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

Thursday, March 20, 2008

The Googlerita

I love Google Reader so much that I'm holding a contest to design a drink for the Lushary in its honour. The Googlerita.

It definitely should have Tequila as a base because just as everyone has a tequila story, everyone has a Google Reader overdose story that makes them wary even though they can't pass up an opportunity to read blogs through it just as I can't pass up a free Margarita at an open bar no matter how much it reminds me of the "Incident"--the one that started with high kicks on the dormitory bathroom sink basin and ended waking up in a stranger's room with the person saying, "I brought you in here because you fell asleep in the stairwell and I had no idea which room you belonged in. No one wanted to claim you as their roommate because you looked like you were going to vomit. You can kick really high, you know that?"

Josh set me up with Google Reader and I have become a massive addict. I keep saying, "just one more feed, one more feed, man. Give me another hit." I am a huge technophobe and I hate learning how to use new programs so I've begged off from actually using a blog reader for years now, choosing instead to click down a list of blogs several times a day as well as my gigantic blogroll at numerous times during the week. And then Purim happened.

Every night, I was silently and not so silently cursing you, calling poor innocent bloggers whores (even the man-pies) for making me click on them when they hadn't updated yet. I was trying to efficiently blog read in between batches of hamantaschen and it was killing me to click around and not find anything new and use up the two minutes I had before I had to jump back into candy-making-land again.

People aren't commenting nearly enough right now and people aren't writing nearly enough right now. I'm just saying.

People have written on and off about how many feeds a person carries and I'm right now conducting an experiment to find my own breaking point. I've been adding a few feeds an hour to see when it tips over from being blog reading into blog gasping. I'll let you know my breaking point. Right now, I'm at 40 feeds and it feels like I am barely reading anything. Which is also scary to think about how many blogs I normally read in a day if subscribing to 40 blogs feels like nothing and I'm thinking it will be well over 150 when I'm finally done adding my daily reads.

So what should be in a Googlerita and why? And tell me what is happening in your life as I pour you a drink.

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, 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.

It's Purim tonight and you're supposed to get so drunk that you can't tell the name Mordechai (the good guy in the Purim story) from Haman (the bad guy in the Purim story). Who else is drinking today?

52 comments:

Meg said...

Woohoo I'm first. I am not getting drunk tonight but will be next week. I am throwing my 6 IUI's and 8 IVF's behind me and heading to Aruba for some much needed R & R on Mon....so I will drink for you all....but what the hell I'll take a Mimosa to prime for next week :)

HereWeGoAJen said...

I'm at 130 feeds right now, and totally have room for more! I'm trying not to fill up right away though, so I can add them gently as I come across them.

And I love the stranger that took you in. That was so nice!

I don't have a major suggestion for the drink, except to say I think it ought to be made with different colored margaritas, layered in the glass so that it matches the Google colors. That would be so pretty!

SassyCupcakes said...

I love the idea of the multicoloured margarita. As long as it has blue curacao I'm all good.

Right now I am in love with iGoogle. I have my weather, news, gmail, facebook and Google Reader all on one page. It's so awesome. I feel so efficient.

Of course, the rest of my life is a mess. But hey, as long as I'm up to date with all my favourite blogs it doesn't matter right?

Also the longer I spend browsing for new blogs to add the longer I can put off writing that email to our foster care agency. You know, the one that makes me throw up in my mouth a little. As I've said in about 100 places already, all assvice re: our situation is welcomed with open arms. I feel like we've completely lost perspective. I keep thinking maybe it would just be better to walk away than try to fix things with our agency. But what if there's a chance of seeing our foster kid again? See, I drive myself crazy. And I wonder why I can't sleep.

sharah said...

i) I'm sitting at 87 feeds, plus another 4 or 5 PWP blogs that I have to check manually.

ii) I think the googlerita needs to have pineapple juice. I had a "bartender's choice" margarita last fall, and I haven't been able to recreate it! It was fantastic, and I'm pretty sure that pineapple juice was the key.

iii) WAITT met last night, so I got to spend 4 hours with my local girls talking about everything from interviews to pubic hair to motherhood. I love my girls!

jp said...

