Always Late
Friday, July 25, 2008 By now, you’ve already seen and heard all the highlights, lowlights, gossip and blackmail pictures floating around the internet regarding the hugfest that was Blogher 08. And in true BusyDad fashion, I’m contributing way after the fact by simply saying “yeah, what they said.” Plus this:
This is how I originally was planning on going to Blogher 08:
Courtesy of Maria
And I totally partied it up as a drink stirrer that first night. This is actually the first time I was introduced to Dawn of KaiserAlex.com.
After that first night, I was chatting with d Wife about my adventures as an inanimate object, and she wanted me to shut up already took pity on me.
“Why don’t you just go.”
I’m a good listener.
Not 24 hours later, my plane touched down at Oakland airport. After a quick BART ride, I was in radio contact with some of my best blogging pals whom I had never met!
Chronological re-enactment (to the best of my recollection) of my text messages between checking into my hotel and the 5-block walk to Ruby Skye for the Blogher party:
how far away?
Me: 4 blocks? Not sure
Mr Lady: get your ass over here!
where are u?
Me: 2 blocks
Miss (of the popsicle stick crew): u landed yet?
Me: yup! 1 block away from meeting them.
Miss: you all better drunk dial me
Me: of course!
Miss: I want pics
Me: 1 block!
As I made my way to the front entrance, there they were, behind the glass waving to me from the lobby. It was surreal. I know these people so well. I consider them my dear friends. But having never seen them in real life, it was more like meeting the stars of your favorite TV show or something. Except that they totally know you! And will run up and hug the poop out of you. For those of you who read Jogging in Circles, Whiskey in My Sippy Cup, Immoral Matriarch, Classy Chaos and VDog & Little Man, imagine what it would be like to meet all of them at once for the first time. Nuts I tell you. Nuts.
But the joy and excitement quickly deflated. They were sold out. I couldn’t even charm buy my way in! As I stood there guilty as hell that my dear friends were actually considering leaving this party to hang with me elsewhere (if it were all guys, that would be an “I love you man!” moment). VDog grabs my arm and says “Walk. Just walk. Go, go.” She’s connected, yo. Let the partay begin.
I call this one the Axis of Awesomeness. My awesomeness acquired naturally via osmosis.
And guess who showed up in the midst of our partying? Soapbox Mom! I think I remarked sometime during the evening that we shouldn’t sit together because we were wearing the same outfit (hanging out with chicks rubs off on you after a while).
Soapbox Mom (who has interviewed me twice on her show Soapbox Radio)
Drunk … with happiness!
Kimmylyn and VDog
Great. Now every guy with a computer is going to start a blog.
Shortly after this picture was taken, my memory got fuzzy. I remember JD, pancakes, corned beef hash, and an overwhelming feeling of warmth, friendship and camaraderie that, much like many embarrassing photos of me not published here, will float around for a long time to come.
Reader Comments (51)
You can tell the chronological order of the pics by how hammered everyone looks. Sounds like a good time.
Love the axis of awesomeness, and that's AWES-mosis, btw.
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[BusyDad] Your powers of observation are indeed awesome.
I am totally going to have to make out with VDog to thank her for....wait....crap.
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[BusyDad] What happens in ... wait... crap.
God knows, next year cannot come fast enough. I'm telling you. And now I'm pissed that I chose The Dark Knight over the night with you guys. :(
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[BusyDad] Sigh... this isn't the first time in my life I've been upstaged by a superhero. But come on, YOU set the spark that made it all happen so I owe it all to you and d Wife!
Every guy in the blogosphere is totally jealous of you. And at least half the women, too.
VDog rocks.
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[BusyDad] Hell I'm jealous of me a week ago!
Can't believe how quickly you all bonded! You all look like you are having a great time.
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[BusyDad] It was literally the last piece of the puzzle. When you know these folks so well to the point where you knew what was on their kids' breakfast menu just a few weeks back, it's impossible not to.
I looooooooooooooooooove that cell phone pic!
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[BusyDad] I'll never erase it. It's my mommy blogging mafia "I know some people" card if I ever need to resort to it.
My favorite part is seeing you in the lobby the next day all chipper n stuff - and vdog was in bed till after NOON!
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[BusyDad] Did I achieve chipper? I was just going for "not look like I partied all night and stay standing" - I am way proud now.
That is way too cool dude!!! It must have felt pretty sureal though. Glad you had such a great time.
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[BusyDad] I don't think I had that much fun even back in college. Being old ain't that bad...
Look at you, so happy with all your pals. It is amazing how you can make friends online, REAL friendships... that is so obvious from how quickly you bonded.
Next year, for sure, come hell or high water, I'll be in those pix witch-you all! ;)
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[BusyDad] I'm counting on that KMeg!
GAH - I seriously hate you right now. With all the love in my heart.
OH....... NEXT YEAR.......
