I’ve always been a night owl.  I am the type of person that sends emails in the middle of the night.  It’s when it’s quiet.  It’s when the phone stops ringing, the IMs stop dinging, and the rest of the world (including my children) are sleeping peacefully.

Yes, there are a few of my friends that burn the midnight oil with me, but for the most part it’s just me, kicking butt and taking names.  It’s one of the reasons that I enjoy working from home.  While I am available during business hours and do quite a bit of work then, my hours are customizable.  Meaning, if I get distracted or need to take my car in for an oil change in the middle of the day, I can make those hours up at night.

More often than not, it’s because I’ve gotten distracted.

Before the option of working from home came about, I decided that I was best suited for a 3-11 job.  The problem with that is that (1) there aren’t any 3-11 desk jobs that pay the salary that I want need to make and (2) daycare is hard to come by during those hours.

So I’m grateful that I found something that works for me.

However, I know that when school starts back in 25 days (not that I am counting) I know that my days of staying up until 4am watching cooking demonstrations working need to come to an end.  I will have to arise from my comfy, cozy bed at 6:30am to get Samara out the door.  Matthew, since he’s now in middle school won’t leave until 8.. and don’t think that I’m not counting down until when Sam starts middle school so that I can sleep in an extra hour.

But I’m going to have to get up early.  As is Samara, who apparently got her night owl genes from me, because there are nights that she’s outlasted me.

Knowing this means that I have to adjust a few things.  While I do like to stay up late and work when it’s quiet, I also know that there are certain triggers that prolong my droopy eyes and the desire to fall into bed.

Surprisingly, it’s not caffiene.

For example, I cannot take a shower at night.  It wakes me up.  Therefore, this week, since we’ve not gotten home from soccer until 9 and because it’s so terribly hot, I’ve had to take showers at 9pm… at the earliest.  That’s only if I run in the house and into the bathroom faster than either of the kids.

I also cannot do anything that requires thinking.  So, if I know that I need to be in bed by 11, I can’t work a crossword puzzle, read a business book, brainstorm with a friend, etc.  If I do, my mind kicks into high gear and I can’t shut it off.  The flip side to that is that I DO get a lot of work done.  But I keep going and going like the freakin’ energizer bunny and it’s 4am and I have to get up at 6:30.

I’ve started to notice some patterns.  Like in the summer time, I don’t read as much.  It’s because I’m staying up late.  When school is in session, that is how I unwind.  I’ll go to bed at 11 and read until I can’t keep my eyes open.  I’ve been reading the same book for over a week now.  And I’ve read a grand total of two this summer… both of those while I was on vacation.  (When I was going to bed at 11 every night because I had to get up to go into the office.)

We go back to this routine in 25 days.  Ok, so I am counting.

I know that in the next two weeks, all three of us are going to have to start going to bed early so that we can get our bodies adjusted to our new schedules.  I was hoping that football and soccer starting this week would make us all so utterly exhausted but it hasn’t happened yet.

And it probably won’t.

So how do you handle the adjustment from summer to school year?  And are you like me?  Are there things that keep you up?

Until next time…

Filed under Care to Share?, Heather's Quirks, Mom Stuff | Comments (10)

I asked you if I was crazy…

I should’ve waited until after the clinic tonight.  Because then I would’ve had my answer and I wouldn’t of had to ask.  The answer would’ve been perfectly clear.

Yes.

I am crazy.

(But thanks to those of you who told me that I was not crazy and a wonderful mom.  It made me all warm and fuzzy.)

So, I arrive at the clinic tonight wearing, what else?  My Desperately Seeking Sanity shirt that says, “I love giving homemade gifts, which one of the kids would you like?”

I would like to say that it was because I wanted to advertise my site, but the reality of it is, it was the only clean tee-shirt that was big and long…

And the reason that I needed a big and long tee-shirt?  Well becuase the only shorts that I have are my gym shorts… kinda like the bicylce shorts?  And well, I don’t like tight things or shorts, so I needed something to cover my hips.

Coach Betsy makes all the coaches come stand with her and introduce ourselves.  Guess who forgot what her team name was?

FURY. (The stupidest name for a team.)

As I look down the line, I realize that short of Coach Betsy, the head of the organization, Jennifer and I are the only two women.

I also realize that my shirt has a huge stain on it.  Which I did not realize that when I walked out of the house and now I’m standing in front of all these parents with an odd, off-white mark covering my boob.

Wonderful.

And so Jennifer and I stood there while they showed the kids a few moves.

First up the Matthews… big toe, big toe, little toe.  I couldn’t figure out what they meant by big toe and little toe.  Eventually it dawned on me that we’re talking about the toe that you hit the ball with.  Silly me… I thought you hit the ball with your foot.

I was not aware that we got specific.  Now I know.

Then the rollover.  Okay, I think.  I can do this.  When they break us up, I can help them with these moves.

Hold up!  Wait a minute….

What did he just call that move?  A Queef?  No… a coif?  I don’t know… I tried to look it up and couldn’t find anything but I do know that when you’re doing this move, the way you stand much resembles how someone would stand if they had to pee.

