Ok, don't get used to this much posting from me.

So, a few other things happened while I was as the MommyBlogger Backlash Conference:

-I became an auntie (again) while at the People's Party. My new nephew, blog named TJ, was born at 9:20 pm Thursday to Uncle J and his girlfriend Aunt A. And I have not been to see him. I've seen a pic on a cell phone Thursday night really late. So maybe this weekend, we'll see.
But, Aunt A was told by her docs that she was having the baby on her due date no matter what. So, they induced her for really no good reason I can see. James called me while I was registering Jimmy for school. Auntie A had been given pitocin and broke her water. I said they are just setting her up for a c-section and BOY DID I CALL IT! She was not in any sort of labor, but the docs had this great idea she WOULD have the baby that day.

-Meanwhile, my other nephew (the 17 year old J) is at basic training for the Army. In Oklahoma. I got a pic of him carrying a HUGE gun of some sort while wearing fatigues. Yeah, I'm feeling old.

-My mom needs cataract surgery. The sooner the better. They tried for Thursday, she said no. Yeah, she's freaked out.

- Vaclav the leg wound is healing. Finally. And I'm still on the samples of the ointment. I think the prescription is in my purse.

And this week has just been the week of not dealing well with people. Its just hearing certain people's voices and running for the hills. And another person I know with Cancer. This sucks. Its someone I'm not a big fan of, but I don't wish these things on my worse enemies.

You say I'm a mommy blogger like its a bad thing

Ugh.
Why is it we get the backlash for the acts of a few?
So, yeah, some have been complaining online about the swag stealing, baby elbowing, shoe blackmailing, bruise inducing, antics of a few bloggers at BlogHer. And to be honest, I saw VERY little of this in the places I was. I'm just reading about it later. I felt bad I bumped into a couple of women with my bag trying to get around crowds.
Its a hard thing when someone asks you about your blog and you have seconds, seconds! to get across what you write about.
If I had hours I could tell you about all the fun stuff I write about. But, at events like BlogHer, you don't have that kind of time to grab a coffee/Diet Coke/Lemon Drop Martini with everyone you meet. I'd be peeing all the time.
And sometimes, the name of the blog does not lend itself to easy identification. A few people thought this was a food blog when I gave the name. (And really the only way this COULD be a food blog is if we talked about how much I eat!)
We should be over the whole labels thing by now. Mommy blogger, travel blogger, food blogger, faith blogger, sexuality blogger, divorce blogger, health blogger, infertility blogger, life blogger. Who Cares what we call ourselves?
I know we should all just be bloggers and not get wrapped up in the labels. We should be more interested in the craft of writing and journaling and the people behind the blogs. But its sometimes easier to identify ourselves in quick terms. Some people may not be interested in what I write about. And that is fine. I met a lot of people who are NOT mommy/daddy bloggers this weekend I had nice discussions with.
But, just because a few engaged in rather crappy behavior, I am not among them or support it. If you want to think I am just because I took swag without injuries and freebies and did not elbow or injure anyone for it, fine. I like to try new things and I am sure many of the women and men who attended feel the same way. I did talk to Tide and ask about the Loads of Hope truck. I talked to Picnik about their photo software. I talked to Disney about their laptops and can it be hacked by a 4 year old to order stuff from Ebay when I'm not looking? Its brand loyalty and its rather powerful. I've been passing swag onto family members who could use the items more than me.
I did not whine because I did not get invited to certain parties. Yeah, the swag does sound cool, but I would rather sit around and talk to the amazing women and men who were at the conference about themselves, their blogs and laugh at a whole table full of people working on laptops before 9 am.
I will still call myself a mommy blogger. I write about being a mom. I write about my life. I will write about my illnesses. Those are the reasons I started this blog. If I did not get swag and to go to conferences (on my own dime) and be surrounded by awesome writers on the net, I would still do this.
So be it.

