Sunday, January 06, 2008

A short lister chimes in **UPDATED**

It finally happened.

Over two years ago, I posted the short list (the Goat, incidentally, originally came up with that name). Since then, I have made some additions to the list.

One of the individuals assigned to my list has contacted me:

I was told about your reference to me on many occasions over the last few years. I decided to finally check it out as a result of my college age daughter's prodding me to do so. I am very flattered to have been mentioned by you in this way! You are an incredibly entertaining, real person. I enjoy watching, reading, etc. your commentaries. And again, I am truly flattered.

XOXOXO


I shall leave his/her identity a secret. But believe me he/she is a TOTAL HOTTIE.

You might wonder if this development has rattled the Goat's complacency. You be the judge:

"So one of the short listers chimed in, huh?" he said, sipping at his coffee.

"That's right," I said with no small amount of challenge in my voice. "After that email, they'll probably be showing up with a bottle of SuperLube ANY MINUTE."

"Uh-huh," he said, turning the page of the newspaper with maddening indifference.

"You Goat!"


* * * UPDATE * * *


After additional email communication with the above outlined short-list mystery identity, I now have permission to share said identity to all of you. But I cannot help myself. I will not unmask the Big Reveal until one of you lovelies correctly guesses who he/she is.

Here is my original email correspondence:

Dear Mystery Identity,

Since I am an terrible she-devil, I posted an entry regarding your email, but I left your identity anonymous. My readers, perhaps predictably, are smoldering with curiosity over your identity.

So then, it seems you have all the power. To step into the light or remain in the shadows? Both options have their advantages. On one hand, my readers are impressed that a short-lister would contact me and you are surely entitled to receive their compliments. On the other hand, there is something delicious in mystery.

I will steadfastly honor your decision. If you opt to own-up, no worries, I will share your name only. Your email addy is safe with me.

Yours in letters and dubious Internet activity,

Erin O'Brien


And Mystery Identity's response:

Why Hello Erin,

Please, you make the call. After all, it is your blog. I do give you full permission to expose me should you choose to do so in your blog, and again, I AM FLATTERED! ; )


So there's the evidence, bloggers. Thus far, Carville and Rowe have been put forth. Mystery Identity is neither of these.

Good luck and good guessing!

24 comments:

Maureen McHugh said...

Mike Rowe. It was Mike Rowe, I know it. I adore Mike Rowe. And, well, he has a great sense of humor. And it seems as if he'd, you know, get it in the spirit it was intended.

Okay, it probably wasn't Mike Rowe. But since you won't (and shouldn't) actually say who it is, I can pretend it was Mike Rowe.

dean said...

The Goat can be complacent, because the Goat knows that there are few short-listers (if any) that would tolerate you sticking a camera lens in their eyeball the way he would. And does.

Daniel Poehlman said...

Oh, god. Please don't let it be Carville. That dude frightens me.

Aside from that, my guess would be Woodruff. He just strikes me as a really nice guy that way (though I don't know if his kids are college age).

Erin O'Brien said...

heh heh heh

Oh lordy, this is fun!

Carla said...

This is fun. I think we all need to be putting our short lists out there. He, he.

Libby Spencer said...

I'm guessing one stilt guy but Jim Cantore would be totally cool. This is fun. Maybe I'll start a short list too.

Happy New Year to you and yours.

High Power Rocketry said...

That is a crazy eye there.

Anonymous said...

Who is it?! Who is it?!! I'm dying to know!

Maybe you could just whisper it, and we'll all pretend we didn't hear anything. I won't tell. I promise!

Anonymous said...

Carville is able to unhinge his jaws and swallow women whole. Of course, some women (like Mary Matalin) dig that sort of thing.

Erin, thanks for editing my name out of that original short list, changing "home-schooled son" to "college-aged daughter," etc. Sounds like our secret is safe. You're a dear.

(BTW, you inspired me to do a vid.)

Anonymous said...

Vincent D'Onofrio. I could see V D'0 using an emoticon. But if he's going to ravage you, he should do so in character -- in his Men In Black character, that is.

Anonymous said...

I'm so hoping it's Ann Curry!

Anonymous said...

Woodruff.

D'Onofrio's my backup guess.

Steve Jeffery said...

I'm a huge fan of "the Scrubs guy" myself, but I don't believe he has a daughter, only a son, so that rules him out. Clooney has actually bet money he won't have any kids by the time he turns 50. Kiedis only had a kid last year. Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith have a daughter, age 11, hmm. Is that "college age" in the States? Vincent D'Onofrio's daughter Leila would be about 19/20 right now.

The rest of the names on the list are not familiar to me, alas. I'm gonna take a wild guess and say it's the man Vince. After all, who could deny you have the necessary élan, verve and éclat to sway a man such as he to comment. ;-)

Velvet Fog said...

It must be this Rally fellow or the Dirty Jobs guy. THey are really the only logical choices. I mean, why would we give a crap about the midas guy.

Velvet Fog said...

By the way, If I guess correctly do I get to watch?
I'll bring wine.
Good wine.

Anonymous said...

Not a guess but a rule-out. Apparenrly Rally Caparas (who is from S. Carolina and I thought a good candidate) has 2 children, but neither old enough to have been college aged for "the last few years" (But a niece might be, and she is interested in journalism, as is his brother Wayne)
RJ

Anonymous said...

For shits and giggles, I'm going to guess the Stilt Guy.

Elisson said...

Well, I know who it ain't.

It ain't me.

Dammit.

Norm said...

Another vote for Cantore.

Seonaid said...

It's the dirty jobs guy, i just know it.

Seals said...

I'm disappointed it's not Carville. I love that guy ... but wouldn't do him.

Anonymous said...

I've got to get a life. While waiting to see who guesses the answer I find myself thinking "I wonder if Erin would wear a hat while she was doing mystery man?" Then Steely Dan starts going through my head..."you can't do it without your Fez on..." MAKE IT STOP!!!

country mouse said...

I'm just too lazy to do any research to find out who has a college age daughter, but my first instinct was the Dirty Jobs guy! It's gotta be him : )

Silly Old Bear said...

I was just reading your entry (and initial update) in my RSS feed and thought it said "ROVE."

I almost threw up my lunch. I love you, Erin, but I don't think I can go there.