I know after a long blogging absence most bloggers will write something like “I am sorry it has been so long” or “I missed blogging so much!” or something along those lines.

The truth?

I didn’t miss blogging.

I have been off the grid (with the exception of occasional Facebook or rare Twitter and of course I have had my weekly online column for Parenting) and it has felt good.  I so needed a break from the … how do I put this?  I needed a break from the drama and crap that seemed to have swirled around the mommyblogging world.  (Review or don’t review.  Ads or no ads.  Tranparency or no transparency.  Sponsorship or no sponsorship.  Enough!)  So, I just unplugged and enjoyed life without worrying about my site, my ranks,  review opporunities etc.  I just unplugged.

So what did I do?

Well, I enjoyed a week’s worth of this:

During the day I was able to relax and just enjoy the calmness of life.  I was able to actually find peace here:

When it was too hot to play in the sun and surf, I hung out with these fun people:

I can’t tell you how much I needed time away from everything that was reality based.  It was good for my mental health and good for me to find peace that I am going to need for the upcoming months.  (Though, I am ready to go back and find my Zen on the beach again!)

If you emailed me and I never responded, I apologize.  I had well over 1,100 emails when I got back and I am sure I missed more than a few.  I am sorry.  If I owe you a phone call and have not gotten back to you, don’t hesitate to call me or shoot me another email telling me to get on the ball.  I know I have been out of touch at times that it was tough for others.  But for me?  It was a break I had to have!

Now?  I am working my tail off until BlogHer.  Which I hear is just around the corner.

That’s right.  I am going to BlogHer.  I figured after being there every year,  how can I miss the 5th anniversary?  The answer is, I can’t!    There is so much going on in such a few short days.  (Hello? Nintendo?  Remember me and all the work I did for you? The friendships?  The whole tattoo with “I heart Nintendo” just for you?  Looking for your email! I’m just sayin! *grin*)  Anyway, I am really looking forward to seeing some old friends and catching up.  I look forward to making new friends and learning about bloggers I have only read online.  And?  I look forward to laughing with some absolutely amazing women.  Because I have some of my best laughs while I am at BlogHer. (Are you going?  Let me know!)

Until then, it is work, work, work.  (And daydreaming about the beach!)

So, I am back baby.  I can’t tell you how often I will blog or what I will blog about because I am taking it as it comes.  Here you have it.   Hope you stick around.