Signs I may be more nervous about BlogHer '09 than I expected:
1. I may have overlooked a few things in my initial plans. Namely: Getting from the airport to the hotel (and back); the cost of printing business cards; and looking into the weather.
Fortunately, my mom is sending me a check to cover the transportation (but man, it would be nice to split those costs, so if anyone's looking to share a ride, please PLEASE let me know). I've taken two seconds to look into the weather and was pleased to learn that my hair won't catch fire as I step off the plane, as it might here. I could actually wear pants! Which expands my wardrobe options nicely. I'm just going to have to suck up the cost of the business cards, but surely it's worth it.
[Unreal! I just received an e-mail from a lady arriving a half-hour after me. Perhaps you'd like to join us in a cab ride?]
2. I had nightmares last night about a) a forest fire burning across our property while I cared for a half-dozen girls who were having their first sleepover/campout; and b) that close friends disclosed to use that they thought we were immoral over the course of a dinner party with all our friends.
If I put my therapist hat on, I can recognize that this is my default mode when I'm venturing into female-dominated situations. Because of my years of bullying, I learned to go into a defensive stance, self-evaluating for any perceived flaws or chinks in my armor (real or imagined), and then I shadow-box over and over again, practicing my reactions and arguments. Even in my sleep.
3. I have a zit on my chin that is so enormous I'm pretty sure he's going to demand business cards of his own. I know! Just in time for the prom! I'm actually pretty surprised at this one. It's been a long time since I got a pimple as a result of anything other than hormonal swings. And man, is it a doozy. Even Caroline was mesmerized by it this morning, pointing and laughing (so not kidding) as she sat in my lap eating toast.
I'm medicating it as best I can. But hey, maybe this'll just be another way to pick me out of the crowd: Blonde, leggy, with a zit big enough for it's own zip code. I can't wait to be photographed and published all over the internet in this state!
4. I'm intentionally over-packing. I have no idea what to expect, and so far I seem to be packing every combination that could reasonably be called "an outfit" just in case I happen to need it.
5. But I'm also fretting over baggage space. I hear the swag is ridiculous. So I want to have enough space for it in my bag. How do I over-pack, yet save space?! GAH!
________________________
I'm off to do as much actual work as I can today before tomorrow's travel. Let me know if you a) know how to disappear a zit, b) want to share a cab, or c) care to share packing tips.
Signs I may be more nervous about BlogHer '09 than I expected:
1. I may have overlooked a few things in my initial plans. Namely: Getting from the airport to the hotel (and back); the cost of printing business cards; and looking into the weather.
Fortunately, my mom is sending me a check to cover the transportation (but man, it would be nice to split those costs, so if anyone's looking to share a ride, please PLEASE let me know). I've taken two seconds to look into the weather and was pleased to learn that my hair won't catch fire as I step off the plane, as it might here. I could actually wear pants! Which expands my wardrobe options nicely. I'm just going to have to suck up the cost of the business cards, but surely it's worth it.
[Unreal! I just received an e-mail from a lady arriving a half-hour after me. Perhaps you'd like to join us in a cab ride?]
2. I had nightmares last night about a) a forest fire burning across our property while I cared for a half-dozen girls who were having their first sleepover/campout; and b) that close friends disclosed to use that they thought we were immoral over the course of a dinner party with all our friends.
If I put my therapist hat on, I can recognize that this is my default mode when I'm venturing into female-dominated situations. Because of my years of bullying, I learned to go into a defensive stance, self-evaluating for any perceived flaws or chinks in my armor (real or imagined), and then I shadow-box over and over again, practicing my reactions and arguments. Even in my sleep.
3. I have a zit on my chin that is so enormous I'm pretty sure he's going to demand business cards of his own. I know! Just in time for the prom! I'm actually pretty surprised at this one. It's been a long time since I got a pimple as a result of anything other than hormonal swings. And man, is it a doozy. Even Caroline was mesmerized by it this morning, pointing and laughing (so not kidding) as she sat in my lap eating toast.
I'm medicating it as best I can. But hey, maybe this'll just be another way to pick me out of the crowd: Blonde, leggy, with a zit big enough for it's own zip code. I can't wait to be photographed and published all over the internet in this state!
4. I'm intentionally over-packing. I have no idea what to expect, and so far I seem to be packing every combination that could reasonably be called "an outfit" just in case I happen to need it.
5. But I'm also fretting over baggage space. I hear the swag is ridiculous. So I want to have enough space for it in my bag. How do I over-pack, yet save space?! GAH!
________________________
I'm off to do as much actual work as I can today before tomorrow's travel. Let me know if you a) know how to disappear a zit, b) want to share a cab, or c) care to share packing tips.