My boss, Lisa Stone, is the BEST
By denise | July 17, 2008
I’ve had some great bosses and some not so great bosses but none of them compare to Lisa - freaking - Stone. Seriously. I could tell you a million reasons why she is the best woman to work for, and with, but this photo says it all…
See, I have this hot cop fantasy… and Lisa Stone went out of her way to get pulled over, in front of the BlogHer 08 conference hotel…. all to try and help fulfill my fantasy.
Lisa Freaking Stone… indeed.
Topics: Blogher | 8 Comments »
Life is a Circle Game
By denise | July 17, 2008
It seems as though a few of you heard the news about the strategic partnership between NBCU and BlogHer and a few of you are wondering how I, in particular, feel about this strategic partnership.
Rather than answer a bunch of emails or IMs, I’ll just go public with my feelings…
Awesome. Win, win, win. I’m thrilled. Could not be happier. Seriously.
What? Don’t look at me that way, I’m serious. This is a fantastic opportunity for women bloggers to get the exposure they deserve. It’s also a great opportunity for the iVillage (and Bravo and Oxygen) communities to gain some incredible content. Seriously. Win. Win.
Topics: Blogher | 3 Comments »
BlogHer 08 or is it BlogHerCon 08?
By denise | July 12, 2008
For me, it’s BlogHerCon 08 because I like to differentiate between the site and the conference and the ad network. They’re three pieces of a really nice puzzle (with more pieces coming…), but what I’m really blogging about is what I’ll be doing at the conference. Because people keep asking me. And I keep saying I have no idea.
It’s true. I don’t. I’ll be honest and say that I’m not really sure what the sessions ARE this year. I know some speakers because I’ve seen them float through the admin panel or I read their blogs or their tweets. But I don’t know exactly what their panels are. I just haven’t had the time to obsess over the schedule the way I usually do.
Until this moment, the only things I know for sure that I’ll be doing are these:
Thursday pre-conference, the CE/Speaker cocktail party and the newbie mixer.
Saturday at 3:15, I host the Queer BOF.
Saturday at 4:00, I’ll attend the Chicago Bloggers Room of Your Own.
And that’s it. I suspect you will find me “hiding” in the Cafe/Book Sale room quite a bit. It’s not really hiding because there will be people there but it’s not organized attendance - and I feel a distinct need to avoid organized attendance because I’m feeling incredibly unorganized. Moving across the country will do that to you. Changing your life this way will do that to you.
But, then again, after last year’s BlogHerCon I felt like I had missed so much because I spent so much time in the Cafe/Book Sale room and I vowed to NOT miss so many panels next time. So, I’m looking at the schedule while I’m typing this post and I’m choosing panels. I’m not going to “force” myself to attend them all. I’m going to give myself permission to skip out if I feel the need to just chill or if I find someone I want to just hang out with or if I bump into a CE who wants to talk.
Here goes - for those who want to know where to find me, this is what I think I’ll be attending:
Friday:
Is Mommyblogging still a radical act?
Race & Gender (but I may duck out and attend a ROYO with the Mid-Life bloggers.
Progressives & Conservatives (but I may duck out and sneak into the Mirrors session.
Saturday:
Women without children. (ducking out at 11:30 for the Obama/McCain ROYO.)
BOF with BlogHims
Queer BOF and Chicago ROYO (Really wish I could attend taking back naked blogging, though.)
There you have it…. track me down in those places and if you don’t find me there, check the Cafe.
Topics: Work, Blogher, Daily Dose | 1 Comment »
Some thoughts on life up here…
By denise | July 11, 2008
While you wait for me to get my act together and blog the actual “move”, here are some things that we’ve done or thought about since we have been here.
1) We went to Corner Bakery, which was nice since I have enjoyed it several times when it was in Colony North (Atlanta) and was disappointed in its absence the last couple of times I was there. It’s pretty close to our house and in the same shopping center with my beloved Wachovia.
2) We found a Sweet Tomatoes also very close to our house and who knew they had Sunday brunch? RJ in particular is fond of Sweet Tomatoes and we thought the closest one to us was in Schaumburg. RJ will be pleased.
3) Baja Fresh was a nice Mexican chain. No idea where that is, maybe Deerpark? We were roaming the countryside when we found it. But, it’s a chain so I’m sure we’ll find others.
4) Sweet Dreams just down the road from us had great organic sandwiches and desserts. The potato salad was good too. And so was the coffee. Nice little cafe.
5) In the Corner Bakery, a child was incredibly excited because there was air conditioning. That was crazy. What kid gets excited about an air conditioned restaurant? That does not bode well…
6) Except, it’s July 11 and we turned off the A/C last night because we were freezing our asses off. It’s been off all day long and we are still freezing our asses off. This does not bode well…
7) The dog does not like to go outside in back, where the swingset is. He doesn’t love to go out front either except he can chase rabbits. And since when do rabbits roam housing areas in the middle of the darn day? This is not the countryside - wtf?
The raccoons on the other hand stick to roaming our fence at 5am. That seems smarter to me.
9) The Great Lakes Naval Base is closer than I originally thought and I was freaking thrilled to get my ID card in less than 5 minutes (and my car sticker, too.) Those folks are much quicker and nicer than the people at the Charleston Air Force Base pass & id. I was even more thrilled to fill up my gas tank for 30 cents less a gallon. I do believe I’ll be visiting the Naval Base every couple of weeks for groceries and gas. It’s totally worth it to drive 18 miles to save that much money. Also, the base is pretty. I didn’t expect that. (Someone remind me to call my father and talk to him about it - since my mother has some pregnancy amnesia and doesn’t remember anything about living there - or giving birth to my baby brother there.)
