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Tuesday, July 28, 2009

BlogHer 09 Requisite Recap

I am always amazed that people who didn't give birth to me or otherwise contribute to my mere existence, people who share my last name, people I pay, and people who know me up close and personally read my little blog. My readers are better than a live audience (mostly because I'm not affected by any rotten eggs or tomatoes aimed at my head and no one counts how many glasses of wine I polish off). I count my readers as friends and fans, affectionately known as frans.

I finally got to go to BlogHer in Chicago last weekend. I met many bloggers whom I have been stalking and adoring for ages now. We are not all just a bunch of words and mouse clicks in the blogosphere; we are people. We all have a story. In many cases, we have been reading each other's stories for a while. We exchanged knowing glances and shared personal jokes, even upon having just met. There were hugs and squeals and "Oh my Gods!" and high fives and fist bumps and ass taps. Or maybe that was just me feeling up the rocking Silicon Valley Moms in the photo booth.

I laughed with my new friends. With some I cried. We broke bread. We toasted. We got snap happy. We ate cake. We wore McDonald's paper bags on our heads. We tickled our funny bones with feather boas. We cut a rug.

In a word, meeting my blog crushes was...

exhilarating.

And I am cursing for not having a freaking camera. Note to self: buy a pocket doohickey to tote around.

I should have packed Depends because I about peed in my britches when I met Ree, Redneck Mommy, Vodka Mom, Backpacking Dad, Black Hockey Jesus, Jessica Knows, NYCity Mama, Maggie Dammit, Bossy, Stephanie, Neil, and so many more whose business cards are squirreled away in a box on my desk. I would have asked for autographs but I was too chicken just like the time I saw Melissa Gilbert in an antique dress shop in Sausalito when I was 12.

I don't give a rip about the swag, but the BlogHer parties were cool. I especially enjoyed the endless supply of cheesecubes, coffee, and sweet tooth aphrodesiacs. Oh, and the champagne cocktails at the Nikon soiree. I hear there were some swag hags ruining it for the rest of us, but seriously people, BlogHer was about the people, not the free shampoo, socks, and laundry detergent. All the sqeeing and peeing was worth it. My favorite bloggy friends live in different time zones than I do. I hate that I'll have to wait a year to see them again (Yes, Mac Daddy, I'll be going again next year.). I met amazing people, and that's not even including Carson Kressley (sarcasm people, saracasm).

Most people thought I'd be taller in person and even seemed a tish disappointed to see all 60 inches of me. Perhaps I need a disclaimer in my header stating "Beware, blogger's voice appears larger than her person." Someone I met at a Triangle Tweetup once told me he was disappointed to meet me in person because he thought I was more fascinating online. Um yeah. I was floored by that too. I didn't ask him to expound; I just ran to a corner and wept. In any case, I was delighted to meet everyone in person, live in Memorex. Blogher was a bloggy honeymoon for me.

And now Mac Daddy can stop calling all these twitterific folks my imaginary friends.


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17 comments:

Amanda @ High Impact Mom said...

Yup. I am so glad to have met you and share some wine, cheese, and chocolates with you! Thanks for listening..oh and I think you're fabulous in person. And I might be a teeny bit jealous of your petiteness.

Magpie said...

So great to meet you.

Ilina said...

Oh Amanda, I am jealous of your height. And I want that floraly long dress you wore.

Magpie, I should have added you to my post because I almost peed when I read your name tag. Oh my, too many pee-worthy moments to remember in my haze!

Jennifer said...

If you think I'm waiting a whole year, you've got another guess coming. Besides, I'll have to visit NC to get more White Lily flour.

Kim Tracy Prince said...

You cried?! I thought I stole all The Cry from everyone who ever cried. You held out on me, BFF. P.S. I love you.

Vodka Mom said...

that was wonderful!! It was so lovely to meet you, too!

I love that pic of you and your son. It made me heart smile.

xoxox

Ree said...

I loved meeting you, too. I'm so glad we managed to get together and spend some time chatting.

(And I loved your dress, in case I forgot to tell you!)

MizFit said...

Such a great post.
wish we'd met there as well.

Carla

NYCityMama said...

Funny, when I met you, though brief our encounter, I thought you were larger than life and had an incredibly attracting and attractive personality. Was kinda pissed that Jennifer kept you to herself all weekend and only introduced us at the very latter part of the conference...but now that I know you'll be hear next year we can cause some havok together! xoxox Loved meeting you! I think you are great online, but so much more awesome IRL. Some ppl, like the a-hole who made u cry, should never leave the front of their computer screens. But you darling, shine!

Childsplayx2 said...

It was so great to meet you. And I thought you were the perfect size.

And I made Kim cry so I hope I wasn't responsible for you crying as well. :)

Sarah said...

Hi Ilina-- I sat with you ate the newbie breakfast on Friday. I love reading all the recap post; it's so fun to read others' perceptions of the conference. Glad you had a good time and it was nice to meet you. I love your blog!

Sarah said...

at, not ate. I'm a typo queen.

maggie, dammit said...

You are so beautiful. I'm SO glad we met. xo

I can't find my blog said...

And I'm so sad I missed you! Next time!!!

Jeff said...

Excited for you that you made it to BlogHer. As fun as the online part of social media is, it is way cooler to finally meet these great people that you feel like you already know. I'm glad that MacDaddy can't call them imaginary friends anymore, but it is also easier to talk about people as friends having met them, as opposed to trying to explain that you only know them from the internet.

Anonymous said...

Oh how fun!
I bet a few folks got chills meeting you.

Mommy Niri said...

absolutely a pleasure and a treat running in to you! And I think there is a video somewhere out there to prove it.