Category: BlahBlahBabble

Oh goodness, this video makes me cry. It is moments like these that give me hope and make me believe in the good in people.

I didn’t get a chance to get online yesterday, but I couldn’t pass this up. It is a bit surreal when you go back to read twitter, and see that someone you follow posted about the major wreck on 59 South; a wreck that you passed about 30 minutes earlier while driving on the northbound side of the freeway.

Of course, it would have helped me if I had been heading southbound and had seen it before I was driving, but still — while I waited for my meeting, I checked in on Twitter and saw that, and thought the whole thing was just amusing.

Whoa. It is May 8th (and I haven’t posted in over a week – oops) and my blog is 8 years old today!

The Golden Birthday! I couldn’t let it pass without pointing it out. Happy Blogiversary!

Crazy to think how much has changed in 8 years, and how much this blog has been a part of it all. From the incredible amazing people I have met – especially Mike! – and all of the life altering things that have happened as a result.

– I wouldn’t have met or married Mike if this blog wasn’t a part of it.

– My photography wouldn’t be where it is today. (See below. Several times.)

– I wouldn’t have met Kathy who set up the original Bayou Blurb which lead to H-Town Blogs and meeting Elaine which lead to my previous comment about my photography being where it is today.

– I wouldn’t know Chuck, my go to political advisor, who is actually the first person that Mike met in Houston and who I finally got to meet in person the same day I met Mike. UPDATE: I just commented to Mike that I probably would have met him eventually thanks to Chuck, and he pointed out that HE is responsible, at least in part, for Chuck blogging. How is THAT for circular?

– I wouldn’t have met Ann through her blog and her photography — and she was one of the first bloggers Mike ever met in person over in London, and she kept nudging me to meet him when he was back in Houston. (Ann still gets credit for me meeting Mike, not Chuck. Ann pointed out his blog while he still lived in London, probably 6-8 months before I met him. I never read his blog much though because it was way too geek for me.)

– I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet Jennifer, who means a lot more to me than she probably even realizes (my fault) and has helped me out a zillion times over with a slew of blogging things. She truly is the ScriptyGoddess. I’m thankful for her letting me visit her when she still lived in fabulous Boston, and I dream of visiting her now in Salt Lake City someday.

– Boston of course leads me to thinking of Erika, Su, Sooz (who was a huge help in putting together the big blogger bash the second time I visited Boston) and really – more people than I could list.

– Blogging lead me to meet Mac who inspired me to knit – and to attempt spinning – and graciously let me come visit her, took me all around Philly for knit shop tours (this is a very big thing for knitters), and best of all – let me visit for a trip to Maryland Sheep & Wool last year! Mmmm… fiber. Lots of fiber.

– Then there is the whole knowing Matt since he was in high school – before WordPress even was a dream yet – and spending days at the coffee shop with him & Mike as he geeked out and talked about the dream we would later know as WordPress. Once I gave it a name.

– OH! And HOW can I forget about Chris Pirillo and the Call for Help days? I think talking to Chris on the phone was one of the first time I squealed over meeting a geek celebrity. First of many times, I’m sad to say.

– While I’m naming names, I should point out Heather Champ who has been a huge source of inspiration since day 1, and a big supporter back when I launched Picture Yourself. She also lead me to Flickr, my constant addiction.

– Flickr then lead me to Laanba who lead me to meeting
countless awesome photographers in the Houston area that I didn’t already know through the blog circles. I learned later that my blog was one of the first blogs that she followed. The crazy circle of blogging.

– And my blog wouldn’t be where it is today if Ben & Mena hadn’t come up with the fabulousness that is MovableType that saved me from Blogger back when Blogger went through a slump and Greymatter couldn’t handle my posts. I resisted leaving MT for a long time and only converted when Matt came over to my house and did the migration himself. It is INCREDIBLE to see where SixApart has gone since MT first launched.

– Another VIP in the blogistory? Robyn, the blogger formerly known as Tampa Tantrum. Like Erika and Su, it is incredible to think of how much our lives have changed since those early blogging days of 2001. She has been an incredible help for my photography business – and a constant inspiration. I’m most grateful.

My list could go on and on and on as I pondered everyone I know and how they all interconnect. At the root of it all is the blog. 8 years, nearly 5000 posts, and countless memories.

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to every single person reading this. My life truly would not be the same without you. Say hello if you have a moment – it is a day worthy of a celebration!

I’m a little bit obsessed with shopping for furniture for the Caroline Collective space these days. Randomly, throughout the day when I need a mini-break, I’ll find myself on different websites drooling over furniture. Tuesday night, after a client meeting, Elaine & I went and “booty tested” several couches at Ikea, and I think I have finally settled on a nice leather one that they actually keep in stock – I don’t have to order it. Now it is just a matter of selecting the rest of the furniture to go with it.

I realized that all of it is giving me an identity crisis with my branding. I love the swirly things like the little fleur de lis thingie in my logo, and I love brocade fabrics — but when it comes to selecting furniture, I keep going for very clean, modern lines. Mid-century styles. Danish inspired. Very minimal. I think that is a good fit though, as it is easy to decorate around it – I can dress it up or down, bring in the swirly fabrics if I want.

I keep reminding myself that if Tara was here, she would tell me to trust what I love.

And then I’ll find a really cool Victorian style couch on Craigslist which would make an awesome photo prop, and I get sucked back into the vortex of online shopping for furniture. I know that once I actually start buying pieces, this will settle down some – but right now, it is making my head swirl.

If you were to describe me – or select furniture that you think fits me the best – what would it be? If you were to walk into my office or studio tomorrow, what would you expect to see?

I completely forgot that today is Earth Day until I turned on HGTV this morning. Watching the green shows makes me want to go and trade in my vehicle for an electric one – especially after paying $40+ to fill up with gas yesterday – and do all sorts of other environmentally friendly things.

Did you know that there are a variety of tax incentives for making green changes to your life? You can check out the state by state list. Reading through that, I discovered that here in Texas, Memorial Day weekend is tax free for purchasing certain green things. I think this year we need a more eco-friendly thermostat, new ceiling fans, and most of all — a new dishwasher!