BlogHer - Anxiety? Nah. We call it pre-BlogHer freaking out with style - Comments

I'm new at this...

wicked local girl — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 09:22:36 -0500

Blogging, that is. I'm pretty OK with going alone to a conference across the country (bye Boston!) and meeting tons of new and exciting people...

I'll probably do my laundry tonight -- and I have roots in my hair for miles and a chipped pedicure. I don't care. I'm psyched to speak on a panel and enjoy a little sun for a change. I'm more concerned about buying new CDs for the plane than packing clothes.

See you there, ladies :)

wickedlocalplymouth.com

Were we supposed to be nervous?

lauriewrites — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 00:51:34 -0500

Because y'all are scaring me. Isn't this supposed to be fun? Work has been so nuts lately that I'm just like, "Yay, California!" "Yay, interesting blogging conference!" Let's continue on in that vein, shall we, pretty toes and all.

Anyone who's nervous is welcome to come stand by me, because I don't know anyone well and I'm terrible at small talk. (Although maybe I will cover my gray - you know, if it's that important to you. ; ) )

lauriewrites is a contributing editor for travel and recreation.

Thanks, Lisa, for that testimonial!!

Susan Kitchens — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 00:24:29 -0500

[in my best cowardly lion voice]
I'll teach you with day old clothes!
I'll teach you with one hand tied behind my back!
What does it take to lead a group through your first podcast?
Courage!

What puts the You in USB?
Courage!
What puts the Awe in Audio?
Courage!
What gives BlogHers such Audacity?
Courage!

2020 Hindsight | Family Oral History Using Digital Tools

Newly induced anxiety

Rita Arens — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 16:53:08 -0500

Hey guys - GUYS? I was not anxious about my wardrobe until now. GAH! I have two wardrobes to choose from: A) Corporate Androgenous Slug and B) Toddler-Food-Covered Fussy Tees.

I do have deoderant, though.
Surrender, Dorothy - When I was your age, we just let them ride in the back window.

Umm Tish

Denise — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 12:01:01 -0500

Commentary on religious imagery? Where is this commentary located, if it is online then I have somehow missed it and this is not something I want to miss.

Dishes. We have to wash dishes before we go? Oh no, I have teenagers, they can do the dishes. Sheesh, scared me for a minute.

~Denise
Daily Dose of Denise and Fast Times @ Homeschool High

Chocolate, on the way!

Karianna — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 11:56:34 -0500

Actually, I've been making some chocolate candies to bring... of course, there is a melting-potential given our recent hot weather, but then we'll have chocolate soup!

(Save some room - it is good candy, and FREE!)

XOXOXO,
Kari

karianna.clubmom.com

Don't hate me because I wore an old outfit

Jory Des Jardins — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 11:20:15 -0500

I need to show this thread to my B-friend, who thought I was being a freak for insisting on at least one new outfit for BlogHer. I'm in training right now for wearing heels one of the days.

Jory Des Jardins
BlogHer
Personal Blog Pause

Nerves, nerves, and more nerves

Suzanne Reisman — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 11:04:51 -0500

Well, I figure I'll just look like my unkempt self and wear jeans and gym shoes and t-shirts with political messages, although I am getting a hair cut because I'm looking a bit on the shaggy side and need it anyway and I hope it won't look too bad. (It takes a week or two for my hair to adjust back onto my head properly after a cut.) I do freak out about winding up in a corner all by myself talking to no one, or making someone who is goodly enough to chat me up feel trapped by my random babbling. (I always worry about this when I go to parties or conferences.) I also worry that my husband is coming and that I'll feel pressured to hang out with him when I want to be hanging out with the ladies or worse, that I will hang out with him and the folks we know in the area because no one at the conference will want to hang out with me. Arg! Forget high school - I think my anxieties are at the junior high level.

Suzanne, BlogHer Contributing Editor - Feminsim & Gender
Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS)& Other Rants

Worrying is so LAST YEAR

SocalMom — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 10:27:55 -0500

I went through this last year. I bought new clothes and then ended up wearing my jeans and tees because after all, I wanted to be comfortable. And you all liked me anyway (at least, I think you did!) Of course, I did get my hair cut and colored and a mani/pedi (thank goodness because last year Beth Kantor shoe blogged and put up a photo of my flip-flopped feet!)

What worries me this year is that it seems so much BIGGER. And all the friends I met have accomplished so MUCH. So I do have these high school type worries about not being able to play with the cool kids...

Who? Me? Anxious?

Laura Scott — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 09:09:34 -0500

What makes you think I'm anxious?

Laura Scott
design, snap, blog

BlogHer site admin

I laughed and laughed.

Kalyn Denny — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 08:22:52 -0500

I laughed and laughed. I've also been buying new clothes for a few weeks, and wondering what type of clothes others will wear. I guess I'm bringing some of everything. I'm taking care some nieces and nephews for one more day, and then it's probably two entire days of Blogher shopping/packing/primping for me. Oh, and I have to write 5 days worth of blog posts to have ready to publish for the days I'm gone!!

My biggest indecision so far is whether to bring my new Canon Rebel XT (which I barely know how to use so far but takes amazing pictures) or whether to just stick with my small Casio camera which also takes pretty good photos and is much smaller, more comfortable for me to use, and a lot cheaper if anything happened to it.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

been too busy to think about it!