It’s not attractive.

At all.

So they separated us.  Jennifer (my co-coach) had the brilliant idea that we should separate because we would both be learning different things.  I panicked.  I didn’t know the guy that I was with.  I didn’t know how to play soccer.  I didn’t know what I was doing.

Wouldn’t be so bad if the kids would have.

But they didn’t.  Except the 10 year old boy who came over and showed me how to do the moves in slow motion, repeatedly.

I’m thinking that it should’ve been the other way around?

When we gathered back up as a group before the games began, I looked at Jennifer and might have mentioned that I felt like crying.  I had no clue what I was doing.

Her response?

Neither do they so don’t feel bad.

And then we paired up and played games, but my group had an odd number of kids, so I got to be a partner to Fancy Feet.  This is what I will always call her.  Because her feet do things that are unnatural.

The rules were simple.  Get the ball away from your opponent.  Easy enough, right?

I chased her around for a good 10 minutes.  She was nice though… she slowed down when she realized that I was huffing and puffing, dribbling the ball and doing all this fancy foot work.  And when I got my second wind and revved up again, she took off.

I never did get the ball.

An hour and a half later, we were done.  I hobbled to the car and when Sam asked if we could stop for ice cream, I didn’t think twice.

Crazy people love ice cream.

Until next time…

Filed under Dorks R Us, Quality Time | Comments (8)

Before you jump out of your seat and scream “YES!!” let me explain the situation in which I am contemplating my sanity this time…

My children are both involved, heavily, in sports.  They just are.  And I’m so very grateful because studies show the importance of sports in a child’s life.  They are active.  They love them.

My daughter is trading in her pom poms for real sports.  (I know, cheerleading IS a sport, but I just can’t seem to say that…we all know how I feel about cheerleaders…)

Last season she played softball and did amazingly well.  I coached.  I loved it.  Period.

So, when soccer season rolled around, she wanted to play and the league was short on coaches.  I know NOTHING about soccer except that you kick the ball, can’t touch it with your hands (unless you’re the goalie) and that shin guards are a must.  I didn’t feel that I would be a benefit as a coach, but I also knew that unless they got enough coaches, there was a chance that my daughter (or some other little girl in the county) would be deprived of a fall sport to particiapte in.

One of the moms who helped me in softball and attends my church coached last year and we talked and decided that we would co-coach a team.  This would also ensure that Sam and Haley were on the same team… something very important to both of them.

On more than one occassion I have mentioned to someone that I am coaching soccer this year and on more than one occassion I am looked at funny and the question is asked…

“Are you crazy?”

My response is “no.  I just want to be involved in my kids’ lives as long as they want me to be.  I have to be there anyway.”

One response was that I should just show up and sit there.

We all know that I cannot just sit there.  And Sam and I did very well when I coached softball.  I might go so far as to say that we bonded.  Maybe.

I missed a good three years of my kids’ lives while I was in school full time and working full time.  My parents did so many things for them, and still do, that I was incapable of doing due to time constraints.  I wouldn’t go back and change any of that now.  I went back to school so that I could get an education and provide a decent life for them.

When I divorced, I was making a whopping $18k a year… do the math.  It’s not enough to raise two children on.

And so I did.  I moved back home and my parents helped me.  I got my degree.  I got my own place and over the last 5 years, I’ve moved up the corporate ladder all while being blessed with family friendly companies along the way and finally ending with a job that allows me to work from home… so that I can be more involved in the kids’ lives.

I can feed them before practice.  I can take them to practice.  I can be here when they are sick and I don’t have to worry about snow days.  I am truly, truly blessed to have this arrangement.

And because of this arrangement, I have the opportunity to coach my daughter’s team (and Matthew’s out of the equation because reallly?  Could you see me coaching football?  And I’m so not the team mom type.)

My children are not always going to think I’m cool.  As they get older and get involved in school sports, I’m not going to have this opportunity.  I’m trying to make the best of the time that we have and so I’m coaching soccer.  A commitment of one night a week and Saturday morning for 2.5 months..(of which I would have to make myself available to be there anyway…)

So, my question remains…

Am I crazy?

Until next time…

Filed under According to Samara, Mom Stuff, Quality Time, Thoughts... | Comments (13)

At some point in time I decided that I was going to start taking random pictures of things that struck me as funny, odd, or down right insane.

I’m not sure when…

Oh yes I do.

It was here…

When Burger King wanted me to PAY to pee. Wasn’t happening. I’ll hold it before I pay a quarter to use the facilities.

As I snapped the picture, because this was so foreign to me, I decided that I was going to start taking random pictures… just to take.

Lucky you, this is where they will end up.

So, here are all the things that I found fascinating while I was in San Francisco….

The ferry was extremely cold, but it didn’t seem to bother her…

One of my favorite things about San Francisco was the street performers. I could’ve gone broke if I paid then what their talent deserved because they were all just so darn talented… and adorable… like this gentleman, who posed for me and held the note as I snapped the picture…

I’ve always wondered what I should do with the drain rack and the pots and pans in the kitchen and now I know. I can set them all up in the middle of a big city and play them. Because honestly? That would be so much more fun than actually using them for what they were intended for.

