My love of attending the BlogHer conference has been well-documented. I also make annual (or more frequent) trips to visit my good friends in California and Portland. Spending time with these friends that I made <quiet voice>through the computer</quiet voice> is great and awesome and fun and all of that. However. I also have a husband and three kids and a full-time job and local friends and, well. Attending the monthly (bi-weekly?) blog conferences that seem to be around just isn’t feasible. Or even on my radar as something I want to do.
Shortly after I arrived home from BlogHer ’10 in New York I found out that I had won a pass to Blissdom Canada. I will be completely honest here and say that I merely thought, “That’s nice. Maybe I can re-gift my pass.” It’s not that I thought that there was anything wrong with the conference itself but I had just returned the day before from leaving my husband with our three kids for a week while I traipsed around New York and, well. If I did want to attend this conference, it was going to take some serious sweet-talking on my part.
Soon after, Catherine asked if I was willing to speak on a panel and so I took some time to sit down and think about if this is something I wanted to do. It was easy to come up with a list of cons:
My reasons for going to BlogHer are all about hanging out with my friends and not so much about the sessions (I went to ZERO this year);
The people I usually text in a mad panic when I found myself in a room full of people I did not know would not be attending;
Life is hectic – could I really justify leaving the family here while I jetted to Toronto?;
I would have to sit in front of a room full of people and speak as though I actually knew what I was talking about.
The pros added up pretty quickly as well:
It would be a great opportunity to connect with great people involved in Canadian media, and it is the first larger blog conference in all of Canada;
I was born in Ontario (Brantford, as Paris had no maternity ward) and so I have a special affinity for the province. I also haven’t been back there in eleven years;
There were some good friends and respected peers attending. As the conference has only 200 attendees (as opposed to the 2,400 at BlogHer this year), the chances of me having some quality time with them are good;
I get to sit in front of a room full of people and speak. I’m ridiculously honoured that they think I belong up there.
So, I’m going. With the full blessing and support of my husband, I should add. I’m probably either en route or physically IN TORONTO as you read this. I get four days and three nights of sessions about writing and bright city lights and fun parties and even an evening at a spa. A spa!
I’m looking forward to spending time with friends, old and new, and spending Saturday morning with my sister and her kids. We haven’t seen each other in THREE YEARS.
I’m also completely geeked out to be one of the speakers. YOU GUYS! I’m this awkward, insecure, introverted extrovert who talks about everything and nothing and they have included me in a roster of some pretty amazing people and, shoot. I’m a little afraid that they’ll realize that they picked the wrong girl. I’m also a little (or a lot) nervous. Wish me luck, if you could.
See you on the other side.
Good luck! I know you will rock it!
and more importantly, have fun
.-= Kami’s Khlopchyk´s last blog ..Photo Food Journal =-.
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angella Reply:
October 27th, 2010 at 8:37 am
Well since you insist…
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Good luck, Angella! Whoo hoo! I know you’ll impress everyone at the conference because, whether you believe it or not, you have a LOT of truth and Internet savvy to share with other bloggers. Only wish I could be there to hear you! Have fun, have a safe trip, and come back with stories for us, your faithful readers!
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angella Reply:
October 27th, 2010 at 8:37 am
Will do! Promise. And, thanks.
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Can’t wait to hear you speak! Which panel are you speaking on?
.-= Jenn of the Roof´s last blog ..How To Train Your Pumpkin =-.
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angella Reply:
October 27th, 2010 at 8:36 am
I’m on the Friday morning panel “Monetizing I: Making Money From Blogging: Fiscal Fact or Fiction?” with Nadine, Ali and Jeanette. I’m super excited to speak with those ladies.
http://blissdomcanada.com/agenda/sessions/
See you there!
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Have fun!
.-= Sizzle´s last blog ..I Am Not Me =-.
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Have fun! I wish you were there LAST weekend when I was there!
.-= Kristabella´s last blog ..So I Had A Bad Day =-.
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angella Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 8:38 pm
You and me both, friend.
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Wish I could be there to hear you because I know you’re going to kick ass!
XO
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angella Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Next year, lady.
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Good luck! I know you’ll do great, but I can definitely understand the nerves that you might have. They wouldn’t have asked you to speak if they thought you weren’t qualified. Have a fabulous time, and safe travels!
.-= Sharon´s last blog ..Tuesday Tidbits =-.
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Good luck and have fun!!
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Good luck! Have fun! You’ll do fine! Wish I was there to listen to (and watch) you speak!!
.-= Mrs. Wilson´s last blog ..snow bomb =-.
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Good luck! Can’t wait for the recap. I’m the worst public speaker ever. I get red in the face, feel like my heart is going to explode and my arm pits start to sweat like crazy. I wish I could be composed and literate in front of others. Glad you got to take this opportunity – people will learn from you!
.-= Laura Radniecki´s last blog ..Eclectic Whatnot =-.
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angella Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 8:37 pm
It was FINE. And FUN. Can’t wait to do it again.
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As far as speakers go, I think you are an excellent choice.
Your writing is always so truthful and emotional. Mostly though, it’s very positive. You have a great outlook on life and I am always uplifted after reading your posts.
Spread the sunshine and have a great time!
.-= annabelle´s last blog ..Marriage is a wonderful institution … but who wants to live in an institution Groucho Marx =-.
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angella Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 8:37 pm
I got this on my phone while I was away and it lifted me up. Thank you.
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Have fun!!!
.-= Danica´s last blog ..Bygones =-.
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yay, have fun in the Centre of The Universe! hehe… I joke… originally from Cambridge/Kitchener here
.-= Jennifer Kirk´s last blog ..Leah and Jeff at the Museum of Vancouver =-.
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angella Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Haaaaa. I laugh because it’s true.
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oooh exciting! Too bad I didn’t know about it -would have loved to have met you in person! Hope it’s a great conference and you enjoy your time here in the T-dot!
.-= Karmyn´s last blog ..Randoms =-.
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angella Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 8:39 pm
It was a WHIRLWIND. Awesome, but packed and now I’m home. I’d love to come back sometime…
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Have a great time. Wish I could be there, would have loved to see ya.
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I’m so happy for you. It sounds like a wonderful opportunity!
.-= Ninabi´s last blog ..Day 5 Something I hope to do in life =-.
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Good luck, lady! I know you’re going to rock it
xo
.-= hillary´s last blog ..Three Or Four Hourglass =-.
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You’ll do well Angella! I wish I were there to see you. I finally decided to go to a blogging conference, only to find out it was sold out.
Have fun!
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