The Great XMAS Blogroll Induction Extravaganza – Day 5.
This is a very special XMAX blogroll induction. Not that past inductees weren’t special, but this one is extra, extra special… If I wasn’t the eloquent Le Clown, I would say something like this is a special, special XMAS blogroll induction. Today, I’m introducing you to BRENT Waggoner, a friend of mine from the real world… When there’s a baby born in our respective family, we’re on each other’s call list. BRENT will tell you all about it, because he wants to steal the spotlight away from Le Clown, as he doesn’t seem to understand yet how it works on the Clownonsphere™. L’anyway. I met BRENT before WordPress, we had Sufjan Stevens in common… I failed to get him into Animal Collective, but our friendship survived. BRENT is married to a wonderful, an incredible, a magnificent™ woman called Liz, that I equally love. These folks are beautiful people, and talented writers, even if BRENT wasted many years on Blogger. BRENT is a seasoned blogger, but he’s new on WordPress. I’m not keen on nepotism (friend, brother… semantics I say), but you MUST discover BRENT. Can we make this the most successful blogroll induction ever (my apologies to past and future inductees…)… like a massive LET’S FOLLOW BRENT fest? If it was just me, I would rename December 23, 2012 as the DAY BRENT GOT AT LEAST 30 NEW FOLLOWERS, even if today is my mother’s birthday, and my brother-in-law’s birthday… Screw that… Today is the day you ALL FOLLOWED BRENT… Or contracted syphilis—an easy choice… I will ask BRENT… I will be keep count… Remember, remember, the 23rd of December… My intro is officially longer than BRENT‘s post. That’s how much I love him. It’s ALL about me BRENT, at least… today it is. BRENT is also 6’7”.
I met Le Clown before he was Le Clown. Or perhaps not—was there ever a “before”, or was Le Clown always there, lurking beneath the surface like a circus freak in a sewer grate? The answer eludes me. It is as far from me as a simile is from a metaphor—but I digress.
At that time, I was writing about music, oh fickle art, engorging or belittling artists as the temper took me, and Eric—or Pre Clown—contacted me. His correspondence was meek, Canadian, pitiful in the same way a kitten is—ah, but the claws, the claws. He wished to write, to praise bands whose names were unfamiliar, and I acquiesced, never knowing…
Now Le Clown is. When the metamorphosis occurred, I cannot say—some claim Boxing Day, others Victoria Day. To me, that day, whenever it was, will always be, as the Quebecois would say if they looked up their French on Google Translate, “Le Jour Du Clown.” And things were no longer the same.
Now the music has died, the reviews Pre Clown submitted lost in the ethereal bits like tadpoles lost in the ocean. And yet, a part of me, a tiny part, will always remember him as I knew him before. Canadian Eric. L’Eric. E-Rob. But now—Le Clown.
One quickly learns that Le Clown has little respect for personal space.
Note from Le Clown: Thank you for following BRENT. Quite the writer he is, that BRENT.
I love Sufjan!!!!
Is there a link to his blog available? I’m not seeing it anywhere. Just kidding – loved his post, and BRENT is now being stalked by me as well.
Posted by Nicole Marie | December 23, 2012, 07:26Nicole,
BRENT and I wrote for a site that doesn’t exist anymore. He would write about Danielson and Okkervil River, and I would write about Battles and Sunset Rubdown, or basically anything Spencer Krug would put his hands on… Good times.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | December 23, 2012, 08:31Le Clown speaks, we listen then do
Posted by boomiebol | December 23, 2012, 07:29Boomie,
Read BRENT‘s About section, you will enjoy this guy.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | December 23, 2012, 08:33I’m a sucker for a good follow – consider it done and welcome!
Posted by Rutabaga the Mercenary Researcher | December 23, 2012, 07:42Rutabaga,
That whole good fellow persona of his is all an act, I think. He’s too tall not to be an evil doer. And this is based on scientific facts that you may or may not want to research.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | December 23, 2012, 08:35Are you paying me to research? Remember the Mercenary part? If so – I’ll be happy to research evil doers in Canada (and we all thought Canadians were so sweet and polite)…I suspect the Devil lurks near the French Poutine…
Posted by Rutabaga the Mercenary Researcher | December 23, 2012, 08:44Denise,
I failed to mention that BRENT is an American, currently residing in the The Palmetto State. He lives right beside George Lucas’ ranch, or should I say, in its shadow.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | December 23, 2012, 08:47THE FAKE!
Posted by Rutabaga the Mercenary Researcher | December 23, 2012, 09:09I’m a transplant from the Hoosier state, so I like basketball. That’s why I’m tall.
Posted by brentwaggoner | December 23, 2012, 10:57Since I also received a check in the mail, with strange postmarks from a place called, ‘C A N A D A’, I have gleefully agreed to follow the new kid on the ‘roll.
Now, can someone tell me how much $3.72 Canadian is in American dollars? I’m thinking a trip to Applebee’s is in the making off this money. Wooo hooo!
