Man.
I was so excited and inspired by yesterday’s post and even happier to tell you I joined the Jillian pain train – I wouldn’t have guessed in a million years somebody could’ve gotten negative connotations out of it. Perspective is a weird thing, but now I’m thankful to be a pretty happy person – I’d hate to go through life that bitter all the time. Over the years there have been times your blog spoke directly to me. With all the blogs out there now, yours is still my favorite and I look forward to whatever it is you feel like writing about every day.

Sundry, you are a beautiful, inspirational person. Let assholes be assholes. You open up your personal life and your deepest thoughts on this website. If they cannot respect that, then eff them! After reading yesterday’s post, I was thinking I need to get off my fat ass and be more like you! You are an inspiration to me on so many levels it is not even funny. I am married, work full time, go to school part-time and have no children. I make excuse after excuse as to why I cannot eat better and exercise. You are right, I need to make the time and I am going to start…next week. LOL Just kidding. Anyway, keep up the super work and I look forward to continuing reading your inspirational, funny words! You rock girl!

When a person decides they hate their job, there really isn’t any turning back and things can get ugly fast. I wouldn’t take the meeting you had with bossman personally. He probably just was PO’ed at his situation and took it out on ya’ll. Also, I like the fitness entry. A person makes time for what matters. I don’t see how that’s considered luxurious.

Thank you so much for the post yesterday. Inspiration from your flickr pics and twitter tweets made me buy 30 day shred last week and the 2 times I did it – it totally kicked my ass! Of course I then had a friend in town and a “big” weekend, and now am feeling under the weather, but boy-howdy have you inspired me to get my ass in gear and stop making excuses! I sooo needed to hear everything you said and I’m so grateful you said it.

Just wanted to let you know what an inspiration you’ve been, and what a pleasure it is to have you share your world with us. Thank you. (my ass -wow that’s the 3rd time I’ve used ass in this comment -and my clothes that I’m hoping will start fitting again soon thank you too).

From yesterday, I guess I have no problem with people making up excuses for why they CAN’T do exercise…I mean, they’re just excuses, and thats their own problem. Hell, I make enough myself. But not only blaming someone else for being successful, but actually going to their website and whining about it is something else. Seriously, if you have time to watch TV, or you have time to read someone’s blog and post to it whining about stuff, I’m pretty sure you could find time to work on your health if you want to, physical AND mental.

So there’s that, and also, who gives a damn if they’re not interested in what you write about.

Man, I had to go back and read the comments from yesterday to know what you were talking about!

First off, sorry ’bout the haters that showed up and ruined the day. I think it’s true that either they’re just flat out jealous or their mamas never taught ’em no manners. Prolly both.

I mean seriously folks. See that little red X up in the right hand corner? If you don’t like what you’re reading…CLICK IT and go away. Nobody’s strapping you down and forcing Linda’s wise words into your eyeballs. You chose to come to her site and read her post. If you don’t like it, don’t come back. But maybe it hit just a little too close to home, huh?

Anyway, sorry about your boss Linda. Hope things don’t get shook up too much at your job but you never know. Maybe this will be the catalyst for thrusting you out into the freelance world on a full-time basis!

Now I’m totally going back and reading the rest of the responses!

I have been thinking of your posting all day – really thinking about why it is that I resist doing things that are good for my body and my mind and my soul – and after you responded with your thoughts it really crystallized for me. It’s supposed to be hard. If it was easy, everyone would be working out and eating 5 servings of veggies a day. But the payoff is so worth it. Look at you – you can not only see it in your pics – you are TIGHT, man – but you can hear it in your words.

Keep being fabulous!

Wow…that is possibly the coolest website I’ve ever seen [lemondrop]. I can’t wait to spend the entire 8 hours of boring receptionist desk job on it tomorrow…seriously.

Hi Linda,
I have been lurking for several months now and also slowly working my way through your archives. (I love your writing. And I’m a stalker.) I’ve been wanting to tell you, I am so proud of all the positive changes you’ve made in your life these last few years. Yes, parenthood is a great motivator, but it takes courage and strength to keep making tough choices day after day. So many people don’t succeed at it. I hope you give yourself credit and don’t let haters bring you down.

I love hearing about your kids; my boys are very close in age to yours. You say things I wish I could say on my site but don’t have the guts- too many elderly family members read it and I don’t want to be left out of the will!

Anyway, good luck with the Workplace sitch. I’ve blathered on long enough.

Kudos to you on your successes with the fitness! Yesterday’s post was very inspiring to me. Now, if I can just get out of the chair and get moving……

Regardless, this is YOUR blog. Write whatever the fuck you want. Readers shouldn’t set the tone, and this isn’t a “target” audience, like a parenting or health blog.

