I’m not sure I would have chosen to write about Blogher, if I had not been asked. I should mention, I did meet all my objectives visiting Chicago, but they had little to do with the conference. I registered because it presented a viable reason to meet Meno and Maggie in person, cleverly disguising my urge to stalk them.

It was a reprieve from ordinary life, spending four days in the company of two brilliant, thoughtful, and funny women. That alone made waking up at four AM worth the effort to travel. We abandon most of the conference festivities for the streets of Chicago, enjoying good walks, good talks, and good food. Nothing compares to lengthy conversations when you are trying to piece together the structure of a person’s character.

Who are these woman who kept me so engaged I didn’t want to sleep? Well, Maggie is kind, nurturing, and she places other’s needs above her own. She’s an exceptional writer. Her poetry transcends my imagination, as I tend to think in pictures rather than language. I find her words stimulating, and inspiring. Listening to her stories, and reading her poems frees my mind and inspires me to draw creativity from my soul.

Meno is a rock. She’s solid, thoughtful and quick-witted. She is comfortable with her sense of self and wears her wisdom like a well-tailored suit. I had to think quickly to keep with her sharp comments, and I enjoyed every moment of the challenge.

On the evening of arrival, I had the pleasure of joining QT, Jen, and Meno for dinner. It was nice low key introduction, before being exposed to the loud, high-pitched, clusterfuck that would define Blogher (from the POV of a self-proclaimed introvert).

I admit, when I signed up I knew I wasn’t interested in the conference. I went to Chicago in hope of meeting fellow bloggers and learning more about the people I was reading. Blogher isn’t really geared toward goal-less introverts like myself.

Of the four sessions I attended, Blogher appeared to be focused on networking, targeting the mommy market, building and maintaining online communities, interviewing with the press, changing your blog templates, and fawning over Amy Sedaris. If you want to expand your readership, earn advertising revenue, or listen to twenty women discuss the politically correct use of the word small, then this is your conference. But if you are an introvert, and prefer small groups, big skies, sand beneath your toes, go to the conference city and avoid the conference.

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If your interested in reading about other conference experiences, click here, here, here, here, or here.