I survived BlogHer: a newbie's thoughts

Yeah I'm back. I'm sure you kept my seat warm while I was gone. Or put your bag on it to hold it.
I had fun. I was dissapointed by most of the sessions I attended. The Keynotes were cool. The Community Keynote was a kleenex fest, but totally awesome. I highly recommend going to BlogHer and watching it. I've read a few of the posts that were featured and in real life they are totally different.
I didn't get to spend enough time with some women. I couldn't work up the courage to approach some others. And I learned some people are truly AWESOME in real life.
And some are just not the same in real life as they are online.
I'd like to thank anyone who let me crash their table at meals and keynotes, said hi, gave me a hug, hung out with me, talked to me or just gave me a friendly smile. in 1400 women, there are many who are awesome and write across a wide range of genres. You don't have to be the same type of blogger to get along.
I had fun stuffing swag bags for the People's Party Thurday night, even though the party was a mob scene and my ears hurt being in the hall.
I skipped the parties Friday night and went home. I was so tired from driving back and forth and getting lost.
Oh yeah, parking was (for the 3 days: $29, $29 and $35. Chicago and privitzed parking.
So Saturday, I stayed for the cocktail party and BowlHer. I had fun, but I'm paying for it today.
So, let's sum it up.
Best Swag: Bag from BowlHer
Weirdest Swag (that I can talk about): Can of spray frosting
# of reuseable bags I got: 6
# of thumb drives: 5 (this will be great when the kids go to older grades)
Best panel attended : You are not your disease, you just write about it every day (I also got to meet Mr. Lady, which was totally cool.)
Biggest controvery: The Nikon Party (which I was not invited to, I'm a Kodak girl)
Sponsor I'd like to see at BlogHer: Coke
Network you may see me on: Lifetime

So, I'll probably talk a little more about what I learned at BlogHer later, but right now we have to get my daughter ready for camp. Who gave her permission to grow up on me.

Oh yeah I knew I forgot SOMETHING in the last post

So remeber a while back when I said the Mormons are following me?
They're at it again.
Monday night at Wal-Mart, while looking for clearance Cricut cartridges for a machine I don't even have yet, I saw them.
In the bedding section. Two young men in white shirts and black pants with ties and name tags.
I got out of there. FAST.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Then I went to the check out. There was a mom and little girl about Bri's age in the line next to me. She was carrying a Furreal Pet cat in the box, M&M's, an orange squishy ball and a yellow fly swatter.
Odd, I thought. But maybe she was helping her mom load things on the conveyer belt.
Then I watched her and her mom interact. She did not want to put the Furreal pet or M&M's on the conveyer belt. Her mom asked her to. She growled at her mom. Her mom asked her to put it on the conveyer belt. The girl reluctantly did. I saw she was wearing a SEASPAR daycamp shirt.
She did not put the fly swatter or the squishy ball on the conveyer belt. She held on to them like sacred treasures.
I missed some of what was going on with the woman in front of the line having her credit card declined.
Then I looked over to the little girl and her mom. The girl was by the bag carousel. She had her Furreal pet and M&M's. She took the M&M's out of the bag first and then the Furreal pet, all while holding the fly swatter and squishy ball in her arms. She placed the bag on the top of the carousel and then proceed to get into a sumo stance in the main aisle and rock back and forth on her feet, carrying the M&M's, Furreal pet, orange squishy ball and yellow fly swatter.
I sat and watched the little girl. She was in her own little world. The mom had so much patience with her, even when she wasn't on normal best behavior. She did very well in a crowded store in my opinion. I had seen a little boy this weekend at the store who was wearning ear protection and screaming Rock On at random intervals while his parents and neurotypical brother did the grocery shopping.
I know we all go throught our challenges with our kids, neurotypical or not, but the litte girl was well behaved and not bothering anyone. She wasn't screaming at the top of her lungs. She wasn't making gutteral noises to test the acoustics of the store. She wasn't screaming about poop in a crowded restaurant. She didn't tear for the door. She had her loveys or comfort items or whatever you want to call them. She wasn't disturbing anyone and no one seems to care whatever her issues were.
And sometimes that is all we wish for.

I promise not to freak out about BlogHer.