It’s you. Your life, and all the many wonderful facets of it. That you give us a little glimpse into one small segment of it, on any given day, is a treasure.

If I don’t agree with something, I’ll likely just go away without comment. Because, as mother said, “If you don’t have something nice to say……..”. This isn’t a targeted forum, it’s Linda sharing aspects of life. Her life.

Haters: move on.

Linda: Keep your chin up.

That is bizarre about your boss!

My ears always perk up when you mention your job because I too work in a marketing group writing techy copy and handle our tradeshows (none as exciting as Macworld though!) Anyway, it is nice to find someone else who understands how freaking STRESSFUL tradeshow coordination is. GOD. I break into cold sweats at night and think OH GOD DID I REMEMBER TO ___. There is so much crap to keep up with in so little time!

I have to agree, there was a serious lack of respect shown yesterday.

Wow. I just read some of the comments from yesterday’s post and…wow. That is all I can say.

As for me, last Dec., you posted some questions reflecting on how the year turned out (It was around New Year’s Eve) One of the questions was something like “Are you in better shape than last year” and another was in reference to weighing more or less. Anyway, those questions really made me think about my body and my health.I have changed my diet (less processed food), work out more frequently and I have (slowly) lost and KEPT OFF 15 pounds since January. I have also lost several inches and gone down almost 2 pant sizes. So, personally, I really enjoy all of your fitness / diet posts and thanks to you, I am healthier and happier in 2008! There are always people who are jealous and want to “rain on your parade”, but PLEASE don’t stop writing from your heart.
Thanks for the inspiration!!

I had to go back and read the comments from yesterday too..I knew you’d get a few nasty ones after reading yesterdays post.

I’ve read you for a long, long time. Every blog…and I am just in awe at how great you look, more importantly how great you say you feel. I know it’s true..exercise makes you feel fabulous, but I resist. I also remember you writing something about how with 2 kids you don’t have time to be tired and lethargic all the time. Having just had my second in May, that’s what is motivating me. And your posts, pics, etc. The world is full of all kinds of people. Some would rather read about you finishing off a pint (or half-gallon) of Ben & Jerrys every night because it’s what they can relate to. I, personally, would rather be able to relate to the feeling absolutelyfucking great and better yet, looking great. To each his own.

I do wish you’d post what EXACTLY you are eating. I know getting off my ass will take care of part of the problem but when I’m faced with food choices is where I get in trouble. I need food advice. What are you eating, woman?

BTW-that sucks about your boss. That’d drive me insane, the not knowing.

Hi Linda. I meant to post a comment yesterday saying what inspiration I get from you. Your statement about junk food feeling goo for 5 min vs feeling good for hours with healthy choices really resonated with me. Pooh on those who can’t be happy for someone like you who has worked so hard.

Re work, I found that when I was w/o a boss for a while, I got a lot accomplished, so it was a good thing for me.

Hi, I never comment, but I just wanted to say that even though I’m not a mother, and I live on the other side of the country, reading your blog is one of the first things I do in the morning.

I love how you write and I think you’re an inspiration. I love that you are able to be so real while conquering things that most of us would find insurmountable.

I hope that’s not too stalkerish and creepy, I just thought you could use another positive comment today .

Linda, I loved your last post, seriously. I read it a few times and it motivated me to get off my ass at lunchtime and walk around our building here at work (which is HUGE I might add).

I am so glad Purple is a Fruit is back!

I love your writing-don’t let the bad comments ruin your day!
I really enjoyed your post yesterday, and the junk food thing really stuck with me. I’m going to try and snack better, and hopefully get some more energy during the afternoon :)

loved yesterdays post, hell, I love everydays post. I was checking out the biggest loser website, watching some older clips and stuff (am sick in bed so I have to keep myself motivated somehow) and theres this clip from last season called clearing the air, MAN is Jillian one baddass chick! I totally have a girlcrush, I mean there was beep and beep and a beep and then beepbeepbeep!

Also charlie the unicorn has a sequel now!

Wait, there was a comment war yesterday? Darn it, I hate when I miss those (not that I like Linda being blasted..more like it is funny to watch people explode over a blog that is not theirs!) But what in the world did she say yesterday to cause a stir? I thought it was a post about positive work-out mindset? Hmmmm, I need to go re-read….

Maybe your boss was stealing copious amounts of paper clips and he knew the heat was coming down quick, so he quit before they fired him. Or maybe he was just a whiny pansy ass. It could go either way.

Ok, I went back and read comments..and ummm…I liked the post. Also, just to be clear I am NOT the same “C” that posted yesterday about “no sarcasm..let me cry” or whatever that was about. Ok, Hope everyone has a wonderful day, with a workout or without one! :)

ok, I know you totally have enough people defending your right to life and liberty on here but I just wanted to be another one to reconfirm that people need to STFU about whether or not they like you being fit and talking about it?

