Musings of Lanna Lee Maheux

It’s Saturday. A day off. I have tons of stuff I want to get done today. But my first order of business should be to clean this office. There is so much stuff on my floor that my chair will not move. I have a leaning tower of boxes in my make-shift window seat, and I so desperately need workspace for some of my crazy plans.

I’ve already indulged myself with staying up too late last night and sleeping in this morning. Now I need to get to work. [We'll see how that goes.]

Here is a list of the things I need to do:

• Clean office [natch]
• Design business card and mini-moo card for Lounging with LannaLee
• Set up more guest interviews for Lounging with LannaLee
• Create funky guest gifts for Lounging with LannaLee
• Strategize for the Lounging with LannaLee launch
• Figure out my podcast hosting system
• How do I get people to listen to the show?
• Would Kickstarter be a good fit and what would I do with Kickstarter money?

I guess any further blog posting could be construed as procrastination. [Notice I did not say misconstrued.] So I am off to get some work done.

Well, maybe I’ll eat something first.

Well, last night was a Tweetup and tonight Edmund and I went out again to help a friend celebrate her birthday – with some of her Twitter friends. It was a surprise party for Shay Stewart-Bouley, or as she is known on her blog, Black Girl In Maine [Twitter: @blackgirlinmain]. So kind of like two TweetUps in one, although this one was a bit more intimate. Shay’s real-life friend (@serenebabe) set it up with a few direct messages [A private twitter conversation] and we were good to go.

We met at Kon in Portland. Edmund called me and let me know that @stinkymuttdsgns and AJ [@DiragoUndaunted] were running late, and that we should get a table.

@Gennyfer was there first. She sent me the following text message:

Textaoke time. Allll by myself!!!! Don’t wannaaaa beeee allll by mayselfffff..,,

[Yes. She really is that awesome.]

I arrived second. Within a few minutes Edmund arrived, then @stinkymuttdsgns and AJ and then we had a party. A little after 7, the birthday girl arrived with @serenebabe and we talked and laughed and ate too much food and laughed and talked and before I knew it, it was after 10. Time flies when you’re having fun.

Now I am home and basking in the joy of the moment. A wonderful evening with friends, some who met in person for the first time tonight.

I am surrounded by chatty-McChattersons at a convivial Maine TweetUp being held at Zapoteca in Portland. The room is abuzz with people meeting and greeting while I sit in a corner and type on my phone.

Ooo, interlude! Just had a lively conversation with the lovely @AlexSteed from @FoodComaTV.

@TheRichBrooks just raised his glass to me. I tried to look cool.

@DJNoRequest & @Obobme gave me pointers on what I should give to guests on Lounging with LannaLee.

@MarieIris hugged me as soon as she saw me.

@rurugby bought me a root beer and is now in an in depth conversation with a Twitterer I met earlier.

I’m going to save this and hope it publishes. Maybe I’ll go talk to people instead of waiting for them to approach me.

Spent my evening updating the Lounging with LannaLee site. Going to start approaching guests soon. Nervous about that. [So if I ask you to be a guest, say yes, okay?]

As a matter of course, I’ve been thinking about my podcast philosophy. Namely, what is it? With today’s technology I have many options I could use to record a podcast remotely, but I chose an in-person format. To that end, I use a portable recording device, (the Zoom H2 Handy Portable Stereo Recorder), it takes two AA batteries and uses an SD card to store the data. It’s designed for musicians to use for rehearsals, and can record from either 2 or 4 directions. It’s small and light and it makes it so I don’t have to lug my computer around. I can record a podcast anywhere.

In 2009 I was a guest on a podcast called Word on The Tweet, which was hosted by Jeff Parsons and Fred Abaroa. They recorded it using Skype. All the guests logged in and connected to Jeff’s Skype account, he recorded it and mixed it, and published it soon afterward. While there was a lively discussion, I couldn’t help but to feel disconnected from the other guests. That said, I was hooked. I thought “I could do a podcast!” So I did.

Since then, I started two podcasts. Each was with a co-host. I asked Alexis Lyon to collaborate with me on The Lex and Lanna Show because we had so many things in common and because we had great conversations. And because she is super cool. The Bureau of Awesome podcast came about because I had purchased the URL and didn’t know what to do about it. My husband, Edmund Charles Davis-Quinn, and I had talked about doing a podcast together, and finally decided why not just do it.

