The Daily News

LFCA Latest Issue: Friday, September 25, 2009.

Latest Post on BlogHer: Parenting after Infertility.

My Status: Fed Josh's almonds to the squirrels. They needed them very badly.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Friday Blog Roundup

I am declaring this Fess Up Week. Which takes delurking one step further. It is cool when I find out a blogger I read is also reading me, yet it makes me a little bit thinky about the whole concept of blogging. Are my relatives (beyond the known ones) reading this? Old friends? My random Australian ex-boyfriend from high school? Someone from Albury, New South Wales who might know whatever happened to random Australian ex-boyfriend from high school that I haven't spoken to in 15 years?

I was named a "top motherhood blogger" by Wall Street Journal yesterday (it's okay; you can snicker. I've got balls of steel and I can take it). While I was extremely grateful for the compliment, it also brought up the larger questions that I grapple with such as where does motherhood begin or can motherhood ever be taken away once it begins? And beyond that--a feeling of who is reading?

So, since I tell you all sort of interesting tidbits from inside my head, it feels like a fair trade to ask you who you are. So let me know that you read this post and then you can go back to reading without commenting. And feel free to ask others on your own blog to fess up this week. Though I'll admit this here--if you are on my blogroll, I read you. Either regularly or irregularly, I am on your blog. See, it's not so hard to fess up.

*******
I am currently vomiting. By which I don't mean I am writing and vomiting at the same time, but I am taking breaks to throw up. The sane person wouldn't finish writing the roundup when she has the stomach flu. Maybe I'm not sane. But something does have to give so I won't have the Lost & Found up tomorrow--at least, not the full version. It will be a skinnier version of stuff that was already on the calendar. I am taking the weekend to kick this thing and hopefully make an IKEA run as well as meet up with the Order of the Plastic Uterus.

If I didn't have the stomach flu, I would have made a little icon for Fess Up Week. I never pass up an opportunity to use Microsoft Paint.

*******
The first auctions for U.T.E.R.U.S. end this weekend and if you have stuff currently being sold, you should know that we have a whole system in place to get you the shipping information and shipping money for your item. That will come via email. Currently, we could use your help advertising the life out of this. Our goal is to get Cali the money she needs by the end of this month so that Helen and Jen's typing fingers can recover before we do this all over again this summer. We have a good chance of having at least half the amount by the end of these auctions.

Put links to the US eBay and UK eBay sites where you post (your blog and bulletin boards). Tell people to shop thoughtfully. Grab the icon code from here and place it in a blog post.

And then check back on Monday when we start having a greater sense of where things stand financially for U.T.E.R.U.S. and Cali. And can I just say for the 1000th time how cool women are and how we can organize and pull ourselves together and solve problems like no one's business.

*******
And now, the bloggity blog blogs:

Stacie at Heeeeeeeeeeere, Storkey, Storkey! has been drowning in the premature birth of the twins, the subsequent health problems, and the loss of her father. She could use your support this weekend as she prepares for his memorial service, which will be held on his birthday. The post I loved this week was about a moment of peace as well as a larger thought. She writes: "I am struggling to find the exact word to explain how I am feeling. Violated seems right in some sense, but it doesn't convey enough. Beaten might be another word that almost (but not quite) fits. The right word is out there, but I can't seem to find it." You need to click over to watch the whole thought unfold.

Isn't It Pretty to Think So? asked a series of good questions this week about blogging etiquette: namely, what to do when you read something and it really offends you or rubs you the wrong way. I would love to hear more thoughts, so jump into the conversation and give your opinion.

Baby, Borneo or Bust had a post called "Expiration Date" about an unfulfilled due date. She writes: "I have made my peace with the miscarriage, but I've always felt that it would never be fully behind me until today. There was still something hanging out there that was supposed to happen, but didn't. Today I can hear the door shutting, quietly but firmly." If that beautiful thought doesn't get you to click over, you should also know that she includes a story from a book she read on lost that made me stare at the wall for five full minutes considering it.

Lastly, The Road Less Travelled had two posts I loved this week. One was a response to an article. The other was about falling apart after the initial calm in a crisis. She writes: "Still, I can relate to her feelings of being misunderstood, of being forever scarred by a traumatic experience, even if it did turn out all right in the end. Katie was stillborn almost 10 years ago. The wounds are not raw & gaping anymore, but the scars are there, & from time to time, they'll still ache & ooze a little bit." And beyond that, this is a post about old scars and the idea of just getting over it when there are so many reminders that will never allow you to rid yourself of all old scars. It was just beautiful.

