Archive for the ‘blogging’ Category

02
Aug

I am the anti-blogger

Posted by Sandi in blogging, export

I canceled the trip to New York.  I was planning on going.  I was seriously going to do it.  Brandon had arranged business meetings to do there while I was at BlogHer. We were going to the bar to have drinks made by an old high school friend of Brandon's.  We were meeting friends from Vermont and, and, and, it all boiled down to three things.  

1- I suck at leaving my kids.  

It seems like I just barely returned home from Vegas.  That little trip was a much needed, long time planned, sex trip to go on while Shaylee was home and Eric was here to help her with the kids.  My kids require a two man crew.  I loved every minute of it.  But it just ended and it seriously seems like I just got home.  

ALSO

I am leaving on the 16th of August to go to ATL with Hunter and Shaylee in tow.  I have no choice. I have to go on this trip.  I will be gone for one week.  I drop Shay off at Berry on the 17th.  I drop Hunter off at Baylor on the 20th and we say good bye to him on the 21st.  I will be gone for six days.  I can't justify leaving the kids this week when I have to leave them in two weeks.  It's too much and I just can't do it.  I hate being away from them.  I hate not being in control of what's going on at home and it's plain and simply not worth the stress.  

2-Swim championships.  

I couldn't miss them! The kids really don't care one way or the other, but I do.  I love the meets.  I love being there.  I have five swimmers competing in two events each, plus Jace is on two relay teams.  That is twelve events I can cheer for.  I love it! I can't wait!  

3- I am not a real blogger.  

There I said it.  

I don't do the things that real bloggers do.  I could care less about having ads on the site, or networking, or conference attending.  I just write to write.  I am never going to be a HUGE blogger.  I am just doing my own thing, breaking all the blogging rules in the process, and it seems absolutely pointless to go to a blogging conference to hear just that.  

For bloggers that blog to be seen, heard, and too make money doing what they do, BLOG HER is a fantastic place to be.  It is full of great information, lots of networking opportunities, fun classes and lots of free stuff.

For the anti- blogger like myself…. I don't need it. 

I could attend a class on blogging through tragedy.  Hello, I blogged through Bronson's attempted suicide and flipped out a whole lot of readers. 

I could attend a class on dealing with trolls….  I should be teaching the class on dealing with trolls.  

I could attend a class on networking and finding more readers.  But finding readers takes time and effort and I have ZERO time to spare. Nor do I want more readers.  More readers means more traffic, more traffic means more trolls.

I am not sure why I would fly all the way to New York City to hear about all the things I should be doing and all the things I am doing wrong.  Because guess what?  I have my own set of rules.  I am going to blog about whatever I feel like writing about.  I think I have proven that time and time again.  

I was reading a post the other day on getting ready for the BlogHer conference and it was filled with what to wear, what shoes to buy, what parties to attend, where to eat and who to eat with…..  

I just can't do it.  It's more bullshit than I want to worry about or have to worry about.  

and can I confess one more thing to you? 

I read five blogs.

FIVE.

I would be standing there amongst all these other bloggers with my cute little business card saying, "Here you go, you should read me. But don't give me your card, I won't be reading you because I have no free time to read anything other than a people magazine on an airplane every few months."

I had a pile of business cards from BlogHer last year that I just barely threw in the trash can.  I had them stored in my suitcase and I pitched them before we went to Vegas. I had good intentions.  I was going to check out the blogs of all 130 people I had cards for.  

I am sure there were awesome writers, beautiful photographers, hilarious stories…. but no matter how incredible they were, I just don't have the time and I feel badly about it.  

So lets recap-

I can't leave my kids.

I want to watch the swim meet.

I am not a real blogger.

I suck at doing real blogger things.

I have no desire to worry about what I am wearing or if the 2000 plus other women in attendance like my shoes.

and I will never find the time to read anymore blogs than the five I am already reading.  

and that gives me guilt already without finding 130 more awesome blogs that I won't have time to read.  

