Sparks and Butterflies

Just a little bit of a head’s up for you the reader.

And can I just say thank you, first?  There are a couple of you who are faithful commenters, and I thank you for reminding me that I am not alone in the world, and perhaps not so weird.  I appreciate that, I appreciate you.  Thank you.

Anyway – I’m going to be changing the site’s look a little bit.  I don’t know when.  But soon, hopefully.  But it just doesn’t feel like me anymore, and I’m changing things to be more me.  In a lot of areas.  So, if it looks different at some point – don’t worry – I’m still here.

I’ve added a list to the right hand side bar.  The list will change and morph as I decide on new things to add.  There is no timeline to it.  There is no deadline.  It’s not a list of things to accomplish before the year ends.  They are just things I want to figure out and do.  And once they’re done, or habits become habits, they’ll be crossed off.  It’s more for me than you – but I want to share my journey.

I also may be cleaning up the sidebars – perhaps bowing out of things that I’m either not participating in well, or don’t fit me any longer.

I’ll have a post coming on Butterviews soon about my sponsor for my trip to SXSW.  While the trip didn’t turn out like I expected, they are a good cause and deserve a highlight.

And finally Blogher.  Dammit.  The plan was the same as last year.  Use the funds from our tax refund to go.  That worked beautifully last year, and our budget wasn’t effected by the trip.  But, since I’m working on a business that isn’t yet booming, and Poe lost his job, unemployment hasn’t kicked in, and he hasn’t found a new one…  well…  we’ll be living off the refund for the time being.  Which means no BlogHer for me.  I’ve entered a contest, but well, it’s a contest.

If you would like to sponsor my trip to BlogHer – Please contact me.  Sponsorship entails the conference ticket, hotel, and flight.  Of course, you’ll have to have already purchased the ticket since they’re already sold out…  And you’re just trying to figure out who to give it to!  Pick Me!

You know… My family doesn’t play enough.  It’s true.  We just don’t play together.  We’re busy, and by the end of the day exhausted, and there just seems to be so much we have to do that by the time it’s the kids’ bedtime – we haven’t done anything fun as a family.

Switching gears – but not really – the topic just brought this to mind – I am not Mormon.  However, I have always admired the religion’s commitment to family and the proactive steps they take.  I don’t know a LOT about it, but they have a tradition that I believe is called family home evening.  Once a week, they are committed to spending quality time with their family.  I’m not sure if it is a game night, or a Scripture study, or heck – both?  But they’re focused on spending time with their families uninterrupted.

I think we’re going to have to start that here at my house.  One night a week doing something together.

Time to Play has a new feature they’re promoting on their website called Family Game Night.  Do you remember playing Monopoly?  Or Uno!?  I miss the laughing.  I miss the competition.  I miss spending fun time with the people I love.

This friday, Resourceful Mommy is holding a Site Warming Party for Time to Play.  From 9-10pm Eastern, you can chat Tweet with Toy Expert Jim Silver, editor in chief of Time to Play Mag. There will be prizes, of course, but dude.  How many times in one’s life can you say you get to chat with a toy expert?

I wanted to write something light hearted after that last post.  Luckilly Dooce has a meme.

What are your middle names?

Mine is Kee, a family name.  His is Joseph.

How long have you been together?

Our 11th anniversary is coming up in April.  And that’s just about how long we’ve been together considering he asked me to marry him in three days, and we were married three months later.

How long did you know each other before you started dating?

A month.  We were in class together.

Who asked whom out?

Well – I guess me.  I asked to sit next to him in Church.  Three days later we were engaged.

How old are each of you?

I’ll be 34 next month.  He’s 32 – 33 in September.

Whose siblings do you see the most?

Neither really.  Enter long convoluted family history here.

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?

Money is one.  I’m a saver, he’s a spender.  We don’t have a lot of it, now that I’m home, and I have some history things that lead to a level of insecurity when it comes to funds.  As in I’ve been homeless and never want to go through that again. Although we’ve been through all kinds of things.  Addictions, and deaths, and miscarriages…  It’s all hard.

Did you go to the same school?

Yes, briefly.

Are you from the same home town?

Nope.  I was born in Hollywood, he was born in San Jose.

Who is smarter?

I want to remain married, thank you.

Who is the most sensitive?

Heh.  Me.  Most definitely me.

Where do you eat out most as a couple?

We don’t.

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?

The Mexican Riviera on our Honeymoon.  Not that we saw much of it.

Who has the craziest exes?

We are very even on that score.  Although he was once engaged to two women at once, so one could argue that HE is the crazy ex.

Who has the worst temper?

Me.  Definitely me.

Who does the cooking?