That is it for this week. I'm crawling back to bed to vomit and moan away from the computer. If you haven't clicked away after all of the talk about my stomach flu, fess up that you're reading. And have a great weekend.

121 comments:

HereWeGoAJen said...

Oh, no! Feel better soon!

But you are famous enough to be in the Wall Street Journal! Congratulations!

Patricia said...

I'm 'fessing.
I'm reading.
And I'm hoping you feel better very soon.

HeidiM said...

I'm reading when I'm supposed to be working....I hope my boss isn't reading this!

Lisa said...

I'm definitely a reader!!!

Congrats on the WSJ honor!

Jackie said...

I'm still reading...was on a commenting drought for a while, but I'm back, baby. Feel better soon!

Jessica White said...

I confess, I read your blog;-)Congrats on the Wall Street Journal nod: What an honor!

You're welcome to 'have-at' my blog.

Lori Lavender Luz said...

Oh, Sweetie. With the award and the flu, you're like Seinfeld's Even Steven!

May the award linger and the flu pass. right. now.

MrsSpock said...

I'm reading- and generally a lazy commenter...(slapping wrist)

Angi said...

Yep, I'm reading and I hope you get to feeling better SOON!!

Tammy said...

Feel better Mel!

As always, I'm reading.

Congrats on the WSJ honor!

N said...

I've been peeking my head in occasionally since I got pointed over here for U.T.E.R.U.S.

I'm always amazed to find people who can write so eloquently.

Mazzy said...

Hope you get to feeling better soon, Mel!

I find when I read something offensive or something I don't agree with on someone's blog, I just keep it to myself. Everyone deserves a space to rant, share their opinions and speak freely. I just feel it's not my place to stand against them on their turf. Unless they ASK for opinions, though, that is fair game.

Jess said...

I hope you feel better soon! I hate the stomach flu. Gross! Take it easy this weekend.

Jill said...

I read everyday...but I confessed to being a lurker, so I don't feel guilty anymore.

Feel better!

Cathy said...

I'm here, I'm reading.

Feel better!

Esperanza said...

I'm fessing up....but do I have too?

I hope the flu passes quickly and that no one else in the house gets it.

Sue said...

I'm reading. Hoping you're feeling better soon!

Jess said...

I'll 'fess up, but....I know you know I'm reading.

I hope you feel better soon!!

Unknown said...

I read...I read!!

loribeth said...

I'm reading too (at work too!). And thanking you very much for the shoutout! : ) Congrats on the WSJ mention -- I've always enjoyed Sue Schellenbarger's work & family columns. Hope you are feeling better soon!

Io said...

I hope you feel better - yech.
And go you for being the tip-top-kick-butt-blogger!

Julia said...

I am reading, as usual, and wishing you a quick recovery. And a fruitful IKEA run.

Tina / Anxious Changer said...

Hope you are feeling better soon (and the kiddos don't get it...unless, of course, it came from them). So glad the blogosphere can't spread those germs! ;)

I am reading...just not always posting comments due to time. :( And, the reading might start to get more minimal as I approach maternity leave (a lot to train others to do!). We'll see...don't want to lose the connections.

Tara said...

You know I'm always reading...

Ellen K. said...

Checking in, and hoping you feel better soon. Congrats on the WSJ award!

soralis said...

I love to read your blog... I don't always do it in a timely manner but I try to keep up! I think your blog is great!

Take care

Elle said...

I'm reading! Also a lurker that confessed previously.
Congratulations and great job!

Fat Girl said...

I'm a lurker and I'm fessin' up.

I hope you feel better very soon!

Paula Keller said...

Sorry to hear about your yack fest. Hope you are better soon!

Have fun at IKEA!

Unknown said...

I lurk. I'm sorry.
Laura

Unknown said...

Please! Step away from the computer and go get some rest. Lots of healing energy coming your way.

Thanks for all that you do.

Nikole at babylust

m said...

'fessing, and sulking since I will miss this weekend's get together, and hoping you feel better soon.

Amy said...

Ok I'm fessing up...I read but don't comment much. I usually read at work and it's easy to just read than read and comment while working!

Hope you feel better soon!

Tash said...

Wow! WSJ! I'm going after the illusive FoxNewAward myself, but that's just me. /wink

Feel better. That crap's really going around the East Coast right now, and it ain't pretty.

Kathy V said...

I read your blog faithfully except for when I was taking my blog sabbatical for a few days. I am not always good at commenting though. Sometimes I feel as though my comments don't add more to the conversation than what is already listed.

