I couldn’t be more jealous. At this very minute hundreds of my fellow bloggers are in sunny San Jose California happily gathering for the start of the three day 10th Annual BlogHer Conference.
I am not.
Instead I am hunkering behind the wheel of my parked car in a rain-swept parking lot. Waiting for my son to finish coaching swimming.
But don’t feel sorry for me. I abhor sympathy for one and I chose not to go to the conference this year for two.
You could argue that it is only a three day conference. In a city that I absolutely love. All of that is true. However, it wouldn’t be the same knowing my guys are here. You see I chose not to go because this is the first summer that both my children are home after being away at university. This is also potentially the only summer that I will have the two of them home together for the entire four months. Maybe next year one of them will choose to stay on campus and work. Maybe one will choose to travel. Maybe both will choose to partially work at home and then spend rest of the summer travelling with friends. Who knows?
But don’t get me wrong. It’s not that we’re constantly living the syrupy sweet, deliriously happy, hand holding, sharing every experience together kind of life up here. No far from it. My darlings are just as capable at lashing out, engaging in the most horrid arguments (yes, some are still ignited by the merest of looks) and resorting to the most irrational behaviour possible. And yes. I am also capable of responding to this behaviour with perhaps not the utmost patience. A thousand apologies to the quiet neighbours next door. Yes, we’ll shut our windows next time.
It’s just that irrational arguments aside I love having my children home. I love being with them. So no BlogHer ’14 for me.
Instead I shall be here.
Enjoying the first of what looks to be thousands of cucumbers. Who knew one plant and good 20-20-20 fertilizer could produce so god-damned many?
And yes, I’ll be standing outside the holding pen at the start of yet another bike race that I’m watching an offspring participate in.
So all jealousy aside. Enjoy your BlogHer ’14 experience guys. I look forward to reading about your exploits and all the fascinating unique things that you learn.
Enough about me and the fact that my BlogHer 2014 is more of a blog here. I’m curious about you. Are you actually there right now? Did you go? What was the best bit about it? Or did you choose not to go? Why not? Or are you just simply happy that I am not writing about my mom? (She’s good thanks). If you’d care to share, I’d love to hear.
24 Responses
I have never been to any blog conference – one day!
Glad your kids are home this summer – enjoy (the good and not great days!).
I thought you’d been to one for sure Kim! Yes – one day! Thank you – we are enjoying the summer although it seems to be picking up speed somewhat lately. Enjoy yours!
How is your mom? Doing ok I hope.
I’m not going to Blogher even though it is being held in my current home state. “Typikel” of me, the conference is being held in my home state but I am in Florida, some 3,000 miles away. I, like you dear pal, have chosen time with family (in my case my mom) rather than attending the blogging conference. I don’t regret my decision but I admit there is a pull to San Jose. Should we commit to at least consider meeting up at Blogher next year? What do you think?
Ohhhhh Mo this warms my heart. Yes let’s aim for BlogHer ’15. That would be so much fun! Thanks for asking about my mom. Just spent 4 hours with her yesterday at the eye doc. We thought it was just a checkup but no it was a repeat performance of the previous month with two procedures. The office was so busy that doc couldn’t get to her for awhile. Ah well. We had lots of laughs over the whole thing. Enjoy your time with your mom! Hope it’s appointment free.
No Blogher for this little black duck. I do have a swim meet for my daughter on the weekend and I am very impressed with your cucumbers.
Happy to hear your Mum is doing better,
Oh I hope the swim meet goes well. Is it like our Summer ones that go on the whole day? Or is it over nice and quickly? You should be impressed with my cucumbers – I can’t believe the return on a weensy plant. Last year we only got one cuke! So glad I didn’t give into tempation and buy another. Yikes! Enjoy your weekend Karen. Here’s to the little black ducks.
Good to remember that I will treasure the summers that they stay home with me instead of gasping, “Are there any more spaces in your camp? I need a camp? Does anyone have an opening in their camp for me? Camp? Camp?” like I was trying to score tickets outside of a Bruce Springsteen concert midway through Thunder Road. (Oh, there may be a blog post in there somewhere!)
