July 31, 2008
Grandpa Loved the Cubs
He was a quiet man, my grandfather, never saying much to anyone, yet always humming a tune softly to himself.
Whether he was sitting at the kitchen table playing a game of solitaire or nestled into his arm chair to watch the Cubs on WGN, Grandpa was a man of few words. Still, he always hummed. Always.
I can remember nearly every conversation I ever had with Grandpa Florian. We’d talk about baseball, the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs especially, and I can still see the smile rise at the corners of his mouth as he reminisced about the days of Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron. His eyes shined as he spoke about homeruns and RBIs and which pitcher had the best average.
“Grandpa, which team is your favorite? The Brewers or the Cubbies?” I asked.
“Hmmm…well, let’s see…I don’t really have a favorite. But I do like the Cubs. I love the anticipation of seeing them go all the way. They just might do it yet, you know. Maybe even in my lifetime.”
I loved sitting on Grandpa’s lap as we watched baseball. Even though my dad was a Brewers fan and raised me to be the same, I took pride in cheering for the Cubbies with Grandpa. It was our secret.
“Little missy, your daddy better not catch you rooting for the Cubs! He might never let you come back here.”
“Okay, Grandpa. I promise I won’t tell him. I’ll say we watched Paul Molitor and Robin Yount on television and it was the most fun ever.”
Grandpa would kiss the top of my forehead, wink at me, and go right back to humming. That was his way of saying he loved me. Even though he smelled like Copenhagen and saltine crackers, I didn’t care. I just loved being with Grandpa.
As I sit here and watch the Chicago Cubs blow the snot out of my Milwaukee Brewers, secretly I’m cheering for those Cubbies. I imagine Grandpa is smiling down on me, happy that his little missy still loves baseball and kept a promise made so long ago.
Important Message from The Dana Files
I interrupt your regularly scheduled BlogHer Recap reading to tell you this:
If you’ve got a moment on this beautiful Thursday (at least it is here, sunshine, lollipops & rainbows, practically) click over to Dana Reviews, and read what I have to say about Hanes Comfort Fit Promise underpants, boxers and socks. You won’t be disappointed.
Also, keep your eyes peeled for a Hanes Blog Blast at the Parent Bloggers Network on August 22nd! You could win Hanes-wear for your kids!
AND — I’m going to be having several giveaways over there, starting tomorrow and through the weekend. I’ve got an autographed copy of Sleep is for the Weak, Norton 360 software, some gift cards and more. Stay tuned!
Posted by Dana
9:04 am •
Dana Reviews •
July 30, 2008
BlogHer ‘08: Feelin’ Funky Friday
Friday at BlogHer was a day of non-stop activity. I woke up at 6:00 a.m. when the alarm in our room went off in my ear. Elizabeth had to work in the BlogHer Book Store, so she had to be up at that time. After turning off that screaming, wake-up machine, I tried to go back to bed. I had a migraine like you wouldn’t believe and I was thirsty. So very thirsty.
After popping an Excedrin, and downing an entire bottle of warm water (yuck, but it helped) I decided to try to blog about the night before. But, really, I was kidding myself. The in-room WiFi sucked and I was too distracted by all the upcoming events of the day.
I went down to the Mezzanine level for breakfast and after eating I got to try out the Wii Fit. Let me just say how desperately I want a Wii and Wii Fit. I’ve been coveting one for months and we just can’t shell out that money right now. Maybe by Christmas. (You hear that Nintendo? I’m in desperate need of a Wii. Can ya hook me up? What? Shameless begging you say? Yes. Yes I know.)
I met Krisco in the grand ballroom and we sat together to hear what Lisa, Elisa and Jory had to say during the opening keynote. The we did some speed dating and I collected and gave away oodles of business cards.
The speed dating session at BlogHer ‘07 really intimidated me, and halfway through it I found myself hiding in the ladies room. I really don’t know the reason, other than it was my first time at a blogging conference and I was so overwhelmed.
This year was much better because we had a different way of meeting new bloggers. We all sat at the table, talked for a few moments, exchanged business cards and when the time was up, two bloggers moved to a new table. It was like Survivor: BlogHer in San Francisco, as Lisa described it, and I liked this method much better than standing in two circles like we did in Chicago last year.