Pale said...

WooHoo! Wallstreet Journal!! Take that, Wiki. :)

In the beginning, I lurked because I didn't have a blog. And I lurked because I had a small posse of over 35 IF's on a YAHOO! MB where I put all of my angst (ntm where I blew all my compter free time).

Now, I (mostly) lurk in silent support. And lurk for the writing, of course. Sometimes something will speak to me so loudly that I can't help but speak up. But I mostly don't presume to comment, either because I don't have a topic-specific response and/or I feel self-conscious, like I might be butting in.

"Hey, where did that weird girl come from? Has she been here all along? Is she in the right place? Shouldn't she move on? What's up with her?" ;-)

Larisa said...

Sorry you are sick.

I read, I don't always respond. Sometimes because I don't have much to say, sometimes because I have too much to say and a comment just wouldn't suffice (or I don't have time).

I read the Lost and Found at least 2x per week.

Mrs. Higrens said...

Delurking to fess up and say that when I read vomit I thought "unexpected pregnancy?" I've been reading too many blogs with such announcements for my infertile comfort recently. It's really cramping my reading list as I currently prefer to avoid such topics.

AwkwardMoments said...

Oh Mel- feel better soon!

And no, I will nmot be in your neighborhood this weekend. I so wish i was! I do love that blog and always can use good free ice cream

seattlegal said...

I'm reading.

Feel better soon!

Ann said...

Of course I'm reading. This is the place I go when I'm looking for sanity among all the blogs. I know you'll always have a thoughtful post.

..Soo.See.. said...

Hope you feel better soon!

I don't remember right now if I delurked already, but if not, here I am. I'll try not to lurk anymore. Not sure why I was in the first place. heehee.

Hope you stop vomiting and have a great weekend. Pickup something nice at ikea!

Anonymous said...

Reliable reader.
Crappy commentor.

I hope you feel better soon. And, again, thank you so much for all you do for the IF community!

Angie said...

I confess, I'm a reader! And I hope you feel better soon as I can totally relate to you right now! I've had the pukies for days now. Yuck!

AnotherDreamer said...

I am fessing up, but I also fessed up last week, ha ha. I am RE-fessing.
I like your wit.

Now, I must go back through and finish reading your post...

JJ said...

Congrats on the great honor Mel-well deserved. Feel better soon-

SMiLeD said...

Fessing up, although you already know I read you!!

Sorry you are sick, what a woman, I can just picture you typing away at the computer with a puke bucket by your side, that's dedication!

Summer said...

Congrats on the recognition from WSJ!

Kristen said...

I'm reading! And I'm so sorry you are sick. Please rest and I hope you are feeling better soon. XOXO

Anonymous said...

I'm reading (through Google Reader, I'm another GR lover). Hope you're feeling better.

I_Sell_Books said...

Now that the Chieftain is here, the answer to the question 'Where does motherhood begin' is 'far before you hold that baby in your arms'.

/relurk

Oro

Anonymous said...

Ah,I am unmasked as a lurker. Actually, I would comment more but I am too silly to figure out how to do it without a Google account and after losing a couple of comments I gave up. So I rarely comment, but I read!

Hope you feel better soon.
Katedaphne

Jamie said...

You may not be sane, but you are dedicated!!!! Hope you feel better soon =^.^=

Rachel said...

I read your post, Mel. And I hope you feel better soon.

Katherine said...

I'm reading! I hope you feel better soon!

Stacie said...

Well, you know me. Parenting twins after infertility. I want more kids but I refuse to do more cycles so... there you are. Permanent secondary infertility that I want to not think about because it is still unfair, even when I get to parent IVF twins, that normal people get to have sex to have kids and I could have sex until my vagina fell out from overuse and no conceptions would occur.

jp said...

I read your blog (and I am sorry to hear you are so sick).
Congrats on WSJ kudos!!!

Celeste said...

Reading as always, and wishing you a speedy recovery! Congrats on the WSJ props!

Just trying to navigate the waters of this long sought after pregnancy and avoid thoughts of doom. The twins are kicking my ass and they're only 15w gestation (today, yahoo!).

Anonymous said...

Hey Mel, I lurk/read everyday. You help keep me up-to-date and intouch with other women who have experiences that are both similar and different - always give me something to think about.

I don't discuss IF IRL - you are doing a great service here. Thank you.

Feel better soon.

beagle said...

It's me, beagle, reading from the dog pound. My cage is lined with newspaper . . . I saw you mentioned there!

I hope you feel better soon.

