JenLeoLIVE!

The truth is stranger than fiction. Leo to meet the U.S. Navy, Guy Kawasaki & Robert Scoble on an aircraft carrier

Yeah, sure Jen. You're going to spend the night on an aircraft carrier with a bunch of high profile bloggers and authors like Guy Kawasaki, Robert Scoble, and Charlene Li. You, Jen, with a book called Sand in My Bra? You, Jen, who is more likely to be reading a tabloid with Jon & Kate Plus 8 on the cover than something more thought provoking like, um, The Economist?

Why yes I am and I can't wait. I'm one of 16 special guests that will get to tour the USS Nimitz  this Friday to Saturday.

I'm thinking about packing my bags right now. I would be packing my bags right now if I wasn't having too good of a time reading TheBloggess. Blogger Jenny Lawson is going on the trip, too. Two Jennys? Oh but wait, there's more. There are actually four Jennifers on the trip, leading me to believe that if you're going to be a female blogger you better be named Jennifer - kinda like if you want to be any good at poker, you better hope you were born a Phil. I'm so glad that I was named Jennifer. Now I can blog.

Enough trying to be funny. I'm actually overly concerned that I'm going to be way too serious on the trip. Because this is actually quite meaningful to me. Not just because Guy invited me, but because I come from a Navy family. And Guy didn't even know that when he asked, he still doesn't know. The Leos have two retired Commanders in our family, my grandfather and my uncle. And my dad, who was in the Navy for four years, loved every minute of it. He was a radio man on the USS Sea Fox. I really wish he were here today so we could talk about my trip. He'd be over the moon with excitement.

The easiest way to tell you what I'll be doing is to point you towards Guy's write-up about his previous Embark, "26 Hours at Sea: The Longest Posting in the History of Blogging." But if you don't like reading, you can watch Carrier on Hulu. Actually Guy's post has a gazillion pics. I almost don't want you to look at it because then it'll seem like you've already seen it when I get mine up.

I'll just tell you. In addition to being surrounded by men in crisp navy blue uniforms—actually thinking about leaving the wedding ring at home—we'll get to stand on the flight deck of the USS Nimitz as the aircraft carriers land. We're even encouraged to stay up all Friday night watching the starlit jet action.

Ok - that's enough for now. I really have to pack and make sure I know port from starboard before I go to bed. I can't wait to meet the gun boss. And I hope the Marines teach me how to give a proper ooh-rah!

What do you think my call sign will be?!

[Photo: guykawasaki.com]

Hello again...here's quick update

Hi friends. I've been enjoying motherhood way too much to bother with this blog. And most of you have been following Cora updates on her own blog CoraCaldwell.com or here and there on my Twitter account @jenleo.

Yep, I'm back to work - still blogging for the Los Angeles Times Daily Travel & Deal Blog, as well as writing the weekly Web Buzz column for the Travel print section.

Cora has been a super traveler - and has already been to San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas with New York and Charleston next up in April. London in June.

We go to mommy & me movies with a couple other moms on select Wednesday mornings and are part of a Mommy/Baby group that gets together every other Saturday. John is a very hands on dad. Right now he's taking care of Cora 50% of the time. I think the other moms hate me for this. But the fact that we also give Cora some formula balances us out.

We're loving living in Carlsbad. John walks with Cora at the beach nearly every weekday morning while I work and we see my brother Jason almost every week and it was twice a week during football season. I've got more blogging ideas on the front burner itching for my attention and I'm also endeavoring to start sewing. Etsy has been the main inspiration, but the fact that my mom sewed clothes for me and her sits in my head too. Since I spend so much time online - I've got the most urgent desire to make something tangible.

John joined a men's baseball team and plays Sundays. This has been great for me and Cora. We've gone with him to Coronado and near University Heights yesterday where this picture on the right was taken at Cream coffee house. Sunday mornings are quickly becoming the favorite day of the week.

That's all for now. Follow us on CoraCaldwell.com for more regular updates.

Waiting for the baby to come. Change your bets!!

I sort of officially went on maternity leave this weekend. Even though I wrote "Vegas for the Holidays!" that had a good run on the L.A. Times home page. And I'm still writing a few Web Buzz articles to tie me over for a couple of weeks. But not waking up to blog is an interesting shift. I'm weaning by still waking up and turning on the computer. Passing blog leads, twittering. Can't help it, it's a part of me - but rest assured I do it from bed.

Advice

Sleep. I think the most frequent advice I've received is sleep! I try, but I don't really know how to sleep more. I go to bed between 9:30-10pm and wake up naturally. Sometimes that's 6am, sometimes it's 7:30am, but usually it's right around 6:30. I wake up rested 96% of the time even if I've gotten up 5-6x to go to the bathroom. I think I'm blessed with the ability to go back to sleep easily, but that may soon change. Right now I'm fine with how much I'm sleeping and even took a nap in the afternoon the other day.

