Got a call from Newsweek magazine

Do you know what phrases or words brings up your blog or actual name in a search?

Now I've written about some of the stranger phrases that brought folks to my site. Seriously some strange things.

So when I answered the phone at work last week to hear a reporter from Newsweek on the other end of the line, I didn't think anything of it. My organization has been working on issues around foreclosure and I thought he was looking for some information. I started to mentally get the facts in place and was ready to explain the importance of addressing this critical issue before entire neighborhoods start to collapse.

"Are you Allison Staton who writes Soccer Mom in Denial?"

I froze. Then laughed. A loud from the belly laugh.

"You're kidding right?"

He then went on to explain he was writing a piece about sugar cereals being served for school lunch. He Googled sugar cereal for lunch and guess what?

I'll give you a minute to open a new browser and see for yourself.





Done?





Yup - I'M THE FIRST ITEM LISTED!

Suddenly Painted Maypole sticking in various symbols into the name of the opera production she is performing in seems very sensible to me.

I arranged to speak with the reporter after work and we talked about what had happened last year at the parochial school. I then go on to sing the praises of the public school my children attend this year because the kids and I chose the food days before it is served so there is no a la carte temptations for 1st graders. Fifth graders I can deal with. I think 7 years old is too young to ask "do you want carrots or Coco Puffs"?

He then tells me how he contacted the lone person who commented on that particular post, the wonderful Maggie from Ramblings of Maggie. She was one of the first to "find" me. She told him a really funny story but you have to read her blog to see what she said.

But suddenly I went from being irate about schools giving young children sugar for a meal to being defensive that he thought I had only one commenter. I mean I've worked my way up to 9 or 10! Some days I get close to 30! And I have another blog too! I mean I've got a presence here in the cyberworld.

Here I have an opportunity to wax poetic about the importance of childhood eating patterns, healthy food choices, support for school nutrition and health education. And I, a trained media spokesperson, start blabbering about my blog.

Psst - the article is in this week's Newsweek (October 15th).