I wrote up a ginormous post about my second day at Blogher. It was a THING of BEAUTY, full of how I went for a run through a homeless camp - by accident - when the front desk guy tried to direct me to a Starbucks, how I went to the mall to buy Benefit cosmetics - because I've never seen them before and I wanted to try them before I ordered them - and Jenny the gorgeous let me borrow her car and I almost killed Chris with my amazing lack of ability to shift gears. It was a post full of my new found love of Lemon Drop Martinis, my hatred of the fact that the hotel couldn't seem to keep an internet connection, and how I got lost coming back from Starbucks and went two miles out of my way. And how I had to accost a woman at an ATM at 6:15 to tell me which direction I needed to go.
I wanted to tell you that my inner introvert had come out the day before, after a decade long haitus, and I was finding it surprisingly uncomfortable to be around some people. I planned to tell you that I laid out at the pool for a while, reading an Oprah magazine and contemplating where I wanted to take my life, my blog, and my dirty laundry.
I planned to tell you about my third day, where I was INTERVIEWED for a big time newspaper, and I met a wonderful woman at a session who may be able to help me crack into magazine blogging. (hyperventilate.....) I wanted to tell you how I mentioned all my readers - yes, even you over there - when I spoke at the How has Blogging changed your life? panel, when I spoke about body images and how I almost peed my pants in nervousness. Dude, my voice is totally on a podcast.
I had PLANNED to tell you how I met so many amazing women and now have an incredible pile of business cards to work through and a ton of new blogs to discover. Women like Karen of Troll Baby, Stacy of Jurgen Nation, Kris of Mama Likey, Heather of No Pasa Nada, Donna of SoCal Mom, Danielle of foodmomiac, Becky of Miss Priss, Lassa, Karianna of the Karianna Spectrum, and so many others that I can't even remember, and need to read through the stack of business cards to discover. I totally would have told you that I stalked Y and made her nuts, and she came to my room and we ate brownies together.
If I'd had a connection, I would have blogged about the fact that the meals weren't very good, but they were pretty much hotel food, and I really wasn't eating very much anyway. I WAS drinking, though. I would have blogged about the fact that I had my own hotel room and I could have danced naked in my room, if I'd wanted. Which I didn't, but I totally could have. I could have told you that I forgot my cord to download my pictures. That's ok, since I only took 6, I think. I might have told you that I dumped coffee on another white shirt, right in front of Jenny. I probably would have told you that I chatted a lot of people up, and they looked at me like I was a freak.
I should have told you that I sold about 25 pieces of tie dye, a deeply disappointing amount. I would have told you about the little teeny tiny birds in the hotel lobby, in a cage, birds that scared me whenever I walked by. I would, and probably will, next post, talk about how it felt to meet so many different woman, and wonder exactly what I was doing here. I probably would have attempted to explain exactly how wonderful Lisa Stone makes me feel, and how I attempted to repay her incredibleness by answering any questions that I was asked about the ad network.
I would have told you that I WAS in the newspaper, TWO columns worth, and I met an incredible woman from iVillage, and changed my seat on the first flight in order to talk her ear off. I might or might now have told you how I walked through the airport and sat for my four HOUR connection, and how incredibly fast and easy the WiFi was there. The Hyatt needs to learn a thing or two about that.
I'd have probably said that it was hard to stay on my diet. I did wear my bathing suit and not feel too bad, so that was a step up.
I might or might not have told you that the woman I spoke about before, who didn't want to tell me her private site and gave me a fictitious name, was wearing a name tag with a THIRD different name on Friday night. Then she sat near me and listened to my conversation most of the night. Hmmmm......
But, I didn't tell you any of that since I had NO connection most all of the weekend, and when I did get a connection it would cause my computer to crash. The Hyatt needs to learn about hosting 700 women with laptops, and actually ALLOWING them to go online more than once every five hours.
So, what would you like to know, my loyal readers? Any of you that went, what did you think?
You sound like you had a GREAT time, and that's all that matters! So, how does it feel to be back home? Do you feel rejuvinated? I know I always do when being away from my kids!
Posted by: Sandra | July 31, 2006 at 01:22 PM
You summed it up perfectly, my dear. And, my daughter Dylan is a picture of beauty today in her new watermelon shirt.
