I rarely post here but I wanted to write about my weekend at the PJ’s at TJ’s party I went to in Arizona this weekend, but I’m not sure if it’s actually a recap or just thoughts on some concerns I had before going and why I was a giant weenie and how none of those things happened.

Thing 1: I Won’t Fit In (aka I’m not 1. a blogger, 2. a mom and 3. a person born in the same decade as everyone else)

1. I wasn’t too worried about this. Look, I READ blogs and blog world chit chat is generally about what other people have written so I’m on equal footing. I too am a reader of the blogs. This is a reason this gathering appealed to me. I wanted to meet some internet friends but a lot of get-togethers are blogging related. But can I get together with people who talk to each other on the internet? Well, sure, I can talk online AND off. Look at me!
2. I like babies. I like baby stories, I do. But I didn’t want to be in a position where I had nothing to contribute to the conversation. Like going to a Star Wars convention and being all “Oh I’ve never seen that. Can we talk about something else?” (Shut up, I have seen Star Wars, it’s an example.) Lots of things were talked about including but not limited to: babies, nail polish, ice cream, pizza, Tom Hanks, in-laws, root beer floats, THAT DIP and stuff I’m sworn to secrecy about. That last part isn’t true.
3. This is probably stupid and I am perfectly FINE with having friends of all ages but when I was younger I wasn’t as open minded about it. (“40? ohmygawwwwwd, sooo old, oldie”) BUT! The important thing is it didn’t bother ME when was there and I’m the most important person here in my own head. I would way rather hang out with someone older or younger who I connect with than someone the same age who is a wiener. So. It wasn’t much of a thing. I think. I will wait to see if I’m described in any other recaps as THE OLD ONE.

Thing 2: I’ll end up sitting alone in my hotel room

I kinda almost sorta did this to my self but it was FINE. I didn’t plan on getting up for breakfast on Saturday because I was TIRED. But in the morning I realized well hey. I probably should have gone because now I am ALL ALONE WHAT DO I DO.

I texted Noemi and of COURSE she offered to come get me but I didn’t want anyone to go out of their way for me, but instead of feeling bad, I realized I was like “oh cool, an hour or so to flake out in a hotel room and read until someone is in the area” and that happened soon enough and it was all good and maybe what I’m saying is I’m not as much as a baby as I thought I was and found out it wasn’t actually a scary thing after all.

Thing 3: To Roommate or Not to Roommate

My gut instinct was to stay alone because I LIKE being alone but rarely am. But I didn’t want to be the person who looks like an antisocial snob either, AND I really considered a roommate for another reason: to avoid Thing 2, which we now know is not really such a big thing after all.

Also I am told I snore. The old one! She snores!

In the end I decided to stay by myself and in the future, I’ll probably do the same, but I think I’ll arrange to have A Person – someone who will stay in the same hotel, who also needs their own space but can be my roommate by proxy.

Thing 4 No one will like me/I won’t like them
I realize no one would TELL me if they didn’t like me, but I didn’t get that vibe from anyone, at all. As far as I know, this didn’t happen or else everyone was very good at faking it. And I really did like something about everyone. Good crowd, these TJ readers.

Thing 5 What if I meet people I *thought* I liked and actually do NOT like them? Would that ruin our online friendship?

Does that make sense? First of all, this wasn’t a BIG concern, at all. Really. But I had “What If’d” it a tad. For example: TJ online is hilarious and sharp and smart and reasonable (which may sound like a weird compliment but GOD I LOVE reasonable people). What if I got there and she was totally different and I wanted to unfollow her while I was sitting right there in her own living room? WHAT THEN? But you know what? Everyone was the same person I thought they’d be. TJ is hilarious and sharp and smart and I like her, as I knew I would. I’m sure she’s super relieved and happy that a person who doesn’t know how to use a credit card machine thinks she is smart.

Thing 6: and vice versa

Well, first. Because someone follows me on Twitter, does that mean they LIKE me? I’m not sure. I don’t blog so how would people know if I’m the same person or not, based on 140 characters? I do know I didn’t talk as much as I normally do. It wasn’t intentional, but I really was enjoying listening to other people, so in retrospect I’m not sure how I may or may not have come across. One person (can’t remember who!) told me I wasn’t what they expected, so I’m not sure if people thought I’d be talking a lot in ALL CAPS and yelling FUCK all the time or what, but if anyone thinks I was “quiet” please let me know because HAHAHHA I will show it to all my friends and family and they will KEEL OVER DEAD FROM LAUGHING.

