Category — Virtual Lushary

It seemed like the perfect time to open the doors of the Virtual Lushary and encourage everyone to get good and figuratively drunk, distracting them from searching for a post that fits the first clue.

A toast: to Blogger Bingo! Long may it be played.

In addition to pouring drinks, I am serving ice cream today. Big scoops of rocky road or mint chocolate chip or vanilla.

My perfect moment (how many things can I work into one post–the Virtual Lushary, Blogger Bingo and now Perfect Moment Monday?) came on Saturday after the Our-Family-Beginnings-and-Stirrup-Queens crews went to get ice cream outside in the rain after surviving Costco (and grinding 6 pounds of coffee–just in case you ever wondered how I do so much. It’s the 6 pounds of coffee. Don’t judge me).

Which doesn’t sound like a good idea in theory (and perhaps wasn’t a good idea once it came time to walk back to our cars), but was excellent in practice. I got caramel explosion ice cream with bits of Twix cookie and we sat at a table under this huge umbrella. You could hear the rain hitting the thick umbrella, but we were all mostly dry. And we got to eat ice cream in the middle of the day, before dinner. Some of my favourite people all around one table, in the rain, eating ice cream. Talk about a perfect moment.

List your own perfect moment, not here, but at Lori’s list. You can even Twitter it and add the link to the Tweet on her linky thing. Pretty damn cool.

Over here, we’re just discussing what has been happening to you this past month.

As always, it has been about a month since we met, bitched, cried, comforted, and caught up each other on our cycles and lives. Pull up a seat and I’ll pour you a drink. Let everyone know what is happening in your life. The good, the bad, the ugly. My only request is that if a story catches your eye, you follow it back to the person’s blog and start reading their posts. Give some love, give some support, or laugh with someone until your drink comes out of your nose.

I have a ton of assvice in my back pocket and as a virtual bartender, I will give it to you unless you specifically tell me that this is simply a vent and you do not want to receive anything more than a hug.

So if you have been a lurker for a while (or if this is your first open bar as someone who found this space through IComLeavWe or Blogger Bingo), sit down and tell us about yourself. Remember to provide a link or a way for people to continue reading your story (or if you don’t have a blog–gasp!–you can always leave an email address if you’re looking for advice or support. If not, people can leave messages for that person here in the comments section too). If you’re a regular at the bar, I’ll get out your engraved martini glass while you make yourself comfortable. And anyone new, welcome. I’m glad you found this virtual bar.

For those who have no clue what I’m talking about when I say that the bar is open, click here to catch up and then jump into the conversation back on this current post.

So have an imaginary cocktail and tell us what is up with your life.

We’re not even close to 200 post recommendations to match the number I’ve given you this year through the Friday Blog Roundup. We haven’t even hit 100. There has to be fantastic things you’ve read in the past twelve months. Don’t forget to leave your comments there on your favourite posts from this year and read the rest of the list.

I am the owner of three massage gift certificates. The first one I bought for Josh a few years ago as a birthday gift and he regifted it to me because he said I seemed more stressed. The second one I got as a gift this past May because I seemed stressed (are you sensing a theme?). The third one I was told was a birthday gift since the person doesn’t know that I’m actually quite stressed.

I’m not really stressed.

But the point is that I tend to hold onto good things and not use them. I like events–like massages–in front of me, anticipating them rather than using them.

I’m bummed that BlogHer is happening this week and then will be over. I’m mourning the ending before it has even begun. That’s how much fun it was last year. Granted, it is the only conference I have ever been to so I don’t have a comparison. But in my opinion, BlogHer is the most fun conference ever. Ever.

I also waited impatiently all week for the mail because Io told me that she sent me a special package. It finally arrived on Friday. When I opened it, I was trembling like a vampire who was smelling some really delicious blood. Okay, I was trembling more like a teenage girl who had just spotted Robert Pattinson on the cover of a magazine. But look what she sent:

Can you believe that a few weeks ago, I was debating whether or not to read the books at all. And now look at me. Look at me! I’m a freak, drooling like a werewolf. And I’m taking them with me on the road this week. But then I think to myself: if you read them, you won’t have that excited anticipation that comes when they’re unread.

Do you see how deep this goes?

As always, it has been about a month since we met, bitched, cried, comforted, and caught up each other on our cycles and lives. Pull up a seat and I’ll pour you a drink. Let everyone know what is happening in your life. The good, the bad, the ugly. My only request is that if a story catches your eye, you follow it back to the person’s blog and start reading their posts. Give some love, give some support, or laugh with someone until your drink comes out of your nose.

