Redirecting is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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Oops. That was unintended, but my lack of full-time computer in my own regular writing space really messed up the updating here. Thankfully it looks like I will be up to speed in the coming week (new motherboard! shiny!) and the blogosphere will return to normal as I begin to share with you again.

How the Interwebz survived without me for so long is beyond my understanding.

In other news, I’ve acquired my .com – as in monicabrand.com – and for a few days of sheer stupidity, I thought I was going to have two seperate blogs. Paperbridges and the new one. Then I remembered how sometimes writing for one blog could go neglected for days, weeks, so how could I possibliby maintain two blogs.

Like, duh.

So I’ll be transferring everything here to the new url (should that be all in caps? URL?) and redirecting my original monicabrand.net and paperbridges.net.

And with that bit of information, we have reached the “too much information” part of the title of this post.

See what the blogosphere has been missing?

How did it survive without me?

That was a nice break and other TMI is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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My laptop died six days ago. Today I finally had an inspiration to write here.

Writing, and blogging, by my highly intelligent smartphone is do-able. I guess. I don’t think I can embed links. I could copy and paste, but make it look pretty . . .?

This is no-frills blogging at it’s best.

Happily my lack of laptop hasn’t stopped my Internet social life.

If my mobile was to die or be lost or stolen, then the withdrawal symptoms wouldn’t be pretty.

I took this picture of my desk right before the laptop died. I took it because I wanted to remember the late summer, afternoon light on the wall, the chaos of papers, the VBS craft that will someday be lost to time.

But I may have captured the final moments of an object that feels like an old friend.

New motherboard on order; let’s see if Dell can be resurrected.

Picture of an old friend is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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Writing this on my mobile phone.

Isn’t technology fun?

Testing, testing is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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Truth is, I’m not sure of the value of personal blogging. I tend to pour my heart and soul into what I want to say about a topic important to me and then . . . it hasn’t the desired effect. Or is it affect? Those two always stump me. Grammar police, you out there?

Communicating what I believe is important to me. Blogging here is a great way to do it. Fast, cheap, easy. When I worry too much about comments (or lack thereof), my ego – and this little blog – takes a hit.

Monica, stop caring about what you can’t control.

I know.

I know.

Hopefully this little blogging pep talk will motive me to get back in the paperbridges saddle to keep riding on.

Anyone still reading?

Well, that was unexpected is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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I’m still in holiday mode.

Back on Monday.

1 – 1 – 11 is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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Did I tell you guys in August I went kayaking for the first time since my honeymoon? I wish I had pictures and video. Chicken me didn’t want to risk the cameras on the boat. This kayaking was only on a large pond (lake? not sure) in a dinky kayak on the most placid water, but still . . . I was in a kayak.

The paddling, sitting low in the boat, lower than a canoe, there is nothing like it. Being alone. I like that part too. I have these fantascies of owning a kayak. Me in a large, green sea kayak. Just me, the paddle, and boat. Sun and water.

Dreamy sigh.

The new blog is part reference (come find me, Google searchers!), part conversation on getting outside. Right now, I’m sparse on the chat side of the blog. If you are inclined, go check out my new space. Bookmark and subscribe. Share with all your friends. Comments! Or course, I’m attempting to make a buck with the affiliate ads I have on the site. I’ll let you know how it goes.

I’m looking for guest contributors too. If you like to get outside, and want to add a nice clip to your online resume, let me know.

Pssst. I started a new blog is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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I’m back to homeschooling and finding time to read great books after attending the Type-A Mom conference – the first conference I’ve attended to learn about blogging and social media. New friends were made, business contacts discovered and I have multiple ideas of how to take my blogging to the next level professionally.

Whew! It really was a whirl wind of a weekend.

Here are my tips for thriving at the Type-A Mom conference, especially if you are new to the conference scene.

Go with a friend:

Having a trusted, I got-your-back-buddy with you can make all the difference in how you experience a blogging conference. I lucked out by hooking up with Amy Thue as my roommate. We found each other on Twitter, via the #typeamom chat, and met for the first time at the Asheville airport. Amy and I have much in common (mom, blogger, Christian, conference newbies) so our friendship seemed years old rather than mere hours.

We’d walk to breakfast together, separate when interested in different workshop sessions, then see each other at breaks or meals. Talking with a friend in the hotel room at night helped solidify good ideas and decompress after a long day of taking in lots of information. And after being with lots of folks all day, it’s nice to just have one person to chat with.

Break out of your comfort zone:

Don’t spend all your time with your fab roommate; meet as many people as you can. I refused to let any shyness hold me back. I made many new contacts – people who may help me with online opportunities – just by initiating conversations. Odds are, that unknown blogger is just as shy or nervous as you are, so help her out with a smile and handshake.

On meeting your favorite bloggers:

You follow her on Twitter, read everything she writes, comment on her blog, maybe trade emails. Even though you have yet to meet offline, you consider her a friend and hope she feels the  same way about you. Don’t we all feel this way?