So yeah, BlogHer is two days away now. I'm going downtown Thursday night to register. I don't feel like trying to deal with it Friday morning. I'm commuting to BlogHer all days. I'd love to stay downtown, but money is tight right now. I'd have to split a room at least 6 ways to be able to afford it.
So yeah, reading all the posts and tweets that people are getting freebies to wear/take to BlogHer and sponsored to go to BlogHer, its a little upsetting. I write this blog for the love of writing and while I'd like to get in on the action, I guess I don't have the numbers sponsors are looking for. One day, it would be nice. Right now, I am thankful for the people who stop by and read this.
So, anyhow. I have to print my business cards tomorrow night and dye my hair. I haven't gotten new sandals, so I may have to get some on clearance tomorrow at Kohls. Also, will need to paint my nails and such. As I said, money is tight and I have to do it myself, which sucks big time. I'd like to walk into Mario Tricoci and say, give me the works! But, unless I want yet ANOTHER nasty letter from the mortgage company, I'll pass and do it myself.
I did get to the dermotologist today. As my friend Sharon said on Facebook today, no one wants to see Vaclav the leg wound. Yes, Vaclav the leg wound meet Mildred the migraine. I name my illnesses to make them easier to yell at.
So, I saw the dermo today. She was nice and said it's either a type of dermatitis that I don't remember or a fungal infection. They took a sample from the leg wound and will culture it. I'll find out the results when I go back in two weeks. If it responds to the ointment, its dematitis, if not its fungal and we have to change treatments. So, I got a free sample of sunscreen and samples of the meds.
Then, I decided to go to Starbucks for free pastry day, even thought it was out of the way back to work. I went in and ordered my iced mocha and then said I had the free pastry coupon and showed the barista my iPhone.
Then the guy behind me made some kind of rude, nasty sighing/exhaling noise. Umm, what the heck is YOUR problem? Sorry I interrupted your coffee routine, but get over it. I knew what I wanted and got it ordered and out of your damn way. Yeesh.
I got to work and my boss did not remember I was going to be late. He asked one of my co-workers when she had to talk about an issue in his office, did I come in yet. She told him, yes I was late today because I had to go to the doc. This was an hour after I got to work. I sent him an e-mail yesterday and he could not remember. I don't know what to even say anymore.
So, on that note, I guess I should go to bed. Four days and we can be done with BlogHer and onto getting Bri to away camp. Yeah, there's another adventure.

Let's talk about BlogHer since I don't want to focus

We just had the second death around us in the past week. First was a family friend who died of cancer last Tuesday and we just found out our neighbor's wife passed away last night. Take note people. No one else can die this year. Its getting to be too much.
Anyhow, I am going to BlogHer at the end of this week. It gives me something else to focus on besides going to the dermotologist on Tuesday. And a wake.

So, this is some of the stuff I plan to do:
-Ask the people at Tide if they have a toy of the Loads of Hope truck. Or a real life version I can buy for my mother in law.
-Pray I win the Netbook raffle for Maddy to give to my mom.
-Hope my Birds of a Feather topic is picked for one day at lunch.
-Get Mrs. Fussypants to bowl at BowlHer
-I hope I have a box of thin mints for Loralee.
-Try not to embarrass myself in any session that gets technical. Or talks about PR pitches I don't get.


So that is all I can think of now. Its late and I'm tired. So if I think of more, I'll keep you informed.

Why try to be friends with people who don't give a damn?

So today, I had to spend time with people that obviously know nothing about me and what I call fun.
I have a very different idea of fun and today was not close. It wasn't scrapbooking.
Just because this is stuff you do every weekend, it is not what I do.
You all have no clue who I am or what I like so please stop bothering.
You find it funny, I find it very annoying.
Even people who I thought knew me, really don't.
So, please realize that my job is that, a job. It is not my life, it is not my passion. I work on things that you don't understand and don't want to comprehend when you don't see me. And that is fine.
But when I pass on invites that are forced on me, don't be surprised. I will do my part and carry my slack, but beyond that, I have other things that need my attention that I'm not explaining anymore.
You wouldn't hang out and talk to me any other time, so please don't fake it. I'm too old for games. I will respect you and be polite, but beyond that, sorry.

Tonight, and the next two days, I am going to hang out with people who get what I do, who understand the passion of writing. So, if you're looking for me, here's where I will be. At BlogHer 09; In Real Life.

Thursday Night (pre BlogHer):
I'm going to the People's Party and Room704, just the buttons will not work.

Friday:


Saturday:

I can control you with a smile

So, remember months ago when I said that there were a lot of changings going on and I could not talk about them?
I still don't have permission to talk about it.
The problem is I don't know in the family who reads this blog and I don't have permission. As much as I want to bear my soul and blab to all of you, I can't.
And its not really me I'm worried about (ok a little). I'm more worried about my kids, and a couple other family members.
The people who created the mess? Its not my mess and I really want stay out of it, but we have all been dragged into it. I want to be out of it. Deal with it and let me know the outcome.
I am not explaining things to my kids. It was not my choice and I shouldn't have to bear the dirty work. I'm sorry things are sucking, but its not all wine and roses here and personally, YOU MADE THE CHOICE!
Some people don't get that if you are selfish and rude, you get that back right at you. If you're offended, you shouldn't be. You should be ashamed. Sorry my kids want nothing more to do with you, but you brought this on yourself.
So, if you wil excuse me, I will smile, be as nice as I can be and carry on.

