I can’t quite believe it is the final day here at Five for Ten. Excuse me if I run long today, my heart is full. Very full. My heart runneth over with worry and fear and joy and expression and memory on most days, but today it is filled with lasting amounts of honesty and love. Honest love.
The draft of the very first Five for Ten post – the introduction to our adventure – sat on my laptop waiting for a little bit of bravery. I finished typing it up and went to the couch for a Friday night movie with my doting husband. (Yes, in between mocking me and giving me tech tips, he dotes.) I checked back in to my computer during a movie break and got the green light from Jen. DO IT, she wrote. Wait. Let me find that email, just because sharing is fun.
On Nov 13, 2009, at 9:26 PM, Sarah wrote:
If you happen to pop on the computer while I’m watching Julie and Julia go read my draft would you? Am I nuts? I kind of think I’m nuts.
Anyway. It’s called Five for Ten.
If not, and I already posted it….then oh well, right?
I’ll just tweet the hell outta it and try to build this community. Maybe 10 days is tooooo long though? Oh god, I DON’T KNOW.
On Nov 13, 2009, at 9:40 PM, Jen wrote:
I read it.
Now Post it.
(I fixed a few typos.)
GO
GO
GO
GO
and get the damn t-shirts made
b/c you’ve shown our hand, my lady.
So I posted it. And you responded. And I rejoiced. I wasn’t crazy, darn it! I was, indeed, on the right track. Because we all want someone to give us a chance, don’t we? We blog because we think we have something to say, or we need to work something through, or we like to play with words. No matter the reasons, I know that we all feel a bubble of joy each time a comment rolls through. And we imagine each person who’s reading our words. And we may feel like we just spilled our beans over a cup of coffee with them.
I created Five for Ten because I had come to the conclusion that I didn’t want to be the only one spilling. Nor did I want to feel like if I wrote one silly post, one quick post, or one sad post the people who clicked on our link that day would never come back. It takes some time to get to know a person. The web of the internet is thick and far-reaching. And we all move so quickly, deciding in a fraction of a minute what we like and what we don’t. We don’t even have to feel badly about not giving some one or some thing a chance, because in another click or two we’ll find another site to judge.
So what happens when you commit to one place and make that your hub for a little more than a minute? For five minutes? When you take the time to read through a post despite what the design of the website is saying to you, or the title of the blog, or the picture of the author? What happens when you take five MORE minutes to read the other comments on that blog? What happens if you begin to define your perception of new bloggers through these comments and not first by their blogs you may have otherwise clicked away from? And what happens when you commit to this for ten days?
You build a community.
Jen and I have spent more time in the comments section of Momalom than on any other single site over the last ten days. We have remarked on the generosity of a small group of readers to give us this chance. We have discovered new blogs. We have forged new relationships. We have watched and read emails and blog posts and comments all day long for ten days in a row. My mind is swimming with all I have heard and read from you all. You’ve taken on our issues. Life’s issues. Love and sorrow and happiness. Motherhood. Messy houses. Weekend getaways. Children. Meaning. Being present. You’ve been oh so very present.
The daily task of donating five minutes for five minutes was, while challenging at times (ahem: six kid weekend), incredibly enriching. We will continue to respond to your comments, as it’s naturally a part of what we do here at Momalom. You have to know I’ll do just about anything to nurture a good conversation. It’s like keeping the coffee brewing, or the wine forthcoming. So I hope that many of you stick around for a while. I hope you have found something over the course of the last ten days that inspires you to come back and check in from time to time. I can guarantee you that Jen and I will be here.
Please look forward to a more reflective post about Five for Ten and a list of all those who deserve the ultimate prize…a MOMALOM t-shirt! I know you’ll wear it proud. And I might even have to change the tagline on the back to just that: “proud to connect.” Because I am. So proud. To connect to all of you. And I’m a little sad and weepy that it’s come to an end. Even though, truth be told, my eyeballs and my fingertips are a wee bit tired.
