BlogHer 'O8: End of day one (photos!)
Can you believe how much I'm posting? No, me either. It's really fun, though--it makes it so much more enjoyable to get to share it all with you. Please bear with me. Heh.
So, after all the panels, and the Keynote presentation (they had "best of" entries read by bloggers--some moved me to tears, and Jenny made me pee my pants laughing), they had the party. The party at a club around the corner from the hotel, totally one of those clubs with velvet ropes (where when they closed from our party, they promptly kicked us out of the upstairs VIP area) where I felt horridly uncool.
The party was "hosted" by TNT, and they had Gina Ravera, star of The Closer and ER, hanging around chatting with folks. As you all know, I am a huge The Closer fan (and I'm watching ER until the bitter fucking end), so I wandered over to say hi and, you know, the stupid shit you say when you meet famous people you admire. She is BEAUTIFUL, unbelievably so, and SO. FUCKING. NICE. We talked--seriously--for 15 or 20 minutes. I kept standing there, chatting away, thinking over and over I can't believe she's still talking to me. She even wrote down things I said. No, really. It was supremely cool. She wanted to tell me something else (hard to believe) but other fans finally interrupted us and I never got a chance to find out what it was. But I did get a picture. And you know what else? She called me a rock star (she said I had a really "I don't care what you think" attitude. And she meant that in a good way. If only she could be inside my head for ten seconds). I promptly melted into a pile of star struck goo.
Then it was time to stalk the A-Listers. Heh. First up? Finslippy! Alice was incredibly sweet and claims that she read my blog back before I changed the name (from "and I wasted all that birth control" for anyone that doesn't know). If she was lying, I couldn't tell, so I'll just be tickled, m'kay?
Next up, Amalah. Who I spotted early hanging with Sweetney (who I also met very briefly), and while I tried to figure out an angle to meet her she spotted my tattoos and decided I was too cool for mommy bloggers. Which is too funny. Eventually, I introduced myself, and she greeted me with a big hug and gasps like she knows who I am and reads my blog. And, frankly, she knows enough about my blog that I guess I'll have to believe her. In fact, she said she's read me for years, and I believe used the words "blog crush." Squee!
Have I mentioned how fucking happy I am I have business cards? Otherwise, what would I give to the folks that gave me these? I AM GOING TO HAVE SO MANY NEW BLOGS TO READ.
Here is today's swag. And believe it or not? I went to the swag recycle room and got rid of half of it already.
AWESOME.
The highlight of my day, of course, was the video I made with Grover. No, really, it was the most awesome thing. I've been somewhat in love with Grover since I was three, so it was like, you know, THE COOLEST THING EVER. But I also met a more recent Sesame Street muppet:
Down in the bottom right is the woman that operates Abby. The real one, like from the show.
So, anyway, Sarah spent the day taking photos and meeting a Flickr friend. Before she met me for the party, she stopped by our hotel to freshen up. And who is in the elevator? DOOCE. She met her and John and everything. I am seething with envy. Heh.
Alright. I'm off to bed. Expect more tomorrow!
I am so glad you are having such a productive and happy time! I knew you would totally rock the house with all your coolness. Don't forget us little people when your all famous and stuff. lol
Posted by: Sheri | July 19, 2008 at 07:44 AM
you mean you met the woman who operates the first lead female character on sesame street? cool!
Posted by: Anastasia | July 19, 2008 at 08:43 AM
You look really beautiful and happy, Cecily. I love these pictures. I'm so glad you're having a good time. I'm loving your updates.
Posted by: Monica | July 19, 2008 at 09:44 AM
You are going to think I am a total moron but yesterday? When you posted that you made a video with Grover? I was wondering how come I didn't know any bloggers named Grover and was wondering who she or he might be!!! NO IDEA until today's pix that you were talking about Sesame Street Grover....ANYWAY, looks like you are having a ball and love that you are making those of us at home feel like we are there almost!!!!
Posted by: | July 19, 2008 at 09:57 AM
This is just what the doctor ordered for you. In the pics you look very pretty and look like you are having a blast. Good for you. I am looking forward to more updates.
Posted by: Melissa in TN | July 19, 2008 at 11:47 AM
I love that you are blogging your way thru! It is really fun to read and it sounds and looks like you are having a great time and making contacts! good for you!
I am sure you miss your family but honestly, doesn't it feel good to be in the land of adults!!!
Posted by: maggie | July 19, 2008 at 12:27 PM
ARGHHHHHHH! Why was I so insecure that I didn't buy a ticket! SQUEEEEEEEEEE! Dude, you know you are totally an A lister. Geeze. You don't get a bugaboo and a camera from your readers if you are obscure.
Sorry you are feelign the physical pain of the conferance; that blows.
Posted by: Sarah | July 19, 2008 at 02:36 PM
So, I'm pretty out of the blogging scene and don't know who half these famous bloggers are, so maybe you shouldn't take me seriously, but you are totally A list. I mean, google "Cecily" and it's you. Hundreds of comments. All that. When I first saw that you had linked to me, I was dumbfounded. Get over the insecurity thing! (Or, do what I do, and just pretend that you believe what other people say about you--really, it helps!) Glad you're having fun.
Posted by: Becca | July 19, 2008 at 04:32 PM
I'm here to say I heart you. I totally do swag photos when I have room to spread it all out. (This trip, that won't be til I get home.)
Posted by: Abigail M. Schilling | July 19, 2008 at 07:04 PM
umm. I read two blogs. Exactly two. Yours and Amalah. AND YOU MET EACH OTHER AND HUGGED. too much.....
Posted by: erin | July 19, 2008 at 11:51 PM
i LOVE that my card is on the top of your pile!!
Posted by: magpie | July 21, 2008 at 02:08 PM
I came here looking for the dooce blogher drama everyones been telling me about. Where is it?
It's funny that the A-listers always say they aren't A-Listers and that there's no superiority in blogging (HA!) when other bloggers who think they're not A-Listers refer to them as such. Amazing.
Looks like you had fun, so that's good and you look so happy and pretty as always.
btw, I do think "fat" is a terribly negative word and have chose not to use it in my home to describe something or someone that's big.
Posted by: The Aitch | July 22, 2008 at 12:44 PM