Those who are hating on Heather B Armstrong, you are just jealous. You want to be like her, just admit it. Fuckers! Leave her alone.

295 comments? Wow!
Heather you go girl! Don't let those that act like they are *holier than thou* get you down.

please ignore all redundancies. thank you.

My husband asked me, the other day, why I read the blog and comments on this site so much. Your incredible post today, Heather, is the answer to that question in a nutshell.

I found your site by accident. Until a few months agoI had never even heard of you. I knew 'blogs' were out there, but never looked into it. The first time I read one of your stories I was hooked.

As a fellow Shit Ass Ho Mutherfucker, I truly admire your bravery. You tell it completely like it is. Depression is not an easy thing to talk about. PPD is even more difficult. It made it even harder, for me, when everyone around me was telling me how happy I *should* be with my beautiful baby girl. I talked the talk, but hated my life. Not my child, but my life.

Thanks to meds and a whole lot of growing up, things changed. Like you, I still have my moments, days, weeks, but thank you so much for having the guts to tell it like it is. You are strong, girl. Thank you for sharing it all with us.

As for all of you 'Dooceaholics'

(aka 'the Dooce Posse)

LOVE YA! You guys rock.

It's really amazing that you can read about someone's life online so much that you feel that you are actually close to that person... yet, that person has no idea you exist.

But, Heather, you rock. And I admire you. Alot.

Dooce,
That is a great post. Thank you. I haven't been as active on your comments board as I would like, but I do check the site everyday and absolutely adore you and your family. (and the extended family known as the daily commenters) There are parts of your life that I can totally not relate to, but there are others that I most definately understand where you are coming from.

Keep up the great work!!

Heather, maybe it's time to implement a forum? The level of control over content would increase and you could enlist some of the happy-friendly-known commenters to be moderators (if it came down to needing moderation). good luck, my fiancee and i both read and love your site... she has me read you to her to put her to sleep at night sometimes too. Oh, after Jon started growing his beard, and your female-commenters voiced their approval I too started growing one. My girly definitely likes it, which absolutely goes against everything i've been taught by girls. thanks.

(Just like the rest of us, I wish I could comment elsewhere, dooce, so I'm commenting here.)

As a fellow sufferer of depression and its scathing, degrading effects, kudos to you for being brave and rational enough to get help so you can be the best person you can for yourself (and your (adorable) daughter and husband).

As a fellow fired-for-blogging blogger, more kudos to you for taking responsibility for your public comments and being honest about the whole situation.

And finally, as a fellow irreverent, tell-it-like-it-is, fuck-your-sacred-cows blogger, your site is now on my blogroll (and will be more prominent on my new design); you make me laugh!

Charity - Many thanks for sharing the Over the Rhine link. My daughter is sitting on my lap dancing, and telling me to play it again.

Just wanted to add my voice to the supporters. I am an expectant mother, a sufferer of chronic depression and a writer of no note -I come here daily for inspiration, and find it. I also have a rocker of a husband who I hope grows up to be just like Jon. Keep on with the keepin' on!

Wait a sec... you mean, I could get FIRED? For BLOGGING?
Nuh-uh.

Heather -- to use a phrase that is so 90s -- YOU ROCK! Don't ever change and PLEASE don't stop writing.

p.s. people who insult babies should have their ears sliced with a manilla envelope and then doused with lemon juice.

If homosexuals come out of the closet, do ham-o-sexuals come out of the smoke house?

Thanks to Circus Kelli's earlier suggestion (11:53AM), I have had Barry Manilo songs invading my train of thought ALL DAY LONG...and I don't know that many of his songs!?! I wish ABBA (I love ABBA) had stuck instead, but no, it had to be Barry all-day-long Manilo. Tonight, I have 3 hrs of night class to look forward to - can anyone suggest a GOOD "gets stuck in your head" kind of song?

Anne, to those of us who know Barry more intimately, he is affectionately called Barry all-NIGHT-long Manilow.

For Heather -
Although a sappy confession, indeed, since my discovery of your website (recommended by my boyfriend's ex-wife), I think about you every day - crazy, but true. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION!

On the weekends (unable to take a peek while at work), I'll even disable my Norton Antivirus, just so I can see your photos. (And I am absolutely paranoid when it comes to comp. viruses...)

Once I had the chance to check in again today, your sappiest post for today had me crying (once again). Thank you for sharing your life.

