BlogHmm…
I am writing this from gate K11 at Chicago’s O’hare airport. It is a clear Sunday morning as I sit here waiting for my return flight to Boston. My back warms as the sun peers through the floor-to-ceiling glass pane windows behind me overlooking the runway.
An hour ago I bid farewell to one of my closest blog friends, Lou. He is the type of friend who insists upon driving me to and from the airport during my stay in Chicago, even though he had never met me in person.
Thirty minutes prior, I gave a sleepy hug to my roommate Tara. Another blog friend, who graciously offered to share her hotel room with me, a complete stranger in real life.
It is these relationships, along with so many others I’ve made through blogging that made this trip to BlogHer worthwhile. As I sit here with tired eyes and sore feet from long convention days, I cannot help but wonder if the idea behind BlogHer is really for me. Perhaps it was the endless swag attendees clamored to get their hands on, the loud parties where you could hardly carry a conversation, or the break out sessions focused on SEO, branding, and monetization that made me question if I really fit into this world of blogging.
Bombarded with all of that, I couldn’t care less.
Not to mention, well before the 2009 event had ended, they announced the dates and location for the 2010 convention and began registration. Many of us who attended last week still have yet to even pay off the huge expense it was to attend this year.
As for the BlogHer convention itself, I am still glad I made the trip. I had the opportunity to meet amazing bloggers I’ve followed over the years face-to-face, and explored the gorgeous streets of downtown Chicago. Plus, the time spent away all to myself was priceless.
So although I find myself walking away from this experience with more questions than I had walking into it, my hope is to always focus my efforts on writing as well as the bonds created here. As my good friend Lou puts it so well, “It’s not about you. It’s not about me. It’s about us.”
In photos above (starting from top left to right): Me, Karen MEG, Anissa, BusyDad (Jim). Angela, Dave Lieberman from the Food Network, me. Me, Mrs. Potato Head, AsianMommy. Tara and Heather. Me with Just Miss. Cara, me, Nap Warden. Chicago snapshots taken from the Navy Pier.
Sandy… meeting you was one of the highlights of my trip. You are breathtakingly beautiful and just a joy to be around. I’m so glad we met and I really hope to see you next year. I won’t be conferencing, but enjoying the city with my dearest friends. I’d be sad if you weren’t among them. xoxo
July 27th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Sandy, it was fantastic as always to see you and I’m glad we managed to find one another amidst the crowds a few times to hang out. Thanks also for your candor and kindness during our convo on Thursday night. xoxo Christine
July 27th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Interesting. I was expecting this post to be all glowy and fountains flowing and bubbles and other good stuff. I like that you wrote this, though. It’s always nice to have a different perspective from the one you were anticipating.
July 27th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
You are too kind. But I am so proud to call you my friend – which you are, in the truest and most complete meaning of the word. And I owe my friendship with you to blogging. I can never repay to the ‘blogoshpere’, what I owe.
July 27th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Well I’m glad you were there and I had the chance to meet you!
July 27th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Sandy, it was a pleasure meeting you! I came home from BlogHer just overwhelmed with the all the stimulus. Honestly? I’ll probably never attend another. In June, I attended a blogger gathering of about 35 people. And that was just the perfect size for me. 1,400 people? A bit much. I’m glad I went and can say I’ve attended at least one. But another? Probably not in my future.
Again, it was great meeting you and will enjoy reading your blog in the future!
July 27th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
I’m so glad that we had a chance to meet. You’re right–it’s the people and the incredible writing that make BlogHer worthwhile.
July 27th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
I am SO GLAD that I got to spend some one on one time with you & Tara Saturday night before Cheeseburgers. I also loved your reflections on the trip & couldn’t agree more with you (and I didn’t even go to the conference part!)
I’m glad that you made it home safe & sound!
July 27th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
ps: can you email me a copy of that pic from Cheeseburghers please?
July 27th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
i’m really bummed i never got to meet you in person and say hi.
and I completely understand what you are saying in this post. I left blogher last year feeling very gung-ho about blogging. This year I left blogher thinking something totally different!
