Four jet planes
Three nights in a bed alone
Two days of Blogher
One lost jacket
I'm home!
Blogher was fun. Blogher wasn't really what I expected, but it was a good time. It was a little like a college reunion, lots of smart women with a common interest. I got to meet people that I'd only known in the ether, like Sarah and Jen and Julie and Erika and Nora and Christine and too many more to list (and if I didn't list you, I'm sorry). I reconnected with Isabel, who I knew in a past life. I still don't know what the point of Twitter is, but I signed up anyway. I went to a couple of wonderful sessions, and a couple that were all jargon without much practical how-to. I scored some seriously sweet swag (including a bluetooth headset for my phone and a tattoo from the tattoed Cecily). And Susan made me weep.
There were parties. And I know there were "parties" that the little people weren't invited to, but I got to plenty. The closing night party at Macy's was a little peculiar - champagne in bags, wine in shoes, and vodka in lingerie. Alongside the lavender macarons in the lingerie department were samples of KY jelly - um, yuck?
I promised Kelley that I'd take her to BlogHer, and I did. KC took a picture of Sarah and me with Kelley, which I don't have yet, but I got one with some chocolate, her other favorite vice.
Would I go again? I don't know. The fact that it was in San Francisco, where I had a free place to stay and non-bloggy people to hang out with meant that it was lower stakes than it could have been. But the community aspect was great - it made me feel less alone. And that's nice.
I'm glad you got something out of it!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you went in with just the right attitude!
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a good time :-) I just met Erika last month at an ice cream social she organized...she's wonderful!
ReplyDeleteas one of your non-bloggy friends, i am thrilled that you came for the weekend. it was a treat to take you around....
ReplyDeleteit was wonderful to meet you and give you hugs.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry I didn't get a chance to see you during my fleeting stopover.
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling myself sucked into the twitter vortex in a BIG way. I might have to do it.
Ack, I missed you there!
ReplyDeleteI was running in and out a bit, driving home to nurse the baby since the breast pump thing wasn't working out. Next time, we shall meet!
Sounds like you had a total blast! Lucky you. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you posted about it. I'm 70 miles and didn't go. I most curious if the sessions were worth it...what is it that they were about anyway...please explain.
ReplyDeletei loved meeting you, woman.
ReplyDeletemiss you already.
ReplyDeletebtw, what's the twitter where my permission is needed? is that "sarah" me? i'm confused.
Sounds like you did it the right way. I was mostly interested in putting a face to everyone, but that is a silly reason to go all that way... and usually a disappointment, too. (Not that people look bad, just that they don't look like I've pictured them, and it makes me feel stupid. Or what Noble Pig said on her blog, really.)
ReplyDeleteMeeting your blog friends irl is the best.
ReplyDeleteI am almost sure that if those macarons were pink and not next to KY, Niobe would now be regretting having not gone...
ReplyDeleteDamn! I missed the KY? I have SUCH a need for that in my life.
ReplyDelete(I wish.)
Twas wonderful meeting you.
Think I'm going to have to try it next year.
ReplyDeleteI am making the BLogher recap rounds. I am glad you enjoyed it. It sounds way to scary for me, but you got to meet Sarah and for that I am envious.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back. I was wondering if conferences like that are worth it...although a few days in a bed not occupied by three cats, a husband, and a turbo-charged Evil Genius might make any trip worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteHmm, chocolates and KY. I am trying to sort out why they would place those near each other...and drawing a blank. Avant guard I am not.
Shade and Sweetwater,
K
I"m glad you had a good time but it reminded me of how I HATE conferences. I never feel more lonely than I do when I'm at a conference. It's kinda weird!
ReplyDeleteI keep thinking I should go to blogher to meet fabulous women like yourself in person but hmmmmm.
mmmm.....macarons
ReplyDeletewell, I'm just stoked that I got to see a picture of you. I guess I wasn't paying attention because I didn't even know you were going until you went.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I got to meet you!
ReplyDeleteSounds like it was fun. I have yet to meet any bloggy friends - it's very sad.
ReplyDeleteBoy, I missed a LOT! Not only the Lavender Macaroons frosted with KY jelly, but also YOU.
ReplyDeleteNext year.
Glad you had fun! One of these years, I'd love to go.
ReplyDeleteAww, welcome back! Sounds like an (overwhelming!) blast!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like so much fun...why not go to the next BlogHer? Maybe you'll decide only after they confirmed the location ya?
ReplyDeletehmm....I can't quite figure out what the BlogHer thing is, other than it makes me feel uncomfortably like I did in 8th grade when my friends all became friends with other friends while I was away for a few months...like I don't get it and am not part of something that I might want to be part of.
ReplyDeletei really like that you said you don't know if you'd go again. i've been reading about this blogher thing all over the blogosphere, but felt a bit of skepticism and had the feeling that i wouldn't ever really want to go. i do like the idea of feeling less alone tho'. thanks for sharing your experience! :-)
ReplyDeleteIt was really nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteThe Macy's party sounds stranger and stranger the more I read about it. I'm a little sorry I stayed in that night now!
Wild party sounds.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure I would make one of the trips without someone I knew along.
I was thrilled to meet you. I had a fabulous time at Blogher. Putting faces to words was a little weird, but good. I think.
ReplyDeleteMacy's was very odd. I never did eat a single thing. Just. could. not. I did indulge in a sprite in the furniture department. C'est ca.
ReplyDeleteBut you...you were a treat. :)
That Macy's party was weird, wasn't it?
ReplyDeleteBlogHer was lower stakes for me, too, because my best friend came along for the fun. Still, I met some lovely women, including you.
Can I in the same comment write that I enjoyed meeting you (and then getting to chat in the halls) and wish I'd spent more time talking to you.
ReplyDeleteA week out I feel more positive about the experience than I did at moments during the thing. I suppose that says more about me than the conference.
I am glad you were there, too! I enjoyed meeting you and only wished I had had more time to talk. It is such a whirlwind and I was all messed up with the time zone change. I missed most of that weird Macy's party. It was so bright in there and I don't like shopping. I need to do more little gatherings next year so I feel like I get to spend time with people.
ReplyDelete