The pre-conference dinner was a blast. Literally. There was so much noise in the restaurant, I could barely hear my tablemates talk. (Or maybe my hearing is going faster than it should due to all those Led Zeppelin concerts I attended in my youth.)
For a bunch of people who spend so much time WRITING about the things that matter to them, this group was talking up a storm. And taking photos! Everyone had a digital camera, some used their cellphones, some even had video. (And you know just about everything is going to end up on Flickr, which Mary Hodder assured me is the greatest, so as usual, I will be the last blogger on the planet to try it out. But finding out exactly why people use the various tools available to us -- and which ones are best -- is another of the reasons I'm here.)
"I invited Dooce to my brunch!" announced Grace D., who is holding an after-conference soiree at her home on Sunday.
"She's HERE?" (What I should have replied was, "Wow. That's so cool.")
"And she's really sweet," Grace said. She went on to tell me how she told Heather Armstrong how much she admires her and that none of us would really be here without her example. At least, I think that's what Grace said. As mentioned above, I could barely hear anything over the cacophony of 200 voices all at once. Even when they were seated right next to me.
As Jenny and I made our way to the buffet line, we passed Heather. The label on her t-shirt was sticking up, so Jenny fixed it. Dooce smiled and thanked her.
The t-shirt was EXACTLY like the one I bought on my birthday, which I posted about back in May.
I was going to wear it tomorrow, but now I think I won't. It would be like one of those Star magazine pieces where they show two celebrities are wearing the same thing and Star's editors tell you which one looks better than the other. That person would not be me.
Ah, well. It took me another 30 minutes to connect to the wi-fi network here at the hotel, so I think I'd better retire early. I'm going to need as much time as I can get before my live blogging sessions so I can get online.
I have to admit that I found your wanting to go to this BlogHer conference a bit -- well, strange. Not for YOU (because I really don't know you that well), but I cannot imagine MYSELF getting together with a bunch of women (first) and then (second) with a bunch of women who do the same thing that I do! Where's the fun in talking shop all day long?
But, as you've continued to post up to and including your conference, I will admit that I'm SO very excited for you! You have a dream of writing - perhaps it's gone up and down the roller coaster of life a few times, but it's still a dream of yours that is just as viable today as it was when you started dreaming of it. No one can take that dream away! And, seeing (er, reading) the excitement in your words about this conference (and everything it stands for) and knowing how much you truly want to leave an eloquent and entertaining written history of your being -- I'm just as tickled as Elmo that you're where you want to be, doing what you want to be doing.
You are in the midst of living a dream ... and that is something that all moms wish for their children. So, the mom in me is supporting you 100%! And you got out of the house for a "Donna" weekend (sans the guilt, puhlease) -- take a long, relaxing bubble bath while you're at it! The woman in me says YOU GO GIRL.
And, when all is said and done, you will leave your conference with a newfound freedom of expression and ideas, new information to play around with and a new lease on your blogging life. It's strawberries and champagne and your very own Pretty Woman life story!
This is Hollywood baby ...
Posted by: Tammy the Queen | July 29, 2005 at 10:34 PM
Aw, Tammy - thanks.
I think you, of all people, would absolutely love this. The networking, the camaraderie - especially the sessions on business blogging. I know that you would be around it in two seconds with a new money-making application for it!
The only thing that would excite me more at this point (Internet wise) would be if some way I could meet all the terrific friends I've met online over the last six years -- like you (and the webmasternetwork ladies). This is just the next best thing.
(And how did you know about the bubble bath?)
Posted by: Donna | July 30, 2005 at 06:38 AM
Thanks for blogging your Blogher experience! I couldn't go, but it's terrific being able to read so many different perspectives on it anyway!
Posted by: MB | July 30, 2005 at 06:55 AM
OHMYGOD YOU SAW DOOCE!!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!
I AM SO VERY JEALOUS.
But hey, I have done even better. I got to spend the whole day with YOU.
Posted by: jen | July 30, 2005 at 12:14 PM