Last season, on How It Is For Me.

Earlier this year, I lost my howitsisforme.com domain and tried to rely on The Facebook. But there are Friends and there are friends.

Here, I can say, "Come fill your plate if you're hungry. If not, I'm happy to eat alone."

Here, I can also take my metaphors too far. And I always, always, like to take my metaphors too far. Eat up.

So I'm back, 8 months later, wondering if I have anything left worth saying. So here's what you missed last season on How It Is For Me:

I hosted a kick-ass fundraiser for children's cancer research in the Spring.

After missing 80 days of Kindergarten, Aria went into "full remission." and hasn't missed a day of 1st grade. Her chemo-goldilocks are still royal.

We almost moved to Silicon Valley. Then didn't. Bye-Bye to my imaginary equity windfall. Bye-Bye to sunshine, ocean, redwoods and mountains. Bye-bye to Berkeley and UCLA listed as "state school" on the college budget.

I'm damn happy to have chosen the People's Republic of Oak Park. I'm alternately delighted and frightened to discover what I will do next. I'm filled with gratitude to have the freedom, at least for a little while, to try to figure it out.

Stay tuned, batfriends.

The Awesomeness of My People

(that is NOT a full "thank you" list. This is just the beginning. More to come.)

I planned last year's fundraiser mostly on my own, and it was a pretty simple affair. It earned $5K. I was motivated to up the ante this year. It's way more work than I expected, but I'm learning a lot. This week, I learned:

When you want something done, ask a busy person.  (credit: my mom). 

People who are too busy to help, but those who do anyway are the ones who know how to prioritize. They take the initiative, move fast, wrap up the details, and move on to the next thing. They don't need you in their face asking how it's going, because it already went. You don't follow-up with them, they follow-up with you.

Noreen, you are the busiest person I know, and your help has been extraordinary, unexpected, and deeply appreciated. Getting people in the door, getting donations from unexpected places, getting yourself and your great ideas all the way to Oak Park just to help nail down the details. Thank you.

Erica and Chris and Kath, thank you for being such great friends and reliable humans that you respond to every request and take care of things without me thinking twice. You are there to help how and when I need you, no questions.

Anna....thank you for booking a diverse music line-up that makes me think we should have charged higher admission, and for asking me for my 2 cents every step of the way. Chris Connelly, for serious? Thank you.

Andrea, your hot pretzels twists are extraordinary. And I cannot believe how much #$%^! work they are. Barbara I tried to make them, and the only extraordinary thing was the three hours we spent failing. I praise both your fortitude and talent. You are making hundreds of them? We are so not just giving these away at the fundraiser. I'll start making the price tags now.

Megan, you solicited raffle donations and recruited makeup artists for a fundraiser you can't even go to!

Lincoln School PTO, even though I can't help with your fundraising as much as I promised, you still stepped up to promote Aria's event in multitude ways to make a difference and reduce my anxiety about walking into an empty room on March 15.

You all just make things happen in the background, and whoosh, there they are. And your individual style in getting there makes me feel lucky to have such diverse and kick-ass friends.

The best help is the help I don't have to ask for, give much direction on, or worry about getting done. I need to step up my game and figure out how to get more people in the door so I make sure all your efforts are leveraged to their fullest.

Thank you!

We're Back! And we'll see you at Aria Rocks the Lemonade Stand!

Last year, we raised $5,000 for children's cancer research through a combination of wine tasting, online donations, and my dear uncle's marathon running.

This year, we're going to raise $8,000, because that's how Aria rolls...upward! And this year, she also rocks. Specifically, Aria will be at WIRE on March 15th at 1:30  for our fundraising party.

This year it's a family affair -- no sitter required!

Here's the place to donate to pediatric cancer research.

Here's the site with event details and to RSVP.

Endless thanks and gratitude to all who made last year's event a success. Every donation counts, even volunteer matters, and every one of you made a difference. 

Speaking of volunteers....who's meeting me Thursday night at the local watering hole to talk about gourmet pretzels, limoncello gelato, rainbow lemonade, and the 21+ lemonade stand? Clock's tickin'.

Aria Update: She has been mostly homebound for the last 2 months because her immune system isn't playing well with others. In fact, it's being entirely antisocial. But we hope by spring--actually by the time of this party---she will be back to her social butterflying. So make sure you come see her...she'll be looking for you.