Silicon Valley Moms Blog

My thoughts on the TODAY SHOW interview

Over the past few days, I have received hundreds of emails asking about my thoughts on the TODAY SHOW interview.  I actually decided to stay offline for a few days because I needed to clear my head and find the right words to share.  Just for the record, my name is NOT Maria.  My name is Jill Asher and the chyron was marked WRONG!  Ok, now that we got that out of the way, my Grandma will feel MUCH better.

I was incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to speak about "mom blogging" in such a public forum with Kristen and Mir.  Both the Today Show Producer and Reporter, Janet Shamlian were extremely professional. They filmed hours worth of quality discussion, including why we blog, the importance of community and networking among women, the opportunities that have been afforded to us because of our blogs, our challenges and fears about blogging, how we got started in this new medium, how much we want to share about our personal lives, how much we want to remain private.  It was a wonderful few hours, and no, NOT a "yap" session. Obviously, most of our discussion was cut from the segment. 

I sincerely hope we did a small part in shining a positive light on the mom blogging community (aka the Momsphere) and our sister sites. (Actually, I was praying for days prior to the show that I would not sound like a big ass!)  In the end, the segment did seem rushed.  I guess I should have known that what I envisioned would be a smart, insightful and interesting conversation about women, blogging, networking and community would turn into a few sound bites .  Yes, lesson learned in a very public way.

I also thought about sharing my thoughts on the Kathie Lee Gifford interview with Dooce, but realized our friends throughout the blogosphere did a fantastic job giving their two (or ten cents).  The blogosphere is a buzzing.....  Today Show, MSNBC Exec's, I hope that you spend some time going through these sites and listen. 

• The Huffington Post: Katie Couric Gets it.  Kathie Lee, Mmmm, Not so Much.
• Silicon Valley Moms Blog: Not Just A Mom
• BlogHer: The Business of Mommyblogging on The Today Show
• Tales From The Dad Side: TTS: The Today Show Does Mommy Blogging
• Ms. Single Mama: Kathle Lee (a.ka.a The Idiot) meets Dooce
• Shine: Mom blogging worries Kathie Lee Gifford
• Laptop Television Mom:  "The Mom Blogs" on the Today Show
• Sarah and the Goon Squad:  Today on Today
• Life In the Garden:  On Dooce
• Working Mom Against Guilt:  Mom Bloggers On Today Show
• preteens, toddlers, and newborns, oh my!:  More Cursing
• Marketing Roadmaps:  A Mother of a Day:  Mom bloggers on the Today Show and a bad-ptich-apalooza
• A Mommy Story: Did You See The "Mommy Bloggers" On The Today Show?
• BusyMom.net:  Kathie Lee Gifford gave me pinkeye
• Don't Take The Repeats:  Who exhumed Kathie Lee and put her back on tv?
• Lady M: The Today Show, Mommybloggers, and Early Experiences with the Press.
• Double Life of the Red Bull Mom:  Boooooo Kathie Lee Gifford
• Trying to Gracefully Go Thru life: No wonder she left tv
• Baby, Toddler and Beyond: Shame on Kathie Lee!
• Adventures in Juggling:  for my local friends who read the Stockton Record article and don't know about this "mommy-blogging"
• Geeksugar:  How Tech Savvy Is Your Mom
• Parentdish:  Kathie Lee Gifford "uncomfortable" with mommyblogging

(I know I am missing many posts, so please leave a comment below and I will link to you in this recap.)

This is an original post to Silicon Valley Moms Blog.

Just another Friday night... as I ponder life.

I sit here, this Friday evening and I type.  I write.  I pray. I use this as my diving board, as I plunge into my thoughts. I am not special.  I should have known that at some point, it would be our turn to face a tough situation.  My mother has leukemia.  As I type the word "leukemia", I think that it must be another person facing this terrible diagnosis. No, not me.  Not MY family.  Isn't this suppose to happen to someone else?  Anyone else?  Maybe I have just been in the middle of a bad dream, and soon I will wake up and all will be fine.  Mom will be cancer free.