Thing 7, I didn’t think of ahead of time but was this: I was afraid to touch the babies.

I WAS. My friends in real life have been fine with me picking up their babies because they know I’m reasonably hygienic and not a hoarder but I’ve read things where people are all “AHH THAT PERSON TOUCHED MY BABY WHAT A FREAK I HATE THEM” and I did NOT want to be that person. Or the person who asks and puts the mom in a difficult position (“Is there any way you could prove the clothes you have on right now weren’t dug out from underneath a dead cat?”) So I erred on the side of caution. Please don’t think I didn’t like your babies. I did. So much.

Oh god. Let me see if I can wrap this up:

I’m glad I went. I genuinely liked something about everyone and I laughed a lot and went for a mani/pedi with about seven other women and when was the last time I did that? (Never.) And there was pizza and ice cream and cute babies. There was nothing to be nervous about. So, past me, stop worrying and just go. Go meet your friends. I promise even if you drop your sandwich face down on the floor the first night, they won’t kick you out. I now know this from experience.

Thanks for a fun weekend, friends.
(if I’ve forgotten anyone, tell me NOW before I die of embarrassment). 

Andrea’s little girl was so sweet and they cuddled all weekend and it was very cute.
Brooke is super cute and has fantastic hair and found us a place to have our nails did.
Diane is quiet but when she does talk she is fucking hilarious.
Elise was always smiling and brought us presents from her top secret lair.
Erin’s baby has the best cheeks ever and Erin got us to the airport in time, hurray.
Jess is really warm and also has fantastic hair and an adorable baby who made me giggle with his super fast crawling skills.
Jess is quiet and sweet and we shared a Snuggie and she didn’t hog it.
Kammah BOUGHT me the Snuggie, how sweet is that?
Kara is quiet but very friendly and was always smiling.
Laura Michelle is almost the same as Lara Michelle and her baby swears and we have the same taste in pajamas.
Linnea picked me up at the airport and we got lost but we had fun being lost and she can cut across four lanes of traffic without blinking an eye.
Megan is quiet at first, but super funny.
Noemi is friendly and gorgeous and has fantastic hair.
PENNY IS EVEN CUTER IN REAL LIFE, FOR REAL.
Phil brought us pizza and looks at Kelly & Penny with LOVE EYES and so he is the best.
Phil’s aunts are super nice and fun and oh man, you can tell how much they love Phil.
Stephanie is super friendly and easy to talk to and picked the best mani/pedi colour.
Kelly opened her home to us and everything was perfect and she even put A BED in her living room for us. I laughed every time she said anything, I could talk to her forever and she helped me pick pajamas at Target, she wins, the end.

I need advice on a present for him. The first year we were together, I gave him a day pass to Whistler.  I came up with the idea myself, he hadn’t hinted at it, and I wrapped it up with a card that said something like “What I want to give you more than anything is happiness, and I know how happy being on the mountain makes you. I hope that when you use this pass you are filled with happiness and maybe, just maybe, think of me.”

I’m awesome.

It was such a big hit that I gave him the same gift last year, even though it felt like a bit of a cop-out to get him the same gift two years in a row. But he loved it.

And so now, it’s his birthday in a week again. His 40th birthday. I’ve asked him what he wants and he said, unsurprisingly, “ski passes”. I want to get him what he wants, but I also want to make this birthday special, and I don’t want to give him the same present every year for the rest of his life.

Another idea I had was to get him a Bluetooth headset for his phone. He is in his truck, speaking to clients, all day long. Early next year a law will come into affect making cell phone use illegal while driving, except with a headset.

I know this would make a crazily un-sexy gift, but I also know he will HATE to part with the money to buy one himself.

If I was a lesbian and had a girlfriend, I would know, for certain, not to buy this for my partner as a birthday gift. Practical is not what we chicks want in a birthday present.

But what about men? Would he appreciate not having to spend his own money on a head-set? Could it be seen as a new toy? What about the fact that I’d be buying him the gift of “No Tickets” and “No Jail” and maybe even “Not Dying”?

As I write this, I’m leaning towards maybe giving him this as a Christmas present, instead of a 40th birthday present. But that leaves the question of what to get him for his birthday open.

Help me! Men – are practical gifts appreciated or lame? Women – what have you bought your significant others lately that they really loved?

Any help would be appreciated – thank you in advance!