Oh, yeah, I should update huh?

This weekend was another fun one around here.
The camping trailer has now gone from 22-24 feet to 26-30 feet. We gave up on the class C and the fifth wheel. The trailer, even with having to buy a new SUV, will be cheaper than the other two options. I'm to the point the trailers are all looking the same and what is cheapest is rather ugly. But, we are a few months out from making a final decision and making a purchase (hopefully).
We went to the local fest the weekend. I ate a deep fried twinkie. Which, actually, was a disappointment. Ususally, its battered in the same batter as the fish. The place that had them used funnel cake batter. On top of the spicy hot drunken shrimp (such a waste of Bass Ale), it was not a good food night.
But we did run into a friend of Jimmy's from Early Childhood and her parents. I found out she did get extended school year, but they wanted to put her on a bus longer every day than the program would be. So they declined the offer and found her other things to do this summer.
Also, I am going to have to replace my die cutting machine. I got a Slice right after Christmas last year. I have used it a lot, including creating 30 baby shower invites for Uncle J and Aunt A's shower. Which, remind me NEVER to offer that again.
So, for the invites, they each had 8 die cuts, four baby shapes and four squares. So that makes 8*30=240 cuts with my Slice machine. Did I mention it overheated 5 times while making these invites? So, now when I use the Slice, it makes a horrific noise. James asked if I was cutting tile, it is that LOUD. But, according to the company, this is normal. Normal? I don't think its remotely acceptable. So, I am looking at the Cricut and offloading my Slice on Ebay since the noise would be unacceptable for a crop night. And I don't think people would take too kindly to me wearing my shooting ear protectors (even thought they are purple) at crop night, using the Slice.
And I have to go to a dermotologist for my leg plague. I was happy, it is healing. The midwife (no I AM NOT PREGNANT!) for my favorite yearly exam said that she thinks its MRSA. Oh goody. Now to try and get into a dermotolgist. But the midwife agrees I need to be off the birth control pills (pass the vicodin) and lose 20 lbs gained in 6 months. Sure, I'll get right on that one.
Now if you will excuse me, I need to go freak out about BlogHer. And BowlHer.

Testing, Testing 1,2,3. Anyone Listening?

So, I had yet ANOTHER tuition payment visit with my neuro. We are at 6 months of these wonderful visits. I've learned she likes Diet Coke and has a iPhone with no case in this time with her. Also two kids.
Anyhow, we changed maintenance meds to a new school SSRI and I got a real life pain killer for when I get migraines since the migraine meds don't work. She mentioned that they may be addictive if I take them all the time and I told her I really don't like taking meds every day anyways.
Then she asks me what I take daily. I gave her the list: Allergy, stomach meds, birth control (for horrific cramps, its all Catholic approved for that use).
She then tells me that I need to get off the BC pills because I am considered a stroke risk.

Wait, wait, huh, WHAT?

Yes, the "bugs" I see every day, which I have mentioned for SIX MONTHS NOW at EVERY VISIT because they are so ANNOYING, are now a concern? She went on to say that BC pills and migraines are NOT a good combination. Also, take a daily asprin because she thinks the pressures may be too high in my head. When was the last time I had a eye exam? That was about two months ago when we had all the fun with Topamax.
And see her in three weeks.
Let me tell you, my head is REELING from this. I have told her everything going on with me at each appointment for 6 months. I'm not upset she called me a stroke risk, like someone thought today when I relayed the story. The concern is; is the doc actually LISTENING to me?
I don't like being "ill" with migraines. Its really screwed up the past six months for me. I've lost a lot of time being ill this year and not getting much done around the house is getting me down. I don't have much time off left at work and I have to be really cautious if I take a day off. I go to work on days that I don't think I should and neither do most of my co-workers. But I don't get a choice and I'm not contageous.
So, now I have to talk to my other doc about the fact that I am going to have bad cramps but no strokes. Maybe there is something more permanent they can do since since I am older.
So far, one person said I should ignore her, one person said I need a new neuro and another person said this wasn't such bad advice.
I just wish the migraines would go away and never, ever come back.

Let's review the past week in short bites

Mildred has moved back in. She was NOT WELCOMED. I'd like her to stop messing with my arm and leg.