There is something to look forward to, however: December’s Half-Drunk Challenge. Inspired by the Drunken Rambling on My Optimistic Clitoris from earlier this month, I have decided to challenge as many readers as I can to write something daring, even if it isn’t your tightest writing (another reference to Drunken Rambling). This is a challenge to write something you wouldn’t normally think to write on a normal kind of day. I do think that many of us will do this best when we’ve had a few cocktails, a little something to loosen us up. However, it is not a requirement that you toss down a few Margaritas before opening your laptops. If you do choose to imbibe, I hope you include all the details somewhere in your post – I’m a bit like Kitch and love to know what people are ingesting.
Please look for a new blog button to post on your sites if you so choose. It will be up soon. I would love your help in promoting this. And, like I said, Half-Drunk is not a requirement. You can be No-Drunk, Three-Quarter-Drunk or Fully-Drunk. It’s up to you. For purposes of pretty language it will be named the Half Drunk Challenge. And yes, there will be a prize. We will be picking the best of the best and posting it up here at Momalom, as well doling out a prize. If you have any spectacular ideas for that, send them my way. We will figure out what’s appropriate, besides a party-sized bottle of Grey Goose, and lure you in when the challenge is officially underway. Look for the announcement on December 6th. You will have one week to submit something daring, something off-the-cuff, something maybe a little bit unusual. I’m a little scared myself of what I might write. :)
And now that business has been discussed and bits of reflection have been passed your way, I would love to hear what you all are thinking. Has Five for Ten been as good for you as it has for us? Do you feel like you have made some connections here? Because really truly truly, that is what it is all about. Connections. Gratitude. And a t-shirt.
{ 67 comments… read them below or add one }
Definitely made connections! I have read your whole “about us” section of this site and related to so many of the stories. Especially about who to put first, which child, etc. I have added like 5 other blogs to keep me up at night and even added a few new friends to twitter. I’ll wear my shirt with pride =)
I will do my half drunk challenge…and maybe even not password protect it this time!!! lol!
Amanda,
I’m so glad you feel you’ve made some new friends in doing this. I can’t wait to kick off the half-drunk challenge. I expect to laugh and cry and cock my head to one side as I try to make sense of a few posts (like…um…my own).
Thanks for sticking with us. It means the world!
Twitter: Momalom
I love wine and I love beer and I also love Southern Comfort.
I am not, however, an alcoholic!
I am excited about the Half Drunk project and intend to a) imbibe and b) write something “off the chain” (old pop-culture, gotta love it…) HA!
Thanks for 5 for 10. I loved every minute of it, even though my crazy week made it so I had to play catch-up on a few posts.
But I read them all and loved the whole experience!
Bre
Bre,
Wine, Beer, SoCo. Sounds like you’ll do wondrous during the upcoming challenge. I fully FULLY expect OFF DA CHAIN, so yay!
I know you had an up and down kind of a week. Thanks for keeping up with us. So glad to have you along for the ride!
Twitter: Momalom
I thought I was the only person in the world who loved Southern Comfort! It is my official Christmas… well, maybe more than that… drink!
Um, ever try SoCo and Snapple. It was a big hit with a high school friend who just happened to be from the MIDWEST!
Twitter: Momalom
I wrote a while back – in October – about the Camaraderie of Runners. My next writing may have to be about the camaraderie of bloggers.
I am so glad I stumbled upon you all. I have manage to fill my blog reader and bookmarked many more. I may not comment on all of these blogs but I read them all daily. I read and feel I know you all, you wonderful, beautiful, strong women!
Thanks for being the thread that started our quilt of connection.
Twitter: NickiinNY
Nicki, what a beautiful way to put it.
The thread that started our quilt of connection.
And yes yes yes on the camaraderie!
Twitter: Momalom
Sometimes these words just come to me.
Twitter: NickiinNY
My heart is full as well. I am so grateful to you both for this firm reminder that we are a community, a real and vibrant community. A place where we are authentic and honest. A place where I am present.
Thank you does not capture it, but it’s all I have:
Thank you.
Twitter: lemead
Authentic. Honest. Present.
Yes.
And I keep thinking back to something that Becca told me recently. (Hope she doesn’t mind if I reiterate it here.) That she would feel comfortable giving many of these online connections a bear hug the first time we met face to face – because we are able to know one another in a way that our real life friends sometimes can’t. I loved that. And I feel it is true.
And I think about what my mom said about not really getting how we can form relationships. And thinking we had nothing vested in them. And then realizing that it is quite the opposite.
