Highlights from Aiming Low

I am no longer a blogging-event virgin. Though you call yourselves Aiming Low, you treated me to a far better dinner than the lousy double cheeseburger meal I paid for and shared with the rat bastard who never called again my other first.


So anyway...here's where I confess that more than a little preparation went into an evening out in public with other adults:

• Hair cut--a good three inches, with layers. Upon arriving home freshly coiffed, Gunnar wanted to know why the lady didn't give me a lollipop.
• My very first upper-lip wax. Something changes after age 30, rendering Sally Hansen bleach not quite good enough. My stylist also held me longer than a certain high school miscreant who claimed he didn't have my phone number with him in jail.
• A last-minute shopping trip for non-sneaker footwear. Not only did I drag the kids out under the pretense that we were picking up Halloween costume supplies (there's still time to get silver spray paint for Gunnar's robot costume; we've got PLENTY of boxes), but I made them share opinions on what purse looked best with my new boots (purchased to match my favorite black leather jacket that's been chilling in the back of the closet since the Clinton Administration). "Mommy, you already have a bag," was my two-year-old son's response. Men so don't get it. (But he still gets points for noticing my haircut.)

So I got on the T and headed into the city after dark. Surreal.

I met my friend Carly in the Prudential building and only made her endure a half dozen toddler stories before we reached the sign-in table (a record for containing myself around people without kids).

I got a beer (which I hate, but always order when I'm feeling awkward for its sheer simplicity) and forced myself to socialize. I even joked with some people about having a name tag on my boob not being the worst possible post-baby means of getting attention (in a room that was 98% women, but whatever).

Just when I was finishing off my plate of lobster ravioli (of which Chef Boyardee should really try to come up with a shelf-stable version), LZ of My Messy Paradise--who I've been so looking forward to meeting in person--came up greeted me with a hug. After reading each other's blogs for months, this seemed totally natural.

LZ and me, mugging for the camera like old friends

I also got the pleasure of meeting a bunch of fabulous bloggers whose work I haven't yet read but am looking forward to getting to know. No one came out and said, "Spawnocalypse? Never heard of you," or ran disgusted from my croaky voice and coughing fits (of course, Mommy couldn't go out without a little gift from the kids).

And on the way home, I learned an important lesson about Tweeting on a moving subway car. I held my lobster ravioli, but have never been so grateful to walk into an unlit parking lot in the not-so-super part of town.

Thanks, Aiming Low. I'll never forget you. (Pssst. You'll call, right?)