Archive for July 2007

It’s no small mystery that I’ve had a rough time adjusting to every-day life since returning home.  It has been very hard to go from GO, GO, GO, FUN, FUN, FUN! to… nada.  Even as tired as I was on Sunday, I still think I could have kept it going for another day or two, you know?  And now I’m here back at home and there is just NOTHING going on.  Well, unless you want to count the fact that we’re traveling to my parents house in a couple days time (and I sure don’t).  I was surrounded by friends and giggling and stimulation and now I’m… not.  It’s almost like how you feel the week or two after Christmas is over.  The best part is done and what is there to look forward to?

Don’t get me wrong.  I love having my family back.  Seeing my boys as I walked to baggage claim on Sunday was the singularly most awesome moment of the weekend.  The way Liam literally grabbed me and held on tight brought tears to my eyes (still does!).  And I love being able to sniff his baby fresh head whenever I so chose.  But the every day life is rather mundane by comparison and it’s hard to go from 60mph to 0 just like that, you know?

Doesn’t help that my best buddies here at home are otherwise occupied this week.  I miss them too, but real life does intervene.  So where normally my days would be somewhat filled, they’re rather empty and lonely.  I probably need it though, to adjust back to real life from the SUPERlife that is BlogHer.  I’m just having a hard time feeling any sort of enthusiasm over anything and with the cold I think I’m brewing (thank you AGAIN, coach class), I’m just completely devoid of energy or drive.

BAH.  How many days is it going to take for me to come down off this cloud??

Filed under BlogHer 07 in Chicago |

There aren’t many this year.  Last year, there was a lot that I felt was missing and the letdown afterward was sharp.  This year, the only letdown I feel is the constant notion that I’ve left behind something valuable.  And that is?  Friends.  God, I had such a good time.  I was exhausted beyond belief a majority of the time, but even at my most sleepy, I was having an absolute blast.  I missed my family with a sharp fervor almost every moment, but I was surrounded by beautiful women who also missed their families with a sharp fervor and we commiserated in that together.  Can I get an “Amen”?

But I do have regrets about the conference, now that it’s over here.  Here are a few of the notable ones.

• I didn’t get to meet Frema!   I was looking for her, I swear.  But I didn’t go to the Day 1 cocktail party and I fear that was probably my best chance.
• I missed a lot of the panels on Day 2.  I was just trying to stay afloat by then.  I also missed the lunch with Jillian Michaels and I now sorta wish I’d done that.  I wish I’d been more on it and gotten in on the Ways and Means panel.  The last panel I went to was cute, but a little too touchy feely for me and I think I could have found a better one.
• I didn’t try to at least get an up-close picture of Elizabeth Edwards when she stopped by the cocktail party on Day 2.
• I also didn’t investigate the t-shirt creation station at the Day 2 cocktail party or do any of the nifty Dove things they had there.
• I regret that stupid $20 cab ride from the W to the City Centre.
• I regret not talking Zoot into coming along with me to the W for the Real Simple dinner/party.  I think she would have enjoyed it and as much as I enjoyed it, I might have enjoyed it even more if she were there.
• I didn’t get to explore Chicago more, or even browse around on the “Magnificant Mile”.
• I don’t feel that I took near enough pictures.
• It would have been nice to stay at the W, but considering the deal we got on the City Centre, I am NOT going to complain.  But it sure looked swanky!
• I didn’t see Nancy from Mom, Ma’am, Me this year.  :(
• I’m not sure that I partied nearly as much as I should have.
• I regret not realizing that a flight that is going to be over 3 hours long should really only be attempted by riding in business or first class, not coach.

I think that’s all but really, that’s enough, isn’t it?  For what it’s worth, I have a lot more “I’m glad’s” than I do regrets.  And if you’re tired of hearing about BlogHer from everyone already?  My apologies but for the next day or so I’m unlikely to have much else on my mind.