It’s been a great 10 days.
And I am just as grateful for you – MORE SO – than you for us.
Twitter: Momalom
It’s been JUST glorious, Sarah, Jen, and Momalom’s Mom. And a wonderful foundation of (new) community has, indeed, been built. I think we all thank you for that. For the new friendships and discoveries, and more to come. And for laughter. Because in the mom’s world – that’s our nourishment on the tough days. And we’ve been well nourished by the three of you.
Looking forward to December’s (half or three quarters) drunken posting. Also – just an fyi – I am (daintily and with trepidation) attempting to move to http://dailyplateofcrazy.com – and hoping not to screw up as I do so. There will be a redirect, but I’ve got a bit more work to go, and you know how Murphy’s Law works, tra la.
I just hope the turkey for Thanksgiving isn’t me, sludging through lost files and recreating bits and pieces of my blog.
What I will not and cannot lose is this warming, welcoming, and accepting experience we have shared. So Bravo to the Momalom family, for these exceptional 5-for-10 days.
Hugs,
BLW
Twitter: BigLittleWolf
Wolfie,
Can’t wait to see what you put up for the Half Drunk Challenge. I have no doubt it will be entertaining.
I’m so happy to have found you and brought you in to our community. Thanks for all the insight and the laughs along the way.
And Bravo to you, too!
Twitter: Momalom
I, for one, think 5 for 10 was a very inspired idea, beacuse it’s true…with blogs, you need more than one shot at it to see what the writer’s like.
And a new challenge! I’m excited, because truth be told, I write like I’m half-drunk ALL the time.
Twitter: nevertruetales
Amy,
That last line cracked me up.
And.
Truth be told.
MomalomsMom is excited about it, too.
What was it she wrote me today:
“I drink, therefore I write. No. No. I write, therefore I drink. Copiously.”
I’ll have a blog button up sometime tonight. And the challenge dates will be December 6-12. Stick around for details!
And thanks for being a part of it all!
Twitter: Momalom
I am far from sad about this being over! To me, it was just the beginning. The introduction stage of a relationship. Now it’s up to us to make it stronger, continue it. I do feel that these friendships are stronger in a way than some of my real life friendships because of the true open-heartedness we all have shared. There were no ghosts in our closets, no reason to hold back. BUT what needs to be there along with this honesty is commitment. I am committed to my real life friends. If they disappeared, I’d find them. Here, if someone stopped visiting my site, I’d probably be less likely to seek them out (stalker?)… although – I did hunt down Liz recently (sorry). I would miss any of you who have visited me at my site recently. I WILL be sad if you disappear so I commit to you that I WILL continue to stop by and comment – not because I HAVE to but because I want to! I have learned so much through all of you in 10 days and I so appreciate all you’ve given me.
As for the next contest – I’m in. I’d like the prize to be a sitter for the day after I write it though!
You guys did an AMAZING job hosting this. I can’t believe how much time you spent dedicated to reading all of our comments and our blogs. Truly, truly, THANK YOU.
Twitter: dramaformama
Becca,
Great idea about the sitter! Um, how on earth would I make that work?! LOL
It’s been a great 10 days. What a way to jumpstart some new connections, eh? Happy as ever to hear that there are some new blogs you’ll be keeping up with. And good for you for hunting some people down. Liz is a keeper…so I totally understand!
Twitter: Momalom
Hey there Becca! Just saw you wrote this comment! How cute you are..it was an honor to be hunted down!
In this week of giving thanks, let me join all of the previous commenters in adding my own gratitude to Sarah, Jen, and Geege for facilitating this fabulous experience of growing and connecting. I too have discovered some great new reads to enjoy over my morning coffee. But what I appreciate most is this new sense of community, the break in the solitude of motherhood, and the notion that there are many women out there thinking my thoughts and hearing my words.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Twitter: Motherese
Kristen,
The biggest thought and feeling is “I am not alone,” isn’t it?
Geege and I have spoken frequently over the last week. She is new to the land of blogging and was blown away by the honesty and energy that we all put into this. That we are ABLE to put into this. And not only that, but the rewards we get back. It’s important: the rewards. We need them. And I hope that we have all found a few in the last ten days.
Happy as ever to have found you and Motherese!
