Don’t get me wrong, being unemployed and trying to live off of a tiny fraction of your former income sucks. It sucks big time! I hate not having somewhere to be every morning, even if the job was less than satisfying. It was nice being able to sleep in, the first couple of weeks, but even that gets old. Did I mention the lack of money?

Through it all, there were some positive things that have come from my untimely stint. I have had more time to spend with my husband and children. My daughter will be going away to school in a little more than a year and I appreciate having some extra time. This year, I have been able to become a more active parent at her school, Duke Ellington School of the Arts.  Also, I am glad that I have been able to spend time more time with my son. I have had to do battle with DC Public Schools in order to get him much needed educational support. I am glad that I have had the time to do it.

While I have been catching up on family time, I have not been sitting idly by waiting for that magical job offer. I decided to do something else. I organized UXCamp DC 2010 with the help of some friends. It was an awesome experience, I learned a lot, and, most importantly, I met expanded my networking circle. I would not have been able to accomplish this had I been working a full-time job.

Now that UXCamp is over, it’s back to the task of looking for work, but, I do it with an additional set of skills that I am sure I will get to use again soon.

So, my advice to you, if you are unemployed or underemployed, is to do something that you are passionate about. Take this time to relax, re-focus, and re-charge. Your next opportunity is waiting out there for you. Organize something, write something, do something.

No related posts.

UPDATE: Kevin and Thom read my email on-air. Thank you and I accept your apology.

The Sports Fix

Today, I am listening to the radio. I am listening to a ESPN 980’s The Sports Fix to be exact. The topic at the time is Gilbert Arenas and his stupidity for carrying a handgun into the locker room. So far, I am following along with the show and agreeing with most of the views and comments.

Then, all of a sudden, there is was…”Gilbert Arenas must be bipolar or something.” WHAT THE FUCK!!!

Yes, I was pissed. Yes, I am pissed. I marched downstairs to ask my husband what radio station he was listening to and told him why I was so pissed. I told him that I am sick and tired of people saying, “they must be bipolar” every time some idiot celebrity does something stupid. How does being an asshole with a gun equal bipolar disorder?

Here is what I wrote to The Sports Fix:

I enjoy listening to your show, I am not a sports fan but, my husband is. However, I was appalled this afternoon when one of you referred to Gilbert Arenas as being Bipolar because of his recent behavior. As a person that suffers from this disease, I am disgusted by the overuse of the term whenever anyone displays some sort of schism in their personality. Bipolar disorder is not a personality disorder, it is a mood disorder that can cause great damage to a person’s life if not end it all entirely.

I would appreciate it if, in the future, you would refrain from using that term unless you actually know that the person has been diagnosed as such.

I am so sick and tired of the use of bipolar being the code word for crazy. Bipolar disorder is a very real mental illness that affects moods, not personalities. If you don’t know, ask about it.

Related posts:

1. On Being Me

I have never been one to set goals and stick to them. So, at 43, why start now, right? Wrong. On this New Year’s Eve, I am going to set one goal. One that I should be able to keep up with and fulfill.

My goal this year is to be good to me. Sounds selfish, well it is, kind of.

Being good to me means several things. It means losing those extra pounds, it means eating better, it means quitting smoking, it means keeping up with my medication, and it means being fearless. It also means being good to others because I am being good to me.

My philosophy is that people treat other people poorly because they treat themselves poorly. I don’t want to be that person. I believe that people treat others selfishly because they treat themselves selfishly. Are you following me? Every action that we project out into the world is one that we reflect upon ourselves.

I believe in karma-what goes around, comes around. I also believe in the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I am going to be good to me so that others can be good to themselves.

First thing on my list is to forgive myself for all of the bad things that I have done to myself. This is going to be hard because I have a lot to forgive. I am going to start by forgiving myself for being who I am…a woman with bipolar disorder. After all, it is not really my fault, but I still feel guilty about it. I forgive myself for not finding out about it sooner.

I also forgive myself for not being a good sister. How could I have known that we shared the same blood when no one told me? I also forgive myself for not being a good daughter. I think that I have the right to feel a sense of abandonment after being put up for adoption, even if it all worked out for the best. I also forgive myself for not being a good wife. It’s hard being the wife of a police officer when every phone call late at night could be the one. Like the late night phone call you received announcing your father’s death or your aunt’s death or even your mom’s. I forgive myself for being afraid of the late night phone call.

In 2010, I am only going to make one goal. That goal is to be good to me.