Be good to yourself. I also get a lot of advice to indulge. As if I were one to hold back on treats for myself, I'm doing this, too. But one's definition of treat, might be my definition for routine maintenance. Get your hair cut and colored—check. Get a mani-pedi—check. Go the movies—triple check! Yesterday I did feel spoiled. I went to lunch and the nail salon while the cleaners were at our house preparing the castle. Today I will go see Australia -  but only when I finish a Web Buzz column.

Waiting for the baby to come

Stocked. I think we're set. Our generous friends have given us three showers and we're loaded up with cute clothes, practical items like diapers, wipes, shampoos, soaps, lotions, breast feeding pillows, receiving blankets, breast pumps, soothing seats, play mats,  diaper bags, carriers, baby books, slings and one kick ass Orbit stroller. The baby's room is not decorated yet because we're waiting on the dresser, but it'll be ready this weekend. Jason, my brother, has been sanding and painting my dad's dresser so we can have a piece of him around here, and its already transformed after primer + the first coat. My friend Heather is handing down her daughter's crib and glider - so that'll be next for Unlce Jason to set up after the dresser. She will sleep in a bassinet in our room in the beginning anyhow.

Help is on its way. Susan is coming down for at least a week to help us out. Leigh is coming for an overnight. And I've got two good friends who are planning on coming down later as needed when we'll need a break. Our friends Phil and Barb gave us the name of their doula and she's already been terrific over the phone. She's set to come over for the first overnight plus some day time hours in the first week.

Time to change your bets

When will she come? Some of you have been turning in dates on when you think the sweet little girl will be born. But it's only fair to tell you - we need you to change your bets. We went to the doc's the other day and were given two choices. Induce or have a c-section. He of course didn't say it that bluntly - but it had a lot to do with the fact that they think she's already 8 lbs, 10 oz and there's a 13 cm fibroid in there, that while out of the way, still didn't shrink. With a Dec. 6 due date, she'd just get bigger and the likelihood of having a c-section increases. Our doc knows I want to have a vaginal birth so we opted for inducing to try our best to go that route and give me the experience I want. Yes, I know what will happen in labor could be anything from what I would want or expect - so I'm doing my best to keep an open mind. We don't really have a birth plan other than to get her out safely. And yes, I'll be having an epidural - it's the right choice for me.

Think of us during turkey dinner. We're checking into the hospital at 5 p.m. Thanksgiving night. I will get a little something something to help me become "favorable" and sleep there over night. Then, in the morning, they break the water and start the potocin.

The X-factor. It is also only fair that I tell you betting fools that I'm getting a pre-natal massage today at 10:30am. She's a certified this and that, teaches pre-natal massage, has some holistic taglines and also knows the pressure points to push for getting the body ready to go into labor. I've given her the thumbs up to touch me in those places as I think it can only help with tomorrow night's efforts. She came recommended by a friend.

Bring on the betting

What time will she come? So now, your bets of which day are shot. Now you have to renew your bet with what time will she come. I've disclosed everything I know. Will labor start Thursday night or before, what time will she come Friday. Will the suppository not work Thursday night and will they give me another one? Will labor take 20+ hours like it did for my mom and will we go into Saturday?

**Whomever comes the closest without going over will get our favorite party gift - the smoking donkey.

Ok, that's it. Put your time slots in the comments and sign up or check Twitter.com/jenleo for updates. Just don't drop your phone in the sweet potatoes!

And thanks for all your love and support. We do appreciate it.

Jen's first ride on the scooter...

Before I figured out there are faster speeds...

Bare with me as I learn how to upload video. Download firstscooterride.mov (0.0K)

Hello new friends from PhoCusWright 2008

Well, I've neglected this blog for some time now. With good reason. We're having a baby (meaning I blog for work and then I don't really feel up to blogging at night in my few hours of post dinner energy). And I can safely say it's just about to happen any day now. The Dr. says the due date is Dec. 6, but we're 37 1/2 weeks along now. I feel good, the only problem is I don't do well on my feet for long periods of time. Small price to pay for what's to come. I can't lie, I've had it pretty good.

However, nothing BUT the baby being born could keep me from PhoCusWright this year. I've wanted to attend it for years - the be all end all of conferences for the online travel industry. Now I'm going and I've recently found out JenLeoLIVE! is being passed around as my home - so I better give it an update!