But then, shouldn't I feel lucky?  We got the word just a month ago.  A marrow match from an unrelated donor has been found.  Not only a match, but a PERFECT match, meeting ALL the markers. SHE HAS A FIGHTING CHANCE FOR A CURE.... Mom will be admitted to Stanford Hospital this Sunday and begin the immuno-suppressants.  The following week she will receive radiation and then the marrow transplant.  Ah, the perfect gift for Mother's Day.  They are going for a cure.... through the kindness of an anonymous, unrelated donor.  We have no idea who her donor is, but we have learned something very interesting about our "angel".  Her donor is a HE and HE is twenty five years old.  HE lives somewhere in the United States.  HE agreed to take medication this past week to increase his stem cells, which were removed TODAY through a blood donation. HE agreed to help save my mothers life. HE made the conscious decision to help.... And for that, words can not express how grateful we all are to this young man....

Keep saying it.  Keep thinking it.  They are going for a cure.

Watch Now: MomBloggers On The Today Show

If you missed mombloggers on the Today Show live, watch here, and find out just how influential bloggers and YOU readers are!

No Matzo for you if you live in the Bay Area!

Kvetch time!!!  Matzo, matzoh, matza, matzahs... I don't care how you spell it.  All I can tell you about matzoh/matzo/matzah is that you CAN'T buy it in the bay area this week.  Nope, nadda, don't even try.  There is to be no matzo for your Jewish family this Passover season.  Maybe you should try going on Ebay or call your friend from another state to ship you some. 

Who would have ever thought that our beloved grocery stores would not have matzo over Passover! Oy vey!

A couple of rumors are floating around. But who really cares about rumors when you have no mazoh in the cupboard!  Hello Molly Stones, Safeway, Trader Joes and Costco.  Didn't you preorder your matzo months ago for your Jewish customers?  Don't you know that matzo on the shelf means dollars in the cash register? I depend on you to help me observe the Jewish holidays.  I went to all of your stores the past few days, searching for a box of matzo or matzo meal.  The word matzo would come out of my mouth, and the sales clerk would say, "sorry".  We have no idea why we can't get matzo into the store.
At least it was not just us... Los Angeles was outta matzo as well.

So blogging public.  What is the real story behind the lack-o-matzo in Silicon Valley?  Curious Jewish Mama's want to know.... cause this is going to be a loooong week without matzo or matzo meal.  And if anyone knows where to find the coveted matzo, please share.....

An original post to Silicon Valley Moms Blog.

Silicon Valley Marrow Drive - APRIL 19th

My fellow Silicon Valley Friends! I am asking every viewer, every person living in Silicon Valley, everyone in the blogosphere....to help me spread the word about a Marrow Drive that we are co-hosting on April 19, 2008. We have pulled together corporate sponsors (THANK YOU 23ANDME), community sponsors (THANK YOU PAMP and the PAUSD) and have been mentioned in the newspapers (THANK YOU Palo Alto Daily News, Palo Alto Weekly), as well as some highly visible sites and blogs:  THANK YOU Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Burbed.com, BusyBodyBook Blog, A Parent In Silvers Spring, Citymama, ModMom, Finding Bongamom, Filipina Moms , Pinoy Moms Network, Plain Jane Mom, Kimchi Mamas, Goodies For Mom, Myhamptons Mag, Zoosse, Adventures In Babywearing, Moody Mommy (PMDD Made Me Do It), The Daily Grind Of A Work @ Home Mom, Stimeyland, BlogHer (Mommy Bloggers Give Back), BlogHer (BlogHer Needs Your Help), The Silent I, Petroville, Cool Web Moms, The Mama Bird Diaries, PunditMom, Not Just A Working Mom,  Mom's Favorite Stuff, MamaLaw, To Think Is To Create, Go-Go Mommy,     ... (and if I am missing anyone, just leave a comment below and I will add your site/blog name to this post!)

• Why have I organized this event?  Click Here. Yes, this is personal. 
• Why are thousands of people in need of a marrow transplant?  Click Here.
• What happens if you are contacted as a possible match?  Click Here  Seriously, it is not as scary as it sounds....
• Can you make a difference and possibly save a life?  You bet.....