Meanwhile-

I am happy to be keeping my butt right here in Orange County where I can write about the shit I want to write about, take crappy pictures, brag about money, ruin my children's hair, expose anonymous trolls, and still find time to write an almost daily post so you can read about my chaos and my quirks in your spare time.  

Currently I feel like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders.  I think I belong at home. 

34 Comments »
16
Jul

here we go again

Posted by Sandi in Random, blogging, swimming

I don't know if I should go to BlogHer. 

I received an email today from our team.

The division finals for our swim league are that same Saturday. 

I honestly don't know if I can miss it.

It's the CHAMPIONSHIP. 

SHIT SHIT SHIT!!!

WHAT SHOULD I DO?  

34 Comments »
30
Jun

disturbing things

Posted by Sandi in Random, blogging

I have a sister that beltches like a man.  She has done it since she was little.  In fact, my entire family of birth is pretty gassy. EXCEPT ME, I am not gassy.  I am not a burper or a farter.  I am not saying that I never have or I never do, i just don't make a habit of it, and I certainly don't do it around other people.  

I have a daughter and a brother that think pooping is an activity and something that is completely appropriate to discuss all the time because we all do it and why should it be private?  Said brother even tells the entire office to, "hold his calls he is taking a dump."  

I will talk about sex all day long.  You want to know the last time I had sex, pull up a chair, I will tell you all about it.  

I will also talk about money all day long.  

For me, burping, farting and pooping are private matters, but sex and money are not.  

Somebody said I have no filter.  Oh but I do….  I filter my farts and poop.  

You're Welcome!

 

The previous post was filled with fabulous comments.  I love hearing how people feel about this stuff.  I think that money falls into the same category as pooping and sex.  If you don't have money, you want it.  If you aren't having sex or pooping regularly, you want that too.  Some people are uncomfortable talking about money and some people are uncomfortable talking about pooping and sex.  We are all different.  We all have different upbringings.  We all have different sensitive spots.  But isn't that what makes this world so great?  WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT and I LOVE IT!

Thank you all for being so cool and understanding.  

I have a crazy week.  We rolled back into town after four days of bliss in Vegas and went straight to a swim meet. My kids did great.  *BRAG BRAG* 

My chest is still healing, but throbbing and stinging. 

On the way home from Vegas this little conversation took place after I choked and gagged on an In&out burger.  (I took too big of a bite is all.)

"Are you 100% positive you aren't pregnant?"

"Yes, I know I am not pregnant."

"Do you have any symptoms?"

"well… my boobs hurt fucking bad."

and if that offended any of you……   I don't fucking care!

(oh that sounds so mean.  I really do care.  I love you all!)

22 Comments »
25
Jun

apologies and update

I am so sorry for offending any of you that I did with my previous video.   I was not dissing the Duggars, or any other large family, in any way shape or form intentionally.  You have to know that I was making fun of my OWN family with that video. You know that if I could pop out seventeen kids I would do it in a heartbeat. (and I have tried.) 

I can see how others would think that I was judging or mocking a real family of so many.  I was not. I am going to remove that video from my blog, even though I do think it is hilarious because so many of those exact same things could be heard right here in this house. But I would never want any family of dozens to think that I was mocking them.  

PERIOD.

**************************************

Surgery went PERFECTLY!

I have hacked up boobies that throb in the wind…. But I think with time they will be lovely.

I took a total of one pain pill.

I breezed though this one.  Now I am ready to do the bottom half. 

****************************************

We have friends here from Utah.  The infamous DB and his darling wife Nicole are spending a few days with us.  Ty is in heaven.  In fact, all of the kids are….  Mom relaxes a little bit and it's always fun to have a few more adults to entertain.  

Uncle Dave taught all the kids how to do a back flip into the pool.  I contemplated a pain pill for a few minutes right there.  

***************************************

Brandon and I are sneaking away to Vegas for a sex trip.  I think……  

If all goes well…

If I can leave the kids……

If my chest doesn't hurt….

I'll catch you all mid week.  

In the mean time, enjoy the summer, get off the computer, go to the beach, or meet us in Vegas. 

Party like a rock star!

Love your Man!

Squeeze your babies!

