Are You Sick of Hearing About BlogHer Yet?

For those who didn’t go, I apologize for going on and on, but I promised I’d dish. This will be the last post.

I skipped out of most of day 2 at the conference in favour of socializing and a nice long nap. I didn’t know how I was going to make it through another evening of partying, but I was revived by the free cocktails:



We yelled at the DJ until he played 80’s music for us, then we got pretty serious on the dance floor (I do hope there’s no video). Izzy’s fanny pack made reappearance:



There was a lot of groping, kissing, and group shots:



After the official party we carried on at the W. I finally got to spend a little time with jen (tho’s it wasn’t nearly enough). She is everything I expected her to be and more. I don’t have the words. I saw Redneck Mommy’s breasts, and let me tell you, they’re absolutely fabulous. She is an outrageous, beautiful, incredibly funny woman. Oh how I wish she didn’t live across the country.

The weekend exceeded my expectations by far. I did not expect to feel so comfortable and have such a blast. I met so many incredible new women, my bloglines is going to be out of control. And I can’t tell you how much I love my Toronto pals, with whom I shared a giddy, hilarious, surreal ride home.

I nearly quit blogging about a month ago, and I have to say I’m now feeling renewed and inspired. I saw how women are being empowered by blogging, and I have a new appreciation for just how much power we really have.

There is so much opportunity here. Let’s embrace it. Let’s not apologize for it.

More from BlogHer

So last night we’re enjoying some cocktails, dancing, laughing, bellowing, shooting footage for Hot and Bothered in the bathtub (seriously), when we have a knock on the door…



Apparently it was our second warning (tho’ none of were aware of the first). We salvaged our party and outsmarted the killjoy by moving to the floor below. Ha.

For some reason the bathrooms at the W have a window. WTF?



I’m loving the social part of this, but I’m slightly disappointed with the conference so far. I wasn’t impressed with the first two panels I attended, but the technical ones we did in the afternoon were worthwhile. I hope today’s are better. The swag is pretty sweet and the setting is gorgeous:



What else have we been doing? We’ve been busy promoting MBT:



The women are fabulous and I’m such a groupie. I have a shot of me humping Kristen, but the lighting is too bad to use it. I’m in love with Jen and Redneck Mommy.

I can’t tell you how awesome Emily is.



More to come.

Geek Heaven

I’m in geek heaven. I’m sitting in a panel, simultaneously doing emails, facebooking, reading blogs. Totally geeked out.

MBT just had their first media interview. Will link up later. I’m going to look fat and inarticulate, I just know it.

I can’t believe how much networking I’m doing. I’m really not a networking type of gal, but you can’t help it here. I have people’s cards coming out of my ass.

Thankfully I'm not hungover today. Let's hope I can say the same tomorrow.

Day 2 Update For You

Updated with pics!

Sorry, I haven’t updated in so long. It’s been a whirlwind. We left Kalamazoo in good time but we were sidetracked by Target! None of us had been to one before, and we were like kids in a candy store. We agreed to meet in half an hour, but an hour later we finally ended up at the check-out (three of us with identical toddler-sized pink cowboy boots, and three of us with identical skirts—even in the same colour!). And the best thing about Target? You can grab a bottle of wine on the way out!



The drive into Chicago was a little hairy but Onstar came through. Turn by turn navigation rocks. We finally got here this afternoon, checked in, stepped out for lunch and immediately ran into Rebecca and Dana. After a quick cocktail a few of us went for some sight-seeing. I love Chicago. We hit the Art Institute and the Magnificent Mile before heading back for dinner with the GM folks, where we had the most awesome dessert—a chocolate cigar! With little candy match-sticks that tasted like Popeye cigarettes!



Jana has a better picture of Sandra and I being crass with our cigars.

I met so many fab bloggers at the reception tonight. I won’t drop names too much, but I have to tell you—Redneck Mommy is super hot.



‘Kay, I’m so tired I can’t even think straight. More tomorrow.

Road Trip - Day 1 Recap

We had a great trip to Kalamazoo yesterday. Jana and Niloc had put together the perfect playlist. We rocked out to Dave Grohl, cruising down the 401. We came to love satellite radio. We planted our trees at a rest area outside of London.



