Alana Went To BlogHer And All I Got Was This Stupid Post

Hey! I'm a blogger! Blogging about bloggers who met up to talk about blogging! Feel free to skip the bulk of this post and just click on the links in the list at the end if you are done with the wrap-ups. If you read the entire post I thank you for your indulgence.

The conference this year was very intense. I don't think I expected that going in. I was so happy to be able to go at all that I didn't really dwell on the logistics. (Thank you, dear founders, for again holding the conference in a place where we have immediate family.) And I was so excited to have friends from last year to see again that I felt very few pre-conference jitters. But what I didn't anticipate was how difficult it was going to be both my mom-self and my blogger/writer-self at the same time in the same place. (Which I'll be the first to admit is kiiiind of ironic for a mommyblogger.) And I had it easy. Willa, while still nursing, is not a newborn and Matthew was able to whisk her away for most of the day to see relatives in the city and then stayed with her at night so I could go out. It also wasn't all bad. Going up to the room or down to the lobby and having my sweet little baby there was wonderful, as was getting to introduce her to my friends from inside the computer. But I did break down a couple times because I kept having to be mommy when I wanted to be blogger and vice versa. And I did couldn't even turn to alcohol for help. Nursing, co-"sleeping" and waking up at the crack of crack with a baby just doesn't allow for participating in rock star behavior. (I might deserve a medal for this because I went to not one but two parties with OPEN BARS. @#%$!. I did however get to sample a lot of different flavored water. Why flavor water? What's wrong with water flavor?) So there were some tearful breakdowns. There was insecure angst and guilt about being there at all. There were milk stains on my favorite dress. Luckily I was in good territory for emotional upheaval. Both my friends and Matthew were there to talk me down. (One tearful moment in a stairway was met with warmth, kindness and Reese's cups from two wonderful women, one whom I had only just met. Thanks again you guys.) And I was not alone. So many other women were there with their babies or kids and they made it work too. I think my favorite post about the conference so far is this one from Catherine of Her Bad Mother. She was there with her 2-month-old son and wrote beautifully about this particular part of the experience.

And yet it was worth it. Worth it in the extreme. There were so many incredible moments. The community keynote, where bloggers big and small got up and read posts, was amazing. The readers, every single one of them, were gutsy and brilliant. I was pretty much in tears during the entire thing, even during the humor readings. (I've said it before but I'll say it again: Eden Kennedy is a genius. We're just lucky she uses her powers for good.) There were excellent parties with very generous hosts. There were really thought-provoking panels, informative practical panels and a couple transcendent panels that made me feel proud of what I've done in this space.  And, as it was last year, the ability to connect with a lot of people even in the short moments I had with them was the best part. You think that you can't possibly have the time and yet somehow you do. Even in five minutes here and there I was able to make new friends and reconnect with others. I was able to run up to people who's writing I adore and tell them so. (Did realize that I am a bit of a gusher but f*ck it, I love telling people they rock). And I had a few (and by few I mean a few - not being modest) readers come up to me and tell me that they like my stuff. It's this human element that makes the weekend so compelling. In honor of that I have put together the following list for you. It's all the amazing people that I was able to interact with over the weekend. Some are friends I was able to see again and others were people I met for the first time. With some I had a great connection or stimulating conversations or a good laugh, and some I just showered with fangirl love. Some are people you might already read but all are people you would want to know. And that's by far the best thing about BlogHer - the realization that we are all just people sitting at a computer typing it out. Big bloggers, small bloggers, we've all got that in common. I hope you find some great new reads from this list. Truly these are wonderful folk.

Body Impolitic - Laurie Toby Edison
Lesbian Dad - Polly Pagenhart
Whoopee - Antonia Cornwell
Lemonade Life - Allison Blass
Milk Money Or Not, Here I Come - Schmutzie
Lucy's Spleen - Mle
Rookie Moms - Whitney Moss
Chookooloonks - Karen Walrond
bipolarlawyercook - Erika B.
DoppJuice - Sarah Dopp
Offsprung - Neal Pollack
Drowning In Kids - Jess Howard
Dooce - Heather Armstrong
Blurbomat - Jon Armstrong
Oh, The Joys - Jessica
Fluid Pudding - Angela D.
No Pasa Nada - Heather B.
Blooming Yaya - Bobbie Sue
Jen and Tonic - JenB
A Mommy Story - Christina M.
Fussy - Eden Kennedy
Notes To Self - Kyran Pittman
Gone Feral - Feral Mom
Finslippy - Alice Bradley
Laid Off Dad - Doug French
Greeblemonkey - Aimee
DigitalWoman - Nelly Yusupova
Dirt To Dish - Katherine Gray
Que Sera Sera - Sarah Brown
Cheaper Than Therapy - Ali Martell
Exurbitude - Bill Braine
Mocha Momma - Kelly
Nothing But Bonfires - Holly Burns
Whoorl - Sarah James
Three Kid Circus - Jenny Lauck
Mighty Girl - Maggie Mason
Savvy Auntie - Melanie Notkin
Kirtsy - Laurie Smithwick
Jennster - Jennster
Her Bad Mother - Catherine Conners
AlphaMom - Isabel Kallman
babyfruit - Aliza Sherman
A Smeddling Kiss - Velma Smeddling
In A Bottle - Genie Alisa
Jen Lemen - Jen Lemen
Kirtsy - Laura Mayes
Pistachio Consulting - Laura Fitton
Squaregirl - Krystyn Heide
Secret Agent Josephine - Brenda
I Am Bossy - Bossy

P.S. No doubt I have forgotten people and I'll probably just update as I remember. And another thing: If you're a blogger and this list makes you think "Oh I have to go next year" DO IT. And if this list makes you think "Oh I am not [blank] enough to go to BlogHer" believe me you are [blank] enough and you should DO IT. I hope you do. I want to meet you, dammit.

Comments

[kyran]

tearful moment in the staircase???? darling, store my mobile number under "tearful moment in staircase." I cannot believe I wasn't there, and I hope you know I would be in a heartbeat.

I miss you so much, beautiful one. Scheming madly to come sleep on your couch soon. (actually, make Matthew sleep on your couch, to be perfectly accurate).

xo

[Her Bad Mother]

Ah, the tearful moments. I had so many of those. (((hugs)))

[Mocha]

There were so many connections I made this year and they were funny, full of tears, and had me in stitches from the sheer awesome power of humanity.

I'm with Kyran - move Matthew so we can all spoon. I call middle!

[ali]

yes. 100% true. we are all people who sit in front of our screens and write. was amazing to go to a place where everyone "gets it"...

was GREAT to meet you!

[Allison Blass]

Thanks for the shout out! It was great to meet you too. :-)

[jenB]

Please move into my neighbourhood. Please.

Also, Mocha, I call Pickle! (on the side you know)

[DadaMama]

Am still insanely jealous ... hoping I can make it next year, when the baby is older.

[Angela]

You are one of my absolute favorite people from BlogHer. I can't wait to spend more time with you next year! (I'll fill my bag with peanut butter cups. We'll be set.)

[Feral Mom]

I only wish we'd had more time. It was amazing, as always, to see you. Next year, babe--earlybird registration, and (hopefully) less tears and diarrhea.

[LOD]

We'll always have the Wii hula.

[Heather B.]

I think it's very sad that I had to go all the way to California to meet you. Oh well, now you'll never be able to get rid of me.

[jb]

Sounds like a great conference and something that I should try to participate in next year.

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