>Obligatory I’m Going to BlogHer ’11 Post

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Please talk to me, so I won’t tweet

For the first time in my life, I’m attending a convention. Pardon my 1986 reference. I guess they aren’t called conventions now, but conferences.

Conventions have negative connotations calling to mind images of late night partying under the guise of business and networking…wait. From all of the posts and tweets I’ve read lately, isn’t that pretty much what happens?

Oh, of course, there is the free stuff.  I’ll admit I’m looking forward to getting anything for free. Even if it’s just a flash drive and a hat. I’ve heard that some people get so much free stuff they bring an empty suitcase with them. That seems a bit nutty, but it worries me a little since I really have no idea what I’m getting into.

For the past week, I’ve been reading various posts of helpful tips and tricks from gals (and guys) who are BlogHer veterans. Above all, the best advice I’ve found is to wear good walking shoes and just enjoy yourself.  Done and done!

Gals have been fretting about what to wear. Honestly, aside from a new pair of walking shoes and some t-shirts with my doodle, I haven’t bought a thing. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older or I just don’t have the money to spend, but I’m not worrying about it. Whatever I have in my closet will have to do.

I’m more worried about missing out on a session where I might gain some insight into the brave new world of blogging and social media. Granted, I’ve been blogging for 7 years now, but apparently, the game is a bit different. When I first started, I was doing it purely as a creative outlet. I didn’t care who read my stuff or what I wrote. Over time, I’ve come to crave the little attention my blog has received. Maybe some where at this conference, I will learn the trick to getting more attention and maybe even some cash! Getting paid to write is my dearest dream.

This will also be the first time I am traveling completely alone to a city I’ve never been to. Well, it’s the first time I’m going to a destination alone where I’m not specifically meeting people with the sole purpose of visiting with them. Granted, there will be a few people in attendance with whom I’ve met casually and/or chat frequently on Twitter, so I’m not going into this thing totally cold. But still, I don’t have someone with whom I’m guaranteed to share all my meals. Eating alone could be a possibility.

So, if by some strange coincidence you too are going to BlogHer and you see me wandering around in my doodle t-shirt, please say hello. I’ll be in an overwhelmed daze wishing I could go back up to my room and write about all the stuff going on…please prevent me from doing that!

Stay classy, San Deigo!