Deluge

BlogHer'08 started early for me, punctuated with the smiling, waving, jumping-up-and-down, as-wonderful-in-real-life-as-she-is-online Angella at SFO, fresh from Canada with her giant, Canada-sized suitcase. Does she have an accent? Yah, she shoor does! It's darling, though, and so is she. And I'm not just saying that because she brought me a package of Mr. 2 Bigs and some Kindereggs.

From the airport we drove (ahem, Simon drovechauffeured us) to a Girlfriend Gaming Party (wha?) co-hosted by two Major Industry Powerhouses: Nintendo and Holly Burns. Basically, we threw ourselves across plush lounge furniture in a Potrero Hill loft and played video games until we couldn't feel our thumbs, and then, after the arduous work of eating free food, drinking free drinks, and socializing with awesome friends, they rewarded our efforts with free Nintendo DS Lites (and a cartridge(?) for the game that made us all feel depressed and stupid, NOT THAT I'M COMPLAINING because FREE STUFF)! In the contest for this weekend's best swag, Nintendo has taken an early lead, much like I did playing Mario Kart with my little mushroom baby.

And speaking of my little mushroom baby, that party was also where the weekend's much-anticipated belly-rubbing began in earnest. No one at work or on the street has dared breach my personal space bubble during the pregnancy, but from here until Saturday night, I'm the People's Belly, yours to do with as you may. I have half a mind to put a guest book under my shirt just so I can have a record of Who Has Touched Me. If there were extra room, I might try to fit one of those smashed-penny machines, so belly-touchers could have their own I Felt the Fetus souvenirs for their scrapbooks.

Here is where I would write about hosting Angella and HeatherB (repeat four times to the tune of "Let It Be") last night and then showing them the parts of the city that feature burritos, alleyway murals, and H&M...but oh my lord I am SO VERY TIRED already and BlogHer hasn't even officially begun. My morning of tour-guiding was fun, though, in that I didn't crash my car into anything, I didn't get lost, and I didn't cry; success! I also tried really hard not to feel sad that these ladies don't live close enough to come over for drinks and fezzes once a month, but in that I earned an epic FAIL. Dear Internet: Why do you bring us together only to tear us apart again?

Finally, and this isn't a downer so much as a Gee, Isn't It Strange How Life Works moment, but this is the week I was due to give birth to Baby 1.0, aka July Baby, aka Proto Baggins. Incidentally, the current baby, aka Wee Wombat, aka the thing that goes bump in the night, is due right around the time I miscarried Baby 1.0. I'm reflective but not sad, but mostly I'm grateful to have a baby in my belly and be among friends this week. Wish you were all here.

p.s. to Amanda: It's kind of ridiculous how much we've talked about you already! Know that you are missed and on our minds, and we'll see you next year, if not sooner, pretty lady.

wrote Leah at 6:37 AM | Comments (8)