Writer’s Workshop: SPEECH!!!

by Mama Kat on 12/30/2009 · 66 comments

It’s really not a good idea to ask me to speak at your wedding. Yeah I sound all articulate and well spoken and crap on the blog, but in real life….not good.

At my sister Lolo’s wedding I talked about how happy I was for her and my brother in law. How I remembered the nights we sat up painting each other’s toe nails and giggling about the funny things he said or did. How I knew he was the one for her and all these years later it’s clear that I was right.

Doesn’t sound that bad, does it? And it wouldn’t be that bad…if it were true. The truth is I can’t stand feet, I never stayed up late giggling with my sister about anything, and I gave my brother in law a REALLY hard time when he was dating her.

I told him I liked her ex better and that the ex was like a brother to me and then my future brother in law said he didn’t care if I died. I considered that a personal challenge. You sure as hell WILL care if I die!! So I won him over. But I couldn’t exactly tell THAT story on their wedding day, which is why I made one up.

My little sister Baby’s wedding wasn’t SO bad…but I did announce to the lovebirds and everyone in the reception hall that Baby was “like Britney Spears” (who was off her rocker at the time) and her husband was like “Kevin Federline” (who was and is a complete douche rocket). And they’re divorced…so awesome comparison on my part.

The great thing is that instead of recognizing that speaking in front of crowds is not my “strong suit” I actually volunteer myself to humiliate myself. Have I mentioned I’m going to be at the SITS Bloggy Boot Camp in March? If you’re interested in watching me make a fool of myself in person be sure to sign up…although I’m going to attempt to do as little “talking” as possible and just more of the “drinking on the side and smiling” that I like to do.

In the spirit of wedded bliss and me not giving a speech about it, here are some recent pictures from a very dear cousin’s wedding.

LOVED her dress!

wedding reception

wedding reception

I know this is way edited, but I looked super sweaty before and now I just look blurry…and blurry is better as I always say.

Me M and C

Our table….and my brother’s number one. Apparently.

Reception Dinner

And of course I had to do a wedding dancers video part II…I do make a cameo in this one. Don’t miss it.

(Dear Lord please don’t let my uncle kill me for that last clip. Amen).

Now it’s your turn!

Choose a prompt, post it on your blog, and come back and sign Mr. Linky. Be sure to sign up with the actual post URL and not just your basic blog URL (click on the title of your post for that URL). For good comment karma try to comment on the three blogs above your name!!

The Prompts:

1.) Your pet wants to guest post on your blog.

2.) You wake up one day with an unusual super power that seems pretty worthless—until you are caught in a situation that requires that specific “talent.”

3.) Write about a speech you gave at a wedding.

4.) Write a letter to someone you received poor customer service from.

5.) It’s time to list your New Year’s resolutions for 2010.

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Facebook comments:

{ 47 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Alicia December 30, 2009 at 11:50 pm

yo yo yo kat! HAPPY NEW YEAR WOMAN!!! i’m off to go watch the video of the wedding dancers getting their groove on!

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2 Dan December 30, 2009 at 11:58 pm

Now you know why I don’t do wedding speeches!

Happy New Year!

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3 Kimmy December 31, 2009 at 12:01 am

Yep, I’m with you. I don’t do speaches either. I’m better off picking fights with people. That’s the only way I can talk loud in a group of people. hee hee! Or just get a few drinks in me and call it good :O)

Okay, off to bed now.

Happy New Year!

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4 Holly L December 31, 2009 at 12:19 am

Wedding speeches are tough…it is so hard to come up with something meaningful and truthful to say and appeal to so many! Love the wedding photos.

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5 BJ_Mama December 31, 2009 at 12:59 am

Wedding Dancer=my true calling. Thank you for highlighting this underrated profession.

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6 Maya December 31, 2009 at 1:03 am

Hahaha! I had nightmares about giving a speech at my best girlfriend’s wedding for months before hand. I seriously considered paying one of those companies to write it for me!

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7 Karen & Gerard Zemek December 31, 2009 at 1:48 am

How funny that you actually made up that wedding speech! I like the true story even better! I would love to go to the SITS Bloggy Boot Camp just to meet you in person–you are one of my top favorite bloggers, always crack me up and also helpful with that writer’s workshop prompts and links too! Since I don’t travel though, I won’t be going. Maybe sometime they’ll come to Cleveland and then I could go. Have a very happy New Year!