While this gal was certainly interesting to look at, I’m not sure that she deserves any money for standing on the sidewalk completely still. Well, yes she should. I could never stand still for that long with all that crap on. She really did look like a robot.

And this guy? Sure, he looks like a statue. But might I offer some advice? Next time, don’t spray paint yourself where you’re going to stand…. it kinda gives it away.

And when I saw this? I stopped dead in my tracks because all 31 year old women get excited when they see pirate ships.. don’t they? They do when they are hopping Captain Jack Sparrow is aboard. Actually, I thought more of the ending scene of Goonies… and then I searched my pockets for rubies. But there weren’t any. I think that’s when I snapped back into reality.

Here is the perfect definition of a multi-tasker. He plays all this stuff at once. How?

and is this not the coolest Mickey D’s sign that you’ve ever seen? Seriously.. isn’t it?

And while we’re looking at signs… do you stop in the middle of busy city streets to get the perfect angle of a photo that you want to share on your blog?

I do.

Now, did I mention how cold it was in San Francisco while I was there? (Apparently, it’s warmed up this week.) Some people must not have checked the weather before venturing outside…

I’m thinking he asked what he should wear while riding a bike… and the person he asked was not aware that his bike was a MOTORCYCLE… and i think he has a fake tan. He’s awfully orange.

At least she’s smart and is wearing a hat… because you know that’s where all the heat escapes your body.

This is a tour… can you believe it? I was amazed. There’s a little tour guide up there talking into a helmet mic and then all these little people on wheels following her. I have never seen anything like it.

I would like to tell you that these people were ones that I met and spoke to but they aren’t. They are just two random people that I shutter stalked on the ferry on the way home. I would also like to tell you that they are just huddled together because it was so freaking cold and windy, but they are obviously very much in love….

Gag me.

And does it look like that ship will fit under the bridge? No. I didn’t think so. But apparently it did and it was just the angle that concerned us because I checked the news in San Fran after the conference and the Golden Gate is still intact.

Now, I’m going to warn you about this next (and last) picture. If you have small eyes peeking over your shoulder because my new design is so bright and colorful and your children can’t stop looking, make them not look now. Because it’s not exactly kid friendly but I was so in shock when I saw it that I couldn’t help but take a picture.

I was sitting on the floor at my gate at SFO. I was so tired. I was near tears. All I wanted to do was get on that plane so that I could go to sleep when out of the corner of my eye, I spotted something shiny; something sparkly.

From my floor view, I saw the gold heels first. As I looked up, I saw her cheeks and dimples.

And I about fell over….

And all I wanted to scream was “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should…” and I have to wonder if she knew that she was the talk of gate 82 at SFO that night…

Until next time…

Filed under BlogHer '08, Care to Share?, Dorks R Us, Grins and Giggles, Pics | Comments (12)

I realize my past BlogHer posts were pretty much all about me… but I really did meet other bloggers, new bloggers and bloggers that I love while I was there…

And I have a few pictures.

Not many, but a few…

So…

Here we go….

Jenny Lauck from Three Kid Circus and BlogHer Ads… she recognized me because I might have violated some terms of service with my BlogHer Ads… not on purpose, mind you, but everytime she emails me, she’s so nice about it…

Jenifer from Not Calm (Dot Com)… she takes really pretty pictures… :D  And she’s funny and an awesome writer, so you should go see her.

Jenny from All Eyes on Jenny is a dork.  She claims that she invented it, but I didn’t know this about her when I met her… it’s only since I’ve been back and been reading her blog.  So, being a dork makes me want to be her friend.

Lori from Spinning Yellow is a doll.  She was one of the first people that I met at the People’s Party and I remember her because we talked for a little while on what Spinning meant… nevermind that she has a picture of a mother (presumably her) in a yellow dress and a child (presuabmly hers) also in yellow, spinning them around.  I never claimed to have common sense.

Katy from My LA Blog and Constant Chatter is someone that I met the first night at the Newbie party and then kept running into her for the rest of the weekend.  I like her alot.  She’s from LA.  For whatever reason, this was very cool to me and I’ve yet to check out Constant Chatter, but I will, because, well, we all know that I am constantly chattering… so I think it will fit me well.

Nicole from Apron Strings Aflutter was just as sweet as sweet can be and we had dinner at Lori’s Diner Saturday night along with some other bloggers… It was one of the highlights of my trip…

Stacy is the Laptop Television Mom and she talks alot about TV.  And I’m in TV so it could be a fit…

Staci was new to blogging and blogs about Practical Spirituality.  I had the pleasure of speaking with her at length Friday night at Ruby Skye when we were at the bar trying to determine what we were going to have to drink.  Then I lost her and never met up with her again.

