I’m going! Are you?! I’d love to meet you there.
Cheers
Julie & Julia
I just saw the movie Julie and Julia. It was inspiring. It was about cooking, and blogging and marriage. Two out of the three of which I am very familiar. It was exciting to see the perils of a blogger on the widescreen… Julie, the protagonist, had to balance being transparent, yet keeping the intimate details of her marriage private. Finding discreteness on the web must be an oxy moron. Once you it publish, it’s being cached, print-screened or archived by the library of Congress.
The movie was about a real-life blog, about cooking some 500 or so Julia Child recipes in one year. The one thing I did not have in common with the movie, cooking, is something hubby loves to do, oddly enough. In fact, he is a really excellent chef. And I saw chef, because he has the technique, skill, creativity and passion I see on the Food Network. If you know me, you know how picky of an eater I am. I used to create a line of separation between my peas and corn on my plate. If any corn touched my mashed potatoes, the yellow and white mixture remained untouched and uneaten on my plate. Somehow, hubby’s creations and my taste buds have become more and more in sync. A few days ago hubby made some sort of chicken pasta, with fresh basil, cilantro, green peppers, hot peppers and host of vegetables (all mixed together), and I ate it, asked for more pepper, and then had seconds (and no, I’m not pregnant). At times, I think it would be so exciting to cook with hubby. Or better yet, I could just be his sous chef, because he’s the one with all the culinary talent.
Anyhow, loved the movie. You should see it if you have not already. I mentioned cooking and blogging, but the third topic -marriage- the one piece that I want to write more about, I will decline in doing so. You see, blogging becomes complicated when people who you do not want to read your blog read it. Julie, the girl in the movie, wanted to share the ups and downs of marriage with her readers, but she only shared the peaks and never the troughs. Part of why she did that is out of respect. I chuckled when they had an argument and her husband shouted ‘and you’d better not write about this on your blog!’ I’m sure hubby has said those identical words to me. I could identify with her, and for that, I enjoyed the film.
Follow Friday
I have come across a few new favorite blogs and want to share them with you. I have found myself coming back to them because of the content and a common link I see in myself. In fact, A Shorter Story reminded me of my family so much, with two young boys so close in age. Beth’s story is so inspiring. I found myself reading her posts a lot in the month of March… So here they are and their bio’s:
A Shorter Story
I am a 30 year old baby buncher of two boys (Repeat 4 & Shortie 2.5 years old). They are 18 months apart and a total handful. I have been in a committed relationship with my husband for 11 years and still enjoy his company. I love spending time with my family, hanging out with other Mommy friends, and online scrapbooking. I was a working mom, a stay-at-home mom, and now I am working again.
On this Journey Called …Life
Ms. Understood doesn’t post a bio, so head on over to her place to learn more about her.
I Should Be Folding Laundry
My name is Beth, I am thirty-three, I have a seven-year old daughter, a six year old son, a husband of ten years, a very messy home and now a baby boy named Elijah. We reside in Northwest Indiana, which may seem very boring to you, but it really is, you would be right.
I love that I’m alive and able to do little things, like watching the clouds move on a sunny day or the big things, like watching Seal move up on stage.
I love taking pictures. I’m pretty much an amateur, I use the Nikon D80.
In December of 2007, we found out we were pregnant with twins, the excitement and love that we felt for these gifts was beyond measure, we were truly blessed.
Unfortunately, our worlds came crashing down on us, on February 25, at nineteen weeks pregnant, we learned of their deaths. On February 26th, we held James and Jake in our arms. Our hearts were broken. And really, they still are.
This blog is a place for me to share. Just share what’s real in my life, whether it’s laughter or tears, I have this blog, and that is a gift to me.
The Consequences of Putting Your Business Out There…
I usually know who’s pregnant before the expecting couple even knows. I have this sense… it’s weird, but I know. And because of this, I pray for different people when I find out. Hubby and I have been through some very interesting experiences at this point in our lives, and I have chosen to be open about it. Three miscarriages, maybe not so typical, but I write about it. And because I write about it, other people write me. And call me, and talk to me. I hear about their miscarriages that they keep private, I hear when they have their first positive pregnancy test, and it’s a wonderful news to hear, and it’s wonderful they feel comfortable and trusting enough to share with me. But as I was saying, because I write about it, people write me back with their questions.
I recently received the following note in my blog inbox:
We have not gotten to speak at all since contact from the {name withdrawn} blog and email. I had a million questions for you about MLT and NYU (my first choice) then. I hadn’t started MLT yet then, but now we have gone through our first seminar at the end of last month. I know I don’t have to tell you how great it was- meeting my cohort, and new brothers and sisters on this journey ahead.
I now have a new concern though, and I thought of you. I’m not sure if you had your sons during business school or MLT. But I just found out that I’m pregnant. I am a very goal-oriented/keep-to-my-plans person so my automatic decision was to not keep it. My mom, boyfriend, and others are very excited and of course want me to keep it. I’m not sure now but I thought about the fact that I would be 5 months at the 2nd MLT seminar this July and 7 months at the 3rd one this Sept. Was anyone pregnant during the MLT process? Were you? How did that affect the MLT process and the business app process? How supportive was the MLT staff? In July we’ll meet all the admissions officers, and I don’t want that to affect my standing with them.
Anyway, I may not be pregnant the next time we speak, but I wanted to get your input.
I asked this young woman to call me, and surprisingly she did. It was date night, and I took the time I usually spend with hubby to share my thoughts with her. I told her it was my preference for all babies to live, and that it was wonderful that she had support, but ultimately she had an abortion. I wish she hadn’t, but that is now between her and God. I will say that I am glad to answer questions, but please know that I am a Christian and I support life. I will not provide a comforting ear so as to make you feel comfortable choosing death. I will advise you to pray, seek counsel and research the alternatives. My answer does not change person to person. I feel a certain responsibility to respond to notes and questions because I choose to place bits of me and life on the web, and because of that I am glad that she wrote me. I hope that as other bloggers honestly share themselves in this sphere, that they remain true to themselves and understand there is a little weight that you bear when people share their goals, their questions, their problems and what inspires them. I accept this, and tonight I wanted to share a little bit more about me and my beliefs in case I haven’t before.
spelhouseLove on theBump!
Hey dear readers! Guess who’s featured in one of thebump.com’s feature articles? Moi! I was asked what was my top pregnancy fear that I shouldn’t have worried about. Of course, my serious answer is miscarriage, but check out reason #2 on the list for my jovial response.
