how to open bottles of champagne with a sword.
2.) watch out when julochka says, "what are you gonna remember?"
i promise, this mermaid is much better than the real one.
storm - sunshine - storm - sunshine
beautiful tho'.
and i was accused to being in cahoots with google in controlling the weather.
modern-day h.c. andersen?
what awaited us at home.
what do you think will happen tomorrow?