10) The Target around the corner is possibly the worst Target I’ve ever seen - sort of dirty and dingy and understocked. Weird, it felt like a Kmart.
11) If Waukegan Rd goes everywhere I’ve needed to go, why does mapquest keep sending me down Willow/Sunset Ridge/Skokie/Eden’s Expressway? Why can’t I drive down Waukegan and be there? What are they hiding on that end of Waukegan? Stay tuned, I’ll let you know because I’m driving down there… soon.
12) It’s harder than hell to find some place that boards birds! Who knew. Thank goodness Jane at what used to be Tanglewood Kennel and is now something else that I can’t remember is going to bird sit for us. I haven’t actually met Jane yet but I think I love her. What a nice woman. Seriously.
13) The Toyota dealer on Skokie (blvd? rd? something or other - off of Sunset Ridge) is the oddest Toyota dealer I’ve ever been to - and the nice sales guy said it takes them 8 months to get a Prius - so if y’all want one, you should order now (and pray.)
And… I think that’s all I’ve got for you, for now. This weekend - Friends of the Library book sale and a quick visit to the Farmer’s Market, maybe?
Topics: Family Funk, Daily Dose | 7 Comments »
Yes I am jealous.
By denise | July 11, 2008
sassymonkey with melissa ferrick. Lat night. Hmph
Topics: Melissa Ferrick, Sights & Sounds | 2 Comments »
John Lennon: All I Want Is the Truth, a Photographic Biography
By denise | July 10, 2008
So, the last book I read in Gainesville from the very excellent Gainesville library was John Lennon: All I Want Is the Truth, a Photographic Biography and to tell you the truth, I didn’t quite finish it before we left town. I had two chapters to go. I might someday grab it from the shelf of a bookstore and finish the last two chapters, but probably not.
It was “OK” but I couldn’t figure out why it was even on the Printz award list. There wasn’t anything outstanding about it - it was just a kids biography of Lennon. Shrug. The photos were nice. The tidbits about Lennon’s childhood and how it all started was sort of interesting. Maybe if I was more of a Beatles fan…?
In other challenge notes, I’m reading Quatrocentro from my “from the stacks” challenge but I feel like maybe I’ve already read it. I’ll know for sure tonight, I think.
Topics: 2008, Printz Award Challenge, Young Adult, Non-Fiction, Children's Literature, Books in Bed | 2 Comments »
Moving… sucks
By denise | July 5, 2008
Real quick post - we’re halfway there or almost halfway there. We did the first 900 miles today, after a very rough pack out Thursday and a very rough clean up on Friday (yes there were injuries.) We’ll do the other 950 miles tomorrow and unload the truck on Monday.
We’re all fine, but tired and sad and pretty grouchy but we haven’t killed either animal or each other and haven’t even been tempted to do so. I call that a win.
Details will come - eventually. We leave for the bay area on the 13th so don’t give up on me if I don’t blog it all quickly. BlogHerCon will obviously take priority.
Anyone out there live in Manchester Tennessee? When did y’all get civilized? There’s even a Starbucks. Who knew?
Oh… quick update on my mileage - first tank, only 47.2 (mostly stop/start traffic with only the last 20 miles done at a level speed.) Second tank, 52.7 - all freeway but following a uHaul that didn’t maintain its speed very well (aversion to lane changing and a hell of a lot of traffic.) Third tank, 55.1 (mountains but not as much traffic so more steady speed highway driving.) I’ll call my dad early next week and get his mileage update. heh.
Topics: Friends & Family, Travel Log, Family Funk, Daily Dose | 5 Comments »
House full of big kids
By denise | June 30, 2008
Today we had a lot of big kids here. It’s been awhile since that happened.
Chris was here and then Charles and Sarah showed up. And, Sarah brought the baby (who we haven’t seen in a year and she is walking and talking and a-freaking-dorable.) Michelle arrived, too. Liz was also here.
The house was loud and busy. There was a lot of laughing and a little bit of crying (when Michelle had to say goodbye to Liz and then when I had to watch her cry afterwards.)
They all left, to go to work or school or somewhere and that quiet was disquieting.
Charles is back here, working on the upstairs bedrooms. Chris will be back here in a bit to help him.
I’m going to miss these big kids a lot - and not just because they do things like buff the floor and carry heavy boxes so I don’t F*** up my arm some more. I’m going to miss them because they’re funny and they’re fun.
Topics: Friends & Family, Kid Talk, Family Funk, Daily Dose | 5 Comments »
The Orphan’s Tales: In the City of Coin and Spice
By denise | June 30, 2008
Book Two, The Orphan’s Tales: IN the City of Coin and Spice was even BETTER than Book One.
I love these books. I must buy them. I must also find some time to sift through the wiki provided to me by Liz.
Topics: Queer, Women, 2008, Feminism, Sci Fi and Fantasy, Favorites, Fiction, Books in Bed | 1 Comment »
Dueling Hybrids?
By denise | June 25, 2008
My dad called today and after he finished thinking TW was me, we chatted about his home improvement projects and about our move and as we were about to hang up because we had nothing more to say, I remembered…. “Hey! I bought a car!” he asked what I bought and laughed. I told him the Metallic Grey Prius and he laughed again. I asked why he was laughing… because he too bought a car. Also a Hybrid. Also “grey”. But he bought the Honda and just picked it up on Monday.
We chatted a bit about our choices and I of course had more to say because I have actually driven both the hybrid Prius and the hybrid Honda - he hasn’t actually driven the Prius and only test drove the Honda once before he ordered.
Anyway… being who we are… we’re tracking our mileage so we can compare every week. Which hybrid will win?
Mine, I’m sure.
Topics: Money Talks, Friends & Family, Day to Day, Family Funk, Daily Dose | 5 Comments »
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