Are We in the Last Days of Blogging?

In a long ago and hazy past I made my living typing. I wasn't an especially fast typist, but I was accurate and it really did give me a foot in the door when jobs were tough to get. One skill I did possess was changing typewriter ribbons. I could change a ribbon -- black and red type -- in two minutes and not get a smudge on my hands. It was one of my best skills and it served me well. Little did I dream that someday that wouldn't be a skill and there would be few typewriters in existence outside of museums.

I was reminded of my obsolete skill during my reflections about BlogHer. Though I wrote about the fun aspects, the weekend wasn't just dance parties and delicious snacks. There was a lot of tech discussion and at a number of points the topic turned to the future of blogging. Actually, the topic wasn't the future of blogging, but the lack of a future for blogging. The question that was posed was "Is blogging dead?"

Blogging is alive and well in Buttercupland, but even in the small universe of my blog buddies I see some dimming of the stars. A number of my blog buddies are Facebook friends, too, and that's fortunate, because many of them have stopped blogging. Several weeks ago we had a great chat on Facebook -- not on a blog -- about keeping up both a blog and Facebook. For some people it's even more complex if Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest are added to the mix. It's easy to run out of steam and interest when there's so much going on in the social media realm.

I keep blogging because I like it. I like the feeling of sitting down with a blank computer screen and ending up with a post. It's not so different from the days when I changed typewriter ribbons for a living and loved sitting down with a blank piece of paper and seeing the page become filled with my thoughts. Why do you keep blogging? Inquiring minds want to know.

I'm getting back into the home schedule. I started physical therapy this morning for a stiff shoulder and later went to the bank and drugstore. I also bought two summer shirts marked way, way down because in Retail Land summer is over. Considering the forecast for tomorrow is 82 degrees I think I'll get some use out of them. They're both hot pink, my other favorite color next to turquoise.

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care!   

Take Your Family to Sonic Giveaway

I was all set to do a post called, "Back to Real Life." But as soon as I wrote the title on the little pad at the side of my computer I realized I didn't want to go back to real life, at least not yet. I want to stay in my BlogHer14 cocoon, enjoying a hotel and clean towels I don't have to wash. Real life will be here soon enough -- Thursday morning at my dental appointment -- but for a little while longer let's stay in BlogHer land.

One of the sponsors at BlogHer14 was Sonic, the place to get some of the most fun food in America. There aren't any Sonic stops in New York City and I had never had a Sonic Slush until last week. It was a tough choice, but I went with the Cotton Candy. I liked it a lot, and it was fun and refreshing. I'm sorry that I didn't try the green apple, too, and that I forgot to ask for Nerds candy in my slush. I did discover that there are Sonics in New Jersey and I may need to make a trip across the river very soon to get the Green Apple or the maybe the grape Slush. It's a tough decision.

Thanks to my new buddy, Madison, at Sonic, I am able to share BlogHer and Slushes with four bloggers. I am giving away four sets of four coupons for medium Slushes at Sonic. Yes, four times four! Treat your husband, your kids, your grandkids, friends and bloggers to Slushes.

Leave a comment with your favorite Slush flavor, and please be a citizen of Buttercupland on Google+, Bloglovin or Google Reader. It's quick and easy and you may be one of the lucky four to win a family night at Sonic and wouldn't that be fun! Please make sure I have a way to reach you, either on your blog or an email address. The giveaway starts now and closes next Wednesday, August 6. I will announce the winners on Thursday, August 7.  

Back to real life...and I'm off to the grocery.

As always, thanks for visiting and take good care.  

Turquoise is the New Black and Other Lessons I Learned at #BlogHer14

As I was packing up yesterday morning -- Was it only yesterday morning? -- I made a list of things I learned during my 48-hours at BlogHer14. Between my day in San Jose, the red-eye flight that has me spinning time zones and coming home I have misplaced the list. But I don't need a list for the things that really stand out. In no particular order...