Hmmm……
July 27th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Sandy, what a wonderful post. A true reflection of the contemplative and beautiful person you are, inside and out.
I was so happy to finally meet you and spend some time with you over the couple of days. It was really quite overwhelming, though, wasn’t it? I’m glad you paced yourself and were able to find the positive in it. I’m still trying to wind myself down as well. Sorry I didn’t see you on Sunday to say good-bye, but hopefully it’s just a “see you next time”… be it BlogHer or somewhere else xoxo
July 27th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
How fun!! What a blessing you were able to go!! So, where’s the next one going to be at???? San Francisco??? LOL.
How are you feeling by the way???
July 28th, 2009 at 1:58 am
*sarcasm on*
“Many of us who attended last week still have yet to even pay off the huge expense it was to attend this year.”
That’s why you attended all the SEO and whatnot sessions. So you can make tons of money with your blog and pay for the trips to get even better….
*sarcasm off*
The only reason I would attend is to meet other bloggers. And that can be done with a private bloggy meetup.
Just my two cents
(Wrote something similar over at Lou’s)
I am glad though that you had a good time and met great people – and didn’t decide on giving up blogging after taking part in that event
*chuckle*
July 28th, 2009 at 2:47 am
I have been thinking about you guys all weekend, because initially, I wanted to attend Blogher too. I decided against it because I was afraid it would turn out to be something like that, and to travel to the States to talk to a few bloggers for a little while and be lost in a sea of people the rest of the time was really not where I wanted to spend my money on. And when I read this post, and Lou’s I get the feeling it was all a little bit “whipped up”, and not at all about what it is you, me and Lou, and a whole bunch of others were looking for, no? We’re the ones that bond, and are in it for the friendship and the support and the virtual hugs, not for the money, right? We’re the ones looking for personal growth, not to extend outr bank account, right?
I don’t think I want to consider attending such huge meet ups, but I am anxious to meet some of my friends when I come to the States in November. And then it ‘ll be a REAL blogger FRIENDS meet up, like Nicole said in her comment. I totally agree. I still wish I could meet you though, you were one of my first and best blogger friends from the very beginning.
Maybe you’d consider coming to Chicago in November? And meet me, and Lou, and maybe a couple of others?
July 28th, 2009 at 4:06 am
I have no intention of going to NY in ‘10. But if I ever do make it to a BlogHer and you’re there, I think we could hang together on the fringes. Because I wouldn’t be in to all that ’stuff’ either!
July 28th, 2009 at 5:13 am
Welcome home! Glad you had a good time. Now let’s get back to talking about babies!
July 28th, 2009 at 6:15 am
There are probably as many definitions of “a good time” as there are people. Being an introvert myself, that conference sounds like a nightmare and I’d be wanting to go back to my hotel room. I hate big crowds and music so loud you can’t talk.
July 28th, 2009 at 9:08 am
I really enjoyed getting to know you. It was meeting wonderful people like you that made going to this conference worth the trip. I won’t be going to NYC. It was fun, but it was also very overwhelming.
Thanks for the pic of Heather and me. I like it!
July 28th, 2009 at 10:14 am
I guess I was naive in thinking that BlogHer was like a “reunion” of sorts. Where people who met over the internet could connect or re-connect as the case may be. I’m sorry it wasn’t exactly what you thought it was but I know you enjoyed meeting some fantastic bloggers in real life. Btw, how are your feeling?
July 28th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Unfortunately, I did not attend BlogHer this year as I’m sure I would have have a great time meeting you. I think my main reason for wanting to attend next year is the opportunity to network and meet the people behind the blogs.
I appreciate the honesty in this post. It was well written as usual.
July 28th, 2009 at 10:25 am
I seem to get a lot of same impression from several bloggers about BlogHer. And with all the drama, I guess it will make me think even harder about BlogHer ‘10.
Are you considering it since it’ll be closer to you?
