Sparks and Butterflies

Well.

Brace yourself.

Poe got a job!

Now, the caveat…  He’s making less than half his previous salary – which also means he’s making less than unemployment brings in.  But – benefits kick in in 90 days, and they promote from within.  We’re hoping he’ll continue to be promoted over time.

This is a very good thing.  It’s good for our finances, it’s good for his state of mind, and frankly, it’s good for me.  Having room to breathe and do my thing has been good.

However.  I don’t deal with change well.  We’re having to learn a new routine because he has a very odd shift.  So, I’m scrapping my whole routine and starting over from scratch.  And then I’ll get to do it again when the kids go back to school.

That’s okay.  He got a job!

I don’t know that we’re going to make the in-laws, Poe’s seeing if he can trade shifts once in a while.  I may take the kids on our camping trip by myself.  We’ll see – automobiles might be an issue there.

Sigh.  These are good problems to have.

Now, I’m going to need to fix our budget.  That’s going to take some time.

***

Check out Butterviews for BlogHer…  What caregiving is to me.  There’s a chance for a cruise at BlogHer’s roundup page – so you might want to check it out!  The post is Full Plates and Everything Else.

A quick update around here…  Poe has been on 4 interviews in the past week – all in relation to security and his guard card and firearms permit.  To put that in perspective:  He had 4 interviews prior to this in the entire year and a half he’s been out of work ranging from landscaping to pizza delivery to his educational career (architectural drafting.)  Perhaps this career shift was a smart move on our part?  We shall see.  His interview yesterday he really really wants.  It’s for a major museum, and he said the employee atmosphere was “like family – like WB used to be.”  We shall see.  Please keep us in your prayers, as I think his unemployment ends pretty soon.  Like in the next two weeks.  But we’re trying our best and I guess that’s truly all we can do.  Do our best and give it up in prayer.

The boys are okay.  Driving us crazy being out of school.  Annoying each other has been their pastime.  We’re going camping again in a couple weeks.  That’ll be a good distraction for them.

I’m having a terrible time getting motivated to do anything.  I was sick for a couple of days, and coupled with the major heat, it just has drained me.  I’m trying to get back in the swing of my routine, but it’s been rather difficult to do.  Everyone else has that “summer vacation” attitude and it’s making it difficult for me to be in work mode.  But I’m trying.  My supplemental income is keeping us in food.

Anyway…  I’ve been writing for one of my clients at the Fun and Function blog.  I write under “MicheleW” so those posts are mine if you’re interested.

I’ve also written a post over at Butterviews for BlogHer…  What caregiving is to me.  There’s a chance for a cruise at BlogHer’s roundup page – so you might want to check it out!  The post is Full Plates and Everything Else.

*I’m still working on the site redesign – so that’s where my blogging time is going at the moment. Can’t be helped. I’m not a designer or a coder, so I’m doing bits at a time all by myself. Like the header? ALL BY MY LONESOME! You haven’t any idea how much swearing was involved.

The last day to enter the Capri-Sun Sunrise $250 Visa Giftcard Giveaway on Butterviews is tomorrow! I won’t be taking comments after Midnight 7/9 Pacific, so be sure to get your entry in. Oh, and don’t comment here for the giveaway – it won’t count. But anything else is A-OK.

‘m feeling a bit blocked in writing lately.  So, here’s the final roundup of my thoughts and doings and pictures from BlogHer…  And then I think I’m done and moving on.

~

On Saturday, I finally got to meet Dooce.  I almost didn’t.  I walked by her, all the way to my tower elevator.  I stopped, turned around, told myself I was an idiot, and went up to her.  I introduced myself.  We chatted about how long we’d been writing, and what it had been like prior to the tools we have today.  And I thanked her.  You see, whether you like her writing or not, the woman has blogged her way through harsh stuff.  She kept writing through it.  And so I thanked her, because sometimes I wanted to stop writing because the simple fact was it was painful.  So painful.  She encouraged me to never stop writing.  As it took all my guts to go up to her, I didn’t take a picture.  But I’m so glad to have met her.

~

I was expecting cliquish stuff at the conference.  I’m of the impression that any time you gather THAT many women together, some of whom know each other already, you’re going to have some groups form.  And I was right.  But – I didn’t feel it was cliquish in the high school cheerleaders vs. nerds kind of way.  It was more like I didn’t want to interrupt these groups of women who obviously hadn’t seen each other in a year and were catching up.  Being able to see someone from the other end of the country (or beyond) that you haven’t seen in ages is something special, and I didn’t want to interrupt that.

~

I got some varied reactions to me, and to my site.  Some people are scared of my chick on the site.  Some say it’s nothing like me and I need to put up a photo.  Others say that it matches me perfectly.  It was funny to me – the variety of conflicting responses I received.

~

I feel like I really hit it off with Schmutzie.  I was actually a little nervous.  I knew I wanted to meet her, as we are twitter pals and such.  However, we are opposed in many things I think…  Theologically, politically, etc.  So I was afraid of the conversations we might have (with her and quite a few other people.)  But, well, no.  We had fun!  I loved hanging out with her!  I’m so glad I finally saw her and introduced myself.  And I hope she loves me back.  Otherwise, hi awkward.