Alex from Formula Fed and Flexible Parenting actually approached me after the Privacy session when I talked about MySpace and teaching our children the responsibilities of being online, especially when we, as parents are so involved with the internet.  I enjoyed talking to her then and I enjoy her blog alot.

I have decided that I want a tee from Couture Moms.  Dana’s got a great shop and perhaps I’ll use them for my next giveaway…

If you’re traveling to Italy anytime soon (Don’t I wish!) then you’ll need to go over and see Jessica at ItalyLogue.  She’s got the inside scoop on Italy, how to get around, what to do and what not to do.  (How awesome would it be to have THIS job?)

Funny thing about Stephanie Klein…she’s the author of Moose a Memoir of Fat Camp.  I remember speaking to her.  I remember her giving me her card.  I remember thinking that I liked the name of her book.  I also remember the two people who spoke at the closing Keynote address on Saturday.  However, I did not put two and two together until I got home.  Because I’m smart like that.

I met Amanda from GoodyBlog and bless her heart.  She was in control of the drink tickets at the People’s Party.  But that automatically makes her the most popular girl at the party.

And then there was Papa.  Who, hands down, gets my vote for most creative business cards.  They were larger and they were diamond and not square.  And he’s dancing on them and they say “I met Papa!”  And he was so awesome to talk to.  For the record, Papa’s real name is Brian, but he will forever be known to me now as Papa.  And he’s funny.  So go read him.

Genie from In a Bottle (how cute is that) not only had a pretty cool business card layout, but she also gave out keychain bottle openers.  And I collect keychains.  All of this is nice, but what really makes me remember her is that she has a MacBook Air.  I would’ve liked to have beaten her up and steal her MacBook Air, but she was too nice.  So I sat behind her the entire session and daydreamed about what it would be like if I had my own MacBook Air.  In my dreams it was nice.

Loralee from Loralee’s Looney Tunes is hysterical and she’s got the most gorgeous eyes.  And she’s a good mic wrangler.  Oh and she’s funny.  The back of her business cards stated “in an ideal world, this space wuld contain a perfectly written tidbit designed to lure readers to my blog with its pithiness and humor. (Reality sucks a duck, yo,)”  And it drew me to her blog.  She’s funny.  I think I already mentioned that.

I’ve talked about Erin from The Vintage Pearl.  Cutest baby on her blog… seriously.. and her Jewelry is awesome too!  If you’ve not entered the giveaway here for the pearl ring, then do so now.

Elaine is the Wannabe Hippie.  She’s adorable… so are her kids… and her house is awesome.  (I only know this because I got lost looking at all of her blog one day when I got home and saw a picture of it.) And she knows how to craft her words.

Jennifer from The Smart Mama is very green.  And we had some interesting talks about living green and the like while at BlogHer.  In San Francisco you hear about “living green” everywhere.  BlogHer went green.  But here in the southeast?  There’s not alot of talk about it.  I was very much educated about “being green” while I was there and alot of it from Jennifer.  And she’s not in your face about it.  At least she wasn’t to me, so therefore I listened to her.  I’ll have you know, our last 5 loads of laundry have been washed with Soap Nuts (which I picked up there) and it was nice to know I was doing something good for the environment.

Oh and then there was Tanis, the Redneck Mommy.  (Did I mention that her boobs are not as small as I expected them to be?  And I only say that because she keeps talking about how they are small.  But whatever.)  She bestowed the title of Honorary Canadian on me.  So now I walk around, ending every sentance with the word “eh”.    I had an enjoyable time with her… and rolled when I saw someone’s award post that had her and Backpacking Dad as the cutest couple that wasn’t really a couple.  And there’s a picture or two on her camera that need to make their way over here… perhaps if I emailed and actually followed up with the people that I met, it would happen.  I’m working on it.

Amy from Mums The Wurd was awesome and funny and I’ve talked to her in the past online and then as we were twittering back and forth in the Mommyblogging being a Radical Act session, I finally stalked her out.  Then we sat together at the keynote session on Saturday.  She’s the type of girl that if we were in school and sat together we would be separated before too long.  Both of us had little side comments going the whole time and they usually ended with stiffled laughter so as to not disrupt the rest of the group who were either listening or pulling celery out of their purse.

Jean from Stimeyland gave us luggage tags.  Now, when giving swag, I appreciated the luggage tag for no other reason that I could put it ON my luggage and not IN my luggage… because there was no room for anything else in that suitcase that was 1 lb under the limit they would let me on the plane with it.  And I like her blog as I’ve been reading it since I got back.  I wish that I would’ve gotten to talk to her more while I was there.

Apparently Susan (aka “WhyMommy”) from Toddler Planet is a celebrity.  I didn’t know this until I came home and I started seeing all these people blogging about her.  I stared at her through the entire presentation thinking that I knew her, but not from blogging.  I never did figure it out although after talking to her, we realized that we’ve been a lot of the same places, just not at the same time.  And I admire her.  Because her card is for Mothers With Cancer.  She’s a fighter.  Go see her.