It's funny, I've tried google reader, and it just doesn't seem to easily make it into my routine (your love and admiration of same make me wonder if I am doing it wrong!).

SassyCupcakes said...

Have you tried it with iGoogle jp? That way when you go to the google homepage it's just there. I tried it a while ago and kept forgetting to look at it and stopped. Since I've added it to iGoogle I've been in love.

Io said...

I'm at 58 feeds and trying not to add any more, but it's not working. And it's great, because I can read so many, but then I'm either pissy because nobody is posting and want something to read.right.now or I'm overwhelmed because I log on and there are twenty updates and I have to comment on them all.
I used to refer to Jose as my best friend.

Soapchick said...

I don't have a clue what this Google reader or iGoogle thing is. I guess I am a little behind the times. I'll have to figure it out.

I am not drinking "just in case", but last night I had pomegranate juice in a wine glass so I could pretend it was wine. I'm in the countdown to see if last week's IUI worked, or I'll be starting IVF next week.

Stephanie said...

I guess I need to get on the Google Reader bandwagon. I spend way to much time clicking down my list only to be disappointed.

The multicolor margarita sounds great, I say go with that.

I won't be drinking anything alcoholic for a while (hopefully a long while), I officially begin my first IVF tomorrow. My meds arrived this morning, so I'm anxious to get this started!

I'm not doing the traditional IVF after all, at the last possible minute my RE suggested that mini-stim is a swell idea. We'll see in a week or so!

Happy Purim!

JuliaS said...

Ha - if I am drinking anything today it's gonna be Nyquil. Though, since they changed their formulation - I find I haven't been hitting the bottle as much lately when I have a nasty cold.

You have me converted - off to google read my way into blog ecstasy . . .

(Yes, I am a google reader virgin)

Cheers!

Lori Lavender Luz said...

I'm with Sassy. Love my iGoogle with Google Reader as the central feature.

Hmmmm. Not even 9 am and we're breaking out the tequila.

Everyday, I'm learning more about open adoption -- by living it. It's all good and it's never dull.

Please pass the lime...

Kim said...

Okay - I will admit it - I have no idea what google reader is - but now I must go there. You have convinced me to convert from clicking on my blog list on my blog!I read about 30 or so blogs and it is frustrating when no one updates. But I have to say I am guilty of that too. I don't always get to it everyday, but the next day I usually add two or three posts. So one day nothing, next day bonus!

I have gotten off my butt and working on our adoption paperwork again. I cannot have a drink since I am still nursing, but have a pretty one for me. I am really more of a beer girl or a rum and coke girl though! I promise to put a new post up today to update my life! Not saying at what time but it will be before midnight!

loribeth said...

I also don't have a blog reader, but after hearing you sing its praises, it's clear I'm going to have to get me one (along with a Googlerita, whenever it's invented). Just one more reason to sit for hours in front of the computer. ; ) Speaking of which, I spent last night installing & then playing with my new Family Tree Maker software. I will probably be posting about it later tonight.

Until we figure out the Googlerita, I'll have a frozen margarita, please & thanks. Cheers, & have a great long weekend!

LJ said...

I do love me a good margarita, and a good google reader.

Currently, I have:
216 total feeds, divided into baby related, TTC, geek gadgets, stalkerazzi, cats (and lolcats), and of course - Grey's. I'm an addict. I just want more.

andrea_jennine said...

Hooray for blog readers! Such a time saver, and I never miss an update. (I use Bloglines, but only because I started using a feed reader before Google came out with theirs, and it seems like too much work to switch now.) I have about 60 feeds, and I regularly add and remove subscriptions to keep it manageable.

No suggestions for the Googlerita, as I'm not really a mixed drink kind of gal. I'll take a glass of Riesling, to accompany me as I look forward to a post-op consult with my RE next week. My recent laparascopy showed that my blocked tube wasn't damaged or scarred, but just bent somehow. Now that it's straightened out, RE says we should need to go back to IVF but will only need IUI. Secretly, I'm hoping that we don't need any medical help at all now. After 3 years of this, hope has returned!