1a) Black has been my wardrobe basic forever, and it will probably stay my wardrobe basic. But in a lighter moment of shopping I bought a turquoise shirt and brought it to BlogHer. It's not quite my new black, but I really like it. I also have turquoise toes, which have been fun, too. Seeing myself in a bright color has opened up a new world of looking at color and not simply turning to black. I'm also wearing white pants with my turquoise shirt, however unseen in this picture. I haven't worn white pants since Lyndon Johnson was President and I was surprised at how much fun it was to be in fun and light colors.

1b) Also on the topic of clothes...I thought I packed light, but I came home with three outfits that weren't worn. Of course the trip was cut short by a day, but once again, I overpacked.

2a) I love a dancing evening, even if I'm not dancing a lot. I don't think I'll be going to clubs very much -- at all! -- but the party with Rev Run was so much fun. I'm sparing you the photograph -- a selfie -- where my hair is flying in a hundred directions and my glasses are tilted. I look like I've had way too much sangria.

2b) My arms are too short to take a good selfie. I may be permanently retiring from selfies after this #Selfiebration.

3) I loved meeting people I'd only seen on television. David Tutera was an especial favorite. He couldn't have been nicer and was even cuter in person than on TV.

Enjoyed hearing from Arianna Huffington, too. She is on the right, autographing her new book.  

4) I like meeting people, but that's no surprise. I met some great bloggers and definitely have made a new friend. 

5) I haven't taken a red eye -- overnight -- flight in over twenty years and now I remember why.

Regrets? I'll quote Frank Sinatra here. "I've got a few, but then again too few to mention." Except for one...

In 2011I met Scrubby, the mascot of Scrubbing Bubbles, one of my favorite products. I was so excited to learn that S.C. Johnson, the company that makes Scrubbing Bubbles would be at BlogHer14 and I could get to see Scrubby again. Alas, Scrubby had another commitment and that was a disappointment. The Scrubbling Bubbles folks were so nice, but I did miss seeing my pal, Scrubby. 

Is it any surprise I lost my heart to Scrubby in 2011.

But I found a new sweet someone, my buddy, PediaCare Bear. 

There were moments during the weekend where I questioned why I was there. The travel was rough this year and expensive and I wasn't sure it was all worth it. On reflection, it was worth it and then some. I got great advice, whether it was about sunscreen, thanks to Merz Aesthetics, one of the sponsors or about blogging, San Jose or any one of a number of topics. I made a friend and a hundred memories. And I've got a few fun giveaways to share with some of my favorite people, the citizens of Buttercupland. 

6) Here's to BlogHer15, wherever we may be!

As ever thanks for visiting. Take care and have a terrific Tuesday. 

Having a Great Time...

...wish you were here!

I had forgotten all that gets packed into one day at BlogHer, and yesterday was no exception. I heard the comedian Tig Notaro, went to a champagne reception and thanks to one of our sponsors, Canadian Lentils, had a room service cupcake delivery. What a sweet surprise. 

There were fun times in the Sponsor Exhibition Hall, too. I met and chatted with Denise Boutte at the Hairfinity booth, who couldn't have been nicer. I had my first Sonic Slushie -- Cotton candy -- and chatted about several giveaways to come. 

But by far my favorite part was meeting wonderful bloggers from all over the country. St. Louis, Los Angeles, Portland and San Jose were just a few of the places where my new buddies live. 

Today there are presentations by Arianna Huffington and Kerry Washington. There will be more time in the Exhibition Hall and I plan to attend two sessions that look interesting, including an afternoon with other baby boomer bloggers. There will be cupcakes and there will be tweets. But the best part will be continuing to spend time with blogger buddies and the discovery of a kindred spirit or two.

Meeting Denise Boutte, who is as nice as she is beautiful.

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. Lots of hugs from your BlogHer correspondent.