Lucretia is the Geek Mommy and we spent most of Saturday morning hopping the Exhibit hall together and getting to know one another.  Geeks are cool and I’m a good blogger, because I got the good blogger card.

Uppercase Woman (aka Cecily) is cool for many many reasons.  (1) she gave me the username and password to get the internet in the session.  (2) She’s from Philly. (3) She’s HYSTERICAL (4) she gave out tattoos with her blog on them.  Definately creative.  I’ve been reading her blog since I’ve been back and I love it, love her, foul mouth and all.  She’s definately really good at expressing herself.

Skye has lots of blogs.  Overachiever.  However, what caught my eye about her was her dating misfires blog.  And we all know how I’ve been in the throwes of online dating in the past and how much I love the blog I Can’t Believe He’s Still Single.  However, in addition to her bad personal ads blog, she also blogs at Flooded Lizard Kingdom, All Access Blogging, Herione Content, and Crafting a Green World.  I’m sure there’s something for you among her many homes on the net.

Mary from Owlhaven was another blogger that joined us for dinner Saturday night.  Or did I join them.  I think I joined them.  She’s amazing.  Lots of kids… adopted and she’s as nice as nice can be.  And she’s another blogger that’s making the leap to self-hosted wordpress from wordpress.com.  She’s got someone working on it now and I know she’s going to love it!

And of course, I got to meet Melanie (aka Chilihead) from Blogging Basics 101, Bloggy Giveaways, Don’t Try This at Home and her newest venture Behind the Blog with Karen from Simply A Musing.

Scribbit is tall.  That is not a bad thing and she’s who you want to walk into a crowded Macy’s with because if you ever get separated or distracted and wander off from the rest of your group all you have to do is look for Michelle.  I told her that too, in a non-offensive way.  In addition to being tall, she’s got a lot of awesome stuff on her blog.  But most of you probably already know that because you’ve been reading her forever.  I?  Have not.  But I will now.

Clair from Clairnation is such a wordsmith.  I did not get to talk with her that much at BlogHer but I’ve been reading her blog since I’ve been back and it’s amazing to just read what she has to say… even if it isn’t my typical style of blog.  (Do I even have a style?  I don’t think so.)  But she’s funny, and insightful, and real.  And I like real.

I met Christine from Home Team Wins and she was part of the dinner party.  LOVED her.  Like I want to be her Bloggy BFF.  She was a hoot and I liked her alot.  And she doesn’t look as old as she is.  I won’t tell you how old she is.  But she looks AMAZING.  I’m so glad that she was sitting at my end of the table as I really got to know her a little more and her blog, obviously, now has a home in my “must read” folder in Google Reader.

It took me two days to meet up with Stephanie from Adventures in Babywearing and Arianne from To Think is To Create.  But I finally did and they even let me sit with them at th closing key note.  There are so many things that I remember about it, but seriously, watching Stephanie pull celery out of her purse was one of them and Arianne tweeting “Someone near me has gas.  Just sayin’” and of course, several of us responded with “wasn’t me”…  I’ve worked with both Stephanie and Arianne while working on the 5 Minutes for Mom Sister Sites and so I did really want to meet them before I left.  And they were awesome.  But I already knew that.  And they let me sit with them.  So that made me like them more.

And speaking of 5 Minutes for Mom, I finally got to meet Susan and Janice and have dinner with them.  While I’ve talked with Susan at length on the phone, it was great to meet her in person.  Both of the gals are so full of energy and were very nice, even though Susan is convinced that she bothered me alot while working on the sister sites.  She didn’t.  It was great to be a part of it.  I also got to meet their babies, Julia, and the nanny and if you were wondering what the twins are like in action?  Even approaching 35, both of them still act like sisters… from blaming things on one another to sticking up for one another and it was so much fun to see.

Oh there were a few more bloggers that I met… like Shannon from Rocks in My Dryer.  I’ve heard that she was just a sweetheart and she was.  I liked her and she’s actually the one that invited me to dinner with the gang.  For that, I am forever grateful because I know that I wouldn’t of had fun at that Macy’s party and I was only in there for 10 minutes.  It was too much, too many people, and loud.  By that point in time I had had my fair share of people.  And she wasn’t shy about ordering that big sundae at the end of the meal… I wish that our end of the table would’ve had the brains to do that as well, but we didn’t.

Of course, Susan wasn’t shy about sneaking a bite either…..

Back row, left to right:  me, Janice of 5 Minutes For Mom, Shannon of Rocks in My Dryer, Christine of The Home Team Wins.  Front row, left to right:  Steph of Adventures in Babywearing, Arianne of To Think Is To Create, Susan of 5 Minutes For Mom, Mary of Owlhaven, Melanie of Blogging Basics 101.  Not pictured:  Nicole of Apron Strings Aflutter and Stephanie of Metropolitan Mama.

Now… there’s who I met.  I think I encompassed everyone that I had a card for.  Although, I can tell you everytime I turn around I’m pulling another card out of somewhere…

It was great meeting all the bloggers…

Until next time…

Filed under BlogHer '08, Yo!, blogging | Comments (23)

Welcome to Desperately Seeking Sanity and my little giveaway…. in the past I’ve given away something everyday, but this time around, I’ll just be giving away this little gem from The Vintage Pearl….

