Blissdom10 – SECRET AGENT MAMA

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100 Blissful Memories {Part IV: Around the Hotel}

February 16, 2010 - 12 Comments by Mishi - Blogging and Social Media

31) A Photographer’s Paradise: This was taken on Wednesday night, from Alli’s suite. I’d seen the beauty of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, by simply walking to the concierge to check in, but when I looked out from the window and saw all the symmetry I was visually fulfilled!

32) While Walking With Casey: The atrium did nothing for my hair. But, at least there were orchids!

33) Visual Stimulation Abounds: Not only was there friends around ever corner, symmetry, and flowers, but there was architecture, too.

34) This May or May Not Have Been Her Room, Don’tchaknow: I don’t know if it was just one of Sarah Palin’s supporters, or if it was her room, but I surely could not pass up snapping this picture.

35) And Then Security Taps Your Shoulder: I snapped a few pictures of this area, and just as I was turning around to continue to where our morning meeting was, on Thursday, I was confronted by hotel security. Apparently, the United States Air Force was meeting in the Presidential Lobby and only those with clearance could take pictures. I said, “But I’m with the Blissdom Conference and my name is Secret Agent Mama. Surely I’m on a list!” (Ok, ok, I didn’t really say that.)

36) Benjamin Franklin: I heard he was kind of lascivious, but I was still happy to capture his image. You know? Since he’s dead and this is his dead ringer.

37) Whenever Possible, Reflect: It’s even more fun with friends!

38) Let’s Recap: We have friends around every corner, symmetry, flowers, architecture AND water fountains. There’s more, just you wait!

39) My Shoes on a Rock: Heather, Bridget, and I (see #37) took a little walk, through the atrium, on Thursday night. This was the last picture that filled my 16GB memory card.

40) Looking for Love in all the Right Places: I found this heart in the granite at the registration area. If that doesn’t give you an idea what Blissdom was all about, I don’t know what will.

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100 Blissful Memories {Part III}

February 15, 2010 - 8 Comments by Mishi - Secret Agent Mama

21) Whenever Possible, Double Fist: Amanda and I caught a quiet moment, in the back of the Jack Daniels Saloon. We got to talk about her schedule, and how I thought she might need to screw the schedule and just sleep. We were having a great time talking, Bridget was even there, and then the band decided it was time to ruin our fun. The bleach smell was kind of killing us, anyway.

22) Double Fisting Re-visited: Later that night, after the Clever Girl’s Party, I ended up with my buds Rachel and Jim. Jim was a gentleman and bought us beer. Note: Rachel likes to Double Fist, too. Oh, and another note: I now like Corona with Lime. Yes, I’m late to the game, folks!

23) Balcony Follies: Arianne and some of her partners in crime, including Renee J. Ross, were up on that balcony. Good, old-fashioned, fun ensued. Calls to cell phones were made. Calls on cell phones were ignored. I somehow fit into the mix. The other goof-balls left the balcony, and the only one left was The. Gorgeous. Arianne. My friend, Arianne.

24) If being a groupie means I’m friends with her, then, dammit, slap me silly and call me a groupie: I fell in love with Jennifer at some restaurant in Nashville, after the mini-Blissdom in 2008. Her laugh, her smile, her eyes, her genuinity, they all drew me to her. Then in Asheville, NC we had a moment at a table, in the back of a dimly lit room. A moment that was filled with tears, understanding, and soul-sisterhood. I hope she knows how much of a friend I consider her. Wonder if I can get her to come to my “…ville” soon!

25) An Apple a Day: There’s something about Kat that allows me to take the coolest pictures of her. This time it was the Poken, the gorgeous ring, the black nail-polish, and the half-eaten apple. She’s so nom-able!

26) Sweet Like Honey From a Bee: There are people you meet that you are instantly drawn to. That’s Heather. I started writing for the Homeschool Post and that’s where we “met”. This blog conference was the second time I got to see her, and I had the exact same feelings. She exudes this warmth, and that’s what I love about this fellow home schooling mama.