Me.  Poe nukes things great.  And I believe Kraft mac n’ cheese, scrambled eggs, and burritos are on his list.

Who is the neat-freak?

Freak is such a STRONG word.  Let’s just say we have different definitions of “cleaned up.”

Who is more stubborn?

Oooooo.  Huh.  Let’s just say it’s lucky we agree on a lot.

Who hogs the bed?

Neither of us hogs the bed, but MAN can he steal the covers.

Who wakes up earlier?

Him.  He gets up at 4:30am for work.  Which, unfortunately for him, spills into the weekends.  Which means I get to sleep in.  heh.

Where was your first date?

The parking lot of our church where we talked for 4 hours.

Who is more jealous?

Me.  I think.  Maybe he just broods silently.

How long did it take to get serious?

3 days.

Who eats more?

Me.  Absolutely.  It’s amazing to watch him subsist on air, really.

Who does the laundry?

Me.

Who’s better with the computer?

Well – he’s a CADD engineer.  But I set up his computer, do his virus checks etc.

Who drives when you are together?

That’s a toss up as to who’s willing to bite their tongue more.  I consider driving with him an endurance test.  Will we survive?  He considers driving with me a lesson in patience.

So.  I leave for Blissdom tomorrow.   I don’t arrive until 11:30pm.  I awoke with a headache today.  I still need to write up itineraries for my father and husband so neither one of them loses a child along the way.  I still need to get my haircut, nails done, and pack.  I need to check out my laptop (it’s not my main computer) to make sure everything’s running fine.  Not to mention make a costume for my son’s play, which I’m missing, on Friday.

Oh – if you want to meet up or just want to be able to get a hold of me, dm me or email me for my cell number.

BREATHE.

Everything will be fine.  Everything will be fine.

P.S.  Joseph made the baseball team!

When I started writing online, it was 1995.  The world wide web was still getting it’s feet wet in terms of making connections.  There were some new people putting their Online Diaries up.  I don’t even remember who the first one I stumbled upon was.  Possibly Kymm in her Sweet as a Biscuit years.  She’s the one I remember from those days anyway.  I’ve always written a journal.  From as young as I can remember with those little diaries with a tiny space per day.  And a lock.

And so, I started to write.  I was KeeArgo on AOL.  A frequenter on the chatrooms – on my 14.4 modem – the height of technology at the time.  With your membership, you got some server space.  So I learned basic html (the only code language at the time).  I painstakingly coded every single page, and uploaded them one at a time.  Don’t forget to update the archives, back, and next links too!  It was a time consuming, tedious, detail oriented process.  Blogs didn’t exist – and there wasn’t any software to help until HotDog as I recall.

There wasn’t a “community” per se.  There weren’t comments.  Perhaps you could email the person your reactions if they put their email address up.  In fact, my one and only troll was during those days – I did put my email on my page, and I was informed by one reader that I should be sterilized so I couldn’t pass my immoral tattooed genes on to any offspring.  That was…  fun.  I wonder if he knows I passed my genes on in subsequent years.

Eventually, of course, the online diaries took off…  There were discussions about what constituted a “diary” versus a “journal.”  And then technology started advancing – and there were “blogs” or “weblogs” which came under the “journaling” not “diary” heading.  In fact there was a lot of discussion that “blogs” weren’t really valid to begin with.  Where’s the prose?  Where’s the actual writing?  Of course,  we know how that whole debate reconciled itself.

As time went on, we all found each other, of course.  It’s what us humans do – we connect.

So, what are the benefits of connection for me?  In the simplest terms – I’m not alone.  I’m not the only one out there putting myself up for everyone to see.  I’m not the only woman who feels the way I do, or struggles as I do.  I’m not the only mother struggling with this issue or that.  I’m not the only wife who wonders if my husband really did spawn on another planet.  I’m not the only one who questions her spirituality, sanity, or validity.  I am not alone.  That, in and of itself, eases burdens.  And then – the ability to share with others, to commiserate with others, to help others bear their responsibilities.  To debate, and argue, and laugh, and cry.

In society today, I feel very isolated.  Even if I’m out and about in my day – every one is so busy, so harried, it’s hard to connect with them.  At least not until 10pm at night and you take a moment to breathe and stop and look around.  But with the community around me online – I can be with people and make that connection I so need.  This is the most important benefit I’ve received.

Other benefits, of course, include going to events such as BlogHer and Blissdom and making that in-person connection.  Getting paid to blog in various parts of the innernets.  Getting to share wisdom and research that might help others.  Starting my online business, Vineyard Virtual Services for goodness sakes.  I don’t think that it would have been feasible had blogging not been something we could market and reach people with.  It’s what’s going to allow me to stay home with my family.

