BlogHer final thoughts / paragiraffe is a blog by maura

I thought the conference was very well-organized, which is great because it was only its second year. There was never a time when I thought, “Boy, someone sure didn’t think of this.”
The hotel was really nice and so was the staff, but the rooms need updating.
They were so not prepared for our level of internet usage. We brought the server to its knees.
If I went again, I’d either have to speak again or they’d have to add stuff I’m actually interested in. I didn’t really feel like I “learned” anything from any of the sessions. I’d have liked some more “geeky” stuff and some technology vendors (Microsoft SO does not count).
That said, the best sessions I attended were Elise Bauer‘s, Heather Champ‘s, and Heather Armstrong‘s/Arieanna Foley‘s. There’s a reason these women are able to do what they do.
Uh, what’s with all of the Pepsi products? I blame this on the hotel, but was I just so far away from the Atlanta epicenter that it weakened Coke’s control on the beverage market?
Speaking of Pepsi, they never had enough Diet Pepsi, and I’m surprised, with almost all of the attendees being women, that they didn’t serve more healthy food. I know I cringed at the idea of eating fried chicken, but that’s what there was. (Again, this is the hotel, not the organizers.) I’d have enjoyed more yogurt/vegetables/low-fat options. I don’t know what a vegetarian would have done.
Pretty much everyone I met was awesome.
Yeah, I met Dooce. If you’re wondering, she is in real life just like she is on her site: hilarious, friendly, and awesome. I was honestly a bit nervous talking to her, because it’s kind of like meeting a rockstar. (The other girls who were waiting with me also compared it to lining up for a book signing.) She told me she liked my hair color. </fangirl>

jason / 31 jul 2006 / 12:01 p.m.

girls don’t like fried chicken?

dooce!

a man must have done all the ordering. i would never think to order a bunch of yogurt, diet drinks, and vegetables. i would be thinking the whole time, “Wow, nobody is going to like this!” amazing. what a revelation! women like horribile food!

Kelvin / 31 jul 2006 / 1:11 p.m.

Jason, I think you’re onto something HUGE. I think I’m going to invent….wait for it…”Diet flavor”. All the lack of both flavor and savor you want, while actually providing carbohydrates, fats, protiens and vitamins (don’t forget fiber!) your body actually needs. It’s like comfort food for all of fem-dom.

Arieanna / 31 jul 2006 / 8:23 p.m.

I am glad you enjoyed the panel! And I totally agree about the food choices - I ate breakfast elsewhere for day two. But at least they had fruit on day two!!

Meredith / 01 aug 2006 / 12:48 p.m.

Glad you had fun chicky. I would have liked to go, only it would only be because I wanted to meet Dooce. And you.