27) Look. At. My. Eyes: I laughed so hard when Leisa showed me her eyes and what the Covergirl make up artist did to her. I wasn’t laughing at her, rather her reaction. Not at her eyes! The day before I snapped this picture—on Thursday—after the Photography Workshop, Leisa showed me this book that she worked on. I was moved to tears, and I was so thankful that she shared it with me. And now I’m sharing it with you.

28) Who Dat Harry: While I thought his opening “act” was a little over-the-top I was very excited to see and hear Harry, especially since the Superbowl was coming up and Harry is from New Orleans. I screamed “Who Dat!” and sang along to ever word of “When the Saints Go Marching In”. (And, he’s totally looking at my camera in this shot!)

29) Two Drinks for One Friend, Not Double-Fisted: The drinks being poured here by this sexy bartendress are Mojitos. The one on the left was mine. The one on the right was Lotus’. The toast was for our friend, Anissa, who was dearly, dearly missed.

30) BLISSDOM=FRIENDOM=LOVEDOM=MEMORYDOM (more to come…)

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100 Blissful Memories {Part I}

February 11, 2010 - 28 Comments by Mishi - Blogging and Social Media

1) Back Seat Driver: I never know how I am going to feel being a passenger in a car. I mean, after all, I do usually prefer to do the driving. This time was different, though. The car trip with these women was just perfect. Dawn did the driving, while Sara sat in the front (wrestling with a wonky seat-belt), and I sat in the back. I was free to daydream, free to talk as much as I wanted, free to close my eyes and get myself ready for the upcoming BlissDom experience.

2) All Things Happen for a Reason: A phone call came. A mistake was made. A promise was made to rub my feet. None of it mattered, though, because the time that I spent as a result of “the mistake” was probably one of my best memories of the trip. I got to sit and laugh and talk and listen to a woman that has been through so much lately. A woman that I feel I know–deep down–and who knows me just as thoroughly.

3) Gathering of Butterflies: Everything ready to go, Alli had a bunch of us all come to her room. There we talked about anything and everything, and I’m sure everyone had some level of butterflies in their bellies. Some more than others, I would say. We listened. We laughed. We loved.

4) High Five: Some friends couldn’t physically be there. But that didn’t mean they weren’t there with us. Amber had a moment with Lisa on one of the beds in our hotel room. Some other “flat friends” even got kisses from the likes of crooner Harry Connick Jr. and Food TV star George Duran.

5) You Are Here: The Gaylord Opryland Hotel is nothing if it isn’t vast. In spaciousness. In beauty. In grandeur. At first I cussed my head off about the amount of walking we’d have to do on a daily basis, but in the end I was thankful for it. I actually think they made it gorgeous on purpose, as to detract from the walking factor.

6) 8:15: The day started early, and I knew it would be filled with busy-busy-go-go-go. A meeting in one of the smaller conference rooms, after some good coffee and breakfast, and we were off.

7) My Friends Have Style: Coming to BlissDom I knew so many of my friends would be there. I also knew that new friends were waiting to be made. Angie was one of them. We’d Skyped and emailed, as we were doing the Photography Workshop together, but other than that I didn’t know her. We hit it off, for sure, and once I saw her shoes, I knew that I’d love her forever.

8) My Friends Have Smile: This is the part of BlissDom that you can not ever put a price on. It’s the love of friends who love you unconditionally and fully. It’s the love that is exuded through their brilliant smiles. And it’s the knowing that you belong and have a tribe.

9) Your Attention, Please: There is nothing–I mean NOTHING–like people coming to a workshop that you are a part of, and paying attention intently to all that is being said. It’s a shared passion; one that feeds the creative soul. Looking out into the see of Photography Workshop attendees, my heart filled.

10) We of the Writer’s Craft: Four women I respect wholeheartedly. One topic that is dear to my heart. Over an hour of Bliss. This workshop will go down–in my books– as the best ever. Megan, Arianne, Deb, and Amber. Four women whose voices are rich, and lovely, and everything profound. I thank them for their words. My sisters…

[This will be a ten part series that I will string through my blog for a while; I just want to keep reliving the bliss. My entire collection of photos from the conference can be seen on Flickr, but you should definitely come back to relive the bliss with me.]

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