No related posts.

About five years ago, I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. It was the best day of my life because I could finally put a name to the thing that had been haunting me for so long. I could finally put a name to the thing that had almost ruined me–mentally, physically, and financially.

There is not a day when I don’t wake up wondering how I will feel today. Will I be zooming around like a bat out of hell? Will I be brimming over with new ideas and ways to re-invent myself? Will I get to bed at 11 pm or 3 am? Or, will I sleep all day or drag myself through the day?

I just never know. What I do know is that it’s not my fault.

Sometimes it sucks because, back in the day, I would spend money like crazy and not care about the consequences. I bought a car, a 2002 Volvo S40, purely because I wanted it and I felt that I deserved it. I didn’t care that I paid way too much for it and I could not afford it. I needed it and wanted it that day and the fact that I had several months left on a lease contract did not matter. They took the old car and I took the new car. Crazy right? Don’t mention the Volvo to my husband, it’s still a sore subject.

When I told my friends about my diagnosis, they all said, “Really, you don’t look crazy.” Well, that’s because I am not. I am just the life of the party. I am just the person who is not afraid to do anything. I am just the person who always says “I can do that.” I am also the person who does not want to go out. I am also the person who is anti-social. I am also the person who misses deadlines and is always late. I am just the person who turns down your invitations to hang out. That’s just who I am.

They forget and I do not remind them. Sometimes I forget but I remind myself. I just have to remember that it’s all a part of being me.

No related posts.

I don’t usually write about politically charged issues such as abortion, but, today I will make an exception. I want to ask the question, ” Are you really pro-life if you take a life?”

For the record, I am pro-choice. However, I am not pro-abortion. I believe that it is a woman’s right to chose. As a mother of two, I can attest to the stress and trauma that a woman’s body endures during pregnancy. Any woman who says that, at some point it wasn’t hard, is just trying to get you to join the club. Don’t get me wrong, I love my children and I would not trade the experience for anything in the world, but it was hard.

Back to my original question. How can someone who claims to be pro-life not respect the sanctity of life just because the person is outside of their mother’s womb? I do not follow the abortion rights issue and I have never heard of George Tiller before today. I was not aware of the work that he has been doing. I just know that he is dead. Someone gunned him down in church. IN CHURCH!

How can that happen? Is there no place that is safe anymore? I don’t know why Scott Roeder did what he did. It could have been something completely unrelated to Dr. Tiller’s practice. However, the fact still remains that a man was killed in church while serving God and his community. That disgusts me most of all.

I am Catholic, but I do not follow the party line of most Catholics who seem to be pro-life or else excommunication. I believe that it is a woman’s right to choose.

I have always found it interesting that there are so many protests against abortion and rallies to protect unborn children, but the same vigilance is not shown for the children who have already been born. According to the Administration for Children and Families, in 2007, there were approximately 3.2 million referrals of child abuse and neglect for approximately 5.8 million children were made to CPS agencies. The ACF also reported that in September of 2007, there were 493,000 children in the foster care system across the U.S. Where are the pro-lifers? What are they really doing to protect children? Does their care and concern for children end once they are born?

I don’t usually get up on my soapbox, but it really pisses me off when people try to impose their beliefs on others. I am pissed off by the hypocrisy of pro-lifers who only care about unborn children and do little or nothing to help the ones who are already hear. I am pissed off by the hypocrisy of pro-lifers who march and protest kill for unborn children, but continue to cut funding for health care and education for the children that are already here. I am pissed off by the hypocrisy of pro-lifers who disgust us with images of mangled fetuses but, they want to deny services to families struggling to feed and clothe their children. What about the children who are already here? What about the families? What about the single mothers?

I do not like the idea of abortion, but who am I to judge another for choices that they make? Just as Hamlet says, “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”

To me, the pro-lifers have done nothing but fortify my resolve to remain pro-choice. I am pro-choice, but most importantly, I am pro-child and pro-family.

No related posts.

Okay, here it is. After several fits and starts, here it is. My blog. I have never really thought about seriously blogging before, even though I have had a blog for a while. I have never thought of myself as a blogger either. On some level, it seemed to be the opposite of everything that I learned in journalism school–unsubstantiated opinions about questionable facts.

My rules for writing were to never write anything about anything that could not be verified and sourced. To that end, I never really got around to writing anything because I did not have the time to research and then write anything. I am too anal to blog. I am working on letting some of that training go and just write about what I know and like and find faster ways to verify and source my information.