We are making an extra plea to get minority and/or multicultural communities and ethnicities out to this drive. The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) is in dire need of Asian, Hispanic, African American, Indian, South Asian/Pacific and American Indian donors.  With that said, ALL RACES and ethnicities are encouraged to come out to our drive! Please.... please help us spread the word.  Please show up on April 19th.  Please become a potential donor. 

There is no fee to become a donor (Thank you again 23andME.  This Silicon Valley Company is covering all expenses to get your matching into the database).  On April 19th, the National Marrow Donor Program will take a swab of saliva.  That is it.... (of course, if you were ever called as a potential match, more would be asked of you...)

Please.... support our drive.  Become a donor.  You can possibly save a life.

Respectfully,

Jill Asher, Co-Founder of Silicon Valley Moms Blog

• Date:  Saturday, April 19, 2008
• Location:  95 Crescent Drive, Palo Alto, California 94301
• Time:  9:00am to 3:30pm
• To be eligible to donate, you must be between the ages of 18 to 60

......More information about our generous, corporate sponsor: 
23andMe, Inc. is a privately-held personal genetics company dedicated to helping individuals understand their own genetic information through DNA analysis technologies and web-based interactive tools. The company's Personal Genome Service enables individuals to gain deeper insights into their ancestry and inherited traits. 23andMe, Inc., was founded by Linda Avey and Anne Wojcicki in 2006, and the company is advised by a group of renowned experts in the fields of human genetics, bioinformatics and computer science. Its Series A investors include Genentech, Inc., Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) and New Enterprise Associates. More information is available at www.23andMe.com

The Mazoh Ball Soup Saga

Yesterday, my daughter was home sick with the cold.  So I, thinking like a good Jewish Mama, said to myself mazoh ball soup.  Julia needs mazoh ball soup so she can feel better.  You see, mazoh ball soup is the one and only thing that I can make, homemade of course, that tastes amazing.  Yes people, my great grandmother, Saidie Lasofsky passed it down to my mother who passed it down to me and I will pass it down to my daughters.  Simple, made with love and rocks any cold or flu or sniffle.  Ah, my secret Jewish Penicillin.

I dashed out to Whole Foods, purchased my secret ingredients (organic, of course!), made the oh-so-delicious mazoh ball soup and began nursing my daughter back to health.  She smiled and told me that my soup was delicious.  When Emily came home from school, I gave her some mazoh ball soup as an afternoon snack.  She smiled and told me that is way yummy in her tummy.  Both girls were happy, and on the road to recovery.  For dinner, we of COURSE had more mazoh ball soup, and by the end of the evening, there was a lot of chicken broth left.

I then asked my hubby if he could put away the dishes and soup, while I took care of the girls.

Ok Jewish Mama's... you are going to cringe in just a second.  Ready?

Stupidity At Its Finest: A Love Letter To Continental Airlines… on behalf of families with special needs and/or children.

Is it just me, or do we all see poor customer service given to families with special needs and/or children? Maybe I am just more sensitive to this, since I have two daughters. Maybe I am just fed up with businesses treating those of us with children like crap. Yes, businesses and corporations want our hard earned dollars to purchase their tickets, services and goods. But they basically want us to “show up” and then get the hell out of their way, because they are moving on to their next sucker. Wait, I mean, their next customer.

After a whirl wind few days in New York City and the Johnson and Johnson Baby Camp, I was anxious to get home and spend the weekend with my daughters. As much as I love going away on business for a few days (Yes world, there are times when it is all about ME), I love coming home. The flight to get me back to Silicon Valley was Continental Airlines CO 17021, departure to San Francisco  from Newark Airport. The flight was delayed, but the crowd was patient. We had no choice. 

Finally, we heard an announcement: boarding was going to begin (thank god.  I just want to get home!) Obviously, pre-boarding would begin for first class. The rest of us waited. Then the announcement came over the loudspeaker that anyone in Business Class could now board the plane. This group, as it was clearly announced over the speaker did NOT include families with young children or anyone with special needs. I began looking around at the many families with children who figured that they would be next and I reminisced….. Ah, traveling without a child is dreamy. I know how tough it is to push around a child (or two) and the car seat and the stroller and the diaper bag. I thought to myself, this group will be called next.

