I have arrived! Well, sort of.
I am here at the 10th annual BlogHer Conference. And I think I am connected. Wired. Tuned in and ready for most things.
There are important people here who know me. Grace Hwang Lynch said, “Hi Nancy!” I couldn’t remember her name I was so floored that she knew my name. Political Editor at BH. What a time to have a brain fart!
Elisa is a sweetie who convinced me at Wordcamp Phoenix that I am not a nobody. She actually was insulted that I thought she would not know me. She didn’t say this. I read her micro-momentary expressions. Oh my Goddess I thought, “Now I’ve done it – I insulted one of the co-founders of BlogHer. ”
Lisa said, “Hi Nancy, I was thinking ‘Who is that Brunette?'” She knew I changed my hair color.” Wow, two of the co-founders know my name… and hair color.
And I know people. Jan, Mimi, Chloe…
And I have friends here. Real friends. There are people who want to meet me! There are people I don’t know who read my blog.
I’m gonna bawl all over the page if I’m not careful.
I may not be famous, or a speaker, or a brand, or a media company, but I am a writer and these women are my tribe.
And I think I am having a clarifying experience at this BlogHer. I think my ability and passion are starting to align.
A Good Busy: #BlogHer14 & Niagara Falls Prep
There is way too much going on in my life right now!
We’re refinancing our home, after years of having to eat an additional mortgage and fees because of unforeseen costs associated with being a sandwiched between a dying parent I cared for in her home and a daughter who decided to attend college a year earlier than we had planned while I was away with my dying mother in 2007. 2008 impacts nearly decimated us financially.
I bought a different car yesterday, a van actually, trading-in my 2009 PT cruiser and getting a 2011 Toyota Sienna that will allow my husband and I and our 100 lb. mastiff, our Buddy, a working PTSD companion dog, to drive across the country and back during the next month somewhat comfortably as well as hold twins us and parents of twins at the same time.
Hubby and I are planning a cross-country drive to celebrate our years together. During this trip he will drive to Salt Lake City where I will fly in after BlogHer and meet up with him so we can make connections for the rest of the trip. Then we will visit Yellowstone, visit both daughters, one son-in-law, one-son-in-law to be, our twin grand daughters aged 3.5 year old, spend a couple of days with the hubby at Niagara Falls in celebration of 25 years of marriage (to each other!) cross into Canada so Hubby can attend a conference, then drive along the north side of Huron and come back through Detroit where Hubby was born, zip through Fort Wayne and say a quick hello to a couple of my family members, put flowers on my parents’ graves, and then drive to Indy to say hey to friends, stop at Cahokia Mounds, and just drive through the IL to AZ part of the trip as quickly and quietly as possible. I have experience with progressives not being very welcome there. Fortunately Hubby and I both “blend in” very well… he with his flat-top and me with my flabby curves that suggest a lot of apple-pie making.
We got quotes for a new HVAC system this past week from a few companies. Do I really need to say any more?
Had to meet up with the house sitter(s) and go through procedures. My kitties will wonder what happened to the lady who used to feed them. The house sitter says they will be buddies and sleeping together within a couple of days. My cats are very loyal. I think it will take them a week before they forget about me.
There are still at least a hundred items on my #BlogHer14 prep list; of them, I will get to about 15. But that is okay because all I really need to do is to get on my flight to the Bay Area and everything else will take care of itself.
The prep/packing for the Niagara Falls cross-country trip will be more problematic as the van packing will be finalized by Hubby. Shudder. He runs a multi-million dollar chemistry lab and research group, but practical daily planning is not his forte.
I wonder how others prepare for the annual BlogHer Conference?
My Annual BlogHer Logistics Post – #BlogHer14
As I have said before, “Prepare now so you can seem effortlessly organized later.” The secret to success seems to lie in being organized enough to take advantage of what the moment offers. At a conference, such as BlogHer, this means knowing where everything is. No, not knowing where all the junk you brought and don’t need is, but rather knowing the space you are in and knowing where to purchase or find what you might need should your light and easy packing have overlooked something you really need. So, herewith, a former museum security and facility manager’s:
Guide to #BlogHer14 Logistics
There are two parts to this Guide: Info about the Convention Center which is primarily abridged information from the facility guide available at the Convention Center site, and Nearby Stores and Stuff (further down the page.) You probably know the BlogHer’s 10th Anniversary Celebration will be held at the San Jose Convention Center in San Jose, California. You may also see references to Team San Jose, who manages the venue, and the official name of the center: San Jose McEnery Convention Center.
Info about the Convention Center (150 W. San Carlos St., San Jose, CA)
The full PDF is scores of pages long, so I have copied some common information needs below, for your convenience. I edited, cut and rephrased bits and pieces, but the information is theirs and I make no warranties as to its accuracy.
For your convenience:
ATM MACHINES
The Convention Center has three onsite ATM machines. Two are located on the first level and one is located on the second level.
PARKING
The garage attached to the Convention Center provides 500 spaces for general use. 22 spaces are available for persons with disabilities and there are 8 electric car charging stations.
The Market Street entrance/Exit is open 24 hours. Almaden Blvd entrance/exit is open: Monday-Friday: Opens 6am, Saturday and Sunday: Opens 7am, Closing times vary based on event schedule
Current rates are $1 per 20 minutes with a $20 daily maximum. Rates are in effect seven days a week.
