Enlightened : BlogHer 2010

There are mountains of bloopers I will need to highlight in time.  It's my bag, it's the way I roll.  Today?  Today I need to talk about the light. Moments of amazing women (and even a few men) giving their work, passion, struggles, time, effort, accomplishments, joy, and pure unadulterated good juju.

How was the weekend? Kick ass.

The End.

Oh what? You want more? Now look what you did.  Here are the top 5 reasons my weekend kicked your weekend's ass. Unless you were there, so you might have some different reasons but I'm hoping it was just as ass kicking.

1. Humanity and good deeds were freaking everywhere. Was it flawless? Hell no. It's New York City for god sake. Who needs perfect?  It was as close as close could be.  From small to large events of wonderful, I was taken aback. On the teeny tiny scale - I lost my camera. I know, not shocking. What WAS shocking? It was brought to Lost & Found. My gorgeous tiny brand new point & shoot.  My response to the lovely hero and security team member at the Hilton New York? "SHUT UP. SHUT UP!"  There was a brief moment where they thought they lost my camera, IN lost & found. I screamed shut up at him so I gave him a few minutes to collect himself and my camera. I mean look at that glorious man... screaming "SHUT UP!" right back at me? Swoon the hero who found and returned my glorious camera. Beyond this quick do gooder moment, there was the story of how a little boy and his family get to be a family for as long as they absolutely can. It's too much to feel and too much to write here, so I wrote about it there.

 

2. Knowledge is power. The conference offered sessions that were immense and amazing.  The best part? There were people in each breakout live blogging the content, podcasts will be posted and some bloggers like Capital Mom were live tweeting. It was fantastic. Since I haven't figured out how to clone myself just yet, I'll be listening to more than a few of the sessions offered and probably re-listening to the ones I did go to. I am going to expand on all this later, because really? It's too much.  Ultimately the message: HOTT subjects with amazing speakers and fantastic audience participation that drove the content. Perfection. 

3. Busting through my comfort box, ninja style.  This weekend I went outside my comfort zone, 100%.  I walked up to people, sometimes with my partner in crime, Actual Mom (I feel like we're fighting crime), making small talk and chit chatting (two things I am not a fan of initiating with strangers. See "stranger danger"). Many times I was alone. Personally, this is absolutely gigantic for me. Asking questions, answering tough ones and telling stories. While I heard about this whole "strangers becoming friends" thing and thought it was a load, it is in fact the case.  One night, for example, flying solo with out my wing(wo)man I was able to meet up with a few women who became fast friends including the solidarity of (barely) getting through the next day. More on this later.  

4. Don't believe the hype.  Before I left I heard about "big bloggers" vs. "little bloggers." To be fair, I only heard about this buzzing, never really any specifics - so this could have been my own grapevine.  I didn't read anything that specific people were unfriendly, maybe it was just that others were intimidated or the people they met last year weren't who they thought they would be. I don't know.  For me it was like I was about to attend a high school reunion but I didn't in fact graduate in the same class.  It's like I just transferred.  It's intimating. It was for me. 

There were more than a few bloggers that I did want to say hello to and introduce myself to.  I read them on the regular and hoped to say "hi, big fan" and all that. There was one in particular that I wanted to meet.  Kristen Chase, over at Motherhood Uncensored was the first blog I ever read, Shaniqua forwarded her blog to me. She was also the first blog I delurked at to comment.  I was so nervous and so weird about it (Who is this stranger commenting? What is SHE talking about? See "stranger danger").  I wrote my full name out like a big ol'dork.  Also like a dork I think I opened with that. I had seen her out and about through out the week, like many of the people I read daily or every once in awhile, but hadn't yet had the nerve to walk up and introduce myself.

Side bar: how weird is it to "recognize" people that you have never really seen in person? And my order of the above sentence full of links is in no particular order, if you were wondering.

Ok back to the scene at hand.

Me: "Hi, my name is Jenn. I just wanted to say hello - dork alert. I'm a big fan. You were the first blog I ever read, first I ever commented on - I even used my full name. No one calls me Jennifer unless I'm in trouble."  Something like this - but it's pretty much verbatim, verbal diarrhea of the mouth. Creepy, right? 

Stop making that look. 

