I’ve been writing this post for two days, worried if I am offending someone for leaving them off these links, but I have to get it posted some how, some day, right.
I returned a day after everyone else left NYC and BlogHer I’m so glad I did. I admittedly felt a little guilty because the kids went back to school on the day I was traveling home. Cecily of Uppercase Woman hooked me up when she knew I was searching for a roomie! She set me up with Liza, who was extremely fabulous. I had some weird connections to be bloggers she knew. She kept me up late, but was gracious when she said my snoring didn’t bother her. I would room with her again in a second, if she would have me. I won the lotto of roomies! You should all be jealous that you didn’t get her through Cecily. I loved hearing her and her wife’s love story…and it turns out they lived not to far from me when when she lived in my state.
I enjoyed hanging out with Janis from Sneak Peek at Me on Sunday while we strolled through Central Park, found pizza and my favorite lipstick. She was mightily surprised I relied heavily on her for all directions. She was my personal tour guide. I had a hard time not calling her Sneak Peek, instead of her completely lovely, easily pronounced name.
Through Twitter and at the conference I met the fabulous self-described advocate and troublemaker, Catherine, or how I’ve been referring to her lately, SuperCat, since that is a part of her Twitter handle. She blogs about Rare Disease (yeah, I can identify with that). She’s a fierce advocate and I loved, loved talking to her. She indulged me and let me go on about Support for Special Needs, as she was already a community member and an terrific spokesperson. I just spoke on the phone to her yesterday, so we really are In Real Life Friends. Super lucky me.
Here, Janis and Catherine are nearly pushing me out of the picture…

The attendance (2400) was overwhelming. There were times when I thought it would swallow me up. But I persevered when I was feeling very unconnected on Friday night. Hundreds of people were out at private brand parties and I was feeling out of my element and so I walked up to The Happiest Mom blogger I’ve read and Dawn knows, who was gracious and kind when I told her BlogHer was swallowing me up whole and she introduced me to several bloggers (known and unknown) and that helped me tremendously. Thanks Meagan.
Friday and Saturday were filled with sessions that I attended and mostly found helpful for Support for Special Needs.com. I’m glad I took advantage of those. For nearly three days I’d been trying to meet an online friend, famous blogger, Cecily of Uppercase Woman, and she couldn’t move 10 feet without being surrounded, so she direct messaged me that she was in the lobby so I joined her and Sarah (a wildly talented photographer) for a bit with another blogger (Jackie, below). What I noticed about both of them is that even though they were surrounded all weekend by people, people everywhere, they were smiling and gracious. We enjoyed bagels at a smelly deli on Sunday together. Cecily tried to talk me into going to Type A Mom Conference. Seriously may go. She still had glow sticks in her hair in the photo below. A little known fact? She keeps her phone in her bra like I do. We have room there, she and I.


Ellen from Love That Max shared this picture of the Birds of a Feather lunch for special needs mommas (because, apparently I forgot I had my camera with me that day?) and together, she and I gave out some gift cards that were excitedly snapped up by winners! Catherine was especially excited about the Starbucks cards, as caffeine seemed to be a mainstay over the weekend. There were about 25 women at that lunch so I know I am not listing them all…but here are a few:

Also? I had my business cards paired with Silly Bands thingies (NY ones and generic ones) that people loved! Plus, I handed out a few SfSN bags and pouches. Saturday night I went to a reading for My Baby Rides The Short Bus, which we’re also featuring all this week on the site. That was wonderful (but hot) to be at and I’m so glad I went.
Verda at The Squashed Bologna (a slice of life in the sandwich generation) who smiles every time she greets you!
Pic below: Jo-Ann at Punky Mama (who kind of made me cry when she realized who I was because she made me feel all warm and fuzzy about Support for Special Needs.com) is a former rocker turned special needs parent and right now in the hospital with her little one after the death of her father last week. She is one strong woman! Her friend, Jacquie of After Words is in this picture with Punky! This picture was taken at the Wear Black Brand Party! (not really)

MFA Mama…who is funny. Go read her right now. Especially a recent convo she had with her ex.
Two awesome women, Linda and Cara who run Baby Bunching (having your kids close in age…in our neck we call those kids Irish Twins). They were awesome and Cara gave me the name/number of someone in Atlanta I maybe be able to interview.
I didn’t get to spend enough time with Momo Fali’s. I know! I was bummed, but she was very busily going to and fro. Who else didn’t I get to spend enough time with? Jackie Taylor and Ms. Cotta, who blogs anonymously – so I do have a picture of us together, but I can’t show you! And the person I ran into most on the elevator is Tracy of Tiny Mantras. Her and her cute boy!
Mom to The Screaming Masses, Carmen was delightful even though we only met for like two seconds. She has 6 kids. No longer wonder why that blog name. Same limited time with Pixie Mama, Jean of Stimeyland and Shannon Des Roches Rosa, Jennifer Byde Myers, and (all on autism panel), Beth of MaternalInstincts, Esther Crawford of She Posts (hey! I contribute to her site!). On the autism panel as well, was Carol, who is funny and fascinating, she is also known on Twitter as Aspie Advocate.
Loved Juliette Terzieff who by far was the most specialized writer I met that weekend, check her out! She has a light about her. Also, her roomie, Pauline of Aspiring Mama, who was also sweet and has the most beautiful hair I’ve ever seen. Here they are with Janis. This picture was taken on Thursday night and look how happy they all look! I know! The cleavage!

I have about 10 other people that I need to link to but I’ve been working on this post for two days and can’t seem to finish it so I’m going to have to leave with this for now and circle back for more.
I will say is that I’ve always found it easy to find or build a community for myself with people, mostly women and the internet is no exception. The one thing social media does is link you to people who understand what the internet and blogs and social networking sites means to people in a different way. I have friends and family who laugh and joke about me being connected all the time by phone, iPad, laptop so I’m not around many people who understand. People who get it at BlogHer? That part was refreshing beyond words for I have found another group I consider my people.