BlogHer.org

BlogMe Baby- ’07

July 20, 2007 by Queen of Spain 10 Comments

This is how I felt at BlogHer last year:

Ok, ok…who is that? Do I know her blog? Crap, she looks totally familiar. I should go say hi. Wait, maybe I don’t know her. Do I know her? Ok, I’m just going to go and read her name tag. Damn, I can’t see it. But she looks kinda like that one blogger, but maybe not…hmmm

-90% of the time I worked my way over to that blogger and eventually introduced myself. In an effort to make it easier for YOU to walk up to ME, once again we’re doing BLOGME.
So me in 10 seconds. WOW. Ok.My husband says, “Smart, Driven…” and then he made a nasty gesture that implied I did something else well.

My son says, “um…you cook me good food.”

My daughter says, “zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz”

I say just come find me and DO NOT worry about approaching me. I’m telling you. DON’T. SO. NOT. WORTH. Anxiety.

Odds are I’ll have my head buried in my laptop checking on the SL conference or I’ll be drunk, and I’ll make it IMPOSSIBLE for you to ignore me.

So here is what I look like, and these are from last year at BlogHer when I was um…NOT very sober, so this is a good representation on how to spot me…(Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah is on the left..odds are you’ll find me near her)

That’s Kelly, aka Mocha Momma-you’ll find me near her too.

You’ll also find me at the bar by Karen and Kaiser. YES ladies, Kaiser is going to be in Chicago. God help us all.

Filed Under: BlogHer, BlogHer.org, BlogMe

Citizen of My Heart

July 13, 2007 by Queen of Spain 3 Comments

Dude, I just got called a Mata Hari – a blogher mata hari, none the less. I like it.

The rumors are true, I did throw Citizen of the Month (I refuse to call him Neil) against a diaper changing station in the back of an overpriced Mexican restraurant in a vain attempt to make him worship and promote all that is blogher.org and blogher.org in second life.

I’m not ashamed. Its all about sacrifice. Its for the greater good. Its all about the links.
…and I had accomplices. (accomplice-i?) I mean…what man could or would deny LeahPeah, Mocha Momma, Katronika, and ME?? He’d have to be dead or gay. So we worked our wiley women charms after the live and full of humiliation readings at LA Angst and he left dazed and muttering “Queen rules all..Queen rules all…Long live the Queen” or something-it was hard to hear with Kelly’s tongue down his throat. Did I mention she licks?

All kidding aside, I’m sorry it took me two days to get around to telling you about LA Angst but good god people, did you NOT see the major conference I’m hosting? My hands may not be as full as the fine ladies setting up the real deal in Chicago…but its possible even my avatar self is stressed out.

100 registrants for BlogHer ’07 in Second Life, and counting. Kick ass schedule. Kick ass speakers. Kick ass band. I’ll be in Chicago, and virtual in the SL conference. Which means you can drink with me two ways. But beware, Citizen of the Month may never be the same, and neither will you.

(he’s in the middle-wearing a shirt from DETROIT…yeah, don’t think I didn’t call him out on that one)

Filed Under: BlogHer, BlogHer.org, Feeling YaYa, Queen Tureaud, Royal Sillies

Register-before the spots are alllll gone!

June 27, 2007 by Queen of Spain 1 Comment

*ok, for those who don’t know yet—Elizabeth Edwards, Amy Sedaris, Kim Gandy—ALL in Chicago and we’re going to pipe them in LIVE to Second LIFE—get REGISTERED NOW

BlogHer ’07 in Second Life it taking off!!! Is your avatar flying with us, or still stuck on the ground??

Many of you have downloaded Second Life this past week and it’s time to take a deep breathe and get comfortable moving around.

I’m sure it would be just fine with you if our conference just came to your avatar and set up shop-but trust me…you are going to want to walk (or fly) around the FOUR island conference center provided by Hyperstring.net, not to mention dance to a live performance by female-fronted band Toe’d Up at Sanctuary Rock (a Second Life based nightclub-owned and operated by a fellow female blogger!)and strut your stuff with your personalized avatar makeover compliments of Vodkarella.com.

So yeah, you need to learn how to move.

First thing is first..the arrow keys are your friends. They do it all and you need to get comfortable using “up” as a forward move and “down” as backward.

The “page up” and “page down” keys will help you jump and fly…but using the “fly” button on the bottom of your screen might be the way to start off. Once in the air, you can then use those all important arrow keys to move forward, back, left and right.