I have a ton of assvice in my back pocket and as a virtual bartender, I will give it to you unless you specifically tell me that this is simply a vent and you do not want to receive anything more than a hug.

So if you have been a lurker for a while (or if this is your first open bar as someone who found this space through IComLeavWe), sit down and tell us about yourself. Remember to provide a link or a way for people to continue reading your story (or if you don’t have a blog–gasp!–you can always leave an email address if you’re looking for advice or support. If not, people can leave messages for that person here in the comments section too). If you’re a regular at the bar, I’ll get out your engraved martini glass while you make yourself comfortable. And anyone new, welcome. I’m glad you found this virtual bar.

For those who have no clue what I’m talking about when I say that the bar is open, click here to catch up and then jump into the conversation back on this current post.

So have an imaginary cocktail and tell us what is up with your life.

What is that pool of yellow you just stepped over to get to the bar? That? It’s just a puddle of urine. I literally peed myself because I’m going to be speaking in the Community Keynote at BlogHer.

I’m not allowed to tell you what I submitted, but I’ll give you a hint. It has to do with infertility, my wonky ovaries, or my clot-happy blood. Or maybe all three.

The urine is both from excitement (my cousins had a dog that you couldn’t pet when you first entered the house because if you did, it would go crazy with excitement and pee on the carpet. I’m sort of like that dog) and nervousness. I am not the best public speaker. I have a tendency, like that dog, to pee on the carpet. I mean…get anxious in front of large crowds.

So if you’re coming to BlogHer, you’ll know why I’m wearing water-resistant dark slacks on Friday.

Actually, are you coming to BlogHer? I know Briar will be there because she is leading a panel. And I think Aurelia will be there and Alexa. Who else? Who am I missing? Can we all make a list of ALI bloggers so we know who will be there and make some sort of plan to meet up for lunch on the first day? If you will be there, leave a note in the comment section (whether you are a blog writer or a blog reader) or send me an email and I’ll put a plan in place so we can all meet up (please include your blog url if you write one so I can link to it in the list). We were somewhat successful last summer and had a great dinner/dessert one night. This time, we’ll plan it earlier and close to the hotel so a lot of people can plan to come.

Wait, back to the bar. Please make sure you sidestep the urine and let me know what you’ll have.

As always, it has been about a month since we met, bitched, cried, comforted, and caught up each other on our cycles and lives. Pull up a seat and I’ll pour you a drink. Let everyone know what is happening in your life. The good, the bad, the ugly. My only request is that if a story catches your eye, you follow it back to the person’s blog and start reading their posts. Give some love, give some support, or laugh with someone until your drink comes out of your nose.

I have a ton of assvice in my back pocket and as a virtual bartender, I will give it to you unless you specifically tell me that this is simply a vent and you do not want to receive anything more than a hug.

So if you have been a lurker for a while (or if this is your first open bar as someone who found this space through IComLeavWe), sit down and tell us about yourself. Remember to provide a link or a way for people to continue reading your story (or if you don’t have a blog–gasp!–you can always leave an email address if you’re looking for advice or support. If not, people can leave messages for that person here in the comments section too). If you’re a regular at the bar, I’ll get out your engraved martini glass while you make yourself comfortable. And anyone new, welcome. I’m glad you found this virtual bar.

For those who have no clue what I’m talking about when I say that the bar is open, click here to catch up and then jump into the conversation back on this current post.

So have an imaginary cocktail and tell us what is up with your life.

Do you need a drink? I need a drink right now, and not in the alcohol-relaxes-you sort of way. It’s not that I haven’t looked longingly at the bottle of vodka in the freezer when I’m opening the door to make dinner. But I mean it in a community-coming-together sort of way. The point of this Lushary in the first place.

Because remember back why we started it over two years ago? Almost two and half years ago by this point? That is a lot of imaginary alcohol.

“But the other side is what this blog has become for me–a cozy space where everyone is welcome (as long as they’re not making anyone else feel like crap–it’s okay to disagree; it’s not okay to be cruel). Where you can sit down after a crappy day and just cry. Where you can come running in and shout out good news (“no OHSS!”) and everyone will cheer along with you. Where you can ask your questions or give your opinion or admit to your fears or examine how you really feel about infertility. In other words, the freakin’ infertile Cheers of the Blogosphere.”

