It Looks Like I'm Never Going to Post About BlogHer

I'm a s-l-o-w blogger, but sheesh! I've had plenty of time to digest my weekend w/ 750 blogging women (woohoo!) and get some pixels down on screen. The 750 women, that part I loved. The energy was terrific, and the collection of smarts and determination in those rooms could have powered multiple rockets to multiple moons. It's a wonderful salve for otherwise crabby-making life and so singular an experience that I'm buoyed by it for a long time afterward -- even as it wears me out to my core. I used most of my outgoing reserves the first day, and by the 2nd day I was literally vibrating but so depleted that I needed 3 cups of coffee just to get through the day. Those of y'all who aren't introverts, read this, and do take pity on your worn out pals.

I did not say hello to some faves, because I just cannot do that fan-gushy thing. (Read: shy wimp.) Heck. Hi, gals. You rock, and I dig you. See? It's a lot easier from here. I did get it together long enough to ask Heather Champ for advice on a camera for us non-techie types who love the artistry of photography but aren't going to become Dorothea Lange anytime soon. I learned so much from her session on digital photography, and hopefully I'll be able to exhibit the fruits of that labor here. Access to women with this level of expertise is, among other reasons, why BlogHer is so amazing.

But wait! I met many new faves. They're so cool and smart and badass -- partake of their awesomeness!

Amy Anderson and Sheri Reed of mama zine (w/ a tagline of one of my favorite sayings)
Barbara G. of bgblogging
Barbara S. of Language Lab Unleashed
Bill of History of the Button   
Britt of Have Fun Do Good
Brittany of Hollaback Boston and Modern Feminist
Candace of Femilicious (and more!)
Carrie of NOW Texas and Lone Star Democracy
Christie of Dogged Blog
Deni Bonet
Eden of Fussy [but I didn't get my t-shirt! =(]
Elaine of Elaine.la
Frank of Listics
Jason of Random Signal (and Lulu)
Katie of Lulu
Laura of Geeky Mom
Maria of ConsumerPop
Megan of Divine Reality
Robert of Late Night PC
SJ of I, Asshole (NB: We didn't meet, but I "found" her after her awesome comments in the "Identity & Obligation" session. It was love at first comment. Same goes for Eggbeater. Rock on w/ your bad selves.)
Stacie of Schmoopy
Susie Bright (yes, that Susie Bright)
Suzanne of CUSS and Other Rants
Teri of Purple Women
Wendy of Fire on the Poop Deck (and author of)

But wait! All my old pals! What luck to find them again in a sea of new faces.

Badger
Elisa Camahort
Elke Sisco (finally met Elkit!)
Grace Davis (How big is my crush on Grace Davis, you ask? How much time you got?)
Jan Kabili
Liz Rizzo
Nancy White
The Princess (we go waaaay back)
Samantha (new blog coming soon!)
Sour Duck

Can you see now why I was so wiped out? I'm hard-pressed to talk to two people at a time/in a day in my regular life. Whew. I'm still recovering.

Favorite panel: Identity & Obligation.

Favorite moment: The audience spontaneously singing "All You Need is Love" when the sound didn't work during Saturday's opening session.

Favorite quote: Having failed many times in my life, I realize that it doesn't matter at all. -- Arianna Huffington on fearlessness at the Closing Keynote.

Favorite hairdo: Catarina Fake.

Least favorite everything: Being some ad exec's idea of a target market. More on this latre.

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UPDATED 8.04.06: Bad links.

Comments

[Anton Zuiker]

ae, glad you were able to attend BlogHer. How about sharing some ideas with me on ways we can invite more Triangle women to attend our BlogTogether events?

[crabbi]

How cool that you were able to go two years in a row. I live an hour away and still didn't make it. I hear BlogHer will be in Chicago next year -- maybe I'll be able to go then. And hopefully meet up with you and talk about the joys of being an introvert :)

I love that Jonathan Rauch article. In fact, I think I have a draft post with a link to it...

[megan]

'Twas great meeting you as well :) stay cool!

[DivaJood]

I've never heard of this event before. It sounds fantastic. When in Chicago? My daughter lives there.

[Maria Niles]

No, you rock on w/your bad self!

I feel you on the introvert thing and BlogHer is overwhelming. I do hope though that next year I can actually spend some time not running around so that I can talk to v. cool women like you!

Thanks for the love for the Identity and Obligation panel. And I'm with you - there were several women who commented whom I didn't know before the session and now I'm a fan.

Looking forward to your "target market" post. As someone who believes that targeting your markets can be a good thing, please be gentle 'cause we're not all evil - I hope. ;-)

[BlookerPrize]

It was great to meet you! We were delighted not to be the only folks from NC at BlogHer!

[Suebob]

Yeah, the introvert thing. I made plenty of unnecessary trips back to my room for a couple minutes of introvertian sanity, took 2 long hot showers a day, etc. But there were still times I felt like hugging my knees and rocking and sobbing because it was just all too much. Hell, I STILL feel that way.

Yeah, I wrote about the Janes targeting us over at my blog. I felt a bit bad for the women playing the Janes because they were playing to a basically hostile crowd...I hope they got paid well to chirp at us.

[Schmoopy]

You are still ahead of me in so far as gathering my thoughts of what I want to post about in regards to Blogher. But I will say this -- I loved meeting you and getting to talk to you about all kinds of stuff. Our current administration being a huge part of that. I have been enjoying reading your posts. You rock.

I adore the list of favorites. And I adore that you are implying that you might be writing about being some ad exec's idea of a target market. You wouldn't by any chance be referring to a couple oh-so-bubbly fembots with perky breasts to match their perky marketing pitch now would you?

[Killer B]

It was great to meet you too!!! I just posted video about it too, so don't feel like you're behind. I'm right in between extrovert and introvert (bet you didn't guess that when you met me...), so I've spent this week recovering mostly from overdoing it. Ack. Love the Atlantic article. Thanks for the link!

[Wendy Boucher]

I had a great time and I am so glad to have met you! I just got back from vacation yesterday and I'm just catching up. Cheers!

[Ruby Sinreich]

I'm so glad you could go and represent North Cackalacky, ae! I have been doomed not to attend BlogHer since it was during my honeymoon this year, and it was just after I was laid off last year.

I feel you on the target market thing, too. There seems to be a lot of emphasis on how to make money with these blogs, which I am just not that interested in personally.

[Teri]

Thanks for highlighting my purpleness!

Can't wait 'til the next BlogHer. That was truly awewome.