Posted by Addie | December 23, 2012, 08:09Addie,
I Canadian dollar = 1.01 USA dollar. Spend wisely.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | December 23, 2012, 08:37Look out Mall!!
Posted by Addie | December 23, 2012, 18:08BRENT,
Knowing Le Clown as long as you have, and as intimately, is an opportunity for his minions like no other. You will provide alternate perspective on the entity we have come to love; and you yourself will be loved by millions who will gorge themselves on your essence until you have no more to give. Welcome to the BRENT Waggoner feeding frenzy. So good to know you…for you.
I hope your little one is feeling better.
Red
Posted by SocietyRed | December 23, 2012, 08:21Red,
BRENT knows all… But this is not something I should have said out loud…
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | December 23, 2012, 08:38Le Clown,
It is too late, for you and BRENT.
Red
Posted by SocietyRed | December 23, 2012, 08:41The little one is feeling a little better. Hoping she completely recovers for Christmas day.
As from Le Clown, or L’Eric, as I’ve known him, Fact #1: He loves Blogger.
Posted by brentwaggoner | December 23, 2012, 10:59Perhaps, but WordPress is responsible for his inflated ego.
Glad to hear the little one is getting better.
Happy Holidays to you and yours my new friend!
Red
Posted by SocietyRed | December 23, 2012, 11:16Sweet relief! We are pulled in, only to worry about a small child. Glad she’s on the mend, with Christmas fast approaching. I was going to ask the same thing Red.
Posted by talesfromthemotherland | December 23, 2012, 12:12There will be a sequel when she recovers fully.
Posted by brentwaggoner | December 23, 2012, 13:14A sequel! Oh no! Another thing to pull me away from Christmas cookies! Wait, I think I can eat them and read at the same time… oh the wonder of the holidays.
Posted by talesfromthemotherland | December 23, 2012, 13:18Perhaps tomorrow, since there’s been such great interest.
Posted by brentwaggoner | December 23, 2012, 16:32I checked out this BRENT character with a grossly disfigured hand. He’s not sleeping. I gave him a pity follow because he’s a Canadian and his wife sounds like she could be scary. She’s not sleeping either.
Posted by denmother | December 23, 2012, 08:23Denmother,
Now far from me is the idea of scaring you. but BRENT is indeed American, and lives in South Carolina. His grossly disfigured hand might be on the prowl as we speak…
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | December 23, 2012, 08:41American? I pity him all the more, and shall remain a faithful follower awaiting great things. I’m quite confident that hand will never be allowed to cross the border.
Posted by denmother | December 23, 2012, 09:20Denmother,
Are you referring to my beautiful and virile hands pinching BRENT‘s face?
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | December 23, 2012, 09:22That picture was taken only moments before my Face devoured Eric’s hands. One of us. One of us.
Posted by brentwaggoner | December 23, 2012, 11:01BRENT makes me want to be a better, smarter, taller writer.
Posted by saradraws | December 23, 2012, 08:45Sara,
That would make you taller than me, honey bunny… People would look at us funny if this was the case… as opposed to now where people look at us funny cause you’re walking with a clown.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | December 23, 2012, 08:51Height isn’t everything. I’m also dashingly handsome.
Posted by brentwaggoner | December 23, 2012, 11:01Merry Christmas to Le Clown and Brent. Hope it’s okay I went non-secular…
Posted by Carrie Rubin | December 23, 2012, 09:11Carrie,
BRENT will appreciate that. You should check him out, Carrie, BRENT is a very talented writer. Happy holidays to you, my friend.
Le Clown
PS: We did receive your book. Do not take my silence as a sign of not liking it. Au contraire, I’m preparing a little something for 2013…..
Posted by Le Clown | December 23, 2012, 09:13I’ll consider it an honor.
Posted by Carrie Rubin | December 23, 2012, 09:23I prefer the non-secular Christmas, although I won’t deny Le Clown his secular libations. Merry Christmas to you as well!
Posted by brentwaggoner | December 23, 2012, 11:02Le Clown,
Tall huh?
I’ll check him out. (yeah I know how this sounds)
RidicuRyder
Posted by ridicuryder | December 23, 2012, 09:50A RidicuRyder of his word.
Posted by brentwaggoner | December 23, 2012, 11:02Reblogged this on brentwaggoner and commented:
In which L’Eric kindly gives me props.
Posted by brentwaggoner | December 23, 2012, 11:03Eric, thanks for the nice introductory post. I never did come around on Animal Collective, but The National did finally release something I enjoyed.
Posted by brentwaggoner | December 23, 2012, 11:24Brent,
The day is just starting. Enjoy your spotlight.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | December 23, 2012, 11:27Wow … someone who actually can verify the metamorphosis … which I imagine could be a blog in itself.
Posted by aFrankAngle | December 23, 2012, 21:49Le Clown,
I don’t know if it is bad form to follow a member of your/my list -.- , but I do find aforementioned blogger to be witty and silly. He probably IS (also, like me, though you seem to forget my name and thought-provoking, laugh-provoking prose and/or *you* are provoking *me* by ignoring me on your blogroll intentionally) worthy to be given a monumental spot in your hall of fame. I will give you a few minutes to ruminate on this comment. It’s rife with irony and insight. Possibly.
