Suzanne Calling

I'll be there next year! Last year, I wished I could go. This year, I got halfway to it. That means, next year is the year for BlogHer, right? The lovely ladies at BlogHer announced next years destination for the ultimate convention of women bloggers: NEW YORK CITY!!! While it doesn't help me on the quest to see new places, it does have to potential of knocking a few things off my 'To Do' list, like checking out seeing family and friends and checking out some great restaurants I've been dying to try. Then, factor in the blog friends that haven't attended, either. Grandy over at Functional Schmunctional is on board and Patricia of Notes from the Bunker (one of my first/favorite Twitter friends-@Astrogirl426) is also going. Somehow, I think the East Coast locale will get a few other friends from around the blogosphere to attend. Perhaps that is what the ladies at BlogHer have in mind, to get more of us to be there. At least we've got 54 weeks to get t...

I attempted to scratch one item off that list today. Halfway done. See, I had my Measles Mumps Rubella shot back in 4th or 5th grade. That was a second time getting them, because the doctor that did the first one retired-we had no records for school. NOW, the doctor that did the second one (thirty plus years ago!) retired, so I had to get round three today. The ouch isn't for the shot, it's for the unexpected hit to my wallet. $59.00! And that's only for part one-I have to have another one in thirty days. I am hoping the new job comes with some health insurance. Thus far, the financial impact is $95.00. I'm not one to throw away that kind of money, so those of you wondering whether I'll be in classes this summer, you can bet on it! In good news, I've been on a winning streak of sorts! I recently helped a fellow blogger, Miranda , celebrate her first blogoversary a couple of weeks ago by breaking in my webcam and won this: Isn't it cool? Thanks for ...

One of my friends from MomDot , Trisha (aka Red Trisha over there because there's the blog/board owner Trisha, two)is a finalist in a contest to win an Electrolux washer and dryer over at MomCentral. Anway, Trisha is giving away 4500 EntreCard credits to those who register at Mom Centra, vote(for #8, Strawberry Red) and then Twitter about it. I'm not an EntreCard member, but I wanted to make sure you all knew and voted for her. She is an absolute sweetheart and I'd love to see her have front loaders. Mom Central will announce the winner on Monday.

Grandy over at Functional Schmunctional has been a regular read of mine since last year's NaBloPoMo She's always funny and just a cool person to be hanging around with in the Blogosphere. Grandy is a Success Story , which she shared with her audience last week. We all knew that Grandy is a diabetic (something she wrote about on World Diabetes Day ). Grandy does not sit down quietly and allow the disease to conquer her. No, she's a fighter. One that fights with humor. So, why am I telling you all this about Grandy ? Well, because if you're not already reading her blog, you should be. The cure for a crappy day is some good laughs, and she should be a stop on your 'get rid of my crappy day' tour. Also, because she honored me with her Sunday Stalker Spotlight . This is her way of honoring her loyal readers and to get us all to check out some new blogs, too. (and comment. Heavy on the comment, please. We bloggy types can NEVER get enough of those!) So go...

This is for all my blogging friends, who support my efforts and inspire me every day. Sarah , Jess , Mandy , Saffa , Lotus , Gail , Joyce , Lou, Shannon , Vixen , Mary , Robin , Robin , Loralee , Janet , Neil , Audrey , Jennifer and everyone else, THANK YOU! (You get cake because CrowdSproutJon said over at MomDot that I should give food as thanks today!

Lotus is taking a well deserved break from blogging right now. As a result, she's had plenty of talented friends and bloggers guest for her. I'm slated to help out, but I don't know if you'd say I fall in that talented camp. Right now, I'm waiting for the right inspiration that speaks her name. It will come. Anyway, Jenny from Mommin It up is the poster for today. She spoke of going to one of the blogger meets and having to reveal what was under the pant leg, the unshaven calf for the blogger to her right to cop a feel. The rationale is that we all have facets of ourselves that we share with the world, but the messy house? the hair disasters? the lounge around clothes? Not so much. Jenny challenged us all to show our mediocre selves, the imperfect, the not quite ready for prime time viewing. Jess posted a similar challenge a few months back and you all got to see the stern "Mom eyes", the ones that say you'd better put that cookie down n...