Despite our concerns, MotherBumper made it through customs (where the officer flirted with us shamelessly I might add).

We stopped to meet Joy and her lovely family. She revived us with wine and cheese.



We finally arrived at Kalamazoo at about 10 pm (it is not easy to find somewhere for dinner and drinks at Kalamazoo at 10 pm). Luckily our hotel driver stepped up and kindly chauffeured us around (and angled for an invite to Chicago).



I got to sleep with Sandra who forgot her pajamas. ;)

Soon we’re hitting the road again. Chi-town, here we come!

Hey, Room 212!

When are we going for brekkie?

Kalamazoo Bound

Our sweet ride...
We're finally here in Kalamazoo, after from stealthy tree planting, singing in the car, a stop at Joy's, and some sucky driving directions from Onstar. Much too tired to post anything coherent right now. Will update y'all tomorrow from Chi-town!

Ready Set Go!

Hurry up girls!

Pre-BlogHer Checklist

New shoes. Check
Camera batteries charged. Check
Tylenol packed. Check
Sexual favours to compensate McHotty for taking laptop for five days. Check
Updated pic of my babe to comfort me while I’m gone:



Check.

I’ll be taking lots o’ pictures and updating frequently with all the BlogHer gossip, so check in here and here.

Fun in the Sun

Hasn’t it been a fab weekend, weather wise? This is my idea of perfection: 25 degrees and sun with a nice little breeze. I’m a happy woman.

I had a great, productive day yesterday. McHotty took Cakes to the park for the morning and I knocked off two hours of research (I have to do research for other profs as part of my funding). I spent an hour or so on my monster paper (which by the way, is a little out of control. I’m having trouble narrowing down). I also managed to vacuum the house and shower (I never thought I’d see the day when making time to shower would be an effort).

Cakes and I went to the park in the afternoon, and we had one of those rare, perfect times together. Cakes was in a mellow mood and we relaxed together, lying down on a blanket eating snacks and watching kids play in the pool.

My good luck continued this morning. We hooked up with nomotherearth and her boy at Riverdale Farm. We had a lovely time. I’ve never seen her play so well with another child. They actually held hands! And, get this…shared!!! I had to pinch myself. We visited the animals, then the babes amused themselves in the wading pool for awhile and the grownups actually had time to chat. When it was time to go Cakes gave the boy a big smooch on the lips. A perfect date.

I’m getting very, very stoked about BlogHer. I was pretty nonchalant a couple of weeks ago, but all of the sudden the excitement has kicked in. The thing I’m looking forward to most is the road trip. We’re back to six women again (Sandra can come after all! Hooray!) Anyway, don’t worry, there’ll be none of the “what happens at BlogHer stays at BlogHer” bullshit. We plan to have tons of pics, video, you name it. Now, I just need to get something new to wear. If my pictures are gonna be all over the internet I need better shoes.

Things You Should Know, Pre-BlogHer

Mrs. Chicky wants to know a little more about we Canucks before we meet next week at BlogHer. Well, I can’t say no to this chicky. I’ve already revealed quite a lot on this blog (you might say too much), but here’s a few things, disclaimers if you will, that perhaps you should be aware of before we meet:

· I’m rather klutzy. If I dare wear heels (and I’ll probably just end up wearing flip-flops all weekend) you’ll see me stumble over them at least once. If I’m chatting away and I have spinach between my teeth, or suspicious stains down my front, please speak up.

· The number of f-bombs in my sentences steadily increases in proportion to the number of glasses of wine I’ve drunk.

· My volume steadily increases in proportion to the number of glasses of wine I’ve drunk.

· Don’t take me anywhere near a karaoke machine.

· I will probably quickly lose track of who I’ve met and haven’t met and want to meet, and don’t even get me started on names. When I’ve introduced myself to you for the third time, please just ignore me.

· I’m a little behind in my blog reading lately, so please forgive me for not knowing what the hell’s going on, or asking you a question about something you just wrote about.

· If it’s 3 am and I’m suggesting more drinks, please tell me to go to bed.

Parenting Styles, Part Deux

I’ve told you before about McHotty’s laid back parenting style. How he gets through the grocery shopping by letting Cakes eat whole, unwashed grapes. Well, nothing’s changed. They returned from shopping yesterday and we had the following conversation:

MM: Hi guys, how’d the shopping go?

