living life Archives - Page 17 of 22 -

The Beginning of BlogHer ’11 in Photos

August 3, 2011 by Farewell Stranger ·

I have arrived in San Diego.

I have been greeted by sunshine and palm trees.

I have been greeted by friends.

Elena and I spent the afternoon wandering around. We took the ferry to Coronado and had ice cream, and it felt like we were in a little seaside town somewhere very far away.

I am far away.

Far away from my boys and my family and my friends – the ones who know me in the flesh rather than the written word.

But I’m also closer to something I didn’t know existed – in the world or in me.

For five days I’m where I think I need to be.

Let BlogHer ’11 begin.

Filed Under: Happy things · Tagged With: blogging, hope, living life, travel

Life’s Lessons: A To-Do About Lists

July 29, 2011 by Farewell Stranger ·

I would say TGIF but it actually doesn’t make a huge amount of difference to me these days what day it is. Still, I’m sort of glad it’s Friday, because I’ve learned some stuff.

My to-do list might have been ambitious this week.
That might be the reason you’ve had to suffer through so many not-really-a-post posts this week. And jokes about gorilla nostrils.
Sorry about that.
There are good reasons though!
I am now off my anti-anxiety med. (Ha! Take that, mean psychiatrist. I can so do it.)
That process has involved some side effects though. Things I’m not fond of.
Like headaches. Right behind the eyes. Pretty much all the time.
And sweats. For three nights in a row I woke up in what can only be described as a slip ‘n’ slide. (That might be TMI. Too late…)
Remind me not to use body butter the next time I’m trying to get off medication.
The nights are fine now but I’m hot ALL THE TIME.
I don’t like being hot.
I don’t like being jittery either.
But I don’t care (as long as I don’t stay this way forever) because I’m not sedated all the time anymore. Whee!
Another good reason is that I’ve been working on some stuff for Band Back Together.
And I’m also a contributor to something that will be making its big debut very soon. Very, very excited about this one.
Plus I still have a kid and, whaddya know, I kind of like spending time with him (and the husband) when I’m not feeling crazy.
So yeah, I had to let something go and I chose this dear blog of mine this week. Because I’m selfless like that.
Speaking of selfless, I may have spent some time reminding people to vote for me for this. So, um, please vote for me. Until August 3rd.

So that’s why I haven’t been doing my normal writing here, though I do have a couple of posts in my head that I want to write. Maybe this weekend. Then next week I’m going to BlogHer ’11 (wahoo!) and planning to participate in the #SummerBlogSocial.

How am I going to manage when I go back to work?! (Oh…my boss reads this blog. Just kidding, RB!)

Happy weekend, all.

Filed Under: Randomness · Tagged With: blogging, lists, living life, meds

Making It Happen – I’m a Speaker Finalist For Bloggy Boot Camp!

July 27, 2011 by Farewell Stranger ·

Last week I tortured myself making a video for something I really want. It paid off! I’m a finalist for a speaker spot at a SITS Bloggy Boot Camp.

I’m DYING of excitement. (You can see my video submission below.)

I really want to do this – not so much to talk about postpartum depression (though that would obviously be part of my story) but to talk to other bloggers about how blogging, to me, is so much more than words on a page. It’s about sharing what is unique to you – whatever that is, and each one of us has something – and using that to give others something. A laugh. Support. A new idea. A bit of hope. A connection to someone they’d otherwise not have met. And how doing that makes their life, and yours in return, something more.

I know I’d be a good speaker (and I promise not to tell the gorilla joke). Help me get there? Visit the site and vote for me (which you can do once per day – please, please – until Aug. 3).

Did I mention I will love you forever if you do?

Filed Under: Happy things · Tagged With: blogging, Life list, living life

Camping, Rectified

July 12, 2011 by Farewell Stranger ·

When dinosaur camp was confused with camping, there was disappointment on a small boy’s face.

That has now been rectified.

It started with backyard camping to see how things would go.

The tent was set up. The camping chairs were brought out. The appropriate sticks were acquired and fashioned for optimum roasting.

No time was wasted in getting those hot dogs over the charcoals. (The deck was only set on fire a little bit.)

The toddler roasted his own (and did a fine job, too).

Of course cooked hot dogs are no good, so you give that one to your mother and then you eat one raw. And then another. Then it’s time for s’mores. And another (raw) hot dog.

Whew. All that camping practice is exhausting.

Even the dog thought so.

And that was mama’s cue to go inside and sleep in her own bed. 😉

Result: Camping practice a success! On to the real thing.

Camping must-haves, according to a three-year-old: boots.

(Camping is thirsty work, apparently.)

And then a happy discovery: flush toilets!

Grandpa and Grandma came out for the marshmallows.

A bit of tossing and turning in the night, and the bacon was forgotten at home, but he made the best of the breakfast hour.

Overall result: one happy camper.

Filed Under: Happy things · Tagged With: family, firsts, living life, moments, photos

Hello Inspiration – Name The Fear

July 3, 2011 by Farewell Stranger ·

A very good friend of mine – one of my besties, for whom I cannot express enough love and gratitude – has started a blog. He’s just a few posts in, but it’s inspiring. I’m inspired. And I wanted to share it with you.

His blog is called I Am Not Afraid. Here’s an excerpt from his about page:

“I’m tired of being less than I was created to be. I’m no longer prepared to trade dreams for mediocrity. And I’m motivated more than ever to live from a place of abundance rather than scarcity and from a posture of trust rather than fear.

I AM NOT AFRAID is both a declaration of strength but also an admission of knowing what it is to be afraid and perhaps true freedom can only be understood having known limitations.”

He has a vision for this blog but in true authentic-leader style, he’s starting by sharing his own thoughts and, yes, fears.