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[BusyDad] *sniff* I never you knew you cared *sniff*
Damn. I'm STILL crying. I will be there next year. I don't care if it's in Siberia. I'm there.
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[BusyDad] I hear they got good vodka up there. Sign me up.
Ohhh looks like SO much fun. I am jealous. JEALOUS!
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[BusyDad] I think Blogher has turned the blogging world into one big soap opera :)
Ya, I'm thinking next year, we play quarters WHILE drunk dialing. Deal?
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[BusyDad] I'll bring the shot glasses.
I wanna see a pic of you NOT grinning from ear to ear.
Cat that got the cream...;0)
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[BusyDad] I think my face is stuck like that now.
I dont know what ZJ is talking about. We will ALL be there, so who will be left to drunk dial??
Thank you so much for calling me. I cant thank you enough for that call, it meant the world to me to talk to those hot chicks. And hey, thats MY picture! :-)
Seriously? dWife F%#%^ [edited per new profanity policy since Fury loves cruisin the blog] RULES. If it hadn't been for her, NONE of us would have been able to experience what we did that weekend.
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[BusyDad] d Wife DOES rule. As in runs things, but also as in "is hella cool about stuff."
I am SO incredibly jealous. I was before I knew you went...even more so now!
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[BusyDad] Sept. Blogworld. Maybe. Right?
You are so right. It was all so awesome. So awesome. That cell phone pic is awesome.... can you email me it to me so I can play around with it?
;) Mwah. Until next year.
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[BusyDad] Sent. And I don't blame you.
So that's why you didn't make it to Vegas. I see ;-) I'm so jealous.
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[BusyDad] Naw, it's because Vegas ain't just monkeys n princesses ;)
Dude, that looks like so much fun. Glad you had a great time infiltrating the "inner circle". Good call on the corned beef hash too. Builds mass.
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[BusyDad] I got some good moms who can vouch for me now. Mass as in my new Goodfellas gut?
My hubs gets it now ☺ He and I are both so jealous! At least one of us will make it next year! This year I may just have to settle for a mini BlogHer on tour.
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[BusyDad] I'll remember to snap a goofy smiling pic with you then!
Fun stuff man. I like the "walk, just walk" part - been there and done that many times with a slightly guilty conscience ;-) Looks like it was fun man!
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[BusyDad] Seeing as I flew there JUST to attend the party, I walked. I walked fast and never looked back!!
I am so damn jealous! Next time I'll drive to your place and stuff myself into your luggage.
Oh yah, glad you had the time of your life. haha.
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[BusyDad] No I neeeever felt this way before... I swear it's the truuuuth... damn you Mrs Kitty. If you're gonna get a song stuck in my head, 80's soundtracks are just not cool!
Looks like a blast. You are quite the ladies man ;-)
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[BusyDad] Haha! More like I was "quite the only man there" (besides some cheesy Swiss dudes whom I could totally take).
Hope you brought dwife back a heck of a present.
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[BusyDad] Nah, she's smart. She didn't wait for me to get home before revving up the old credit card. See her comment in my last post. She doesn't exercise supreme control over the BD empire for nothin.
This is a testimony to how supportive I am. Take that!
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[d Hubby] tooken! with pleasure :)
Wish I could have been there. You're so lucky to have gone.... here's hoping I can make it next year!
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[BusyDad] I'll drink to that!
wow!
Blogger encounters! I miss those sooo much! :)
been what? 5 years since I've been to one?!?!?!?
wow! :(
anyways... :)
Mind if I pop around now and then?!?!?! :)
zya!
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[BusyDad] Thanks for visiting! Blog encounters are indeed a little trippy. The internet is people?? wha?? And the pleasure would be mine. Come back whenever!
Looks like an AWESOME AWESOME time! So wish I coulda been there. Next year. Can't wait to meet the ENTIRE crew. Hell yeh. Wait, can I say that on here?
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[BusyDad] Hells yeah you can :)
I never go with the flow, I'm seldom interested in what the cool kids are doing. But DAMN, between you, Mr Lady and Greeblemonkey I know for sure I've missed THE event of the year.
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[BusyDad] I'm so not worthy of being uttered in the same string as those two. Unless it's a picture caption or something...
Even 'IF' every guy on the Internet starts a blog, they won't come close to being as cool as you! So glad you had fun!
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[BusyDad] aaaawww shuuucks! You have me nervously fumbling for words now. Witty comment fail.
Soapbox Mom is tiny and Ms. KL is gorgeousitty....loved all the pics and just so you know,
Huckdoll in '09!
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[BusyDad] I'm registered to vote!
Man I am SO so going next year!
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[BusyDad] I'd keep my blog going if only to do it again next year.
Ok I have been totally out of it trying to break back in. This is one of the first blog entries I read in ages and I admit it. I AM TOTALLY Jealous.! You look like you had a blast! Good for you!!!
