Yet Another Post-BlogHer Recap – 2009 Edition
Posted By Kristabella on July 27, 2009
So I had all these grand plans last week to write a witty, charming post before the actual BlogHer conference so that everyone I gave my business card out to could come to my blog and get a better idea who I was from reading something other than a Death Is Not An Option post where I ask you to pick gross people to sleep with.
But alas, that didn’t happen. Because I had a thousand things to do before I headed down to the hotel to have dinner with the lovely Angella, one of my most favorite people in the world, Wednesday night before the madness started. And after dinner, Ali came to town and the madness began! Good madness, though!
(Photo borrowed from Angella)
I could talk about a thousand different things that happened over the weekend. I could talk about all the alcohol I ingested. I could talk about all the awesome parties. I could talk about the shitty wireless connection in the entire hotel. I could talk about all the awesome people I met, who I’m too lazy to link too. I could talk about how awesome it was to see all my friends and wish we had more time to hang out.
But my biggest BlogHer moment came on Friday morning while sitting in a session about TMI blogging. As soon as I sat down, I saw a person who looked really familiar. And not like I had seen her on a blog familiar. Like someone I knew in real life familiar. I wracked my brain and finally about halfway through the session, figured it was a girl who used to work for my dad. Like I was sure as sure can be. Except, I couldn’t remember her name. I thought it was Tracey, but it had been like 13 years since I had seen her, so I couldn’t be quite sure.
During the session, I Twittered Tutugirl, who happened to be sitting right next to her, and asked if she could lean over and check out her name tag. Because of the craptastic internet service in the hotel, I didn’t get her message. So Tutugirl looked like a crazy person staring at a stranger’s chest for nothing. Thanks anyway, though!
After the session, I figured I had to at least ask. So I tapped her on the shoulder and was like “this is going to sound like a weird thing to say…but I think you used to work for my dad.” And then I showed her my name tag and it was her and we hugged and it was awesome. I couldn’t believe it, still can’t believe it that it was her. That we both live in the Chicago area and we have to go to a blogging conference, a conference with 1,500 people, to run into each other. What are the odds?
I unfortunately had to be the one to tell her that my dad is dead and I said it with no sadness at all because, as I mentioned to her later, he turned into an asshole after she stopped working for him. But she was upset because she remembers only the good man. And I’m jealous because I wish I could too only have those memories. And maybe that had a little something to do with my drinking lots of alcohol that day. For so many reasons that I probably will never go into on this blog.
But I’m so happy to have run into her and have added her blog into my feed reader. Her kids are adorable and she married her boyfriend from all those years ago and now we’re both bloggers! What a crazy world, right?
(Photo borrowed from Tracey)
Other highlights from the weekend:
- FINALLY meeting Darcey!
(Photo borrowed from Ali)
- I’ve “known” Darcey probably since I started blogging. I think we met back in the days of MamaPop Talk when we would both always comment on the same things. And then we were moderators together. And now we talk almost every single day over IM/email. We’re so twins – both tall, both love sports, both love alcohol. I am so happy to have finally met her in person and I love her to pieces. Honestly, I can’t thank her enough for just being there for me this past weekend to listen and talk me down from a ledge.
- Meeting Tutugirl! She’s so nice and cute. I met her Thursday night when she came up to the group I was standing in, which happened to include Jen Lancaster. So Jen said hi to her and then they chatted. And then she said to me “I actually came over to talk to you.” And I’m pretty sure that will be the ONLY time that ever happens.
- Jen Lancaster dropping her drink ticket from the MamaPop party on the floor and promptly noticing there were like five other tickets strewn about. This lead me to yelling “it’s like fucking Christmas!”
- Having dinner with a lovely bunch of ladies on Saturday night, including one who lives in Chicago! We’re so going to play trivia soon and take a pole dancing class together! She even told me the mystery surrounding the stupid tree mascot from Stanford.
- Poppy Buxom’s fabulous party on the rooftop of a high rise with fabulous views of the city. By far the BEST party of BlogHer and the only reason to miss the Cheeseburgher party.
- Finally getting to meet Halushki, who I think is one of the funniest writers ever, and having her tell me she thinks the same thing about me and just feeling so flattered.
- Getting to spend the day Sunday decompressing with my good friend Heather. We laughed a lot. We had ice cream shakes. I got her hooked on Big Brother. We saw Harry Potter, which was great. The best part being right at the end of the movie when Heather screamed at me “DID YOU KNOW HOW THIS WAS GOING TO END?” And then I laughed because I thought she had read the books and DAMN that’s a big shock when you don’t know it is coming. And then I laughed at her some more.
- She also didn’t make fun of me for my dirty house and my annoying cats. It’s nice to wind down from a conference like this with someone who was there and could understand what the fuck you were talking about.
- I won a label maker! I can’t wait to get it! Think of the blog posts! I can label my cats’ thoughts! It will be great! Bacon will have a visual voice!
- Meeting so many of my blog readers, writers of blogs I read and all my Twitter peeps! There are too many to name them all, but every single person I met was nice and awesome!
- And so many more things I’m probably forgetting!
Overall, it was a good weekend and I’m happy that I went. It changed a lot from last year to this year, ask the people who got elbowed in the face for swag. But overall, I think no matter how big it gets, how many sponsors are around, how big the BlogHer Trade Show is, we’re all going to keep going because it’s the easiest way to see all of our friends, all in the same place. And really, we go to see the people, our friends, our community. Not for fucking trinkets.
About the author
I sooo totally thought you and Darcy were real life friends from a place other than blogging! Totally cool!
.-= MaNiC MoMMy´s last blog ..BLoGHeR o9 =-.
You’re one of my favorite people too!
