I'm not attending BlogHer 09 in Chicago.
Lord how I wish I was. I'd love nothing better than a weekend away from the responsibilities of this family life I've chosen. Time with intelligent, talented, witty females whom I might be able to relate to. The freedom to have a few drinks and hang out without the 6am wake up call of a fussy baby.
Yes I want to go, but I won't be going. Money, family obligations, mostly money will keep me from it. Anyone want to stow me away in their suitcase?
I wonder what it would be like if I did go. I imagine, a novice blogger like me would be a bit starstruck. I read blogs daily, written by amazing women. When you read on a regular basis you feel like you know these people. Their kids names, how they feel about their spouse, their interests, even what they had for breakfast. I can just see myself with my Nikon, getting whiplash around every corner.
Oh my gah! Was that Dooce? (Wait, does Dooce even do BlogHer or is she too cool for that?)
Seriously. I just saw Maggie Mason from Mighty Girl. I know it was her with that red hair and fabulous style.
Look look look! It's the chick from Cool Mom Picks. Think she'd freak out if I took her picture?
The Bloggess! No way! Crap, she might karate chop me if I get too close. If she even knows karate. Surely she does though cause she's just awesome like that.
I'm somewhat comfortable with social networking. I can Tweet with the best of them, but I find sending a reply to someone with a thousand followers who doesn't follow me is kind of pointless. I would like to be there, in that golden ring blog realm, but I'm not and probably won't be. No matter how chill I am on the Internetz, I can see myself spazzing out in a face to face meeting with someone like the Pioneer Woman. Stammering, "uh uh uh Marlboro Man is hot." Jeez. What a dork.
So what is the protocol at BlogHer? Is it all a big friendly meet and greet where it's okay to approach people you read and not seem stalkerlike? Or do the cliques exist there as they do everywhere else in our world? The newbies all huddled together, nervously pointing out the famous bloggers, wanting to get the guts up to say hi.
I don't know. I've never been. But I would sure like to go.
I know, I know... I'm not going either. But your virtual visit was fun enough to read--I feel better now, like I haven't missed so much! LOL
ReplyDeleteJust stopping over from SITS. You were above me. Great post. I hope you will come visit too. I post a sharing of marital secrets. Let me know what you think.
ReplyDeleteSusan- I tried my best to imagine it. But I don't do well in crowds so I should have just imagined myself huddled in a corner wishing I had a Valium.
ReplyDeleteI've never been either, and would love to go. Someday.
ReplyDeleteI've walked up to people and made a complete fool of myself, blathering about how I like their writing. And all of them have been gracious. It's totally okay to approach people. Yes, people hang out in groups, but it's rare that they are closed to people stopping by and saying hello or trying to meet new people. This will be my 4th year. The first time I went was totally on a whim. I knew NOBODY. But I made friends there and continue to make more each year.
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