And the line "but sometimes even the dead place inside of me isn’t big enough to hold the hurt" just about sent me over the edge. Plus, it's probably just the wine. You know.

The Newsletters (written monthly to Leta by her Mama) are priceless! Invaluable! If you haven't read EVERY SINGLE ONE, I highly recommend them - and get yourself a box of Kleenex before you begin. They're absolutely overflowing with motherly love!

Oh dooce. I love you. You are the best mother and writer and wife ever. Your blog is the most awesome I have ever read and if I have ever written anything that even remotely came across as rude, please- please forgive me. You are so brave and honest and terribly gifted. Thank you for making my world brighter by having this site. hugs!

I love your site, cowbell and all! I think that you and Jon seem to be excellent parents. I can relate to you so much. Don't listen to the haters. Everyone I know who reads this site loves you & what you are doing.

My fiiiirrst love,
You’re every breath that I take
You’re every step I make

And IIIIIIIIIIIII.....

not like you'll read this, but if you or your friend beth are reading a comment you don't like, please don't waste your time and take it to heart. just immediately tell the poster to GO SCREW.

I'll hold you close in my arms
I can't resist your charms
And love
Oh love
I'll be a fool for you
I'm sure

.....now if that doesn't proove allegiance to Dooce, DJ Blurb, Frog Baby and the Commenting Collective of the Blurbodoocery, I don't know what will

I don't usually sink to Lionel levels until grossly befouling myself with Scotch

I guess it is love

This is one of the reasons why I LOVE this site. GirlA, you know me toooooo well. Yes, that was me! : ) Just call me "Splotchy!" LMAO!

my cat weighs 25 pounds. so there. anyone who has a problem with dooce can direct their hate mail at me! i have an obese cat! and it's all my fault!

Carol,
I thought sooooo.

Well, since I know what yours looks like, here's my O Face:
http://photos1.blogger.com/img/245/2739/200/monkey.jpg

Girl A.- I'm all randy now.

Heather, I love your Sappy entry! It's true that people can be mean and cruel and downright hateful. I think that it can be easy to forget how much this is true when you live behind the veneer of politeness that covers most of our interactions with each other. Being so "out there" in a world of anonymity you become a target of all this human waste that floats around. My hope for you and your family is that you are also the recipients of the goodness and comfort that people can bring as well. Blessings.

Heather, you're writing and website are amazing.I finally had to say "thank you". I know for a fact that my online community of women and amazing friends have discovered your writing, your candor and deeply appreciate it. Todays entry made me all tear-y eye'd. (That and the curry I'm making.) Someday I'll let you know how my life along with my childs, became an open book. In the end, it was the most amazing thing (I pray) to ever happen to me. Leta is a wonder, stand strong. The trolls are only that.

Alaska Danielle,

She's like one of those flower toys that starts wiggling whenever music comes on or someone says the word "dance." We'll just have to steer her away from the scary-looking BYOB XXX bar in town.

And since you mentioned it... how do you see post numbers? How clever is that?

I, too, turn red when I drink alcohol. I also get hot and headachy. This is a relatively recent phenomenon and it Pisses. Me. Off.

But not as much as whoever/whatever wrote/said mean things about you and your family. I know it doesn't help a lot, but you amaze me daily. I not only read your site, but I also talk about it with several of my friends and pass along the witty things you say.

You and Jon and Leta and Chuck are all so lucky to have each other. And we are SO lucky you choose to share yourself with us. I don't know what I did before reading this site.

(Also, I have been away all day, so I have no idea what happened earlier and I think I'd rather not know. Hopefully what I'm saying here makes sense in the context of what I am ignorant about.)

WHAT THE HELL. I'm discovering way too many Shan's lately. I'm supposed to be the only one. Pfft.

Your "sappy" entry made me cry a little. I feel silly saying this to someone I don't "really" know, but I hurt for you. Even though I'll probably never be fortunate enough to meet you in person, your site has become such an everyday part of my life, that it feels like we're old pals now. And whenever a friend is in pain, I hurt for them.

I know this comment will be lost in the sea of comments you're receiving tonight. And, actually, that's great. I'm so glad everyone is showing their support and letting you know how you affect all of our lives. I hope you'll come back and read all the positive comments here next time some jackass sends hatred your way.

God bless you, Heather B. Armstrong. (My youngest daughter's middle name is Brooke, too.)