Pamela T. said...

Whoa, Jen, 130! And I was going to brag about pushing 90 feeds. So pass the Margarita -- Tequila aka "truth serum" based on a good friend divulging all kinds of secrets every time too much tequila gets in her system. So, in honor of her, I'll 'fess up.

So much going on now in the lives of those I've come to know online. Can't believe the number of women who are now pregnant or delivered since I started my blog a year ago. While I'm delighted for their success, it still makes me wonder what the hell did I do wrong?

annacyclopedia said...

I can really use a drink right now despite the fact that it's 9:30 in the morning. I'm not really a big tequila girl, but today it sounds like just the thing. Can you make my Googlerita in one of those enormous fishbowl glasses? My only ingredient suggestion is passionfruit - if I must drink a sweet drink, I like 'em to be a wee bit pucker-causing.

No fascinating updates on my baby quest just yet. But my initial visit to the DI Dr. in town is coming up fairly quickly - I think it's high time Manny and I started browsing the donor catalogues with some more serious intention. Excitement is growing, and fear and anger are shrinking. Such a welcome change.

annacyclopedia said...

Oh, and one more thing: thanks for your comment. Just what I needed, and today I'm feeling a lot more at peace with it all. So thank you.

hope548 said...

The Googlerita is sounding tasty, but I've been a beer girl lately. Like the Green Light, it's smooth and low calorie. I'm a dork I know!

Just waiting in hopeland. IF and adoption are all about waiting. I don't use a reader right now, but I've considered it. I'm not sure I could handle it though. I kind of like clicking through my list here and there througout the day.

Cheers

Jess said...

Oh my gosh, yes, yes!! Google reader saved my LIFE!! It did! I kid you not!!

Ok, so I do kid you and it didn't literally save my life, BUT it did help me organize my time so.much.better. ANd for that, the minis are thankful.

I thinkt hat a googlerita is JUST COOL ENOUGH to be ANY DRINK YOU WANT. Beer? You got it. Mai tai? You got it. Scotch on the rocks? Well, serve that boy up a googlerita!

I.Love.Google.Reader.

Pepper said...

To me, a margarita just isn't a margarita without some Grand Marnier. Divine! And it's even better when you put a splash in some champagne. Fantabulous! Except that it makes you drunker than everyone else because they aren't lushy enough to put anything in their champagne.

I too am in love with my Google Reader. Currently at 41 feeds, but I now have to check out this iGoogle thing because it sounds Just So Intriguing.

AFM, I'm in the midst of my second injectables cycle (eleventh overall) and am considering my next moves. IVF or foster-adopt? Hell, why be picky - maybe both! We shall see.

Pepper said...

Grand Marnier in champagne, not margarita in champagne. :-")

Cece said...

A beer please. I'm 4 days out from my three day transfer... and I'm hallucinating that my boobs are sore. I'm just SO sure that this IVF cycle worked. SO SURE.

I don't know what I'm going to do if it didn't - because I'm riding high on the hope train.

Rachel said...

I'm at 47, I could probably add a couple but then I wouldn't have time to comment.

You couldn't have set this up at a better time. My parents were supposed to come for a visit today and cancelled last night at 11. It's been 7 years since my mom last visited and 3 since my dad has. I'm pretty upset right now. They still haven't met my son who will be 4 months next week.

Anonymous said...

Well I'm not drinking for a while longer but have a virtual one on me :)

Do you really read that many blogs a day? WOW!

PCOSMama said...

Hmmm, and kind of margarita is great by me! I do like the sound of a multi-colored one, and I love pineapple juice too so that was a good suggestion. I can't drink right now but I can try to get my hubby to let me experiment on him to come up with a new recipe. We always have some Cuervo around the house!

I have to admit to being one of the non-posting bloggers nowadays. Since our little guy was born I just haven't found the time. I can either read-and-comment on others or write on my own. I choose to read and comment. Although I will also admit that I don't find as much time to comment as I'd like! I hope everyone knows that even if I'm not commenting I am still thinking about you all and praying things work out!

