She Speaks ’08

29 January 2008 by

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In a decision she’s sure to question a thousand times over once she realizes THE FULL EXTENT OF OUR CRAZY, sweet Lysa TerKeurst from Proverbs 31 Ministries has graciously asked Shannon, Melanie and me to lead a couple of sessions on blogging at this summer’s She Speaks conference in Concord, North Carolina.

(And can I just tell you? Lysa has to be the most encouraging person I’ve ever met in my life. Because every single time I hang up the phone after talking to her, I am ready to climb a mountain or compete in some sort of race.)

(That is saying something, my friends.)

Anyway, Big, Rocks and I don’t have everything set in stone just yet, but I believe that one of our sessions is going to be called Shannon Makes Many Good Points While The Other Two Talk Incessantly About Sarah Jessica Parker’s Hair.

The second session is probably going to be Shannon Shares Valuable Information And Insight While The Other Two Hide Under The Table And Whimper.

It’s going to be fabulous!

And seriously, we actually do have something resembling a plan, a plan that requires all three of us to PAR-TIC-I-PATE and talk out loud and stuff. You can read all about what we have up our sleeves – as well as all the other sessions that are being led by people who actually write books and speak in front of large groups and things – right here.

I’ve never been to a conference like this one, but it sounds phenomenal. I know there are a lot of you out there who have ideas for books because YOU ARE LEGITIMATE WRITERS, UNLIKE YOURS TRULY, and She Speaks provides an opportunity for you to receive valuable feedback from peer critiques, sit down with publishers (FACE TO FACE AND EVERYTHING) and get great advice from published writers.

And in addition to the writing track, there’s a speaking track, a women’s ministry track, and a next generation track. You can get info about each of those tracks here (look in the left sidebar for specifics).

There’s also an opportunity for you to earn a scholarship to attend the conference if you (like me) are not exactly in a season of life where you have big piles of cash money for things like conferences and traveling hither and yon across these continental United States. In fact, there’s a scholarship contest going on right now at Lysa’s blog.

I KNOW!

I really do hope that some of you internets will join us at She Speaks. Just think – we could drink diet Coke IN PERSON! Not that that’s necessarily an incentive for you to travel across the country, of course, but Mel, Shannon and I would absolutely love to have some bloggy buddies there with us.

Crazy loves company, you know.

Oh yes ma’am it does.

Filed Under: Bloggity Fun

I Do Hope You’ll Pardon Me While I Have A Nervous Breakdown

28 January 2008 by

Apparently I leave for Uganda in less than two weeks.

I am feeling a smidge overwhelmed.

And by “smidge,” of course, I mean that I am mere moments away from getting back in the bed, pulling the covers over my head, and staying there until at least Thursday.

I had this coming, you know. I’ve been all calm and rational and level-headed about the trip. I’ve said things like, “Oh, I just know all the details will work out” and “I’m not going to stress about what to pack” and “I’m sure I’ll be able to figure out what adapters and cords and converters and blah blah blah I need – it’ll all be FINE.”

Then, about 3 o’clock this morning, I heard Alex crying in his room, and when I went in there he told me that he had a dream that I left him and he couldn’t find me and “IT MADE ME VERY SAD, MAMA! WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME?”

And I thought, “Oh, you don’t know the half of it, because in a little over a week I’m going to VOLUNTARILY LEAVE YOU FOR EIGHT DAYS.”

Then I buried my face in his hair and inhaled for a full ten seconds.

So in the interest of releasing the anxiety, casting all my cares upon Jesus as well as the internets, and trying to GRAB HOLD OF THE REINS, ALREADY, I would like to share my concerns / prayer requests / SUDDEN, MIND-NUMBING, CRIPPLING FEARS with you.

They are as follows:

1. Separation Anxiety

HOW CAN I LEAVE MY BABY FOR EIGHT DAYS? I mean, I know I can. But as I just told the husband, I really think it would be better for everyone if I could somehow temporarily shrink the four year-old, put him in my pocket, and hold his sweet little hand the whole way to Africa. And back again.

This makes perfect sense to me.

2. Sleeping (or lack thereof)

I have been concerned for a few weeks about how well I’ll sleep while I’m away. That concern has now elevated to something akin to full-on panic. So I’m definitely calling my doctor this afternoon and getting a prescription for something to help with that.

