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Last night I had the joy of attending Amy's book club with Joanne because we were discussing Joanne's book, PunditMom's Mothers of Intention: How Women & Social Media Are Revolutionizing Politics in America, which I have an essay in. And I had never been to a book club. I've always wanted to be in a book club, but no one has ever invited me into a book club (sob.) (I'm a loser.)
It was wonderful. Smart, funny women sat around drinking wine (which I did not because I am still on my stupid detox diet.) (10 pounds! I'm down 10 pounds!) talking about intelligent things like politics and standing up for your kids and advocating for a shade at the baby pool. We talked about why women take a step back from their career and what it means for this country and what it means to be political and why it is important for your kids to see you as political.
I forgot what it was like to talk about things other than social media, and my job. I forgot what it was like to spend time with people who don't tweet and blog their every thought. (No offense bloggers.)
Joanne is brilliant, that is pretty much why I follow her everywhere she goes. But so was everyone else is that room. I was thrilled and honored to be a part of that discussion.
 
Thank you so much for all your comments and emails regarding yesterday's post. I say this a lot, but I have the BEST, most caring, amazing readers on the planet. I have somehow built a little community here on jodifur and you all mean more to me than you could ever know. Michael is fine, great really, and the phone call I made turned out to be a wonderful thing. He is going to be even better very soon.
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I leave on vacation in two weeks and I have a problem. I always shop like crazy before a vacation. I feel like vacation is just an excuse to buy new clothes. Tell me I'm not the only one who has this problem. I'm home sick today AND we are getting a new furnace and it turns out that is the loudest thing on the planet. I can't watch tv. I can't think. So I'm stuck internet shopping.
I actually bought a dress I pinned on pinterest months ago. I really believe I should get an award for that.
How awesome is this?
I bought it for one of the "smart casual" nights on my cruise. Apparently smart casual really means semi-formal, in which men wear suits and ties and girls wear fancy dresses. I have no idea on what planet "smart casual" involves suits and ties. But it is not formal, because we have those nights too. And luggage restrictions on airlines.
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Speaking of my trip, if anyone is interested in guest posting on jodifur while I am gone email me at jodi@lucidphoenix.com. I would need all posts by February 15th. Also, I am in desperate need of shoes for shoe friday. #saveshoefriday.
*image via modcloth
I hate when bloggers post after an absence and start off by saying, "I'm so sorry I haven't posted." Because it assumes that you have been sitting around hitting refresh and stalking jodifur. Because you totally have not been doing that.
(I totally used to do that on my favorite blogs before I knew about readers. Remember Bloglines? RIP Bloglines.)
January is totally and completely kicking my ass. Our roof is leaking and we need a new furnace. Michael has decided now is the perfect time to stop behaving. I go on vacation in less than a month and I am counting down the days. (Vacation sponsored by no one, except my parents, who really, were my original sponsor.)
I don't really have any good excuses for my lack of substance here except that I have been posting other places. Like The DC Moms. And The Broad Side. And soon ivillage's ivote coverage. (Edit: Here is the post.)
Your best bet, if you want to keep up with me, is to like the facebook page. I post all my links there, and links to other stuff that I try not to bombard my personal Page with. Notice I said try.
And in truth, I've been thinking a lot about Why Mommy. Please check out our ecard love fest to Susan.
It is fair to say that I am obsessed with Pinterest. Pinterest owns me.
My favorite board, my shoe board.
If you like Shoe Friday, you will love this!
It is no secret I have been struggling with this space. Some of it is good old fashioned writers block, and some of it is the actual space. I'm just not inspired by it anymore. I've wanted a redesign forever, and Doug has been promising to do one for forever but we came to a realization early in the month that he just didn't have the time. And I did what any grown up blogger would do and I went out and hired someone.
I hemmed and hawed about it. Jodifur is a hobby after all. It is not like I make a lot of money from it. But I am at the point where I had to do something or shut it down. And I'm not ready to shut it down. And Doug understands that and is 100% supportive of it. So stay tuned, in the next couple of months jodifur is going to be a 100% new. New look, new platform, new design.
I for one, cannot wait.
I also got a new haircut. I have bangs. And after watching the Golden Globes clearly bangs are in. I'd post a picture but can anyone take an iphone picture of themself without looking like a complete and total idiot?
Just me?
I find myself thinking a lot about where we are, and where we have been, and where we are going. The we in this metaphorical story is my family, myself, and this blog. I joked tonight on twitter that 2012 is the year that jodifur ran out of words and in some ways it feels like that. There are times I feel I have nothing left to say.
I have read a lot of the social media predictions for 2012 and where will the mom bloggers go and I was left with a big shrug and a huh? I don't vlog, I don't have a niche. I don't plan on blogging about the Olympics or Politics, I don't even like the Olympics, or appearing on a commercial. I'm not going to junkets. I don't really work with brands (although I was just selected as a Nintendo Ambassador, yeah!). I'm just here, writing, and more and more it seems as if I'm throwing words out into an empty space. If a tree falls in a forest...
