UPDATE: Seems I’m not quite as funny as I think. I’ve deleted some things that were meant to be humorous but apparently came across as bitchy. So if you’ve already read this – please know that I didn’t mean ANYTHING I’ve written in a negative way. In fact – I wouldn’t mention anyone in these BlogHer posts unless I really did like them very much. Sorry for any misunderstanding.
*Disclaimer: As I’ve mentioned before – this is the first year I’ve attended BlogHer, but in the past, I’ve loved reading all about it. So this will probably be long and possibly annoying to those who didn’t attend. Or maybe not. No idea what I’m going to write yet – you’ll have to be the judge.
Last year, when I read all 1,000 BlogHer posts, I noticed the obvious theme of “BlogHer is just like high school” – and I could totally see that. But I also think that this message was strongly balanced with the sentiment that it’s exactly what you make of it (much like high school in which I made great friends regardless of social hierarchies – much like BlogHer… Just love me some circularity, you know).
But this year, I saw a #blogher tweet from one of my favorite people, Gwen of Not Really that I thought pretty much nailed it:
Seriously – EXACTLY how I felt. Totally displaced on day one, feeling the love on day two and then exhausted on day three. Forget about “what I got out of it“…I was far too preoccupied by the fact that my tired, red eyes wouldn’t stop tearing.
But I’ve always been known by my friends for my ability to rally. So not only did I stay awake as long and as late as possible on Saturday night (in bed by a respectable 2:00 a.m.), I tried very hard to just be in the moment and enjoy the company of whomever was directly in front of me.
So if you feel like rallying (a term originally applied to my willingness to be dragged from my bed and join forays out for late night diner food) for yet another BlogHer post…I’m adding my own to the mix. And it will be long. And include repetitive pictures. And links. A lot of links. This will NOT be lyrical or profound. It will be a blow by blow of my BlogHer 2010 experience.
You say our blog is a “virtual scrapbook” of your children? My blog is a “virtual scrapbook” of my blog. So here we go…
Thursday:
Having shut down activity on all three of my sites until, um…Monday (ooops – guess it’s time to start posting again), I woke at FOUR A.M. to meet up with a group driving to a sponsored train ride from BWI. Of course I was wide awake because if you can’t rally at the beginning of a trip, then you really can’t call yourself much of a rallier (I don’t care what spell check says – it’s a word).
I just wrote several paragraphs on the ride including links to everyone I could think of that even “almost” made eye contact with me – but really that’s link overkill. So let’s just say that I had a great time talking to Amy, Bailey, J.J., Linda Kerr, Linda Rihani, Michele, Roni, Stimey, Sue (and more! If I’ve left you out, let me know and I’ll add you) on the way up to NYC.
After a quick cab ride to the Hilton, I checked my bag, saw some familiar faces in the lobby, and then ran out to meet my non-blogging friend Nancy for lunch. Nancy, like my other non-blogging friends, thinks I’m a blog superstar and wonders when I’ll be getting that book deal. I KNOW Nancy – that’s what all 50 of my regular readers think…
Then I helped stuff bags for the CraziBeautiful party that I planned to attend later at 4:30. There I met more lovely people including hosts, April, Joanie, Julie, Loralee and Stephanie. And with a quick check in and change at the Hilton, and then a check in at registration (where I saw the exuberant force of nature that is called Vodka Mom), I went back to CraziBeautiful to talk to the super cool sponsors and pick up the best swag bag at BlogHer.
Suddenly I realized that it was well after 6:00 (p.m. that is…the CraziBeautiful party was good but not THAT good) and I was already running late for the Martha Stewart party downtown (private party disclaimer: I simply asked for an invitation to this and like anyone else, was given one upon request).
And this is where I started doing everything wrong… What? You navigated through your planned BlogHer schedule effortlessly and flawlessly? Well good for you – maybe you could host a ROYO about it next year. Anyway…
I wasn’t all THAT concerned about the time until I got into the cab line, which was looking like it would have me at Martha’s by 11:00. Clearly, that wasn’t going to work for me so I decided to walk over a few blocks and get my own cab. Which is really easy to do in midtown rush hour.
After another ten minutes of walking backwards down Fifth Avenue with my hand up, looking like a cross between a hitchhiker and a hooker (high class thank you very much), I was starting to consider hopping into one of those rickshaws. But finally Lady Luck smiled down on me and a very expensive limo pulled up to save me (and charge me an arm and a leg for a 15 block drive, but the air conditioning was worth it).
Martha’s party was okay. and I wasn’t as late as I thought since they didn’t even open the doors until 6:30. But it was obvious that I didn’t know anyone there, and after an afternoon of small talk with new acquaintances, I would have been thrilled to see a friendly face. I DID run into April (one of the CraziBeautiful hosts) at the bar and of course embarrassed myself by managing to ask her if she’s Mormon and THEN made it even better by asking if she knew another Mormon blogger that I read. Awesome. The things I do when I’m feeling frazzled…
Don’t get me wrong – I did have a good time and very much enjoyed chatting with some of the vendors and the lovely PR woman who planned the event. I also saw Joanna Goddard of A Cup of Jo there, but I was just too spent to even try to do the fan hello (who knows what I’d end up saying to her).