Before I arrived into that first group situation, I wondered if any of those wildly popular bloggers would recognize my name or ignore me (Hey, I survived high school as a member of that untouchable social class, a. k. a. the Band Geeks.) Well, all my self-doubt was unfounded because one of those “popular” bloggers could not have been more happy to see me. And yes, she recognized me – even before I recognized her.

It’s a joy to be recognized and embraced by women we chat with online, to have those familiar faces call your name from across a room and run up to you for a hug. Enjoy meeting your favorite popular bloggers, but don’t expect them to hang out with you the entire conference.

Be friendly, be yourself and don’t expect them to adopt you like a lost puppy.

About those after-hour parties:

I don’t drink. I don’t mind being around alcohol, but it bothers me to see obnoxious, drunk behavior (especially in women, but that’s another post for another time), so I was concerned the nighttime merrymaking might get over-the-top (I’ve seen Flickr photos of women dancing on bars at a blogging conference, hence my concern). Happily, I saw none of that behavior. (Yay! Let’s hear it for professionalism in the blogging community!)

As for Asheville

Bring your walking shoes. Asheville, North Carolina is a walkable city with unique shops, restaurants and local culture. My flight left late Monday, so I had plenty of time to visit and shop. Support the local economy when you visit.

What else would you like to know?

The hotel easy to navigate, staff friendly and helpful. The coffee was pretty good too. I lost track of how many times I said to someone, “I follow you on Twitter. It’s good to finally meet.” As a veteran blogger, I took away many new ideas, especially in the social media realm. Hearing again what I already knew about blogging, writing, SEO and publication solidified it’s importance. Some folks had their laptops, some left their computers home. Dress ranged from casual jeans and t-shirts to business attire.

These are my best tips for thriving at Type-A Mom conference.

Did you attend? What would you add to my list?

Thriving at the Type-A Mom conference: a newbie’s guide is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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To bring you all up to speed: went on vacation to Florida. Those of you following me on the Twitter must have figured that out. Now I’m preparing to go to Typeamom conference next week while I’m trying to find interesting things for the kids to do. This tends to happen in September. I get antsy like we should be doing some great strides in learning. You know – make it look good. I’m sure I’ll get over it soon.

Now back to life and getting ready for the conference. Not sure if I’ll have anything book-wise to post until after I’m home. Thanks for understanding.

I’m still here with my distractions is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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Oh, yeah. I’m all about the honestly over here in my humble spot on the web.

If you are new here. . . WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?!?!?

Seriously. . . .

Welcome to my thoughts broadcast to paperbridges.net, a place where I ramble on about (mostly) books, (sometimes) homeschooling and the (occasional) post about this journey of motherhood. Sometimes I may even write a post that hits all those marks (I am very talented in that way.)

I have four children, ages 12, 10, 8 and 5. One husband. All of us in New Jersey.

I spend far too much time on Twitter.

I tolerate Facebook.

I like coffee.

What else?

Ummm.

I might have a bit of a sarcastic streak that comes out every now and then. Not you could tell. *ahem*

Thanks for visiting. Leave me a comment, so I can come have a look-see at your blog. Thanks to Robin-girl for hosting.

Hello. Welcome to my lame Blog Hop ’10 party post is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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It’s Book Blog Hop time. See you there.

It’s Friday, you know what that means. . . is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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Isn’t she sweet? Meghan has bestowed a lovely award to my humble, little space of the Interwebs. Thanks, Meghan! Now it’s my turn. I answer the questions and pass the award on to other bloggers. The questions, with my answers, are:

What is one thing we don’t know about you? Did you know I can juggle, love spicy food, hate Lima beans, have an older brother and younger sister? (Aren’t I fascinating!)

If you were able to go anywhere today, where would it be? International: Ireland; State-side: Seattle, WA

What is your mission statement for your blog or the reason behind your blogging? The purpose of paperbridges.net is to point you to  good books, warn you of the less than stellar ones and to encourage the homeschooler freaks free spirits (especially you of the unschooling/super-relaxed mindset. I want to lift you guys up to do Great Things.)

What is your favorite trait about yourself? I am not afraid to try new things.

What is your Twitter handle or Facebook page? I actually have two Twitter accounts. Most of you follow me as @monicabrand. Now I have an account for all my book related tweets as @PaperBridges. If you want to hear about my kids, homeschooling and what I had for breakfast, follow monicabrand. Follow @PaperBridges if you could care less about the little details of life. Or follow me both at both accounts, I’m trying not to give the same tweet twice.

I’m not as active on Facebook, but I will be your friend. Let me know in the invitation that you know my from my blog. My account is http://facebook.com/monica.brand

I pass the award and questions on to An UnTraditional Home,  Sparking Adventures, Growing Urban Wildflowers, The Path Less Taken, Almost Unschoolers, and Adventures in Unschooling (Girls, I hope you all play along; I’d like to see how YOU answer the questions).

Readers, if you don’t know their blogs, please take a moment to go visit with a nice comment.

