Blognic 2006

Being busy with work, I haven't been visiting my favorite Lowcountry blogging sites lately. Last night, I was finally able to catch up on the latest news and I was excited to learn that the bloggers, specifically Eugene and Heather, had organized a Blognic at James Island County Park for today. For the first time the bloggers' families were welcome to attend. Sweet!

Husband is very uh, dedicated (no, not obsessed), to his World of Warcraft crap. Usually on Saturdays, he schedules himself to make war on other guilds, or hunt down the Spider Queen of Nordor, or whatever. Thus, in my experience, getting him out of the house on a Saturday is a difficult proposition. So... I engaged in some behind the scenes orchestrating to guarentee that he would have to go to the blognic with me. As I was reading Daughter Corduroy last night, I asked her if she wanted to go to a picnic the next day. "At the park?" she exclaimed.

"Yep. And they have a playground too!"

"Oh yay! I love picnics and playgrounds! And the slides. I love the red slide that goes round-and-round! Is Daddy coming too?"

"Hmm... I dunnoooo. Why don't you go ask Daddy to come here and we'll ask him if he wants to go? Tell him it is important"

"Oh-tay!"

Daughter scrambled off her bed and sprinted into the office. I could hear her excited chirping from the next room.

"Daddy! I've got something important to tell you! Guess what? We're going to a picnic tomorrow! And Mama says that you are going too!"

Hmm... not exactly correct, let's see how this one plays out.

Husband ambled into the bedroom where I still was and asked what was going on. I casually asked him if he wanted to go to a picnic tomorrow and shock-of-shocks... he said yes. Sweet!

We woke up this morning to a 35 pound child landing on our heads and yelling, "Get up! Get up! We don't want to be late for the picnic! Or the slide! I love playgrounds!"

I managed to drag Husband out of bed and get the three of us ready to go and in the car. On the way to the park, we stopped at Bi-Lo to get some cookies. Two dozen chocolate chip, and two dozen sugar cookies with sprinkles (or "polka dots," as Daughter termed them.)

At this point, I would like to further congratulate the city of Charleston for its dispairing lack of adequate street signs. We were lost for about 15 minutes before we figured out how to make the connection to the freeway that leads to James Island.

(Note from Husband: "We" didn't get lost, April did. And "we" didn't figure out how to find the freeway, I did.)

(Note from April: I got married for a reason, kay?)

Once at the picnic, a good time was definately had by all, even despite the Great Paper Plate Fiasco of 2006. I really enjoyed talking with all of my fellow bloggers. Even Husband had a good time! Daughter was very well-behaved, I think.

The only problem that we encountered with her was that the picnic was within sight of a water play yard. A dozen or so childen in swim suits were running and splashing through the refreshing fountains. Daughter naturally wanted to join them. Hell, I was so hot and stickly that I wanted to join them. However, sensability must reign. I pointed out that she didn't have a swim suit on and I didn't want her clothes to get wet. She countered that this was not a problem, she could take off all of her clothes. I responded that we don't get naked in front of strangers. Daughter suggested that if all of the kids left the water play yard, then she could get naked and play in the water. I figured that with the heat and humidity of the day, the scenario she envisioned was unlikely to occur, and so I gave her a non-committal "We'll see."

Around 3:30 p.m., the bloggers were all packing up and getting ready to leave. Husband and I grabbed what was left of the cookies, took some Doritos that Jared didn't want (thank you!), and a 2-liter of soda that noone else was claiming. When Daughter figured out that we were heading to the parking lot, rather than the fountains, she began her rebellion. She planted her feet in the ground, stuck out her chin, and said, "I don't want to go home!"

My hands were full of cameras, purses and snack foods, so Husband picked her up and took her kicking and screaming to the car. Daughter was inconsolable for much of the ride home but she eventually fell asleep in the car. I blame myself a little bit for this, I really shouldn't have lied to her and suggested that maybe she could play in the water. But on the other hand, she probably would have had a temper tantrum during the picnic if I had given her a firm "no" to the idea then.

In spite of that family snafu, all three of us had a very good time. As we were leaving, several bloggers said that we should do this again sooner rather than later. I hope we do.

Eugene, patron saint of Blognic 2006. Not pictured: Nala, divine crumb-destroyer.

Dan and Jared, who I think was swallowing a chicken bone when I snapped this picture. Sorry, dude!

Heather, without whom we wouldn't have been blognicking. Also, Mark, without whom, I would not have any interesting pictures to share of the event.

"Hi, I'm Mark. I just turned one. Oh, I see you have a camera. I'm very photogenic. Five seconds after you snap this picture: I will seduce you with my big blue eyes, toddle over to you and grab your camera lens with my sticky yummy fingers. Prepare thyself."

Other Blognic posts (in addition to the ones linked to above):

• Notoriously Nice Mike - To whom I must apologize for not sampling his gourmet goodies! I didn't notice them until I had already tanked up on cold chicken and Doritos.
• Cavaliers and Roundheads - by Jason, who took much better pictures than I did. Including some nice ones of the "Meretrice Clan." Thanks, Jason!
• SunnieFaerie - whose children were so sweet. Her son took Daughter over to the playground at one point, and he was so polite!