Privilege Blog

Mid-Year Report and Brief Blog Vacation, Or Saturday Morning at 7:12am

Many years in the corporate world trained me to provide regular status reports. Writing this blog is a different sort of work environment. I have enormous latitude. You, my bosses, are very lenient, and smile affectionately as I wander these virtual halls, mug of tea in hand, stopping at your virtual cubicles, showing you my shoes, telling you about my children and my Aunt Priscilla’s wedding.

I started Privilege in February of 2009. A year later, I asked you all to give me some direction via an online questionnaire. I thought now, 6 or so months later, was a good time for update on my responses to your very generous feedback.

1. I asked you what you wanted me to write about.

You said, “Stay the course,” meaning style; High WASP fashion, culture and mores; cultural anthropology; social etiquette; the raptures of living. Well, you might not have said cultural anthropology, but I inferred freely. My Saturday morning posts and India stories were less globally popular, but those who liked them really liked them, and most others were at least tolerant. Permission to continue granted. I did take away from your comments that I should spend a little more time on High WASP houses and have done so, relying of course on my family’s places. You know, since my fading family fortune and I live in a little mid-century, California ranch-style house. It’s been fun, all of this. Thank you. I plan to persist.

2. I asked you about ads and making money and such.

You said it would be OK. However, although requests have begun to come in I’ve done nothing concrete to date. I realized I did not have the infrastructure to present ads in any way that made me comfortable, and that any income received would be outweighed by the complications involved.

3. I asked you about writing a book.

You kindly said, for the most part, that I should give it a try. So I’ve begun a book proposal. Can I just take a moment to tell my manager that this is tough? New respect for serious writers in my house. I have realized that in many ways this blog is enough to fulfill my need to write. However, I have also vowed that come hell or high water I will at least finish the book proposal and submit it. To someone. Somewhere. Finish what you start if at all possible, a lesson learned young.

And then, something about which I did not ask you, Privilege’s design, or lack thereof. I’ve been working with a designer and tech company on a redesign which will accomplish several things.

  • Allows for one ad on the home page. If I find a companies with extraordinary goods, worthy of our paragon of readership, I’ll work with them to put something in place. One at a time. If the fit is right.
  • Adds a few pages of additional information and a place to ask questions.
  • Puts a new look in place to reflect the High WASP ethos – graceful, formal, slight whiff of decay – mixed up with an effort to knock on the door of the 21st century. Exactly what you all are gracious enough to let me explore.

Oh, and while we’re on the subject, design, in my experience, is the one thing not to do by committee. But I digress.

One more thing. I will be taking next week off to prepare to send my son to school and pay attention to family affairs. I will be back the first full week of September.

Thank you again for reading, and certainly for your ideas and guidance. Have a wonderful weekend.

41 Responses

  1. I can't remember what my response was on your survey to these posts, but these are definitely one of my faves — I guess it's just finding out what someone else is thinking at the exact same time — just thoughts, it's lovely. Thanks for sharing + enjoy your week! (And rock that book proposal in the upcoming months ;)! )

  2. Ah, I always find solace in a good status report. Let's log this one as 'on target' and repair to the golf-course. Oops, we don't like golf. To a three-tier afternoon tea, then.

  3. Enjoy your mini break my friend, we all need it once in awhile. I send many warm wishes to your son as he heads to school! (a few of those wishes are reserved for him mom, who I am sure no matter how many times she has done it before, must be a little pained to see her children go)
    Will you be AWOL from Twitter as well?
    Looking forward to you return, you will be missed!

  4. Status Daily Report
    TO: LPC
    FROM: BarbaraG

    I enjoy it all, your writing, your viewpoint,
    tips, etc.
    Parent of adult children requires a bit more
    holding back of parent and holding onto tissues for that errant tear.

    Best wishes.

  5. Enjoy your week off, it's well earned!

    I cannot imagine what my mornings would be without your blog presence…you were the first one I followed and you are the first one that I go to each day.

    Applauding from here!

  6. I look forward to the new format, although I'm very happy with everything I've found here so far.
    Enjoy your week off!

  7. Your temporary absence is understood. It indeed is interesting to see what new you come up with!

  8. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the new look. And reading more of your witty and pithy insights and observations, of course.