And, to quote Mr. Turtle Dude in _Finding Nemo_ ..."You so totally ROCK!"

Thanks, Heather, for not signing off of blogging when a lesser woman would've shut all of us bozos out long ago.

Dooce.com -- your best source of poop and monkey lovin'. But don't ever mix the two, lest you have dung a-flyin'.

This one time, on my blog, I wrote an entry about how I think I'm a horrible person and how I'm working really really hard on trying to be more tolerating and accepting and less critical and I am working on being a nicer person who loves everyone instead of being mean to them.

Then, the next morning, I woke up and did my round-abouts online. My email, my favorite blogs (yours included, dooce - every morning!), etc, and finally, I got to my own site to check it for any comments that had been left over night. In my chatterbox (where anyone can leave any comment - with name or anonymously) someone left a comment that said "Are you sure you're working on the person you are, because it doesn't seem like it to me" - obviously this person knew me and I can just tell you how much it cut like a knife to read that. I know you know what I mean.

I have a history with people writing things to/about me so immediately it struck a cord. When I found out that it was one of my neighbours in residence, one of the girls I was moving in with the following year, someone I had entered into a contract with to LIVE with everyday for at least a year, my heart was broken and my trust for her was lost for good.

I know how you feel, Heather.. I get numerous comments that tell me how funny I am, or supportive comments or funny comments and comments from friends and family... but it's those few that stick out and hurt the most. It's hard to ignore them.

I am sorry that people out there don't value your site (and you! and Leta! and Jon!) the way that I do. I have been a faithful reader (and sometimes commentor) on your site for almost 2 years and I guess people who can't relate to you just feel the need to hurt you because they're jealous that they don't get the readership that you do, or can't express themselves the way you do and they have to hurt you in the places that they know you're the most vulnerable or unsure of.

Please remember that there are HUNDREDS of us out there who love your site (and you! and Leta! and Jon!) and who value your opinion and view on life and that any of us would fight to the death to get rid of those jerks who feel the need to weigh in on your life.

You are doing a great job, and you are a great person and a great talent. We support you.. and we hate those jerks that make you question yourself, those jerks that make you cry, those jerks who hurt you to make themselves feel better!

I hope that we posters continue to make you feel a bit better and that you continue sharing your life with us despite those jerks who are trying to scare you away!

take care of yourself (and Leta! and Jon!)

xox

My dad's entire face turns red. Especially when he drinks Stingers, which are his favorite.

HEATHER B., THIS IS GOD.

YOU'RE A GOOD KID.

THAT IS ALL.

OUTWEIGH!

Never commented b4 but I've been watching for a bit. Dooce, what I like about you the most is that you always seem to get back on your feet after taking a hit. Thats the important thing isn't it?? Every pic of Leta reminds me of how I should drop in and visit my 8mth old niece more often.

Happy belated b-day blotchy and enough about Kenny Rogers. Lets talk about Neil Young.....

"oh to live on....sugar mountain..."

If I could only get more than four comments a day. . . . Send your hate mail to me. I will take care of them. :) Don't let them bother you!

Yasmin. You georgeous tan hussy you. I will comment on your site that you are a blond tan surfing hussy woman! I AM NOT JEALOUS, you amply bossomed woman who is a hussy. ;)

I don't usually comment, because I for some reason think that the 1st comment will matter but the 381st won't. But I just want to say that:

a.I've been reading your blog everyday for the past 2 months
b. I think you're a beautiful person with a beautiful family
c. I don't know why anybody would say mean things about you or your family
and d. I have a pointy chin too.

Heather, you are such an inspiration to so many people. I actually hurt for you when I read your post. Leta will know her Mom is one helluvan awesome broad when she gets older (even without the blog)...just remember this quote from Dr. Seuss (which was given to your friend Beth by Lori)...today is the first time I've 'heard' it and have literally thought about it all day anywho:
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
--Dr. Seuss

PS--WE LOVE YOU IN OHIO!! and thanks for letting us post comments, make friends, and just be NUTS :)

You are quite simply the bravest, funniest most honest woman I don't know.

Heather, I'm your Luca Brasi; I'm your Doc Holliday. Somebody fucks with you, just tap me on the shoulder and say "take care of this", and consider it done.

You are way too cool to be toyed with.

First time poster, long time reader. Love your show.

I've only commented on your site once before, but I've often started comments and then deleted them because I hate to sound like I'm fawning. This time I'm going to overcome that and say what I think.

