People often find their way to the humorous story of how the site got its name. But the media attention (such as it is: we flatter ourselves!) we got a couple of years ago alerted us to a glaring deficiency on this site: it’s really hard to work out who writes it! So this little article is here to address that issue.
Jay Porter (jay) created nonfamous.com on November 20, 2002 (and is just the tiniest bit miffed the NYT couldn’t mention that). Jay is from Oklahoma City, but now does PR in Chicago.
David Smith (david) is Jay’s husband, and lives with Jay in Chicago. David works for a big tech company, and hails from Adelaide, South Australia.
Paulette is the beautiful resident nonfamous food and travel goddess and spends a lot of time making life better for everyone. If you enjoy her writing, we should gloatingly note that her cooking is even better (and that she shares it with us often). Paulette helped David and Jay start “Swallow Don’t Spit’: a wine club (that ran in the 2000’s) for people who really just want to talk and drink. She manages big geeky books for an even bigger software firm. Paulette is a Joisey Goil and proud of it. So watch yourself.
Pam is a self-described geek girl but really knows her politics too. The poor dear has to spend a good chunk of the year in Europe with her peripatetic husband–we benefit from her frequent continental dispatches and her comedic sense of outrage.
Terry is married to nonfamous pal and power-oenologist Bob. Terry works with David now–can you imagine having two nonfamosi in your workplace? When we spend time with her out on the town she likely to make us spit out our wine laughing (the only way we’d ever spit wine out).
Jamie is one of the first people David and Jay met when they moved into Casa Nonfamous in Seattle’s Madrona/Leschi area–and along with his partner Mike, Jamie is one of the main reasons they loved the neighborhood right from the start! If you’re nice–or naughty–to Jamie, he might just introduce you to the incomparable Miss Chi Chi Royalis.
Gary is — how do we know Gary? Several ways, through Paulette and Anika. Dry and witty and very tall, Gary writes in great sporadic bursts of observation. Gary works at the same saltmine Paulette does.
Our newest nonfamoso is Shaun, a fellow Okie and friend of Jay’s sisters Julie and Lyndi. He is up on all things tech and a great addition to the team.
Roger is an old friend and sometime contributor to nonfamous. Nobody can decide if he or his boyfriend is cuter, one reason they are such a good match. He is a Texan but we forgive him.
Pete was Jay’s housemate back before the dawn of casa nonfamous and serves as our resident musicologist and favorite jew. It’s OK for us to say that because he does. He is the man who makes the Crocodile rock. Stop in and bring him some bacon.
Last but not least with an “in memoriam” listing on the nonfamous roster is the ever-loyal, ever-jumpy Dozer. Dozer Jesus (hay-soos) Portersmith was the nonfamous dog. We knew he was a natural the day we brought him home–neurosis and writing talent go hand in hand. Dozer is now sadly departed, but the super-energetic (though less literarily inclined) Max and Easy guard Casa Nonfamous from all manner of squirrels, cats and mailmen.
Well, that’s us. We welcome everyone’s comments. If they’re really good, you can become a nonfamous nonstranger too! Maybe.