  9. We can't wait to continue to read! I hope your son has a GREAT year in school

  10. Enjoy your break and I am wondering what will you come up with in the coming 6 months. So far I am really enjoying reading your posts..

  11. Looking forward to the format re-do. No dig at what you have now – I'm always interested to see what's new.

    Any thoughts of putting your topic categories across the top instead of way down on the side?

  12. Job status report, indeed! It's been a few years since I last heard and used that term myself. :) I have total respect for those who come out with status reports even when one is not required or expected.

    Looking forward to the re-design, but even without it, please know that it's what you write and how you write that keeps me coming back. :)

  13. What? Not a single word about monetizing or working on your brand?

    How refreshing.

    Enjoy your week off, but know that as regards your new design, I'm sitting on the edge of my hand-carved, ribbon-back, mahogany Chippendale seat!

  14. Just discovered your blog. You're a terrific writer! I think a book proposal is a smart move.

  15. Nice job, m'dear. Keep up the flame, it shines brightly. Looking forward to your new look. As ever, Reggie

  16. How cool…assisting your son with yet another chapter in his journey. And how cool also, to have such positive and rewarding challenges to sort through.

    Onward.

  17. I've loved reading your blog for a long while now. Good luck with your family but please come back soon!

  18. Good luck with the proposal.
    Have a wonderful time with your son… I look forward to your return!

  19. It feels like forever ago that you asked us to take that poll. I don't remember what I said either. What I do know is that I like you and your blog and I am curious to read anything you want to write about. And I would love to read your book.
    Hope you enjoy your well deserved week off. You will be missed.
    xo

  20. Thank you all very much for the good wishes for my son, your kind words about my writing, and all the wonderful sendoff. I will miss you too – although likely I will still be reading blogs, even if I don't comment, and I look forward to returning.

  21. Good for you on taking a break to spend time with your son, your getting a bit of a breather seems overdue.

    You know how much we admire and adore you, how strongly we feel about a book (because of your talent); but did you have *any* idea how curious I am to see the manifestation of a 'slight whiff of decay'???? Serious curiosity, of the kind that killed a kitty. Cannot wait for the new do.

    In the interim, enjoy yourself and your time and your child, we'll be here when you come back. In spades.

    tp

  22. This all sounds wonderful, I would love to hold a book written by you in my hands! Good Luck with the proposal.

  23. Have a lovely week off, LPC!

    I am excited about the changes and look forward to seeing them soon.

    Take care and God bless,

    SSG xxx

  24. In reference to "…mug of tea in hand". What type of tea do you drink? I adore tea in my jumbo Roy Kirkham alpine strawberry mug.

  25. Are we in your book??? ;-)

    Fall has always felt like a time of new beginnings to me, looking forward to seeing what you have up your bloggy sleeve.

  26. Enjoy your break from blogging.
    I'm looking forward to your new blog design and I hope that one of these days I will take the plunge and buy ad space on Privilege and my other favorite blogs.

  27. Just found you and it is all very interesting … I'll definitely be back!
    oxox
    Denalee

  28. Yeah. I think I mentioned something about them being hard, but you might not have heard me with all the slamming my head against my desk. Did I also mention they take forever? Like, forever-ever? Yes. Consider yourself warned. 6 months to a year seems about standard.

    I, on they other had, mostly just want you to write personal status reports all the time. But then, I'm of a different generation and High Wasp roots or not, wear very different shoes. Turning and turning in the widening gyre, the falcon cannot hear… her great-grandmother quite so well. Probably for better, but who knows?

  29. What kind of book? Coffee table-ish? Memoir? Combo? Have you ever seen any of those Chic Simple books? In my imagination, you do that, with a combo of memoir and photos on style and lifestyle.

    (My imagination is a bossy, bossy thing.)

    Enjoy your family time.

  30. Hoping you have a wonderful week off–and that you have a great time with your son! As always, I enjoy your writing.

  31. Best wishes to your son as he goes back to school. I hope your time away is refreshing and wonderfully spent with loved ones. :)

  32. Looking forward to many more wonderful posts in the year again. Thank you for all of your encouragement.

    Karena
    Art by Karena

  33. Hi LPC….I hope you enjoy your break. I am sorry for my lack of comments lately. I read you every day during my lunch break at work. For some reason I can't leave comments from my Crackberry. I really, really *loved* your posts about lipstick. ;)

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