***************************************** 

Happy Weekend Internet

 

* I forgot the most important thing to tell you.  Eric is here from Chattanooga to play with Shaylee for a week and guess what he brought with him?  MY CAMERA!!  He found it in Shaylee's backpack that we left at his house. I AM A HAPPY MAMA!

27 Comments »
20
Jun

up to my ass in alligators

I can't keep up.  For all of you, through the years, that have asked me time and time again.  "How do you do it all?"  This is for you.   I DON'T! 

Colby's birthday was yesterday.  NO POST!

Dalin's birthday was last week. NO POST!

Today is father's day- NO POST!

What kind of horrible mother/blogger am I?

This end of the school year is kicking my ass. Every kid has three or four big things going on.  Plays, concerts, field days, final exams, lake trips, graduations, special dinners….. I can't keep up.  

Since I was drowning in activities anyway, I figured I would just check out for a few days and scheduled surgery for Tuesday.  

The way I see it, I just bought myself two free days to lay in bed and dictate to the rest of the world what needs to be done.  I'll get up on Thursday when it's all over.  

SWEET SWEET SUMMER!

***************************************

Happy Birthday COLBY MICHAEL-

Coco turned Twelve yesterday.  The anticipation of the day is always 100 times better than it actually is.  We went to Game Stop to buy games for his PS3.  That took all of ten minutes for him to blow through his birthday money. 

Then he wanted Chinese Food for his birthday so we went to PF Changs.  He couldn't sit still. He was up and down and driving me crazy.  He had new games to play.  Every five minutes he asked, "Are we done yet?" 

Brandon and I gave up.  We came home… and we didn't see him for the rest of the night.  

At bedtime, he said, this was the best day of my life.  

So I guess we did something right, or he was stoned out of his mind from sitting in front of the PS3 all day.  Normally there is a one hour limit of screen time, but on birthdays I close my eyes to it.  

Colby,

You make me happy mister! I love watching you grow up.  You are an amazing kid.  I can't wait to see what this next year is going to bring.  You meet every challenge that's thrown at you.  YOU ARE AN INCREDIBLE PERSON!  I am so proud to be your mama!

Happy Birthday baby.  I love you.

************************************************

Happy Father's day to the man of my dreams and the greatest father on the planet.

There is nothing sexier than a man with a baby.  

Or a man in a hat.

I love you baby.  Thank you for parenting this tribe with me.  I couldn't ask for a better daddy for my kids. Seriously, when I found myself single parenting 100 kids, I never in a million years thought I would remarry and put my kids in the situation of having a "step dad."  

I am so glad you came in my life and knocked me off my feet, because what you have given my kids and done for my kids is extraordinary.  They are so lucky to have you as their daddy.  I will be forever grateful for the example you are to them.  

I hope you have the best day EVER!  

*****************************************************

Happy Father's day to all you Dads out there.  

5 Comments »
18
Jun

Habitat 4 insanity!

Posted by Sandi in blogging

Need I say more?  

WE ARE A HABITAT FOR INSANITY!  

The second this comment came through, I knew it was right.  

Thank you to Jendemonium for such a clever idea.  

Brandon has purchased the dot com for the name, and I am busy coming up with a redesign to go with it.  

My goal is to be completely done by the time I go to BlogHer in August.  

Be patient with me while we work through these changes. 

I am so excited!  

22 Comments »
12
Jun

Will you help me if I give you 500 dollars?

Posted by Sandi in Giveaways, blogging

Remember when I told you how extremely uncreative I am?  Well, I need your help.  I want to rename this blog and I want it to be fabulous. But here's the thing, I don't want it to say anything about the number of children I have.  The whole "Lucky Thirteen" name was perfect when I had thirteen, but it's just not working for me and I don't know for sure that more kids won't show up on this doorstep so I don't want it to be anything with "fifteen" in the name either.  

ANYWAY..

Will you all give me some catchy names?

I am leaving this open for one week. I want you all to throw out as many fabulous ideas as you can come up with.  

$500 big ones if we choose your idea.  

