Monthly Archives: August 2009

Why Don’t More Women Invest?

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There is a guy I work with who can be found at his computer, online trading, in between his appointments with real estate clients and his shifts at his other job.  So he is working two jobs and making sure that his money has the most value. This is amazing and smart.  And almost exclusive to men.  Why is that?  Financial expert Jean Chatzky says that regardless of how confident we women are in our accomplishments at home, in the workplace, and beyond, when it comes to stock trading, mutual funds, or dealing with investing our money in any way, we  don’t trust ourselves to make the right decisions.  In her book “Make Money Not Excuses” she stresses that “By not investing, you rob yourself of a huge shot at getting rich.”

And apparently there is no reason for us to not trust ourselves. Women who do trade tend to make more money on investments than men.   Here is what we do right…

*Women are less likely than men to hold a losing investment too long.

*Women don’t wait too long to sell winning investments.  Men often do.

*Women are more likely than men to diversify.

*Men trade more often than women so their transaction costs bring down their investment returns.  Women buy and hold to their advantage.

Guess what else?  We make fewer investment mistakes because we tend to learn from and not repeat the ones we do make! So what’s our hold up?!

When I was younger I started to dabble and I’ll be honest, it was just scary.  I was not confident with the math, the language, the people at the bank… it was very overwhelming.  I ended up cashing out almost as quickly as I opened.  Maybe if there had been stock trading services on the internet such as First Trade back then, maybe I would have felt more comfortable being involved with an online broker … feeling more secure and connected with the ability to access my accounts and browse opportunities at my leisure.

The statistics above were provided by two professors at UC-Davis, a top public research university.  Are you surprised to find that despite our initial hesitation to invest that we actually are very good at investing our money?  Do you invest YOUR money?  Why or why not?

Online Degrees & Social Media

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I think education is in an odd spot right now. I draw this conclusion based on my own experiences.

I left college in 1988 or 9 just shy of an associate’s degree in something or other. I wasn’t on the right track to begin with then had some medical situations to deal with. Up until this point I have never wished to go back. I have taken a few literature classes just to stay sharp and have an excuse to write. Other than that, I have been too lucky with employment and salary to regret it.

Now I’m 40, working real estate when my mother of two children schedule allows it, and find myself pursuing the writing I wanted to do when I was nineteen but didn’t have the proper guidance. I was pushed into psychology and sociology because that’s what my profile recommended, and advised that the writing classes fill up too quickly and probably a waste of time. I only have about 3 do over requests in my life time. Accepting that advice is one of them.

So now I’m selling a little and I’m writing. And have also fallen into social media. I LOVE it. Feel passionate about it as in “change is in the air” excitement. I wonder if I am in the middle of a technology revolution. Historically speaking, I wonder at what point during revolutions past did folks actually realize that something big was really happening?

Anyway, I want to learn more about it. I am also suddenly craving that degree I never got now that I finally have this keen direction. I can’t afford it today, I don’t think, but I’m researching my options. I KNOW it will be challenging to juggle a school schedule with family. I need to think about that too. You might say, “I did it, you can too.” And I know you’re right. I am just thinking about how very needy my family is and not necessarily helpful around the house. I wonder if I want to bring on that extra stress right now.

Then I think… what about online courses? We are living in an internet & technology age. Surely there is education available out there. But as I look I find that there really isn’t that much available, accredited, that I feel good about. I am still looking. I did find this though. A private Catholic school I never heard of called Gonzaga University offers an online masters degree in NURSING and in COMMUNICATIONS! Two fields that will always be relevant.

Now for you snooty toots who think that such offerings diminish a school’s value… Gonzaga feels that it is accommodative to experienced professionals who want to continue their education but otherwise may not be able to due to commitments and obligations they already have with career and family. And if you wonder about Gonzaga’s credibility, they’ve received high praise from the likes of US News, the Princeton Report, and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. You can GOOGLE them if you don’t believe me. Ha!

This particular program is not for me, of course. I’m still looking. But thought I’d pass it on for anyone who might be looking for just such an opportunity.

And in case you still are not sold on the idea that technology and social media are changing our lives at home AND in the workplace, here’s a video just for you!

Kids Programming Today & In Your Day

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How do you think the programs your kids watch today on tv stand up against what you watched back in your day?  I think about it in passing all the time but today I over heard the words “nether regions” and “num nums” used on a cartoon and I thought, “huh. Not sure how I feel about that.”  To be fair, that was the show “6Teen” which is geared toward teenagers, but still.  Anyway, for fun, I compared TV then to TV now.