Can't really complain too much. Suffering from a major lack of sleep, but it's for a good reason so it's ok. Hubby has been having a rough time lately - his brother passed away last month - so he's been a bit out-of-sorts. We're been having a bit of a pity-party lately about all of the losses we've had to endure. Both of our fathers, multiple grandparents, his brother. It's just ridiculous.

Ok, so much for not whining about me! Sorry! I'll have a tequila sunrise please. And a fresh whatever-you're-having for everyone else!

JJ said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jackie said...

Oh, google reader, how I love thee. I tried a couple other rss aggregators but google reader was the best for me. I have 50 feeds (and growing) related to this community another 10 for news and tech and then about 10 for blogs of IRL friends. I also love iGoogle, having a home page where you log in and can easily see how many posts must be read. Then there are the times when I've been blog slackin and GR tells me I have 330 posts to read and I feel like total crap for falling so far behind.
[PS I'm ready for my second googlerita, btw]

SarahSews said...

iGoogle with Google reader rocks. I no longer spend half the day clicking through blogs looking for something new to read. I just hit my little google icon on my toolbar and I can see it all in a flash. I have a category for TTC which is all things baby related, plus one for house stuff and sewing. :)

Things in my world are good for now. Off of bedrest but still on nefidipine to keep contractions at bay. I'll be 24 weeks tomorrow and I get happier as each day passes and we get closer to real viability.

Happy Purim Mel!

luna said...

ok ok, I think I've become a new convert. I love i-google but never used the reader. instead I do what mel does and waste a lot of time or sometimes forget to click on people when I really do want to know what's going on. I think I'll have to figure out how to set myself up -- a new project.

so my drink of the day depends on what my RE says in a few hours. if things look good, I'm sticking with pomegranate juice and soda with a twist of lime. if not, I'll have a triple googawhatevaitis.

I'm usually a traditionalist when it comes to my margaritas, except I like the good stuff. (can't do the cuervo after too many nights in tijuana as a youngen -- good thing mel didn't pass out there!) but to sweeten it up for all the googlereader love I'd maybe add some pom juice. is that gross?

happy purim, go mordechai!

littleangelkisses said...

I am not familiar with Google reader...I might have to check it out.

I need something strong to make this empty, lost feeling go away...I'm hosting Easter this weekend and have no desire too. I'm going to have to explain to my family about the failed trial and hear all about how "it wasn't meant to be" and all such crap....they mean well, but still. I had been planning to tell them how many this weekend instead of hearing that...

sigh...

JJ said...

my first comment was out of anger...let's try this again:

I use bloglines--and Im attached. I tried igoogle a few times, but it just didnt lay-out the same way, so Ill stick to what works for me=) Do I have to admit how many I have...let's just say it's over 130...and climbing.

Googlerita...mmmmm. Sounds yummy no matter WHAT is in it!

Having a tough day...some issues with the other half, that I dont have the energy to blog about...I can always use e-mail company.

I. need. alcohol. Large pour, please?

BigP's Heather said...

I have 119 feeds and most days it is fine...but seeing as how my family is coming for a week and them I'm going back home with them for two weeks - it is going to stack up. Not sure how long it will take me to catch up, probably at least a week.

Since it is virtual...I'd like a mudslide just like the ones they make at Applebees - it is the best.

As far as I know, I'm still pregnant. I go in Tuesday for another look-see and as my last visit to the RE (fingers crossed) for a long time.

Mindy said...

I'm gonna have to get in on that Google reader action! Sounds sooo much more efficient than my constant clicking. I'm not much of a bartender, so I'm not gonna weigh in on the create-a-drink game. Incidently, the pomegranite margarita I had at the TOOTPU get together last Sunday was YUMMY.

So, what's going on with me you may ask. Not much. Just started my metformin 2 nights ago (so far no bad side effects) and now just waiting until May to do the next IVF. Basically I'm feeling impatient and thus very antsy, but I know it was the right decision to wait a bit.

Cheers everyone! :)

Jen said...

I hadn't even heard of Google Reader until you mentioned it yesterday. So I went to check it out and fell in love. It is seriously the coolest thing ever! Google should be paying you for this advertisement!

