Posts Tagged ‘blogher’

Here is it. The obligatory recap of what was the most fun I have had in a long time.

Going to NYC was hard for me. I haven’t been away much since 2005 when I was diagnosed with a severe panic disorder. I haven’t gone ANYWHERE without Jim by my side. I haven’t left the boys. Haven’t haven’t haven’t.

Well bitches. I have now.

Wednesday saw an influx of twittering, texting, squeeing women to the Hilton New York. There were hugs and tears and laughter. I sat back a bit and watched the scene. Surprisingly enough…I was more at home on the streets of the city than I was in that hotel. I’m familiar with New York and we are friends.

Thursday I hit the streets with some Canadians. I took them to Times Square so they could play tourist.

Me? I’d seen it before. I was busy.

We went to the Hard Rock Cafe for lunch, I had forgotten how neat the stuff in that place was.

Thursday night came and onto the first round of parties I went. I got to squish on the writers of some of my favorite blogs, women who have become my friends over the course of the past year or so.

I met Gavin Degraw.

Friday started the actual conference. I whirled around the morning, trying to orient myself to the chaos. Then I was invited to a beautiful moment. Thirty minutes that brought me to my knees. Even though the moment was all about Karen…I was able to witness it because I shook my fist at my own fears. It was huge. For so many reasons. This one moment brought so much peace to me for the rest of the weekend. I am so grateful I was able to be there.

If I hadn’t been there..I would have missed some of this awesomeness.

 

 

 

People at work have been asking me, “What did you go to New York for”.

My response? “To hang out with 2,400 of my closet friends.”

See you in San Diego.

My little corner of the Internet is buzzing. In two! weeks I will be on my way to Philadelphia International to pick up Jenn from the airport. After some serious SQUEEEEEEEEing we will be on our way back to my humble little suburb for the evening. Two! weeks from tomorrow we will wake up on HER BIRTHDAY and mosey our way up to the Big Apple courtesy of chauffeur services demanded  offered by my darling husband. (Thanks babe!)

Anywhoo. I’ve never been to BlogHer before so I can’t offer up any advice for newbies (me) and while I havebeen to NYC more times than I can count…I still get lost, so no sightseeing advice either. So. Here is what I got. A little bit about me even though I am under no illusion that I am interesting enough for anyone to truly care, hee hee.

• I am extremely awkward. Even more so around large groups. Pair that with a couple thousand women I don’t know and you will likely find me in a pool of stuttering mess.
• However…I LOVE to talk. Once you get me going I am a good time, I promise!
• I have panic attacks. I am not overly dramatic about them, but if you see me and I look like a deer in headlights? A hug would be in order. Please and Thank You. Need a hand to hold yourself? Mine will always be available.
• I dislike dressing up. While I will probably throw on a casual dress at some point during the conference, chances are I will feel somewhat out of place in it. I’ll deal. It’s cool.
• My list of people I MUST hug is about 3 pages long. Most of my absolutes have sent me cell phone numbers to ensure we find each other in the swarm of yapping women. If you haven’t and want to meet me? Send me an email with your cell to ali-at-mylifewiththem-dot-com. Capice?
• If I am for some reason on your list of people you want to meet…come talk to me! I am fairly shy though I put on a good game sometimes. *cough twitter cough* I am NO good about approaching groups alone. I am going to work on this, but…we will see.
• I have serious ADD. Oh look, something shiny! What? Who? Where was I?
• I have smaller feet than the rest of my roomies. No shoe swaps for me. Sad Panda.
• I have NEVER been away from my husband overnight unless I was in the hospital after having his babies. Can’t say that I cared much then. This is going to be a totally new experience for me. I may need someone to spoon with.
• I’m looking for someone to go walk around NYC on Thursday afternoon with the sole intention to take some pictures for a couple hours. Nothing long or crazy. Just a buddy to shoot with.
• I will be at the Starbucks in the Hilton numerous times throughout the conference. Coffee meet-ups are a must.
• I have boring hair.
• I fidget.
• I like Jager bombs and I like Blue Moon even more.
• I have no desire to be DRUNK at any point. I would like to maintain a constant level of tipsy. Let’s do that.
• I have some guilt about leaving the boys and coming to this conference at all. I am going to try damn hard to tell the guilt to suck it and have a good time.
• Have I mentioned I want to meet you?

De-Lurk PLEASE! Leave a comment, I want to know what is going on with you!

Are you coming to BlogHer? Are you partying with the Blogher-at-Home ladies? Are you doing something else insanely awesome that weekend? Are you stuck working?