CONCIERGE SERVICES
Once onsite, attendees may take advantage of a SJCC restaurant and citywide information desk in the main lobby of the Convention Center. Based upon event demands these Concierge specialists can provide the following: complimentary restaurant reservations, complimentary San Jose guides and brochures,restaurant menus available for review,discount coupons, arts and cultural information
For your safety and security:
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
The San Jose Convention Center requests that should an accident occur, that you report it immediately to Public Safety at Extension 3500 on any House Phone.
Or call Public Safety from your cellphone at 408-277-3500.
Licensed First Aid staffing is required and will be onsite during event hours.
SECURITY
General Facility Security
Team San Jose (aka the Convention Center) is not responsible for the property of clients, exhibitors and guests. Our 24 hour security staff is responsible for safety and security in the public areas of the building. Call Public Safety from your cellphone at 408-277-3500 or report your concern via any House Phone at Extension 3500.
SMOKING
By state law, and in the interest of public health, the Convention Center has adopted a non-smoking policy. Smoking outside of the facility is only permitted at a distance of 25 ft. from the building.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
Detailed procedures are outlined in the TSJ Emergency Evacuation Procedures PDF The most common question people ask about emergencies when they travel to California may well be, “What do I do if there is an earthquake?” I have taken the following from the emergency guide:
EARTHQUAKE
- Take shelter under desk, table, work surface or other stable object.
- Face away from windows and chemical storage containers.
- Remain where you are until the shaking stops.
- After the earthquake subsides stay where you are (shelter-in-place) unless it is unsafe or you are told to evacuate the building by the ERT. Then proceed to the nearest exit.
- Do not use elevators.
- Proceed to designated area of safe refuge. (See Evacuation Map)
- Do not return to the building until told to do so by the ERT representative or Security.
Nearby Stores and Stuff
DRUG STORES Nail polish, aspirin, etc., etc., etc. Sometimes you just need stuff!.
GROCERIES Grocery stores are handy to know about if you want to buy more reasonably priced drinks, food stuffs, and forgotten personal items than what is usually available in hotels affiliated with the event or conference location.
What is listed as The Market Safeway on the map is probably the closest full grocery to the Convention Centers.
Safeway
100 S Second St
San Jose, CA 95113
Open 6:00 am – 11:00 pm
(408) 292-4010
However, Grocery Outlet, tempts me because I am addicted to bargain/discount shopping and have been missing my local Grocery Outlet since it closed for unknown reasons this past year.
Grocery Outlet
272 E Santa Clara St San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 477-8350
7 a.m – 10 pm
STORE STORES & STUFF
Yes, there are a thousand other potential places that you might want to visit, like museums, campuses, and other cultural centers, I recommend checking out SanJose.org or the San Jose gov site and perusing venues and happenings.
But a couple more places you might really want to know the whereabouts of is a discount department store place to get a replacement belt or the flip-flops or sneakers you wish you had packed instead of 3 pairs of stilettos, that extra suitcase you find you need after the conference, and of course a ubiquitous mailing, copy & print place,
Ross Dress for Less
27 S 1st St
San Jose, CA 95113
9:30 am – 10:00 pm
(408) 278-1320
FedEx
93 E San Carlos St
San Jose, CA 95112
7:30 am – 9:00 pm
(408) 295-4336
For anything else you might want to find out, try out a local news app which you can find at: http://www.mercurynews.com/mobile No time for all this? Don’t worry, be happy. Just get to the conference and have fun!
Synchronicity Behind Life by the Cup
Several weeks ago I read a book review by Helene Cohen Bludman on her Books is Wonderful blog. I responded to the post by saying that Life by the Cup would be such a perfect read for me and that I wanted to read it and that I was going to “win” the giveaway she was offering. I needed inspirational reading while I am on my travel/escape from 100 degrees and 100% humidity that plagues my wonderful Tucson during the intensity of the monsoon season.
This was the comment exchange. I was serious in my praise, it was not flattery. It was a great interview and I would have purchased a copy had I not won one:
-
Oh Nancy, this book has your name all over it.
-
Yes it does! Thanks so much, Helene.
I just received the book from the publisher via a publicist in the mail today! I’m excited.
I now will have this book with me at #BlogHer14 as well as while my hubby and I drive across the country and back, right after the conference.
I do not believe in a bearded man up in the sky orchestrating the smallest of details of the lives of going on 7 billion people as well as the lives of all the other thousands of billions of other living creatures on Earth. But I do believe in synergy and synchronicity. I do not try to explain coincidence, but I am happy and grateful when it happens.
I know this book will generate a few posts. It is about a woman entrepreneur but also about purpose-filled living and how women do things. This is important for so many reasons, at so many levels. For now that is all I am saying about it. But there will be more!
Without being given a copy of this book I might not have credited BlogHer with creating the network of individual writers, not just bloggers, I count as writerly friends of a certain age had I not received this little reminder that most of the women from whom I draw inspiration today I have met in the 8 years I have been attending BlogHer conferences.
Had I received the copy of the book within a week after Helene’s review, I might not have seen this little unexpected gift from the cosmos as BlogHer related. But snafu after snafu snagged and snarled the getting of the book to me so that it arrived right now of when I am trying to write a veritable explosion of posts about the wonderful things that have come into the world because of BlogHer. My having this book, having a group of eloquent, informed, and generous women bloggers of a certain age to read, chat with on women’s blogging groups, and count as friends is a treasure beyond measure.
We are changing the world just by having our cohort’s voices out there, but we are also amplifying the change through the collective and rather cohesive voice with which many of us speak.
I will definitely have a copy with me on vacation this year. It has all the elements of life with which I am currently obsessed: women in business, fair trade, memoir, and positive framing.
Thank you for turning me on to this!