Do you know that all I want to do these days is sit near a lazy Tennessee creek with this borrowed Boxer-mix puppy? Is she not heaven?

The creek is a few miles from us and runs through the front property of a friend’s house — same friend whose house was flooded in May when this little creek turned raging river.

Our own puppy, Buddy, is currently stuck at home with a cone on his head to keep him from licking his nethers. You see, he got the snip snip this past week.

I have to admit I was way too happy to get him fixed. He is insane. Sweet and wonderful, but insane. My mother, however, left this comment on my Facebook page: “Pobrecito, no lo dejastes probar la fruta.” (Poor thing, you didn’t let him taste the fruit.”

Ay!

Buddy is doing fine and in defense of his manhood, I have to report the vet told me his parts were impressively sized for a small dog. I told her that is probably why he is such a big pain. I know how to pick them, I tell you.

I’m linking this post to the Unknown Mami’s Sundays in My City series. She’s in San Francisco and the links she gets from other bloggers are pretty awesome. Thought I would show off the glory that is my little country Tennessee town to all those big city folks. Go look.

Happy Sunday!

But, in truth, I had another agenda as my prime focus.

To ask women who are focusing on making money online Just How in The Ever Living Hell they balance the constant pull the of computer with kids, husbands and toilet cleanings.

I am here admitting I am woefully lacking in setting strong limits on computer time.  My kid has told me I don’t play with her enough. She has told me I am on the computer ALL.THE.TIME.

And, I am.

Now, I have taken steps to remove myself from the computer more, and my obvious lack of regular of posts here is evidence that I am making strides. However, I still work over at the Tiki Tiki and I have private PR and copy writing clients and all that requires I sit on my culo a lot. And, of course, I am the production, office, shipping and customer service departments of Los Pollitos Dicen.

There’s always one more e-mail to write, one more post to edit, one more Tweet to send. But, if  I died tomorrow, you, dear reader, may leave a comment here,  or if you know me for reals post a link on your Facebook status. My demise may end up as a Tweet, even. But, my husband and only child would not be giving too much of a crap about whether I posted enough.

So, I have been struggling to make it all work.

How to I continue to build something for myself, something I love and adore, without sucking as a mother and a wife?

Turns out few of us who are blogging full-time have got it all together. At least that is the feedback I got from the women I hung with at Blissdom. They wanted more on the topic, they wanted the speakers with successful, money-making blogs to tell them exactly how in the hell they manage to produce content, make a living, nourish their families and themselves. One panelist said she realized there were days she didn’t look into her small child’s eyes because she was online and Tweeting. WTF? Sadly, too many of us would have to nod in agreement.

For the record, I know if I was working for someone else, I also would be complaining and whining about lack of time…but, in my fantasy land, the fact I work for myself should translate into clean closets and time for mani-pedis.

OK, OK, blah blah blah on my part.

Are you online too much? Not sure? Read the wonderful Angelica Perez’s post Is Your Time on the Internet Impacting Your Children? Powerful Ways to Find Out and What to Do.

Now, I’m going to go play with my puppy.

Screw the tweeting.

xo

With me was an awesome Cubanita from Miami who is planning to move to Nashville with her husband and 3-year-old son. We connected through her best friend, also a Miami native and Nashville resident. She thought the Cubanita that I am could convince her Cubanita best friend that she too could live here.

When we parted yesterday afternoon, she said: “I am seeing it with new eyes.”

She now believes she can live here…so far from the Motherland and Hialeah. (I think it helped that another friend of mine, a woman I call the Center of the Cuban Universe in Nashville, joined us for lunch.)

I swear, I think I could be a tour guide in this town. I love telling people about Nashville, pointing out the cool, the unusual. I think I could be some kind of Chamber spokesperson because I love it here. I love the history, the idiosyncrasies, the music. Oh goodness, the music.

And the heart. (Do you know we were voted the Friendliest City in America this year? Again.)

This morning, I happened upon a Nashville-based group, Help-Portrait, that is encouraging photographers across the country to take portraits of people in need, print and give it to the person. I watched a video of one shoot and cried.

Not an hour later, the local NPR station ran a story about a Nashville-based online store, Mekong Blue, that helps women in Cambodia sell silk scarves around the world. Those scarves helps feed families, and as the story goes, keep women from joining the sex trade out of desperation.

It got me thinking about how many good, charitable ideas come out of this city. How many people I know who volunteer their time, give their money, loan their talents to help make this a better place. Their work spreads across the country and the world. They change lives.

These two others quickly come to mind:

The Rev. Becca Stevens, a supremely interesting Episcopal priest, founded Thistle Farms, a non-profit operated by the women of Magdalene House, a residential community for women with a history of drug addiction and prostitution. Stevens founded and runs Magdalene House as well. The Thistle Farms body lotions, candles and bath products are sold on-line and across the country and they not only help fund the non-profit, but teach the women business skills.