My Ultimate goal was to do my own show. Here’s the thing: I collect all these cool friends and acquaintances and I feel they should all get to know each other. So that’s what I’m going to do.

The allure to podcast hosting for me is the personal interaction I have with my co-hosts and guests. It’s that magic that happens when two or more people are in the room and looking at each other. In this day of remote this and remote that, I prefer the connection that happens when you’re live, communicating openly, and belly laughing. I hope to catch that magic in my new venture, Lounging with LannaLee.

I hate shopping. When I go to a store I have a plan. I have something I want to purchase. Now, that doesn’t mean I don’t browse. I might go to Target expressly to pick up toilet paper (the store brand 2-ply is the best), but I am not opposed to swinging by the book department or videos to see what’s available. If I’m shopping for groceries without a list I might walk through every aisle to make sure I don’t forget anything. However, to walk across the Maine Mall without a purpose, that I can’t do.

My pal Trisha is in town (as I mentioned yesterday’s blag post), and today we went shopping. First place we went was David’s Bridal shop at the Maine Mall. Trisha needs a dress for a wedding she’s in. I went with her. I am not a David’s Bridal kind of gal. [I bought my wedding dress from Torrid, it was off the rack and appropriate for me, but not a traditionally modern dress. I tried on a couple of dresses at David's Bridal and I hated all of them. My dress cost $115 and I've worn it many times since. It was a great investment.] When Trish told the attendant she was there because her friend was getting married, one of the saleswomen gushed “That is great!” And I laughed out loud. Take it back a notch, I thought. A bit too ebullient for my taste.

After David’s Bridal we went to The Apple Store, Macy’s and Catherine’s. All Fairly normal.

The next stop was at Goodwill in South Portland. This was my first time. Let me tell you this, if there is any store that requires a “browsing” ability, it’s Goodwill. Otherwise you won’t find anything you need. Trisha was looking for sweaters and clothing that she’d like. I didn’t need anything. I didn’t have extra money to burn. I looked at stuff. And I was bored. But Trisha was visiting! And she is fun! And she was having fun! And she was whipping through those sweaters like it was going out of style. And all I could smell was musty stuff that was not for me. So I had to make a decision. Would I stay or would I go?

I told Trisha I was going to wait in the car. (She knows I hate shopping.) And I told her to take her time, and that if I stayed in the store I’d probably be a killjoy. So that’s what I did. I went out to my car and read my romance novel while Trisha shopped.



Having a great Sunday. Spent it hanging at Panera and now I’m watching Torchwood Season 1 with my pal Trisha. Later we’ll probably go to bed early, because that’s how we roll.

Day off from work tomorrow. Will fill it with fun and frolic.

I am going back into time to post this, because I totally forgot to blog today. It is now after midnight but I’ve set the post to publish on the 14th not the 15th. As pennance I will tell you what I did today.

First I stayed up too late the night before reading a romance novel. Then I slept fitfully, and woke up when Edmund was looking for his car keys. (I knew where they were). Then I spent a long time taking a shower and internetting. After 11 am, my Mom informed me that my brother was visiting, so I went over to my parent’s house. I hung out there for a few hours and had a fantastic lunch with the family. Afterward, I purchased some groceries and brought them home. By mistake, I watched a stupid movie on tv (I didn’t plan on watching it, but it sucked me in nonetheless). I half-heartly cleaned a small portion of my office. I robustly attacked the mound of dishes in the sink. Then I cooked 2 different types of meatloaf (one with gluten, one without), with tons of garlic mashed potatoes. Then Edmund came home. Then Alexis Lyon came over, and we mashed the potatoes and ate dinner and then podcasted. Then Alexis and I talked some more, listened to the podcast, came up with tags, title and description for it, then published it. Then Lex went home because she was tired. And then I realized I forgot to blog today. And then I cheated. Here it is.

My mind is going a mile a minute. I started a different blag post, but then I realized I was using it as a way to not do the thing I’ve been obsessing about. I’m scheming up a storm and I need someone to show for it.

And what is this thing I’m obsessing about? It’s two things: LannaLee.com and TheMainetrix.com.

I need to get to work. Launching both in March. Details will be updated on each site and I’ll let you know about any major news here.

Once upon a time all I wanted to be was an actor. But I am a glorious ball of insecurity coupled with a working class ethic, so even though I took risks, they didn’t pan out. Besides, I wanted things like money and secure places to live. I suspect that I am right where I need to be in life, but still, I dreamed of art and stardom. [And I still consider myself an actor.]