I met the owner of The Vintage Pearl while at BlogHer this year and I love her items in her Esty Shop. So, I decided that from here on out, I’ll be picking items from bloggers who are running businesses and giving away something of theirs… on me. I’m giving back and you’re getting a prize and it’s so much more fun than your standard gift certificate to a local retailer. (Not that I don’t love giving them away too!

So here you go… wanna plop this little ring on your finger or win it to give away to someone else?

Leave me a comment on this post and tell me what jewelry you typically wear… are you someone who accessorizes or are you like me who wears the same jewelry every single day, never switches it out, and feels naked without it? OR do you not wear jewelry at all?

Comments will close Friday at 5pm EST and the winner will be selected by Random.org and announced sometime shortly there after.

You do not need to have a blog, just make sure that you leave me an email address where you can be reached and this contest is open to those who live outside the continental US as well…

Until next time…

Filed under Yo!, blogging | Comments (278)

That’s what my body keeps telling me.

My mind doesn’t agree.

My mind seems to think that I can do it all and do it well.

My body is screaming at my mind telling it to stop and they are struggling.

ALOT.

I don’t know why I thought that I could complete a two week business trip to Mississippi with my children adn spend time with them and work and do extra stuff.

But I did it.

I’m not sure why I thought that I could come home from said trip and work, unpack, pack, redesign blogs, create business cards, have a social life, and take care of my responsibilities in a week.

But I did.

And then I’m not sure why I thought that after returning from San Francisco, which included a time zone change (a major one at that) and staying up until almost 2, if not later, California time every night and then come home and return to my “normal” life of being a mother, a business owner, an employee, a friend, etc would be accomplished.

But I did.

And today?

It all caught up with me.

I just finished all the things I had to do. And now I’m going to go rest.

And first thing tomorrow, I’m going to look at everything that’s going on and figure out what a 21 year old can accomplish and what a 31 year old can accomplish and stop doing the stuff that doesn’t match up.

Or at least try.

My mind is very convincing and my body is a follower… until it just gets fed up.

Like today.

A wise person told me several weeks ago that even Jesus took a nap. That phrase has stuck with me…I keep thinking about it. My body is aware of it, but my mind just didn’t want to believe it.

Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Mark 4:38 (NIV)

And if Jesus can take a nap, then so can I.

Until next time…

Filed under Heather's Quirks, Thoughts... | Comments (7)

The flight from DC to San Francisco was over 5 hours.  I had a window seat and I’m not sure that I liked it.  Typically, I’m a window seat kinda gal.  I like to look out the window.

But on a ride that long, I knew I would have to use the facilities and I hate asking people to move on my behalf.  Additionally, because I’m nosey, I didn’t like that I was unaware of what I was flying over.  Like, I think I saw the Rockies but I’m not sure and I think that people should know what they are looking at.  It gives me the chance to say “I’ve seen the Rockies” or “I flew over the Grand Canyon.”

I did happen to find the Flight Deck line on the built in radio on the plane and instead of watching the documentary on China or listening to music, I listened to the Flight Deck Channel.  Sometimes, if you listened closely, you could hear our pilot mention where he was.  But not often.

Regardless, it was interesting.  Especially when another pilot said, “I can wait to turn a little bit later, but it’s going to put me at a lower fuel level than I’m comfortable with, so if you could turn me as soon as possible, that would be great.”

Thanked God repeatedly that I was not on that plane.

And when I did go to the bathroom, as all of us were congregating outside of the bathroom in the “kitchen” area of the plane, there was a little small talk going on between the passengers and the flight attendants.

Before I knew it, the words “How much longer until we’re there?” escaped my lips.  I felt like a complete child.

But not as childish as when the flight attendant (who very much resembled the comic, Ant) replied “about two hours” and I wanted to stomp and scream.  I wanted out of there.  I wanted to be there.  I was highly impatient.

And bored.

And for the first time in a long time, I could understand how my children feel when they are carted all over the country.

This summer, we logged 2431 miles in the car.  That was just our trip to Mississippi.  They were in the car more than that traveling to camp and then to Pennsylvania from Tennessee with my parents.

That’s alot of time in the car.

My parents and I are both of the “we don’t need a DVD player in the car” mentality.  There are so many things to look at on long trips and so many car games that you can play to pass the time.  However, my bosses, whom I love to death (how many people can say that?) surprised the kids with a portable DVD player a day before we left.

And for the most part, it worked out well.  Only once did I have to take it away because we couldn’t decide which movie to watch and were fighting.

One of the movies that we had to watch was called TripFlix.  When I was asked to review it, I wasn’t sure how it was going to go over with the kids, but the kids loved it and watched it more than once while on the trip and took it to my parents’ house as well to share with them.

