Snarky Kisses

BlogHer 2010… a recap of sorts.

September 2, 2010

I was anticipating a recap a few weeks ago. One thing lead to another and as I mentioned before, I couldn’t sit down and write a sentence, let alone post that I wanted to write to save my soul. So, here I am trying to spill out something of coherence and interest.

BlogHer this year was amazing on all levels. I would however be lying if I said it was all sunshine and roses too.

There’s something about it when I get in a big place, somewhere I don’t know… I know the people and I’m not necessarily afraid but I get that little pit in my stomach that kinda resembles a 5 year old longing for their blankey. Know what I mean? Arriving at the hotel, I again like last year, couldn’t believe I was there and that it was happening and again and OMG! am I going to recognize them? will they recognize me? rinse and repeat. I walked up to the front desk, not looking for anyone in particular… got my key and headed up to the room where I was staying with Kim. I knew she wouldn’t be in the room as she was on the Kodak bus tour through NYC but I didn’t know if anyone else would be in there. I took a deep breath as I got closer to the door. The door was open to the room; the ladies were cleaning and making the beds… I started to walk into the room, pulling my luggage and I heard a somewhat frantic, “Miss! MISS! Please stop… MISS!” I turned around to see one of the housekeeping ladies coming at me. “It’s okay! I’ve got the correct room, I have the key right here!” as I pointed to the room number beside the door. “Let me try to put it in the door to make sure it is correct.” She put the key in, green light and she apologized and finished cleaning the room.

Side Note: I’ve never in my life seen someone make a bed as fast as they can. I’d like to take some of those lessons.

As she finished up, I was thankful by all means that she stopped me before entering… what if I would have been going to the wrong room, what if some stranger got in the hotel and ransacked the room because she never stopped them. I told her thank you and that I appreciated her verification of the key and she went on to the next room.

I sat in the hotel room for a few hours after arriving to New York City because I didn’t want to be the awkward one, the odd duck. And, my phone needed to be charged since it died on the plane… so I relaxed in the hotel room for a few hours. I was beyond hungry but I was afraid to go out on the streets… why I don’t know, I was just afraid… afraid I’d look dumb or lost or, I don’t know. So I didn’t. But all I wanted was a pop and just a little something.

Wasn’t I in New York City? Isn’t street meat everywhere on every corner? Apparently I forgot that at the time… or it was just the initial shock of not knowing where anything is. Which, duh… it’s NYC and the last time I was there was 9 years ago… still, I had this little gut feeling of homesickness or just wanting that friend to come grab me and say, “Come On! Let’s go!” but I knew that wasn’t going to happen because I never did go down and introduce myself to all the other beautiful ladies in the lobby… I guess that’s where my whole shyness comes in and well, considering I’m used to living in the country/farm land or at least a suburb or sorts… not a big city filled with more than 8 million people. I was a only a little out of my comfort zone.

Anyways after I finished charging my phone, I decided to venture out by myself… not knowing which direction to go, what was safe or not safe… but I went. Looking back, I wish I would have grasped the fact that I was in such a big city by my self. What an amazingly free feeling… the wind at your face, tunneling between the buildings. The honks and laughter and people from every part of the world… the kids out smiling, families taking pictures with the sun shining brightly. I wish I would have realized what I had on the tips of my fingers, but I didn’t… I didn’t allow myself to go there. I didn’t allow myself to feel free and like I had the whole wide world in front of me.

I ended up finding a Subway (deli, not transportation) and a pop and migrated my way back to the hotel. Slowly becoming more confident in myself out there alone in the big city.

You know, it’s beyond inspiring to see all the other young women out on the streets, dressed cute, head held high, heels on, fashionable purse, big sunglasses, chin up and a smile on their face… they are grasping it all right by the handle and you can just see the confidence pouring out of them.

Because I can’t in any way shape or form possibly clue you in on everything and every happening that DID happen… I’ll show you a few pictures… or in this case A picture because I totally need to get back to work since uh, that’s what I should be doing anyways.

*Photo by Casey @mooshinindy

All in all about all the specific events I attended, I would like to write that out tonight… because it’s worth it and it’s important that those of you who have never attended BlogHer in the past, know how much awesomeness you’re missing out on.

I’ve got some stories for people I met… products I received (which of of them, uhh… yeahhhhh, awesome)… and a whole lot more.

Stay tuned and for real, I’ll be back tonight…

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It’s more than just a bad habit…

August 31, 2010

…especially when it changes and ends lives.

The dreaded… texting while driving.

Now that it's nearing Labor Day which means back to school for many; whether your in K-12 or college, it's still going back to school and that many more people out on the road during the morning and afternoon hours.

A study by AEI-Brookings Joint Center shows 1 in 10 drivers on the freeway are talking on their cell phones and actually are more impaired than if they had been on a drinking binge.

The study used a driving simulator to test the effects of cell phone use vs. the effects of driving while intoxicated.

When taking into account driving conditions and other factors, drivers on cell phones were more impaired than those who had been drinking. Using a hands-free device did not make a difference.

"It's not necessarily the device that distracts the driver," said AAA Arizona's Linda Gorman. It's the fact that their mind is taken off the task at hand. So, it's the conversation in that instance that's distracting them."

Some states have banned drivers from talking on cell phones, and Gorman said AAA is "open" to that happening in Arizona.

"We would look at any sort of legislation that was proposed to see what was in the best interests of the motorists and also in regards to enforcing." she said.

Gorman has a theory about why the study found that drunken drivers do better than talking drivers.

"They know that they've had alcohol, there's that understanding that alcohol can impair you," she said. "While it's still extremely dangerous, a lot of times those people (drunks) will drive slower. They will try, albeit unsuccessfully, to focus their mind 100 percent on the road."

Gorman added, "People think nothing of picking up the phone and talking on the phone while they're driving. So they don't even know they're impaired in a sense. They actually think that they're paying attention."

Many of the distracted drivers out there could be teenagers. The number of teens with cell phones has jumped dramatically over the past four years, and the Pew Internet and American Life Project found 43 perfect of those 16 and 17 said they talk on cell phones while driving, while nearly 25 percent said they text while driving.

-Article from KTAR.com

I'm guilty of it all myself.

I'll be the first one to tell you that I text and drive and on occasion talk and drive; but mainly texting or looking for something online on my iPhone that apparently absolutelycannotwaitanother45minutesuntiligethome.

You are not invincible.

Remember that. I need to remember it too.

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Something Different

August 28, 2010

I've decided since things are so meek around here that I do something about it… however, I can't do anything about it if I can never ever think of anything to write about. I have stuff to write about, it's just the getting here in time to remember that one thing I wanted to blog [...]