The picture above left is of Janeane Garofalo and me in the stellar movie The Matchmaker. Janeane was the star, and I was the day player. The extra. Most of the movie was filmed in Ireland, but a few shots were filmed in the Faneuil Hall Marketplace. I was in the big group scene at the end of the movie. Janeane’s co star, David O’Hara was a charming sort. I flirted with him a bit (he also flirted with about 20 other extras; charming, I tell you). I was working a crap job in Boston at the time, and I called out sick so I could do the shoot. (I don’t think they ever found out.)

Take a look at that picture again. Looks awesome doesn’t it. I am on screen for about 5 seconds. I stood around outside in the cold for several hours to film that. It almost looks like it was planned for me to be there, doesn’t it? What really happened was that they were shooting the close-ups for another shot and they asked for volunteers to stand next to where Janeane was going to walk for her close up, my hand shot up so fast there was a sonic boom. And here I am, immortalized on film.

I was also in another film. (Well, I was in two other films, but only one other film that has an interesting story for it.) That film was Stephen King’s Graveyard Shift. Here I am pictured pretending to go into “My Trailer.” Again, I was an extra. [Extras don't get trailers. Or chairs.] I was in scenes shot in Brewer, and the night before the shoot the casting person called me and told me they needed more men. At that exact moment my dear brother Bill, who was about 19 years old, (pictured below) was visiting/moving from New York State. So I invited him to come along with me. If they still needed men, he’d get paid for the day. And if not, he could go watch a movie or something. Of course, they thought he was perfect. I think it was because he was 6’3″ tall. And a man. He looked very manly.

We were in the bar scene. I sat at the bar, eating chowda (a cold, congealed mass of ugh) and my brother was milling around holding an empty beer bottle. We both made it into the movie. For me you had to stop and rewind the tape just to make sure you didn’t miss seeing my back. My brother, however, was prominently featured. Much to my chagrin and his eternal delight.

Here are Squiggy and Lenny chillaxing as only they can do. [If you are in the market for a kitten, I suggest adopting two siblings/littermates. They have brought us so much joy.]

Had one of those days that, when I was done, I was a mass of insecurity and doubt. I blame society, man. Heart to heart with my dear husband (Edmund) helps. So do cats. so let me show you some cats.

This video is hilarious:

A mousey cat gif from I Can Has Cheezeburger:

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

And lest we forget, The internet is made of cats:

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How was your day?

If you follow me in all of my social media worlds, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and here on my blag, you might have an idea that I share everything that is going on in my life online. I say this because I’ve had people tell me, jokingly, that because of my “Twitter” or “Facebook” they know everything I am doing. [They don't.] Rest assured, I do not share my whole life online. There are things I do not feel comfortable sharing with just anyone.

So what do I share? Is there a rhyme or reason? Yes and no. Here is how I break it down.

The funny: As I’ve said before, I’m a recovering comic. This means on occasion I might post or re-post something I think is funny regardless of its offensiveness. And this also means I have deleted posts because the joke didn’t go over well or because I had second thoughts.

Work: I work. I love my job. Sometimes I have sucky days at work. But you will not see me airing my dirty laundry about problems I have at work. I might talk about how my computer is slow, or I need to reboot it AGAIN, or express frustration about some software glitch, but I make it a point to not talk about interpersonal issues at work. Fortunately, this has not been much of a stretch for me. Work is good and it’s easy to be positive about it. And make the occasional tweet about how awesome I am at crunching the data!

Personal life: Regarding posts of a personal nature, I try not to post anything about someone who might be uncomfortable with it. Edmund, my husband, is pretty open to about anything. My parents and brother too, but when my mom went into the hospital last September, she asked me to not make posts about it on Facebook because she didn’t want everyone to know. When I finally did start posting about her extended hospital stay, it was with her express permission. Again, I do not air my dirty laundry about my personal life online either. I do not bitch about my husband online, even tho sometimes he really pisses me off. I’d rather complain to him in person. Any complaining about my husband I have done online is usually composed with his knowledge and laughing consent.

I’m still trying to find my voice with this blog. What will it be. And in that vein, I wonder about secrets I am keeping from you guys. There are aspects of my life that are fun, interesting, crazy, that I just don’t share online.



My diploma is here. Proof of my six years of work.

Thanks to everyone who helped support me through this journey. Especially Edmund and my family. Thank you.