(congrats by the way, on the WSJ mention . . . that is super cool!)

RBandRC said...

I'm always reading! Love your blog! :)

battynurse said...

I hope you feel better soon.

JuliaS said...

JEAL-ous - you have access to an IKEA!

IM-pressed - way to go on the award!

SYM-pathetic - sorry you are sick, feel better very soon. Maybe should add virtual chicken soup to the lushery offerings.

CON-fessing - I read all the time, sometimes I comment. I try and read all the blogs mentioned in your posts and L&F. Sometimes I comment. Readers - "they're out there Scully".

Care said...

Wall Street Journal? Not bad at all. :-) Hope you are feeling better soon!

Barb said...

Of COURSE I'm reading! Always! :) And CONGRATS on your Wall Street Journal Kudos! Too cool! :D

I will be putting up a link when my days off roll around.
xo and hope you feel better soon.

Rachel said...

I'm reading AND feeling your pain. My IKEA run got postponed until today. They have such great stuff!

Get better soon!

jenn said...

I hope you feel better soon! Congrats on the Wall Street Journal!
mmm- IKEA! I love it there, but it's such a commitment- you need some serious time to do IKEA right! Get a frozen yogurt for me!

Anonymous said...

I read! Every day even!

Congratulations on the Wall Street Journal! That is just huge. Yay for you. You deserve a cookie. After you stop puking, of course.

Anonymous said...

I was only introduced to your blog last week... and have read it everyday since. I upload regularly too, check me out:
www.danielleandsteve.blogspot.com

I hope you kick the sickness and congrats on the meantion :D

Leah said...

Still reading, Snatch. Not much fessing to do other than that. Tell me that your Australian ex-boyfriend is that uber hottie from American Idol who just got the boot. I totally want to git wit him.

By the way, I love you very much, but don't want those cooties you have right now. Please submerge yourself in a vat of Lysol before coming to Lindsay's on Sunday, k? :-)

SassyCupcakes said...

Hope you're feeling better soon.

I read often but don't always comment.

Chantelle said...

I'm reading too!

Skerry said...

Feel better soon. Lurker here, fairly new to the blog world. Have been dealing with age related secondary infertility and now SIN as of my Lap. procedure yesterday, looks like I will need to lose the right tube and that sucks.

Suzanna Catherine said...

Wow, the Wall Street Journal. That's big time. Congrats.

I've been reading your blog steadily since I googled "infertility blogs" and *a little pregnant* popped up. As I was checking out *a little pregnant*, I came across *The Great Big Stirrup Queen's Blogroll* and I had to click on that! Now I'm hooked.

I guess I've blown my cover as a Semi-Lurker. :-)

Hope you feel better soon.

Anonymous said...

ghSaw you in the WSJ, but didn't comment yesterday because I wasn't sure about your wishes about telling people. Also, I'm clearly reading because I'm posting to tell you that I noticed the WSJ mention there and not here until today. :)

cityprof said...

I hope you're over the stomach flu! I had a bout with that a few weekends ago and it was not pretty.

Just posting to 'fess up. I'm reading. I actually have an i/f blog of my own, but I have never called it to your attention, mostly because I don't think my story's very interesting to more than the five friends and family members who read now. Not that you're not welcome to stop by!

In any case, I enjoy your posts, so thank you.

Meghan said...

Here to fess up

And hope you feel better so I can see you Sunday!!

Adriane said...

I'm reading! Hope you feel better!

decemberbaby said...

I'm fessing up. I read you every day. I'm here. And now I have to go suction my baby's nasal cavities. Yum.

Mara said...

Fessing here too...

Congrats on the WSJ recognition!

I hope that you're feeling much better very quickly.

Irish Girl said...

'fessing. :)

Andria said...

I'm here. Since I have had Blake, I have found that it's hard to comment with a baby nursing on my lap. :)

Congrats! And, I hope you are feeling better!

Queenie. . . said...

I thought those were your feet under the stall door. . .been spending a lot of time in there myself. Luckily, my dr. just called to say she's finally figured out what's wrong with me. Hope you feel better soon, too!

Thanks for the mention, by the way. I'm reading you, too!

andrea_jennine said...

Fessing up; I always read and occasionally comment.

Anonymous said...

Fessing up! Feel better! And that is so cool about the Wall Street Journal! Imagine....my doppleganger....

Anonymous said...

I read, all the time. Even when I'm in protracted non-commenty phases. For which I apologise, but other people keep saying what I wanted to say, first and cuter.

I'm sorry you're sick. I really hope you feel better today. It was very noble of you to bother with the round-up at all under the circumstances.