Let’s practice together! Don’t forget I am available to help and SHOW you these things during my BlogHer in SL office hours:

Queen Tureaud office hours:(PST)
Monday 10-2pm
Wednesday 10-2pm
Thursday 5pm-8pm
Sunday 4-7pm

If you can’t figure out how to send me an instant message while you are in SL-send me an email during those hours at queenofspainblog@yahoo.com and I will come FIND YOU.

For those who have yet to register-get moving! You will get to hear audio LIVE from Chicago and mingle with BlogHers in Second Life.

http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaID=137268. Registration is free.

Filed Under: BlogHer.org, Queen Tureaud

Can’t make it to BlogHer in Chicago? Attend VIRTUALLY!!!

June 19, 2007 by Queen of Spain 9 Comments

“Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”- The Queen, in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass.

While Lewis Carroll’s Queen in Through the Looking Glass believed her six impossible things before breakfast, this Queen has done them. In the virtual world of Second Life anything is possible. It’s possible to fly, it’s possible to visit far off lands, and it’s possible to bring hundreds of BlogHers to the Chicago conference without ever leaving their homes.

I’m Queen Tureaud. It’ a Second Life avatar name. You may know me as BlogHer Contributing editor Erin Kotecki Vest of Queen of Spain blog. For those of you who can’t make it to the BlogHer ’07 conference in Chicago, I’ve teamed up with Elisa, Lisa, and Jory to bring Chicago to you.

BlogHer in Second Life will offer the opportunity to experience the Chicago conference live on a virtual platform, complete with general sessions, audio feeds, and even a virtual cocktail party! Similar to BlogHer ’07 in Chicago, the BlogHer Second Life virtual conference will feature an interactive format designed to inspire discussion. Not to mention FREE virtual goodies from our sponsors and vendors!

So how does it work?

First thing is first, if you want to attend the virtual conference you will need to download and install Second Life. Unfortunately it will not run on all computers, so check Second Life system requirements at https://secure-web7.secondlife.com/corporate/sysreqs.php . A basic account at Second Life is free.

Next, you will need to register for the conference. Registration can be completed at http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaID=137268. Registration is free.

Now you are ready to get comfortable in this virtual world, and Queen Tureaud is happy to be your guide. I will be holding Second Life training and office hours to get you ready for the conference.

Queen Tureaud office hours:(PST)
Monday 10-2pm
Wednesday 10-2pm
Thursday 5pm-8pm
Sunday 4-7pm

You can email me at queenofspainblog@yahoo.com, or you can instant message me while IN Second Life by using “search” on the bottom of your tool bar and searching for “Queen Tureaud.” Click on Queen Tureaud to pull up my profile and send me an “instant message” telling me who you are and that you are a BlogHer. I will then work with you and hold your hand in the sometimes complicated but always fun virtual world.

You can also take advantage of Second Life tutorials to get you started. These resident made video tutorials can be found at http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Video_Tutorials .

BlogHer in Second Life will be a PG event. This means those of you wishing to explore some of the more adult oriented spaces will have to do that on your own, and it will be expected that you adhere to these policies while attending any BlogHer events in Second Life.

I will be posting at BlogHer.org with tips, tricks, and ideas to get you ready for the virtual conference.

Hope to “see” you there!

Filed Under: BlogHer.org, Queen Tureaud

Just hoping the babysitter isn’t dead in a ditch

June 11, 2007 by Queen of Spain 15 Comments

I hired a Nanny on Friday. I checked her out, ran the reports, called the references and HIRED a nanny to watch my lovely and always well behaved children 3 days a week while I work only a few rooms away.

The nanny (or babysitter for you who find the N word snobby) was to start the job today at 1030am. It’s now nearly midnight and she’s still not here. She has yet to show. Or call. Or email. Or send a carrier pigeon.

The best I can do is really hope she’s not dead in a ditch or tending to some HORRIBLE tragedy that would preclude her from calling me, her employer. At worst, she’s a total flake and after going through a professional service she was the BEST I could come up with.

I give.

The kids and I are leaving for Tampa on Thursday where their Nana and Gramps will adore and spoil them while I work.

More to come.

Oh, and…who’s taking me out for drinks in Tampa???

Filed Under: BlogHer.org, Uncategorized

Margaret Mead is on to something

June 7, 2007 by Queen of Spain 13 Comments

Being an American is exhausting.

I spent the first part of this week in tears. Hanging a yellow ribbon from the tree in our front yard and showing my children the stars on the American flag billowing below the ribbon. Their uncle has gone to war, again.