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[BusyDad] Hey there!! Please read my best of's so I at least don't scare you back into hiding.
You wouldn't wanna come party with us at Blogher New Orleans, now, would you? :)
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[BusyDad] You know me well enough to know the answer to that one!!
OH SNAP!!! I am gettin mah arse handed to me in the comments. ;)
It's true I acted like an old lady and stayed in bed till 1:30...I don't know how you all made it to b'fast that early.
Oh goodness, it was SO. MUCH. FUN!!!
Also, I don't remember corned beef hash OR that picture with Kimmylyn. But it's hawt.
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[BusyDad] The best things in life aren't always remembered. Conveniently.
That looks like SO much fun! I feel like having a party now!!
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[BusyDad] Throw it, and they will come. And then stumble around and take silly embarrassing pictures...
Would you be hurt if I Photoshopped myself into that photo of you with all my favorite girls and the one with Nicole? You know, just to see what it felt like. Perhaps it would help me stop crying about not going. (Although it would probably just make me feel worse, right?)
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[BusyDad] My jpgs are your jpgs, Deb. If it's good enough for our news photographers, it's good enough for us!
Awesomeness! I have really enjoyed living vicariously through all the post-BlogHer posts and the photographs.
Looks like you all had a smashing (pun completely intended!) good time!
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[BusyDad] Indeed! Photography: helping people remember what the hell happened at last night's party since 1884.
When I was your age..........(Crap! Here he goes again).......there was no blogging or blogher or blogworld or nuthin'! Although I'm not a blogger..(no really...I got nothing!), I love to read blogs. So.....shouldn't there be some kind of bloglurkers convention or something........I'm just sayin'. Thank You. Peace, Mike.
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[BusyDad] That is the best idea I have heard in a long time. More people to party with. How can that ever be a bad thing??
You didn't know Don Mills Diva yet? She rocks!
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[BusyDad] I had seen her name everywhere, but never managed to click over. I'm really glad I met her because you are so right.
Dammit, dammit, dammit. I was just working through the Final Stages of Grief over not attending BlogHer ("Acceptance", thank you) and you just rip the scab off the wound again! Ugh. Sorry, not your fault. '09 is my year, baby. I'm in training now.
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[BusyDad] Uh oh, bathtub gangsta is gonna upstage me bigtime up there. I better start brushing up on my street lingo.
Whatdya know. Other than the age, location, and alcohol-influence, your pics look very similar to the beach day your son was having. For you, mom bloggers and alcohol, for Fury, it was little girls and boogie boards. :)
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[d Bro] That kid is always one-upping his dad.
I'm not jealous. Not at all. Not even a tiny bit. I wouldn't like hanging out with all of you, drinking and telling blog stories and life stories and laughing and having fun. Seriously...how would that be fun?? Nope, not jealous. Now excuse me while I go eat a really big Hershey's bar and drown my sorrows in hours of reality tv.....
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[BusyDad] I promise, if you have another one of your dreams with all us bloggers in it, I'll do a shot with you!
Your wife is AWESOME for sending you off to partay like a rock star with your friends. Looks like you had an awesome time.
I'm hoping to join in on the weekend bloghopping festivities soon, just need to get the hubster to go out with the guys or something and leave me to my drunken commenting!
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[BusyDad] Hubster must LOVE that you blog!! Yes, d Wife is quite teh awesome.
so jealous. so. so. jealous!! glad you had fun though!!
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[BusyDad] :D Melissa! I know how you feel. I was all sorts of jealous Thu night of my popsicle stick self.
Did I really drop the F-bomb on your blog?? My bad yo! Sorry Fury and d Grandma! Wont happen again!
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[BusyDad] No worries Miss - NEW policy. The bugger likes to read now. And is good.
Okay BD........let's change the subject. I know you live somewhere in the greater Los Angeles area, and I of course can see Tijuana from my front porch. It's Tuesday afternoon and all everyone is asking each other here at work is............"Did you feel the earthquake?!?!?!" I for one did not. Don't you love California? Peace, Mike.
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[BusyDad] I love sitting on a subway train on an overpass while the earth (and therefore train) shakes me gently. The same kind of love I feel for taxes. Just kidding earth, you rock! (why piss her off?).
I think it was right after that last photo was taken that the Swedish exchange students starting moving in on your turf...
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[BusyDad] You don't know how close I came to challenging them to a good old fashioned American blog-off!!
For now I have to settle for electronic friendships. I'm glad so many people I know through blogs got to hang out, though.
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[BusyDad] Some of these electronic friendships run stronger than some real ones. Once you come to that conclusion, it messes you up a little bit, but I found it to be true.
All the cool chicks. Heck, all those chicks. How did you survive?
You are THE man . . . in so many ways :)
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[BusyDad] Lucky for me, one of those ways was "the only one within a 500 ft radius" ;)