Unknown said...

Long-time lurker 'fessing up. Hope you feel better soon.

luna said...

still reading and still loving you mel, even if I'm not commenting as much...

big congrats on the WSJ accolades, and hope you feel better soon. ~luna

K said...

Oh Mel, I hope you are better soon!!

Sam said...

Confessing. Annnnnd back to lurk mode.

Wordgirl said...

I read -- and since I put my blogs on reader I don't comment as much -- and then I just soak it all in sometimes thinking...I will comment soon...and then for a while content-heavy blogs weren't opening on my decrepit computer and slow connection...but now I'm back.

Hi.

PCOSMama said...

I'm still a faithful reader! Though I confess I am seriously behind on commenting... just never find the time! I can read with my son on my lap but typing is much harder!

Hope you feel better soon!

one of the girls said...

Don't really have to fess up- you know I read you almost every day. (How many bloggers read you from Montreal?) And I try to comment when I have something intelligent to say (which is, like, not always!)
Take care of yourself!

Anonymous said...

Always reading, not always commenting. Okay, hardly ever commenting! Sorry!! I hate that people don't comment on my blog, too, so I should be better about it. Treat others as you want to be treated and all that...Feel better soon! I applaud your ability to vomit and blog. ;)

sara said...

I enjoy reading your blog, and I wanted to send you a huge congrats on the wall st.reet journal award! That is truly awesome! I hope you're feeling better soon. Being sick stinks :-)

JackiJaguar said...

I found you when someone recently linked your '06 post about infertility's common thread on my message board. Just wanted you to know that many of us are wearing bracelets now and have an awesome graphic for it, too. Hope you're feeling better soon!

Bea said...

"Maybe" you're not sane? I want you to read that whole paragraph back to yourself on Monday when you're definitely feeling better (I hope!) and just see how it sounds.

Hint: it sounds insane.

Bea

s.e. said...

You are the godess that got me started in blogging. Did Wall Street Journal comment about your amazing ability to inspire? Of course, I will continue to read your posts.

Anonymous said...

reading, Happy with two kids but have too many friends struggle with if. I read because I want to understand and sometimes I research ecause I am a journalist I wnat to know. I try never to share my research when not asked though. Living in the netherlands..

MsPrufrock said...

I'm not so much a lurker anymore, so yes, I will break my arm patting myself on the back.

WSJ? Damn woman, I feel honoured that you stop by my humble little space in bloglandia and leave your own comments. You're like, the first celebrity dirty curtain twitcher with whom I've made my acquaintance.

Feel better soon. Vomiting. Ew.

Caro said...

I'm reading

j said...

I read, every word.

You knew that already though, probably.

beautycourage said...

I read, and I thank you.
Stay hydrated!! Small frequent sips!!

rella12 said...

I read. I rarely comment... not just on your blog, but the others that I read too. (except a brief message of support, when led by you to visit someone.)
I don't blog and I am not in a place where I can open up and spill my feelings, opinions, in a comment box without going overboard.

Anonymous said...

I'm reading...

Congrats on the WSJ mention and I hope you feel better soon.

Erin said...

I love reading, but I've been a lousy commenter (see my most recent post for a good insight into why). Hope you're starting to feel better now!

SarahSews said...

You know I read. I hope you feel better soon!

Liza said...

Heh. Reading! And sympathizing with the vomiting. :(

TNC said...

I'm a reader - found you through Helen.

Feel better soon!

Portia P said...

Fessing up.

Bin a reader for a while.

Hope your flu is better by now.

xx

Smiling said...

I'm reading.. and yours is one that I read right on the web, no intermediate blog reader.

Mrs. Spit said...

I read. Call you the "mothership" on my blog.

I stole it from another blogger. What can I say, it was good.

CLC said...

I read too. Call me a lurker.

A WSJ nod. You are bigtime now!

Me said...

I read. But you already know that.

Malloryn said...

Fessing up here... and I hope you feel better soon! Thanks for everything that you do.

KimboSue said...

Sorry, I am a perpetual lurker. I will try to up my comment posting.

Congrats on WSJ!

emilycleone said...

i'm reading. at work. i'm a blogoholic.

Anonymous said...

I check in from time to time...and have really appreciated the comments you've left on my blog in the past!

May said...

Also a perpetual lurker. I love your writing and what you're doing for the community. Congrats on the Journal!

Carrie said...

I'm reading much more often now thanks to Google Reader!

:) Carrie

Antigone said...

Geez you have a lot of readers.