If you asked me a few weeks ago what I’d be up to today, I would have told you I’d be in San Francisco for the 2nd Annual Foodbuzz Festival.

Well, if you are one the few hundred foodies that made your way to the epicenter of Foodbuzz – the food blogging community’s sponsor – you will not find me there. The penciled letters in my lime green planner are now barely readable under the frustrated eraser marks.

I don’t have an excellent excuse as to why I am not there. Actually… I don’t need an excuse for not seizing the opportunity to participate in an epic weekend including each.and.every.one of my passions alongside the most incredible and inspiring women… but, obviously there is a reason, or two… or three, behind me not travelling the < 4-hour drive to San Francisco this weekend:

1. Honestly, the whole Foodbuzz Festival planning was rather overwhelming to me. I don’t know if it was just me, but it seemed that the information about the festival was released real late in the game. I had just returned home from San Francisco from running the NWM, and suddenly my inbox was bombarded with buzz about the festival. Now I had to figure out the logistics of traveling to the heart of SF all over again!? =/

2. Have I mentioned that I’m unemployed [minus the “pennies” I earn from Foodbuzz each month]? If you know how a jobless college kid can travel to Frisco, stay in the fancier hotels in Union Square, wine and dine like they are the Editor in Chief of Gourmet Magazine, and still have enough money on their debit card to make the return trip to their pitiful apartment, let me know. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not an easy puzzle.

3. Though I love blogging more than anything a lot of things, and would rather spend my time writing about my passions than listening to a lecture from a teacher who admits they don’t want to be there, being a college student is an obligation I agreed to take upon myself. Unfortunately, my professors didn’t plan for Foodbuzz Fest in their syllabi, so instead of exploring the edible exhibits of SF, I’ll be studying for another food science exam.

I apologize for the blatant sarcasm; perhaps I am a bit bitter about the fact that I’m not at the festival when I could be if I had suffered through the e.mail frenzy and let go of a few more of my precious dollars. As much as I try not to let the minuscule number in my bank account dictate how I live my life, and act as an annoying obstacle in grasping once in a lifetime opportunities, I’ve realized we can not do it all. Sometimes all we can do is appreciate what we do have, and what we are able to do. I’ve been fortunate to see and do quite a bit in my young life; so, while I am bummed that I’m not buzzin’ around with Ashley, Tina, and Mama Pea this weekend, I do have some cold pumpkin ales in my fridge to get my own buzz on ;)

What I’ve learned while reflecting on this unfortunate situation:

1. I’ll need to steer away from my regular blog reading and twittering this weekend to prevent turning green with envy.

2. I need a j.o.b. [Know of anyone needing an expert chocolate taste tester!?]

3. Third time’s year’s the charm! Foodbuzz 2011, I will be there.

4. I like beer.