She was LOVELY. Absolutely lovely - and we sat down and chatted about many a subject. Things on both of our blogs, left 'behind the scenes', the conference, family, friends, the gamut. Lovely.  She introduced me to one of her friends, also someone who I read regularly.  She was lovely too. I don't know what all the hype was about or who people felt were "too big" to talk to the little ol'bloggers of the blogosphere because that was not my experience at all. There were tons of wildly read bloggers, authors, executives, professionals, etc etc -and everyone seemed absolutely open to the random stranger extending a hand. Lovely people, people. Seriously. Maybe stranger danger isn't so dangerous?* 

*Dad, this is just in the context of the story. Don't worry.

5. The pure art of it.  BlogHer Voices of the Year and accompanying Art Show. Purely (I kind of just want to curse through out to really bring it home, for serious) fantastic. In 2008 BlogHer started to recognize writers and designers for different work, submitted in five categories and out of 90 finalists (1000 this year were submitted), 3 from each category read their piece. I'd say each one was better than the next, but that would be lie because I felt each of them were amazing in their own completely different and amazingly touching, deep, hilarious and brave way. Unfuckingbelievable. (No choice. True story). 

What's your story?

Tutus For Tanner : Rock Out With Your Tutu Out!

As I start to recap on my adventures in NYC, the portion I talk about finding faith in humanity I find I need more. I can't just talk about how I found my lost camera oh and then there is that thing where people raised over $29,000 to keep a family together and made sure in the process of stupidity a little boy didn't have to stay stranded and was able to experience an incredible adventure.  First, obviously these two things are not comparable.  Second, you might not understand what the hell I'm talking about.  Finally, I need more space to talk about why this story affects me.

For anyone not on twitter or watching CNN, or the Today Show, or perhaps reading local papers or online articles I'll give you a recap. You're welcome, Mom. A better recap is probably over at ShePosts, but I'll do what I can.

This isn't the first time I've seen a community rise together in a swell of love, support and faith that shouldn't surprise me but it does. Why does it surprise me? When L was in the hospital I wrote about how things were going and I was saved.  Friends and people I haven't had a relationship with in years came out of the wood work.  Their support, offers of help, dinner delivery or more, however from out of left field, saved me. You saved me with random emails, comments, voice mails and texts. I think I forget about that.  Why would I want to remember that for which I needed saving from? Then something happens and there is a band together that you can actually feel, even if behind a computer screen. 

Now, let's be honest my support came from people who I knew, even if from once upon a time, but how is that any different than those who come out of left field having read and followed along someone's journey?  As we write, we invite you (whoever you are) in.  There are a variety of reasons as to the whys we do - but we do. Was there a password? Not so much.

Now back to this very real and awe inspiring event.  Where last we left our tutu wearing heroes this community (once again) came together to support a ridiculously important (and unfortunately needed) cause.  First there was the ability raise money, time and commitments to help a family be a family. In it of itself I am certain everyone involved would have been (more than) just fine with, there was of course more.

Cliff notes? Truth be told, I am following via twitter & online articles, so I may or may not get some portion of this wrong and since I'm linking the hell out of this post - I'm thinking you can click out to get the official word.

A blogger in Canada, Catherine Connors, and more importantly aunt to Tanner and his mom, Catherine's sister, go to the airport ready to jump into a vehicle to caravan to NYC for a 5K in the honor of Tanner (seriously people, click on the links if you don't know the story). The vehicle, as planned, doesn't have a wheelchair accessible ramp so they end up getting on a flight to NYC. I'm pretty sure that sentence I just wrote had hours of figuring out what to do next in between it. They take Air Canada to New York and upon arrival to the airport come to find out that when the airline took Tanner's wheelchair apart in transit they broke it putting it together or maybe taking it apart the first time. A $15K personalized wheelchair, as the family heads into FREAKING NYC is dead.

Eventually and after much ridiculousness, twitter all a kerfuffle and media coverage out the wazoo, Air Canada (in my opinion, took their time) to make it right and the happy ending took place.  The wheelchair was fixed (good 'enough' for now) and the remainder of the weekend was full of memories he and his family were able to have. In addition thousands of people celebrate with him. It's the kind of love and feeling you don't think you can feel through a computer screen, but for real - I think I did and I was behind my iPhone so that's some serious loving. More than that, since I was there, I got to see Tanner out and about in NYC and dude, that kid smiles hard. And that made me smile.



Seriously ... check out #tutusfortanner or all the tutu-riffic pictures out there! Oh and no, you won't see me. I don't really run unless being chased... but I really do believe if I were ever to enter a 5K it'd be one where I get to wear a tutu. True story.

