It is SO important to come out of every experience with a new outlook and new knowledge. At BlogHer this year some people acquired new knowledge, some a new outlook… however what most of us aquired was a hangover. A long one. And a headache. From the hangover. And the lack of sleep. And all the whooooping. (Which, let’s face it, it’s fun sometimes, but after a while I started wondering if that was the only reply available. Are you happy to be here? Whoooop! How are you doing? Whoooop! Did the combination of caffeine, alcohol, lack of sleep and over-scheduling fry your brain cells? Whoooooop!)
But hey, I still learned a few lessons:
10. People are not always all they are cracked up to be. [Or all they crack themselves up to be.]
9. Backpacking Dad is really tall. [Not freakishly so, just way taller than I would expected.]
8. Avitable is not scary at all in person. In fact, he is sweet and funny. [And I've just destroyed his street cred.]
Avitable and yours truly at the MamaPop party. I'm fully aware that I look like crap. In my defense, I was a little drunk and VERY tired. But I have a tiara!
7. Mr. Lady is so hot, funny and just generally awesome that she’d be intimidating if she wasn’t also so friendly. [And so I join the throngs of adoring fans.]
6. Some people are just as lovely in real life as they are on their blogs. And that makes up for those who are really really not. [And by lovely I mean "nice, friendly, approachable". Be nice, people.]
Here I am with the wonderful, gorgeous, amazing Jill (Scary Mommy). I loved hanging out with you! You are the best. Mwah!
5. You can feel like you have known someone for a really long time after spending only 2 days together. [Which might be due to the fact that you cram a month worth of stuff in those two days. And that you go though hard times – read: hangover + no sleep + event overload + etc – together, and that brings you closer, dammit.]
4. No matter how really-not-shy you may be, you might still bee too chicken to approach Queen Of Spain. [And by "you" I mean "me". No, "I".] Or Ally FussyPants. Or Jenny The Bloggess. Oh, well. [And by "oh, well" I mean "Damn, I'm so kicking myself."]
3. Nothing good can come out of giving drama queens access to microphones and/or Twitter #hashtags. You could say that drama queens + microphones/#hashtags = weapons of mass destruction annoyance. [Or, as Mr. Lady aptly put it: "B*tches be crazy."]
2. Humor Bloggers are the most awesome, undervalued category ever. No, wait – they are not even a category! [Hint, hint BlogHer
]
Humor Bloggers Panel: (from left) Wendi Aarons, Kelcey, Jessica, Anna, Deb on the Rocks, The Bloggess. They were hilarious, warm and really inspiring!
And the #1 lesson:
1. Once you go to BlogHer, you cannot imagine not attending again the following year. Because despite a bit of drama, and little bits and pieces of annoyance, BlogHer is.totally.awesome.























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Twitter: bichonpawz
July 28, 2009 at 3:05 AM
SOOOOOO glad you had such a good time! Lovin’ all your pics! and you looked fabulous…what are you talkin’ about???
.-= bermudabluez´s last blog ..So, If You Were Me… =-.
Hahahaha E. I wrote such a similar post this morning. I agree.
Aw, I wish I could have gone! I’m totally going next year, I don’t care where it’s being held at. I want free swag and bonding time with fellow bloggers! Glad you had a fabulous time though.
.-= Sam´s last blog .."I’ve waited hours for this, I’ve made myself so sick" =-.
Ah, I was waiting for this post! I’m excited for next year, and glad you want to go back! Good luck today, and I will check in soon. xoxo!
.-= LZ´s last blog ..No…thank you! =-.
I’m so glad you had fun! I’ll be there next year for sure, so we’ll have to hang out. You’re on the top of my list of folks to meet. How excited are we that it’s in NYC!!?!??!?!??
.-= Jen L.´s last blog ..Comfort Food Saturday: Vanilla Almond French Toast =-.
Great post, Elisa! Man, did I ever miss out on a great weekend! That’s why I am determined to go next year – and I’m so glad you’re going, even though you’ll live in Europe and BlogHer will be held in YOUR old city – still, you’re coming, and that’s just great. Can’t wait to hang out with you! Can we go shopping, too? FUN! xoxo Good luck with the move, my dear!
.-= Loukia´s last blog ..The post I didn’t really want to write =-.
There are SO many people I regret not having had the chance to hug in person. You, my dear, are most definitely one of them. Glad you had fun and hope to see you (and hug you, twice) in NYC!