The benefit, in summary, is being involved in something tangible that’s bigger than us individually.

The post is my entry into Mabel’s Labels contest for BlogHer ’09.  What can I say – I’d love to be a correspondent.

We have a winner for the Superbowl Party Pack!

Congratulations, Maria P.!  I’m sending you an email to get your address to pass on to Pepsi.

Thank you to all who participated!

So.  Headless Mom has passed to me an award.   It’s my second in all the years I’ve been blogging, so I must say thank you.  It’s always wonderful to be acknowledged.  I had the pleasure of meeting Headless Mom at BlogHer last year – she was passing out headless dolls, as I recall.  And she still reads me.  So, I must not have made too terrible an impression!

So – the award – Making Lemons out of Lemonade

This award comes with a few rules: Put the logo on your blog or post. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show GREAT ATTITUDE and/or GRATITUDE! Be sure to link to your nominees within your post. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

Now the hard part – Passing it on.  These blogs really don’t have anything in common.  Some are popular, some aren’t.  Some are Christian, some aren’t. Some curse, some don’t.  But I find each of these bloggers compelling for some reason – in all their differences.

1. Steph at Adventures in Babywearing for her indomitable spirit.
2. Angela at Bring the Rain for her grace and heart in sharing her daughter’s story.
3. Kelly at Generation Cedar for never wavering in her principles.
4. Ree at The Pioneer Woman who exudes the gratitude she has for the life she leads in every post and picture.
5. Stacy at Your Sacred Calling for the calm, focused and true way she lives her life pointed at God.
6. Tanis at Attack of the Redneck Mommy for the ferociousness in which she loves and fights for her kids and husband.
7. Crystal at Boobs, Injuries, and Dr. Pepper for the great attitude she has through all she’s been through.
8. Allison at Mrs. Fussypants for her indomitable spirit through the last couple of years.
9. Oh, the Joys for the attitude she shows about and to her children.
10. Megan at Velveteen Mind for her constancy (even if she IS a fan of the blogging hiatus.)

Of course this isn’t everyone – I read hundreds of feeds.  But it’s a start for now.  Thank you to them for their thoughts, wishes, dreams, and the urge to share them with everyone.

~~

Don’t forget – the Superbowl Party Pack Giveaway ends tonight, Jan. 16th at 11:59pm PST.

I’ve a new post up at Blissfully Domestic - Physical Therapy -  A Quick Look.

Are your Christmas Decorations put away yet?

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS CONCLUDED, AND WE HAVE A WINNER – MARIA P.

Ok so technically, we’re a football family.  Really it’s just my husband and oldest son.  But they’re part of the family, right?  And quite frankly, my husband has decided until next year that football no longer exists since his team is out.  But if YOUR team isn’t out – or you just plain don’t care, and love the Super Bowl…  I have a giveaway for you!

It’s The Ultimate Super Bowl Party Pack!  It’s valued at $250 and comes complete with food and goodies!

From Pepsi, Behold:

• 1 football

• 1 beverage pail

• 1 snack helmet

• 2 key chains

• 2 hats

• 2 t-shirts

• 5 Pepsi 24 pack coupons

• 5 Frito Lay coupons

The Pepsi peeps will send the package directly to the winner when I give them the info before The Day (Feb. 1st)..

So…  What do you need to know?  Comment on this post.  I will pick a winner via random number generation.  I’ll post the winner, and I’ll email the winner to get their delivery information.   The contest ends Friday, January 16th at 11:59pm PST.  Only ONE comment per person, please.  I’ll delete repeaters.

So – Comment away!

The Bloggies are currently in the nomination phase.  I have nominated my own darn self in the Lifetime Achievement category.  Why?  Because I’ve been blogging since “online diaries” in 1995.  And my archives here go back to 2000 – I’m a DINOSAUR in the blogging world and I want my cookie.

Please also nominate Blog Nosh Magazine…  Our editors, and our editor-in-chief, work very very hard.  I nominated it in the Best Group Blog category.

You have to pick three for your nomination to count, so pick someone else (you perhaps?)

And another thing!

The Weblog Awards are in their voting phase.  Blog Nosh is nominated in the Best New Blog category; and Blissfully Domestic is Nominated in the Best Parenting Blog category.  You can vote once per day…  Please vote because you love me!

And just a smidge more…

I published a post on Blissfully Domestic on Occupational Therapy.  And over on Blog Nosh I edited a post on living your life with purpose.

And I think that’s all I needed to update you on.  I don’t schmooze too often…  How’d I do?

I haven’t done one of these in a long *long* time, so I stole this from Prairie Prologue.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp – Ask me about this one sometime.
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee