Conversations I had before, during, and after BlogHer '06

"I don't understand. Why can't it be 'clits down'?"
--B-friend, being his usual literal self, seeing me wearing a pin that Susie Bright had handed to me that said, "Clits Up."

"It's weird. I don't know all these people."
--Robert Scoble, when he arrived at BlogHer's appreciation soiree for event speakers, Website contributing editors, Ad Network members, volunteers and our Advisory Board. He was there with his wife, Maryam, who was on the "Next Level Naked" panel.

"I have to admit, I'm a little scared being here. It's a bit ... emasculating."
--A male podcaster giving BlogHer a little too much credit, interviewing me onsite

"Maryam, do you know where we're going?"
--Me, in the passenger seat, while test-driving a Saturn Sky roadster with Maryam Scoble from the San Jose Hyatt and noticing we were getting surprisingly close to San Francisco

"Is that, like, a Saturn? You guys look great!"
--Random dude in a Honda, who pulled up beside me and Maryam in a moment GM couldn't have scripted better it was so gushing. I looked behind me to see if our sponsors had somehow been behind it, but Maryam had wandered so far away from the hotel that it wouldn't have been possible

"And over there is Jory Des Jardins--she's got the short, dark, big hair..."
--Chris Nolan, moderator of the closing keynote "Creating Your Platform", letting people know to flag me down--the woman holding the microphone and who pomaded the f*%& out of her hair to keep it from frizzing--if they had questions for the panelists

"Oh my God you're so cute and thin in person ... and you're really cute too!"
--a guilt-ridden BlogHer attendee, gushing upon seeing Amanda Congdon, and then noticing that I was standing next to her

"Did you get a pastie?"
--BlogHer attendee, raving to a friend about the schwag she discovered in the exhibitor pavilion

"One point? That's impossible! This has to be, like, 100 points!"
--Me, geeking out over how good a WeightWatchers snack can be. This was my lunch on Day 2, as I had been running all over the freaking place and blew off my mantra for this year's event: "Don't forget to eat." The WeightWatchers Online table became my buffet

"So niiiiize to meet you."
--Arianna Huffington, upon being introduced

"Are you going to let a MAN do that at your own conference!"
--B-friend, pissed because Salim Ismael cut into the booze line during the Yahoo! Cocktail party

"Don't think I'm weird or anything like that. Arianna Huffington is coming out and we're going to do an interview."
--KRON's Brian Shields, mistakenly perceiving any judgements I might have about his proximity to the women's restroom.

"I think we need a serious break, OK? So let's regroup, then, on Monday."
--My BlogHer co-Founder Lisa Stone, as exhausted as I was, at the Day 2 evening cocktail party, Saturday night

"I'm thinking next year we might want to get an event planner."
--My other BlogHer co-Founder Elisa Camahort, having difficulty standing, at the same party

"So I heard."
--My sister, Julie, as I was telling her about the conference. Apparently I'd unwittingly dialed her on my cell phone during the conference, and she listened to me giving people directions to the session rooms for 10 minutes

"I'm thinking about it."
--My mother, a blogger with travel issues, when encouraged to attend BlogHer '07, which will be in Chicago next summer--20 minutes from her house

BlogHer06

Comments

[Leah]

It was a great conference and I can't wait for the Chicago conference. My mom and sister are already planning on attending!

I enjoyed chatting with you and will talk to you soon. Well, after your post-blogher break.

[Marilyn]

Aren't you sneaky?! Now Joy has no excuse...ha! As complicated as my feelings are about the BlogHer conference (i.e., feeling like there's so much focus on mommies who blog)...my feelings for YOU are completely uncomplicated. I'm happy for you that it was such a resounding success...and that your future with BlogHer looks so very bright.

[Robert Scoble]

I had a great time at BlogHer. You're very good in front of an audience, by the way. I have a feeling we haven't heard the last from you. Can't wait to see where your journey leads you.

[Jane]

You guys did a spectacular job with the conference again this year and I'll definitely see you in Chicago next year.

[miffy]

I can't wait for next year! Jory, Melissa and I are already discussing our meeting plan to be there. And a side note to "Joyful"...I'll pick you up in a Saturn and we can enjoy the Jory Journey together! Sounds like it was exhasting and wonderful. Congratulations!

[jen]

Your mum's got no excuse for not attending. I'm thinking about it too.

[jen]

Oh, and congratulations. It sounded like a fantastic success this year.

[Daniel McVicar]

Hi Jory, it's me the male podcaster. I'm not so scared anymore, but you get a lot of credit. What an extraordinary event.

I will be posting two features and extended interviews from the conference this week.

I will let you know, or you can subscribe via the feedblitz link at the top of the page (I found out about it at your conference)
bravi to all!

[Brian Shields]

Well, one thing about being at Blogher, it reminded me of lots of advice I would get from my mother... and she always cautioned me about the people who loiter near the entrance to public restrooms! Especially the ones holding video cameras!

Great work Jory! I'm so proud to be a part of the Blogher movement.

Brian

[Jeremy Pepper]

That is such a Mom statement: eh, I'll think about it.

I love it!

[Toby]

Jory - Adding my Congrats! I think of BlogHer as "blogging come to life." With BlogHer 2007 morphing into 2 conferences: BlogHer and Business BlogHer Elisa is right - you'll def need a meeting planner!

[Laura]

Jory, congrats, it was a FANTASTIC event and I'm so glad I attended. I saw you a number of times from afar, but didn't get a chance to say hi unfortunately. You looked great. You are a very polished presenter and the event totally lived up to my expectations (which were stratospheric!) Thanks for a great weekend. I came out of it with some fantastic ideas for my blog.

Hope to make this an annual thing. Can't wait to hear more about plans for '07... once you've had a chance to get some shut-eye.

[TW]

Hee hee Jory, our 19 year old does that with the phone ALL THE TIME.

Thanks again for all your hard work.

[Alanna]

You did Blogher 2006 withOUT event planner(s)??? Note the plural! You guys ARE wonder women! BTW this post somehow captures Blogher-as-perceived-from-afar in ways the others don't. So ... thanks!

[Jennifer Warwick]

Hey Jory -

Call me if you really want an event planner. Seriously, I rule. And I'm planning to have some time on my hands shortly.

:-)

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