Also, making fun of people with chronic pain is NOT COOL. For the person who did this to me, I may or may not know a Voodoo Priestest and just remember Karma bites back and its painful.

Painting sucks. Three coats of blue paint on Jimmy's walls. Next time: No Behr paint, need to prime, avoid informercial products. Billy Mays is laughing at me from the great beyond. If Jimmy had wanted a Nemo room, I could have been done after one coat.

Also, thick paint = bad sign. I really understand why guys drink when they paint.

Also, never let seven year old girls pick out paint colors. Bri's last color choices were neon green and Pepto pink. She reconsidered her choices after we painted the samples on her walls.

Hammie is psycho. She got loose last night. Twice. She had cheerios, a M&M and a piece of Cookie Crisp in her cheeks. We took it all away from her when she got back in her cage. That's all I need is a hamster with diabetes.

Rain and Fourth of July do not go together. Also, make sure there is someone at the party around Jimmy's age or prepare to listen to the girls complain all night. Skip the cookies with blue sprinkes also.

Anyone seen my paper flowers for scrapbooking? I found the ribbon and the foam squares, but no flowers. I don't want to order new ones.

Also, Bri has started scrapbooking. She is using her kit from the birthday party. I had to give her one of my tape runners as the glue stick with the kit does not work very well. I also let her use some of my 8x8 papers. Then Jimmy asked to start scrapbooking and went looking for his own album in my supplies. He did not find one so I will get him one tomorrow night when I go to Hobby Lobby with my mom. We'll make it cheap.
I'm doomed.

I am going to have a new doorstop soon. My Epson Artisan 700 is getting on my nerves. If it prints one more dark picture, I am going to scream. I have played with the options and it prints dark and darker. Most people I scrapbook with think I should just use an online service for my prints. I like the whole instant gratification thing. Of course the replacement options are not getting very good reviews. I am pondering selling it for a wide format. I'm sure someone else will have the magic touch with it.

I need to make up my mind soon about the printer. I need to make business cards for BlogHer. Also, Blogher, why am I not getting the Cricut Sweepstakes ad? Just send me a Cricut and we'll call it even (I'm kidding. Sort of).

So that is it. Its off to bed now. Nite.

So, some updates from the land of Toast

We had the evaluation. Yeah, still sensory issues we need to deal with. We will start scheduling therapy appointments in a week and get a report in 2-3 weeks. It cannot come soon enought.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, James and I decided to divide and conqure on the errands. So I took Bri out. We ended up at Kohls to get some stuff. What I HATE about the store is that there is usually one register open and has a LOONNGG line. But they have AWESOME SALES!
So I was standing in line with Bri, waiting to buy some shorts for Bri and a new outfit for me.
There were three women in line in front of me. A mom and her two adult daughters were waiting to pay for a cartful of stuff. They saw a display of those vinyl quotes at the endcap for the walls. I have a couple of them around my house and I don't think they are horrible in moderation.
The mom, seeing her daughter had picked up one to look at, grabbed it out of her daughter's hands and goes, oh look, it says if you have this on your wall, you're stupid, and looks at me. Then she goes, it should say if this is on your wall, you're stupid.
I wasn't laughting. She turned away after realizing that I was not cracking up like her daughters.
Seriously, there are things out there for decorating I don't get. I don't get shabby chic or country decor, but hey something for everyone.
Then another register opened and I ran for it.
---------------------------------------------------------------
I was so dissapointed to see Hobby Lobby had Christmas stuff out, Its bad enought that Target has back to school already.
---------------------------------------------------------------
I went back to the neuro today. Note to all, its NEVER a good sign when your neuro looks at your leg and goes, "Holy S&%T, what IS THAT? Does it itch? IT LOOKS INFECTED!" I have a weird bug bite/scratch/plague on my leg. I've had it since before Easter, but now its dragged my leg into the fun by making it swell to double the size of the other one. And I don't have time to attempt to get into the general doc. I mean all the neurological symptoms my migraines bring keep me busy going, is it a migraine or a stroke?
So we had our usually scheduled meeting to discuss that I still feel like crap and the meds aren't working.
I get some steroids to try and calm the two week migraine and then, its back on the happy pills. Yes, that is the the one thing that actually helped the migraines. But I don't get the old school ones this time, I think we're going along the lines of new school. Think Zoloft, Prozac, Lexipro. This should be interesting, pass the Ding Dongs.
I wonder is mu-mus are acceptable dress for BlogHer?