*Disclaimer

I am aware that changing a blogs name after two years is not the smartest thing in the world, but I think I want to do it anyway.  I may lose a few readers, but Brandon knows how to redirect people with his fancy wireless wizardry.  I just hate that people think I have thirteen kids, because I don't, I have fifteen and everyone of them deserves to be counted.  

Number fourteen and fifteen both agree!

182 Comments »
28
May

writers block

Posted by Sandi in blogging

I have been given a very small writing assignment, and guess what?  It's completely sucked the creative juices right out of me.  I sit down to pound out a few lines about each child and a paragraph or two about why I blog and I can't come up with one damn thing.  

NOT ONE REASON-

Why do I blog?….hmmm. I have no idea.

Why DO I blog?

Ain't that the question of the day.

And you want to know WHAT about my kids?  

Two lines? 

It would take me fifty lines to even touch the tip of the iceberg with a few of these kids. And you want one or two sentences?

Dream on.

As for the rest of you that allow me to ramble on and on about anything and everything I want…

Thank you!

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20
May

My Ladera Troll shares her opinions for the last f*&king time.

Sharing some shit again… 

I woke up yesterday morning to one more comment from my local troll.  

A Ladera Resident

no-replyplease@yahoo.com

68.4.110.23           

Submitted on 2010/05/18 at 10:25pm

Nope, BAP.  Nice try.  I was just expressing an opinion.  Nothing more, nothing less.  Excuse me for assuming the "establishment" was a restaurant.  My bad;)
And Lora, I wasn't "suggesting" anything.  I was voicing my personal opinion.  Sandi gossips here about her husband, her children, her mother, her ex, his new wife, her "famous" neighbors who don't fawn all over her when she brings them cupcakes(or was it cookies, I can't remember), her ex- neighbor who reads this blog, the other terrible residents of Utah, The LDS Church(no, I am not a Mormon), the other uncommunity-like, community residents of Ladera Ranch and I won't even go into who knows else.  THIS is a public place.  It is also a place where things are written and cannot be taken back, which is a whole lot worse than having a discussion in an "establishment" where you think the conversation is only between you and who you are talking to.  What favors are you doing "humanity" on your whiney blog, by the way?  Is "humanity" a better place because of the things that you write about, or is it only your call to decide what is acceptable and where?  I do not read your blog.  I only clicked over to see who was so bothered by me.  You are pretty negative for someone who is so holier than thou.  But thanks for standing up on your pedestal.  Don't trip on the way down, sweet woman!

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In WORDPRESS there is a little feature that allows me to click on the IP address and it shows me all the other comments left by that same person.  Imagine my surprise when I clicked that button and all of this popped up!  And this is what I've published.  I can't imagine how many things I have deleted.

Just scroll down through these, you do not need to read all of her psycho babble a second time.            

Community- the good, the bad, and the ugly


A Ladera Resident

no-replyplease@yahoo.com

68.4.110.23           

Submitted on 2010/05/18 at 2:06pm

I wish that you had mentioned the "business" owner who decided it was his business to go back and gossip to you.  It is truly not his place to eavesdrop on what people discuss while they are patronizing his establishment.  It is nobody else's business what is being discussed when two people are having a personal conversation.  Those women are entitled to have an opinion about you and how you have chosen to live your life.  You put it out there.  What?  You think that it shouldn't be discussed?  Then why do you write about it?  Why do you label it with your actual name, personal info and names of all of your family members?  Only those who think you are fabulous can talk about you?  You might be able to control what is said about you on your blog, but telescoping that out into the community is simply ridiculous, Sandi.  
Why not give the business owner a "plug" ?  Knowing that people cannot speak freely in his place of business is one sure way of causing people to stay away.  Personally, the fact that HE felt the need to become so involved makes me very suspicious about HIS particular motives.  Like others here have said, why did he feel the need to come report back to you?  Talk about stirring the pot!  Or trying to get into a woman's "good graces".  Either way, he should just mind his own business and keep his mouth closed.  He "invites" people into his restaurant and then reprimands them when they discuss something that he doesn't like.  Pathetic.

