The Beauty of BlissDom09 – what it was, and what it wasn’t (for me)
February 15, 2009
I had just set up the going to BlissDom09 and procured a bed in a very good friend‘s room when in the Twitterverse I got a message about a post about BlissDom and how it was laced with a Christian based theme and was I ready to be converted? (I’m Jewish, by the way. Surprise!)
Um, WHA? WHO? HUH?
I politely replied that if the conference WAS about converting me from Judaism to Christianity that I had been in that position many times before and that it hadn’t worked out real well and I wished those who would try lots and LOTS of good luck.
And I went on my merry way.
Except the packing part. THAT I waited for until the last minute.
To her credit, Alli Worthington, the founder of Blissfully Domestic, messaged me to talk to me about it and wanted to reassure me that BlissDom was not, in fact, a secret conversion ceremony and that it WAS about connecting with others, bettering your life, your blog, and finding your own personal bliss, WHATEVER that might be.
…Then something about Snuggies was said, and I might have agreed to sell my soul for a Snuggie. Had there been one in my BlissDom swag bag, at that moment I might have agreed to just about anything. Seriously.
But there wasn’t. And I was kinda sad, to tell the truth. I was kind of looking forward to a Snuggie. But there was Crocs, and that might turn out to be better than a Snuggie.
I digress. Sorry, I do that a lot.
But I went to BlissDom. And Alli was right. It was about connecting with others; which I immediately did by helping to put together the swag bags in the meeting area. (No pretense here, they needed some help and many ladies who arrived early rolled up their sleeves and pitched in. It was no big deal, and I think for many it was a good jumping off point to a conference they had never been to and didn’t know what to expect.)
Many women brought their beautiful babies. Many women brought many bags. Many women brought their faith, but it wasn’t a direct part of BlissDom. No one saw the Star of David that hangs around my neck and said “EWWW, What is THAT?” Many thought it was beautiful; and stopped to tell me so. The only religion spoken there was business cards and “do you have one?“.
Oh, and “Have you gone to Room 704 yet?”, but that’s for another post. But if you did go, Did you go to Room 704? If not, you missed out. Seriously.
The beautiful thing about BlissDom was the intimacy of it, the smaller numbers may have reminded those who went to the first BlogHer in California in ’06 of that small gathering where it was about the camaraderie of “We all have THIS in common” and the common thread we all share. While yes, there were panels about how to better your blog, your journal, and what to do to try for that book deal you are dreaming about; the undercurrent of it was more about sharing a common bond and less about who is sponsoring this shindig.
Although, those Little Debbie 100 Calorie Snacks? GENIUS. I guarantee that more attendees remember those snack cakes more than they remember Wal-Mart was one of the sponsors. (It’s all about product placement, y’all. And those snacks? Came in EXTREMELY handy during the day, is what I’m sayin’.)
Also? The Geek Squad was there!! And, although they told me my laptop I brought to BlissDom was on its last legs (it really is); they were the nicest, sweetest, kindest people you could ever meet. They even came up to me on the second day to ask if my computer was still experiencing the same problems they had found the day before (it was). Customer Service? They haz it!
I know, the digression. It’s a sickness. *AHEM*
People bonded. There were introductions made and friendships created that will last a lifetime. Many people who might have been afraid to take the plunge this summer to go to BlogHer are planning to make the pilgrimage to Chicago now that they have been to a Blogging Conference and seen what it is like. Many people danced on bars and spent time in fancy cars. Others had dinners with new forever friends and listened to the words of wisdom of Claude. Others will not forget being stuck in an elevator, and the men of BlissDom, some who performed and some who wanted to participate because they belonged there just as much as the women did.
It was spiritual after a fashion. Yes, it
was.
was.
So, Alli, when you are done Bedazzling my Snuggie, feel free to send it on down. Thanks.
P.S. I met lots of wonderful people. I’ll put up a blogroll in a posting in a few days (Thanks, White Trash Mom for this fantastic idea. You are the awesomest!) with all the lovely people I met. I’m still unpacking, and will need to gather my thoughts as well as my stack of business cards. Thanks, and I love you all!
Also, thanks to those who’s pictures I “borrowed” from the BlissDom09 Flickr pool. There should be links going back to your photos and the streams. If you have some time, go check them out. Lots and lots of lovely photos taken by some fabulous women and men!
Posted by Shash @ 5:38 am
February 15th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
OMGosh, you are Jewish. Now we can’t be friends. KIDDDDDDDDING! So kidding. No, Blissdom wasn’t anything about religion and I have pictures to prove it.
I absolutely love you and think you are the most sweet and can’t wait to keep in touch.
Room 704. Whut. Whut.
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February 15th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
so glad you came. lovely to meet you at the end!
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February 15th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Thanks for coming and of course, thanks for your help packing schwag bags!! You’re my kind-o-type-a-gal!! So glad you had a good time and this is an excellent recap. It was so nice meeting you!
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February 16th, 2009 at 6:38 am
Mark is going to be thanking the ladies of 704 for years to come. Giggle.
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February 16th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Thanks for the run down. I got hernia surgery instead of Bliss *sobs*
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February 17th, 2009 at 12:48 am
Are you coming to BlogHer here in Chicago? I’ll be wearing *my* Star of David. We can form a Jewish posse. Bwahahaha!
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February 17th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
this is a beautiful tribute to Blissdom. I had a great time and have so much fun with you also!
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February 17th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Meeting you, was awesome! You are so fun and so sweet and I am so glad there are no pics of me up on the bar, because I did get up on there!!
I was very apprehensive about going to BlogHer, but still going, and now that I’ve met some of the awesome people, like you and Tanis and Moosh and soooo many others who will be there, I’m more excited than ever about July and meeting even more of the amazing people who I read, and have yet to read, but willl… and I’m rambling. Yep.
Ok.
YAY!
and out.
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February 18th, 2009 at 2:47 am
Yup. Still jealous.
I. Will. Be. At. BlogHer.
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February 18th, 2009 at 3:32 am
MWAH!
From the PMS queen and your loving roomie.
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February 18th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Love you. That is all.
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February 20th, 2009 at 3:11 am
Oh girlfriend – we are up and rolling! All hail the 704!
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February 20th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
I can’t wait to see you again!
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