Sam Davidson, a young Nashvillian, co-founded Cool People Care, connecting volunteers with need and encouraging people to make a difference daily, even if it is just cutting a shower short by a minute each day. His site and book are full of ideas.

I am sure there are others…

If you are looking for gifts that make a difference, consider Thistle Farms and Mekong Blue…

And, if you ever need a tour of Nashville, let me know.

Here is the Help-Portrait video about the Nashville test shoot that made me cry:

“It is now safe to turn on your electronic and hand-held devices.”

iPod on the plane! iPod for La Nena, actually — an expert flier who travels well but can color only for so long.

Before every trip we’ve taken for the last three years, I load the iPod with a few new kid-friendly songs (God Bless You, Dan Zanes and They Might be Giants) and at least a couple kiddie TV shows. It’s happy-making for all involved, let me tell you.

Unless, of course, the iPod battery fritzes out on you, like mine did on our trip a couple of weeks ago. Argh, carajo. It lasted for just a few minutes, cutting off Ruff Ruffman in a very rude sort of way. We had just taken off on the second leg of our flight North. Maria had colored enough on the first leg y yo de boba had put On the Banks of Plum Creek in the suitcase.

I pulled out my netbook and showed her how to “paint” while she listened to Exposé. Hey, ’80s pop is awesome whether you’re 6 or 42. Amen.

She got frustrated by my touchpad mouse. Here’s what I should have downloaded to the netbook as a back-up: The adventures of Pancho and Pita, playful bilingual trolls who just debuted in the cyberworlds.

The little guys — and their pet, Flan. Yes, Flan — were dreamed up by Raul, a Spanish-born computer programmer who often comments on the Boonie Blog, and his wife, Stephanie. The couple has a young son who inspired Pancho and Pita and the reading adventures, the first being ¿Dónde Están Los Pollitos? / Where Are The Chicks?”

That Raul, he knows I am a sucker for anything with Pollitos. So, a while back, he sent me a free copy of the adventure to let Maria test drive it. She got to decide where to look for the pollitos, thus making her part of the story. I kept marveling at the quality and being damned glad for a safe online game, and a bilingual English and Spanish one at that.

Ay, how I wished on that plane to have downloaded the story to the netbook.

From the press release: “We envisioned an innovative approach that would combine the best features from the existing products: the emotional and educational power of books, the fun of cartoons, and the interactivity of computer games,” Raul Fernandez said.

The Fernandez’s worked with language professionals, animators, voice actors and a music composer to create Pancho and Pita’s adventure and make their company, Palabra Media, a reality that meets the demands of a changing national demographic and interests.

I think it is great that the games/adventures/stories are available (more to come) with just one click. I am so That Kind Of Mami. Between iTunes, Amazon and the new family Netflixs, I’m conditioned to 1-Click it. (Wondering if that is evolution or devolution?)

Raul and Stephanie put their heart into a great quality product that promotes culture y cultura, education and fun. Go download. Support this entrepreneurial y nice Latino. You also can download this pancho and pita coloring PDF, among others and watch video.

And, if you ever hear a woman saying “Play with your Flan” on a plane, that is me.

Crema catalana recipe from Laylita. Heaven.
Latina.com reveals Latino celebs on Twitter.
10 reasons why it is good there are more Latinos in America  at Hispanic Trending.
Literanista asks a question about ethnic characters in books.

And, if you are blogging and want to expand your reach, here’s a great tips package from ProBlogger .

Link to a post you liked this week, even your own.

So, Maria was dancing around the kitchen today as Juanes — god love that man — sang for us. She wiggled appropriately and reminded me, once more, of a couple of things: The Cuban dance gene skipped a generation (but not the habla mierda, for sure) and there’s not a whole lot better than ending the day watching your nena dance to Latin pop deliciousness in her pink tutu and pony tail.

Maria asked for a song titled “Se Menea” that she heard on the car stereo. 
“I like that one,” she said.
“No la tengo,” I said, and wondered how appropriate downloading Se Menea (She Shakes It) for my 5-year-old would be, catchy as it is.

At least trickerating the kid into learning Spanish by listening to Latin music has worked. I’m going to tell you about it in a post over at Spanglish Baby on Friday. 

I apologize I have not pointed you over there sooner, but they’ve got a whole week of posts and tips by blogging moms who are raising bilingual children. So far, Tati and Jen  have posted. 

Head over there to catch up and see the line-up Ana Lilian and Roxana have put together…And please make their site a regular pit stop. It is full of interesting articles and resources for those of us creatively attempting to pass on the beauty and power of our Spanish language and culture.

Oh, and be sure to sign up for the Victoria’s Secret gift basket give-away. 

Last month, I wondered aloud where all the Latina bloggers are hiding and introduced a round-up that unveiled some awesomeness.