BlogHer : BlogThat

In typical fashion I am waiting until the last minute. Not on purpose. Not because I want to. Not because I meant to. To quote mothers around the globe, “Just because, now stop asking me.”   

Life got away as usual (see also: unposted adventure sequence, fraking fantastic photos unposted, laundry still in basket (folded but not put away – I consider this a slight win) or dust bunnies behind the scenes – some front and center).  The goal was to be out the door to catch 11 am bus; dream sequence would have been to be on a train at 10 am.  Neither took place.  While I toyed with the idea to just bag the whole mass transport thing, hop in my car and just drive myself to my moms (in NY, a short train ride into NYC) – it turned out there was a 1pm train. HOLLA.

That was until the cab didn’t show up on time.

I barely made the 1 pm train.  I did, but not with out incident.  I think I may have forgotten another pair of contacts (read here: something WILL happen to my contacts, though normally nothing does) AND I forgot to even post about where I am going and how scared nervous, frightened, deer in headlights don’t run me over, excited I am! 

And here we are, on the bus telling the story. Last minute Louise, thank you very much.

If this post goes live then it means I have narrowly escaped the maniac behind the wheel and the Judgey McJuderson seatmate I have.  First thing’s first, the speed in which this beast can go is pretty amazing.  I’m waiting for Sandy to hop on the bus or to sit in some dang gum before I find out that this is in fact not a drill. Pop Quiz, Asshole. 

Next up my dynamic campaign here to my right who I am hoping can’t read my screen at 25% visibility. First off – the train is packed and home girl just left her backpack on the seat next to her. Fine, forgiven maybe she doesn’t see there is nowhere for me to go but the back of the bus – toilet style. When I say. Can I sit there – she literally thinks about it. Honestly girlfriend, move it or loose it.  I call her Judgey McJudgerson because you would have thought I whipped out a tuna fish sandwich on rye bread with garlic pickles and hard-boiled eggs on the side for my lunch.  Yes, I packed a lunch. No, I’m not 12. I was thinking I had time while the cab didn’t show up and since I had only had (several) cups of coffee – I figured I should bring something along to avoid passing out. I am a delicate flower, you know. I pulled out some cold spaghetti. What?  Don’t make that look at me. It’s delicious, easy to eat and you know what? Pretty much order less.  In other news, I’m fairly certain that she posted something about me on facebook – so no, I don’t feel bad about writing her story here.  

Long story long? I’m en route to BlogHer.  I can’t believe it. I’ve known for a year it was happening, months that I am going.  Thoughts on packing the day I’m leaving, presumably the time I was supposed to be shuffling out the door to catch my reasonably timed transportation plan?  

Whatever. I over pack. It took a minute. I ONLY brought 2 (maybe 3) extra outfits / but they are dresses for the most part and barely take up much space at all. What I didn’t do was evoke the sense I had when we went to Amsterdam. It looks like I packed MORE for 4 days than I did for our week long vacation. To be fair, I need 2(ish) outfits a day but the lack of rolling up my clothes I know (read here: hope, to the wee baby Jesus) I’ll have more space and not be so jam packed on my way home. 

I’m nervous, but I pledge to you Mom, Meg’s mom, MyMy, the Guarros of the ‘Burgh, Sabina & Sierra … my loyal 6 readers I WILL get out there. Meet some damn people, make some connections – and gawd dang it…. have fun while doing it.  Luckily for me I have one of my fans (insert sarcastic tone here) right there with me. Homegirl is primed and ready to GO this weekend.  

I love (when I can carve out the time) to blog, I love to read blogs.  Most of all, like all the things I (try) to do in life- it’s the people you surround yourself with that make the experience. I’m going to get out, jump (WAY OUT) of my comfortable little box and meet some damn people. Brand new business cards in hand, ready to go – smile, check. Positive outlook, check (as much as I possibly can – come on I’m only human / me. You’ve met me right? NO? Well… dang, look at that – it worked. You found me! Long story LONGER: I need an attitude adjustment sometimes).  

I’m going to learn lots of things, attend some parties and maybe see a Unicorn or two. Stay tuned … I’m thinking I’m at a blogging conference how could I slack off here with some recaps? 

(Insert the end of the movie here, where it pans out to the next date of entry at least 2 weeks from today’s date).