In the order in which they pop into my head, which means pretty much nothing, these are the moments that stand out as highlights from my attendance of BlogHer 08….
1) Seeing Whymommy in the elevator. I didn’t really see her anywhere else, just there. And it was so damn good to see her there. It’s hard to explain, it’s just how I felt.
2) Having the opportunity to declare my love and respect for Shannon at rocks in my dryer in person.
3) Being at the right place at the right time to help a friend who was struggling. I just wish I’d had some kleenex for her.
4) “Crashing” the midlifebloggers ROYO and talking to the midlifers in person, rather than on the forums or in comments. Hi Byjane!
5) The women without children panel. I loved it. Really loved it. In some weird irrational way that makes sense only to the people who know me really really well – like TW and my kids.
6) Screaming in the lobby of the St Francis (and I do mean screaming) “Big Yellow Houseeeeee”. and making Chris Jordan blush and cringe at the same time. Awesome.
7) Kissing Badger! hahahaha and every other woman at the conference, at least it seems that way.
8) Listening to TW gush about Kaboodle.
9) Kristy Sammis. I can’t really pinpoint one thing about her. It’s everything about her. Even when something is going terribly wrong or on the verge of going terribly wrong – she’s calm, cool, collected and fixes it all. Or when she’s not calm, cool and collected – she’s funny as hell. Oh wait, she’s funny as hell all of the time. I cannot imagine what BlogHerCon would be without Kirsty. I don’t want to think about it. Nightmare. Actually, I don’t want to think about a world without Kristy, so let’s move on, ‘k?
10) Passing out vibrators (thank you Maria and good vibes.)
11) Watching Macy’s employees cringe with a smile every time a wine glass hit the floor in the handbag department.
12) The community keynote.
13) Watching the expressions on faces the first time they were exposed to The Bloggess.
14) Dodging the roombas in the cafe.
15) Being able to thank people for a lot of things, in person. Being able to answer a lot of questions, from a lot of people, in person. I’m quick with email and my customer service is pretty damn good but being able to touch bases in person with someone I’ve helped in email is really nice.
I could actually go on and on and before long have highlighted the entire darn conference… these are just a few of the small things and a few of the big things that will stick with me.
That panel was particularly satisfying! And speaking of vibrators, did you get a Pearl Drop? If so, how the hell did you “snap it open, insert battery, and snap shut”? I’ve been trying to figure that out on and off all day.
THank you so much for the update. I’ve been reading accounts all day and it almost makes me feel like I went!
I’m still seriously bummed about missing the women without children panel. I don’t do regrets in general but during that panel and reading things as people twittered them I’d just about have chewed off my right arm to be there. Sigh.
You blogged three times today. Not too bad.
🙂
I seriously never made the connection between your editor photo and the real you until the morning of the unconference- It was you! Too weird. Glad I got to see the real you!
I didn’t catch any of BlogHer, for reasons I’ll not go into at the moment.
I just came across this, for what its worth…
http://everything.typepad.com/blog/2008/07/join-us-today-i.html
WAIT the whole time… I did not see Chris Jordan! WHAT!! that’s not fair!
How the heck did I miss #10??
I want a do-over!
BlogHer ’08 was awesome! And Denise, you will be VERY PROUD to know that I spent NO TIME on the phone this weekend!! That is, except for a few random text messages to people who were IN ATTENDANCE AT THE CONFERENCE. Yay! 🙂
I’m not officially part of the blogher gang, but it is really interesting to read these recaps. Hearing so many different point of views in the Women without Children panel – seems it could have gone on for an entire day if there were ample time.
My take:
I don’t really feel like non-Moms are ignored, at least from my limited perspective of the blogging community. I think, as time goes on, this will become less and less of an issue. I really respect mothers for doing a tough job and I’m really proud that smart, interesting people are having smart, interesting children. I’m also very proud of smart, interesting people having careers or other priorities(a big list of other possibilities here INCLUDING children) and I like reading about these adventures also.
The feeling is mutual, my friend!
You crashed? I thought you were a willing, even a eager participant, and I felt honored that you were there. I still can’t get over that you’re you…I look at your photo on BlogHer and I see, oh maybe your older sister, the one who bakes a lot of bread and has an ample bosom for the “wee ones” to weep on. And that is so not you!!!!! I think we could get in a lot of trouble together…..
I loved finally meeting you! It was a phenomenal conference. I can’t believe you were there on the heels of moving!