And so, I have opened the door a bit early this month so everyone can pull up a chair and take a deep breath and collect themselves and tell each other what has happened in our lives in the last few weeks. I, personally, have gone down to the river to think–it is where I think best and feel grounded.

So let’s pretend that the Lushary has an outdoor section, a small patio, and instead of being cramped inside, I am standing out here, by the river, still thinking, and pouring drinks. I apologize if you’ve sent me an email in the last few days and haven’t gotten a response. Hopefully, you won’t mind if I type back a few emails and work the shaker at the same time today.

What will you have?

As always, it has been a little under a month since we met, bitched, cried, comforted, and caught up each other on our cycles and lives. Pull up a seat and I’ll pour you a drink. Let everyone know what is happening in your life and a compliment for another blogger. The good, the bad, the ugly. My only request is that if a story catches your eye, you follow it back to the person’s blog and start reading their posts. Give some love, give some support, or laugh with someone until your drink comes out of your nose.

I have a ton of assvice in my back pocket and as a virtual bartender, I will give it to you unless you specifically tell me that this is simply a vent and you do not want to receive anything more than a hug.

So if you have been a lurker for a while (or if this is your first open bar as someone who found this space through IComLeavWe), sit down and tell us about yourself. Remember to provide a link or a way for people to continue reading your story (or if you don’t have a blog–gasp!–you can always leave an email address if you’re looking for advice or support. If not, people can leave messages for that person here in the comments section too). If you’re a regular at the bar, I’ll get out your engraved martini glass while you make yourself comfortable. And anyone new, welcome. I’m glad you found this virtual bar.

For those who have no clue what I’m talking about when I say that the bar is open, click here to catch up and then jump into the conversation back on this current post.

So have an imaginary cocktail and tell us what is up with your life.

I’d like to raise a glass to NIAW–National Infertility Awareness Week–here in the United States (and I’d like to apologize for not knowing if other countries are holding their awareness week during the same week). It’s not that this week didn’t exist prior to this point, but this year, they moved it to the spring, and frankly, it was a good choice.

Not that I don’t like my emotional support and activism sandwiched in between the start of school and Halloween, but it tastes a lot better right before Mother’s Day.

NIAW starts this Saturday (the 25th) and runs to the next Saturday (the 2nd), though there are also unrelated yet in-the-same-vein activities happening on the Web or in the face-to-face world up until May 10th.

The biggest events are being sponsored by Resolve–both national Resolve and the local chapters. It all begins with Resolve’s list of seven things you can do in seven days. They also are holding events across the country through local Resolve groups.

Focusing on the seventh item on the list, there is plenty you can do without leaving your living room to find support. If you haven’t started a blog, start one. Rachel wrote a rockin’ article about starting your own infertility-related blog. And then tell me about it so I can place it on the blogroll. Or, on that note, start reading a new blog this week. Join the forums and start a new thread asking for advice/support or set up an account on the Resolve bulletin boards or IVF Connections. If you’re on BlogHer, join the new infertility group. If you need support near Mother’s Day, join Liv who created OMG! Because You Rock Day.

So I’m raising a toast to NIAW–and doing what I can to spread word about my wonky ovaries in my tiny corner of America.

As always, it has been a little over a month since we met, bitched, cried, comforted, and caught up each other on our cycles and lives. Pull up a seat and I’ll pour you a drink. Let everyone know what is happening in your life and a compliment for another blogger. The good, the bad, the ugly. My only request is that if a story catches your eye, you follow it back to the person’s blog and start reading their posts. Give some love, give some support, or laugh with someone until your drink comes out of your nose.

I have a ton of assvice in my back pocket and as a virtual bartender, I will give it to you unless you specifically tell me that this is simply a vent and you do not want to receive anything more than a hug.

So if you have been a lurker for a while (or if this is your first open bar as someone who found this space through IComLeavWe), sit down and tell us about yourself. Remember to provide a link or a way for people to continue reading your story (or if you don’t have a blog–gasp!–you can always leave an email address if you’re looking for advice or support. If not, people can leave messages for that person here in the comments section too). If you’re a regular at the bar, I’ll get out your engraved martini glass while you make yourself comfortable. And anyone new, welcome. I’m glad you found this virtual bar.

For those who have no clue what I’m talking about when I say that the bar is open, click here to catch up and then jump into the conversation back on this current post.

So have an imaginary cocktail and tell us what is up with your life.