The cartoon experience

Remember when Saturday mornings were the highlight of your life?  SCOOBY DOO, LAFF OLYMPICS, & SUPER FRIENDS were my favorites. Then Sundsay night was the Disney feature.  OMG that was so exciting.  Sadly, my kids today have no reason to be excited on Saturday mornings or Sunday evenings because they have all the same shows available to them 24/7.  There is no sense of something special or exclusive.

Same goes for after school.  I couldn’t wait to get home for SPEED RACER & LOONEY TUNES after school each day.  But today I am not aware that there is anything on that they can’t catch some other time.  It’s not necessarily a bad thing that they are NOT glued to the tv after school, it’s just a bummer that they don’t know that excitement we had at cartoon time when it was a more limited commodity.

programming quality

As much as I loved SCOOBY & LOONEY TUNES, though, and feel that scheduling was more exciting in my day, some of the programming is really good.  I really like I-CARLY, ZACK & CODY, and HANNAH MONTANA and can only imagine how I would have looked forward to shows like that in my day.

I would say it is the cartoon programming that gets under my skin. Is it just me or are the voices and sounds really high pitched and irritating?  I despise just hearing POKEMON in the background.  Then we have these visually ugly and depressing shows like CHOWDER, FLAPJACK & COURAGE THE DOG.  Why in the world would someone make these shows?  They are so unpleasant.  Do we really need these images influencing our kids?

Other than Pokemon my kids watch a lot of Boomerang which makes me happy because they are passing on these gloomy shows and instead watching things like THE PINK PANTHER.  That makes me sort of happy.  We really do limit our tv time but it’s hard, especially in the summer, when I work from home and need to create a few blocks of quiet time so I can stay focused.  TV and Wii are the only babysitter/daycare we can afford right now.  Now that I think about it, it’s probably the increased viewing hours this summer that have me so aware of kids programming right now.

What do you think?  Do you ever find yourself shocked by something you see or hear on your kids “kid shows”?

Halloween is in the Air!

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I gave up coffee a while ago because doc says I have to keep my caffeine to a minimum.  With all the cream and sugar I dump into my joe, I am surely better off without it. But as I sit here, zipped up in Hub’s Aero hoodie, shivering and listening to the rain drops as I watch them plop onto the deck, I suddenly have a craving for it.  Coffee, that is.  And as I am completely distracted by my delicious brew and gloomy view it hits me.  HALLOWEEN IS COMING!!!

I love Halloween.  I love that Sari’s birthday is November 1st so her birthday can have a Halloween theme if we want.  Not that we ever HAVE because up to this point she has only wanted Barbie, Tinkerbell, Carebears, and Mermaids. But as she approaches 10, I think I may have finally coached her into something more age appropriate like zombies, goblins, and haunted mansions.  Muahaha!

I am not a big fan of  annual birthday parties for kids because I think it’s indulgent and sends a bad message.  But  the thought of planning Sari a Halloween themed birthday party gets me all giggly.  Filling out Halloween invitations, making elaborate ghoulish treats, and planning old school party games with apples, blindfolds, and squishy feeling stuff… one day that party planning will be mine!

Alas, that party is not this year.  Sari wants to go to Cedar Point’s HALLOW WEEKENDS this year which is just as exciting.  I swear I didn’t coach her it was all her idea! I would love to hear if anyone has been to Hallow Weekends at Cedar Point before.  Have any tips for us?

If you are not familiar with Cedar Point’s Hallow Weekends here’s a good video I found that has a good sampling of the day and nighttime action. In addition to the rides there are parades, shows, haunted houses for all ages, scare zones and ghouls roaming to keep you company. Check it out!

Funny Treadmill Falls

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You know why I don’t want to work out at the gym?  The equipment is too crazy! I get intimidated trying to remember how to operate some of the machines, and frankly, I think it’s a little too dangerous! Take a good look at an elliptical machine.  There is just way too much going on for the average person to coordinate.  Two arms and two legs going in different directions.  It’s just not for me.  And how about the treadmill?  Well, actually I love the treadmill but have you seen some of these boneheads falling OFF them?

What is so funny about watching people fall?  I don’t know either, but it sure is!

Water, Exercise and Attitude

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Water, exercise, and attitude are health and weight loss supplements that are often over looked for pills, energy drinks, and special foods. The health powerhouse trio are on my mind because I go through these spurts of splurging and ignoring them. Do you ever find yourself doing that?