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           Community- the good, the bad, and the ugly

Molly

no-replyplease@yahoo.com

68.4.110.23           

Submitted on 2010/03/04 at 1:54pm

I'm sorry, I thought this post was about Sailor, not all of the other children in your home.  
And Alli, you pray for an earthquake "every damn day" and I am the "tard"?  Have you watched the news lately?

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           wine cellar/whine cellar

 

Molly

no-replyplease@yahoo.com

68.4.110.23           

Submitted on 2010/03/03 at 8:54pm

I pray that there isn't an earthquake while that sweet baby is asleep in her crib.  The thought of those "staged" bottles smashing down on her head is absolutely terrifying.

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wine cellar/whine cellar

 

Amused, but in a sad way.

no-replyplease@yahoo.com

68.4.110.23           

Submitted on 2009/12/16 at 2:06pm

What is up with “Courtney”???? She left that same, exact message on CL’s site!!!!!!! Some friend she is to you, Sandi! Looks like one of your “friends” is trying to stir up trouble.

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           sound familiar?

 

Amused, but in a sad way.

no-replyplease@yahoo.com

68.4.110.23           

Submitted on 2009/12/16 at 12:08am

I didn’t figure you would post my last comment. No harm, no foul. Why is it that out of 33 comments, only 8 link back to other real sites?

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           sound familiar?

 

Kimberly

no-replyplease@yahoo.com

68.4.110.23           

Submitted on 2009/12/02 at 4:26pm

You have taught your son to put too much emphasis on the “stuff”. The “best” schools, the best “things”, etc. You have spoiled him, rotten, and now you are complaining because he is beginning to “stink”. Let him do things his way. No more money, no more stuff, no more paid bills. He has absolutely no motivation to do anything in life. What a sad, sad thing for him. It sounds like you tried to mold him into who you wanted him be. And what the heck is wrong with being a plumber if that is what he ultimately wants to do???? How can you put any job down and make it sound as if it’s not “good enough” for your child? If he wants to be a garbage man and pick up people’s trash all day, that should be OKAY. Maybe that is why he is so burnt-out. From always having to perform. Your children are individuals, not circus animals. Stop expecting them to do tricks to make you look better.

I am sure that you will become defensive about what I have written, but reality does hurt. In order to change things, you must face them first. From what I have read on your blog, you do not strike me as the type of person who likes to be told what to do, right or wrong. You have a lot of lives to worry about. Start focusing on each one as a person in their own right. And please do not take on any more children. With each one, someone else gets lost in the shuffle and that is not fair for ANY of them. There is a reason that the size of your family is not the norm. Two parents cannot possibly give that many children exactly what they need, emotionally as individuals. Bronson is a product of your lifestyle.

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           FAILURE to Launch

Dawn

no-reply@yahoo.com

68.4.110.23           

Submitted on 2009/10/29 at 1:58pm

Why is it that if someone disagrees with you, that makes them a “hater”? That is certainly a very quick way for you to put someone on the defense. People do not learn from those who constantly agree with them. They learn from those who disagree. Maybe there is a lesson in that for you?

Personally, I feel that we have our children for such a short period of time, that I would never consider sending any of mine away until college. Boarding school is not the only answer, but it does seem to be your only answer. I am sad for what you are missing out on, but sadder for what your children are missing out on. I agree with your husband.

Oh yes. Please try to honor each one of your children for the gifts that they each possess. YOUR failings will not necessarily be their failings. YOUR talents, not their talents. YOUR shortcomings, not their shortcomings. Allow them to be individuals. Academics are important, but not everyone will excel in them. If one of your children decides that smearing paint all over a canvas like Jackson Pollack did is his or her way to happiness, does that make them any less of a success?

I promise you. I am not what you referred to as a “hater”. I only disagree with what you have said. It is called free thinking.

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           I am a high school drop out and other lengthy explanations of why I am such a freak.



D

no-reply@yahoo.com

68.4.110.23           

Submitted on 2009/10/02 at 4:29pm

Sandi,

I agree with much of what Jeanne says. If all you want from this blog are high-fives and fist-bumps, you should privatize it only to individuals who can do that for you. Otherwise, you are going to find that some people disagree with what you have to say. That is life. Obviously, your life is somewhat controversial. People might be able to learn something from your mistakes, but to expect that others might not question your choices is ludicrous.