Filed under BlogHer 07 in Chicago |

I should (and will) get around to posting about Day 2 or doing some sort of BlogHer 07 wrapup. But for now, I’m still stunned from the trek home (BAH! A pox upon coach class!) and am having a hard time digesting it all quite so far. So I’m going to do something I just saw someone else who was at the conference do a roundup of the business cards/blogcards/etc that they got and share some of the links with her readers. What a great idea! You get an idea of who I ran into and who felt I was worthy of a card (I loves getting these cards, more blogs to read!) and they get a little linky-love for their trouble. A win-win situation if you ask me. :) So check out some of these totally awesome women that I met over the last three or so days.

• Lizarita from Oops! Did I Say That Out Loud? Had the CUTEST little card.
• Isabel from hola, isabel. She is SUCH a sweet woman.
• Stacy/Mrs. Squirrel from Hollow Squirrel who was at a lot of the same sessions of me so you know she’s got good taste.
• Liz from House of H (otherwise known as Hilarities Ensue). And she? Is awesome. I’ll even forgive her for being on a WordPress.com blog.
• The ever-fabulous Tracey Clark from Mother May I and Picture This over at ClubMom. She is my photographer idol.
• Jen Scharpen (did I spell that right?) aka jenijen from Not Calm Dot Com. She is way, way with it.
• Monica, aka Lady M was very pretty and let me take a picture of her braids.
• I still can’t quite believe Susan Sawyers talked to me, because she’s actually smart and talented an KNOWS THINGS.
• Jenny Lauck who moderated one of the best panels I went to and is such a funny and fun person! She writes for Three Kid Circus (duh, as if you didn’t know).
• Liz Rizzo from Everyday Goddess. She was everywhere an a very cool chick.
• Carmen Stacier of Mom to the Screaming Masses, Kathryn Thompson from Daring Young Mom, and Julie Marsh from Cool Mom Picks (squee!) were among some of the lovely women at a dinner hosted at the W Hotel by Tanya Singer of Real Simple (you know, the magazine! I KNOW!).
• Elizabeth Edwards (no, not THAT one) from Table 4 Five. Another gal that was everywhere!
• Valerie Brown from Disorderly Conduct who attended my little session on Saturday and actually told me that I helped!
• And last, but not least, Susan Somers (Dirt Makes Fat) who roomed with Shawna (who had no card, BOO! but blogs for Talpidae) and I adored them both. We ate deep dish pizza from Gino’s East together.

Now go forth and visit. I know I will (when I’ve slept for about 10 hours).

Filed under BlogHer 07 in Chicago |

So before I go forward with my embarrassing little tale, you have to promise that you won’t reply with, “OMG, you are such a stoopid whore!” Simply because, yes, I understand that I am a stupid whore. I don’t need to be reminded of it. And you also have to realize that I am a shy, backward and submissive sort of person. You know, in case you didn’t know that already. Which, if you’ve been paying any attention here, you should already know and this whole little “sidebar” of my post is entirely unnecessary. Whatever.

So last night, I was invited to this “little” dinner at the W Hotel hosted by the lovely people at Real Simple magazine. Honestly, I was so flabbergasted to be invited that I just HAD to go. I wasn’t expecting such delicious, fancy food and such wonderful, awesome people. Really, had a great time. But Zoot has been proven as an “early to bed” sort of gal and I didn’t want to keep her up too late so I left shortly after 10pm before the festivities had officially ended. As I was sorta dressy and wearing some heeled sandals, I thought maybe I should take a cab back to my hotel. I knew that my hotel was very near, but not entirely sure and it was dark… So yeah, the cab.

It ended up being a piddling $3.05 fare. I figured, with tip I’d just give him $5. HOWEVER, I had 3 $20 bills in my wallet. So I handed him a $20. Okay, see, I know I should have asked for change then and there, but I didn’t. And he… just took it. And I got out and went inside. And have proceeded to beat myself up repeatedly because I spent $20 on a $3 cab ride.

DON’T TELL MY HUSBAND.

Filed under BlogHer 07 in Chicago |