The last couple of weeks I have been ignoring them and I want to get back on track, so hopefully today’s post will be info and motivation for you and me both. Mostly me, though. No offense. I care about you too. But the carry on bags under my eyes have evolved into full size sets of luggage from lack of sleep (too much caffeine), my body feels sluggish (lack of exercise), and today I actually yelled at a stranger for pushing my buttons. (not good attitude)

Water

In the big picture water is helpful in disease prevention, fighting off bladder cancer and colon cancer.  Of course it does.  It flushes out the toxins and keeps your pipes clean.  That alone is reason enough to drink it.  But we often don’t pay attention to the long term benefits.  Day to day is what gets us.  Let me tell you what I have been experiencing day to day for the last couple of weeks.

I am bloated.  I am extremely fatigued through the day.  I am weak.  Whereas I usually have a spring in my step and bounce from spot to spot, simple movements are almost a chore.  My mouth is dry and I feel like I slur when I talk if I don’t focus.  Speaking of focus, my memory is all but gone.  I have to stop and think really hard trying to finish a thought when I am speaking or writing.  I lose a great idea so fast that all I am left with is the feeling of excitement I had when I discovered it.  These are all signs of mild dehydration!

How do I know it’s from lack of water and not something more serious?  I recognize the pattern.  First I get lazy and stop drinking water.  After about a week I start feeling lethargic and loading up on artificial stimulants.  All the while lamenting, “God I am getting old.  I am so stressed out.  Woe is me.”  Until one day I notice how ruddy my normally flawless skin is and go, “Shit!  I haven’t had water for weeks!  And this is my third Pepsi Max today!”  I ain’t always so smart, I admit.

Exercise

I’m not going to go on about this.  We all know the deal here.  I exercise and my clothes fit.  I don’t and they don’t.  Plus I’m tired and weak.  End of story.  Let this serve as a reminder.

Attitude

Yes there is some mysticism surrounding positive thinking and health.  It goes right along with THE SECRET and THE LAW OF ATTRACTION.  Maybe that’s not concrete enough for you.  But here’s another way to look at it.  Focus instead on the impact of a NEGATIVE attitude on your health.

There have been many studies from respected sources such as John Hopkins University and Rutgers University, that all suggest a positive outlook leads to good health.  You cannot argue that if you were to slip into a depressed, bad attitude it wouldn’t take much to also slip into an unhealthy lifestyle where poor choices are made on many levels.  Bad food, lack of good food, lack of exercise, reckless behavior… these all lead to poor health right?  So there’s proof right there that attitude is important.

When you accept the fact that a poor outlook feeds disease and poor performance of our bodies, it only makes sense that a positive attitude is the only way to combat it!

BONUS

It is impossible for me to talk about things that benefit the mind and body without mentioning chocolate.  Dark chocolate to be exact.  I’ll do a follow up on this soon, but I wanted to mention it right now along with the other over looked weight loss supplements.  Have a bite each day.  Just take my word on it for now how good it is for you!

Of course I am not saying that water, exercise, and attitude are a replacement for your doctor’s recommendations, diet pills, herbal supplements, yoga class, or therapy sessions.  You may need those too.  But the big three supplements may cause you to need less and will always enhance any other health program you do.

Are you in tune with your body?  When it’s not acting itself can you detect what is lacking right away?

Finding Time for Fun

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Where has all the fun gone? Remember anticipating being a parent and raising your family? There were no thoughts of cleaning gutters or finding affordable life insurance on your mind, right? Somewhere along the way, our fun got buried by responsibilities. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Before I was a parent, I was a good aunt and was sure I’d be a super fun Mom. I was always available for whatever came up, had lots of disposable income to buy the best presents, had never ending ideas of fun stuff to do and abundant energy to do it all. It was sure to be even better when I had my own kids. Does this sound familiar?

The obvious difference in being an aunt and a mom is that it was not so much my job to teach, guide, or discipline nieces and nephews. Of course we want to be a good role model and good influence. But that is not the point of the relationship. The point is fun and love. Well sure that’s the point of parenthood too, except you have to also make sure your kids behave and learn and grow and thrive. That’s not all though.

The big challenge in parenting and fun is the pressure of everything going on around you. There is a mortgage to pay, a house to maintain, a job to do, cars & food & clothing & LIFE to pay for, people getting sick, losing loved ones, mowing the lawn, and so much more! Unfortunately our family bonding and fun time can easily take a back seat to all that. It doesn’t have to, though.