C: Buddy!

MH: Fine, she’s really good. You just have to be fast.

MM: Did you remember the snacks? I forgot to restock the diaper bag.

C: Buddy, please cracker?

MH: I didn’t bring the diaper bag.

MM: [afraid to ask] Did you let her eat grapes again?

MH: No, she ate green pepper this time.

C: mmmmm!

MM: Did you pay for it?

MH: [indignant] Yes, we did. I took it from Cakes and gave it to the cashier. She scanned it and gave it back. No problem.

M: [incredulous] She scanned a half-eaten green pepper covered in drool?

MH: [puzzled look] Yeah.

C: Buddy, please cracker?

Push and Pull

I love my family, but sometimes I just can’t get away from them soon enough. Take this morning for example. I knew I’d just have Cakes until noon as I had an afternoon class. But I was tired, PMSing, and stressing about my coursework. Cakes was picking up on my mood and was not at her best. I took her to the park, where I continued to be pissy and bored. I rushed her back home a little earlier than necessary to get ready to go. I barely said hello to McHotty and couldn’t get out the door fast enough.

Do you have these days? The funny thing is, a few hours later I was sitting in a cold, air-conditioned classroom being bored by a presentation, wishing I was at the park with Cakes. I made it home a little earlier than usual and could have gone for a latte or done a little shopping, but instead I came straight home. Walking down the street, I saw McHotty and Cakes in the distance, hand in hand, returning home. I quickened my step to catch up to them.

***


I have no ambivalence about leaving my family next week for a road trip to BlogHer with some of my favourite pals (just nine more sleeps!). Check out our Eco Trippin’ page and leave us your green travel suggestions.

Speaking of the road trip, do you think it'd be better to drive to Chicago via Sarnia or Windsor? Would you rather spend the night in Kalamazoo (yes, the Kalamazoo of which Johnny Cash sings)where there are five breweries, or Frankenmuth, where there's a FUDGE factory? Decisions, decisions.

One more thing: have you taken the BlogHers Act Canada survey yet? I'm voting for Child Poverty (check out today's editorial in the Toronto Star about child poverty in Ontario here).

You have until July 22. Get over there and make your voice heard!



Okay I lied, there’s still one more thing: Racy’s back at Hot and Bothered and she’s chatting about taking it up the ass. Go on over. I know you want to.

Home from the North

I love visiting up north, but my god, it feels like you’re driving to the north pole, it’s so fucking far. Cakes did really well in the car this time though. We’ve learned it’s all about the DVD player for long drives (our neighbour lent us theirs and it was magical). Cakes was pretty happy to chill out and watch Hi-5. We stopped at Weber on the way for fab cheeseburgers and fries. Cakes is so odd—she won’t eat burgers, hotdogs or fries and ketchup like a normal kid. She kept looking around for some brie or smoked salmon (that’s about all she ate all weekend—that and shreddies).

We had a super visit with my SIL and her hubbie (M & T) as well as crazymumma and her wonderful family (jen, she gave me a big hug from you). We made the most of a rainy Saturday by sleeping in, back-to-back movies for the kids, eating chips all day, and tons of cheese and wine. M & T cooked up a veritable feast for dinner--steaks, corn on the cob, portabella mushrooms with goat cheese, T’s famous caesar salad--and we even managed to top it all off with brownies (made by cm’s youngest) and ice cream. And of course, more cheese and wine. I’m afraid to get on the scale.

Did y’all have a good weekend? How’d you cope with the rain?

Room Without a View

* SYTYCD update below

For the past few weeks, the number of books in this house has been steadily increasing, to the point where I was going a little crazy. There were books on the kitchen counter…



Tripping hazards up the stairs…



An incredible number of books under the bed…



Every single time, the book I needed at the moment was in the location furthest from me, and of course, the last place I looked.

As well, my computer would be on the dining room table, but my DSL modem in the third floor bedroom and the neighbours’ wireless I’m poaching not available exactly when I need dictionary.com or wikipedia.

I couldn’t take it anymore, so I finally got it together. I bought myself a fab new office chair and I took over the guest room. Ta da!