And this is where I finally got to meet this amazing, hilarious, wonderful blogger. She fucking rocks my world. I was so excited, I squeeed her. It’s only because I missed her in Chicago last year (I saw her in a panel, made a mental note to talk to her, but then missed her — so this year I was elated to talk to her and pose for a photo with her.)
After speed dating, it was time to head to my first session. I chose the MommyBlogging track and geared up for “Is MommyBlogging Still a Radical Act?” This session was very informative and the many viewpoints that other mom bloggers presented were interesting and relevant. Lindsay Ferrier did an excellent job of moderating the panel. The focus seemed to steer toward the monetizing vs. non-monetizing issue that so many of us get worked up about. Metropolitan Mama did a wonderful job live-blogging the session so I encourage you to read her post to learn more.
After that panel, my brain got a little fuzzy. I went to lunch and had a delicious Thai Beef salad. I can’t even remember who I sat with. I think it was Ashley. Yes, yes it was Ashley. I swear the days are blurring together, which is why it is VERY important to blog it all right away, yenno?
After lunch I attended the second MommyBlogging panel, “Public Parenting & Privacy”. I really enjoyed hearing what Shannon Lowe, Chris Jordan, Crystal McKee, Shino Tanaka & Shireen Mitchell had to say about the privacy and security issues we face when we blog so publicly online. It’s My Life live-blogged this session wonderfully, as well.
I learned a lot about the online dangers we face every day, and I became particularly concerned about using Dawson’s name publicly. Chris and Shannon use pseudonyms for their children’s names to keep their kids “Google Proof” and I worry about the fact that I didn’t do this.
Anyone can Google my son’s first and last name and read all about him, at least from the point of view of his mother. This issue is so duh! for me, because when I first started blogging, I did use nicknames for Doug and Dawson. Then one day I slipped up and used their real names and felt I had to continue doing so from that point on. I’m still not sure how to go about this now.
After this session, I stayed for the next panel: Mirrors: Ours, the Media’s, Our Cultures’ and Our Kids’ (live blogged at Body Impolitic). I enjoyed this panel because it talked about body image and some of the issues our children face about their own looks and self-image.
I asked a question and I was so nervous about speaking with a microphone at hand, so I was totally flustered when I revealed the morals I was raised with. For the record, I said “I was raised in a very strict Catholic family. I couldn’t wear anything that looked too sexy or too revealing. You can’t have sex before marriage. I held to that.”
What I was trying to say but totally screwed up in all my nervousness: “I was raised in a very strict Catholic family. I couldn’t wear anything that looked too sexy or too revealing. You can’t have sex before marriage. I held to that standard, until I was 20 years old.” (I just want this blog to be authentic and felt the need to correct the misinformation.) I don’t know why I was so darn nervous. Maybe because someone said our panel was being video recorded? (Still makes me nervous! Still!)
After that panel, I went to the Community Keynote and cried my eyes out. Not once, not twice, not even three times. No, I had to be the girl to cry four times in less than half an hour. I sat with Lorraine from Wifey’s House and I told her that wasn’t the first time I cried that day. I swear it was all the estrogen roaming the halls of the Westin St. Francis. And, that fact that each of the bloggers linked above wrote moving posts that were even more stunning when read aloud. Just hearing their voices and the emotions behind them really touched me.
After that we all went down to the cocktail party at Ruby Skye. Where I danced, just a little. Here’s a few Ruby Skye photos:
Ruby Skye is definitely one of the coolest clubs I’ve been to in awhile. But after this fabu party, we headed off to Maggie Mason’s house for her Haus Party. And I danced more (it was like funky dancin’ Friday or something). And that’s where I met Dooce. You already saw that photo. So I’ll share a few others.
Let’s just say that I was so tired at the end of the night I thought I’d never wake up the next day. But I did. At 6 a.m. to go to Yoga. I already told you about that, and yes — I know. I think I’m crazy, too. Stayed tuned for the BlogHer Saturday/Final Recap.