As I struggled to explain to a 4-year old exactly what a “soldier” does, I thought of all the families involved in this monstrosity of a war, the children left behind, the Iraqi’s lives destroyed. Despite my 100% disagreement with this war and the idiots who started it, I found myself damn proud of our soldiers and their families. Of our stupid, stupid country and its stupid, stupid military.

So as I swelled with pride and wonder for my fellow Americans, imagine my disgust and bewilderment when I had to explain to a Canadian just how FUCKED up our government is when it comes to helping our children. Helping the poor. Helping one another.

It started simply enough, a post about us fat ass North Americans and our lazy, lazy, kids. I tried to explain socioeconomics. I tried to explain the lack of education. I tried to explain why a lard-ass Ogre, who shills for McDonalds, would be our spokesman for combating childhood obesity. I tried to explain that yes, Taco Bell can be found in our public school cafeterias and yes, our produce and healthy foods cost more than the average family can afford. They buy the shit, because the good stuff is more money and hey, it’s got our government’s stamp of approval.

The more I explained the more I shook my head. The more I explained the more embarrassed I became. The more I explained, the more I was moving to Switzerland.

Why does America do this to me? I don’t expect to agree with everything that goes on in the great USofA at every single moment. I also don’t expect to hide my head in shame when I think of the clusterfuck that are these 50 states lately.

Just when I had shaken my redhead so much it hurt, I saw a light. I got an email. I watched something I’ve been involved in since the start head in a new direction. One that made me swell with pride. One that reminded me it’s not about the country. Its not about the borders. Its not about who’s government does what. It’s about what we can do,together. Ladies and gentleman, may I present BlogHer’s ACT.

We are excited and honored to announce today, with Elisa, Jory and Lisa, the launch of BlogHers Act, a year-long initiative to harness the incredible power of women online. That would be you.

BlogHers Act will take on two things —

1. Making a difference on a single global cause

2. Identifying the top four issues that women online want the U.S. Presidential candidates to address in order to win our votes in the Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ08 Election.

Imagine the opportunity that’s in all of our hands right now.

All of us know the positive, productive, monumental ACTION of bloggers, especially women bloggers, when rallying around a problem, an issue or an event. Since we started blogging a few years back, we’ve witnessed – and been so lucky to be a part of – countless moments, big and small, when bloggers worked together to make a difference.

Hell yes. Now get off your fat ass you lazy American, Canadian, or um..non-North American and do something.

Filed Under: BlogHer, BlogHer.org, Holding Court, Queenie Backup, Royal Decree, War in Iraq Sucks It

I left my sanity in San Franccssssisco

May 26, 2007 by Queen of Spain 12 Comments

I’m in lovely San Jose after a FANTASTIC morning meeting with some amazing women.

Yes, my meeting was rescheduled to wipe out the tragedy that was yesterday. Yes, I had a few glasses of wine at the Fairmont in San Fran to wash away the SCUM that was American Airlines/Eagle. And YES, as I sit here now I wonder IF I will actually be ALLOWED to BOARD this flight. But before I spend a week campaigning against and protesting a major airline, let me first say this:

I love you all. Thank you for trying to entertain me last night. Thank you for the calls and IM’s and the emails. Everything worked out in the end, as most things do, and I can’t wait to announce a partnership that will bring the virtual world to it’s knees in July.

Stay tuned.

Filed Under: BlogHer.org, Feeling YaYa

AMERICAN AIRLINES BLOWS

May 25, 2007 by Queen of Spain 8 Comments

I am finally in San Fransisco, and due to a massive FUCK UP by AMERICAN AIRLINES I MISSED MY REALLY IMPORTANT MEETING with these lovely women.

I don’t want to talk about it…yet. let’s just say I was DENIED BOARDING NOT for mechanical reasons and NOT for weather reasons…but because THEY FUCKED UP.
So I’m tired and drunk and in this hotel room so somebody had best call me or skype me (queenofspainblog) or IM me or SOMETHING. SITTING on my ASS in San FRAN mad and bored. NOTHING good can come of this.
NOW PEOPLE.

I’m waiting.

And really pissed. So you can watch or talk to me LIVE and hear me RANT. EMAIL me if you want my cell # or skype me or whatever. And so help me if you are within 100 miles of San Fran COME GET ME and take me somewhere fun. NOW.

Queenofspainblog@yahoo.com

Filed Under: BlogHer.org, Royal Rant