I don't get people who take potshots at those who poke their heads over the barricades and take the risks for the rest of us. Don't they understand that by being out there and open and honest you make it that little bit easier for everyone else to do the same? And that's a VERY good thing.

I have to thank you and Jon (and Leta ... and Chuck) for your sites. Your blogs have become daily reading for my partner & I and helped us through the toughest year of our lives - our son's first one. When things are bad it helps immensely to read your posts and know that neither of us is going mad and we're not the only new parents to find it difficult, scarey and bewildering. I wish I could write as openly, honestly and as well about my struggles, but I can't. I'm bloody glad that you can. Keep doing it, don't ever think of stopping - at least until a really good book deal comes along, or maybe a film. Who do you think should play you?

Cathi (#358) - You can see the numbers if you change your browser. I use Mozilla (mozilla.com), but you can also see them in Netscape. The downloads are free, so hop to it!

That fact that you have an XXX bar in town that is BYOB absolutely cracks me up.

Heather,
I'm so glad I found your site. I can't remember when I found it or how or why but I'm so very glad I did. I come in here every single day and enjoy your writing so very much. Thank you.

Love your blog. But seriously, the same thing happens to my husband, and it's because he's allergic to beer or the sulfites in the beer. Use caution, Dear Shan. Keep writing, Heather!

So... close... to 400 comments. Must... reach. Can't let beer-rash or brainless weasil mail stop us. Must... go on. Live to blog. Blog to live!!! (3)

Cathi - DUDE. We definitely have some strippage here (Great Alaskan Bush Company, Crazy Horse, Fantasies...er, uh, so I hear) but, sadly, none of them are 'bring your own beer'.

If the military doesn't jerk you around too much, where in Alaska will you be?

My sister found your site many months ago after she Googled her name (Heather) and she thought that I would like to read your blog since I was going through some of the same things you were (babies, boobs, etc). I have been a "fan" ever since, and was ever so pleased to find out your name is Heather Brooke, as my sister is Heather and I am Brooke!

Now that I read that it's sounds kinda bad, I meant that with love. Lots and lots of love, because you are special Heather. Okay, I meant that in a "good" way, not a "Damn that girl has issues" way. Yeah, so it's past midnight here on the east coast, I'm going to bed. Sometimes I'm just blown away by my intelligence.

I just read DoulaBrooke's comment about her sister googling her own name (Heather) which is how she discovered Dooce. Very Cool!

I tried it and indeed Dooce is the the first result for "Heather". Next, I tried it with my own name, "Kristen" and the first result did not disappoint.

I encourage everyone to check out the Kristen Archives.

Heather Brooke- We love you. I want to beat up your haters and they better watch their backs!

*Shan*
Glad to know it was a good one. And thanks for mentioning whose hands those are..I was actually wondering. I think they are beautiful! And so is the ring. I'm sure your fiance is quite beautiful too!

I was thinking that if they were *Heather's* hands, that's a nice kind of photo for Leta to have when she is older.
Hands can say so much, sometimes. I've always loved my mother's hands ..they are enhanced by her own Mother's beautiful engagement ring from the 30s, they know how to expertly hold babies, and they held my smaller and less angular hands comfortingly when my grandmother died.
(That was for Heather and no one else really...but I'm glad if it makes people think nice things about loved ones..)

Take Care Everyone,
Amy

*My hands are small I know...but they're not yours they are my own....

In the end, only kindness matters*

411 comments...see what happens when you wait until 1:23 am Eastern time to click on dooce.com.

What was my comment anyway?

Heather,thanks for closing the comments last night. I was afraid things were about to get very ugly.After reading a's comment I know I was sitting there with my jaw on the floor, trying to gather my senses and calm the rage to respond to this freaking asswipe!I'm sure things would have gotten out of contol very quickly.I can't begin to understand why someone would want to hurt you with a comment like that.Please,Please don't let that low-life motherfucking degenerate sack of monkey shit bring you down or make you feel inadequate in any way!I hope you've been doing this blgging thing long enough now that maybe you've gotten a little think-skinned toward these insensitive fuckers.But I know where your children are concerned anything negative is always hurtful, no matter the source.It's just a sad fact of life that we have to share this planet with some really stupid,evil people.
I so enjoy stopping by here every day--your writing,your wit and humor--they're the BEST!And I get to see a fine photo too! You bring alot of happiness to alot of people and I hope any negatives of blogging are outweighed by the positives.I'm always afraid some of this negative bullshit will send you packing and I can't tell you how disappointed I (and many others) would be if you left us again--your audience needs you!Thank you for keeping it real! You're one sexy,sassy,authentic,talented and happening woman!ROCK...THE FUCK...ON!

