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I'm a freelance technical writer with a terminal case of wanderlust. I make most of my living explaining how technical things work to people that nee...
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Not in SF? Me Neither. What Are You Doing Instead?

July 17, 2008 8:00 am by Pam in BlogHer Conferences
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The wild popularity of BlogHer means that even this "big shot" writer for the BlogHer site can't get in at the last minute. Oh, I tried, but seeing as how I was hardly the first person to ask for a last minute pass, it wasn't going to happen. I'm telling you this so you know you're not alone. Even with 1000 attendees, there are lots of us who couldn't spare the cash, deal with the logistics, make the conference a priority, or are terrified by large crowds... these are a few of the possible billions of reasons you're not there and close to all of mine, truth be told.  I am genuinely sorry not to be at the travel meet-up because - I've said it before - I adore meeting my fellow travel bloggers.

No, I'm not at BlogHer. But check out the stuff I'm doing instead. (Don't be calling it a staycation, I'll have to go all crazy on you.)

First, have you been to Seattle in the summertime? What? It is perfect. No, really. Sunny while rarely being too hot, blue skies, a breeze off the Puget Sound that smells oh so slightly of the Pacific, and stunning views of the peaks that surround our area. It's beautiful here. Winnng alternate number one.

Also on the cards? Spending a little time with a fellow traveler... she's passing through town on a visit and wanted to know if I'd like to get together. What?! You mean you read Nerd's Eye View and you still want to hang out? Absolutely. Winner number two.

Have I mentioned that I play the ukulele? I do, it's true. No, I'm not very good, but I sure do love it. And this weekend my uke club is playing a kids and family event up at Snoqualamie Pass. I love to get out and play with these delightful people - in their company my stage fright (mostly) disappears and we just have a good time making music. Winner number three.

I'm feeling okay about missing BlogHer and staying home because I'm doing so many fun things instead. So, fellow non-traveling travelers... what are you doing instead? Something cool and fun and maybe even bloggy in some way? Traveling elsewhere? Do tell.

Pam blogs about travel and other adventures at Nerd's Eye View.

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Seafarer
Seafarer 5 pts

I couldn't go to San Francisco, but I decided to use the opportunity to attend in Second Life so I could figure out SL.  Had a blast, actually, and no TSA!  Even discussed a real life writing assignment with an editor, who was in SL when I was.

Here's my report, complete with inworld photos:

Tight travel budget? Another world awaits you ( http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Seafarer/tight-travel-b... )

Sheila Scarborough
( http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Seafarer )

Family Travel: See The World With Your Kids ( http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Seafarer )
( http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/ )

( http://perceptiv/ )

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Robin-Pensieve
Robin-Pensieve 5 pts

Hey Pam,

I'm a "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade girl", so at the last minute, decided to host a BlogHop in honor of BlogHer. Whoa, Nellie...I wonder what "attendance" would've been like if I had planned this a week or two ago!

(Here's the link )

http://pensieve.typepad.com/pensieve/2008/07/blogh...

Robin

http://pensieve.typepad.com/pensieve/

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AnissaMayhew
AnissaMayhew 5 pts

There will always be parties and fun times, but letting your daughter know she's the most important thing in your life is priority #1. You are a ROCK ON mom for that!

Anissa Mayhew

www.hope4peyton.org 

www.onevoiceproject.ning.com ( http://www.onevoiceproject.ning.com )

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Pam
Pam 5 pts

I love seeing all the different things that you're up to... and a few things worth mentioning:

@Giyen: Even as a beginner, I think you'd have a lot to learn at BlogHer. Especially as a beginner. I'm not saying there's nothing to learn as a long term blogger, but when I went last year, a lot of the stuff I sat in on was for new bloggers. 

@ Almost everyone: It's tricky to decide what's a priority when it comes to travel, no? That was, for me, the hardest call. Plane tix+hotel+conference passes is a lot of money, let's be honest here. As I blogged on my own site, my budget ended up being about two month's worth of health insurance, or enough for a good long road/camping trip - like, weeks - with my husband. Weigh that against a three day weekend in SF.

Next year? Maybe. That depends on so many things. I keep hoping BlogHer will come to me in Seattle. 

Nerd's Eye View ( http://www.nerdseyeview.com )

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PatyC
PatyC 5 pts

I'm here and I want to attend... but can't find a ticket.

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Nordette Adams
Nordette Adams 6 pts

I couldn't make it either, Pam, and this makes the second year I've missed it.  I keep wondering when will my life settle down a bit?  But I guess missing BlogHer '08 means I have a goal for next year, as Ladybeams said above me.  Maybe next year my ducks will line up properly or must that be the planets?

And I can't say I'm doing anything exciting.  It's the same old thing here in Louisiana for me, looking after parents, offspring, a dog, and a cat ... avoiding snakes. Whew! 

Nordette ( http://blogher.org/blog/nordette ) is a Contributing Editor with BlogHer.com whose personal blog is hosted on another site at this link ( http://bigsole.blogspot.com ).

( http://blogher.org/blog/nordette )

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feener44
feener44 5 pts

i will be celebrating my fifth year anniversary. I just got into blogging a while back, and didn't really understand the blogher. Now I really want to make it a goal to go next year and meet all these amazing women. 

feener44

http://mommyvents.blogspot.com 

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Ladybeams
Ladybeams 5 pts

I didn't realize it was so close to home. Now that I'm seeing it on the local news all over the place, I wish I was going. I am making it a goal to easily afford to go next year. 