U/C L
Posted by UndercoverL | December 23, 2012, 12:05Worthy is such a coarse word. Not like Le Clown.
Posted by brentwaggoner | December 23, 2012, 13:15Welcome Brent! Nice posts… I’ll have to hit the rest of those “Brents” over breakfast. We’re a bit behind the rest of the circus crowd, out here on the West Coast. This is bound to keep your day trés busy! Stay close to that keyboard, cause your world just caught fire!
Posted by talesfromthemotherland | December 23, 2012, 12:18There are a lot of posts (it’s actually three of my blogger blogs imported, plus new content) but I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for reading.
Posted by brentwaggoner | December 23, 2012, 13:17I read somewhere that you can import all of your old posts from another site, to Word Press. Not sure if it’s worth the effort, but it gives your fellow carnies something to post comments about. Again, Welcome! Bienvenue! (Though you’re from N. Carolina… where it’s hot and not very French)
Posted by talesfromthemotherland | December 23, 2012, 13:22That’s what I did… hopefully it isn’t overwhelming.
Posted by brentwaggoner | December 23, 2012, 16:34It gives people choices… only overwhelming if the reader makes it that way.
Posted by talesfromthemotherland | December 23, 2012, 16:59Of course, I will follow. Welcome Brent! Wow, a pre-Le Clown close friend. You must have stories, Brent. We would love to hear them all! I happen to think Le Clown has always been there, too, lurking behind the shadows. I think you will love Le Clown’s carnies. They’re great people, and talented, too.
Posted by The Bumble Files | December 23, 2012, 13:07I am a rare but occasional commenter here on CoF. I prefer to send Eric threatening emails to his actual inbox. If you have any questions about Pre Clown, I’m here all day.
Posted by brentwaggoner | December 23, 2012, 13:16Let’s whisper behind his back…just a little morsel.
Posted by The Bumble Files | December 23, 2012, 13:22He smells like lavender.
Posted by brentwaggoner | December 23, 2012, 16:34ha ha ha…I bet he does yoga, too.
Posted by The Bumble Files | December 23, 2012, 16:36In the nude. Don’t worry–he wears a maple leaf over his… left eye.
Posted by brentwaggoner | December 23, 2012, 16:37Oh my! I bet that’s, uh, invigorating. I’m not that surprised. He’s seems to do everything sans clothing.
Posted by The Bumble Files | December 23, 2012, 16:50Nice to meet you, Brent. It seems as though you have a lot of blackmail worthy info on Le Clown for him to flatter you so much. For that, Brent, you are my new hero.
Posted by calahan | December 23, 2012, 13:30I think Eric told me you’d enjoy my blog, so I gladly accept your hero worship.
Posted by brentwaggoner | December 23, 2012, 16:43“L’anyway” — Brent is one lucky fella to be included on your list of illustrious blogrollers…” Hello there Brent!
Posted by Sandee | December 23, 2012, 14:21Greetings, L’Sandee.
Posted by brentwaggoner | December 23, 2012, 16:44Alright, calm down, I followed. Now put the Clown penis away.
Posted by Bill McMorrow | December 23, 2012, 16:46Bill,
I’ll put it away if you let go of it….
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | December 23, 2012, 17:01Whoops, my bad. Apologies, all around.
Posted by Bill McMorrow | December 23, 2012, 17:10I followed Le Brent (why am I calling him Le?) long before all this Clown penis flashing was going around. So there.
Lovely to meet you Brent. I am glad to finally know of someone who knew Eric before Le Clown’s Ego clown-handled them into the Clownosphere. Having had my honour yesterday as an inductee, I am whipper-snapped to be in your company on this blogroll.
Merry Christmastime.
Posted by iRuniBreathe | December 23, 2012, 17:03I’ve followed Brent too. I am also new to WordPress, I only have 11 followers, and one of them is my mum. I could do with a little love myself.
Posted by stephrogers | December 23, 2012, 22:23I didn’t want to, but I did. I was compelled to, and I don’t know why. Even though my mind was saying, “NO!” my fingers were betraying me. I followed this carnie. It’s like that one time where this old man told me “these aren’t the droids you’re looking for…”
Oh, well. What’s done is done.
Posted by twindaddy | December 23, 2012, 23:04BRENT Waggoner,
Le C.,
I wanted to tell you this the last time I was clicking myself through your blog (Brent Waggoner). It seems that some browsers (tried opera and firefox – each of them twice) are not willing to show the upper following – like – reblog thingie all the time. At least not the first time I clicked the link. Maybe some cache issue? I mean, I would had followed back then, but I didn’t have a button to click on. Now I am following.
mmkng
Posted by mmkng | December 24, 2012, 01:33I miss the real world…
Welcome, Brent!
Posted by The Hook | December 30, 2012, 17:40