Thanks to Joyce, I'm addicted to Lou Cee L's blog. Yesterday, he posted questions that had been asked of him by another blogger, Maggie of Maggie's Mind . Want to be part of it? Follow these instructions: 1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me." 2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions. 3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions. 4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post. 5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions. You have to link back to the original post (http://maggiesmind.blogspot.com/2009/01/ive-got-answers.html) and also to Lou's post (http://louceel.blogspot.com/2009/01/questions-and-answers.html) and to mine. I asked Lou to interview me. He had great questions, which was not a surprise. That Lou is a very cerebral guy. The questions and my responses? 1-What is your favorite childhood memory? Oh, ...

Yesterday, I was hanging out over at Twitter, enjoying what Astrogirl426, Neilochka, SarcasticMomLC, Spaulds1, ChuckWelch and the others I follow had to say on New Year's Eve. I knew this crowd would have plenty to say that would amuse me-they always do. (Twitter: helping to keep depression at bay since 2006). Anyway, Neil did not disappoint. He is full of curious information. Yesterday, he had interesting New Year's trivia. He posted: Interesting New Year's facts: On New Year's Eve in Mexico, those who want to find love in the new year wear red underwear 12:58 PM yesterday from web and yellow if they want money. In Peru, yellow underwear are said to attract positive energies for the New Year. 12:59 PM yesterday from web I asked Neil what color to land a job. He didn't know, but I figured if yellow meant money, well that goes hand in hand with a job, right? I mentioned that I was going to Walmart to buy yellow undies, since I don't own any. Perhaps that ...

Question for the long time readers: When I said I'd blog for THIRTY days straight, did you think I'd still be at it over 420 days later? Yeah, me neither. However, here I am and the finish line is in my sights. I can see a bit of exhaustion (or really, the funkitude I'm trying to fight), in that I'm not full of topics of conversation the past few days. Recently, Ed made a statement "You're signed up for next year, right?" Actually, there hasn't been a peep of a Blog 365 for 2009. Maybe there is somewhere, but Google hasn't found it. Nor do the forums have a topic posted about next year's even. On January 1st last year, there were around 1100 people signed up. Now the site shows 1563. Any guesses on how many of those people made it through the whole thing? I know that Steven is still at it, Sandy , Lou and a few others( Jess ? Can't remember if you're in the ranks still, since you post at the other blog.). The rules were re...

I just checked over at Saffa Chick's and she's well into Christmas Eve on the other side of the world. Saffa and her husband, Milord, are enjoying an Aussie summer and as a South African transplant, the customs in the Land Down Under are different from her homeland. It's always neat to hear of customs in other countries for the holidays. Thanks to the Internet and blogging, first hand accounts are becoming more and more commonplace. It makes me a little verklemft that my exposure to the world has broadened so much and these friends in the computer are sharing the holidays. Saffa and Milord's menu sounds great: cold prawns and ham. Perfect for warm weather. Then, here in the states, depending on where we live, our traditions are very different, as are our menus. In moving down the Eastern seaboard, the menus are different. We've picked up some favorites along the way. This year, one traditional favorite isn't on the menu. The crab cakes that became ou...

Sometime last spring I happened upon Neil's blog, Citizen of the Month and in particular, the Christmahanukwahnzaakah Online Holiday Concert . It was fascinating to find all these people submitting their songs and photos of the season. I bookmarked the page and popped in from time to time to listen to a song or two. At the time, I only knew two or three of the names on the list, but over the course of the year, it ends up I've visited many more. I'd check out a post or two of Neil's every now and again, and made plans to check out this year's event. It just seemed so wickedly awesome that even if I didn't participate, I was going to check it out. Then, over the summer, I joined Twitter and have been having a good time following people who have fantastic abilities of summing up cogent thoughts in 140 characters. (Darth Vader? Fake SarahPalin? HolyGod? All there!). Not sure what happened, but I think Neil followed me first and of course, a quick glance a...

A few days ago, I made an offer of FREE holiday goodies, made by me, to the first three to comment that they wanted to participate in the "Pay it Forward". I've got Saffa and Grace in. Anyone else?

Today looks like it'll be a day of borrowing, but this one means three of you get something in return. I was just reading over at LouCeeL and he's joined in a holiday gifting event that gives of one's own talents. He got the idea from If Mom Says OK . Okay, the rules, because without them, there would be anarchy. We wouldn't want that, now would we? 1. Be one of the first three bloggers to leave a comment on this post, where the first word in the comment is "Yes". By saying "Yes" as the first word, you signify you want to participate in this giveaway. Being one of the first three to say "Yes" will then entitle you to a handmade item from ME! 2. Winners must post this challenge on your blog, meaning that you then must Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift for the first three bloggers 3. The gift that you send to your Three Friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willi...