That Wednesday night dinner was just what I needed before the chaos started. Miss you!
.-= Angella´s last blog ..An Ode To Awesome =-.
I knew Darcy had to be your bestie when I saw her purse 🙂
I have to admit I missed your posts while you were away and was seriously kicking myself for not finding and following you on Twitter because as past examples have shown you often have funny tweets while entertaining.
(You are addicted to Big Brother too?!?)
I would have loved to have met so many other fabulous bloggers. Hopefully next year…
.-= Jen on the Edge´s last blog ..Thursday is the day =-.
All I can think to say is…NEXT YEAR IT’S IN NEW YORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.-= Candy´s last blog ..Who are you really? =-.
I’m sorry you had a tough time on Friday. It sounds like you had a great time overall though! And it sounds like there were a ton of really fun people there.
It’s fucking Christmas! makes me laugh.
.-= -R-´s last blog ..Three Mini-Posts =-.
It looks like you had fun!
.-= Raven´s last blog ..who gets hail in JULY? =-.
it sounds like fun! I would so want to meet you, then I know i would chicken out!
I’m so sorry that you had a bit of a bad experience, but happy that the good outweighed the bad. How great that you connected with so many amazing people! I definitely need to go next year, and I promise if you are standing near Ms. Lancaster, I’ll walk up just to talk to you!
.-= TUWABVB´s last blog ..I Promise Not to Write About Dead Pets Anymore =-.
So great to meet you! I’m sorry we didn’t get to chat much at dinner, but it was wonderful to hang out!
.-= Pocklock´s last blog ..While I Was Away… =-.
And naturally the downside was not meeting me. Right? RIGHT?
=)
Glad you all had so much fun!
.-= Camels & Chocolate´s last blog ..Guest Post Alert! Win a Free Volunteer Vacation =-.
Wow… not only do I get a picture, but I’m mentioned in the comments by other people, too? It’s almost like getting recognized at BlogHer (which so didn’t happen, unlike the ultimately awesome Kristin).
.-= Darcey´s last blog ..The Incident =-.
So glad you had such a wonderful time! Can’t wait to go next year and reunite! 🙂
.-= La Petite Chic´s last blog ..On the Negative and Positive =-.
It was lovely to meet you.
.-= jodifur´s last blog ..BlogHer: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly =-.
Kramey here. Lovely to meet you and I’m really glad we got to hang out Friday evening.:) Come to Portland SOON!
.-= Krameymartin´s last blog ..Birthday List… =-.
Ree says i saw you there and i must have had my head up my ass because i don’t remember it and i was hoping i would see you there please tell me i did. And I was sober.
.-= lceel´s last blog ..There were Manly Men =-.
Tell me about the stupid TREE! Go Bears!
.-= Lori´s last blog ..i’m so bummed =-.
This is definitely my favorite BlogHer wrap up!
So, hey … we’re moving this weekend. When we get settled, I’d love to have you over!
Love it! Maybe someday I’ll join you ladies at this magical conference. Looks like you all had a spectacular time!
.-= HollyLynne´s last blog ..Infrared =-.
I’m so glad I found you again, too. I do remember the good stuff about your dad, but I remember the reason I stopped working for him and I remember the last day I saw him. It isn’t a memory I would want to have (increased by 1000%) of my own dad. I’m sorry he wasn’t able to figure life (and alcohol) out before he died.
Shakes it off…
ANYway! Can’t wait to read you more often. Though I must say, I am SHOCKED TO THE CORE that you say “fuck.” SHOCKED my dear. Tsk tsk. What happened to that sweet girl I knew? 😉
Ack! Right in my backyard and I didn’t even get to go. I’m enjoying the wrap up but I sure wish I had been there! Glad you had a good time!
zomg drink tickets! i would have dove for them.
.-= Scarlet´s last blog ..Water & A Seat =-.
U R awesome! I’d get drunk on the roof with you any time!
.-= Poppy Buxom´s last blog ..BlogHer09 Report #3 Celebrity Sighting Edition =-.
can i just come to Chicago to get drunk with you?
.-= gorillabuns´s last blog .."I love him so much!" "I know you do, honey." "I love him so much!" "I know you do." =-.
Sorry you had a rough patch at blogher. But everything else sounds super fun…and you have to admit the free swag is pretty cool. but why were people getting elbowed this year, I don’t remember it being that intense last year.
.-= Sensibly Sassy´s last blog ..Changing Directions =-.
MWAH!
Great recap of a great time!
Next time, I’m hunting you down sooner and dragging you off to some dark corner so we can giggle together for a while. Deal?
.-= Jozet at Halushki´s last blog ..BlogHer 2009, Chicago =-.
A label maker? I am insanely jealous. Seriously.
.-= regan´s last blog ..highly inappropriate =-.
if i had a label maker, i wouldn’t just label my cats’ thoughts, i would label my ACTUAL CATS. like, print out “asshole cat” and stick it on oliver.
.-= Alice´s last blog ..the OTHER best part of blogher =-.
I have a picture of you sticking your tongue out at me. I’ll send it to you when I get it off my camera. 😉
.-= Ree´s last blog ..Airing Dirty Laundry =-.
There was a TMI session? OH MAN! That alone was worth the ticket price. Fuck.
One of my favorite moments was getting asked by two girls if I was you. “You’re Kristin, right?” they said excitedly. “Ummm, no, actually I’m not.”
AWESOME to see you babe. We need to hang out more! next year. And seriously, come to Portland. Or else.
.-= Kerri Anne´s last blog ..Confessions Of A Movie-Going Mind =-.
Hey!
It was great to meet you again…(think we met a couple of years ago too)!
.-= blackbird´s last blog ..Stridex =-.