At this point every year, I typically have a well-thought out, hopefully entertaining blog post about my (mis)adventures at BlogHer. I really don’t know how, but I somehow manage to get it typed out despite woefully minimal levels of sleep and the smothering deluge of BlogHer information spinning around in my head.
But this year…I don’t have it.
I’m sorry – I really am. Allow me to offer my excuse.
Starting on Thursday, the day we left for New York, my Inconvenient Gap of Truth Post went a little crazy.
Okay, a lot crazy.
And yes, this seems like it would be a really great thing – and it is! I simply adore meeting new readers.
BUT.
Crazy takes maintenance. A LOT of maintenance.
For one, the crazy was so crazy that it crashed the server my blog was hosted on, then crashed the dedicated server that they moved me to, then crashed the doubled-in-size dedicated server, then crashed it again. And then two more times on Sunday.
(Needless to say, I wrote many a panicked email and tweet to my hosting company this weekend. And will probably switch hosts by the end of the week.)
Secondly, I am now entombed under a massive Mount McKinley of emails and comments to which I need to respond.
Thirdly, the crazy doesn’t seem to be waning much, which means that my burial is only going to continue to reach new depths. And I really don’t like to be behind, so I will be nervous over my lack of response until I get it done.
And finally, I’m pretty sure that Gap now has a restraining order against me.
So. Why do I tell you all of this?
Because I had to have some excuse for this sorry lack of a blog post.
And because I want you to know that my commitment still stands: I will answer every email and comment-with-a-question that I have received. But please be patient with me – it’s going to take a while, especially since I missed my kids like crazy this weekend and I will still only be using naptimes to somehow get all of this done.
But please know that I really do love getting to know all of you – just like I explained a couple of weeks ago, I blog for the relationships, remember each of you and think fond thoughts about you often, and I have met many of my close friends solely because of blogging.
So if you’re new around here, please feel free to introduce yourself in the comments below!
(Just be patient for my answer. I read everything in real time, but answering takes a bit more focus.)
And if you’re not at all new around here, please don’t run off or quit talking to me because it got a bit crowded. Just like a new restaurant, the shine will wear off and then it will be totally back to normal around here.
Because if there’s one thing I’m not, it’s shiny.
(Except on hot Alabama days.)
(Which means that I’m shiny about 80% of the year.)
Okay. I’m done here. And off to my email inbox.
Update: Thanks for bearing with me – my site has been going up and down all day, and was completely down around lunchtime for about an hour. It **seems** to be up now, but please let me know if you have any other trouble with it. I’m doing what I can to keep it afloat, but it hasn’t been easy. Thanks, y’all!
Guilty as charged. I was one of those unique visitors to your shiny new restaurant. I think on Thursday or Friday one of my FB friends posted your “long-butt” post, which I then reposted and I was hooked from there. I don’t have children but I absolutely love mommy blogs and I have to say yours has been the best and most entertaining. As a result, I kept coming back all weekend. I was trying to get through all of your recommended posts on the “welcome” post. I swear that “mommy tax” one was awesome. I even typed up a nice comment since you said you loved them and even put in a unique name. That’s the name I use when my runner friends and I create shirts for our races. But that’s just about when the crash occurred so I lost that comment. Anywho. Good luck in catching up. I would tell you not to worry about it but I have similar guilt in other areas…work out guilt, listening to all of my podcasts guilt, there better be a decent amount of used workout clothing in this hamper or else I didn’t work out enough this week guilt, I need to watch the backed up shows on my DVR guilt, the look on my cat and dog’s faces when I leave for work guilt…..you know, all of that first world problem guilt. Love the blog, keep it up!!!
Jae-Breezy
Yes, this is definitely a memorable name!! And you’re so right about all of the levels of guilt. They never end!
Thanks for saying hi, and welcome!
(Doesn’t comment so you don’t have more work to do…) :)
You’re cute. :)
I always like hearing from you. How is the UK during the Olympics? Business as usual or nutty?
Guilty of helping to crash your server(s)! I love your blog, you’ve been added to my list of must reads! I went through my whole closet and realized I need all.new.jeans! So while my butt thanks you my wallet (and my DH) do not, lol! I’m calling and making an appt with my personal Nordstroms shopper ASAP. I’m also brining your article with me for reference! No more mom jeans!