Tish G — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 07:45:11 -0500

Nerves-schemerves! I've been so darned busy with the Media Hub blog, pitching articles on citizen journalism, occasionally blogging myself, and working on a commentary on religious imagery that I've had *no* time to schedule a pedicure, let alone think about my outfits!

I'll be lucky if I get laundry done in time and the dishes washed before I leave. Otherwise, it's the last-minute-buy-new-underwear thing, and scrape the dishes when I get back.

Tish Grier
Editor, Corante Media Hub
Blogging at: The Constant Observer and
Love&Hope&Sex&Dreams

SO if I slip you my key...

Jennifer Satterwhite — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 03:09:42 -0500

Will you bring me your awesome brownies? Brownies will make you friends for life!

~Jenn~
Mommy Needs Coffee | Mommybloggers
BlogHerContributing Editor, Mommy and Family

I've been planning for months

Mary Tsao — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 02:09:07 -0500

Let's see...

I am one of those people who likes to buy new clothes for any/all events be they important or totally inconsequential. Therefore, I have been picking out outfits for BlogHer for oh, about 2 months now.

Lisa, a hat is a great idea!

I've got the pedicure, the new laptop bag, the business cards, the cute sundress, the wedge shoes that actually don't make my feet numb. Tuesday I'm getting my eyelashes tinted black (I hate wearing make up) and my hair cut.

Other than that, I have been frantically reading as many blogs as I can. BlogHer will be a blast. I'm looking forward to meeting people and also to attending many fabulous sessions. Podcasting? Can't wait to know more about that! Oh, and that mommyblogging discussion will no doubt rock my socks off.

Lots to think about and look forward to... Planning my outfits is just a way to pass the time.

Mary
BlogHer Contributing Editor, Mommy & Family
Mom Writes

Green with envy

Jules — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 01:35:15 -0500

As someone who is not able to make it to BlogHer Con this year (next year, hopefully!), you have no idea how green with envy I am.

I cannot wait to read the blog posts summarising all the fun you guys are going to have!

Jules

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania
Dragongirl blog

Anxiety? Nah. We call it pre-BlogHer freaking out with style

Jennifer Satterwhite — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 12:45:44 -0500

It was bound to happen. The closer we get to BlogHer, the more the nerves come out. The more the fear of High School Horror reveals itself. (Me? I just want to figure out what to wear. Is that so hard?) Here are just a few of the examples of the normal (yet honestly unfounded because BlogHer is all about inclusiveness) worries.

Julie over at mothergoosemouse writes:

Itâ€™s inevitable that we will gravitate to some people and not to others. We do that in any other real-life encounters we have; in fact, we do that when we choose to read some blogs and not others. What I want so much to avoid is hurt feelings - other peopleâ€™s and my own.

And itâ€™s not just shallow factors such as appearance that make us prefer one person over another. More often, itâ€™s simply a matter of whether we feel comfortable around someone, whether we feel as if we have enough conversation potential to go beyond initial small talk.

I want to LOVE absolutely everyone. Thatâ€™s even more important to me than having everyone LOVE me.

I totally see her point. We all want to be liked and all fear that we will be the one that is in the corner dancing alone like a dork with no one to talk to. (Julie, I will so dance with you! I promise!)

And then take Liz of Mom-101 who has the totally irrational fear of "What if I have no idea who you are or what your blog is?! Oh the horror!" She proposes the following:

Therefore I propose that we all print out our headers and wrap them around our foreheads, indian princess style, to stave off any uncomfortable introduction moments. It won't be nearly as obvious as staring down at the right boob to check out the name tag. The geeky, horrible name tag.

Of course there is always the worry of being in the same room with and meeting women you have admired from afar from their blogs, such as Christina at A Mommy Story writes about.

This time next week I'll be doing a final check that I've packed everything and getting ready for my 1pm flight to San Jose. I don't know what makes me more queasy - the thought of getting on a plane (terrified of flying) or the thought of being surrounded by the top women in blogging - my role models.

Who also added (and cracked me up) in comments elsewhere that:

What to wear is worrying me more than anything. I'm going to be pegged as a mommyblogger right off the bat, simply because I don't like wearing fancy clothes. I'll probably have my capri jeans and t-shirts, and maybe I'll go a step up with a polo shirt.

I'm also someone who can't shut up, even without a drink in me. so hopefully someone will tell me if I'm talking too much. Otherwise I will be that one everyone is talking about on their blogs, and not in a good way. And god forbid there is karaoke.

Then of course we have the primping. We must do the primping to get ready. Take our very own Mir. She went drastic. How so?

In a move of strategy and power usually employed by the likes of Barbie and Britney Spears, I went and had my hair cut AND COLORED at the salon today. I have NEVER had my hair colored by someone who knew what they were doing. (Previous colorists includeâ€¦ me. Andâ€¦ me.) But long ago I decided that I should have fabulous hair for BlogHer, and as I do not believe fabulous hair includes
1) brillo-like greys poking out in every direction
or
2) a color not commonly found in nature (which encompasses EVERY SINGLE COLOR Iâ€™ve managed to dye my hair on my own),
that meant saving my pennies for this sacred day.

Face it ladies (and the few gentlemen) attending BlogHer, there are things to do, plans to make and panic attacks to be had.

What are YOU doing to get ready for BlogHer that is coming up in mere days. (5!) Tell me yours and I will tell you mine.

BlogHer Contributing Editor Jenn Satterwhite also blogs at Mommy Needs Coffee and Mommybloggers.

[image courtesy of beancounters]