Why the change of heart? Well, I owe it at to a brief conversation with Anil Dash at WordCamp Mid-Atlantic. Aside from the fact that he gave an awesome keynote, he was gracious enough to talk to be for a few minutes about blogging. I appreciated the fact that he also spent time working at newspapers so, he felt my pain about journalistic integrity. Basically, he said that I just had to start writing about the things that interest me. Thanks, Anil!

So, in the words of Jay-Z, Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Glennette.

Related posts:

1. Too Anal to Blog

• @koa Yep. Sounds like it to me. #fem2 in reply to koa #
• @podagraph Glad to hear that the steak is doing well. in reply to podagraph #
• Has anyone else experienced the Now Network on Sprint. Check it out. http://bit.ly/4DrlD6 #
• RT @Gingerlatte: 90 ppl get Swine Flu & everybody wants 2 wear masks.Over 1,000,000 ple get AIDS & noone wants 2 wear a condom..Ain’t th … #
• @digitalsista I just saying. I want some one, any one to step up and run against Fenty. Don’t want 2 but I will. #dcpolitics #filthydirty in reply to digitalsista #
• @digitalsista That’s awesome. Congrats! in reply to digitalsista #
• Daugther called me a loser b/c I’m on Twitter. LOL #
• I’m attending ‘For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide… — http://bit.ly/2lTMhD #
• @ShannonRenee Nope! I’m not watching either. Mostly, b/c I don’t care. in reply to ShannonRenee #
• @ShannonRenee @koa @preppydude Things I’d rather be doing other than watching AI: Having my eyelashes yanked 1 by 1. #idontcareaboutidol in reply to ShannonRenee #
• @nerdette I’m with you. NCIS is pretty cool. in reply to nerdette #
• @digitalsista @digitalfangirl That’s too crazy for words! What’s the message here abt self-acceptance & body image? #fem2 in reply to digitalsista #
• @boobtubious Amen! in reply to boobtubious #
• Get your tickets today for “For Color Girls Who Considered Suicide.” Space is limited and tickets go quickly. http://bit.ly/Z8D5E #
• @syancyfox5 I wanted to go too, couldn’t leave the kids home alone. Do tell what you think. Love Terminator, love Christian Bale even more. in reply to syancyfox5 #
• I’m checking out a new twitter app to schedule dynamic tweets, rotate profiles, and use ’smart’ following — http://tweetspinner.com #
• glennette is at Washington, D.C. – http://bkite.com/07Hpo #
• Sipping wine and sangria with @kafiw at The Poste. #
• Proud of myself b/c I did NOT buy or smoke a cigarette after a evening of happy hour. Yeah me! #
• Thanks for following me @smokestik4, but, I’ve already quit. Don’t need an electric cigarette. #
• Star Trek gets two thumbs up and a bag of chips! #
• Bought 2 NYC guidebks. Planning to take kids on trip soon. I’m excited & so are they. #
• @digitalfangirl I know that’s right! They need to be set straight. #
• @digitalfangirl Where are their parents? I would have to pop my child in the mouth. #
• @digitalfangirl My kids would be afraid that some1 I know would hear them and tell. I know that I was as a kid. #
• I’m attending Twin Tech IV — http://bit.ly/hQjxo #
• @dcconcierge Glad you can drink again. in reply to dcconcierge #
• I’m attending For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide… (Sunday) — http://www.eventbrite.com/event/349855427/ – Washington, DC #
• I’m attending For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide…(Fri — http://bit.ly/2lTMhD #
• I used Nest Unclutterer to tidy up my Twitter account and fight Twitter spam: http://nest.unclutterer.com #

No related posts.