TripFlix is a fun-filled interactive DVD that features some of the coolest kid-friendly places to travel across the US.  Designed to help famililes pick an unusual travel destination and keep the kids enteretained while en route, TripFlix was a hit in our car with trivia questions, funny banter from the teens hosts/travel guides and little known facts about the destinations as varied as “Carhenge” in Nebraska and Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.

The best thing about this DVD, for my kids at least, was being able to see all the places that they already have been.  They squealed when they saw Rock City, Tennessee had made the list and we all had fun with the trivia questions.

I never intended for the kids to watch the whole thing, let alone watch it more than once.  But they would put in the DVD and when they had the choice of selecting a region of the country, they would quickly hit play all, sit back, and I would have two hours of peace and quiet in the car.

I highly recommend picking up TripFlix for your next road trip, or just to introduce your children to the various destinations around the country.

In my search for sanity,  I was definitely able to find some time while they were engrossed in the movie.

Purchase TripFlix…
See what others are saying about TripFLIX…

Until next time….

Filed under Mom Stuff, Quality Time, Reviews | Comments (3)

BlogHer was fun.

Spending time with Sally, Celia and their kids was even more fun.

Seriously.

While I never felt that I found my place at BlogHer, I definately felt at home and a part of the home that rested on the top of a mountain in Marin.

For those of you who don’t know, I met Sally online several years ago.  At first it was a business acquaintance but over time, she became a friend.  She’s been through a lot with me including spending time on the phone with me and the BFF right after the dramatic end of my last serious relationship.  She’s also given me sound advice on men since then.  Which is comical for many reasons, but I love Sally to death.

And now, I have a place in my heart for the rest of her family.

After picking me up from the airport, Sally and I went to the BlogHer Newbie Mixer where I practically attacked Backpacking Dad.  It wasn’t for any other reason than I actually recognized him and I only started reading his blog after his fan-freakin-tastic chapter over at Chapter Bytes.  After we both admitted that we were the type of people that would gladly stand and talk to the same person all night so as to avoid actually TALKING to other people, we parted ways.  Sally and I went to grab a bite to eat and I had to see just how much Sally would appreciate my humor… and my camera.

She passed the test.  She even told me to stop apologizing after I would catch myself acting like a complete child while walking through San Francisco… that was followed closely by “Becki told me you’d be like this.”

And I was.

Then it was off to the People’s Party where we collected more SWAG and met MORE people… and then I got separated from her as I followed Redneck Mommy down the elevator.  Apparently Sally saw me get on the elevator but I didn’t see her… so she tracked me down and politely mentioned that it was 1am my time and that I should probably get some sleep.

Thank God she was my voice of reason that night.  Knowing me, the type of person who fears she will miss out on something if she is not the last person to leave OR goes to bed early, I would’ve stayed way too long and been tired for the rest of my trip.  (So I saved the late night out for when Sally wasn’t around… lol)

Then we were off to meet the fam and for me to see the house that Sally lives in.

Celia is more of a dork than I am.  I met my match.  And I wasn’t even in the house for longer than 5 minutes when I realized it.

She asked Sally if I was the same in person and when Sally said yes, Celia asked if I looked like the emoticons that we are always using when conversing via Skype, complete with her own rendition.

She proceeded to act out several more emoticons and just as I was starting to turn around and act our this one, she beat me to it.  I could not stop laughing.

It was then I realized that I needed to step it up a little alot if I were going to be able to compete for talk time and laughs around this house.

While I didn’t get to spend much time with them my first night, and I stayed in the city Friday night, the entire family, minus Alejando (the girlfriend was more important than the virtual friend visiting) came to pick me up.  And I laughed the whole way home.  We made fun of each other and I was proclaimed a dork.

The people in the 7-11 where we stopped to get ice cream stared at us and rightfully so.  We were a sight.  And I was in my element and my comfort zone.

Sally and I sat and played with our new Zivio’s (which we both LOVE) while Celia entertained.

And Celia was very sad that she didn’t have a new Zivio like we did….

Build a bridge, Celia…

Celia left us to balance her chi…. I don’t know what that exactly means.  (You know those California people are weird.)

And before long, my chi was being balanced…

(Note:  I have decided that I should lay down in all my pictures because I think I look so much thinner…)

And before you know it, we’re hanging out and Celia is playing a mini-guitar.  Sally told me what it was… it’s a cuatro from Venezuela… and it’s cute and Celia has an awesome voice.

It was hard for me to focus on that at first because I was laughing so hard… the song was a catchy little tune and it might have been about how a bedet is better than a BOB.  (This is a family friendly blog, so I’ll let you figure that one out….)

And then she pulled out the big guitar.  And again amazed me with her talent.  I shouldn’t be… the whole family has more talent in their little finger than I have in my whole body… see that art that hangs above the bed?  Yeah… their son did that.

AH-MAY-ZING… seriously.

And then we talked some more.  And laughed some more.  And talked. And laughed.

And then we HAD to go to bed because we needed to get up to head to the city for a day of being a tourist.

Which excited me (and my camera) to no end.

The girls joined us in the city and we had the best time.  It was a lot like hanging out with my youth girls at home.  I got to be silly and girly and let loose in a city that I knew no one.