I win! is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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Don’t forget to hop till you drop with the seriously crazy long list of book bloggers. Add your book blog link, then go out and meet other book bloggers. Leave comments! Subscribe to someone new! Have fun. If you spill food or drink on a bloggers’ carpet, clean it up. Or call in the dog. That’s what we do.

It’s Friday, let’s go to the Book Blogger Hop is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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I just found the Book Blogger Hop in my Internet-rabbit-trails exploring. If you are in need of  more Kindred Spirits of the book blogger fare, click over to link up and have fun getting to know new-to-you book fans.

Blog Hop for book bloggers is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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The best part of NaBloPoMo (can you say that five times fast?) is the discipline of writing daily: You must post. I suspect pictures and video do not count. Since you must post original writing to your blog everyday for the month of June, that doesn’t give you a lot of time to worry about if the writing is as perfect as you would like.

Write fast, write brave. Or fail. This is not the task for the wimpy blogger.

This blog has seen me take this challenge on before and I almost made it, yet was foiled by a failing clock battery. This month I vow to do better, lasting to the bitter glorious end.

I will not be defeated by a faulty kitchen clock.

And honestly, I need a challenge. My blogging here has been quite uninspired and lacking in drive, going weeks with me updating. I’m hoping NaBloPoMo will help me to get into a good rhythm so I can continue to write everyday beyond June 30.

Who is brave enough to join me?

It’s only 9:30 p.m. – you still have time to make today’s deadline if you haven’t written yet today.

NaBloPoMo is here! Let the writing begin is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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Here I am on the ferry heading over to the City. I’m pleased I have no skyscrapers shooting out of my head (only my ears.)

Here we have Maureen Johnson during the opening remarks of the conference. I will not link to her blog, Twitter, etc. due to the poor quality of the photography. We WANT the authors to like the book bloggers, no? This picture says, “Book Bloggers Have Cheap Cameras.” (Sorry, Maureen!)

And this shot captures one of the sessions. I used my phone this time, so I could send it off into the Twitterverse. I can match the names to the faces . . . not this time. I should’ve used my real camera, I should’ve zoomed in closer, I should’ve demanded better lighting.

Note to self: Do better next time. More close ups, Monica!

And this will conclude all gushing regarding the conference; I will now return to regular fare of homeschooling posts and bookish thoughts.

Did you post Book Blogger Convention photos on your blog? Leave your link in the comments so we can come admire your camera skills (or lack thereof.)

In which I admit lame photo skills is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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I loved meeting faces for real, in the flesh, beyond the blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc. By far, this was the greatest benefit to me. I’m a social person, there is only so much the online social media can do before it comes across as not enough. Attending the conference was non-stop, “Oh, I know your blog,” and “I follow you on Twitter!” I did a lot of gushing, and there was an instance when I could only muster a “I like your shoes!” because shyness got the better of me (I really did like the shoes, a lovely red sandal.)

I can testify that Jennifer and Carrie ( of 5 Minutes for Books) really do exist In Real Life.

Having said all that, I wish I had more time with these people on an informal basis. I arrived at the registration table that morning later than most, so I missed most of breakfast. I left right after the conference to get home back to the kids, hence missing all the post-conference dinner invitations and hanging out.

If there is a Book Blogger Conference 2011, I must make more time for the social benefits of the conference, which means either staying in the city overnight or coming home later. I’m going to have to give this idea more thought because I’m not sure which solution is right for me.

I met new bloggers I’d never read before; book publicists and authors, all eager to talk books and reading. Too funny: all the business cards being passed around at lunch – this truly was a time to network and of self promotion, something I haven’t done in a long time as a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom.

I’ll take some more of that, please.

“Blogging with Social Responsibility” turned out to be my favorite of the workshops. “Professionalism and Ethics in Blogging” the least helpful.

What else?

I wonder if Maureen Johnson is as funny in her books as she was in her keynote speech. Going to have to read her to find out.

How silly of me to be apprehensive of traveling into the City. We – my husband decided to come with me – drove in to Weehawken to take the ferry over to 39th Street, then a short walk to the Jacob Javits Center. So easy! So pleasant!

My only quibble with the entire day happened at the end. There was a thanks to the organizers and we gave a standing ovation to one of the bloggers instrumental in organizing the conference. Then it was over rather quickly and it felt . . . anticlimactic. I would have liked to have seen an Open Mic session for five minutes or so.

Overall, a fabulous experience for the book blogger. Loved meeting People Who Get Me, enjoyed the sessions, and I’m inspired to keep blogging about books. (I may be writing more in the coming weeks about the conference as it sinks in and I feel a need to bounce ideas around.)

Uh- oh. Just got busted. Getting dragged back outside for Family Time. I think I’ll come back later with pictures.

Book Blogger Conference 2010: reactions and wishes for next year is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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Convention ponderings coming. . . is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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On vacation is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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Check out what Sarah is doing at her blog. You can submit a link to her Mr. Linky on Mondays for Tweets, Stumbles and all-around love. Who doesn’t like new visitors to their blog? Don’t forget to visit the other blogs participating. You never know when you will find a kindred spirit in blog form.

Exposing yourself is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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