They weren’t. They were skipped and rejected!

Students For A Free Tibet: Making some noise on the Golden Gate Bridge

In case you have had your computer, tv and radio turned off this morning, there are three protesters that have climbed the Golden Gate Bridge.  All three of the protesters are tethered together and identified themselves Students for a Free Tibet . They have displayed a HUGE sign on the bridge in protest over the Olympic torch run through San Francisco, which is scheduled to make its only U.S. run in San Francisco on Wednesday.

At 11:20 a.m. the three climbers unveiled two mesh banners that read "One Dream, Free Tibet 08." The sign cast a shadow on the lanes of the bridge, causing drivers to slow down and read the text. 

Want more information on what is going on (and why traffic is going to be quite a mess today?)  Here is video from NBC 11 News. From CBS News, updates can be found here.  Check out KPIX's live cam for what's going down right now.

Yikes--be careful, protesters!

So SV Moms and beyond:   Should the torch make its way through the streets of San Francisco?   Thoughts on these protesters?  Did you even know about the human rights issue in China?  Do you think the US should boycott the Olympics?  Yes, I know.... a lot to chat about out......  It is time for an OPEN THREAD..... please share your thoughts!

The Today Show and Me!

...originally posted on April 3, 2008.  Rumor has it that this segment will will air today at 10:30am on the Today Show,  On the Emily front, she has not forgot my mishap and told the teacher's that "mommy forgot to pick ME up because mommy wanted to be in NYC with Matt Lauer".  Yes, I am already putting money away for a shrink. I can see it now: she will be sitting with a psychologist chatting about how "mommy blogged all the time and forgot to pick me up from school so she could be on tv....... What a terrible mother!"

Seriously, you want to talk to me?  Really, about Mommy Blogging?  You want to know about large corporations targeting the Mommy Bloggers because we... well... have a lot of viewers from all over the country (and world) reading our content?  You think I might have something brilliant to say about collaborative blogging?  Why would anyone want to be a mommy blogger?  Why are people reading and "listening" to blogs? Are we making a living from blogging?  I joined my newest, oh-so-fabulous pals Kristen and Mir for three (ok, more than three) hours of filming by the Today Show. Here ye, here ye....NBC wants to know about ALL OF US Mommy Bloggers! I believe the segment will air some time in the next few weeks.  Until then, my friends, go visit this post and this post because Mir can tell the story much better than I....

But... let me share with you a great "Mommy Moment" that happened yesterday while I was being interviewed.  It will show you why I deserve the "Parent Of The Year Award".  During the interview, my cell phone started to buzz. I could hear the vibrating noise, but was hooked up to the microphone and could not get out of my seat.  The phone kept buzzing, but I was busy, dammit.  It is not like every day you get to interview for a little ol' show that MILLIONS of people will be watching.  It is not like every day I get to hang out in NYC with Kristen and Mir.... the call can wait, right?

Shout Out to a Child-UNFRIENDLY-Restaurant: Mint Leaf, Palo Alto

So late this afternoon, my daughters (ages 8 and almost 6) two best buddies (ages 8 and 6) came over for a sleep over.  It was planned yesterday, and girls were buzzing with excitement all day.  BOTH of them would have a friend sleeping over for the night and they were elated.  When the two children arrived at our house, we talked about walking into downtown Palo Alto and find a restaurant for dinner.  After much discussion, the common denominator was pot stickers.  All the kids wanted a restaurant that offered pot stickers.  Since our favorite Chinese restaurant recently closed (Windy's), the hunt for pot stickers began.

In my official mommy voice, I told the children that we would walk to the restaurant, but that everyone was to be on good behavior during dinner.  "You must say please and thank you.  You must put the napkin on your lap.  You must look the waiter in the eye and politely order your food. You must stay seated the entire meal.  You must use a quiet voice when we are in the restaurant.  You must be angels.... or the sleep over won't happen."  They all agreed...... (Does this conversation sound familiar?)