So here are just a few pictures of our time in the city….

On the Ferry… they were cold and I was taking pictures… wusses…

Me and the Golden Gate Bridge… do you know how many pictures I have of the Golden Gate Bridge?  ALOT.  Of the 428 I have, 300 of them are probably of the Golden Gate.  Don’t ask me what my obsession is… I’m not sure.  But bless Sally for making sure that I was actually in some of these pictures.

Nicole and I… (and the bridge)

Sally and I… it was cold.  Did I mention that?  And windy.  I might have wished that I had a brush.

Sally on the street car.  She thinks I’m crazy but she secretly wants me to be her neighbor

Sally and the girls… waiting for the ferry…

Nicole, Me and Andrea being goofy.  They like me.  I love teenagers.

Sally and I and the Bay Bridge… I now like that bridge too… but not quite as much as the Golden Gate.

Are they not the most gorgeous girls?  I want to adopt them.

Now, some of you may be notcing that the family dynamics are, well, a little different from the norm.  Whatever the norm is.  Quite honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  Honestly? I see them as normal.  Their house is filled with laughter and love.  So much love and laughter.  Their home is warm and inviting.  They are open and loving.  I felt very welcome in their family and have already told the kids that I am their new Aunt.  I want them to come and visit me.  I want to go back and visit them.

Soon.

And as Sally was driving me to the airport, I felt the tears forming behind my eyes.  I knew that one phrase or one view of the city would release them and I told Sally how I felt.  I told Sally how welcome that her family made me feel; how a part of their lives that I felt.

I didn’t feel like I had just met her in person and while I have known her for 2+ years, I never expected to bond or click with her like I did.

As I watched Sally pull away from the United terminal after depositing me and all my SWAG, a tear escaped.  I knew it would.  I knew that it was a matter of time.

But in my core being, I felt as if I was leaving a weekend visit with family, knowing that it would be a long time before I was able to see them again.  I didn’t like that feeling.  But I was ever so grateful to have had the opportunity to spend with them, to fit in, to laugh, to be welcomed, and to feel like I belonged.

I can’t wait to be able to visit again.

Until next time…

Filed under BlogHer '08, Dorks R Us, Pics, Sans Kidlets, Thoughts... | Comments (9)

It’s no secret that I’m a dork.  I even have a whole category called Dorks R Us.

I’m comfortable with that and I’ve received confirmation of my dorkhood.

(Like when Sally and her family picked me up from the city and within 5 minutes her oldest daughter proclaimed “you are such a dork!”  I like her.  Alot.)

HP was very present at BlogHer.  And their way of contesting was pure genius in that you had to follow their tweets in order to win.

We all know that I was not present to win the laptop, but I was around later on Saturday to partake in some of the other giveaways.

For example, when the tweet came through that prizes would be given to people who came to see Ann and Marco at the HP table and sang two songs that had the word touch in them, I was thinking all the way up the stairs and when I arrived at the table (the first one there) I had two in my head.

The problem was, one of them I DID NOT want to sing.  Especially in front of a man.

So, they told me to sing.

Not only did I sing, but I danced and performed my rendition of “Can’t Touch This”.

One song down, and one to go.

I hemmed and hawed.  I kept trying to think of something other than the song that was in my head.

But I drew a blank and yes, I sang “I touch myself.”

After some laughter and admittance that they had not though of that song, I was able to chose my prize… a PC back up photo program.  Won’t work, I’m a Mac girl.  (And I had no problem telling them that followed by I would gladly give up my Mac if they gave me one of those fancy touch screens they had…)

A pretty pink USB mouse.  Eh.  Not a pink person and I need another mouse like I need a hole in the head.

How about one of those webcams back there?  Yeah.  I’ll take that.

We have a webcam and I have an iSight on the Mac but the PC one was crap and Matthew can make his little videos now from the comfort of his own computer and stop kicking me off the Mac.

Off I walked with the new Webcam.

Happy.

I won something.  I never win anything.

But today?

The prize Gods were shining down upon me.  Brightly.

Later on, during the day there was another tweet that came out that said the first two people who brought them a limerick would win a  7″ digital photo frame.  I took off, and up the stairs I composed my limerick in a text message.  This was after I had to stop and think of how a limerick was constructed.

And after I knocked into several people trying to type a limerick out on my cell phone between the lobby of the hotel and the HP table in the mezzanine.  (If you were the one carrying the freshly poured cup of coffee, I apologize profusely!)

I was the first to the table and they said I could win as many times as I wanted.

So I presented them with this:

There was a blogger who has a Mac

Who came to San Fran for the Blogging Track

But she loves the Touch Screen

It’s so very clean

She might never want to go back

Yes, I realize that I will not win any poetry awards in the near future, but it was good enough to get my picture taken with my new photo frame which currently sits on my desk displaying all 428 pictures I took while in San Francisco.

Until next time…

Filed under BlogHer '08, Dorks R Us, Heather's Quirks, Pics | Comments (11)