The Blissdom recap I almost didn't write

I'm neurotic.

I am fresh back from a conference about blogging and I'm scared to blog about it. At least I think I'm scared...I'm not sure what to call it...overwhelmed, maybe? Freaked out, maybe?

So.

Blissdom'09.

Wow.

I had been there 10 minutes when I texted PJ to say, "They're all young and pretty." I was completely intimidated by them...these sexy geeky girls who seemed to know so much more than me about so many sexy geeky things. I wasn't prepared. It had not occurred to me before that moment that I might not be the smartest person there. I was out-numbered, out-dressed, out-teched. And it was not a good feeling. I clammed up and hardly spoke to anyone for several hours. Why had I wanted to go to this smart girl summit in the first place? What was I thinking? What had I hoped to accomplish? And why didn't I bring along one of my bloggy friends? Why didn't I bring cards? And why the hell don't I have a MacBook?

Somehow I resisted my urge to crawl out of the room, and I listened and I watched. And pretty soon I was into it. Really into it. But even as into it as I was - I didn't make new friends there. Not because people were rude, but because I didn't really try to make new friends. I was too busy trying to process all of the information while making sure no one discovered I wasn't making new friends and felt like they had to make small talk with me. Luckily it's easy to avoid the whole small talk scene if your head is in your laptop or your iPhone for two days.

I learned so much from every aspect of the weekend - the speakers, the panels, the eavesdropping, the observing of everyone else. There were many highlights: I met Jen Lancaster, but couldn't think of a thing to say except, "I'm a big fan." And "I love your writing." And "I'm a big fan." I learned way more about twitter than I ever imagined possible. (You can follow me @howeveralthough, by the way.) I discovered Chris Mann. (Hello, he is adorable.) I met a marketing dude from Wal-Mart. (And yes, I was nice to him. I liked him.) I got some cool swag. I consumed about 7,000 calories in Little Debbie 100 Calories Snacks.

Eventually (maybe two hours before the weekend was over) I realized I did fit in (sort of) and I got more comfortable (sort of). But by then I was also on tech overload and completely exhausted. Then it was time to go. All in all - I loved it. Next year I'm making Virginia go with me. (And I'm taking a MacBook even if I have to steal one on the way there.)

OK. There. I blogged about it. Attention sexy geeky girls - leave me a comment. Much preferred to small talk.

Comments

[Allison Worthington {@fussypants}]

Didn't you hear me say we are all just dorks on our laptops?

Next year I will hug you & not expect any smalltalk. I promise!

:)

[Lora Lynn @ Vitafamiliae]

I was there. I saw you. And I totally dug your glasses.

I was totally overwhelmed and anti-social. You were not alone.

[PJ]

I'll be glad to loan you my MacBook...if I ever get one:)

[SECRET AGENT MAMA]

Did I say hello? I tried to say hello to everyone, even though I was behind a camera mostly. I hope I did.

Great recap.

Geeky girls! Whut. Whut.

[Tricks]

I would sell my firstborn (if I had one) for a Macbook.

[Amy]

if virginia won't go with you i will. i'm so sad i missed it. of course i was in new york. :) i definitely want to go next year though.

[oh-no]

sounds like blissdome 09 was overwhelming.... just as long as it was a good overwhelming.....

[Slade]

You know, I have a MacBook, I am pretty fluent in Geekish, AND I would totally go with you to one of these things. I know it's a girlfest, but I can blend. I got a freaking Women's Studies certificate in college and was the only boy in ALL those classes. I was one of like 6 men at a conference with hundreds of women in Hawaii and I loved it.
Take me, take me!
Slade

[gabbe]

you are too funny! i'm sure it was a bit overwhelming, but super cooL! i'm so glad that you went & learned a lot! You & Virginia will have a ball at the next one, and you'll be much more relaxed.
hold out for the MacBook- they've got even cooler ones coming out down the road!

[Chris Mann]

thanks for letting me know about your blog!

[Mandy]

Insert loud squeals here. Chris Mann commented on my blog! For the love! You have to listen to his music. Go now: http://chrismannmusic.com/

[Mandy]

And if Virginia keeps having babies then she can't go to Blissdom...there will be no bliss for her...no bliss, just babies.

[virginia]

HEY! There will DEFINITELY be bliss for me, regardless of babies! LOL

I would LOVE to go with you next year; it would be an honor! And we could be antisocial and overwhelmed together, because that sounds exactly like how I would react.

Seriously, I'm so glad you had a good time! It sounded like a good break from reality; even if it did stretch you a little bit!

XOXO

(thanks for your sweet notes on my blog and facebook... i am moving extra slow these days- so i am taking longer than my usual 3.5 months to reply to things. we can chat on friday night! yay!)

[Kindredly]

I wish I could have gone!!!! So much fun ......my DELL laptop..yeah, it's dead, and my husband doesn't see the point in getting a MAC because every Sunday, effing BRANDSMART USA puts out an effing ad about the $300 laptops they have. Now Jonathan knows that we can get a laptop for $300, so my argument for a Mac is completely squashed.

I would have been that girl with the notepad.

[Rachel @ Grasping for Objectivity in my Subjective Life]

Ha! Yes, that sounds exactly how I will feel upon returning from BlogHer this weekend! Yeeks!!