Posted by: foodmomiac | July 31, 2006 at 01:26 PM
I'm so glad I met you Carmen! EVen happier that I fought sleep to eavesdrop on your story on the plane... I'm adding you to my blogroll today! I'll have a recap post later tonight - the kids missed me a pantload and won't let me think, breathe or pee without them shadowing me. :)
Posted by: Karen Rani | July 31, 2006 at 06:17 PM
Well, if you decide you want to sell any remaining tie-dyes let me know. One of my biggest regrets about not going to BlogHer (besides the fact that I think I'm not in the same league with most who attended) was that I wouldn't be able to purchase any of the awesome shirts you made. And I'm not just saying that to be nice.
Posted by: Melessa | July 31, 2006 at 06:47 PM
Carmen! My daughter called me back very late at night and said "GET ME A GREEN ONE" but by then I was in bed trying to sleep as the room was spinning.
Can we arrange to like have me buy it from here and you send it to me?
Posted by: Denise | July 31, 2006 at 07:26 PM
Sigh. I amsad that I wasn't there.
Posted by: Annika | July 31, 2006 at 08:41 PM
What newspaper and where's the link? I want to read about you!
Posted by: Stephanie C. | July 31, 2006 at 09:55 PM
My friend has a 7 month old and I'd love to buy one of the little watermelon dresses for her if you have any left. Please email me and let me know! Thanks!
Posted by: amanda | July 31, 2006 at 11:35 PM
Carmen, I'm so glad I got to meet you at BlogHer!
Posted by: Donna | August 01, 2006 at 12:11 AM
Carmen, come back! I need to spill my lattes next to a friend who understands my drinking problem...
Posted by: Lisa Stone | August 01, 2006 at 01:07 AM
I love reading your posts, you are too funny! And please share the link for the newspaper interview, I would love to read it! :)
Posted by: Heather | August 01, 2006 at 01:18 AM
Congratulations on the exciting opportunities! We didn't get to talk for too long, but both kids wore their tie dye today and received many compliments. I'll post pictures on Flickr soon! You are so talented!
Glad to hear you arrived home safe and sound.
Posted by: Mary Tsao | August 01, 2006 at 02:50 AM
I'm glad you're home safe and sound and had fun!
Posted by: the womom | August 01, 2006 at 08:46 AM
How utterly stupid for a hotel hosting a blogging event NOT to have reliable internet service. And the Hyatt, no less?! Time to pick a new venue for next year!
Posted by: Gem | August 01, 2006 at 10:23 AM
Hey Carmen, I'm glad you got home safely! It was great to meet you on Saturday night.
Posted by: ekd | August 01, 2006 at 11:40 AM
Carmen! I'm so glad I got to meet you, I had the best time just hanging out. Can't wait until next year :)
Lassa
Posted by: Lassa | August 01, 2006 at 12:14 PM
Girl. Seriously. I loved seeing you, and am so jealous of Y getting brownies.
I also meant to purchase some of your tie-dye. Let me see if I can remember how to log in to paypal....
Posted by: Jenny | August 01, 2006 at 01:01 PM
What a lovely recap. WonderBaby is wearing her tie-dyed onesie as we speak, though, so I'm re-living it just a little. Minus the pool, the drinks, and the awesome company.
Posted by: Her Bad Mother | August 01, 2006 at 03:08 PM
That was a terrific summary! Thank you for sharing so I can live vicariously through you!
Posted by: Mel | August 02, 2006 at 12:49 AM
I remember you telling me about the post you lost, which would have made my head explode! Actually, it makes me kind of glad I didn't bring a laptop because people were really stressed about the bad connection.
Posted by: Izzy | August 02, 2006 at 09:55 PM
If you don't want to see this links, please email me dnsk_mail [ A t ] yahoo.com
And give URL of your site. Snxs.
Posted by: Stive Angelo | August 24, 2007 at 03:11 AM
If you don't want to see this links, please email me dnsk_mail [ A t ] yahoo.com
And give URL of your site. Snxs.
Posted by: Stive Angelo | August 24, 2007 at 07:06 AM