The timing of this assignment is still very strange to me. I hadn't written for 5280 in ages and they called (almost) out of the blue with an assignment on local bloggers.

I had never actually chatted up a blogger "live" before, but I spoke to several the past few days and found them quite witty and lively. (Of course I checked the blogs out first, ran through a few dozen before I settled on a handful I liked). Here are some that I spoke to and really enjoyed:

• http://www.vodkapundit.com (He's been on his longest-ever hiatus the past month, but I believe it's Monday morning that he's returning to posting, so he should be active by the time you see this. He was really a gas. I'm writing a short piece, so I'll only have room for a quote or two from him, but I have pages and pages I'd love to use. I'll try to post some of the good ones from the cutting-room floor here later. He really gives good quote. (And if you check out the "About the Blogger on his site," it's a bit out of date. He married the woman, and they're happily raising a puppy together. (And hosting other bloggers for dinner. I was interviewing him as he got ready for a dinner party for a blogging couple driving down from Ft. Collins. He's in Colorado Springs, so that's well over a two hour drive. I only hope to get so into blogging someday.)

Crap, I was just going to post the links. I've got to write my piece. It's due tomorrow and it's an actual paying gig; I must remember: blogs don't pay, blogs don't pay ...

• http://worldwiderant.com/ It's a four-man site (which is an interesting combo), but I just interviewed Andy, who lives in town and does a good bulk of the posting. He was nice enough to answer 23 questions in writing, but there's nothing like talking to a person. The written quotes were very thorough, but there's nothing like talking to a person. Much livlier that way. I never tried the email interview before and not sure I will again. We talked about that, and it's a bit intimidating, and I think people are wise to be cautious. Much easier to develop a rapport on the phone: people ease up very quickly, and everyone is funnier and more interesting when they're comfortable enough to be themselves. (And can you believe that domain wasn't taken?)
• Matthew Edgar at http://matthewedgar.blogspot.com (He's also got another site at http://www.matthewedgar.net/ ). Matthew got started early. Blogging since Nov 2001 and he just graduated college--early, just turned 21.  
• I also enjoyed Walter's Walterindenver blog at http://www.colorado.blogspot.com/ (and he helped me with several leads), but we haven't been able to connect by phone yet. Still hope to.

More on them later, but now I've got to get my piece written. I was amazed at the discipline they all have. So far it's very much an addiction to me. Need to develop some boundaries.