Last week was a busy one. However, I was on top of my game on Thursday. I finished my work early so that I wouldn’t be stuck late. Although I was a tad nervous about meeting new people, this sweet post by Pamela at Something Wagging This Way Comes made me smile and gave me a shot of courage. By mid-afternoon, I was itching for the workday to end so that I could slide out the door Flintstones style and head over to BlogPaws. There were no sessions on Thursday night, just an opening cocktail reception. I’m not one to pass up cocktails and conversation…
However, as is so often the case… a work “crisis” occurred. (Please let those quotation marks convey my extreme sarcasm.) Fortunately, I managed to leave the office only slightly later than planned, but then I encountered massive traffic. It’s the norm in the D.C. area, but Thursday was even worse than usual.
In any event, I finally made it to the hotel. I parked next to a sign informing me that walking of dogs on the property was prohibited. For a moment, I wondered if I was in the right place. However, I did see some dogs (and their people) walking towards the entrance, so I headed towards the lobby. All doubts were erased when I saw these:
I’m guessing the hotel wasn’t enforcing that whole no dog walking thing this weekend. Assured of my location, I wandered through the crowd of people to the registration table. Once there, I signed in and received the largest swag bag I’d ever seen. Seriously – that thing was epic.
In addition to the swag bag, I received a raffle ticket (spoiler alert: per usual, I did not win anything all weekend) and two drink tickets. Feeling a little overwhelmed by the crowd (and the fact that I didn’t know anyone in real life, just from their blogs), I headed to the bar and redeemed my first ticket for a glass of wine. Armed with my glass of liquid courage, I headed into the main room to explore.
I won’t lie – to start with, I felt very overwhelmed and I wasn’t sure what to do. There were tons of exhibitors, so I browsed and made small talk for a while. However, I still felt a bit out of sorts – rudderless, if you will. It felt sort of like the first day at a new school.
Fortunately, my feeling of isolation didn’t last long. I met some fantastic people – Laurie from Smart Dog and Eryka from Kahuna’s K9s. These two are locals like me, and we hit it off immediately. I knew instantly I’d found some new friends – they were fun, clever, and each had an adorable dog with them. Even cooler, they are both dog trainers who use positive reinforcement. I can only hope I soaked up some of their knowledge throughout the weekend.
After making these first two connections, I loosened up a bit and the chatter seemed to come more easily. I met a few other people, including Caren from Cat Chat and Kim from This One Wild Life. I encountered the lovely Pamela from Something Wagging This Way Comes (and got to meet her husband and Honey the pup). As a bonus, I saw some absolutely adorable ferrets. However, the presence of these two confirmed my decision to leave Bella at home – I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t have been able to control her prey drive:
Laurie and Eryka eventually had to head home with their pups. I considered hitting the road as well after losing my two awesome wingwomen (wingbloggers?), but I decided to head back in for a little while longer (after dropping off that giant swag bag in my car, of course). I’m glad I did – one of the things I learned this weekend is that I need to embrace my extroverted side at this sort of thing. (Perhaps I can apply this lesson to work conferences as well, but there are never any cute animals at those.)
Anyway, I headed back inside and ended up meeting a ton of people in the lobby area. In addition to Caren, I met up with several other bloggers. Many of them were cat bloggers. (Among them? The bloggers from The Conscious Cat; The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey; Coffee, Cats ‘n Yarn; Catladyland; and Mr. R.W. Emerson. I’m sure I’m missing a few people – it was quite the gathering. Introductions and business cards were flying like Bella after a squirrel.) Some were new to me, but others were familiar, such as the lovely Teri from Curlz and Swirlz (pictured at right).
In any event, I have to thank those cat bloggers for letting a dog blogger into their midst for a while. (Perhaps they sensed that I have a soft spot for the felines.) What a fun group!
I capped my night off with some quality chat time with Caren (who better?) and Felissa from Two Little Cavaliers. I had a fantastic time talking to these two. Honestly, it felt like we’d known each other for ages.
When it was finally time to go, I reluctantly said good night and headed home. After just a few short hours, I knew I’d made the right decision to attend BlogPaws. I had met some amazing people and couldn’t wait to come back on Friday!
Stay tuned for more BlogPaws updates… I have lots to share, so I’m not sure how many posts will be in this series. If you’re not really interested in hearing about BlogPaws (which seems odd, but to each his own), never fear. I’ll be mixing some other posts in there too. I’m such a people pleaser…
Awesome! I can so relate to how you felt at first. This was one of the reasons I was very reluctant to go. I imagined a gigantic room full of people I didn't know but who all seem to have known each other for decades. Pretty much my nightmare scenario. I don't know if I would have to courage to walk through the door.
But I am so glad you did and now have such a great story to tell! It's great to know pet bloggers are just as welcomming as they seem online. I look forward to hearing about the rest of the event from your perspective!
I am SO GLAD we finally met in real life. You were such an awesome companion and the best movie non-date! Can't wait to see our puppy picture. 🙂
That really sounds like so much fun! I'm glad you went!! Lots of love, Debbie & Holly
Kristine – Everyone was so nice! It just took me a little while to get acclimated. I think it helped if you had your dog with you (I know I recognized people by their pets) or had some pictures of yourself on your blog (which I did not). That made it easier to find people, I think. (One of my "lessons learned" – perhaps a future post.) Once I got over the initial nerves, everyone was so welcoming and it was easy to strike up conversations. If you go in the future, I'll volunteer to be your wingblogger! 🙂
Kim – Agreed. I had such a blast hanging out with you! I cannot wait to see our puppy picture – and the one documenting the BtC moment of victory! 🙂 So fun.