July 28th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Well said, I couldn’t agree more. So glad I got to meet you…I’ll go next year, but I’ll be a lot wiser;)
July 28th, 2009 at 11:07 am
I really like the giant Mr potato head.
July 28th, 2009 at 11:34 am
I’m so sorry I didn’t get to meet you . . . in fact, I didn’t get to meet anyone that i wanted to – very overwhelming – I kept getting lost (was I the only idiot??) . . . The words you wrote above are perfect for my brain . . . I couldn’t quite put my finger on the unsettled feelings I was having about blogher . . . perhaps this is is . . . I definitely have a different perspective AND wish that my perfect little blog bubble had not been popped!
July 28th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
I’m so glad I got to meet you! You are absolutely lovely, both inside and out.
July 28th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Enjoying meeting people and having time to yourself — that’s great, as you said, even if you’re not sure you’re into all the rest. So cool you got to go! And meet Lou! (Whom I met through you)
July 28th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Glad you had a good time!
July 28th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Sounds like you had a great time. I’m hoping to go to next year’s conference in NYC. I think I need to start working on getting a sponsor ASAP.
July 28th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
I’m so glad you had a good time. Tara is full of awesome stuff and I hope that I can meet her in real life one day too. I would love a blog conference that is geared more towards meeting and establishing relationships than the swag and promotionfest BlogHer has apparently become.
Look out for me…one day I’m headed to Boston!
July 28th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
I so want to be there. hoping to be there next year.
July 28th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
glad you had fun! and i’m so jeally you met dave lieberman!!
July 28th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
You’ve confirmed for me my decision to only attend the regional BlogHer. Lots of expense right now isn’t doable, but a day in Boston – an hour’s drive away – was terrific last fall. I still had the opportunity to meet many bloggers and get a taste of some of the sessions.
July 28th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Sandy,
Glad you had a chance to connect with blogging friends! Sounds like it was a full conference. And I say don’t worry about fitting or not fitting into the blogging world. You always have something interesting or funny or insightful to say here. And you write beautifully!
July 28th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
I WISH that we’d had more time together. Sorry that we met when I was exhausted and overwhelmed.
You are beautiful in person but, knowing you from your blog combined with your sweetness in real life… you are a true gem. TRUE gem.
I hope that we have a chance to meet again and have some real time together, outside of a cheeseburgHer party
July 28th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Glad you got meet some great fellow bloggers despite how overwhelming the conference was. Great post!
July 28th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Dude! I made the photo montage! How awesome was it to finally meet you? Very much so! I wish we could have spent more time hanging out. One of the downsides of the conference is that you spend so much time running from thing to thing that you don’t really get to just chill with your homebloggers. So hows about next year, we buy one day (if they’re still available in February, when I will feel ready to buy) and then we can spend the rest of the time doing what WE want to.
July 28th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
PS – I sent a question about why registration was so early and basically what you said about still owing for this years and the responder (Elisa, I think) said I should inquire about volunteering or submit for a panel. I guess that gets you in free? Not sure how I feel about that.
July 28th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
I love your photo collage…I’m glad you had such a great time!
July 28th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
The conference has left me thinking too. I really like your honest and true feelings in this post. I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet you face to face but now that I see some pics I’m pretty sure I spotted you a time or two. It’s just so hard to talk to everyone! Glad you enjoyed the weekend.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:13 am
Oh how beautiful. I am completely jealous of all of the girls who attended the conference- ah well, next year! I guess it is okay considering my smilinggreenmom blog is not even up yet
Soon baby, soon! Anyway- glad you have fun. Now just sit back, soak your feet in some hot water with a liitle essential oil, rub on some good foot cream (I love topricin) and Voila! A happy and relaxed woman. Glad you had a great time, thanks for sharing it with those of us who could not be there this year. Caroline
July 29th, 2009 at 7:41 am
I’m still too overwhelmed to even think of a BlogHer post. My pictures are still in my camera and the swag is scattered everywhere (and some still in my work backpack). I would say it definitely wouldn’t be the place for me if I were pregnant either, but I did have a great time, more than I thought I would. Hopefully you will be more up for it next year!