I’ll leave out the part about how it makes me a little nervous to take something for sleeping because what if I fall so asleep on the plane that no one can rouse me from my coma-like state and I miss a connecting flight and before you know it I’m landing in Hong Kong and it’s just like that episode of Alias where Sidney Bristow wakes up and boom! it’s four years later and my baby is eight years old and CLEARLY THIS WOULD BE QUITE TERRIBLE.

I’m incredibly rational when panicked, as you can tell.

3. Words

Bottom line: I’m scared of writer’s block.

Or “writer’s” block.

Whatever.

I’m scared that the words won’t come. I’m scared that I’ll sit down to write about all the things I’ve seen and heard and felt, and all that will come to mind is, “Hey, does anyone know the score for the State game?”

Because as y’all know, I can write post after post about Walmart, fried chicken, television and basketball. But I struggle when it comes to articulating my feelings about The Big Stuff. And I’m going to be surrounded by The Big Stuff while we’re there.

So.

If any of these things come to mind over the next couple of weeks, I would really appreciate your prayers.

And I’m going to go cook something now.

Because if I can’t get back in the bed and stay there, then I guess I might as well fix something good for supper.

Something like fried catfish covered in fried onion rings topped off with fried dill pickles.

With a hearty dollop of Ranch dressing.

I’m think I’m feeling better already.

Filed Under: Africa, Compassion

Please Join Us As We Continue To Live On The Edge

25 January 2008 by

There was a period of my life – back in my early twenty-something days – when the arrival of the weekend signaled the beginning of all sorts of activities. There were movies to see, bands to hear and parties to attend, and at these things called parties people would wear festive clothing and celebrate festive occasions like engagements and weddings and birthdays, not to mention the fact that hey! it is the weekend! and we are young! and it is time to enjoy ourselves! by participating in all the festiveness!

But now? On a Friday night? Nothing makes me happier to be in my pajamas by sundown. With some delicious take-out food by my side, an ice cold diet Coke on the coffee table and the DVR remote in my hand.

The times, they have a-changed.

The little man actually has a birthday party for a couple of his friends this afternoon, so I may not achieve my goal of pajamas-by-5. But I can’t even tell you how happy it makes me to announce that, aside from this afternoon’s birthday party and our usual Sunday morning routine, we do not have a single bloomin’ thing on our agenda this weekend. No special events, no commitments, no deadlines, no errands.

We’re just going to be AT HOME, and I for one could not be more excited. Especially because I just realized that this comes on CBS tonight, and OHMYWORD, I JUST ADORE HIM.

And also because there’s a State / Ole Miss basketball game tomorrow afternoon at 4, and I have big plans to sit (or stand. or pace. or vacuum. whatever it takes.) right here and watch the game on TV and scream “COME ON NOW, SON” and call my sister 74 times in the first half alone and maybe even ring my cowbell.

While eating chips and queso, of course.

So while this weekend won’t look even remotely like my twenty-something ideal, it’ll be quite festive just the same.

Because I’ll be in my house. With my people. Wearing my pj’s. Watching all manner of quality television programming.

And that’s some serious thirty-something perfection, my friends.

Hope y’all have a great weekend!

Filed Under: Rambling

We Are Also Planning To Sing Several Medleys

24 January 2008 by

In an absolutely startling turn of bloggy events, Big Mama and I have somehow managed to convince the one and only Travis Cottrell to join us on our next podcast as Special Guest Star / Resident American Idol Expert.

We’re hoping this arrangement will last throughout the current AI season. Or until Travis gets completely sick of us. Whichever comes first.

My money’s on that second option, by the way.

Anyway, as we’ve been bandying about topics for next week’s podcast, it occurred to us – BECUZ WE IZ SMARTS – that there’s really not that much AI action to discuss right now. So Big Mama and I thought that it might be fun to ask Travis some questions from the internets, and so that, THAT IS OUR PLAN.

So. We have An Elaborate Question-Asking Procedure, a procedure we decided on because we don’t want the questions in our comments, because then Travis might read the questions ahead of time so that he can “prepare,” and HELLO, THAT IS CHEATING, MR. SINGER / SONGWRITER / WORSHIP LEADER MAN, BECAUSE THERE ARE NO “REHEARSALS” IN PODCAST LAND.

(I totally just rhymed that all-caps part, by the way. Perhaps Travis would like to use that portion of the previous paragraph in some sort of worshipful anthem. Preferably something that would be used during an altar call.)