So happy you were able to come to BlogPaws this year! Hope you will be able to join us next year in SLC!
I'm a big extrovert and don't mind meeting new people… but I am overwhelmed and intimidated when I don't know ANYONE. Well, thanks to Pamela, at least I'll be able to pick you out of a crowd if I ever make it to a BlogPaws… 😉
Looks like such a blast..and am amazing opportunity for us introverts with some extroverted tendencies 🙂
Being in the presence of animals always helps me overcome my shyness.
Tip one for me…Cheers!
Such a nice "you are there" kinda post.
I really enjoyed meeting you so much. Of course, now I'm even more intimidated to find that you work for someone who pays part of my salary. 🙂
I'm so looking forward to hearing about your visit to BlogPaws and I really want to know everything 😀
It sounds like you had a great time – I would be totally overwhelmed – but you're right, at least there were plenty of cute critters to help you break the ice – I hope to go next year 🙂
What a great time, and you are only describing the first day (work "crisis" beside). Would have loved to be there.
Glad you are going to blog a lot more details about blogpaws, I am so curious!
Vicki – I hope I can go to SLC too!
Life Student – If we ever go at the same time, I'll happily be your pal! 🙂
Kirsten and Julie – Very true. The animals make everything so much less intimidating.
Pamela – LOL.
cate – Well, I aim to please! I promise lots of posts in the future…
Kenzo – It was fantastic. Would have been wonderful to meet you. Maybe we need some international BlogPaws events. 🙂
OMG I had the BEST time with you! Do you know that I didn't realize that you were uncomfortable at all????
I was quite overwhelmed myself, I just over compensate by being extra loud and obnoxious! lol.
There was so much to take in at once, we newbies just had no clue what it would be like did we?
I think you are incredible and I sooooo want to keep in touch with you (off of the blogs! lol, email me any time!)
This was a great post, I just loved it!
I know what you mean about doing a series of posts interspersed with others, I am doing the same…not sure how many it will take for me either but I certainly won't tire of reading as many follow ups as people want to do.
You are adorable and I consider you to be a new and wonderful friend!
(((((hugs))))))
I'd have felt a lot like you! I can talk somebody's leg off on the computer, but in real life, I must be terribly boring. It's my dogs that entertain everyone! For me, it would have been a constant battle to control my inner nerd girl from gushing in the presence of such greatness every time I met some of the people I really admire.
Caren – I had an amazing time with you too! I'm glad you couldn't see my nerves. I'm generally an extrovert, but sometimes it takes me a little while to get my bearings. It was definitely overwhelming for a newbie – but in the end that made it more fun, I think. 🙂 I am so glad I met you and consider you a new friend too!
houndstooth – LOL at "talk somebody's leg off." I love that. After reading your blog, I have trouble believing that you're boring at all! And you're so right – I felt like a total fangirl at moments when I was gushing while meeting those I consider to be "blog royalty." 🙂
What a wonderful update and I can so relate to feeling a bit overwhelmed and liquid courage has always helped me! I felt the same way when I first attended a blogging event, but it was different then other events because in the matter of no time I felt so comfortable with some very amazing people!
You sound a lot like me. I would be totally excited and nervous/overwhelmed too. Gotta love that liquid courage 🙂
You were amazing. By the time we met up you did not seem nervous at all. Oh and don't worry I was at least as nervous as you but for different reasons.
I can't believe you went back and forth everyday I would never have survived the weekend. Can't wait for Salt Lake City in 2012!!!
Woof! Woof! my mom can totally relate … She plans to attend the next BlogPaws (she took advantage of the early registration discount). its wonderful to meet wonderful doggie bloggers. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar
jen – I totally agree! I never get comfortable that easily at work conferences, but at BlogPaws everyone was so friendly and awesome!
Dog Blogging with Luna – Liquid courage does make a difference! If nothing else, it gave me something to hold onto. LOL
Felissa – Thanks! 🙂 I was just lucky it wasn't too far. The quick drive made it so easy, but part of me thinks being in the hotel would have been more fun. I REALLY hope I can go to SLC!
Sugar – Awesome! Hope I get to go so I can meet you then. 🙂
Being a bit of an introvert myself, I'm glad to hear it wasn't difficult getting into the swing of things at BlogPaws. I plan to go next year, but there is still that small part of me going, "Really? Who are you going to talk to?"
Your post help reassure me that I won't be the dork in the corner all weekend 🙂
@Vicky, "who will you talk to?" ME!! I will be there in 2012 and trust me you will NOT be alone!
xoxoxo
Dang! I walked around all day Friday with those two red tickets not knowing what the heck they were for! I could've used some "liquid courage"! 🙂 (Honestly, I was so tired Friday evening that a glass of liquid courage would've put me to sleep.)
I didn't get to meet nearly as many people as you, but it was still an awesome 23 hours!
Vicky – Ditto what Caren said (as long as I can go)!
Elizabeth – I'm sure you still met tons. I don't know how many I'd have managed to get in 23 hours, either. I was there from Thursday evening until Sunday and there were still plenty of people I never got to meet. Well, I guess that's what next year is for. 🙂