I want a redesign (cough, Doug, cough). I want to move to wordpress even though the move to typepad from blogger almost killed me and my marriage. I'd like to find a niche. Fashion? Health? Fitness? I want to be more than a "mom blogger." What? I don't know. I used to write so many places. I miss it.
I feel like every 3 months I circle back here and write posts like these. These meta-blogging what am I still doing here posts? Are you sick of them yet?
I miss the old days when I used to blog uphill in the snow both ways. Before twitter and facebook. When we used to read and comment on people's posts. When there was conversation. In 2012 I'm taking back the comment. I will stop reading blogs through reader and on my phone and READ blogs again and comment. Because I miss the conversation and I'm sure other bloggers do too.
Let's take back the comment. Let's get back to talking to each other.
I've always loved those year in reviews that all the television newtworks do. Doug laughs at me but I watch them all. I get all wrapped up in who is going to be the Time person of the year. I really care about the Barabare Walters 10 most fascinating people. (Wait, was that on last night? I guess I don't care that much.)
I've never done a year in review post before. I've watched other people do them, and well, for some reason, never do it myself. This year, I'm jumping on the train. 2011 was a tough, tough year, and not a year I'd like to repeat. Doug lost a job. I lost friends, am still at the same job, yet to make the move I desperately want to make. And let's not discuss all the EXTREME WEATHER events DC had. But we are here, at the end, of the year, happy, healthy, and complete.
January-Michael got his green belt in "Little Dragons," and but more importantly, I finally joined Facebook.
February-We decided to have Michael evaluated again, I'm still coveting these shoes, I struggled with friendships, and Michael decided, on his own, that he was ready for "Kid Tigers."
March-Michael's evaluation came back the same as the one the year before, nothing, he turned 6, and by some shear luck, we celebrated at Disney Social Media Moms. That weekend is my favorite memory of 2011.
May-I had an essay published in a book and I found strength in Kindergarten soccer (which is my favorite post I wrote all year).
June-I bought a car, by myself. We survived Kindergarten. This may not seem like a big deal, but trust me, it was touch and go there. I'm still waiting for my pony.
July-Doug turned 40. And lost his job.
August-I had a mini nervous breakdown, which I never would have survived with out this space and you all, (I'M NOT KIDDING), and then, Doug got a job. (Which he hated.) Oh, and we had an earthquake.
September-We had our 10 year anniversary, we got invaded by ants, and I still REALLY WANT THESE SHOES. Oh, and we had a hurricane.
October-I made peace with letting go and Doug found a new job, which he loves.
November-I struggled with where to go from here, ran my first 5k, redid my dinning room, and Michael made phenomenal progress in reading.
December-I ran my second 5k and found a picture of me I don't hate.
I'm going into 2012 with hope. I'm naming 2012 the year of change.
On Sunday, I was excited to be invited to experience ICE! at the Gaylord by the lovely women who run Momz Share and the Gaylord hotel. The only thing that gave me pause was that this would be my third trip to National Harbor in three days, because I was there Friday to pick up my race packet and Saturday for the race, but I knew Michael would love it, and we had never been, so I decided to brave the drive again.
The day started off with a lovely milk and cookies reception thrown for us by the hotel, and then it was off to a Puss in Boots Scavenger Hunt. When you solved the riddle, the people at the Concierge Desk gave you a prize. I noticed this when I was at the hotel for Blogalicious, the staff at the Gaylord is seriously the nicest hotel staff ever. Michael kept saying over and over again "this is the nicest hotel I have ever been to."
ICE! was seriously impressive, featuring the Madagascar characters carved from two million pounds of ice. And ice slides you could race down.
Michael loved meeting all of the Dreamworks characters, which was a great preview for the Dreamworks cruise we are going on in February. He refused to meet Puss in Boots. I think it was the teeth or something.
He also loved Gingey, who stands outside the area where you can build gingerbread houses.
We also went ice skating, and had dinner while we were waiting for the tree lighting. You really can spend a whole day with all the activites the Gaylord offers.
You can't tell in this picture but they made it snow during the tree lighting and all the Dreamworks characters were dancing around. It was very fun. Even for me, who doesn't celebrate Christmas.
The day was so worth the 45 minute drive, even if I did do it 3 days in a row. Thank you Gaylord and Momz Share for a fantastic fun family day!
***My family and myself were invited to attend ICE! and the accompanying events for free in exchange for a post. I was not compansated for this post. All opinions are my own. (Dinner was not provided.)
My review of The Muppets is up at The DC Moms.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Image courtesy of Disney.
I can hardly believe it. I have been writing this nonsense on the internet for 5 whole years! This thing that started as "yeah maybe, I'll have a blog," has continued for 5 years! 5 years! That is half the length of my marriage! One year younger than Michael! The wood anniversary!
As is the tradition around here, I'm going to run a totally unsponsored, out of my pocket contest. Leave a comment with one of your favorite posts that I've written from this past year and you are entered to win either a itunes gift card or a Starbucks gift card. Contest closes Sunday, November, 20th at 5 pm. I will pick two winners on Monday, November 21, randomly.
Hint: I have a favorite posts page.
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