I bet if you sat back and analyzed the situation, there IS time to squeeze in a game of CONNECT FOUR with the family or go for a bike ride through the neighborhood after dinner. It isn’t always the TIME that is missing, but the quiet of mind that allows you to REMEMBER to do it. Even if the kids say, “Hey, wanna go for a walk?” your reaction might be to think you don’t have time. But I bet you do.

Sometimes just the idea of a game or an activity sounds too overwhelming to get started. It will just make another mess to clean up. It won’t work out anyway. Have you ever had these thoughts yourself? Well I have found so many good and easy and fun activities on the internet. I have long planned an organized schedule here at Her-Family-Blog offering different themes for different days. It’s funny how my schedule today is so different than the one I planned a year ago. Ideas for at home family activity and projects is a valuable resource right now especially. With our extra money on low, and stress & depression on high, what could be more important than finding as many ways as we can to have fun and bond as a family, without having to save up or even go out!? So my fantasy blogging schedule definitely has family activities on the roster. We’ll see if it transpires :-)

For now, here is a super activity, perfect for this time between summer and fall. I searched out “bug catchers” specifically because my Sari loves catching and observing bugs. This is not only a great video, but the end product is cooler than I ever imagined! Can’t wait to try it!

East Meets West for Healthy Mind, Body, & Soul

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When I was at the height of health and happiness I lived according to some very different principles. I studied Eastern medicine, Deepak Chopra, and Ayurveda.  I didn’t eat meat or drink soda, I pumped iron listening to Pachelbel, meditated throughout the day, sent good vibrations to loved ones and the world around me, gave thanks to the universe every night for the gifts of the day and put in my requests for I wanted next. I practiced sleep strategies.  I was disciplined and strong.  It took a life time of reading, studying, and searching find what I thought was the perfect balance.  The perfection only lasted a short time because it was based on living alone and not being affected by outside influences.  Since I wasn’t able to carry it through the constant changes of life, it really wasn’t perfected yet, was it?

It was so easy to have my apartment all Feng Shui’d up and a multisensory treat of sight, fragrance, and sound.  No one else lived there.  Nobody interrupted anything.  I had very few guests to speculate and criticize how I believed and lived.  Add a husband, in laws, growing network of friends & family, children, etc… and all that peace and tranquility goes out the door.  There is no time for meditation and no room in the budget for an organic lifestyle or yoga class.  So rather than tweaking my lifestyle a bit to match my changing life, I chucked it all.  I Turned into top 40, meat and potatoes, survival mode with a goal no bigger than making it through one day at a time with everyone clean, fed, and safe in a house that is more clean than dirty. :-)

The change from disciplined and healthy to unhealthy and frazzled happened pretty gradually and I never made the connection between my old lifestyle and my new so strongly until I ran across this video. It is very NON frou-frou as it discusses Eastern ideas in a way that eliminates the “mysticism” and appeals to even the most pragmatic types.

This video touches on Anorexia and Bulimia, which is something I struggled with as a teen.  And it reminded me how the over eating, the purging, the not eating are all forms of control, not weight loss.  We use the term “emotional eating” but we don’t spend enough time getting to the root of our own individual reasons for needing that control, and fixing those areas of our lives that we feel out of control.

Our Western medicine gives us diagnoses and prescriptions that help us cope, but often don’t treat what really ails us.  I know many mothers who are popping diet pills and chugging caffeine drinks in excess because they are desperate for the energy and focus to keep up with their busy schedules and the competition from the super mom next door.  Those things are all good and definitely serve a good purpose, but there is more you can do.

I believe there is a perfect blend of Eastern & Western ideas to suit everyone, you just need to find what’s right for you.  Instead of pulling another all nighter or another 5 hour energy shot, take a look at this video and see if there is something you are doing to sabotage your energy, or a simple way to enhance your vibrancy naturally.  Really listen to what he has to say.  It’s not very long and is part of a series that touches on other specific issues that might appeal to you.

In My Next Life I’ll Give a Shit

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In my next life I will do things differently.

In elementary school there was a mean girl.  She was little, cute, had wiry hair and a sharp tongue. She was the center of a noisy group of kids at the lunch table every day. Then there was another girl,  always smiling, sitting with herself or a couple others.  She was chubby.  Then there was me.  As unsocial then as I am now but less tolerant of injustice.  I mostly sat alone because I was grossed out by all the food and whatnot that spit out of kids mouth while they talked with their mouths full.  I can still feel the gag seeing bits of their chewed food land on my bologna and cheese. There were often kids who wanted to sit with me at lunch, and that was fine.  But they knew the rules.  No talking while my sandwich was out.  And they listened to me.  Obeyed,  if you will.