Here's what the PhoCusWright folks probably want to know about. Besides being the lead travel blogger for the Los Angeles Times Daily Travel & Deal Blog - (but now taking maternity leave till mid January), I also have a weekly print column called "Web Buzz". You can find it in the Sunday Travel section of the Los Angeles Times. Every week I review a website that's helpful for travelers and give them the what's hot and what's not report as I see it. Here's the online archive, and the websites I've written up since I inherited the column this summer.

Los Angeles Times Travel Web Buzz column

• 2itch.com searches 24-hour spots
• Metrotwin.com pairs shares what to do and see in New York and London
• Travel.Alltop.com helps organize favorite blogs
• MapMyRun.com keeps you on track
• Team up at SportsFanLive.com
• At WholeTravel.com, it's all about sustainable tourism
• Airline fees chart on SmarterTravel.com
• Placely.com keeps track of frequent-flier programs
• Google Maps offer a 'walking' plan
• HappyMedian.com maps meeting places
• Been-Seen.com's stylish take on global destinations
• Kayak.com helps you factor in gas costs for rental car
• Kid talks to kids in new Beijing Olympics blog
• Hot and cool night life at Thrillist.com
• Your personal postcards at Zoom and Go
• Find a good hotel room with TripKick.com

I'm in Los Angeles (Hollywood) for this conference until Thursday night or I go into labor. You can follow me on Twitter.com/jenleo. For a while I was giving house updates there, now I'm giving some baby updates - and since I have a large travel inudstry following - I try to pass links, news, and the occasional deal. Like an anthology, there will be tweets you can pass on, and others you'll appreciate.

Have fun and hope to talk to you soon.

CURRENT: Los Angeles
NEXT: Carlsbad

Today is move-in day

I know I owe you some pics, but had to write briefly because I'm so excited. We brought a UHaul out yesterday from Vegas and will unload the truck in less than an hour. I'd love to say it was the last load, but our poor movers fit everything but a couple of chairs and some lamps, so one of us will have to go back and get them. But lets stick to the positive side of the move.

As I was driving (our car) over the Avocado Highway yesterday, I-15 right after Fallbrook, I couldn't believe that this time we weren't just popping in - that I was actually headed towards a place I'd be calling home. Not just home as in where I've been opening my suitcase and stashing boxes, but a house that we owned and that I would be developing into a home, home.

It was a long day yesterday, but a good one. We even managed to  pick out a couple of sofas at Stedmar's in Ontario that will get delivered in 3-4 weeks.

I got to the house first and was amazed at how great it looked. For the first time, it looked finished. I know we still have work to do on Friday with the kitchen countertops and electrical sockets - but now that all the doors and door jams have been painted white, and the fireplace is now white - I tell you, it looks finished. The only remnants of the old house are on the outside of the house, or in the master bathroom. Other than that, everything, from the floors to the ceiling and the doors and lights in between are all brand new. Just about...

I don't think the work will ever be done on the house, because that's what a house is all about, right? Once we do one thing, we'll want to do something else. But for now, it's nearly move in ready. I think that I'll want to spend the night there once we have our bed in the room, but we could still be another few nights at my Uncle Jon and Auntie Val's in University City while we sort out some fine tuning. Like making sure the fridge and the stove works.

Ok, that's all. I'll take some photos and get you up to speed, as well as catch you up on other aspects of our life.

CURRENT: Almost Carlsbad, CA
NEXT: Marin for the Book Passage Travel Writers Conference - someone remind me to by a plane ticket and find a place to stay!!!

The house is almost finished (inside work anyway)

I've been on vacation for a week - Calistoga with my writers group, Tahoe with the Sean and Chris from BootsnAll, and at Susan Brady's family get together in a small old mining town called La Porte, CA. (I'll probably write some of this up for the L.A. Times Travel Blog - and link you up later.

Meanwhile, Jose Delgado has been busting his butt on the Carlsbad house. John went down there for some efficient last minute decision making and purchasing. Here are a few photos that were on my phone when I got back into cell phone range. I went 48 hours without cell or internet access. And believe it or not, it wasn't that hard. I did use a calling card to call John once, but except for some light Twitter withdrawal, I enjoyed the time to relax with Susan's family.

I think the inside of the house will be done, or mostly done by the end of this week. We might start the move next week. Of course, I'm starting it tomorrow with a major close out of a Redwood City storage unit I've had for more years that I'd want to count payments for.

Here's a cell pic of the hardwood floors going in. We got a good deal at Lowe's on special order hardwood on a Memorial Day sale and then saved  some more by having Jose put them in. This room is the kitchen. The worker is right where the sink will be.

Here is another angle of the kitchen. Now we're facing the sink where that bright light from the window is - and this is the start of the island going in. The counter will extended over the top of this island so that we can sit there. With the right chair, I'll be able to work from there. See that patch of dark blue in the upper right hand corner of the photo? That's the accent wall in John's Lair.

