MY FIRST COMPLAINT!!!

January 20, 2015 125 Comments

NOT MY FIRST person to UN~SUBSCRIBE to VINTAGE HEN HOUSE as I get that on almost EVERY POST I DO………BUT my first e~mail telling me that MY CAPS and EXCLAMATION MARKS are bothersome………….

HERE YOU GO from the source HERSELF!I received this e~mail about two weeks ago.

“I enjoy your blog but unsubscribed as I find the language use so bizarre as to be a complete distraction. Is there some rationale/purpose/method to the punctuation and capitalization?”

In my response I did say I write the way I TALK, so if you know me YOU MOST LIKELY GET IT!Or as my dear friend JAN said, “I CAN HEAR YOU SPEAKING WHEN I READ YOUR BLOG!”

If YOUR My BLOGGING buddy PENELOPE BIANCHI the response was this:

It is purely a REFLECTION of your PERSONALITY!!!

She is trying to make you FIT INTO A BOX of her making!(frankly….it is hard to do those caps and stuff)I couldn’t do it;but it truly does…..(do you agree?If not, don’t say it!)(I know you wouldn’t!!!!)

I hope you will post it just like I said using your caps the way you do…..and NEVER NEVER NEVER stop writing the way YOU DO!

WE LOVE YOU

IT IS you!

No, one can imitate you!I cap all the wrong things…….You are the master of the caps and exclamation points……how sad for her.

XXOO

PENNY

I recently was mentioned on a BLOG called HAVE SOME DECORUM and one of ELEANOR’s commentors EXPLAINED me PERFECTLY!

Let me see if I can COPY & PASTE that here for you to see!

“And lastly, Contessa’s selective CAPS mystified me until I read her blog. Now I understand it as an exuberant act of emphasis and love how lighthearted it is. It’s like talking with some carefree woman at a party after she’s had 1/2 glass too much rosé. It’s nice to read a voice in a blog that’s not trying to be anything other than ITSELF :)”

I was so touched by this as this is from a MAN I have never met,but who understands me perfectly!

SO, do my CAPS Bother YOU?

Should I STOP at one exclamation point or give the REAL meaning of what I am saying with a FEW more?

MY DEAR FRIEND ELEANOR had this to say…………..

Side note: you may know my friend Elizabeth as La Contessa. My friend RJ calls her “All CAPS Contessa” as she distinguishes her writing with perfectly placed capitalization that I love. I have to tell you, this woman is quite remarkable. She is quirky, kind, generous, loving, interesting, forthcoming, a true friend, and is an absolutely magically unique woman. She has a charming blog that you all should check out:

THANKS RJ………….you made MY DAY as well.

As for MADAME ELEANOR sitting over YONDER in PARIS……………..I CANNOT THANK YOU enough!I had over 4065 people PEEKING at MY BLOG because of YOU!!!!!!

YOU HAVE quite THE FOLLOWING!!!!!!!

AS for MADAME PENELOPE……….who came to MY rescue when I wasNOT certain how to respond to this query.Well, let me tell you…………….

Penelope is a FORCE……….she LOVES to comment on BLOGS and has VERY GOOD TASTE!

She lives in a REAL HOUSE!(NOT TO BIG!)

A house she had built and decorated on HER OWN.

She is a DECORATOR EXTORDINAIRE!

Her Home has BEAUTIFUL things but is LIVED IN!

It is NOT UN~TOUCHABLE……………it is REAL.

She reminds ME of MYSELF in so MANY ways.

We both have chickens,dogs and cats.

Married ITALIAN MEN.

Have DEFINATE IDEAS On the way THINGS need TO BE!

She adores FESTIVITY CROWNS…….and if YOU GOOGLE FESTIVITY CROWNS she POPS UP!

We both wear our CROWNS out in PUBLIC!

I could go ON and ON about PENELOPE but why don’t YOU pop over to her site and say HELLO.

Her Blog has been recently RE~VAMPED by a techy genius’s so saunder over and take a PEEK.

Do say THE VINTAGE CONTESSA sent you……..as that will be my NEW NAME for the NEW YEAR!

Click Here FOR PENELOPE’s BLOG………check out the DUCK POND!

I am VINTAGE 55 this year and since LA CONTESSA was taken by a shop back EAST I decided this WILL DO!I will be changing my BLOG SITE to READ:THE VINTAGE CONTESSA, so if that lands in YOUR inbox just know it is I with a NEW NAME but still VERY much ME!

The VINTAGE HEN HOUSE is retiring……………since I closed the shop almost TWO YEARS AGO I thought it was time to LET GO!

I hope YOU will continue to FOLLOW me and my EXCLAMATION points!!!!