• Getting ready for #WWT session, Social Networks and Diversity Barriers, this afternoon at 1. #
• @loryn24 I hope that you can make it as well. in reply to loryn24 #
• @MadamaAmbi speaking for myself, I had to overcome shyness and awkwardness in social situations. not the case for every1. #WWT in reply to MadamaAmbi #
• @MadamaAmbi i believe that internalized sexism can be a factor in patriarchal families. i grew up in a woman-dominated family. #WWT in reply to MadamaAmbi #
• @PosieRider I believe that patriarch vs. matriarch makes a diff. pos & neg #WWT in reply to PosieRider #
• Dear waiter: If customer pushes half-eaten food aside, they didn’t like it. #
• Dear waiter: Don’t charge customer for replacement meal. #fail #
• Dear waiter: The customer is always right if you want a good tip. Even if it is just dessert and coffee. #
• My son said: My poem is going to be published, are you going to twitter about it? Yes, I am! #
• @MadamaAmbi I was raised by the family matriarch. #WWT in reply to MadamaAmbi #
• RT @mailchimp: Looking for a job? Do you want to be a President of Credit? Check this out!!! http://eepurl.com/bgXj LOL! #
• Expert=10,000 hrs or 5 yrs of 8hrs/day. What is your area of expertise? #
• @SarahTMoon Hmmmm. That’s a great one to have an expertise in. Definitely a win-win. in reply to SarahTMoon #
• How do you capitalize from your real expertise? #
• RT @koa: Twitter is a lot less interesting without other people’s replies. #fixreplies I agree!!! #
• @twitter Who complained about the reply settings? @Oprah and those that followed her? #fixreplies. #
• @MadamaAmbi Good question. My guess is that, from their perspective, they share the same womanist views. #
• Yeah, we’re back! #
• RT @mashable Twitter’s Response to #fixreplies: We Can’t http://bit.ly/BXKXc (via @tweetmeme) I am sure that they can figure it out. #
• Catching up on #ANTM. Hoping Teona wins. #
• OMG! Miss J is too over the top. I love it. #
• Still not feeling tyra, but… I am happy about the winner #ANTM #
• I am so happy that Teyona won on #ANTM #
• @zhuli I totally agree. She is good from the beginning. Allison just improved. #ANTM in reply to zhuli #
• @zhuli Hope so, I have been disappointed with last 2 top models. in reply to zhuli #
• Don’t miss ‘For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf’ June 5 – 7. Sabor Cafe in DC http://ow.ly/6MYi #
• RT @GeoffLiving: Buzz Bin: How 2 Win Friends & Influence ppl: Principles Applied 80 Years l8r 2 Social Networking http://bit.ly/OfJ3h #
• @digitalsista Hmmm. Well, guess he knows now why he is an ex. LOL in reply to digitalsista #
• I am really unhappy with new Twitter. Missing convos from ppl that I actually follow. WTF! #fixreplies #
• Just bought my train ticket to #wordcampmidatl! Looking forward learning lots. #
• @nerdette I’m here! Am I missing a party? in reply to nerdette #
• @nerdette No. I didn’t know where you were. Sadly, I am at home missing the party & wishing I were there. in reply to nerdette #
• According to Gladwell, to be the best=10,000 hrs or 5 yrs at 8hrs/day. What are you the best at? #
• @HopeChat Not really, Twitter hasn’t been around for 5 years. in reply to HopeChat #
• @nerdette Stop that impostor! It’s not me. Alas, I am home with the kiddies. in reply to nerdette #
• RT @pearlbear: RT @randomdeanna:Twitter: “We Screwed Up” on #fixreplies (Please RT!) – http://bit.ly/12A8EM (via @mashable) #
• @podagraph Thanks. How’s flat-hunting in the UK? in reply to podagraph #
• RT @deBradyMD: @technosailor #wordcampmidatl Starting 830am sharp…SOLD OUT, but walk-ups may be accepted if there’s room…:) #
• @theandystratton Looking forward to meeting you 2morrow 2 #wordcampmidatl #
• @deBradyMD See U in the morning.. Not an early riser either. Any1 else riding train from DC? #wordcampmidatl in reply to deBradyMD #
• #donotfollow @tarajihenson It’s not her, it is an imposter. So is @TarajiPenda. Both are fakes! #
• Explaining twitter to my 16 yr old. LOL #
• RT @egoldstein: RT @KrisColvin @Colgo twttr staff tweets http://twitter.100twt.com/ Is it just me, or R they sum of the most boring ppl … #
• Blogging is evolving and can become as powerful as social networks. #wordcampmidatl #
• @anildash says the key to blogging is to write about a topic that you are passionate about and own it. #wordcampmidatl #
• @theandystratton Not on the dev track, but would love to say hi. Lunch? #wordcampmidatl in reply to theandystratton #
• RT @annagabbert: Spamming the #wordcampmidatl hash tag – block @__Romriell__ #
• @koa That really sucks. If you click through to their twitter account, you can block them. in reply to koa #
• @koa Yeah, @twitter needs to get on the spam thing. They keep popping up in the hashtag. in reply to koa #
• @theandystratton In case you have not heard, I am looking for you. in reply to theandystratton #
• @theandystratton As a matter of fact, it was. LOL Thanks to Steve. in reply to theandystratton #
• Taking a minute to discuss the day’s events at #wordcampmidatl with @kafiw #
• Do You Have an Web Doppelganger – Is there someone on the web that is posing as you? Is there someone on the… http://tumblr.com/xwi1spzux #
• Do You Have an Web Doppelganger http://post.ly/Z8M #
• @koa Yuck! I hope that you feel better. This has been a particularly bad allergy season. in reply to koa #
• @skinnyjeans I am surprised that it took that long. I expected @Oprah to get to 1 mil that weekend. in reply to skinnyjeans #
• RT @shashib: Wohoo !#wordcampmidatl on Tech Crunch http://cli.gs/JTA9pW w/ my vid interview w/ @anildash R post http://cli.gs/36396a #
• RT @dcconcierge: DC’s 1st W Hotel slated 2 open (with a fab new steakhouse & wine bar) on July 8th in the old Hotel Washington space (15/E)! #
• Dear WordPress: Thank putting user experience as a goal, not an afterthought #wordcampmidatl #
• RT @technosailor: @markjaquith giving a sneak peek at WordPress 2.8 widget mgmt and theme installer – #wordcampmidatl #
• Excited about all of the new WP plugins I will get to try out when I get home. #wordcampmidatl #
• Freaking out b/c my external hd is dying and taking some of my music with it. #
• Getting ready to feast on my finds from today’s @bigbear Farmer’s Market. #
• .@cravenjade Holy crap! There’s a Seth Godin doll? Where can I get one of these? #
• @koa My mom always worked as well & she didn’t have kids of her own b/c I am adopted. #fem2 in reply to koa #

