Well for one, I was alerted that I was in the WaPo Express again on Monday. Hooray! I am sad that I wasn’t able to get anyone to save me a hard copy as I only heard today though. Oh well.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET

“It would be interesting to watch, with a more objective eye, as the events unfold. … It’s a bit much: Do we need to relive that all over again?

–citysparkle.blogspot.com Sees both positives and negatives in some news networks’ reshowing the events of Sept. 11, 2001, in their entirety Monday.

And two, my little traffic incident was finally resolved today…to the tune of a $1,000 fine…of which I only had to pay $500 of. All in all, a total cost of $1,466 (including lawyer and court fees). But, I didn’t have to go to jail, and I didn’t get my liscense suspended or revoked. A pretty good deal…now to see what my insurance does…

Also, Big Sky Girl of Beauty and the Beltway and I are coming up with a super great exciting plan to shake up the DC Blog scene…stay tuned!

Popularity: unranked [?]

In the September issue of Washingtonian magazine, there is a story about the relationship between fathers and (grown) daughters. I was interviewed for that months ago, and it’s finally been printed. I filled out a survey online and then received a phone call asking asking for an in person interview. Although I asked that my real name not be used, I could tell what portions were my story. It was a great article and I enjoyed being a part of it.

People ask me sometimes how come I don’t use my real name when I blog, or for certain situations like that article. They point out the fact that I have accounts on MySpace, Facebook, and Friendster – which has my information all over it…but that I don’t want my real name used for something like an article or on my blog. Perhaps they have a point.

But the reason I never have my real name on my blog is because I don’t want it to ever be traced back to me. Especially from a professional standpoint. I mean, unless I start getting paid to blog (haha), I’m not giving up my privacy. (Besides, enough of you know all too much about the “real” me!) I don’t want future jobs to be able to Google my name and come up with a blog I wrote about my sex life or what I look for in a man. Yeah, no thanks.

A good benefit to blogging (at least for me) IS the anonymity. You don’t have to worry about what you say and who you may be offending. And, if you do offend someone, who cares because they don’t really know you.

I guess it does kind of suck, when I’m occasionally mentioned on DC Blogs or even the Express, to not be able to share it with everyone. Sometimes it does make me wish that my real name was attached with my writing. But, I know it’s for the best that it’s not.

What are your reasons for or against using your real name?

Popularity: 24% [?]

Wow, someone up there likes me (I think)!

Twice in one week in the Express…

» A JUSTIN REVIEW: If City Sparkle‘s review of Friday’s Justin Timberlake show at the 9:30 Club left you wanting even more details (the blogger won a radio show contest to go), Colleen Clark of USA Today offers a review of the show where “[e]very moment … was choreographed to entertain.” [City Sparkle, Listen Up/USA Today]

Popularity: unranked [?]

And the week ends not only with the concert, but with my first WaPo Express mention – in print and online!

DATE, WHAT BLIND DATE?

» ANATOMY OF A RADIO CONTEST: Friday’s Justin Timberlake concert at the 9:30 Club is sold out, but City Sparkle got herself tickets by winning the Hot Morning Mess on Hot 99.5‘s blind date contest and picked Bachelor No. 1. But no matter about her date:

I checked out some pics of him, looks fine … whatever, I don’t really care too much about the “date” – I GET TO GO SEE JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE FOR FREE!!!!!! … How crazy is that?!?

Crazy. Certifiably crazy. [City Sparkle]

I definitely got my 15 minutes of fame this week!

Popularity: 3% [?]

Not a lot to say other than City Sparkle is 1 year old today.

It’s weird to think that basically an entire year of my life has been documented on the internet and for the public to read.

But in the end I’m glad, because I can go back and look at what I thought a year ago, and where I’ve come since then.

So, happy blog-i-versary to me!

Popularity: 24% [?]