A blogging friend, Sarah, lost her mom today . This comes close on the heels of losing her father back in March. This song gave me great comfort when my Mom passed away. Sarah, my thoughts are with you right now as you travel back to Texas. Echolyn's "Never the Same" "Never The Same" [Lyrics by Brett Kull] WWhat can I say? What can I do you for you? Some are here for but a moment Then are taken in an instant to eternity Remember life and what's been shared with you That you have shared It's funny how we feel closer With the ones that we love When they're farthest away You can feel them so near Just 'round the corner the memory still clear "Do not stand at my grave and cry I am not there I did not die." I say to you I will see you again On the other side someday "There's never endings only discovery," I tell myself over and over again Some leave their mark in our hearts then go ...

Taking a break from taping my audition for the Next Food Network Star. In the meantime, Grandy has some important words about World Diabete's Day . Go check it out-and I'll be back with my post later, okay?

Admitting it is one thing, curing the addiction is another matter entirely. Especially when I don't want to stop reading. There is one thing that this addiction has done, and that is made my bookmarks woefully disorganized. I'll read a blog, like what I see and bookmark it to come back later. Alas, that doesn't always happen and then my folders are overstuffed with things that I'd probably really like but don't even have clue where to begin. Then I end up spending a half hour sorting what I can into tidy, organized goodness, but still have stuff to sort. Always. For instance, my toolbar has a Blogs folder that has about a dozen of my "Do NOT skip reading these today" favorites: Major kudos to Ed for showing me how to do folders in my toolbar. Thanks, honey! You all don't want to know the mess that was my bookmarks before the man showed me the path to organized links! When I started Blog365, there were so many new bloggers that merited checking o...

Thanks to Sarah at Imaginary Binky , I've been following Amy Greeblemonkey on Twitter and reading her blog . I am lucky that there are so many funny bloggers out there, and all of you point me towards them! Greeblemonkey is having a photo contest , and what the hey? I'll enter, too. This one came up the other day, and each time I see it, it makes me happy. Taken at Epcot during IllumiNations, May 2003: My favorite WDW park and my favorite show, too. The only thing that makes it better is when it's shared with my favorite people and a glass of wine from Germany.

One of my blogging buddies, Sarah , has scored tickets to Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention. BlogHer will be live blogging tonight from various BlogHer members. As Sarah's posting entries to Twitter, I'll be porting them over to the Live Blog. I'm readying for doing play by play tonight. Sarah and Phil's vantage point at Invesco. Sarah and Phil, live at Invesco If you didn't get to see the speech, it was posted on YouTube

Lately, I don't feel like my usual, chipper self. Worries about Gameboy, about my lack of sales success at work and worries about how the heck I'm going to pay the bills have really colored my blog with the frowns that I feel. Imagine my surprise when I went to go read one of my favorite bloggers, Geggie and found she'd bestowed me with the Smilie award. It was a bonus in my eyes, since she recently had to take her blog private and gosh, I had a few days of Gail withdrawal! Why did Geggie bestow me with the award? I guess (despite my opinion to the contrary lately), she feels I exemplify the rules stated here: 1. Must display a cheerful attitude. (not necessarily at all times--we are all human) 2. Must love one another 3. Must make mistakes 4. Must learn from others 5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world 6. Must love life 7. Must love kids It really make me stop and think that sometimes when we struggle, there is someone there to lift our burden. Thanks, Geg!...

The theme from "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" . Many of my fellow bloggers are off to BlogHer , a three day event designed to celebrate the joy of blogging AND give pointers on how to improve your mad blogging skills. Would I like to go? Heck, yeah. It sounds like fun and learning rolled into one. I'd probably be a little star struck, too. It would be awesome to meet some of those bloggers I've been reading for a while and aspiring to be as good as they are. The reality is that it costs far more than I can afford. It's one of those "I'd love to do this" things, because how often does one get into a room full of people who wouldn't respond to the statement "I blog" with: 1. Oh, you're on MySpace? 2. Isn't that for kids-you're too old for that crap! 3. The internet is full of weirdos, you know! 4. Why would you want to do that? Those first three questions just put a neon sign over that person's head how clueless ...