Unknown said...

I don't use google reader, but maybe that'll be a good project tomorrow...

...when I'm home waiting for the nurse to call with beta results from our first IVF. Ten eggs retrieved, 7 fertilized, 2 transfered. The rest didn't make it far enough along for cryo.

Yes, google reader might be a good distraction tomorrow.

nancy said...

I WISH I was drinking right now. Maybe it would dull my Lupron headache.

I'm simply not good at coming up with creative things, so I'm out on the Googlerita.

For me, I would REALLY like to have a guinness. And maybe an Irish Car Bomb too. This was my first St Patty's Day I didn't have an ounce of beer. Lame.

I'm sitting here with a sick little one waiting for two things. 1) for the pediatrician appointment to get here because my goose is getting sicker. 2) for my nurse to call with my E2 levels to see if my dosages will be changed or not.

The exciting life of me. heh.

Unknown said...

Ooh, it has so long since we got together over a drink, this feels lovely.

Reading about all your feeds reassured me because I honestly thought I was the only one who obsessively checked on so many blogs every day. I am off to check out the Google Reader, thanks for the tip.

What's up with me? Well, still trying to improve my fertility but probably giving up on the idea of ever being pregnant again, or not for the next year at least. Thinking of the other options but the adoption statistics are horrible here - something like only 19% of couples eventually get a child. Otherwise we are travelling a lot which is fun, and I'm trying lose weight. Any tips would be welcome.

Good grief, that's the most boring comment! You can tell I've lost the knack of good blog writing.

Geohde said...

How have you gone so long without the Google Reader? It's much nicer than bloglines :)

I have about 90 feeds, and I find that's my comfortable limit...except that I also read a lot of blogs I haven't quiiiite got around to adding yet.

As for the drinkie...I'm stuck with the Mocktail version for what I hope is another twenty weeks. Even if it DOES meann that my uterus may attempt to acquire a sattelite due to sheer size.

J

Christy said...

Google Reader? What's that? Well, I know, but I'm afraid I'm not techie enough to figure it out. However, I drink in it's honor . . . .I'm all about that! Maybe after a drink or two I'll check it out. And I definitely deserve a drink or two since our homestudy was approved, signed, sealed and delivered and we are now officially playing the waiting game.

Heidi said...

I'm a bloglines girl myself...but I may have to checkin to Google Reader as me and google seem to be having an affair! (and just for the record, I have 97 feeds)

I think the googlerita should be something strong and straight. Nothing froffy. We need something to prepare us for the hits, and to celebrate the joys!

(I'm waiting for Flo to show after taking bcp. And praying for it to both happen fast, and not happen at all as I am scared shitless to get pg, for I can't stand to lose another one)

Sunny said...

I am so proud of you! My google reader is about to explode right now. I am so behind. I had almost caught up but it is a never ending battle now.

I am not sure what I want to drink. Can you believe it but I have no desire these days. Just too sad.

My mom is very sick and might be dying. I am taking a leave from work to be there with her. We are going to retrieve and fertilize and freeze. I want my world to go back to normal. Normal is good. Where I am is bad.

Can back to drinking girls!

Jamie said...

Pour me a Googlerita - I'll try anything, especially if it is multi-colored and fruity!

I am new to the blog network and relatively new to the TTC game, though it feels like it has been an eternity. There is something about TTC that makes me feel so alone - thanks to all of you for opening up your experiences, trials and tribulations for me to read. This may sound strange, but it is just so comforting to read your stories.

I will have to check out Google Reader - I am still trying to figure all this stuff out!!

Right now, I am anxiously awaiting ovulation so I can obsess over potential pregnancy symptoms for two weeks. I can't wait!

Helen said...

I never use readers, I confess to being absolutely hopeless with anything web related (she says, despite being a blogger for nearly 5 years).

It's a 4-day weekend here, and the idea of NOT drinking never occurred to me :)

Tracy said...

I have 85 subscriptions and adding every day. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Google Reader, too.

Glad you found it! :)

Portia P said...