Sooo much better. And, note the new blind. It not only keeps out the sun in the morning, but it will also help prevent me from being distracted by the “colourful” folks across the street. An example: two nights ago I had just gone to bed when I heard the most terrible racket outside. I looked out the window and, I shit you not, there was a woman trying to break down the door across the street with an axe! The saddest part is, I didn’t even bat an eye. I made some popcorn and popped a beer. When McHotty came home the next day from work I told him about it and his reaction was, “shit, I always miss the best stuff”.

Who needs cable?

***

SYTYCD (Spoiler alert!)

I am shocked, SHOCKED they let Shauna go. She was one of my faves. For fuck sakes.

I'm happy the Pasha/Sara pairing is working so nicely, I really like those two.

Where does Anya get the hideous outfits?

Who else thinks Jaimie should've gone home instead of Shauna?

***

Looking for Sunshine Scribe's new digs? You can find her here. Go on over and take her a potted plant.

What I'm Watching and Reading These Days

My new course is keeping me so busy, I’m getting no other reading done. I’m writing a 25-page paper on Alice Munro’s treatment on the mother-daughter relationship, so I’m rereading all her stuff as well as criticism and a couple of biographies. That is on top of the course list, which is also a handful. I’m loving it though—it’s turning me on to authors I hadn’t read much before, like Guy de Maupassant and Kate Chopin.

Anyway, I don’t have any new fiction reviews for you, so Cakes stepped up to fill in. Her latest obsession is Cock-a-Doodle Quack Quack, a sweet little book about a young rooster who doesn’t know how he’s supposed to wake everyone up in the morning. He asks all his barnyard pals, including Cakes’ favourites, the ducky ducks, but no one can give him the right answer. Finally, the wise old owl sets him straight: if he listens, he will learn. Whimsically illustrated with gorgeous, vivid colour, the book is charming. You picked a winner Cakes.

***




Well, I’m not be perfect, or funny, or just, or thinking, but apparently I rock! Sam at Temporarily Me has awarded me with my very first blogging award, The Rockin’ Girl Blogger. Thanks so much, that rocks! I’ll pass it on to crazymumma, who I'll be rockin' with up North this weekend. Can't wait.

***

The Future is a No Brainer

If you’re into some toilet humour for a rainy summer evening, check out Idiocracy. Created by Mike Judge, the man behind Office Space and Beavis and Butt-head, Idiocracy begins in present time. The high-IQ men and women are postponing childbearing, choosing to establish careers and financial stability first. Meanwhile the, ahem, less intelligent are reproducing like rabbits, creating a weaker and weaker gene pool.

Luke Wilson stars as Private Joe Bauers, who is selected by the US Military for a top-secret hibernation experiment because of his average intellect. Due to a lack of willing female military candidates, Rita, a local prostitute, is also selected to participate. The hibernation was to last only a year, but after a huge scandal the man in charge is arrested and Joe and Rita are soon forgotten, the pods in which they lay frozen eventually built over by a super-store.

Fast-forward to 500 years later. The population is dumb as hell and the world is in trouble. Big corporations rule the planet, the president is the smack-down champion and language has deteriorated to a combination of grunts and slang. When a garbage avalanche (we still don’t know what to do with our garbage) dislodges Joe and Rita’s pods, they emerge to find themselves the smartest folks in the world and the future is in their hands.

I love me some low comedy. Idiocracy is a very entertaining satire.

My flix list is getting low. What have y’all seen on DVD lately?

Life's a Beach

When my husband and I first moved to Toronto we wanted to do something active and meet people, so we joined a sailing cooperative in the east end of the city. It was one of the best things I've ever done. The co-op had a little clubhouse on the lake, with a big deck, a BBQ, and a beer fridge. When we were there, or out on the water, it was like being in a completely different world (but only five minutes from downtown).

These days we're not sailing much, but we still love a trip to the beach. We took Cakes to Cherry Beach yesterday.

[more]

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It's time for the June Just Posts. I nominated this. Check it out! And you can check out the rest of the awardees here and here.

It’s been one of those busy but good weekends. Friday I lunched with Lisa B and had the honour of meeting her beautiful little girl. What a strong lady, and it seems her little girl’s taking after her already. On my way home I went to the fabulous outdoor art show at Nathan Phillips Square. There were many, many talented folks there, I tell you.

