A Real Blogger

If you’ve been around for a while, you may have noticed my recent revamp. And the fact that I’m now posting about 5 times more often than I was. With all the time I’ve got on my hands these days, blogging has become something I can happily devote my time and energy to. I’ve been blogging in various forms for nearly 10 years. It’s something I’ve loved for a long time and I’m glad that I finally have a chance to do it the way I’ve always wanted to.

I still have some more tinkering to do and a possible additional redesign, but I’m feeling pretty good about things for now. Getting my blogging act together was the first step, but there’s more to it. No, it’s not just about posting adorable pictures for grandmas. (Hmm, why don’t we insert an adorable picture for those dear grandmas, shall we?)

I have some amazing blog role models that I actually know in real life. There is Ash, who has managed to make 3 astonishingly cute boys in a row. And there’s Allison, the creator of a snazzy decor blog. It’s not surprising that they have lots of comments and readers because they each have a signature style and humor.

Then there are loads of blog role models that I don’t know in person but that I know vicariously by following them. (Many are in my “Who I Follow” set of links.) What really attracts me to a blog is not just a unique voice, but a sense of honesty. It is easy, especially when blogging about adorable squeezable babies, to have your blog turn into a love-in, all sweetness and light and cute pictures. It is easy not to write about the screaming and the spit-up. But to me, a good blog is one that isn’t afraid to admit that parenting is not always a joy. They don’t seek to impress but to relate and that can mean a lot when you’re stuck with your kid and wondering if you’re losing your mind.

Lately this has been even more on my mind. We still don’t know exactly what’s wrong with Graham. (Hopefully we’ll find out this week.) It’s a sucky thing to deal with and it means a lot to me to have blogs out there (like Amalah and Flotsam and Bird on the Street) where parents have not just dealt with problems but written about them over a long period of time. Their problems may not be the same as ours but it helps to make parenting feel less like a solo venture.

Part of my venture out into the world of Real Blogging was joining the Boston Parent Bloggers. A significant part of Real Blogging doesn’t involve your keyboard at all, but means going out to hang with other bloggers. Last night was my first event with other Bostonians at The Melting Pot in Framingham. Back in my college days, The Melting Pot was the fancy fondue restaurants guys took girls to when they were trying to impress them. (I suppose it’s unsurprising that I only went there once. Guys never tried hard to impress me back in the day.) It is much the same as I remembered, still fancy and tasty. If you have never been and you’re looking for a good place for a special night, they’re an excellent choice. A whole gaggle of us bloggers showed up to taste and to talk.

Like a good blogger, I took out my camera and snapped a couple shots.

Any restaurant that serves giant pots of cheese is a place I can really get behind.

I gravitated towards the Original chocolate fondue, with a welcome burst of peanut butter. My biggest concern is figuring out how I can get back given that I’m married to a guy with some bizarre genetic mutation that means he doesn’t like chocolate. I figure he’ll eat most of the goodies set out for dipping, though. And given our mutual love of queso, I’m betting he will happily join me in destroying a pot of the Fiesta Cheese.

There was loads of good company on top of the food, and that’s what I was really in it for. Given that the infuriating snow (which we will not talk about more than is necessary to keep my head from exploding) cancelled most of my plans for the week I was thrilled to get a chance to chat.

Here is our group, shot courtesy of Drew at BenSpark. I am hard to miss since I seem to be the only one who choose Hot Pink as their color for the evening.

You can tell that I am not one of those fancy photography blogs if you compare Ben’s fancy shot of the layout with my early attempts.

I don’t mind my subpar photo skills, I’m just glad my butt looks decent in panorama mode.

Now I have a bunch of new friends, a bunch of new links (see the new set in the sidebar?) and a bunch of new twitter folks to follow.

Don’t worry, deep down I’m still the same blog.

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• In Praise of Internet Friends
• Why I’m Not an LSAT Blogger
• Brilliant Brunch at the Bristol Lounge