~

I went to a bar with a few ladies…  And there was a pink man.  Who?  Here, go look.

~

Mrs. Flinger is fun.  Period.

~

One night, I called my husband for the nightly check in.  I think this was Saturday night.

Poe:  (in a really sincere sweet voice.)  Oh my God.  I miss you so much.  The house just isn’t the same without you in it.  (change in tone) OH.  Hold on.  Pizza’s here.

~

There are lots of other stories, and impressions, and such, but I think I’m done.  I’m moving on.  However – will I go again?  Should the finances come through like this year, yes, absolutely.  And if I’m willing to go again – I think that tells you something about the experience.

My Flicker Set

There are also other photos wandering around the net of me.  I don’t have the energy to see how flickr rules work on copyrights – so rather than get myself in trouble accidentally – you’ll just have to click through.

Here

Here

Here

Here

Here

Here

Here

If I met you, and I didn’t mention you here?  It’s not that I don’t love you.  It’s more that my brain has had issues with processing.  I have been through every.single.card. in my possession, and I think I hit up everyone with a comment.

There.  Done.

As I mentioned in my disclaimer, I smoke. Which means I go outside, yes?  Homeless people have been asking me for money.  And when I say that, I mean every.single.time.  3-4 a time.  I don’t have it to give to them – so I would simply smile, say I’m sorry I don’t have any, and watch them move on.  Some more pissed at me than others.  One even trapped me in a corner, but I didn’t give up my space, so he eventually moved on.

I decided early on I was a magnet.  My BlogHer08 badge screamed tourist, I suppose (not to mention I was hanging out around a hotel.)

Schmutzie came out with me.  I don’t think she believed me, as we were on the other side of the hotel this time, and she hadn’t had any problems with it at all.  Until 3-4 came up to us while she was with me.

Told you – I’m magnet.

If you wanna see a picture of me – go here.  Schmutzie took it.

I’m safely home, and exhausted.  I have many stories to tell, but want pictures with them.

Which are in the back of my husband’s car, and he’s at work.  “Don’t worry, baby, I’ll get all your stuff out before I go.”

So – gee darn – laundry has to wait, and bills, and driving (my wallet’s in there too.)  But no pictures either.

It’s Friday morning… and it’s currently 6:23, so I’m not entirely coherent.

I’m not going to give a blow by blow of the sessions themselves, but everything else, I want to record my thoughts on.

No pictures, ’cause, well, I haven’t brought out my camera yet.

Last night I went to the newbie mixer. I had a drink, and met two lovely ladies in line, Kelly and Jennifer. Unfortunately it was really loud, and we didn’t exchange cards, so I never caught their blogs to link them. While I saw Mocha Mama… I didn’t have the balls to talk to her. I was supposed to meetup with GeekMommy, and I kind of know what she looks like, but when scanning I couldn’t find her. I quickly grew overwhelmed with the loudness and the people I didn’t know, so I left and headed up to the People’s Party.

When I got there, I got myself some swag, and got myself another drink. I was on a mission to meet Megan. I’m a reader of her blog, but as you know, she’s also the head editor of Blog Nosh (of which I’m an editor.) I really wanted to meet her. And I did! And we even got to chat a couple of times. She was a cohost of the party, so we never got to talk long, as she needed to put out various fires, but she was lovely. Again – no balls to ask for a picture. I also got to meet Angella. One, I’m a reader, and two, I purchased a couple of photos from her for my bedroom. So I wanted to meet her too. She was absolutely lovely. It was wonderful meeting her, truly. She was kind, and so easy to talk to. I saw Oh The Joys, but again – no balls.

By the way… The hotel? So far I have nothing but good things to say about it. Talk about nice. Seriously. I’m feeling very fancy schmancy in my room.

Friday is conference day one. After breakfast and all that, during the first session, I’m babysitting for Marilyn so she can speak. After that, who knows. I haven’t competely decided on which sessions I’m going to. So, hopefully 1) I don’t make an ass out of myself, and 2) I actually get the balls to talk to someone.

I’m sitting at the airport, waiting for boarding.

Next to me is a man with a braid, and real birkenstocks.  I had forgotten about those.

I recently saw a gentleman get off a plane who looked exactly like he came out of an 80′s hair band.  Long hair, black clothes.  He walked with a limp, and had the COOLEST silver tipped cane.

Tired travelers.  Tired kids.  Parents dragging.

I have to say though, this is the best, quickest time I’ve ever had.  I was the only one in check in, baggage check, and security, so went right through.  I love the Burbank Airport, I sincerely do.  I wish I could always fly out of here.

If you are going to BlogHer, and want to meetup at some point – or at least just meet – send me an email at sparksfley at gmail dot com.  We’ll exchange numbers.

And here’s just a roundup of the places you can see my updates while I’m at the conference.  I do, indeed, plan on taking my laptop – but I’ve never taken my laptop outside of the house (Betsy is a virgin) so, we’ll see how this goes:

• Here of course
• Flickr
• Twitter
• email – sparksfley at gmail dot com

I have various other addresses and social addictions – but those above are the ones I’ll probably be using.