An American in Wales
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When It Is the 4th of July, but Not.
This morning my 7 year old asked me why they didn’t celebrate the 4th of July here in the United Kingdom. We explained that the British weren’t so keen to celebrate the Americans’ independence from THEM. While I have settled in quite nicely here, there are days that I do feel a bit homesick, and today is one of them. Not because I’m fanatically patriotic, but because of how we would have spent the day. And with that, here is a list of the things I didn’t do for Independence Day: I wasn’t sitting on a curb on Main Street trying to keep the kids from getting run over by…
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The Challenges of Blogging
Reading through this week’s choices of blog prompts for Mama Kat’s Writers Workshop, I had to laugh. #3 read: What do you find most challenging about blogging? Obviously, looking back at my list of recent posts, it is being consistent about posting on a regular basis. Between attending the week-long Hay Festival, held here in town at the start of the month, and moving house two weeks later, I’ve been crap at finishing a coherent post. And putting one up on a regular basis. Moving house has really taken it out of me. I knew the process was going to be stressful but wow, it was way more stressful than…
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My Cybermummy 11 Roundup (or how I got my groove back)
On Sunday night, I cleaned dog poo off of my son’s Crocs. It was a brutal return to reality for me, having just stepped off a train from London where I had spent the weekend attending Cybermummy 11. To say it was overwhelming was an understatement: with over 400 fellow bloggers in attendance, this tongue-tied self-conscious gal really had to step out of her comfort zone. But. Still. I did it. And I learned a lot. I learned that meeting people that you have been tweeting with for ages is easier than you think. And that with some, it is like running into an old friend – you just click.…
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Afterimage
As defined by Wikipedia, an afterimage is an optical illusion that refers to an image continuing to appear in one’s vision after the exposure to the original image has ceased. Could it be that all the photos of dildos from @cosmicgirlie’s post-Cybermummy dildo decorating party have damaged been burned permanently onto my brain? I swear, I am seeing them everywhere. I dunno.
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And Away I Go (to Cybermummy!)
Tomorrow morning I’m off to London for the Cybermummy conference. I SHOULD be in bed. I’m not. I’m too excited. I’m also a tad bit nervous. (Ok, a lot.) I’ve been to London on my own. But this is different. This is a blogger conference. I’m going to have to MINGLE. No hiding behind my laptop. (Did I mention I’m far wittier from the safety of my laptop, and with the benefit of the “Delete” key?) I AM really, really excited for the opportunity to meet some of the other bloggers who I stalk follow. I couldn’t make it to BlogHer yet again (I’m keeping my fingers crossed for NEXT…
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I So Don’t Get Jerseylicious.
The other day, while unpacking, I turned the television on to provide some background noise to distract me from the tiresome task at hand. I was watching the Style Network. Eventually, Jerseylicious came up on the schedule. I had never seen the show before, admittedly. I couldn’t turn it off. In the same way that you can’t help but slow down and look at a car accident. Are these girls for real? I don’t know what is more hilarious – the short skirts, the boobage, or the accessories. And don’t get me started on the “smokey eyes”. Seriously, Tammy Faye would think that this is a bit too much eyeshadow.…
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I’ve Got To Move It, Move It
Alas, I have been AWOL from my blog. At least, in the actual writing and posting. (The posts I’ve written in my head? Too numerous to count.) I wish I had a proper excuse, but I don’t. The reason for my absence that I can offer is that last week I moved. It was only about 1/2 mile or so, but the amount of work was the same. There was the packing, the move, and the unpacking. I had a few days with no internet. Or my Macbook. I did not sit down for 10 days. I lost nearly 5 pounds. *I would NOT recommend it as a method of…
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and the winner is….
So. I’m a bit late to announce the winners of my giveaways…but I’ll do that in just a few. The initial reason for the delay was that I fell into a deep well of self-pity, as I only had 13 – yes, THIRTEEN – comment/entries on my blogoversary post. “Pity party of one, your table is ready”. But then family arrived from the US and we have been spending our time at the Hay Festival…and really, after listening to all these brilliant writers speak, I felt a bit inadequate as I sat down late at night with my laptop. Yes, I’m one of those – instead of hearing the message…
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Silent Sunday
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Trouble? Who? ME?
Things have been a little rough around here lately. I won’t go into it. Just go back and read some previous posts. Still. Kids will be kids. And, it has occurred to me that, some day in the distant future, my daughter will be staring in frustration at HER daughter/son as they drive her to the brink of insanity. It’s called karma, people. But then I think….what the H-E-double-hockey sticks did I do when I was a child to justify THIS kind/degree of payback??!!! And seriously? I can’t remember. Honest. I don’t think I was anywhere near this big of a melodramatic tantrum thrower. That would be my sister. Besides:…