.-= Liz@thisfullhouse´s last blog ..BlogHer IRL – Part One =-.
Awww, thank you! I’m feeling all warm and fuzzy now. And it’s not the alcohol doing it this time.
.-= Matthew´s last blog ..Funny Names But Good Times at BlogHer =-.
I am still recovering. I can’t imagine moving this week!!! It was so fabulous meeting you & I can’t wait to see you again! xo
.-= Scary Mommy´s last blog ..BlogHer High =-.
Looks like a great time! I am totally going next year. NYC, baby!
And I’m dying to know who was not all they were cracked up to be!
.-= Becky´s last blog ..Babies LOVE Me =-.
You are gorgeous and fabulous and from now on I INSIST you accost me as soon as you see me. This a new rule I just made up.
Great recap! And thanks for putting up a picture–it’s the first I’ve seen and I’m relieved to see I don’t have any visible sweat rings.
It was lovely to meet you!
.-= Wendi´s last blog ..The Bored Game =-.
You are gorgeous! Sounds like you had a great time. Your post is probably one of the few I’ve read that actually makes me want to go someday.
.-= Lady Mama´s last blog ..I should mention my new header… =-.
it was great to meet you IRL! I wish we’d had more time to talk. What a crazy, hectic, wonderful whirlwind of a few days!
.-= Twenty Four At Heart´s last blog ..Snippets =-.
Heya hon!
Wow! Sounds like you had a blast!!
Love the pics! And you look gorgeous! I love love the tiara!!
xox
Kiki
Looks like you had an absolutely fabulous time at BlogHer! This post made me happy to read. Not only are you hanging out with the lovely Scary Mommy, but you managed to see past all of the swag and PR BS and realize the importance of connecting with people while at the conference.
Amen!
-Francesca
.-= Three Bay B Chicks´s last blog ..Chick Chat =-.
I enjoyed reading your lessons. I’m not sick of reading BlogHer recaps yet—so much fun and warm/fuzziness
.-= Mrs4444´s last blog ..Spelling "Tests" =-.
I know I just emailed, but I just wanted to thank you for introducing yourself, allowing me to find your blog. I’ll see you next year!
.-= Danielle´s last blog ..BlogHer 2009: Panels and Places =-.
I totally have a crush on you. That is all.
.-= Mr Lady´s last blog ..When Good Neighbors Go, Um, Er, Gooder? =-.
Wow. How awesome is your post, and your pictures, and (I would be terrified to approach Her Bloggessness also and omg she commented your blog so HOW COOL ARE YOU!?!?) I am just wondering if your next post will be all about the blog people who suck IRL, so I can avoid them in NYC! (I got a sponsor so I can finally go- woot!) Maybe I will drive up from MD with Jill- she does rock!
AND SO DO YOU! You’re gorgeous in your pix. And one more thing? As a humor blogger I am all GO HUMOR BLOGGERS in NYC! NYC ya there!
(Here’s the post I wrote while green with jealousy that I wasn’t there:
http://www.pajamasandcoffee.com/?p=486) Stop by!
Aw, what a lovely wrap-up. Avitable freaked me out too with how nice he was. Biggest surprise of the conference.
And I hope your readers know that you are just as sweet in person as everyone you mentioned. Maybe more than some. But I’m not saying who.
.-= Mom101´s last blog ..In which I introduce you to lesser known BlogHers and lesser known fruits. =-.
That’s a good picture of us! It was great meeting you and hope to see you in NYC in ’10!
.-= Avitable´s last blog ..Anatomy of a Post #BlogHer Avitable =-.
You sooo think you have people fooled, Mr. “I’M AVITABLE AND PEOPLE LOOOOVE ME.”
Heh.
Sorry you fell for his charms Elisa. IF ONLY YOU KNEW.
.-= moosh in indy.´s last blog ..some fire, way more fizzle. =-.
It was so nice running into you again and again at BlogHer! I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to have a real conversation, as I just found out you are moving to Switzerland! I am moving to England in two weeks, so maybe we will be able to get together over there.
You have yourself a new reader, if nothing else.
I am glad you had fun and I would have totally liked to meet Avitable, I would love to have a fake torrid affair with him!
.-= mountainmomma18´s last blog ..I’m back baby! =-.
I am so glad that we got a chance to not only meet but hang out at BlogHer. Especially since I know for a fact that I won’t be there in NY. Blasphemy, I know but an already scheduled family reunion is getting in my way. Nevermind that I am from NY and all of the folks are traveling to Atlanta and….just so happy that we met!