Twitter: Momalom
Had a good time and definitely made connections. Made some good ones in my head too. Momalom was (always has been) good reflective reading because through blogs and blogging I find meaning, purpose, justification,…not quite sure. But I do find that it’s kinda like Ginger Ale and crackers for the queasy soul.
Vanessa,
Like Ginger Ale and Crackers for the queasy soul.
Oh that is so so so wonderful.
I love it!
I may have to use it again, with your permission.
Thank you!
Twitter: Momalom
What a great “experiment” 5 for 10 was! I loved discovering other blogs and hearing new voices. I’ve bookmarked quite a few over the last week or so, and feel grateful that you and Jen were so generous about spreading the Bloggy Love over at Momalom.
Half-Drunk December? You KNOW I’m all over this one, Naughty Britches!!!
xoxo
TKW,
“Naughty Britches.” You rock me!
And, just curious, what will your drink of choice be, my friend? I’m on the very edge of my seat?
Twitter: Momalom
I found a couple of blogs that I am so hooked on, that, oh boy, did I think this was a great idea! And the best part was knowing that we were all kinda in in together…committing to trying to build a community. Think about that, ladies (sorry any gents)…how often do women behave in catty, clique-ish ways? Not here. Here, we invite. We confess. We nurture. We support. We laugh. What a wonderful thing. Thanks Sarah and Jen. You guys rock. I tell you repeatedly. Oh…and drunken ramblings? Holy crap, are you all in trouble…do you have ANY idea how much I can drink?!?
LIZ!
I’m getting a little excited to see a) just how much you can drink and b) exactly what you will write once you’ve BEEN drinking. I’m hoping for a really good time with this one! We have to do our best to spread the word no matter if people think we are nuts. It’s the holidays, for crying out loud, we’re ALL nuts!
And yes. We laugh. We support. We nurture. We confess. We invite. All of it. All of each other. It is the way. And I absolutely adore it in every way.
Twitter: Momalom
I, too, have loved five-for-ten. I found myself skipping ahead in my reader to get to these posts first and then spending some me time reading through comments, leaving my own, and discovering some fantastic new blogs. Keep it coming, ladies!
Twitter: millermix
You can bet your bottom we’ll be here every day through November and will try our bestest to keep up with the dailies after that!
So glad to have you along for the ride!
Twitter: Momalom
Thank you, guys. For your big imaginations and bigger hearts. For your honesty and humility. For your talent and your generosity. For injecting some loyalty and community into this vast space. For engendering and continuing true conversation. For asking questions, serious and silly, and letting them echo. For letting me in, all of us in, to your minds and your homes and your families. In the past ten days, I have connected with a handful of wonderful people. I look forward to sustaining these connections and watching them grow.
I will be back here. Day after day. Contract or no. Call it Five Forever :)
Twitter: ADonnRowley
Five Forever. I love it.
And yes to everything that you said – in your pretty ways with your pretty heart.
I do hope you sip some pinot and give me something strong for the upcoming challenge. Who am I kidding, you’re always giving us something strong, Insecurity or No.
Twitter: Momalom
You are brave.
I love it.
And even though I haven’t been able to participate fully, I loved this.
And even though circumstances have dictated that I (sadly) cut back on the boozery, I’m all in with the half-drunk challenge. Though, holy hell, I’m the cheapest date in the entire world now and I’ll have, like, one drink and probably be unable to talk, much less write, and will most likely drool on my keyboard and have to take my laptop in to be repaired and the guy will be all like, “What happened to your keyboard?” and I’ll be like, “It’s all Sarah and Jen’s fault!”
But. I do not back away from a challenge. (Very often.)
I adore you.
Um, and if that happens after one drink and you are actually unable to write at that time because you are face down in drool blabbering to a techie guy I FULLY expect that you will recount it all in detail, your hysterical and witMOST detail, the Day After.
Yup. I have high expectations of YOU.
Now Get your ass to NYC so I can meet you. And serve you a drink. And watch you DROOL.
One more thing. Adoration is reciprocated. In every.single.way!
Twitter: Momalom
I’m sorry, let me edit this….
get your ASS to New York CITY so I can SEE you and slobber all over….
