The Hot Blogger Calendar project has been awesome on so many levels, but my favorite part has been meeting so many fabulous people I might not have otherwise met.
The 24 Hot Bloggers gracing the 2009 calendars are a very, very cool bunch. I’ve learned some really great things about these people over the past few months, and I’d like to share some things about them I think you’ll find interesting, too.
*Our bloggers are getting a $2 share of each calendar they sell from their sites. NYC Watchdog is giving his share to his friend and fellow blogger Lisa @ Clusterfook, to help offset her mounting medical costs, as she has been diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer for the third time, and is determined to kick cancer’s ass. (**If you’d like to donate to Lisa without buying a calendar, do so here!**)
*You’ll find both The Slackmistress and Will Betheboy gracing the month of April in their respective calendars. But did you know that they are husband and wife? Now ya do! And they host their own podcast called BetheMarriage every week. And their $2 share from each calendar is going to the Bill Foundation, a dog rescue group, which totally rocks. (**If you’d like to donate to the Bill Foundation without buying a calendar, do so here!**)
*If someone ever tells you that Mom Bloggers rule the world, a word of advice: Recognize. There are not one, not two, not three, but eight – yes eight – of ‘em in the calendar. And by “Mom Blogger” I’m talking about a mom who blogs, not a mom who blogs about Junior making poo poo in the potty every day. I’m talking about Miss Britt, who is one of the funniest, most talented writers I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Katja Presnal from The Skimbaco Lifestyle, a PR/Social Media maven who gets to interview Patrick Dempsey this week (grr). Erika from Chic Shopper Chick, who speaks fluent French and is training to become a pilot. Jennifer from Blessings From Above, who gave birth to her son 15+ weeks early on a trip to Disney. Amy from Permission to Peruse, who can wear a blue dress like no one’s business. Jill Notkin from The Daily Grind, who runs a successful online clothing boutique for babies and kids. Trisha from momdot, who started a popular resource and giveaway site for moms. And Casey from moosh in indy., who, in her own words, has, “old fashioned morals, very little tact and a whole hot mess of honesty.”
*Don’t discount the Dad Blogger contingent. There are two of ‘em in the calendar, Busy Dad and Backpacking Dad, and it was an honor and a privilege to be able to document their very first meeting at our Hot Blogger Calendar photo shoot in NYC.
*Hot Bloggers are smaht. Josh from The Comics Curmudgeon, for example? He was on Jeopardy! He didn’t win, but still. HE WAS ON JEOPARDY!
*Riese from This Girl Called Automatic Win is so hot, she’s not in one 2009 calendar, she’s in two. In addition to being Miss October in the female version of our Hot Blogger Calendar, she is also in the 2009 New York City Sex Blogger Calendar.
*Matt from Ghost of Keywork is a Marine, and he did two tours of duty in Iraq. For your freedom. Let’s all say, “thank you” – even though that isn’t nearly enough. He’s also pretty badass.
*If you visit Avitable, you’ll see a photo of a young Adam Avitable wearing tube socks, shorts pulled way up above his waist, and a goofy grin. It rules. Also? He and Miss Britt co-host a podcast called Clearly, Your Retarded.
*Most people wouldn’t describe themselves as “New Media Douchebag.” But then again, Geri Druckman isn’t most people.
*Mia goes by one name and one name only. As she puts it: “Like Madonna or Prince – but younger, taller, and not barking mad.”
*Shawn from Brain of Shawn is so hot that it makes his blood pressue high. So to make sure he remembers to take his medication, he updates a widget on his blog daily. If it hasn’t been updated, his readers know it’s time to harrass him. Hey, it beats a watch alarm.
*I just don’t think that A.V. Flox from OMG. OMG. OMFG. knows what it’s like to go through life not being hot. And yet, I still like her. I guess I’ve matured since high school.
*Confession: Mr. January, the hilarious and very hot Francesco Marciuliano from Francesco Explains It All actually came in 13th when the votes were tallied up for the Hot Blogger Calendar contest. But Wil Wheaton never got back to us about his spot in the calendar, so Francesco was on deck (which we were quite thrilled about, actually). Francesco’s reaction? “I can’t believe I was Wil Wheaton’s replacement. Surely that guy who played Flick in “A Christmas Story” was available instead.”
*Is it strange that every time Pete Cashmore, founder of Mashable, emailed me during our Hot Blogger Calendar correspondence, tiny hearts would come flying out of my laptop’s screen like in the cartoons? Or is this a common phenomenon? My husband is patiently waiting for an explanation.
*Does Peter Shankman, founder of HARO, even require an introduction? And did you know that he was the original Hottest Male Blogger?
So now you know a little more about these Hot Bloggers. Intrigued, are you? Get to know them even better – and be with them all year round! – by purchasing the Male and Female 2009 Hot Blogger Calendars. You know you want to. I know you want to. So just do it.