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, August 29, 2008

Friday Blog Roundup

A few days ago, we swung by the bookstore to pick up a book for a friend. There's an employee there who reeeeeeeeeeeeeeally likes to be helpful so whenever I go and he's working, he follows me through the store suggesting other titles that we pass. I was there to purchase a women's health book so he paused in the section, aiding me as he pulled out other books I may want to get.

Sean (I actually don't know his name yet, but he looks like a Sean, so let's call him that): This looks like an interesting book. The Only Menopause Guide You'll Need. That sounds good, right? You'd only need to get one book on menopause if you purchased this one.
Melissa: I actually know what I need today.
Sean: Or, wow, this one looks interesting. Women's Gynecologic Health. I bet you could learn a lot from that one.
Melissa: It sounds fantastic, but I really know what I'm looking for today. I don't need any help.
Sean: Did you see this one? The Heart of Tantric Sex. It sounds like a sex guide, right? I bet it has a lot of good tips.
Melissa: You know, my kids are standing right here. Right here. Please, I don't need any help.

And that's how The Tantra came to be.

The Tantra (sometimes pronounced TaTantra or DaTantra) is a blue, My Little Pony who is part tangible plastic toy and part imaginary friend. The day after the bookstore visit, I came downstairs to be greeted by said plastic toy who was speaking to me through the ChickieNob (she often acts as a translator because I don't speak plastic toy fluently). About how she was "interesting" and full of "good tips." And could I please purchase a My Little Pony ice cream shop for her so she could eat there afterschool with the other ponies.

I would, except there's a similar man who lurks in the toy store who always wants to talk Matchbox cars with me.

*******
Today, when I logged into my dashboard, there was a green, free-floating silhouette towards the right of my blog title, gently informing me that these people are interested in my blog. Has anyone else seen this? I jumped when I first saw it. I think I spent too much time with Sean on that bookstore excursion. The man makes me jumpy.

*******
IComLeavWe has ended for August. If you gained Iron Commentor status, send me an email so I can add you to the Wall of Honour. I have a few people to add from this round. The new list for September goes up on Monday (the 1st).

Tomorrow is the last day to send in your 100 words for the 100 Words Project. The posts will start at midnight on September 11th and a new one will be added to the screen every half hour until there are 48 100-word posts giving small glimpses into everyone's day on September 11, 2001. They are some of the most moving pieces I've ever read. Please consider participating either with 100 words or with an image.

True View Friday Open Thread
is up and running today.

I was so thankful for LFCA this week. Each morning, I'd leave my 5 comments for IComLeavWe and return my 1 and then drop off the face of the earth for the rest of the day to edit. I have felt so out-of-touch and LFCA at least let me know a few things happening around the Web.

The editing is going really well and I'm pretty emotional about this final stretch and having the project come to an end.

*******
And now, the blogs:

Morebeansplease's Weblog had a post about reflecting on what you've written in your blog. I think it's not only emotionally healthy to have this record of your life and thoughts, but it can also help bring things into perspective. She writes: "Here I was thinking that I hadn’t moved on - but fuck I have. I have, I have, I have!!" It's a sweet post and a good reminder.

Alyzabeth An is so close--Alyson & Ford have gorgeous pictures up at their site--but the post that made me cry came this morning. Alyson writes about the final statement on a report: "She is a bright pearl in the orphanage's palm." It is such an emotional post after such a long wait. Please scroll back through the blog to see some recent pictures of Alyzabeth An.

Life in the White House had a short post this week about her cycle, though the first thought stuck with me for a long time after I read it. "I don't know if I should be excited or not: Part of me is excited at the prospects of possibly getting pregnant in the next few weeks, another part of me is saddened that we're having to do DI." There is a bittersweet, wistfulness to the writing and it made me think about the song "Al Kol Eileh" (random version performed by the Israeli army that I found on YouTube--apologies for the bizarreness) which begins this the line:
On the honey and on the sting
On the bitter and the sweet
On our baby daughter
Watch over and take care of them
IVF - A Husband's Perspective had a dry little post that made me laugh and swallow hard simultaneously. It begins: "Went to our across-the-street-neighbor's-kid's birthday yesterday - Ethan turned five. There was a big inflatable bouncy thing, and children everywhere. We were the only ones without one." But the part that got to me was the conversation with the holistic healer coupled with their errand after the party. It's a great post.

The roundup to the Roundup: drowning in work, listening to stories about The Tantra, and sucking with email. Wanting to hear if you're an Iron Commentor, reminding you the next IComLeavWe list goes up on Monday, and thankful for the LFCA. Reminder about the open thread at Bridges, the 100 Words Project, and deadlines. Oh...and weird green silhoette on blogger (what is up with all of the ch-ch-ch-ch-changes?).

Will catch you back here on Saturday night for a little Show and Tell complete with a class field trip.

6 comments:

Lori Lavender Luz said...

"a green, free-floating silhouette towards the right of my blog title"

Was it the Geico gecko?

Haven't seen it. Maybe no one is interested in my blog.

Hi, Hi, Tantra! Giddyup!

Kristin said...

ROFL...love the TaTantra story.

I haven't seen "a green, free-floating silhouette towards the right of my blog title" either.

Baby Smiling In Back Seat said...

I just asked DH if he knows Al Kol Eileh, and he responded by singing the whole thing in Hebrew. He does not sing well, but he sometimes sings enthusiastically, mostly when it's a song from childhood -- like this one, or the Jem theme song.

Thanks, Mel, for brightening our day.

AwkwardMoments said...

You must be special. I do not have a green floating thing letting me know who is interested either. Or no one is interested ...

Poor guy Sean .. He needs friends

Alyson and Ford said...

Thank you so much for including us in your round-up. BTW, DH (fm) writes over half our posts and is a much better writer than I am.

We have dropped off the face of this earth while we stare at our daughter's photos, reports and medical updates. Yes, she is a pearl to us too! Thank you so much!

Infertile from 1991 - 2008 - a new Mommy (yes, an old one at that too)!

Alyson
LID 01/27/06
DOR 08/12/08
www.alyzabethan.blogspot.com

battynurse said...

The TaTantra story is very funny. As far as Sean, I think he has a crush on you. Also that would be rather annoying.