Twitter: Momalom
Wait? Who’s gonna be slobbering? Maybe both of us? I know I’ll be crying. Big mess.
And I already know my half-drunk topic. It came to me like a bolt of lightning yesterday. And it scares the shit out of me! Me. Scared. Yep.
You will make me brave.
Honestly, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to read the comments that others have brought and just to be here amidst everyone. It’s been a great opportunity. :)
Yes. It has. A grand opportunity. Thanks for helping to make it possible.
Twitter: Momalom
I am tearing up thinking about ending this 5 for ten relationship. I have felt so welcome, so understood, so appreciated. Thank you Jen, Sarah, Geege, and all you other ladies for making these 10 days wonderful. I have come across some wonderful blogs, made some new friends, and hope to keep making connections.
I like Aidan’s “5 forever.” Count me in.
As for your new challenge? I don’t drink alcohol, but I will drink my Dr. Pepper and write. I am sure I can come up with something…tipsy. I feel tipsy most days anyway because, well, I have a newborn. Sleepless nights are my equivalent of an alcoholic drink.
Twitter: ambrosiat
Oh how perfect. “Sleepless nights are my equivalent of an alcoholic drink.” I love that! And I can relate! And I’m glad you don’t feel put off by the “drunk” bit of it. Because the whole point is really just to push yourself. Write something a little bit on the edge of your “normal.” It’s the holidays, we should all be giving ourselves a little bit of something along with all the somethings we give to everyone else. So whatever it is that pushes you to write something a bit out of the ordinary, yay yay yay!
Twitter: Momalom
I love LOVE Dr. Pepper. We call it Dr. Burper in my house. :)
Twitter: MomalomJen
Maybe not ending. Beginning.
Oh ladies, this has been such a wonderful 10 days. I’ve learned so much, and been so touched, and felt so very welcomed. Thank you to you all, every one of you. This little community is now a big part of my life. I can feel the words swirling around in my head and heart, and pretty soon another post will pop out, and I’ll fill in a day for my girls again, if they’ll let me. Maybe during the Drunken Revelry Challenge. Count me in! And Kitch, I think we need a special designer cocktail. Got an idea? Otherwise, it’s NH’s cosmos, and a bottle of wine for me. In the bloggy company of all you other boozers.
Thanks everyone. Just thanks.
Thank you, Mom. Thank thank thank you.
And I know that you will give us something raucous for the Half Drunk Challenge. Can’t wait. It would be a hoot if we could do it together! :)
Twitter: Momalom
ooooo…you’re on. Long distance? What shall we drink?
I’m thinking tall G&Ts, or… since ‘Tis the Season, I think I’ll have Dan whip up some of his favorites… Kahlua, Myers and Eggnog. Mmm. Just like mama taught him. I’ll sip as he puts the lights on the tree. Our family tradition!
Twitter: Momalom
Oh, and P.S. Thanks for putting up your pictures!! I’m pretty sure none of us like the way we look too much. After all, we’re women, not men. (And if you do, congratulations!!!!)
But it means a lot to me to see your faces, or the pictures that you choose to share. One more layer in building these precious friendships.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here during five for ten! It has been inspiring, educational, and reassuring! I look forward to sticking around for a long time and learning and growing and bonding even more!
This half-drunk challenge intrigues me but I’m a bit of a wimp so I’ll see how daring I feel when the time comes. If you could send a little confidence my way perhaps that might help… :)
Shana,
It’s so great to hear that people have been as inspired as we have during the last ten days.
And if you need a little confidence boosting for the upcoming Challenge, I’m sure I can find something to tap into your bravery. You don’t have to get drunk. And you certainly don’t have to do anything as crazy as talk about your nether regions like I last did. It doesn’t have to be racy, or funny, or anything more than something you wouldn’t normally think to write.
I think that sometimes when we push ourselves to write something that scares us just a little bit, the best stuff can end up appearing so naturally. If that makes sense…
Twitter: Momalom
Well, we did it. I still am a little behind, after my weekend and the crazy recovery period it has entailed. But I’ll get caught up, ladies. I will. I still have a few of your sites to visit, and I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ve all been up to.
