Camping with the guys…boys?

So, as much as I want to stay and play by the pool with the lovely ladies of BlogHerNot 2008, I am forced to go spend the evening under the stars with a snoring Hubby Bee next to me, and two of his closest male friends in a fabric dome in close proximity to us. In the woods. With bugs.

Yes, I know…you will miss my awesomeness lack of posting, now that some of you know who I am! Which, I adore, but I assure you, finishing out the weekend with the Girls of BHN ‘08 will be much more fun. Don’t get me wrong, I love camping. Alone. With my husband. And lots of bug spray.

But this weekend is gearing up to be one hell of a time with me as the sole double-Xer, along with 4 boys. Not to mention it’s railing, they’re bringing PBR AND I have to don a swimsuit tomorrow night at the near-by Hot Springs. Excellent. Thank god one-piece suits are finally back in style.

Someone save me from my lot in life! I shall return, if the bugs don’t eat me alive, on Monday to catch up on the Clooney-sleeping-around, and the rest of Mommypie’s most excellent conference.

Update: While I’ve spent 10 minutes writing this, the rain has gone from “really raining” to “torrential downpour.” My cup floweth over.

Bon Voyage!

How to blog when you think no one is reading

Welcome to the quick pick me up (hopefully) to the “I’m feeling very depressed because my stats are PA-Thetic on my blog.”

Today may allow you a little time to rant, a little time to rave, and a whole new way of looking at things. We’ll learn about some great blogs that I, personally love, and we’ll leave the discussion open for you to leave your own. My goal here today is not to take you away from your daily readings such as Ms. Single Mama and Mommypie, but to add to your already extensive list of wonderful blogs. These blogs don’t really have anything to do with Mommies, but are hidden jems that I have found while surfing Bloggyworld.

I know we all have those days, especially me, where getting the focus to my blog is tough, because who is really out there? Your mom? Of course! My blog is obviously all about my mom. But who else? My Hubby Bee reads it because I make him, but other than that…the more I post, the more traffic I get to my site. So, when you’re feeling down and blue about your site, write something new!

Of course content might be hard to come up with. You could always write about those small things that wander through your mind…did I turn my curling iron off? Ok, maybe not. How about: Should I Facebook my boyfriend from 4 years ago…WOAH…let’s not open that can of worms.

Really, someone IS reading your blog. Trust me. All the women here at BlogHerNot 2008 are here simply because you’re READING. So, before I let you know of 3 of my “hidden jems,” let me tell you a slightly whiny, but so true (I think) story about how it is to blog when you’re not making money doing it, or you really don’t know who exactly gives a crap about your totally wonderful life. BE-LIEVE you me, I LOVE your lives…I just don’t have enough time to blog about how much I love you! Hell, I don’t have enough time to blog about how much I love my MOM! And that’s a lot.

So, story or rant goes like this. I totally feel your pain. Everyone writes because they enjoy it. I graduated into a total slump of not writing at all. Right after I had completed a semester-long project of 35 pages in writing. It was weird and I felt totally lost without a research project on Admiral Nelson or Japanese Whaling. Then two years later, Mommypie found blogging, I copied her, and so became my two (count them, 2) blogs. Yet, as much as I whore myself out to my friends, “READ ME, READ ME,” like an Alice in Wonderland cookie, I still feel unloved and unappreciated at times. This is when I get into my slump of no content, nothing funny, nothing witty, and no attention.

However, whenever I get back to blogging, I realize that I do really love it, need it and crave it. I crave the writing even when there is nothing special about it. I crave the fact that I can honestly say what I feel, be as sappy or funny or cruel as I want (not in comments, mind you) without being judged except as the human being I actually am. So, with those words…keep writing, even when you feel like no one is listening or reading. Keep writing because not only will it keep your neurons moving, your vocabulary at an all time high, but your friends in Bloggywood MISS YOU! They will start to call in the Bloggy Police and put out a search warrant for you as a missing person. Your seemingly pointless rambles are useful for you and for your friends…not everything in life is as stimulating as Michael Keaton being the first celebrity you can for sure say you saw in real life, or playing Nancy Drew in the bar with your best blogging buddy-only to botch the evidence, but life itself is stimulating.

Ok, now that you’ve had a little pep-talk. Here’s some brand new stimulation. Maybe you’ve heard about these, maybe you haven’t. But trust me, they are great blogs.

Hidden Jem #1: Style Me Pretty~ I am in love with this blog! I am by night, a wedding coordinator. I’m just making my way out into the world, and Abby over at Style Me Pretty gives me more stimulation in a world I am fascinated by. Even if you’re married, don’t have plans to get married, or have sworn off men (and rightfully so) for the rest of your life, check her out! Her blog work alone is amazing.

Hidden Jem #2: Just Call Me Flemmily~Flemmily is extraordinary. Her writing amazes me. Talk about being able to touch the words, and put yourself in her shoes. Besides a bit of bad luck when it comes to the weather, Flemmily will lead you on an imaginative journey you didn’t know existed inside your mind.

Hidden Jem #3: Muffin Top ~ Now, I’m not sure that this one is “hidden,” but I love it! The subject of food always gets me drooling. I found Muffin in a search for a pumpkin muffin recipe, and keep coming back! Again, photography, wit, friends and a new topic join to form a fabulous multi-author blog that will keep you chomping at the bit for more (ha-ha).

Now, do you have any more to add? If you do, please link to your “hidden jem” because we all need a little new encouragement from strangers in life and enjoy your other lectures from the women of BlogHerNot 2008!!