Nobody listens to me today.Not even me! :-)

Back to the elementary school lunch table.  So one day after a long period of observing the mean girl abuse the chubby girl day after day, tampering with her food and calling her fat, I decided I could not sit quietly by and ignore this injustice.  I turned to the mean girl, sandwich in hand, and said, “Hey. I don’t think what you are doing is nice, maybe if you make me understand I will enjoy it too.”  Mean girl was stunned, as was the rest of the table.  Cus I was never talks with food in mouth girl. I continued. “Why do you like to make her feel sad every day?”  When Meanie couldn’t respond I added, “How would you like it if she called you ‘frizz head’?  Cus she has beautiful soft hair and you don’t. Then the whole table might make you cry every day.”

Swear to goodness they became best friends after that.  I did that.  And other things too. That’s just my favorite because it made a huge difference to the girl getting picked on and to our whole lunch table.

Now somewhere between then and now, I changed.  Became complacent. No longer cared about fighting for anybody, anything, or even myself.  Life was good, so what was the point in stirring shit up? Or making people mad?  Instead of being interested in righting wrongs and challenging ideas, I made excuses. “Oh he didn’t mean it that way”, “she really is sweet, she was just having a bad day”, etc.  Somewhere along the way it became important to make everyone around me happy, which is what made me happy, so everyone should have been happy except that some people are morons and you can never make them happy and in so trying you will drive yourself insane.  See what I’m sayin’ :-)

Which made me think.  If I had it to do all over again, I would have made myself a cape after that first big impact I made at the lunch table in elementary school.  I would have worn it with pride during lunch to remind myself to stay sharp and keep close tabs on lunch room and recess injustice.  It would have also surely kept other kids far enough away from me at lunch that I didn’t have to duck their flying moist morsels.

Later, when I became the object of some mean girl attacks, my cape would have kept me strong instead of sending me home in tears.  It also would have likely brought on more attacks, but the point is, I wouldn’t have cared.

You know, maybe I don’t have to wait til my next life now that I think about it.  Why can’t I start right now?

Hey neighbors! You across the street that park your cars in the front yard… this is a SUBDIVISION. You don’t park in your lawn.  If  you want me to get technical, you are supposed to MOW it!

Dish Network. We are THROUGH! You charged me way too much in 1997 to BUY my dishes.  Who does that?  You said it was so my service would move with me from residence to residence.  But they all do and nobody buys the dishes anymore.  You continue to charge me too much for service AND you took all the good high def channels away.  The new batch sucks! You know who else moves their service with you? Direct TV.  Yeah.  DirectTv in Texas, Direct Tv in Florida, Direct TV in New York, wherever I want to go.  So watch yourself, cus I am making some changes. you might want to consider bringing that cool high def travel channel back along with those extreme sports.

School District: Don’t make me put my cape on and come up there.  You brag about your superiority and special programs.  Why has it taken four years under your watch to run some tests and figure out what to do with us?  He experienced more trauma by 9 than you will likely see in a lifetime, yet you label him manipulative and deny him assistance?  That’s not nice. Let me tell you what I think…

Family.  I work from home. That means you are lucky and don’t have to go to daycare. Or pay for daycare. It doesn’t mean that you have a 24 hour maid. Or assistant. Or chef. Or punching bag.  Also, I like to read.  You may not know it because I haven’t done it in five years.  But when you see me hiding in the closet with a book to my nose and my cell phone lighting the way, I do not want to see that funny commercial with Sam & the chicken or watch you test drive the latest skate board couse you made with Tony Hawk.  I’m good.

Hey Friend! That’s called littering.  And I am totally offended by it and plan to give you shit about it from now on.  It’s also illegal. I might turn you in.  And if you continue to spew ignorance out of your mouth about people who are different from you, you don’t get to be my friend, even if we’re family.  Unless you are reading this blog you won’t even realize what’s happening. You’ll simply be history.

That’s just the beginning.  There is nonsense brewing all over the place.  Have you noticed?  What are you doing about it?  Are you fighting for what you believe in or turning the other cheek to keep your own private peace?  It’s not too late to wake up and start giving a shit.  Let’s do it together.

What bugs you?  What beliefs have you ignored or things have you allowed to happen in the name of  keeping the peace? What do you want to do differently?