Anyway, if you have a question for Travis, would you email Big Mama or me and let us know? If the Email Me link in the left sidebar doesn’t work for you and you don’t know my email address, then just leave a comment saying, “HELLO, BOOMAMA PERSON, I WANT TO EMAIL YOU BUT DON’T KNOW HOW,” and then I will email you to find out your question.

And it will be an absolutely delightful experience.

And we thank you in advance for your questions.

Now do have a lovely evening.

Filed Under: Rambling

A Valentine’s Jewelry Giveaway

23 January 2008 by

Erica from Bonbon Charms contacted me a few days ago to see if I’d be interested in doing a giveaway with her Valentine’s charms. And because I absolutely love her jewelry and had such a blast doing the giveaway back in December, I said something very refined and elegant like “OKAY!”

And like magic, a new giveaway was born.

This one will work much like the last one:

1. Click over to Bonbon Charms.
2. Look at all the great Valentine’s charms.
3. Come back here and leave a comment telling me which one you like best.

I’ll close comments on Monday, January 28 and then use random.org to draw for three lucky winners who will receive the charm of his or her choice.

And here’s something that I think is way cool. If you see a piece of jewelry you love at Bonbon Charms and wish your sweetie knew about it for Valentine’s Day, you can fill out the contact form, tell Erica exactly what you like and who needs to know about it, and she’ll email that person with a gift suggestion.

Because sometimes the menfolk need a little gift-giving assistance, oh God love ’em.

Finally, if you can’t wait even one second to order something before I draw for the winners, you can use the coupon code BOOMAMA through February 14th and receive a 20% discount off your order.

I think that is quite sassy.

Enjoy, y’all!

This giveaway is now closed.

Filed Under: Bloggity Fun

I Am Easily Amused

23 January 2008 by

All righty, internets.

Since I have absolutely NOTHING to write about except for the fact that my husband is suffering from a man cold (hello, congested husband-of-mine! Happy Birthday! Alex and I are going to wrap up some decongestants for you right after we finishing making you a cake from cough drops!), I thought I’d elaborate on a topic Big Mama and I discussed in our last podcast and share a little of my search engine term joy with you.

And for those of you who have asked how I can tell what terms people are using to find my blog, it’s all because of the handy little WordPress blog stats plug-in. It tracks all the terms and keeps them in a lovely little list that’s organized by date. The actual search engine isn’t specified – so there’s no way to know if the search came from Google or Yahoo or MSN or wherever – but when you’re dealing with this kind of humor, who cares?

After all, this is some serious interweb treasure.

boomama, all.the. talking
boomama, the talking, talking
boomama, always talking

I think I should probably be offended.

I mean, I know brevity is not my gift, but still.

After all, I am quiet for SEVERAL WHOLE MINUTES a day.

is it okay to use cream cheese from may

I’m going to go out on a limb and say no. Because that would mean your cream cheese is about eight months old.

And really, when you’re dealing with processed dairy items, you can never be too careful.

I are test you for internets. (OH NOSE)

Come again? (OH EYES)

don’t y’all love paula

You know, I do love her. To pieces. I just love her to pieces.

bangs scrunchies tight-roll jeans

No.

Just say no.

listen to Cici Winans

OKAY!

a picture of santa under a tree

Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of Santa under a tree.

However, I do have this.

You’re welcome.

Can Ash Wednesday be shifted?

You know, I think you’ll probably have to take up that particular question with God.

I’m sure He’ll be absolutely delighted to hear from you.

how long is bacon fat good for?

I have no idea, but judging from this question, I think you and I may be related.

I have medium blonde hair. I colored it

ME, TOO!

You’re going to be right at home here.

sneakers you going to feel pain

I’m certain that sneakers across the world just cowered in fear.

And they probably made a phone call to their tough and rugged boot friends.

Consider yourself warned, trash talker.

Consider yourself warned.

rap for my friend Brianna

Well.

Um.

Okay.

If you insist.

This rap is for Brianna, and I’m here to say
That rap is not my thang on the best of days.
Plus Brianna is a stranger and I think you know
That it’s hard to kick it freestyle so I guess I’ll go
And eat some more fried chicken, drink a diet Coke.
‘Cause you know I love some food and that ain’t no joke.
Yo, Brianna. Yo yo, Brianna.
Yo, Brianna. Yo yo, Brianna.
Never change.

Word.

Filed Under: Rambling
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