I mean. I don’t know, speaking for myself, I just hate it when people come to MY PERSONAL BLOG and then whine about what I write about. What the hell? Then go read someone else?

I love reading whatever you write, and I totally understand the fitness posts because when you make it a priority and a standard in your life, you love to talk about it! You are excited and proud and want to help other people get there too! Rock on.

Congrats on the new writing gig. You gonna have a side bar thingie to it?
–an totally unrelated (except that I know you like good tv): have you seen the new shoe ‘Hole in the Wall’? Rip off of japanese gameshow bit but pretty funny.

As someone who duly needs to get off my ass, I loved yesterday’s post.

People, nobody can make you feel bad about your own fitness situation except yourself. Nobody’s judging you except your own self. If yesterday’s post made you feel bad, then you probably know you could do better. I know I could.

I read all the comments from your fitness post and, damn! The way people were going on about it is ridiculous. You look amazing, but more importantly, you’re healthy. Anything I have read on your blog about exercise has always seemed to me to really stress the FITNESS aspect of it with the aesthetic aspect being a nice bonus. HOW can people object to you being healthy and encouraging other people to get healthy? With the obesity rate in America and the amount of people dying from weight-related diseases, you should be praised for trying to help motivate people. If more people were inspired to eat right and be fit we’d see a lot less heart attacks, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, etc. I’m not sure how that’s a bad thing. I do think the people who were most offended and upset were probably people who wallow in self-hate anyway and believe their own excuses and don’t want to be reminded that ANYONE can do it.

I honestly agree with one of the commenters who said it’s because you used “you” instead of “i” in your last post- it simply came off as a “lecture” to some, but inspirational for the majority. I say let it go and focus on what matters.

Okay, now I have to go back and read the assholish comments you got. I can’t imagine why someone would take the time to write them.

Loved your Lemon drop post. You are truly a gifted writer.

Wheeee!!! A new Linda blog to bookmark! Off to lemondrop I go, fingers crossed that the commenters there are cooler than those on a certain other site you recently quit.(PD, I’m looking at YOU…)

PURPLE IS A FRUIT!!!!!!
Glad to see that it’s reincarnated and that you are doing what you do best- writing good, funny stuff. Congratulations.

As for the “jefe” situation – if he couldn’t deal with it then too bad for him.
you are paid to do your job and if you disagree with the boss (reasonably of course) you are entitled to speak up. Unless you called him a douchey bag of shitballs, I think you aren’t to blame for his subsequent exit. Besides, who knows if it wasn’t that at all, he might be having personal issues that required him to go. Don’t stress!

P.S.: “I’d tell you to suck a bag of leprous dicks….” – LOVE IT.

I also had to look back at the comments from yesterday to see what you were talking about. Screw those haters. They truly are just angry b/c they feel they have been “called out” on their laziness. I think your blog was inspirational, hopefully it can motivate my lazy ass…

Wow, I had to scan through yesterday’s comments to find which fuckface you were referring to. What a bunch of assholes. I’m in a similar situation with you family-wise but unlike you, I’m lazy and don’t want to get off of my fat ass to exercise once the kids are in bed for the night. That’s my choice, and you busting your ass (which is admirable) is yours. Exercising is a choice, even single parents who work full time can make the choice, it just takes determination and the willingness to forego sleep (which I’m not). Why the fuck do people read your blog if they don’t want to hear what you have to say. Grrr.

Linda, I just had to chime in here and repeat what you’ve already heard so many times, but here it is AGAIN. You are truly an inspiration. It is encouraging to hear things about how being fit ROCKS. It makes me remember that oh so good feeling after a workout and inspires me to get up and move and sweat and feel amazing later. So thank you for posts like those.

holy crap…..yea I didn’t make it to your comments yesterday morning because when I read the post I decided to walk ten feet out to my “gym” and at least get 30 minutes of cardio in before work, (i.e. inspired)

As for the work thing, that sucks! I’m glad your not feeling responsible. Sounds like your ‘boss’ had other issues going on. In this market and economy I wish the best for anyone walking out on a paying gig at this point.

Ok, going for my 30 minutes of cardio again! Thanks for the inspiration!

Can you please add some diet/food info to your posts about exercising? I seem to have a hard time with that – would be interested what you do – thanks!

I’m constantly amazed by your ability to continue writing without holding back and censoring yourself in the face of idiotic commenters.

That’s all I have time for, I have to go change my pants after noticing your most recent tweet up in the corner.

I was out of pocket yesterday at a training class and am apparently now out of the loop. I’ll have to go back and read yesterday’s post.

