A few days ago, I was Twittering from the Emergency Room with my daughter. While it was scary at the moment, the ER docs treated her immediately and everything was eventually fine.

In the meantime, praying and tweeting was all I could do as I held my daughter’s hand while she lay half-asleep and swollen on the hospital bed. People I know intimately in real life, and those I don’t even know their real names, sent comforting sms and tweets of encouragement. It was a Godsend.

I’ve always touted the value of online communities and social networks and the real life benefit they can bring. But now it is official.

I’m one of “those” people.

If you knit, crochet, or spin you have almost certainly dreamed of owning your very own flock of sheep or goats. Unfortunately, living in the City (or even the suburbs) makes it very hard to get in touch with your inner Little Bo Peep. What’s a would-be shepherdess to do?

The Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm Yarn CSA can make your dream a reality! You can purchase a share of our Spring 2009 clip and we’ll take care of all the tedious details (like trimming hoofs, feeding during snowstorms and cleaning all the poopy hay out of the barn.)

Zoe: Dad, I’m throwing a party tonight, so you’ll have to stay in your room. Don’t worry, though—one of my friends brought over his father for you to play with. His name is Comptroller Brooks and he’s roughly your age, so I’m sure you’ll have lots in common. I’ll come check on you in a couple of hours. (Leaves.)

Comptroller Brooks: Hello.

Mr. Higgins: Hello.

Comptroller Brooks: So . . . um . . . do you follow city politics?

Mr. Higgins: Not really.

Comptroller Brooks: Oh.

(Long pause.)

(Zoe returns.)

Zoe: I forgot to tell you—I told my friends you two would perform for them after dinner. I’ll come get you when it’s time. (Leaves.)

Comptroller Brooks: Oh, God, what are we going to do?

Mr. Higgins: I know a dance . . . but it’s pretty humiliating.

Comptroller Brooks: Just teach it to me.

This article has been making the rounds on Unschooling lists, as it illustrates the importance of honoring the individuality of each child. Put in this light, anything else is just ridiculous.

Last week, an acquaintance made the “helpful” suggestion that I use her son as a type of peer pressure to coerce my 4 year old into changing his opinion about the validity of daily, afternoon naps.

“It worked for my son. That’s how he was potty trained. Peer pressure — it’s how the world works! (Lots of Laughter)

Whenever I have a problem, I just ask him, ‘What are the other kids doing?’

See, you have to do it too!” (Big smile)

Needless to say, I was mortified.

My mind spun ahead ten years and imagined my now teenage son saying to me,

“But Mom, Johnny was doing ______ (fill in with the parenting nightmare of your choice)! Remember you told me I should do whatever the rest of the kids are doing?”

Still terrified by the scene that had flashed before my eyes, I gave her a weak, obligatory smile and backed away slowly. When she turned to continue on her way, I ran.

If you were like me, and did not attend BlogHer ‘08, you spent four days last week looking just like this. And for good reason.

But don’t let the sour puss on the Keynote Speaker fool ya’, BlogHer ‘08 was amazing!

As a New York Times Fashion & Style writer describes it:

“The stalls on the second floor were lined with note cards featuring nurturing messages like “You are perfect.” Nearby, women were being dusted with blush and eye shadow, or having the kinks in their necks massaged.”

See? Told ya’! If it’s in Fashion & Style, it had to be good!

“Last weekend, about a thousand bloggers, almost all without the Y chromosome, attended the annual BlogHer conference, which began in 2005 to help female bloggers gain exposure. It has since evolved into a corporate-sponsored Oprah-inflected version of a ’60s consciousness-raising group.”

Clearly I missed out. But not as much as those who did not follow the Tweets and Blog entries that appeared during the conference. I followed several bloggers who microblogged on the scene and updated their blogs nightly, sharing a combination of light-hearted fun and savvy business tips.

I am offended that BlogHer was featured in the New York Times Fashion & Style section and not in Business or Technology. I find it blatantly condescending and undermining to the professionalism of the women who took time away from their families and day jobs, to gather with other tech savvy, multidimensional women, for a fresh exchange of ideas and information.

That’s what I believe I missed out on. Not a multilevel marketing cosmetic party with great door prizes.

Check out the rest of The New York Times’ review of BlogHer ‘08 here and then hop on over to this page to check out the BlogHer schedule for the rest of the year.

If you’re lucky, the BlogHer Reach Out Tour will make a stop in a town near you.

If we’re all lucky, media coverage for the rest of BlogHer’s calender will highlight the cute shoes and the wealth of information that is exchanged when bloggers (male or female) gather together.

BlogHer 08 - Heather Armstrong - Closing Keynote
Originally uploaded by hyku

Yes it was yesterday, so this is a day late. But I have an excuse. I was busy.

6 Random Facts About Me:

1. I don’t have a tattoo, nor have I ever wanted one.
2. I’ve never felt more beautiful than when I was pregnant. I always wanted to have a bellycast or a nude portrait taken in my final trimester, but the unfortunate ex-husband did not approve
3. I’ve wasted enough time and opportunities trying to please other people, that everyone reading this blog is hereby and forevermore relieved of the same unGodly burden. So let it be written, so let it be done. No really, print this out, put it in your wallet — it’s your official pass.
4. The name Wabi Sabi Me came to me while at Church. I only had a vague understanding of its meaning and had to look it up when I got home.
5. The saddest days of my life: the two weeks my son spent in intensive care.
6. The happiest days of my life: my wedding day, my son’s memorial service, the day my divorce was finalized. I know. Go figure.

Enjoy more Random Fact About Me goodies from the Twitterverse at.

Tattoos and Pregnancy are beautiful
Originally uploaded by Bonnie Dickson

Thanks to an abundance of farmers markets in our new home town and our own little piece of earth, my children will not have to war with their vegetables. We can finally turn our (light)sabers into plowshares and use our peelings. May the Farm be with you.

Wednesday, July 2nd was move-in day, and our new home town greeted us with a spectacular sunset, casting an amazing orange-pink glow. I’ve never seen anything like it, beautiful and eerie, all at the same time. Our “warm welcome” was the result of the Gap Fire that had just started to burn about an hour before our arrival.

There were power outages throughout the evening, but we managed to get moved in with the help of neighbors and several flashlights. Upon waking the next day, everything was covered in ashes and the fire continued to burn.

Tonight is the first night that we haven’t lost power, and it appears as if the flames are moving away from the populated areas. There are reports that those who had evacuated are being allowed to return to their homes.

Meanwhile, we continue to unpack and sweep up ashes. It is amazing how the ash sneaks through the shutters, the screens and into unexpected places…

2008 Jul 03 Gap Fire 2 Originally uploaded by Shooting Star Photos