July 29th, 2009 at 9:31 am
It doesn’t sound like my cup of tea, but meeting great people is always wonderful!
July 29th, 2009 at 10:59 am
You were just such a sweet person. It was nice to meet you.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:05 am
I’m SO glad you posted this. I almost registered for the NYC conference, and thought… hold on – I wanted to hear from you and others who are blogging buddies and get your take on it all. The swag/monetizing thing kind of freaks me out.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:22 am
While the swag was awesome and the workshops were probably valuable (I only attended a couple), my main goal was to meet IRL with friends. If you took out all of the stress of running around like crazy to fit everything in, it would be a lot more relaxing. I’d love a blogging gettogether on a beach somewhere, just to hang out. Now THAT would be a blast! (Get started on that, will you?!)
July 29th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Sandy – we met only briefly on that first crazy night when adrenaline was high and nerves were getting the better of some of us, including me, and I really wish we had bumped into each other again to chat a little more. It was soooooo hard to find time to really chat with people except for the few friends I hung out with the whole weekend, you know?
BUT I totally get what you are saying about feeling like maybe you don’t fit in with all of the focus on SEO etc. I mean one session on SEO made me want to quit my blog. Really. But in the end, the keynote and the blogging as storytelling room of your own MADE the conference for me. I think there needs to more of that creative writing stuff (like we’re maybe uh, writers?) woven into the whole deal.
And the people – well the people I met also made the conference worthwhile…
P.S. I think I’m now in love with your friend Lou.
July 29th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
As the Spanish would say: de acuerdo. Thank you for your critical thinking. Like you, I appreicate that BlogHer is empowering lots of women writers like you and me. However, I too have major reservations about the commercialism. And even though I normally love cocktail parties and stimulating conversation, I skipped the evening events altogether at BlogHer, realizing that 1,500 attendees means we can’t hear each other over the din.
Concerning your other point, I’d encourage all of us to not go into debt to attend BlogHer 2010 in New York City. If we can’t afford something in the present or save for it, it’s usually a signal we can’t afford it. When we choose to live within our means, we help other people do the same thing. Moderating our consumption conserves the earth’s resources as well as our own.
I wholeheartedly agree with you and Lou that it (whether BlogHer or life in general) about us, and us is more important than any single individual. This is the creed I try to live by. Thank you for stating it so succinctly.
Such a pleasure to meet you, Sandy.
July 29th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
SO glad you got to go and have these experiences. Maybe once in my lifetime I’ll make it to one… but I still don’t see myself as a real “blogger”….
Love the pictures!
July 29th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Sandy! I loved this post and jumped back on Twitter to RT this the other day and forgot to comment. It was awesome meeting you and I regret not having more time to spend with you. But hope is not lost as you reside in my beautiful hometown. The Asian Invasion pic we took is one of this year’s best! (oh and did you see shannon’s flickr site – go now!)
July 30th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
I’ve heard that a lot from those who went to BlogHer. I imagine there were good and bad, like there would be at any event. Sometimes it is hard to know where we bloggers fit and if we want to fit where we don’t yet fit.
Huh? Well, it made sense to me anyhow.
Love the photographs and that you were able to meet so many of your blogging friends!
July 31st, 2009 at 10:17 am
So jealous but so happy you had such a great time!!
July 31st, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I hate that I went a whole weekend in Chicago and did not get to meet one of my favorite girls in real life! Bummer! Well, there is always next time! Great pictures!
August 1st, 2009 at 7:34 am
[...] be totally inappropriate today, check out THIS gem!I found the only other three Asians at BlogHer, Momisodes Sandy, Karen Meg and Busy Dad Jim and made them take a picture with me! Oh YES I did. And I told them [...]
August 3rd, 2009 at 7:25 am
[...] I was away in Chicago during BlogHer, Dadisodes tried to surprise me by removing the rest of the wallpaper I began taking down a few [...]
August 4th, 2009 at 7:45 pm