Tell us a story....and win a FREE trip to BlogHer 2007

C'mon...tell me a story. I want to hear the good, the bad and the ugly of your summer vacation.

I'm writing as one of three judges in OurStory's "Good, Bad, & Ugly" vacation story contest. For me, this contest is all about celebrating the fantastic, stories people are sharing on the Web. Already this summer, bloggers' stories about family vacations have given me sideaches from laughing so hard. Or sent me in search of a hankie. Given the summer vacation hilarity around my own house, I certainly feel a sense of community I didn't have the first day after school let out...

The other judges are Author Firoozah Dumas and OurStory CEO Andy Halliday. So tell us: Have you written a great vacation story this summer? Or have you been waiting for the right opportunity? Tell it here and now. You could win a free trip to BlogHer Conference 2007 and a free camera.

Here's how it works: Visit OurStory.com, enter the contest and we judges will be sent your stories -- without attribution so we don't know who has written them. The contest closes at noon on July 24. The winner will be announced Saturday, July 29, at BlogHer '06.

I know you're out there. I may have read you already. I hope you'll enter. Even if you don't win the prize, it's a great opportunity to get the word out about your writing. And that's what BlogHer and OurStory are all about.

Questions? Comments? I'd love to hear them.

P.S. Here's a picture of my one calm summer not-vacation moment thus far...

Submitted by Lisa Stone (view blog

) on Sun, 07/16/2006 - 15:14

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Boo

We don't leave for vacation until the 22nd and won't be back until the 30th. Ah, bummer of all bummers. But I'm sure I'll have a story or eighty to tell, contest or not.

Family Living; Hatfield Style
Jenna

Submitted by JennaHatfield on Sun, 07/16/2006 - 16:49

Jenna, we'll miss you!

But have a terrific time. Am picturing Little Hatfield in a Hulk swim diaper...

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

Submitted by Lisa Stone on Sun, 07/16/2006 - 19:20

Well...

He IS a Hulk-a-Maniac but, sadly, there will be no swimming. We're... *gulp* camping. Cabins, thankfully. But camping. *dies*

Family Living; Hatfield Style
Jenna

Submitted by JennaHatfield on Wed, 07/19/2006 - 14:16

Nobody said it had to be this summer's
vacation. . .

. . . consider us an equal opportunity contest!

Submitted by StoryDiva on Tue, 07/18/2006 - 15:18

Jenna, come on...had to be

Jenna, come on...had to be some great summertime stories from back in the day. We'd love to have your voice join the fun over there...getting some good entries and some great laughs, so...come on down!

Ellen Leanse
www.ourstory.com

Submitted by ellenleanse on Wed, 07/19/2006 - 14:15

Unfortunately

I've blocked all of those from my memory. I've had to. In order to cope. ;)

Really, our vacations were pretty ordinary. Or, so I thought. I bet my Mom might have something different to say about this subject.

Family Living; Hatfield Style
Jenna

Submitted by JennaHatfield on Wed, 07/19/2006 - 14:17

What is this vacation concept?

Alas, I don't think I'll be able to enter. I've got nuthin'. And now I'm doubly bummed because I LOVED Funny in Farsi and having Firoozah Dumas read me would probably cause me to pee a little with delight. (Wow, that's going to make her run RIGHT OVER to my blog, I can just tell.)

--
Mir from WCS
(BlogHer Mommy & Family contributing editor)

Personal: Woulda Coulda Shoulda

Having it all with less: Want Not

Submitted by Mir Kamin on Sun, 07/16/2006 - 17:43

AHEM. Bailing out basements is not ugly
enough?

Hi Mir -- Now, I don't know anyone else who spent June bailing out her basement. And killing me at the same time with her stories.

So ... by all means, do not enter if you choose not to. But don't let it be for lack of peer pressure from moi!

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

Submitted by Lisa Stone on Sun, 07/16/2006 - 19:23

That counts as a vacation?

I had no idea. ;)

--
Mir from WCS
(BlogHer Mommy & Family contributing editor)

Personal: Woulda Coulda Shoulda

Having it all with less: Want Not

Submitted by Mir Kamin on Sun, 07/16/2006 - 20:50

You had a room with a great view of the water
didn'tcha?

One woman's flooded basement is another's jacuzzi. . .

Submitted by StoryDiva on Tue, 07/18/2006 - 15:16

Funny in Farsi (or in any language)

I'll make sure that Firoozeh knows that she has a fan in you. Actually, she would probably find your promise very enticing. It worked for me; I'll run right over to your blog.

I refuse to believe that you have "nuthin." Think back...growing up...road trips...lost luggage...station wagons...sibling adventures...there must be something good, bad, or ugly lurking in your colorful past???

Ellen Leanse
www.ourstory.com

Submitted by ellenleanse on Wed, 07/19/2006 - 14:18

The Puppydog Canal...

We were looking through all the brochures to take a much-talked-about cruise through the Panama Canal this year. What pictures I would have had!! What a story!

Instead, we forked the moolah over to a Orthopedic Vetinary surgeon when our lab tore her cruciate ligament (again). Tales of hair growth, swollen limbs, favorite sniffs, the joy of a wiggle on the grass and the tentative investigations when both our dogs are together without a gate separating them. Can I weave this into a compelling story? Can I work in the Panama Canal? I just may try.

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Deb's Daily Distractions

Submitted by debra roby on Sun, 07/16/2006 - 21:06

Sounds like the ultimate "Ugly" Vacation. . .

. . the one that never was!

Sounds like a great contest entry to me!

Submitted by StoryDiva on Tue, 07/18/2006 - 15:13

Try

Maybe it's the vacation you took in your daydreams as you played Florence Nightengale to a limping lab? I don't know about you, but my dream life is often much more interesting than my reality (tho I like my reality just fine!)...

Ellen Leanse
www.ourstory.com

Submitted by ellenleanse on Wed, 07/19/2006 - 14:19

I've been digging around

I've been digging around about this because it sounds interesting. Anyone have any clue about word limits? If anyone can point me to a stricter guidelines page that would be great.

Submitted by iasshole on Mon, 07/17/2006 - 23:57

No limits!

Who are we to limit your creativity? There are no length restrictions for the contest. Hope to read your entry there soon!

Submitted by StoryDiva on Tue, 07/18/2006 - 15:12

About that word limit?

We kinda decided not to have one...the long and the short of it is that as long as you connect to our contest "profile" (which you've done), submit an entry, and add the all-important "And that is my entry to your vacation story contest" line to the end of your musings, you're in. Heck, you can write a haiku if that works for you...

cursed lost luggage
spilled across the tarmac plain
swimsuit, fond farewell

Don't know if that's the right syllable count, but the story works for me. Come on by, write it up, and have yourself some fun. Hope to see you soon.

Ellen Leanse
www.ourstory.com

Submitted by ellenleanse on Wed, 07/19/2006 - 14:24

I gotta tell you...

That some of these entries are really good. We're loving what you BlogHer people are putting up there. All are welcome; come share your voice. Any questions? Just email our support group and we'll get back to you...

support@ourstory.com

Aloha!

Ellen Leanse
www.ourstory.com

Submitted by ellenleanse on Wed, 07/19/2006 - 14:25