Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Bloggers, Booze, and Bravery: My BlogHer11 Highlights

I got home from BlogHer on Sunday, and I had an incredible time. I would love to tell you that I met a ton of new people, but that is much harder than I thought it would be. However, I did get to know a handful of people really well, and that is a lot better in my book. I walked away feeling like I had new friends. I might not have found a lot of new people to read my blog, but there's always next year!

View from the hotel room

I found a couple of the sessions helpful (and a couple were good just for gawking and/or mockery,) but I probably learned the most just by talking to my roommates, Ginger and Brooke, and a few other people I had the pleasure of chatting with. I have many, many, MANY ideas on how to improve this space, but I will spare you the chatter and work on actually making those changes.

Instead, here are some highlights of my BlogHer experience:


I was in a flash mob (Here's the video. I'm in the back. You can't see me, but I swear I'm there!) I have always wanted to do this, but never actually thought I would get the chance. So, when Ginger signed up with a group of San Diego bloggers trying to put one of these together and asked me if I'd like to join, I immediately said "YES!" It wasn't until I started watching the videos to learn the dance that I started second-guessing my decision. First of all, Theresa, who choreographed and filmed herself doing the dance, is such an amazing dancer, I just couldn't fathom being able to do what she was doing. I was seriously getting cold feet, but Ginger convinced me to stick with it, and I am SO glad I did. I might have messed up a few of the steps, and I might have almost knocked Ginger to the ground by spinning directly into her, but I don't think anyone noticed, and it was a bunch of fun.

I read one of my blog posts in front of a roomful of people. The "Listen To Your Mother" show was holding an open mic night where you could throw your name into a drawing for a chance to read the post of your choice. Heart pounding, I threw my name into the humor section and listened to some wonderful readings, some hilarious, some moving, some both, while simultaneously hoping my name would be called and that it wouldn't. Finally, the suspense ended as my name was called, and I ambled up to the stage to read this post. Luckily, I wasn't the only person reading a post about postpartum sex, so it wasn't as inappropriate as I initially expected. It was a rush to have more people than have probably ever read my blog listening to my words, and it was an even bigger thrill when they laughed at all the right places. Definitely my favorite moment of the weekend.

Photo by Ginger

I met a blogger I really like and respect. I saw Anna of ABDPBT.com at The People's Party Thursday night, and I approached her to tell her how much I like her work. I expected that to be the end of it, so it was a very pleasant surprise when she recognized me from Twitter (or at least pretended to, but either way it was cool) and then chatted with me and Brooke for over an hour. She is hilarious and despite her unfortunate "hater" street cred, is really just a breath of fresh air from all the blind acceptance of all things related to the "blogging community." I'm glad I got a chance to meet her.

All in all, it was worth the cost of admission. The dancing and drinking helped with the missing my child, and the swag wasn't awful. I've heard lots of complaints, but, hey, I got a vibrator and a bottle of wine. In other words, HOT DATE WITH MYSELF. So, thanks for the memories, BlogHer.



15 comments:

  1. oh im sad i missed you read your post!! good for you for getting up there and doing that {i was way too chicken!} i am happy i got the chance to meet you - i do wish we had more time to talk though -- maybe you will go next year?

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  2. This post made me lqtm, lol, AND lmao!! I'm glad you had a good time and your sex post is one of my favorites. "Don't say maternity." Haha. I <3 you!!

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  3. Devan- I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to talk more, too. As for next year, I'm definitely thinking about it!

    Krissie- Thanks! There were some really great posts being read. I'm just glad mine went over well. :)

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  4. I hung out with you and Anna for a bit at the People's Party and it was great to meet you, too! Thanks for stopping by the Edenfantasys booth as well. Hot dates with yourself are the best!

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  5. It was great meeting you! Next year I'm going to sell bracelets for people to meet me, and give everyone a candy cane, so you're lucky you got in early on that.

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  6. My favorite thing about BlogHer? Now I can totally hear your voice when you write "HOT DATE WITH MYSELF." And it makes me laugh EVEN HARDER.

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  7. @Maria- It was nice meeting you, too. and no need to thank me for stopping by the booth. ;) Hope you enjoyed the rest of your weekend.

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  8. @Anna- What? You mean I DIDN'T have to buy this bracelet to meet you? Well, shit. And where's my candy cane?

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  9. Seriously, another highlights post that didn't include walking in on porn?! I'm highly disappointed.

    My highlight? My roommates.

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  10. Ok, now I'm starting to feel REALLY left out of the fun with all the "the highlight was my roommates" comments. Can we add a postscript to that? Like, "the highlight was my roommates AND that short brunette who tagged along with us on Saturday? She was kinda fun."

    Kidding. I would add meeting you to my list of highlights but I am proud to say that we were ALREADY friends, so rather it was a highlight that I got to hang out with you in this context. I'm glad you got the nerve to approach Anna b/c that meant I got to have lunch with her too, and she is one kickass lady.

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  11. Brooke- Damnit! I forgot about the porn. I will tell that story someday. Your legacy will live on!

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  12. FFF- Hanging out with you WAS a highlight for me! I sort of lumped you in with the roommates since we spent so much time together. Plus, I wasn't meeting you for the first time, since, as you say, we are already friends. :)

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  13. I have read several wrap up posts and they all have pictures of the hotel view and I just want to go to that hotel so bad. I love hotels. And oceans. And California.

    Um, yeah! Glad you had a good time and did the things you wanted to do!

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  14. Clara- I love hotels, too. And, I rarely get a view like that. Normally I'm looking at a parking lot. I couldn't stop staring out this window.

    You should come to California for a visit! ;)

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