Thanks so much! And good luck with shopping – let me know how it goes!
Wow, now I feel so bad for enjoying reading your post the other day. I’m so sorry I am partly to blame for your stressful week end! I hope things have gotten better since you posted this!
I spent about half an hour after reading the Gap Jeans post exploring your amazing blog. It’s so interesting to me that you were homeschooled because I currently attend an online highschool. One more piece of evidence that homeschoolers can still turn out be amazing people!
Thanks for transforming me into a jean critic over night! I can’t wait to read more posts, but I think I’ll do you a favor and stay off for a couple days until things calm down. Please don’t feel like you need to respond my comment, I know you much too busy.
Don’t feel bad! It’s a good problem to have! It doesn’t make it any less stressful, but… still good!
And yes, I personally think homeschoolers can turn out great! ;)
Thanks for saying hi!
The internet needs your “Inconvenient Gap of Truth” post. Desperately. :-) I’m glad it went viral! Even if your server isn’t so glad. And your inbox. It’s not glad either. But we’re all glad. :-)
P.S. I just realized, thanks to you, that my current favorite pair of jeans have a “mom jean” butt and rise. Ack! I will hereby stop wearing them on dates and to church. Just around the house. I promise!
Thanks so much! I think I’ve gotten things stabilized – for now.
Congrats on the super-awesome response to your post! I really enjoyed it as well, but I don’t think I crashed your server(s) :)
Thanks! And nope – I hereby declare you totally innocent.
Congratulations! I knew you were super cool and now apparently so does everyone else this side of the Mississippi. Though the crashing is insane. It will improve, right?Good luck with it all!
Aw, thanks!
Yes, I have it stabilized for now. Hopefully it will stay that way!!
No need to reply, but I really liked the “Just like a new restaurant, the shine will wear off and then it will be totally back to normal around here.”
Hope you had fun in NYC!
Ha – thanks!
We did – had a great time! It was Chris’ first time to NYC, so he had that magical experience.
Um…I now no longer feel worthy to comment. Please don’t respond. : )
No, but, seriously, Rachel, this ROCKS!
You so deserve to be noticed, and I’m glad you did, despite the new level of overwhelmedness it introduced into your life.
Seriously, please don’t respond.
Just wanted to say CONGRATS!
Oh please whatever!! This is just how busy you are every day, right?? I’m pretending to be Abbie for a week. ;)
Love that people are checking out the “new” restaurant! Your blog always gives me a smile! Good luck with the catching up! =) (as I help bring down your server again). It was funny, I kept seeing your “Teach your 3 year old all of the US States” and the “Gap of Inconvenient Truth” posts being re-pinned and re-pinned on Pinterest and wondered if you were getting a lot of new traffic. Guess that would be a YES! =)
Thanks! Yes, it’s been insane around here. I’m sure it will get to where that insanity is fun, but it hasn’t been the past few days! But I think I’ve got my crashing issues ironed out, for now anyway!
I have so many viral rear-end jokes and so little time. I’m SO glad you got a-hang of this Pinterest thing, girl! You will be my new guru from now on! :)
*elbows newcomers and yells “I was here first!”*
I’m glad you got things all straightened out. Who would rid the world of long butt and mom jeans if your blog went down??? That could be catastrophic!
Hope you’re all rested from BlogHer.
Thanks!
No, I’m not rested yet – still trying desperately to get caught up and things just keep multiplying. Hopefully soon, though!!
HOLY CRAP! that’s outta control. you are so sweet to want to keep up with your follow-up comments. i’ll be nice and not ask a question. i’ll just say that you are very dedicated and maybe a little OCD ;)
OCD – Yes, there’s that. :)
I can’t help it – I can’t stand the thought of making someone think I’m snobby. I like getting to know my readers!
LOL Well I just visited by way of the Gap post today and I’m now considering how the heck to achieve a butt intervention without dropping $50. However if I have in any way contributed to the crazy I apologize…but only long enough to add your RSS to my reader. :-p
Oh no worries! I’m all caught up now. After I wrote that I was afraid I’d scare off new readers. I love meeting new people, so feel free to stick around and comment anytime!