I'm not a Google Reader girl but my (far more technically able) DH set me up with NetNewsWire a while back.

It's fantastic. I've got 42 feeds but add as I find new stories I want to keep up with.

I think a Googlerita should be whatever you want - you can find anything on it. For me it's a fruity mocktail at the moment. Mmmmm...mango, peach and passion fruit juice. Yum.

Life's pretty ok here. Counting down the days until I can move out of the 1st stress-mester and stop panicking my Passenger won't stick around. Perhaps that should read panic less rather than stop.

Steph said...

Alright, I am convinced. Here I have been clicking my brains out when I could have filled my google reader. Der.
Not a huge margarita fan here. Make mine a martini.;)

Caro said...

I use bloglines and have 160 odd feeds in several cagtegories. I'm a total addict to it too.

I only have 4 weeks to go until my due date and still can't quite believe it.

JW Moxie said...

I started tinkering with Google Reader earlier this week after you started praising its name. Now, I *heart* Google Reader. I have already put most of the ladies in my blogroll in my reader, and one of my missions for this weekend is to plug in all of the blogs on my Clicker beat. GR will make that job MUCH easier.

I am not an experienced drinker so I couldn't even start to say what a Googlerita should be made of, so I'll just belly up to the bar and have an imaginary Sex on the Beach. That's one of the few drinks I know and it is my favorite. I can't have any liquor and at this phase of cycling for my GS transfer I can't get busy either, so a Sex on the Beach would kill two birds with one stone. Ahem.

My news - this is a busy weekend. Tomorrow is Sam's birthday (the baby I delivered via gestational surrogacy) and we are going to his party tomorrow. Tomorrow is also the 1st birthday of the little one I donated breast milk to - her mother is my friend, who was able to achieve pregnancy through open egg donation. I've already checked that blog entry off of my To Do list.

Tomorrow morning is also my IM's retrieval and on Sunday we get the fert report. My transfer will either be on Tuesday or Thursday.

I will have lots to write about, which is good because my mind is everywhere and I need the outlet (and the drink).

Anonymous said...

I'll have a Sue Rose. I'm sure no one knows what that is, but I promise I'll post the recipe on my blog later this weekend. It is divine.

I'm 23, DH is 34. After almost a year of charting, timed intercourse, all that jazz, and no baby, I went to the RE. The RE did a SA and found zero sperm in DH's ejaculate. Right now, we're waiting (aren't we always waiting for SOMETHING) for a consult with a urologist, then he'll be having a TESA in May. If all goes well with the TESA (good sperm, healthy sperm, any sperm at all), we're hoping to start cycling in June with the actual IVF in July. We're very fortunate to have found a clinic that we're very happy with that's only about 90 minutes away from us. But it's hard. The emotions are hard. As a brand spankin' new Infertile, I find myself at a lost sometimes to figure out what to feel. It's hard not to resent DH some days. It's hard to remember what we're working toward some days. It's just so hard... And expensive.

The liquor should definitely help, though.

Shelby said...

I'm afraid to admit how many feeds I subscribe to. I don't use google reader, but Bloglines, and have for a few years now. I started using it to keep track of people in swaps I was in charge of, and I haven't unsubscribed from any of those blogs. Let's just say, that it's over 500, and less than 1000.

I'll definitely try the Googlerita! I'm so happy to be able to drink again. I really missed my wine habbit. They say that one glass of red a day is good for the heart- I don't mess with research. ;)

I'm still adjusting to having a baby in the house, but am loving every minute. He still won't latch on, which is extremely frustrating. Whoever said that nursing is "natural and easy" needs their head examined. It's nowhere near easy. May 13th keeps hanging over my head though (the day I go back to work), which isn't fun. I am loving being home, and not working. If only we didn't have to pay the mortgage...

Anonymous said...

I have 124 feeds on Bloglines. I can keep up with most, but there are some that have reached the max of 200 posts. Ugh. Fortunately, everyone doesn't post every day. Though I really hate that nanopoblowme or whatever it's called in November. It takes months to catch up (which is why some of my feeds are at the max).