125 Comments

Leave your reply.

French Basketeer
· Reply

April 22, 2015 at 11:50 AM

Oh how did I miss this post!?? Your use of CAPS is a true and honest expression of yourself…it’s YOU and when I read your blog I do indeed hear you talking to me. Reminds me of when ppl like to comment on a typo or some small nit. I suppose they are trying to be helpful, but if they don’t get the caps or don’t like it, I agree, move on….the rest of us all get it, we get you and we LOVE you and all your charms! Have a lovely week; I know it’s a ton of work to get ready for the big Show this weekend!!
D. A. Wolf
· Reply

February 3, 2015 at 6:30 AM

I am so sorry it has taken me so long to come to this post. I have been working night and day for one client and dealing with seemingly endless connectivity problems. But enough about that. I must admit that I too was a little mystified at your caps initially. Not bothered, simply trying to interpret. And the more I read the more I began to enjoy what felt like such enthusiasm and an effusive personality that was – and is -an absolute delight.

Penelope is quite right, and by the way I’m going to go check out her blog. Do not allow anyone to put you in a box! Do not change! You are a very welcome breath of fresh air in a world that is all too inauthentic, too homogeneous, and too self-conscious. You are perfect exactly as you are and I for one am delighted to have encountered you in the blogosphere.

xo
Lindy - NYC
· Reply

February 2, 2015 at 11:09 AM

Well!!!! I had considered writing you to tell you of the effect your CAPS are having on my life so clearly the time has come.

I also use caps. Not as much as you :), but I find they are Most Useful. Over the last couple of years I’ve come across people (not anyone I know, fortunately) commenting that they really don’t like caps and they take it as someone screaming at them. I never thought of it like that because it’s all in how you use them. However, I think I did tone them down just a bit so as not to offend.

Recently my husband was promoted. He now oversees three restaurants and sometimes six so he is not able to have direct communication with the employees all the time and he depends a lot on emails in which he sometimes uses CAPS to emphasize important things. Just before the holidays he was told that his use of caps was offending some people and was asked to Tone It Down.

That provoked some lengthy discussion between us about the use, or not, of CAPS while we were at our annual Christmas Eve dinner at Balthazar in NYC having a fine time stuffing ourselves with the most succulent oysters and a bottle of champagne. I contributed my feelings on the matter as he did his plus I told him about your writing style and the exuberance and humor it expresses and how it always leaves me feeling plumped up, lighter in spirit. After some consideration we agreed then and there that we didn’t want to live in the flat grey world of monotone communication and that we want to live with gusto and joie de vivre (“Toujours Gai” has always been our motto), and so we wrote out our new MANIFESTO right there on the paper tablecloth – that from now on we are going to be PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN CAPITOL LETTERS!!!!!!! We ripped it off the table as we left, took it home and posted it on our refrigerator.

Amitiés, Lindy NYC

P.S. 1: I definitely HEAR YOU when you write. I GET IT and I’m obviously not the only one. You are a blazing star on a brilliant trajectory. It would seem that’s too much for some people. Pay no mind.

P.S. 2: DON’T CHANGE!!!!!!!!!!!!
fabiana
· Reply

January 31, 2015 at 8:53 AM

This is hilarious! I love the way you write, Bring on the CAPS!!!

I loved your photos on Instagram of Andrea’s class. I am so inspired by you both.

CIAO!
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  January 31, 2015 at 6:06 PM
  
  CIAO FABIANA……
  Alhora, dove abita?In ITALIA or STATESIDE?I am SO HAPPY you GOT ME!
  Hilarious is a GOOD word PER IO!
Karena
· Reply

January 29, 2015 at 8:12 AM

Dear Elizabeth,
I did not receive your email with contact info for some reason. Now would you believe I cannot remember what I wanted to ask you about!
It will come to me I am sure. So excited to see pics from Andrea’s visit and class!

xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
cindy hattersley
· Reply

January 29, 2015 at 7:34 AM

Oh dear…I am glad that lady doesn’t read my blog…I write like I talk as well…see I just did it!!
Marsha @ Splenderosa
· Reply

January 27, 2015 at 8:36 PM

OMG, Contessa, there are so many tiresome and boring people in our world. Just DELETE their comment and go on about your lovely day. Look how many comments you’ve received today, therefore, most of us love love LOVE you!!!
- Penelope Bianchi
  · Reply
  
  January 27, 2015 at 9:37 PM
  
  RIGHTO!!!!
  
  I did encourage her to publish that comment!!
  It hurt MY feelings!!!
  
  I am glad she did!!!!
  
