Know what would cheer me up right now?

A free trip to BlogHer courtesy of Ford, that's what.

What with the layoff earlier this year and the month or two without a paycheck, we found we just couldn't scrape the funds for me to go off on my GirlTastic adventure again this year.  

Last year's BlogHer conference was... well, it was just effing brilliant and (beyond the odd drama here or there that had nothing whatever to do with me) it was the most positive experience I have ever had with a group of women.  And a HUGE group of women, at that.

My roommate last year was the incomparable MochaMomma.  How I managed to bamboozle her awesomeness into sharing space with yours truly will remain a mystery.  I also got to get to know her daughter Mallory, who is also spectacular.  It was an embarrassment of riches.

In fact, it was not unlike taking the hottest guy in school to the Junior Prom, only to find yourself alone with "Beaches" and a box of Twinkies come Senior Prom.  And it does feel like Senior Prom this year; I'm over my extreme anxiety of last year, I'm not pregnant this year (so I could enjoy the parties without having to keep a bathroom and a sitting place in the immediate vicinity at all times) and I've been doing this blogging bit for.. uh... like 6 years now.  (HOLY CRAP.)

So in order to get myself extra entries, I'm telling you about this Ford thing.  All you have to do (if you're registered with BlogHer) is read about 3 fuel-efficient Ford vehicles and then leave a comment letting them know which one you would choose to take on a road trip.  How awesome is that?  Extra entries are granted for tweeting about the contest (which I will do momentarily because HI! I IZ FREE STUFF WHORE!) and blogging about it (which... Hi! STILL A WHORE.)

So do me a favor and - whatever you do - DO NOT ENTER THIS CONTEST.  That leaves more chances for me to win, after all... and, really, isn't it all about what's good for me?

Open-Mindedness

Via Andrew Sullivan... This is maybe the most awesomest video ever.  Welcome to my brain.

Dude.

Yes, I said "Dude".  Let it go, I do that sometimes.  I can't help it; it's the healthy dose of California in my soul.  If you understood the Tao of Mitchell Goosen, you would get it.  Also, did you know Jack Black and Seth Green were also in that movie? Way before they were famous. Weird.

Rambling today, sorry.  It's just that the sun is shining and the air is clear and it smells really good.  Today would probably be a great day to get out in the front yard and start clearing brush for the spring.  But I'm thinking the alignment of the stars could be against it, since I just tried to pull some raisins out of the cupboard and found the cabinet shelf was unhinged.  And then when I tried to fix it, some lonely, misbegotten package of Fun Dip spilled off the shelf and fell all over me.  That stuff is messy.  I fixed the shelf though. Oh, and I do realize my grammar today is even worse than usual.  *shrug*  It's Wednesday.

But all in all I have spent this week in a flurry of anxiety and apprehension.  No, it's a good thing! Really!  See, I somehow stumbled into baking cakes as a hobby.  You know - making them ever cooler and more complicated for the boys' birthdays.  I love doing it; it's like art and sculpture and .. uh... cake! all in one.  So when a friend asked to hire me to do a cake for her daughter I was all "sure, why not?" And then it turned out really awesome and my husband and my friend were all "You should so do this as a business" and I was all "meh. I'm no good at business..." but then that one cake order turned into another order, and another one.. and maybe another.  And BAM! just like that, I'm in business.  

So now in addition to the etsy shop (which is doing better off line than on) I'm booking orders for unique and awesome cakes.  And the best part? Now all those hours of "Ace of Cakes" that I watch on the Food Network can totally be rationalized as research.  heh.

WOW. Just... Wow.