When it was over I sped back to the hotel via cab and heard from my roommate Anna who had finally arrived and was at the People’s Party with Headless Mom. And THAT’S when everything got back on track.
Lesson learned? Trying to go to too many events can waste a lot of time. Better to just find a great group or a great party and stick with it. Rushing all over a city to get to different parties is lame. Duly noted.
I was SO happy to connect with Anna who is one of my favorite people and my first real blog friend. After all of that stress it was a relief to talk and laugh with two fantastic women. Even if we were drinking “drinkable” wine out of party cups (I must admit that the vodka and basil concoctions at Martha’s were heavenly).
Then something else wonderful happened. A long time favorite writer (and yes I actually do differentiate “writers” from bloggers like me) walked up and tapped me on the shoulder. Gwen, whom I mentioned above is this tall gorgeous creature who somehow manages to combine effortless cool with insecure dorkiness. I love her. And I also quite taken her friends, Nora and Deb. Anna and I spent the rest of the evening with them before admitting at midnight that we couldn’t last another minute. I was in bed, asleep by 12:30.
Since I have two more days to cover. I’ll stop there for now and pick it up tomorrow. Looks like the rest of my week will be dedicated to BlogHer ’10. Ah well – that’s all the people who attended want to read anyway, and everyone else is ignoring blogs until the annoying BlogHer posts cease.
I’m sure I’ll come up with something really insightful about BlogHer by the end of the week. But tomorrow, you can tune in again for more links, some PICTURES (finally – mine mostly start on Friday) and long rambling stories. Until then, here is a preview image:
God, but I miss those girls….
Ok… so I loved your recap and then totally teared up at the last photo and your tag line. MISS you already! Can't wait to hang soon enough!
BTW – thanks for letting me know my links weren't working… they're now fixed, with a few tweaks. xx
i love your friend tweets and i laughed so hard.
never been to blogher, but vegas yes and that is soooo true!
So right about the Vegas comparison! Although, to be honest, I could have stayed a day or three longer.
Can't wait to hear more!
I loved meeting you and wish we'd had more time to talk. Next year I don't plan on doing anything but sitting on my ass and chatting.
(And you are quite lovely in person.)
This is great! Love the blow by blow. Am still cracking up re. our late Saturday night convo. Definitely blog worthy. Haven't posted about the weekend yet. Really, where to start???? Thanks for being a wonderful roomie and friend!
I am so glad we got to meet. To go out for dinner that last night. It's hard…so many people, so little time.
I am glad I got to meet you in person, after the invitation thing. We took the subway over, because the taxi stand was frighteningly long.
I have to apologize for my social awkwardness. I was a little frazzled the weeks leading up to BlogHer, learning how to use my phone, and Twitter. I swear, I am normally not like that—or at least not as bad. ;)
Damn, that's more than I did the whole weekend, social-butterfly-wise. But I did meet some really inspiring women, including you and Anna. And yeah, like in Vegas, I had to make sure to get outside to make sure the sky was still there and take some breaths. I still haven't written a meaty blogher post, but I'm sure enjoying yours.
So sorry I missed the chance to meet you and Anna. Stopped by the Serenity Suite on Sat afternoon while you two were there, but it was packed and everyone seemed deep in mid-conversation, and I was in a rush to meet my kiddo in daycare upstairs…. Hope to have another chance, either locally or at BlogHer 2011!
I really enjoyed your tweets from BlogHer and think you need to tweet more in your regular life.
I love reading these recaps and I'm disappointed that Martha's party wasn't all that.
I guess I really do need to get on twitter! Loved this post and can't wait to read the others. I don't know why I hadn't commented already! I think I did but the computer ate it. Loved your NAVY and white outfit that last night.
I can vouch for Amy's cell phone probs.
In fact, she was almost in tears about her lack of reception–not a normal response but she was so nervous about her keynote.
Sorry you guys didn't get to hook up. Maybe at #AnnHer10!
xo
anna, well, i've already tried to thank you via twitter, but i wanted to let you know that you and your brood were more than kind to me at blogher! loved hanging out with you girls and hope to be able to do it again in the future! enjoying reading your posts…thanks again, jorja
It's taking forever to get around to everyone…It was truly delightful to meet you! The fleeting moments weren't enough. I think we need an unBlogHer…just the hotel and a big ballroom to meet in. Then we could just sit and talk to whomever we want for as long as we want, right?
I am so glad you made it to our party. And that you helped us stuff bags… because we needed help. We could have used about 7 more of you. You are awesome.
And what… are you saying Martha Stewart is more important than us? LOL