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8 Jen @ buried with children December 31, 2009 at 3:39 am

Having seen you speak in person, I saw just stick with the drinking and smiling is a good plan.

Kidding.

You were a great speaker, Cynthia.

;)

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9 Melissa B. December 31, 2009 at 4:23 am

Lovely…I’d reminisce about my own wedding, if I could remember it at all. Happy end of the decade!

Sleeping Beauty

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10 Rhonda December 31, 2009 at 5:41 am

Am I the only one who noticed (or dared to comment) that the one poor dancing dude looked like he was eager to get a little something from behind? lol

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11 Raine December 31, 2009 at 6:20 am

HAHA! I wrote about hating my SIL :D

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12 June Freaking Cleaver December 31, 2009 at 6:22 am

Gee, makes me kinda sad that I can finally stop marrying losers, since I found a good one this time – I’d totally pay your airfare to speak at my wedding!

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13 Charlene December 31, 2009 at 6:45 am

Oh, the dancing is hilarious!

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14 Stephanie December 31, 2009 at 6:55 am

I have never had to give a speech at a wedding and now I know I never will, thank you for clearing up that question!

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15 Natalie December 31, 2009 at 7:16 am

Oh, I’m SOOO glad I’ve never had to give a wedding speech. Scares me!

I bet yours were awesome though!

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16 erica December 31, 2009 at 7:23 am

“You should put that video on YouTube!”

Classic.

I love watching people dance at weddings so much that I insisted there be NO VIDEO at my wedding. I’m sorry I even allowed “flash photography.”
Oy.

Can’t wait to hear you at Blogger Boot Camp in March!

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17 Emmy December 31, 2009 at 7:45 am

Yeah some nice comparisons there :) So far I am yet to speak at a wedding… hmm I wonder if that says something about me. :)

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18 JennyMac December 31, 2009 at 7:46 am

You and your sis are fabulous! Happy New Year MK.

And does your Uncle know yet about the vid?

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19 Summer December 31, 2009 at 8:08 am

Oh you POOR thing! You’re related to that man?

Kidding.

He’s fabulous, and I can see where you get your great dance moves.

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20 Jennifer December 31, 2009 at 8:27 am

I’ve only had to do one at my brother’s wedding and it was super sappy about how I remember him coming home from the hospital and how he was MY baby and how much I loved him and blah, blah, blah, and then I ended with, “and now I have a sister.” Isn’t that sweet?

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21 Connie Weiss December 31, 2009 at 9:02 am

Between the clips you’ve been posting and those folks that did the awesome wedding march thing this summer….I want to get remarried! Well, you know…to the same guy. Not someone else. Cuz that would be sad for my kids and my husband might not like that.

I’m trying to bribe someone into video taping you in Baltimore for me. Cuz I can’t make it. You’re going to be awesome!!

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22 AllisonO December 31, 2009 at 9:07 am

This is my first time on this link up! Thanks for hosting, Kat!

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23 Kathy December 31, 2009 at 9:36 am

Kat that was great! Loved ALL your cameo appearances in the video :)

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24 3 Men & a Lady December 31, 2009 at 10:24 am

LOL, Kevin and Britney!! Good one ;-) And your cousin is a beautiful bride! I love your brother’s #1 pose.

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25 Trudy December 31, 2009 at 10:27 am

I love the wedding dancers…if I weren’t already married I would totally want you to give a speech.

Happy New Year!

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26 Jessica December 31, 2009 at 10:48 am

Hey Kat….YOU SHOULD PUT THAT ON YOOUUU TUBE!

:)

Happy New Year, my bloggy friend! Hope it’s a blast.

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27 Foursons December 31, 2009 at 10:57 am

Hahaha “You should put that on YouTube. OK, I will.” Bawahahahahahaha!

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28 Lynsey December 31, 2009 at 11:53 am

My daughter LOVED the video on your post. She loves “moogat” (music) and dancing. I’ll be able to come back and play it again when she starts throwing a fit…

You have single-handedly saved my sanity today! I grovel at your feet. :)

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29 Stephanie@The Blue Zoo December 31, 2009 at 12:10 pm

Yea, I dont think anyone is dumb enough or brave enough to ask me to do a speech at their wedding!!