Holy long posts Batman

You go, girl! Keep on rockin' in the free world!

Last?

Heather,

I have been reading your site everyday for over a year now.

Please know that for every hate mail that you get there are hundreds more of us who appreciate and love you.

..probably just hundreds of us in Australia alone, Kelc!

Your whole family kick butt, for Leta's 21st can we have some HUGE Dooce 'n' Friends partae..thats always the right time to pull out the baby photos anyway, right?

big love to all...all except those suckified haters who can go eat "Brown Sharks!"

Take it like that: youre a rockstar with a hellota groupies and fans, and with them come the jealous ones that want to be as big as you and they cant be.. so they try to push you off your throne. But you know what? You cant be pushed off, you rock alright. Thats all I wanted to say.

I was touched by your entry in re hateful comments. I work in a business where people do not like me. I have to remind myself that in my line of business "I am not here to make friends". I have been called the devil, declared to be "void of the milk of human kindness" and even had a woman throw grave dirt on me with a nice voodoo spell to boot. (I sent people to prison). Diaryland became my sanctuary for sanity. It helped me see their are actually people in the world that "ain't so bad", have a sense of humor, and appreciate life, even if it's sucks at times. As tough as I can be in my profession, it is like a gab to the gut to have someone attack your personal side. YOu expose yourself and that is what I get? I would have stayed at work if I wanted that?! Love your photos.

ROCK ON HEATHER!!!
I've been a reader of yours for several months now and have caught the occasional comment or your reference to a comment about your daughter. Listen, I'm a clinical social worker and have a significant amount of training in child development. DO NOT LISTEN to these douche bags. If anything, take solace in knowing that these untoward posters are going to be seeing me in a few years when they aren't able to manage their own children (a la Nanny 911). Give em' hell Heather and keeping making us laugh, because you're damn good at it.

Just a small comment.. I normally just read your blog and look at your daily picture.. always ending up with a grin, a smirk a tear or a sigh..

But today I felt compelled to let you know that in my opinion.. you are a sweetheart.. your Jon is a wonderful man and your Leta rocks.. big time..
and for those that feel the urge to send you hate mail.. the word "jealousy" comes to mind..

Let's just call this my attempt to let you know that the handful of "ignorant jerks" is largely outnumbered by us very appreciative lurkers..

with love,

Oh! I just figured out how to bold!

Asterisk word asterisk!

*Flails* "Look what I can do!"

Ancient Toltec wisdom: the ability to communicate with words is a gift given only to humans in this world. It is magic. Through our own choices, we can create black magic or we can create white magic with our words and our actions toward others.

These haters, they spew black magic. They misunderstand the power of their words and they misuse the magic gift they have been given. You do not have to absorb it, you do not have to accept it. It is nothing more than black magic, and no one suffers more than the person who is attempting to cast it on others.

Keep spreading your white magic, Dooce. You truly have a gift.

Peace!

To Heather "this is my website" B. Armstrong,
You rock, don't you go changin. I wish my mother had the sensibilities to record those early times for me, instead of just drinking Early Times, heh heh. No, really, I am fine. Ahem, anyway........ ALL YOU PUNKS NEED TO QUIT SIPPIN ON HATERADE, GET OFF YOUR HUFFY BIKES AND ENJOY THAT WHICH IS DOOCE. Thank you for letting me peek into your life every day, and sharing in the joys of REAL love, life and family. Stay classy.

i just wanted to be one more voice for the positive vote - what you are doing with this site is awesome, and all your trials and pain and foibles are what make you human and that's normal. those wackos who hate you can suck it indeed.

Heather B. "Dooce" Armstrong,
An online friend of mine who doesn't read a lot of online journals directed me to your site some time ago, and I have been a fan ever since.

I know I only know the part of you that you share with us, and I'm so grateful that you choose to do that.

Your posts are always full of "LIFE" and emotion and humor.
I love the way you write.

Thank you for sharing your life, and your wonderful family with us, Heather.

You are one of my heros.

You totally rock Heather. Thank you for everything you put into your site. Thank you for the daily laugh, or the occasional tearing up I get from here.