What’s the possibility of you moving on up into the boss’ chair? Have you considered it?

About yesterday, I was surprised that people would give you shit about what you choose to write on your own blog about your own self (as opposed to about others). Must have been a slow day for internet gossip.

That said, when things take a turn like that, I suggest you step back and do the math, as in, notice that like 98% of all substantive comments were positive and appreciative. When you’re 98%, who cares about the other 2%? Also, why give the jerks the attention they are obviously seeking? You’re not defined by what anonymous, often make-believe people on the internet think of you. You do believe that, right?

o.m.f.g.

Just finished (barely) my 1st 30 Day Shred level 1 work out. . . could barely keep up or get my feet off the ground. Saw life flash before eyes.

Must have emt on call tomorrow for next session.

Unisom? Really? Please tell me it’s okay to do that so I can get some sleep. Hot Pocket is teething this week.

Fuck teeth.

Yeah. Not commenting on yesterday’s post cause that was yesterday, hello?

My boss up & quit about 6 months ago. He gave notice but we’re IT folks and it’s common practice to escort us out when we give notice. It’s both unsettling and exciting, isn’t it? It definitely has a way of changing the entire dynamic of the workplace!

It’s tough to remain positive (or at least neutral) with negativity about, so kudos to you for not letting it bring you down!

Good luck at Workplace – we’re going through some changes at my workplace too, so I empathize. Hope it works out for the better!

I had to babies (almost) back to back and I’ve been working out for 4 months now trying to get back into pre-prego shape. Reading about your hard work and progress keeps me motivated. Yeh, the cock talk is funny as shit but laughing only burns so many calories.

(two) … and apparently can’t spell. Looking forward to the new site. I missed Purple is a Fruit.

Are you kidding me? ONE person made a comment yesterday that could have been taken rather trollish. Julia voiced her opinion and it wasn’t an attack at all. I do agree that Julia probably should have kept her thoughts to herself. Yet, everyone is all up in arms over this one comment compared to the hundreds of supportive comments showering you with praise and adoration?!?

Get over yourself, already, Linda. It was one fucking comment.

MEOW!

:)

Reading the comment above, it looks to me like you need to order one more bag (super-sized, please) of leprous dicks for a rather unhappy camper.

I have to agree with Not Julia here. You write in a public sphere, and from time to time, people are going to disagree with what you write or how you write it. That comes with the territory, I think.

Telling people to just “stop reading” is kind of simplistic too. Maybe a “comment only if you think I am awesome” disclaimer would work, but it seems like an overreaction too. What if someone thinks you’re funny and smart and a great writer, but genuinely thinks your last entry was condescending and lecture-y? What if they genuinely think that if you were a single parent living in a ghetto and were underemployed with limited child care and surrounded by cheap fast food places instead of grocery stores that it would be just a tad harder to get fit than it is for you right now? It’s their opinion, and you have a comments section so people can share their opinion.

Having a readership means that sometimes people are going to disagree with what you’ve said, even if they enjoy reading your writing. Writing off those who take issue with your words as bitter, unhappy trolls is completely unfair, not to mention feeding directly into the toxicity you claim to be trying to avoid.

Your other commenters, many of whom are basically blowing sunshine up your ass (which is an “utter joy to read”), and the people who don’t, for whatever reason, are bitter, unhappy trolls. That just doesn’t ring fair with me.

I realize that I made a grammar mistake in my last paragraph, so before someone orders a big back of leprous dicks to toast my type, let me fix it:

“Your other commenters, many of whom are basically blowing sunshine up your ass (which is an “utter joy to read”) area awesome, and the people who don’t, for whatever reason, are bitter, unhappy trolls. That just doesn’t ring fair with me.”

And for the record, commenters who will likely try and rip me a new one here? I am an employed, educated, happy person who’s been reading this blog since back before Riley was even a consideration (and diaryland seemed high-tech!), and have continued to read for years because I think sundry is a great writer and a genuine person. Please consider these facts before spewing whatever vitriol you’re storing up to fling towards an anonymous individual on the internet my way.

I realize that I made a grammar mistake in my last paragraph, so before someone orders a big bag of leprous dicks to toast my typo, let me fix it:

“Your other commenters, many of whom are basically blowing sunshine up your ass (which is an “utter joy to read”) area awesome, and the people who don’t, for whatever reason, are bitter, unhappy trolls. That just doesn’t ring fair with me.”

And for the record, commenters who will likely try and rip me a new one here? I am an employed, educated, happy person who’s been reading this blog since back before Riley was even a consideration (and diaryland seemed high-tech!), and have continued to read for years because I think sundry is a great writer and a genuine person. Please consider these facts before spewing whatever vitriol you’re storing up to fling towards an anonymous individual on the internet my way.