Not on the Way to San Jose

My flight to Blogher '14 was scheduled for 6:29 tonight. I was going to leave for the airport around three and was I was feeling reasonably organized. I'd figured out what to pack and was ninety per cent packed. I'd sorted toiletries, taken out the trash and cancelled the newspaper. I still had to sort out my tote bag and take a shower. Not bad, with two hours until I needed to leave for the airport. I decided to check in to my flight online and when I did, I found the ominous note, "Your flight is cancelled."

I shed a few tears for a few minutes while I was on hold to speak to someone at JetBlue. There were severe weather warnings -- I can hear the thunder now -- and if I hadn't checked the status I would have gotten an email ten minutes later. Luckily I called before the notification went out and got a seat going via Boston tomorrow afternoon. I had a direct flight, with an aisle seat today, and tomorrow I first fly east to change planes to fly west, but I am still scheduled to be in San Jose for BlogHer '14. I will miss the Sangria reception, the panel on maternal health around the world which sounded so interesting and the opening night festivities. But in light of all that is going on with flying and cancelled flights I am grateful to have a scheduled flight one day later. I couldn't help but smile when I thought of my post yesterday and learning to go where the wind takes me, literally.

One thing I hadn't accomplished was getting a manicure. My plan was to get one in San Jose tomorrow morning, but since there won't be a tomorrow morning in San Jose I walked over to the nearest nail salon. Generally I choose one of the colors on the far right for my fingernails, but being open to change I had my nails painted light blue, something I have never done before. I'm not sure I'll do it again, but they do look nice and it is a fun change.

Our incomparable blogger buddy, Marie of "The English Kitchen" has been nominated as a finalist in a recipe contest at The Tuscany Now blog. This link will take you directly to the page and with one quick click, you can help our friend win a trip to Tuscany. You will also find great recipes. Marie's recipe is "The English Kitchen Pasta Dish." In truth in journalism I haven't made this dish, but I have made other recipes that Marie has featured on her blog and they are the best. The best! I'd suggest you vote early and often, but in this case just one vote per person.

Here's hoping for sunny skies tomorrow and good weather for flying. I'll do a very quick post when I arrive in San Jose, scheduled for 9:19 p.m. Pacific time.

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. To sunny skies, literally and figuratively. 

California, Here I Come, Again

In 2011 I used the same blog post title, minus the word "Again" to write about my first time attending BlogHer. BlogHer11 was in San Diego and this year we will be in San Jose. Now I am a veteran -- this will be my fourth conference -- and I am going back to California. I've got my business cards ready, with my twitter handle on them this time @buttercup10024. I've already downloaded the app for my phone and I'm figuring out what to pack. My thought is comfortable, but cute. If this year follows tradition there will be a lot of picture taking.

One of the speakers is Kerry Washington and I am excited to hear her. But I've found what draws me back is the recharge I get for blogging. It's been hard to get back into the swing of blogging. I've been away. The weather is nice and I am not as interested in sitting in front of a computer when I can be out and about. I should be exercising, decluttering, working on a novel, etc. All those thoughts fade away when I enter the world of BlogHer.

I also love the fun stuff. Meeting some of my favorite celebrities....

Love my buddy, the Doughboy... (2013)

...and my buddy, the Lorax. (2012)

I enjoy meeting bloggers I might not otherwise have the opportunity to meet in BlogLand and at this point also look forward to seeing familiar faces. There are moments I do get overwhelmed. Sometimes the discussion is running a little fast and I feel that my little blog doesn't have a place with all the talk of sponsors, monetization and syndication. But I take a breath and remember that the race is not always given to the swift. I also remember why I continue to blog, both for the pleasure of writing and for the great friends I've met.

Please let me know if any of the Citizens of Buttercupland will be in San Jose next week. I'd love to meet you!

On the home front...I'm totally unpacked and I'm even doing a little decluttering. I shredded some papers from the trip and filed others away. One of my goals is not to be overwhelmed by things I bring back from BookExpo, vacation and BlogHer and this week is the time to catch up. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care!