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30 Margaret (Nanny Goats) December 31, 2009 at 12:52 pm

Howdy, NYE resolution blog post pardner!

I’m beginning to feel that the most fabulous thing about us humliating ourselves is that we get to blog about it.

Happy New year, dahlin’!

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31 Erin December 31, 2009 at 1:25 pm

Hey I have this wedding to go to next month and I’ll pay you 50 bucks to dress up like a Disney Princess AND do my speech for me? Deal? hahaha

I’m sooo bad at speeches when it comes to being all sappy, but yet they asked me to be on the speech and debate team in college, go figure! Apparently I argue better than I speak!

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32 Gina December 31, 2009 at 1:34 pm

You really likened your sister to Brit?! That is hilarious. I loved your prompts this week. Happy New Year, sister!

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33 Lourie December 31, 2009 at 2:51 pm

Love the video and the pictures. I haven’t had to give a wedding speech ever….and since I am the youngest it probably won’t happen. At least until my kids get married and then I will be too choked up to do anything but stand their and blubber like a fool.

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34 ann tracy December 31, 2009 at 4:42 pm

ummm… I hope that your uncle will still speak to you too ;~D

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35 sarah-caiafa craziness December 31, 2009 at 6:41 pm

looks like you all had a great time. public speaking is not my strong suit either

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36 momlissa December 31, 2009 at 6:48 pm

Nice moves, GIRL! Happy New Year!

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37 Tracy P. December 31, 2009 at 9:01 pm

So I’m totally experimenting here. Mr. Linky approves of me. Let’s see if Wordpress will.

And, Amen. ;-)

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38 Liz January 1, 2010 at 9:47 am

Great prompts! Thanks for helping those of us who are brain dead in the mornings!

I love your blog!!!

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39 stephanie January 1, 2010 at 10:46 am

you know, there is just something about the way you write that makes me want to be friends with not just you, but your whole family. you guys seem completely awesome. :)

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40 Jenners January 1, 2010 at 6:29 pm

I’m kind of inarticulate in person as well … but at least I’m not a liar!! HAHA! Joke!

And I didn’t have time to do Writer’s Workshop so I didn’t even check the prompts but it turns out I did it anyway (I did my goals for 2010).

happy new year!

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41 Queen of Feisty January 2, 2010 at 1:35 pm

Love the Uncle at the end. Traditional Uncle dance!

I let my dog guest post. I have a feeling my animals guest posting will be a new thing to do. THanks for the idea!

Feisty

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42 Shell January 2, 2010 at 6:02 pm

It couldn’t have been that bad! My bil’s toast at my wedding was horrid. At the end of it, he didn’t even toast us, he just said, “uh, yeah” and walked away!

I’m sure you’ll do fine at SITScation! I’m trying to get there!

I have such an odd problem. I SUCK one-on-one, but if there’s no sound system and you need someone to jump up on a chair and get the attention of everyone in the room and tell them that it’s time to start- I’m your girl. Weird, right?

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43 Erin January 2, 2010 at 6:37 pm

OMG! Just re-found you!
Thank god!

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44 S Club Mama January 2, 2010 at 8:19 pm

Kat, do you have a new button for this blog?

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45 This Mama Works It! January 3, 2010 at 12:52 pm

It is funny. About 90% of my job is public speaking in front of college students. Which I love to do and I can do very naturally and easily. But get me in front of my peers or family and I turn bright red and start stuttering like a drunken fool. My sister actually wanted me to speak at her wedding and I just couldn’t do it I was freaking out. it is very weird. But hey at least I can do it at my job and since they are the ones that pay me that’s all that matters. Right? Well that’s what i tell myself anyway. :)

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46 Monica January 3, 2010 at 1:29 pm

I could not figure out why you didn’t mention that you were sitting at the table with Matthew Perry, then I got it.
Seriously, he looks exactly like Matthew Perry. Does anyone else see this?

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47 Teresa January 3, 2010 at 7:42 pm

I’m an introvert as well. My words flow much better on paper than in public. I probably should have written my speech and “read” it at each of my sister’s weddings. All of that rambling is now just a memorable blur.

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