Thanks MOUNTAINS for your presence, your support, your friendship, your shared wisdom, your senses of humor. Thank you for supporting us and each other. Thank you for giving me the confidence to keep going, even when the days fly by and I don’t have energy or inspiration. Even when I think I should be spending this time doing ANYthing else (because there is always so much ELSE). Thank you for joining our Five for Ten. It’s been a very very rich ten days.
Twitter: MomalomJen
Yes.
We did it.
And it has been rich.
And I’m tired.
But less so knowing that everyone is here.
And we have something to come back to.
Not that you’re not enough, my sistah!
It all started because of you.
And a little idea
that once upon a time
was called
Kidscubed.
And now.
We
Are
Momalom.
Twitter: Momalom
Ten days? Over already? That flew by. I loved reading your thoughts every day, and clicking over to new-to-me blogs of other commenters, and knowing there would be people here every day! This was a great idea, and soooo much fun. I bet you’re exhausted, but– at least for us readers– it was totally worth it! Go you!
Twitter: makingthingsup
Go YOU! For coming back everyday. For being a part of it. And no, I’m not exhausted. Not at all. I’m smooshed into the floor with a computer attached to my finger tips is all.
Yay on the new-to-me blogs. Yay on the connections. Yay on making things up for ten days and knowing that you find people were reading it!
Just. Yay.
And?
Thanks.
Bunches.
Twitter: Momalom
Yeah, I concur. Ditto. All of the above. It’s been great. I’ve looked forward to reading your post everyday, and I’ve checked my comment daily, eagerly awaiting a reply. I’ve definitely felt appreciated and included.
And you’ve inspired me to be a worse writer. Yes, a worse writer. When I started my blog, I had big dreams of readership and monetization. I poured over every post, adding punctuation here or there and changing a word to reflected a nuanced definition. And of course I posted once a month if I was lucky. Since participating in Five for Ten, I’ve removed the Google ads (seriously, $0.03 in 11 months, who was I kidding?). My blog can be for me and a handful of family and friends. Don’t get me wrong, you guys are great writers, and I enjoy reading your stuff, but the point is, you get it done. And so can I.
So, here’s to great writing, and good writing, and just okay writing. And getting ‘er done.
Adrienne,
That’s a fantabulous way of putting it all. Here’s to writing that’s just okay! Because not every day has the time, inspiration or patience for great writing. And it’s putting ourselves out there, every part of ourselves, that is the most important thing. The great and the sometimes-not-so-great.
I’m glad you’ve come along. I’m glad that you’ve found a new approach to your own blog. It sounds like you have a bit of the perfectionism that I am usually struck with. A cure for that? NaBloPoMo helps. Post everyday. No matter how short or silly or whatever. Because really, your writing can only get better with more writing.
Thanks for all your time and energy and most of all? Your presence.
Twitter: Momalom
PS: Open up a new post and write something new. You’ll feel better. You’ll feel more accomplished. You’ll appreciate words just that much more.
Twitter: Momalom
I can’t agree more about one post not really being a good advocate for what your blog is. One of your commenters popped over to my blog and she happened upon the post detailing the lowest point in my entire life.
I thank her for not only not running for her sanity, but she left a nice comment!
Which reminds me, I need to visit her blog!
I can’t wait for Half Drunk!
Yes. The whole point is that we need more than 5 minutes on a person’s site to get a lasting impression.
I’m glad you joined us! And I can’t wait for Half Drunk either. I think it may get a bit silly up in here. Or something. Would love to spread the word and widen the readership. I suppose I should come up with some kickass prize. We’ll see.
Either way, we are gonna have some fun reading each other’s half-drunk moments. Something daring is usually something worth reading, I think.
:)
Twitter: Momalom
I am still making new connections here. Every time I drop in for “five” to comment, I spend “twenty” perusing everyone’s blogs. It’s wonderful.
RE: The next challenge–I am not a drinker (but I hope we can all still be friends!) But I will be working on conjuring an altered state in which I can write something I might not otherwise. Although sometimes I think the whole blogging experience is an altered state in which I write things I think I wouldn’t.
Ooh. Not a drinker. TOTALLY OKAY. And what I think Jen was most worried about. She’s not a lush by any stretch of the imagination. And, dare I say, has only recently enjoyed sipping a glass of wine. However, I do choose to imbibe every so often…and the whole idea was really sparked by my ridiculous drunken rambling – posted a few weeks ago.