  XXOO I’m delighted you like my subject!!! EEEEEK!!!!
Sunday Taylor
· Reply

January 27, 2015 at 11:17 AM

YES I WILL!!!
Merisi in Vienna
· Reply

January 27, 2015 at 10:59 AM

BLESS her LITTLE heart! 😉

THANK YOU so much for leaving such kind comments on my blog.
Cheers,
Merisi
contessa
· Reply

January 23, 2015 at 8:16 AM

YOU sound like my OWN personal CHEERLEADER!!!!Then again YOU have seen ME GROW UP!!!!!!!!XX
Jo Ann Hartley
· Reply

January 22, 2015 at 7:47 PM

Honestly, some people have no sense of creativity, excitement or fun.
Your writing is so much a part of who you are, creative , exciting all around fabulous.
I love you, girl friend!
Piedmont Pembroke Parent
· Reply

January 22, 2015 at 4:37 PM

Ma chere Contessa, addressed in the new year as La Vintage Contessa,

Please do not change your style! I agree with Linda. Your writing is energetic and wakes me up, shakes me up and puts a SMILE on my face with every “read”.

Your caps are pure animation, sprinkled with enthusiasm. I am a HUGE fan. Occasionally, I adopt your style. See, you are a role model. However, I will always be tame compared to you, a master in the art of making people feel really good about themselves! I laugh a lot when I read your blog.

The criticism was petty and undeserved. Don’t change a thing! I can’t wait for the next romp. It might be anywhere and it will be filled with excitement, good cheer and smashing photos full of color and no doubt some blooms!

Ciao!

PPP
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  January 23, 2015 at 8:15 AM
  
  MERCI……….MERCI……….
  I promise I willNOT change!!!
  XO
contessa
· Reply

January 22, 2015 at 6:03 AM

VIA EMAIL:

Was horrified at that complaint . Poor woman thinks small obviously , no largesse. You have influenced MOI & it’s SO engaging thank you ! My French furniture finally arrived the costs just kept adding up! Next time will use my head NOT my heart but hey , have to b a trifle mad soKeep up your positive , engaging blog , too many of us know it makes our day, our week!
Cheers Ros
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  January 23, 2015 at 8:13 AM
  
  YOU are a DOLL………The FRENCH furniture LOOKS FANTASTIC!As you knew it would!AS you said, sometimes WE need to LISTEN to our HEART and NOT our POCKETBOOKS!I am GUILTY of that on occasion!!!XX
Linda
· Reply

January 21, 2015 at 11:51 PM

Well, Contessa, your “complete distraction” in the form of a CAP here and there actually helped me out of a funk. My mom just passed away and through some internet magic,I landed on your blog. After reading a few posts, I felt a little better. You are a healer. BLESS YOU!
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  January 22, 2015 at 5:56 AM
  
  OH,LINDA!
  I have been CALLED many THINGS but NOT a HEALER!!
  The INTERNET MAGIC has done it’s JOB and perhaps YOUR MAMA had something to do with THAT!
  BE WELL…………XX
suzanna
· Reply

January 21, 2015 at 7:02 PM

MERCI Elizabeth…Hugs & LOVE YOU…rock N roll…caps, no caps, MO caps..matters none…XxOo
Catherine
· Reply

January 21, 2015 at 5:42 PM

Elizabeth, aka “AC Contessa”,

I am so accustomed to reading your posts on your blog and comments on Ellie’s blog with ALL YOUR CAPS, that to see a comment or post from you without them would have me worrying that you were ill or something was wrong! Be yourself, you’re wonderful!

Btw, the east coast’s La Contessa had her shop was just around the corner from where I had my design studio when I was in Baltimore….
xo, Catherine
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  January 21, 2015 at 5:59 PM
  
  REALLY????I do believe thats correct………next time YOU see HER you might mention that caused a bit of ANGUISH over here in CALIFORNIA!!!!I wonder if she would sell it to ME!SOMEHOW I doubt it!WHAT A SMALL WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!
  XOXO
foodiefan
· Reply

January 21, 2015 at 5:09 PM

WELL THAT IS WHO YOUR ARE…..you bring joie de vivre into all your writings.
Joie de vivre ( joy of living ) is to express a cheerful enjoyment; an exultation of spirit……and THAT pretty much sums up who you are!
Elizabeth, you are an unique individual that no one would EVER be able to copy and I’m so pleased that you haven’t changed the way you write! Bring on more exclamations….I love using them! Your new blog name describes exactly who you are so I’m looking forward to reading the next blog from Vintage Contessa. xox
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  January 21, 2015 at 5:28 PM
  
  I FIXED That SLIP UP DARLINKA that YOU mentioned in your second COMMENT!
  LOVE what you have said about ME!!!HOW DO I THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
  XOXOXO