You did not make it clear that traveling to Utah was a vacation, as opposed to a “hand-off” trip for visitation. Thank goodness your kids and your husband’s kids can see their perspective parents whenever they want to. And how convenient it must be to just pop your children onto an airplane without even having an adult ever having to leave the house.

But herein lies the question. You say that “If mama ain’t happy, then nobody’s happy.” What exactly does that entail? Does it mean that if you meet someone else who sweeps you off of your feet, then you should be able to leave another marriage to make yourself happy? Assuming that you were not in a “good place” during your first marriage, what did that do to your children? Have you only been in a “happy, stable” marriage for the past four years, and if so, does that mean that for most of their lives, your children were exposed to unhappy? As Jeanne understood, I was not saying anything about neglecting yourself once you become a parent, what I was saying is that your children’s need supersede your own. As the adult, YOU HAVE ALL OF THE CHOICES. The children must just tag along for the ride. If you have a whim, then your children must also follow that whim. If you think that going to Utah for a family vacation is a wonderful idea, then the kids must just go along with that. They do not get to protest and say that they don’t want to leave the security of their familiar surroundings to stay in a hotel room while being put on a totally different schedule. Sandi, you sound like a smart woman. You have a bunch of children who have special needs. The last thing in the world that you should ever do is disrupt their schedules. If you choose to do so, havoc will ensue, as it did. And like Jeanne said, it sounds like chaos!

Reading your blog doesn’t stress me out, so I will sometimes return, but thank you for your permission to opt out!

I do wish you well with your family. Your children are beautiful. And please believe me when I say that you are as young now, as you ever will be…Enjoy it while you ARE young, and not looking back wishing that you were.

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D

no-reply@yahoo.com

68.4.110.23           

Submitted on 2009/10/01 at 1:57pm

I must agree with Jeanne on this. I felt completely stressed out just reading your post, but it was not because I felt sorry for what you went through. You are the adult who created this situation. Your CHILDREN are paying the price for your crappy choices. You had an affair and instead of trying to keep your family together, you decided to run off with the married man who you slept with. Did any of your umpteen children have a say in how you disrupted their lives???

Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Get some serious therapy, if you aren’t already, and PLEASE…DO NOT BRING ANY MORE CHILDREN INTO THIS MESS.(although it sounds like you will be any day now) And a TV show?????? Are you seriously insane? You have a bunch of children who crave structure in their days and you are going to bring a television crew into your home????? Please say that isn’t true!

Sandi, you need to do what is best for those babies, not what is best for yourself. You aren’t the one who matters, once you have children. They are. It’s all about them, so suck it up, and do the best you can with your mish-mosh of a family.(husbands here, wives there, kids everywhere…)

Best of luck.

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           EPIC FAIL


 
*****************************************************************************************
 
I am sharing this with all of you to make a point.   If you want to comment on this blog then by damn OWN YOUR WORDS!    Enough of the fake names.  If I find anyone else doing this shit they will be blocked. 
 
I am letting my troll stick around for a day or two until I know she has seen this post, (According to my stats, the longest she has ever stayed away from this blog is two days.) then she is being blocked.  I have had enough of her lip.  
 
PS- If any of you were readers of the PoP site, doesn't she sound exactly like "wondering?"   I am thinking I just nailed another one of Michele's peeps.
 
Let's get this straight once and for all.  If you don't like me then STOP reading me!!  
 
I hate fish. I can't imagine going to The Fish Market and ordering seafood just so I could complain to the chef.   But isn't that exactly what this bitch is doing over here?  
 
Good-bye "many named troll" don't let the door hit you in the ass!
 
 
 
 

50 Comments »
13
May

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Posted by Sandi in Random, blogging

I am doing a bit of house cleaning here.  I don't know how long it will take but I am trying to update my cast page and put a twitter feed on the front page.  I have professionals handling this.  

I'LL BE BACK! 

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