SO! Here’s the deal…which I will clarify in the official post on the challenge…you don’t have to drink. You don’t have to be altered! (Although I totally agree with you that blogging is like an altered state.) I just want people to push themselves a little bit. I’m always surprised when I do it myself. I’ve come up with drunken, semi-coherent posts, and I’ve come up with posts that have landed me a new FLIP camera and an entry on a Hollywood movie blog.
SO! That is really the challenge. Finding something new and fresh and pushing yourself just a leeeetle bit. Some of us will get goofy. Some of us more sad. Some of us may shock or surprise. Some of us might simply tell a story that is difficult to tell. But all in all, I am daring us to dare ourselves.
I hope that makes more sense.
And shoot! I sure hope I don’t offend anybody with the Half-Drunk reference. I’ll have to make it sound much prettier when I put up the official challenge. You must know that sometimes I’m just silly and “out there.” Yeah. I admit it. And it’s totally okay.
:)
Thanks so much for being a part of our world over here!
Twitter: Momalom
Hey! I just woke up from a Momalom dream! I was sitting with both of you in a cafe–with NO CHILDREN–talking and laughing! We were drinking vegetable broth, which seems weird except that I set up a crock pot full of vegetable broth last night and my whole house smells like parsnips, which would explain how it got into my dream. Maybe this dream could come true some time? Except I hope we are drinking wine, even though I will only drink half a glass. Or coffee. Because even though I make wicked good vegetable broth, I don’t really want to drink it.
Great dream. Except for the drinking of the broth, of course. I would be much happier with coffee or wine. :)
Yes! Let’s make it happen. What a hoot it will be to finally meet someone in the blogging world. But I think if we didn’t we’d just be wimps, right?
Off to start my day. Er…something like that!
Twitter: Momalom
Parsnips. Yum. Or wine. Or tea. This time of year I become an Earl Grey junkie.
I hope we can meet up. Lynne, do you like to read? Because our book group needs a few more members. Really. We are floundering because one of us moved away and there were only five to begin with, and on any given day, somebody’s kids are sick or significant other forgot about the meeting or or or.
Twitter: MomalomJen
I am so thankful for you doing this! It was a brilliant and successful initiative! And I am quite excited about the Half Drunk Challenge!!! This whole process couldn’t have started at a better time for me personally. I was just getting my pet project off the ground and this really helped me so much! I have been motivated to post content to my site several times a week, make a real effort to visit others and carry the conversation from the blog, to twitter, to other blogs, etc. It has been a wonderful experience!!!!
Twitter: cfoutz
Thanks, Crystal! I think the general consensus is that we all feel motivated and inspired and more connected. It’s been a successful ten days and I couldn’t be more delighted with the outcome. Thank you for being a part of it all!
Twitter: Momalom
It’s the last day? I didn’t even realize. I was just going to come here every day forever.
Haiku!
two sisters blogging
have a grand idea: bring
readers together
for ten days we read
we write, we laugh, even cry
we become as friends
now we have drunken
december, and i for one
say, “bottom’s up, girls!”
How wonderful is THIS to wake up to on a foggy Wednesday morn, the boys beating each other up, stealing each others’ blueberries, crushing each others’ cheerios into the carpet.
Bottom’s Up, Indeed!
I hear the distant clinking of glasses.
And see many smiles.
Twitter: Momalom
HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all of you! (Get some rest. Yeah, right.)
Baking to do!
Clinking of glasses (or breakage?) – what the hell. Does it matter, as long as you all end up smiling and NOT in the ER?
Thanks, for a great 10 days, and more to come.
Twitter: BigLittleWolf
Five for Ten was a really great idea. Some of us are fickle though. Don’t take it personally. Today is the first day I’ve turned on my computer in over a week and commenting on blogs is a pain in the ass from my iphone. But I am still here and I will still come back again, and again to read your words and to feel our community in all it’s strengths and weaknesses. Thank you Sarah and Jen always for sharing the good and the bad.
Looking forward to Half Drunk Posting!! It’s been a few years since I was even a bit tipsy, fourth baby took all desire to drink in any capacity away. But now that I’m officially finished breastfeeding…..