We had friends for dinner Friday night. Luckily, we went easy on the wine, 'cause Saturday we were up bright and early for lunch with my brother’s family in the ‘shwa. Cakes is all about the babies now, so she was thrilled to spend some time with her 8-month-old cousin. She adores him already.

This is how we roll in the ‘shwa.

Today we were up early again to take Cakes to the beach (it was fab--I’ll do a post on it for MBT). Unfortunately, we weren’t there long before a wicked thunder storm rolled in, chasing us to the car. So, instead we made the voyage to Ikea to purchase a new office chair for me. Yes, I’m finally doing it—I’m making a room of my own. Will post some pics when it’s done.

Did y’all have a good weekend?

June ROFL Awards

Holy shit, another month has passed. The summer passes so quickly.

The blogosphere's been a little quiet lately, don't you think? Gives you lots of time to read the funniest posts of the month. Enjoy!

Oh, The Joys awarded Mamma Loves

Julie Pippert awarded Arkie Mama

On Any Given Day awarded Salad Days Chronicles

Wiping Up Snot awarded My Mommy's Place

O Mama Mia awarded Filtering Life

Bub and Pie awarded Mimi on the Breach

Cheeze Whiz and Mustard awarded Here In Idaho

Ali Martell awarded i am bossy

Her Bad Mother awarded Gingajoy

What You Don't Know

Bub and Pie and Cinnamon Girl have both tagged me for this meme, so I thought I’d better do it! Here are eight things (I think) you don’t know about me:

1. I am a wicked driver. When Ontario briefly had photo radar in the nineties I accumulated three tickets in one month. I have buried the needle of my speedometer. I was in three car accidents before I was twenty. These days I am pretty much reformed though (I don’t want to scare the poor ladies who are driving to Blogher with me).

2. I get very nervous prior to any kind of speaking in public. I can pull it together and do a good job, but I have to hide my hands as they shake.

3. I flew for the first time at twenty-eight.

4. I never wanted to move to the city. McHotty and I were living in Peterborough when we met. He joined Toronto Fire about a year later. I’d tried a long-distance relationship before and knew how much they suck; at the very same time, I was laid off from my job. So, I had no excuse not to move, but I came here with much trepidation. Just look how well it turned out.

5. The relationship between my mother and I grew so difficult in my teens I went and lived with my grandparents for a couple of years.

6. Along the same vein, I was suspended from high school three times (twice for skipping, once for consuming alcohol on the premises).

7. I took ballet for years and dreamt of being a ballerina. I still dream of being a dancer. When I finish my MA I’m signing up for hip-hop.

8. I’m very exciting about this. Please check it out! We want to hear from you. Let’s Act!

Long Weekends in the City

I do love a long weekend in the city. All the crowds are sitting on highway 400 and the city itself is lovely and quiet. We went for Sunday brunch yesterday and there was hardly anyone else there. The wading pools are open at the parks, and they too are quiet and lovely. Summer sure gets better when the wading pools open doesn’t it…





Yesterday McHotty and I took Cakes to Riverdale Park for some Canada Day celebratin’. We learned we can no longer get away with not buying Cakes her own ice-cream cone. At first we tried—I wisely scarfed mine down while Cakes was distracted watching some Hawaiian dancers. When she noticed what we had, sweet McHotty generously tried sharing his with her, even though she sucks on the cone but doesn’t eat it (a cone is just an ice-cream receptacle you know) and slobbers all over the thing. But when she finally snatched it and ran away, he gave up and went to buy another. Several minutes later, I noticed in all the confusion we had left the stroller unattended somewhere. Now we have resisted all expensive baby gear, with the exception of our $200 McLaren stroller, which we love for its light-weight portability and handy shoulder strap. Dragging Cakes behind me I navigated the crowds and, gratefully, found the stroller. When McHotty rejoined us with fresh ice-cream we noticed Cakes’ cone was missing. You know where this is going right? We retraced our steps, and there it was, still laying in the grass, not quite all melted, the napkin between the cone and the well-travelled ground. I furtively looked to see if anyone was looking and scooped that sucker up. Yes, the 10-second rule is now the 10-minute rule that’s made to be broken.