Things have been a little hectic over here, to say the least. Blog World Expo was great and I’ll blog more about it in the coming week. Our travels after that, though, were not so great. Nothing serious, in the midst of our “vacation” (and I use that term very very lightly) – I came down with the WORST case of bronchitis and ended up spending the entire time in a Nyquil haze in the hotel room. 
I have to call Jammie and beg her for forgiveness, as I was supposed to meet up with her and her husband while in SoCal I feel awful about missing that opportunity – but we will return to the LA area in May for a wedding. We got home from the trip and found that our beloved conure parrot had died while we were gone and then found out that my dad was having major surgery the same week! It’s been a whirlwind and I’ve been a bit nuts trying to catch up over here. It took us some time to get over losing Kiwi (our parrot) – we loved that little sweetheart so much! And my Dad is doing well today – he had his surgery last week Wednesday..I’ve not been home a whole lot.. lots of back and forth to the hospital over the past week…but things look good today!
As if all of that, plus work and last-minute book updates, weren’t enough to make me a little nuts – - why not add another project in the mix to cement the deal? Last week, Brian Garnder (of the insanely popular Revolution Theme) contacted myself and Wendy Piersall (of Sparkplugging.com fame) and asked if we’d join him in co-organizing a WordCamp Chicago. All of us being passionate WordPress users – how could we say no?? The three of us, along with Cory Miller (of the fabulous iThemes), will be organizing the event. You can check out Brian’s WordCamp Chicago announcement post on his site, as well.
Before we spend too much time working out the details, we want to get an idea as to how many people would be interested in attending a WordCamp in Chicago. (What is WordCamp, anyways??). We have the early stages of the WordCamp Chicago site completed with some early information. You can follow WordCampChicago on Twitter and subscribe to the WordCampChicago RSS Feed to receive updates as we make them to the site.
So, what do you think? Would you attend a WordCamp in Chicago? We’re really looking forward to putting together an amazing event – I hope to see many of you there!
Good luck with it.
1:15 pm on October 6th, 2008
Sorry to her, it’s no fun being sick in LA, especially the week you were down here. The weather at my house in Santa Monica was in the 90°’s, crazy!!
Hope all is well and better!
10:48 pm on October 6th, 2008
I was hoping WC Chicago’s gonna be on Feb ‘09, I’d really like to come!
But my Visa’s not even ready yet, so I don’t know if I can make it. 
2:18 am on October 7th, 2008
I’d definitely be interested in attending.
11:47 am on October 7th, 2008
Lisa,
So sorry to hear about all your trials & tribulations. Hopefully you’re getting a jump on your 2009 quota and will just sail through the year with nothng but good stuff.
I can definitely relate to losing Kiwi. We used to have a scarlett macaw. I came downstairs one morning and he was hanging upside down from his perch with just one claw. Rushed him to the emergency vet who stabilized him till the avian vet diagnosed and treated him for psiticossis (sp??). Thought he beat it but 6 months later it was all over without a hint he was even sick. They are so much personality in such a little package.
2:57 pm on October 7th, 2008
Rick – thanks for sharing your story! Not a whole lot of people understand my obsession for birds
My parents call me the ‘crazy bird girl’ lol
We own a Military Macaw named Ozzie and I just love him.
We also own a Lorikeet who is just awesome.
Kiwi was a green-cheeked conure. We actually took her to the vet to have her examined after she died and they determined that she choked on a seed — they found on kind of deep in her trachea. The avian vet said even if we had been there, there wasn’t anything we could have done…it was too deep.
You are right – - tons of personality in such a little package
Those birds just get right into your heart and don’t let go!
7:00 pm on October 7th, 2008
I am so sorry to hear about your recent struggles! I remember you mentioning you were sick and your father being in the hospital, but didn’t know about your bird. Glad to hear your father is doing ok, and what a bummer with your bird. Losing a pet is like losing a family member!
On the other note, I really hope Charnell and I get to head out to WordCamp Chicago! I am pretty sure that will work out!
9:28 pm on October 7th, 2008
Hi there,
Thats a cool bird. Someone I knew had a bird just like that one. Its name was winston. It use to chatter up a storm. The bird did not know how to shut up.
4:50 pm on December 10th, 2008
I’m game. I was looking for a WordCamp but everywhere soon is looking so cold!
So, that said, I’d prefer that it be somewhen warm! Chicago is nowhere near as fun when it’s cold.
And I love taking the train from Detroit to Chicago!!!
Suggestion: If negotiating rates with a hotel, make sure it includes free Internet for the sessions and in our rooms
6:30 pm on April 7th, 2009
Would love to attend a Chicago WordCamp. Only 3 hours from where I live. Maybe over June or in October. Weather is not so hot or cold then.
3:32 pm on April 8th, 2009
Cool! Hope to see you there