Holy F-in Hell That Was Fun

I don't even know where to start. BlogHer was amazing in many ways - the best one being that it was just a whole hell of a lot of fun. We're still in Chicago (technically now in Evanston at my aunt's place) so I haven't really had a chance to sit down and digest it all but I really want to at least give some idea of how awesome it was. Above all it was great to meet so many women that I have come to know and love through their writing. Especially Kyran, Feral, Bobita, Orange, JenB, and Jess. And then reuniting with my Cybergrrl cohorts Aliza and Nelly was really special. It made me really realize (again, a lesson I seem to forget over and over) how important it is to keep in touch with the people you value from your past lives. An extra-awesome experience was getting to know Kyran, whom I met virtually shortly before the conference and who is now a friend of the highest order. If you haven't checked out her writing at Notes To Self you absolutely must. And what can I say about my dear Feral? You may already know that she is one of the funniest writers on the Internets but did you know she is also cute as a button? No? Ha! I do.  (Please note that the toe is not as scary in real life). I also got to meet many new bloggers and learn about all sorts of cool things that are going on out there. I'll be putting together a list of cool blogs/projects later - after I have a second to go through the mountain of business cards I collected.

The break-out sessions that I attended were for the most part really good. The main exception was the State of the Momosphere session. Which in spite of a having a fabulous panel (Her Bad Mother's Catherine Conner, Lena Lotsay from Cheeky Lotus, and Chris Jordan of Notes From The Trenches -- smart and funny women all) got bogged down in both the-internet-is-like-high-school-/-junior-high whining and monitizing/advertising gobbeldy gook. I had low expectations for the session mainly because it seemed way too general a topic for any in-depth discussion and I would say the expectations were met. Which is too bad because Catherine Conner is about as smart as they come and I was ready to corner her for the rest of conference just to hear her spout brilliance in her lovely Toronto accent.

I think that the session that was the loveliest surprise was the It's Your Passion Not Your Size panel with Jen Lemen, Rachelle Mee-Chapman and Krystyn Heide. Basically it was about loving your blog and not your SiteMeter. It was nice to be in a panel where people talked about the joy of writing their stories and not how to brand your blog, monetize your blog or build your traffic. It was a nice reminder of why I started blogging in the first place and why my story is important even if I am just a drop in the big 'ol blogosphere.

And the session that was the most fun? By far? The Art of Crafts panel. It was a total positive-vibe love fest with a smart talented panel that that just happened to have Amy Sedaris doing color commentary. Moderated by Leah Petersen (OMG she said she liked my blog when I talked to her afterward and I nearly d-i-e-d) it was just fun and informative and full of hilarious moments. I wished very much that the mom session could have been like it. I am still not sure why one had such positive energy and the other was relatively negative and snippy (in my opinion, anyway). Maybe because that seems to be the general energy in the two subcultures. Craft bloggers are all so supportive of each other; there rarely ever seems to be any bad blood. And for whatever reason (feel free to speculate) the mommyblogging world does not seem to have this same esprit d'corps.

I can't even start about how fun the cocktail parties were, even if I couldn't partake in the cocktails. (Okay, I might have had a glass of the free wine). The only bummer was that I could not participate in the after-party late-night bonding sessions because I was just too damn worn out by the end of the day. Friday night I was pretty mopey about it in fact. But what are you going to do? Pregnancy has sucky moments like that. I am just glad that I was healthy enough to go. I will say that although the Navy Pier facilities were nice overall it was tough on the less-than able bodied due to the distance between the hotels and the conference site. The other bummer was that I could only stay one night. If I did it over again I would A. Not be pregnant B. Stay 2 nights at least C. Stay up all night with my homies. All good goals for next year.

I took a few pictures but my camera sucks so bad I don't know if I'll even post them. There are amazing photos on Flickr for anyone looking for good pics of the event. Overall the whole experience was incredible and I would go again in a heartbeat. Two of my biggest passions are writing and technology. Getting to spend 36+ hours talking and thinking about nothing else with smart, cool (and may I say red HOTT) women was a dream come true.

Comments

[Bobita]

I am absolutely tickled pink to have had the opportunity to meet you. Your break-out dance moves were the highlight of the weekend and I am so glad I got to see you shake your groove thang. You OWNED that dance floor, baby!

I hope we have a chance to hang out again. Soon.

Mwah!

[Assertagirl]

Alana, it was great to meet you, even if I did leave my blood power cord in that Finding your Passion session...

[greentshirt]

Of all the reviews of Blogher that I've read, I think I like yours the best. You captured something for me that I haven't felt elsewhere. Can't explain it...but I like it.

[LetterB]

Thanks - I feel very self-conscious writing a recap because I know how I felt reading all of them when I couldn't go the past two years. It was fun to read them but sometimes made me sad because I wanted to go so badly. I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for indulging me.

[Mocha]

Ok, so many things I like here. First, today's haiku on your sidebar. Good God, but you are funny.

Secondly, the "currentishly" word. I'm stealing it. I will use it in a sentence every hour on the hour today. I'll report back.

Finally, you are well written, well read and wrote things that I experienced as well. I did, in fact, corner Catherine and we missed an entire session because she and Joy and Kristen and others were getting all meta and dang. Nobody wants to miss THAT. Also, Leah.... oh, what to say about that creature. Just that she is lovable and likeable.

So many things I like here. You are one of them.

[wordgirl]

Thanks for the summary. It was honest and forthright and I can't tell you how nice it is to hear someone whose follow-up was so balanced.

[Pamela]

Hi! It's Zach's friend, Pamela. Thanks so much for coming up to me at BlogHer and introducing yourself. Between your comments, and Zach's, I am slowly getting sucked into the idea of moving to your little town. Do you commute? Is it terrible? How reasonable IS the childcare? So many questions. Anyway, I'll be pumping everyone for info in the coming weeks/months, unless I decide I want to be city-fied, after all!

[Her Bad Mother]

I have an accent? Now that I know that, if you ever get the chance to corner me - and I hope that you do - I'll have to fake a French one or something just to throw you off that whole Toronto thing. Cuz, you know, that's just not interesting.

[Oral Hygiene Queen]

I wished I could've gone, and when Feral Mom told me her stories about BlogHer, it was her anecdote about your rowdy pregnant dancing that made me really wish I'd been there. Being eight months along myself, I would've loved to have met you and shaken my big-bellied thang along with you. Maybe we'll both get to go next year, if we can get baby sitters...