Here are the doors that John bought last week. They're already up and in, but still unfinished. They'll end up a nice Cherry color I think. Or Mahogany. Not sure when that is happening. Jose has a specialist coming in.

I think the carpet gets installed in the bedrooms this Wednesday or Thursday. But we don't know when the counter tops are going in. They get measured tomorrow or Tues. So, John and I meet up in Carlsbad on Thursday and we'll have some more buying to do - kitchen faucet, bathrooms sink and faucet, bathroom tile, ktichen back splash. Then we have to get the electricians back in for their last minute touches. I think we can move in before the back splash goes up, but that's currently under debate.

More later....

CURRENT: Redwood City, CA
NEXT: Los Angeles, CA (Tues-Wed)

Carlsbad house update - wall down, new walls, electricity, etc

I know, I know. I haven't posted in a while. Mostly because I blog most of the day for work, so it's kind of the last thing I want to do once I'm done working. You might be thinking, it hasn't stopped her before. Well, I'm telling you, now it does.

But, because I've received so many concerned emails — thank you for caring —here's a little update on the house. I'm fine. Just busy.

We can't wait to get the hell out of Vegas. Thankfully, we're just a few weeks away from moving into the new house. Jason scored a kick ass handyman who is refinishing almost the entire inside of our house. New walls, took out a wall, installed a couple new windows, new hardwood floors, new carpet, new kitchen and we got an electrician to bring the kitchen up to code, put in some canned lights in a few rooms and give us a grounded plug in each room. The walls I think will be the biggest deal. Snow off, new skin coat, some walls got patched and one wall has completely new drywall because believe it or not, there wasn't any before.

Do you remember the before pics? Yuck!

Uncle Jon took some pics on Monday and here you can see some of the progress:

The entry to our home. And the hero of our story - Jose Delgado.

The family room (imagine your back to the front door). We took the wall down between the family room and the kitchen.

Jason demo-ed the kitchen, Westrend brought the electrics up to code, and Jose fixed the exposed plumbing and redid the walls. Since this picture was taken, Jose added a new kitchen window. This is the left half of a kitchen where we will have a six-foot long island. It will have electricity and there is the capability for pendant lights in the ceiling now - should we want some after the kitchen is installed.

Pic of Jen & John in Vegas

Our friends Leigh and Brian got married last week. They had a fun pool party reception over the weekend and snapped this photo of us. Thought you might need a reminder of what we look like in case you haven't seen us in a while. FYI - John pretty much only makes these ridiculously silly faces when the camera is on him.

CURRENT: Las Vegas
NEXT: ??

Carlsbad house decisions, progress is relative

We made  a trip to San Diego to have a look at the house and try to make some decisions with flooring and paint. It's true that you see the house in a new light after you buy it. Maybe it was the morning light, but the place looked like much more of a dump when we showed up yesterday than the few trips we made before we bought it. My friend Heather said that you see the flaws once you own it, and ain't that the truth.

"What's the crack in the ceiling running the length of the dining room," I asked John. "Did the inspector say anything about that?"

"Oh, I don't think that's anything," John said.

I walked away from our post-purchase inspection with a two page list of what needed to be done, and feeling a bit freaked out that there was so much work to do - even if I'm not really doing any of it.

Still, we have a few months and moved into high powered decision making mode. The floor sample that we loved ended up not looking as gorgeous as the control sample. (Burmese Mahogany). So - hardwood floor chosen, done! Next we went to a carpet place (for the bedrooms) - the soft frisee that we liked was affordable - carpet chosen, done! Next?

Then we looked at kitchen cabinets and suddenly our gorgeous hardwood floor didn't go with the cabinets. Uh oh - now what? We had to decide what was more important the kitchen cabinets or the flooring. We weren't really sure but opted for cabinets. Now we're back to square one with the flooring.

I hear this goes on and on and one...

So, what did we accomplish?

- got an idea of what flooring will cost for our taste/budget bracket
- found gorgeous affordable hardwood that we may or may not use
- found a house in the neighborhood that we'd like to copy for exterior paint (eventually)
- found some carpet we like and can afford!
- decided we're doing the kitchen sooner rather than later and narrowed it to two styles (sadly less modern and funky than I would've liked)
- oh yeah - found appliances we could be happy with and got store to discount them
- made list of priorities for Jason to tackle.
- looked at color palette and now only have one more color to choose for interior rooms
- and John got a haircut

All in all - very productive and I feel like even though we added more projects to the front burner, we did give our brains a life raft for the sea of unknown options they were swimming in.

CURRENT: San Diego
NEXT: Las Vegas by the afternoon.