Ladybeams

http://www.ldbeams.wordpress.com ( http://www.ldbeams.wordpress.com/ )

http://www.lauriannsnewlife.blogspot.com ( http://www.lauriannsnewlife.blogspot.com/ )

h ( http://www.beamishsbrasstacks.com/ )

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kazari
kazari 5 pts

I am going to have to start my own Australian blogher conference, if I am ever going to get to go to one.

It sounds so exciting!  But so, so far away.

I think I have a recipe for that... ( http://krissyscookingblog.blogspot.com/ )

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kimba
kimba 5 pts

... and I live here!

And I'm recovering from an appendectomy ... bummer.

Kimberly Kradel
Producer/Editor
artist-at-large.com ( http://www.artist-at-large.com )

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Jen M.
Jen M. 5 pts

I can't go because I am a victim of my own inertia. Didn't plan ahead, in other words. I'm really disappointed in myself, though, and I'm sure going to be there NEXT summer. Hopefully, you'll be there too, Pam! And Karen, Cynthia, everyone.

 Traveling Mamas ( http://travelingmamas.com ) want to be in San Fran! Oh well.

My Travel Site ( http://luxuryresorttravel.suite101.com )

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zchamu
zchamu 5 pts

We just got back from two weeks vacation, which is one big reason why I couldn't make it to SF - I didn't want to get home then turn around and leave again. So, seeing some friends, getting some sun, and relaxing. And watching the tweets :)

Visit my blogs at ThreeSeven ( http://www.threeseven.ca ) (all that's irrelevant and amusing) and
ecochick ( http://www.ecochick.ca ) (all that's green, cool and Canadian).

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Cynthia Clampitt
Cynthia Clampitt 5 pts

I'm not at the conference because I'm recovering from my recent three-week trip to Egypt and Jordan (recovering from the backlog of mail and work, that is). Great trip, but too soon to leave town again. Other than a few trips to visit my mom, I'm home now until November, when I head for Japan.

But I'm hardly feeling sorry for myself. Summer in Chicago is great. Between festivals, the Botanic Gardens, and seeing friends, it's hard to find time for work —though I love my work, too.

So while I imagine the conference is fun, I don't feel sorry for myself not being there. Life is overflowing as it is.  

Cynthia

http://waltzingaustralia.wordpress.com

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maryrwise
maryrwise 5 pts

I couldn't afford the travel to SF this year, even though it is one of my favoritest cities in the whole entire world. I'll be attending a show at the Capital Fringe Festival this weekend, and I have a couple trips to the beach planned for later in the summer.

And, of course, the DC Reach-Out session in October!!

The Blog: Red Nose ( http://bozoette.typepad.com ) The Book: Girl Clown ( http://www.lulu.com/content/45470 )

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Deaf Mom
Deaf Mom 5 pts

 I really wanted to go to  BlogHer, but this year, it was out of the question.  I just got back from Colorado for the Hands & Voices Leadership workshop and board meeting, and the budget just didn't allow for me to travel "for fun."  I went to SOBCon earlier in the  year, so that fulfilled my "blog conference" desire.

So this weekend, I'm heading up to Michigan to float in the lake and unplug.

Karen

 "Life is too short to pout all the time."

A Deaf Mom Shares Her World ( http://www.putzworld.blogspot.com )

Hands & Voices ( http://www.handsandvoices.org )

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baconism
baconism 5 pts

Since I am new to blogging, I didn't know about it till recently.  I'm gonna spend the weekend blogging so hopefully by next year, I'll have a good reason to go!

Cheers!

Giyen

Bacon Is My Enemy ( http://www.baconismyenemy.com )

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threeundertwo
threeundertwo 5 pts

 The BlogHer conference looks like a blast but my daughter is in a play this weekend and I absolutely can't (wont) miss it.  If I weren't going to the play, I'd be at Disneyland, which celebrates it's birthday every July 17th.  I have a group of friends that meets up there during the celebration every year.  I'm sad to be missing both trips. I'm jealous of everybody.  But I get to see my daughter perform, which is worth a million bucks.

Lit and Laundry ( http://litandlaundry.blogspot.com/ )

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AnissaMayhew
AnissaMayhew 5 pts

Well, I'm going to participate in watching some of the live feeds of the event and possibly check out that Second Life account I set up.  

But more than that, I am going to have lots of fun time with the reasons I couldn't make it (the kids), probably spending the other reason I couldn't make it (money) and taking part of the main reason I WANT to go (writing on my blog, in hopes that with so many BIG NAME bloggers off in San Fran Land someone out there might want to check out someone new.)

Anissa Mayhew

www.hope4peyton.org 

www.onevoiceproject.ning.com ( http://www.onevoiceproject.ning.com )

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Mata H
Mata H 5 pts

Pam, well, I can stop regretting missing a chance to meet you -- since neither of us are going! Seattle is great and I also love being there in summer. I love the ferry rides, Pike St Market..etc.

I am up to my ears in stuff here and couldn't really take on the cost of big travel right now. This week I will try to beat the searing heat. When it chills down I'll drive around getting fresh produce at farm stands in the western Massachusetts countryside. I'll spend much time with my new rescue pooch, Zoe the mad and lovable Bichon, and will probably take in at least one auction and some tag sales. Life is good. Busy, a bit stressed, but good. ~~

Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool ( http://timesfool.blogspot.com )

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