I am seriously running on empty over here. Class is killing me. Work is kicking my ass. The boys are all over the place and the kitten has made it so I can’t walk across the room without little razor sharp claws attacking my ankles. I was going to do a little list of things that are bothering me (see above) but I decided to do some things that are making me happy instead. Cause, you know. I am all about rainbows and unicorns and shit. Or not.

I like my job. No really. I do. It has it’s moments and holy hell there is drama and bullshit everywhere. However, I work with 90% women…there is no way around the drama. I am thankful every day to have that job and to be able to help support my family and provide insurance for them. It is so important for me to be able to do that for them.

I leave for vacation at the beach in 23 days. A week of fun in the sun with Jim and the boys. We go every year with his family and it is always so much fun. The boys get to see Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop every day for a week and there is nothing better than that in their world. I can’t wait to relax and to especially spend some much needed time with Jim.

 In 21 days my class will be over. I will be done working this wack ass schedule to accommodate my class. I will be done with my entrance exam for the clinical portion of the nursing program. At this point I don’t even care if I get in for the year I am applying for…I just want the application process to be over.  I will then be off for 6 weeks before the hell of fall classes start.

In 54 days I will head down the Philadelphia International Airport and tackle Jenn when she gets off the plane. I am SO.EXCITED to have her here. Then in 55 days we will head to NYC for BlogHer, even though we will be a couple days early. The idea of a couple days and nights that I can be myself, and not have to change diapers and fill cups is amazing.

Chase is potty training. Like for realz this time. I think. Or maybe he will wake up tomorrow and decide he wants nothing to do with it like he did a month or so ago. But we are on day two going strong! He uses his little potty all by himself without me reminding him at all. However…he has to be naked. He refuses to pull his pants down to go. I’m not sure how to get over this hurdle but we will figure it out I guess!!

So yeah. I’m tired and worn out and the circles under my eyes have their own time zones…but there are some really good things on the horizon!

It’s official. The countdown portion of my year has begun! The next 2 months are jam packed with craziness and I absolutely CANNOT wait.

Last Monday started my summer session of classes. I’m taking Abnormal Psychology and so far so good. All it is really showing me is how crazy my mother really is. But I knew that already, and it was reaffirmed to me today. Crazy. Some days I am seriously glad that I am adopted and none of that is in my genes. Gah.

Anyway…backtracking. The class is 6 weeks long or so, placing the end day as July 1st. I had to rearrange my work schedule to accommodate the class and found myself working 7 weekends in a row. Seven. BOO. However…at the end of the seven weeks come (drum roll please) A WEEK AT THE BEACH. Thank the sweet baby Jesus because I need a fracking break. For realz.

So we come back from the beach and then there is only a couple weeks until BlogHer! I am so excited to be going. Not just to meet these amazing people who are such a huge part of my life. Not just to juggle the bull’s balls with someone I can’t wait to booze with. Not just to be kid and husband free in my favorite city in the world. Not even just to Nom Nom on the cutest baby ever.

I am excited to be taking a step. A step away from the anxiety that has grounded me since 2005. A step away from being too afraid to put myself out of my comfort zone. A step that I should have taken a long time ago. A step that will probably take some xanax and some hand holding.

I think I just need one more thing. Some killer shoes.

I haven’t done a Random Tuesday Thoughts post in a LONG time, but since my brain is all sugar and carb-less and apparently doesn’t function well without pasta and bread and sugar OH MY…this is the best ya’ll are gonna get out of me today so just deal with it and don’t give me a lot of crap because I just can’t take it and I want to eat an Easy Mac and I don’t like water there is an IZZE in the fridge just looking at me and calling my name but instead I am eating celery. Sigh.

In case you couldn’t tell from the above rant, I am currently on Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet. Otherwise known as the ” Eat all the meat and cheese you want but if you even LOOK at bread you FAIL!” diet. It’s making me a little crazy and I am only on day one. Thirteen more to go. I’m not going to make it.

I am picking up a few bartending/serving shifts at my old job to help pay for BlogHer. I would attempt to find a sponsor…but to be honest I’m a bit lazy and I don’t feel like dealing with anyone else’s agenda for those days other than my own. And on my agenda? The FattyPattyLivesOnBakedGoodsExtravaganza. SHIT! Now I am thinking about carbs! Nom Nom Nom.

Splenda tastes like ass.

Anyone have any idea how expensive it is to REMOVE an in-ground pool? Holy cow, it’s nuts! hmmm…nuts…I am actually allowed to have some of those.

I have a stupid cowlick and no matter HOW hard I try, my hair always parts funny. Makes me stabby.

Chase will never be potty trained. I am going to give up now since he just peed on my foot for the umpteenth time while holding a conversation with me. He just doesn’t care.

Jimmy has the same cowlick as I do. Poor baby- maybe that’s why he is so pissed off all the time.

Go see Keely, yo.