No related posts.

This week, I have a really long list because some people just need to be added week after week because I really like them. There are a couple of things going on this week.

On Tuesday, there was the Women Who Tech Telesummit. Here some great follows:

@WomenWhoTech – Congrats to Allyson Kapin for pulling together another successful event.
@conniereece – Read her post Five White Men Talk About Social Media
@randomdeanna – Very smart woman. Thanks for contributing to the conversation on social media and diversity.
@digitalsista – Always speaks her mind.
@MadamaAmbi – Thank you for contributing to the conversation.
@socialmediawoc – Continue the conversation about social media and women of color.

Coming up tomorrow is WordCamp Mid-Atlantic. I am really excited about attending and I am sure that it will be great.

@technosailor – The energy behind WordCamp Mid-Atlantic.
@amplifytheweb – The new way to share what you read on the web using WP MU.
@egoldstein – Co-founder of @amplifytheweb.

Other people you should follow.

@GeoffLiving - He’s just a great guy.
@mkutch – He is @aplusk’s brother, ‘nuf said.
@ShermanHu – Always helpful design and media links.
@beautifulthangs – Just a great person.
@Designbyn – Awesome graphic and web designer.
@veronicaeye, @Jillfoster, @jocelynharmon, @kafiw, @koa, @mjsante, @nerdette, @QueenofSpain, @rahsheen, @scottstead, @ShannonRenee, and @shashib

Until next time!

Related posts:

1. @glennette’s @followfriday for April 24
2. I’m not really into #followfriday
3. Glennette’s Rules for Social Networking

• @jessiex I hate that abt WaPo. They should know better by now. #
• @podagraph Cool. Moving across the pond! Me. Still in DC, shouting distance from Howard. in reply to podagraph #
• If you’re looking for something to do this Thursday, come out and support Duke Ellington Literary Media Dept. it’s DOPE. http://ow.ly/5a9A #
• @digitalsista Apple, so is the rumor on TechCrunch, wants to buy Twitter. in reply to digitalsista #
• Looking for something to do tonight? Duke Ellington Literary Media Coffeehouse. http://bit.ly/7BwK6 #
• Dropping off the kid. Heading to the Tweetup. #
• @shannonrenee I kept pressing the refresh button. #
• @shannonrenee On my way! Start pouring the martini’s! #
• Upping my chances of getting a cab by crossing the street. #
• Never mind , bus is here. More money for drinks. #
• Srly, this man is going to fall out of his seat on the bus–sleeping. #
• @jillfoster Order me a drink. Be there in less than 10. #
• id10t error. Wrong train. #
• Theses dudes are shooting dice on Metro. OMG. Where am I? #
• OH: You got $2 for 4 quaters? LOL Yep, they fell for it. #
• @technosailor LMAO!!! #

Related posts:

1. DOPE: Another Literary Experience