Better than Swag: The Impact of Blogher ’09 In Real Life Part 2

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blogher09chicago1As Part 1 of this post discussed, I was touched by this year’s Blogher theme of “In Real Life”.  But I wasn’t the only one.  And it wasn’t all smiles and feather boas either.

The first night of parties was good.   Gwynne was recognized by more people than I was.  That was okay, though.  I drank more vodka and cranberry than she did. I believe I had just as much fun!  :-)   I met many interesting people but the one who stood out that evening was a very artsy, cool looking woman who won my heart by offering me a drink ticket. The means to my first and much needed cocktail.  The next day I recognized her as a speaker in one of my sessions, Melissa Lion, author and social media whatchamacallher. I went to the bookstore that day to return the drink ticket favor and buy her book.  I read 6 pages of “Upstream” and was already choked up and in love with my new writer/blogger friend.  By the time I finished the uncluttered, straight to the heart 150 pages I was fully completely attached to all the characters, had laughed and cried, and been left with a feeling of hope and optimism. Two thumbs and big toes up.   Turns out the book is under movie option.  So you should visit her website or read the book right now so you can say you knew of her when. Thank goodness I didn’t know all that BEFORE I stalked her a lil bit and finally worked up the nerve to ask her to autograph my book after lunch. 

The second night of conference I was completely on my own and, you guessed it, ended up  crying in my room too afraid to go to the big parties alone.  I had returned to the hotel room after sessions and started getting ready.  I was all excited and looking in the mirror curling my hair and I literally saw the change in my face as I realized, “Whoa, I am headed out alone”.  Now I like to be alone for sure, but not GOING OUT alone in CHICAGO alone.  I texted my family and they couldn’t be found. I Facebooked. I texted a few friends to try and nonchalantly suck some of their good energy.  In the end, it was the sucking dry of the vodka in the mini bar that turned my frown upside down and got me out the door. Thank goodness because had I not gone out that night, I would not have received my tiara or had my first experience with a chocolate fountain.  Vodka, chocolate, and a tiara. Every girl’s dream. 

The natural buzz I picked up from daily sessions was made of the same stuff that gave me the energy to stay up too late and show up early to breakfast networking and each day’s classes. Women continued to recognize, hug, and support one another. We did networking speed dating which was exhausting and fun. We learned tips, teckie stuff, and held Q&As.   Then it was time for Community keynote speakers. That’s when I realized.  It wasn’t just me whose life had been enriched by involvement in the blogging community and by this remarkable event, but community wide, people’s lives were changing for the better.   Gathered in the ballroom 1500 deep, we all laughed and cried together as winning blog authors read for us their favorite posts.  I would challenge any woman to try and NOT be touched in some way by the presentation of each and every blogger that read to us, regardless of whether or not you could relate to the topic.  There were a few, though, that spoke most directly to me.

As a woman torn every moment of every day between the beauty and the pain of the world as well as my own community,  I cheered the testimony of one blogger’s Obama election reflections as she taught me about “racial skepticism” and related it to the barriers and stereotypes suffered by many groups.  She touched us with hope that these issues would one day soon be distant memories.  A blogging mommy made a change in me as she told me how my life time practice of using the word “retard” hurts her, her family, the precious son she lost, and the sweet child she later CHOSE to make part of her family. And as an adoptive mother of 2 I  lost my breath as the story unfolded of the blogger on a quest to find the brother she didn’t know she had, who was given up by her mother all those years ago because she didn’t know she had a choice. If you are reading these posts as you go and could use a laugh (and a tissue?) right about now I will also share the story of this hilarious blogger as she chronicles her relationship with Diet Coke.  Still others shared intensely personal stories ranging from hilarious to heart wrenching and as they laughed and cried during the presentation of their blogs you could see and feel the joy, the therapy, the pain, and the relief that their posts had brought them through not only the writing, but the posting, the community response, and the public presentation.  Powerful stories, incredibly talented writers.

At Blogher ’09  we had the opportunity to interact with high profile women in entertainment, communications,  and publishing.  We picked their brains and they picked ours.  We learned tips and strategies to get just what we wanted out of our blogging experience be it socializing, informing, or monetizing.  We were treated to incredible food, samples, gifts, and rewards, feather boas and tiaras, celebrity guests and entertainment.  Yet all that pales in comparison to the knowledge that soon our odd and misunderstood hobbies and businesses would one day, sooner than later, be mainstream “in real life”.  And most of all we were able to meet the incredible women and feel the blogosphere’s electric vibe as we brought that amazing community into OUR REAL LIVES.