Hahahaha!Yes! It’s hard enough trying to find care for our pets when we go away. The rabbit lady is very kind. She is giving up the business and moving away (the very thought horrifies me – she is the best caregiver – blow dries the cilantro, I kid you not. Oh now there’s a blg post …) but she has agreed to look after Bonanza for an extra day in Sept. “Because I love her and she hasn’t given me any scars over the years.”
I’m not going anywhere this weekend myself–maybe to a movie if I can stretch the budget. I’ll have to see if they have blogging conferences in my neighborhood.
Completely understand. Hopefully you were able to catch a movie and it was worthwhile!
Not me, but it sounds like fun! Have fun with your offspring!
Oh we are having fun Amy. Thanks!
Laughing and a bit of yelling, swimming and biking, open windows and rain, and the prospect of a bumper cuke crop – sounds like typi-kel perfect summer.
It has been quite the typi-kel summer Deborah. We could use your bubbles to get us off to a good start each morning!
I thought about going but I didn’t think I’d know a soul. I was scared. Next year perhaps.
Oh if I go next year you’d know me! And I bet you’d know a wealth of others too Naomi.
Hee hee! I’m quickly getting to the place as my 11yo and 7yo get older where I appreciate time with them. I get it. Things are changing so fast. I must not be on the mailing list because I never really pay attention to BlogHer. I’m not sure why I would spend all that money to go? That said, I hear/see people going and having a fabulous time and maybe it’s worth the trip simply for the bonding and relationship building. I was with my best friends from college recently and neither asked me about my blog. Or get blogging. It made me really, really want some friends IRL who get it and want to chat about it! Geez, I should sign up now for BlogHer 15!
Katy I so get that. The fact that it would be nice to have pals who can chat with you about blogging. I have one that is a delight and is more than willing to chat about it but then there’s one who’s face freezes when I mention it. It’s at the point where I never bring it up. It’s become a chunk of my life and it’s weird to not talk about it at all. I mean at all. Odd. I think BlogHer is all about the bonding and relationship building as you say. Maybe next year …
Never been to a blog conference but I did my time in San Jose. Went to school there in the 70s and lived right downtown in the university ghetto. There was a lot of blight back then but we could see the start of renewal happening. One of these days I’ll have to go back and check it out.
Enjoy your summer with the kids!
YOu know a San Jose that many don’t. You should go back and have a revisit. I was only there for a few days so my view is somewhat limited to the happy touristy land. Loved it though!
I am super glad your mom is doing well (that has to be why you are not writing about her, right? I sure hope that’s the reason! I hope she hasn’t decided to shun the spotlight!We are all crazy about her and will need to get our updates!)
We didn’t get to BlogHer this year either (Well, we’ve never made it to that conference yet…maybe next year). We just couldn’t swing the tickets…plus the hotel…plus the airfare this year.
I think you chose well. You never know when you will have your babies together under one roof again!! You have to take advantage of the time when you can get it! (I am slowly learning this in general as the mom of a teen). –Lisa
Yes, Mom is hanging in there Lisa. Thank you. She’s a wonder. She’s popping over for tea tomorrow and I’ll mine her for tidbits. We can’t have her shunning that spotlight!
I’m blogging here, too, m’dear, and am made very happy by the lack of travel time to get here (unless climbing one flight of stairs counts as travel).
Your cukes look awesome. I’m going to make a salad tonight with cukes and tomatoes and quinoa. Here’s the low-down on what I think I’ll do: Soak my quinoa this afternoon, rinse it well, then cook it. When it’s done and cool, toss it with cucumber, tomato, garlic, lemon juice, feta cheese, basil, pepper, olive oil, and whatever other spices feel good. Yum!
Oh Harmony you are lovely. Your salad sounds delicious and the prep description made me sile. Love all those ingredients too! My basil plants have finally taken off. Initially I was worried as they refused to grow beyond a disconcertingly wilty phase. However I was patient and they are now strong and tall and almost at the point where I must snip and freeze!