March 29, 2008
What’s New With Me? Quite A Lot.
I have a confession to make, dear blog pals. I have a job. I’ve had this job for nearly a month, and I wanted to tell you all about it sooner, but I hesitated because what I do is so wonderful, so perfect for me, and I love it so much. I didn’t want to seem like I was rubbing it in your faces. I’ve had a stroke of good luck and I’m so thankful.
Shortly after I lost my job, Lisa Stone of BlogHer informed me that the BlogHerAds network had a position available for a headlines editor. After learning more about it, I was offered the position and I gratefully accepted. I’ve been working from home for about a month and so far everything is working out wonderfully. Not only that, I love what I do. This opportunity has allowed me to work just the right number of hours and contribute to my family’s financial well-being. The bonus is that I’m able to spend more time with Doug and Dawson and my house has never been this clean.
This is also the reason why my blog posting has been sporadic and I do hope you’ll forgive me. It took a few weeks to learn the ropes and get a routine in place.
Many of you know that March 17th was my 29th birthday. Doug took me to Chili’s for dinner. Neither of us had been there before and our local restaurant opened last fall. The place was booming for months and we wanted to wait until the “newness” wore off before having dinner there.
We each had the shrimp and ribs combo. The food was good, but overpriced for what it’s worth. I had one cosmopolitan with my meal and it was so strong I think I was drunk by the time we left. After dinner we went to a bar called Partner’s Pub. People celebrating their birthdays can drink free all night. Four double drinks later and I was really sloshed. We were home by 8:30, and I only missed half of Dancing with the Stars. The new season premiered that night. I have to say I’m not really into it this season. I know you’re surprised. I am a diehard DWTS fan. Except my boyfriend isn’t dancing this go ’round and I’m disappointed. It’s not the same with out Maksim. Although I’m totally rooting for Priscilla Presley and Kristi Yamaguchi.
I agree with Maks when he says that another woman may not win Dancing with the Stars. It’s true. Most women are reluctant to vote for other women. I was terribly disappointed when Melanie Brown and Maksim took second place to Helio Castroneves and Julianne Hough. Melanie was the better dancer by far. She worked hard and had the technique. But I think women were wooed by Helio’s charm and good loooks. Helio was a great dancer, but not the best. Kelly Monaco was the first and only woman to win DWTS thus far, and I think it’s because of her soap opera fans.
Back to talking about me. Heh. So where was I? Oh yes. My birthday. So, I wasn’t as nuts after turning 29 like I was when I turned 28 — although I did have my obligatory meltdown about age and having babies and blah, blah blah. I was content about entering my last year in my twenties, that is until my husband discovered a dozen gray hairs on my head. I totally believe he gave them to me. Like a contageous disease. And then the SOB plucks two out of my scalp. I did end up buying the hair dye. My new color is a bit too light. I should have just forked over the $60 bucks and had it dyed professionally. It would have turned out better, I’m sure.
The Easter UPS man delivered Dawson’s Leapster L-Max on Thursday and when we opened the box he got so giddy with excitement I thought the kid was going to explode. “Mommy! That’s for me! That’s mine! I waited for it a week ago!” It was so cute. He even said to me, “This is my favorite toy, ever!”
He played it non-stop for eight hours that day. Yes, you read that right. Eight hours. And then the game stopped working. For real. My poor kid was heartbroken. We tried to change the batteries and it still wouldn’t power on. Friday morning we tried again and nothing. So I had to call the company and have them send a shipping label so that we can get it replaced. It will take two weeks. Dawson is devastated. We don’t even know what happened. He was so careful with that game. Doug thinks it was defective to begin with.
In other news, I leave for New York City this coming Wednesday. Did I tell you about this? I can’t remember. Let me just start again. Last fall I decided I really wanted to go to BlogHer Business ‘08. I talked with another fabulous blogger about going with me and sharing a hotel room and she said she had been wanting to go to the conference, too.
So, I booked an airline ticket, made the hotel reservation and waited patiently for the conference registration to open. When it did a few months later, I realized how expensive it was and decided that I probably wouldn’t be able to afford it. But then Kristy from Blogher told me apply for a BlogHerShip to live blog the conference tracks which would waive my fees. I was just going to do so when I lost my job, and so I canceled the hotel reservation.
Unfortunately, my air ticket was non-refundable. But Liz offered to have me over for a visit and I graciously accepted. Another turn of events and stroke of strange luck occurred, and it turns out I’ll be spending two nights in NYC (a pal of mine hooked me up with an apartment rental on the Upper West Side, two blocks from Central Park, at a too-good-to-be-true rate) and the third night with Liz in Jersey. I’m totally cool with that because I’ve always wanted to tour the museums of Manhattan, and I don’t know when I’ll have another opportunity. The best part is that an old friend of mine lives in Queens (the one who scored the apartment for me) and we’re meeting up for dinner on my first night in the city.
It’s strange that I’ll be a pseudo single girl in Manhattan, but I’ve wanted to do this for years and never did. I’m a little nervous about flying, though. The last time I was on an airplane was 15 years ago when I went to Washington, D.C. in ninth grade.
So, that’s pretty much what I’m up to these days. Tomorrow I’m going to tell you about my ridiculous shopping trip to Kohl’s yesterday. It’s a funny story. Stay tuned.
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March 29th, 2008 at 9:37 am, Shannon Says:
Wow Dana! So much good news! Congrats.
March 29th, 2008 at 3:48 pm, Dana Says:
Thanks Shannon! Things are getting better around here.
March 31st, 2008 at 9:24 am, Ashley Says:
Have a blast in NYC!
March 31st, 2008 at 9:37 am, Lisse Says:
Congratulations on the job!
March 31st, 2008 at 9:42 am, Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah Says:
Congrats on the job!
March 31st, 2008 at 2:28 pm, Jess Says:
Cool… lots of stuff going on for you! And congrats on the job, even if it feels like old news to you by now.
March 31st, 2008 at 3:00 pm, Wisconsin Mommy Says:
Congrats on the job!! Sounds like it is perfect for you.
Since you have nothing else to do, I tagged you for a meme - stop by!
April 1st, 2008 at 8:23 am, Pajama Mommy Says:
That is so excited I am looking for a job myself so I can support the expansions of pajama mommy but its like so hard right now!!!
April 1st, 2008 at 9:53 am, Jenny Says:
Oh congrats! That sounds like an awesome job!
April 1st, 2008 at 11:18 am, Liz Says:
Oh, I am so happy to hear about your new job - YAY! - and the kids and I hatched an awesome plan for your time with us, on Friday. Well, we think it’s awesome. I’m glad that everything worked out for you and looking forward to hugging you, in person. Have a safe trip. See you soon!
April 5th, 2008 at 10:48 am, Leslie Says:
Wow, Dana! You’ve got so much going on - so many great things! Congratulations on the job! It sounds perfect for you. And I hope you enjoy your trip to New York. Oh, and Happy Belated Birthday!
I’m so glad things are looking up!
April 11th, 2008 at 8:52 pm, Christina Says:
That is awesome! See, you lose your job and something even better comes along!
I’m very happy for you.
April 15th, 2008 at 6:13 pm, The Dana Files » On Being Domestic Says:
[...] once I became a work-at-home-mom, my Queen Mum status flew right out the window. Now I’m Queen of the Vacuum and the Daily [...]