13 things you should know about me before I see you in Austin for The Blathering

I did this post two years ago, before I went to Sacramento for The Blathering, V1. I almost didn't go. I had never met anyone attending, I was leaving my baby behind for the first time and did you hear the part about how I HAD NEVER MET ANYONE ATTENDING? I remember it was about time to book my ticket to Sacramento and I thought,

"You know. I can just not go. It's no big deal. I can save all this money and I can not go and I can just hide here in front of my computer and not embarrass myself and nobody will ever know that I am pushy and bossy sometimes (most of the time)."

I am so glad I bought that plane ticket to Sacramento. I am so glad that I emailed a stranger named Jennie, tentatively, and said "Hi, I think you live near me and are going to The Blathering do you want to maybe get on the same plane?" I am so glad that I ate tomatoes in Elizabeth's back yard. I am so glad that Amy and Holly took us all dancing that night because it was basically the most awesome thing ever.

And then, lightning struck twice. The next year we had The Blathering, V2, in Chicago. And I finally got to meet Lauren and Arwen. I laughed with Diane and Elisabeth and Emily and Maureen (who has talked me off many a parenting ledge). We had fun, tromping up and down the Magnificent Mile in our coats, cheeks red and laughing. Girls! In the city! Without children! It was like my Twitter steam had come to life, with great food and a comfortable place to sit. 

Of the many fine things the internet has given me, The Blathering is one of the best.

There is this weird thing about the internet that easily allows anonymity to those who desire it. You can hide behind a URL or a Twitter handle and be anyone you want to be. You can tell outlandish stories or only show a skewed facet of your personality or a person can just make shit up. A person can choose to be fake. And, that's okay. The internet has lots of room and space for that. (I just don't find it very personally rewarding.)

Or, you can tell real stories and connect with real people. A person can find real support, help, empathy, excitement and joy from these communities we've created for ourselves. When you get to pick your friends from the wide pool of Everyone On The Entire Internet? You can pick some really kick ass people. 

I can't wait to see my old friends in Austin this weekend, but I'm also very excited to transform some more Internet Friends into regular Friends. I can always use more kick ass people in my life.

***

Thirteen things you should know about me, before we meet in Austin, 2011 edition

1. I think I have forgotten or misplaced some Attendee surveys. I mean, there are FIFTY of you and I have a 5-month-old baby so I don't think this is a surprise to anyone but if your survey doesn't post before Thursday please know if is not intentional AT ALL, it is because there are FIFTY of you and my organizational skills are not so great when I haven't slept a full night in five months. (I AM SORRY IN ADVANCE IF THIS HAPPENS.)

2. I might wear the same thing a few times. 

3. My parents live in Austin but I don't know anything about Austin. Really, I don't. My Austin knowledge is only enough to get me by on a few weekends there a year and even then my mom picks all the places to go. If you have legit Austin questions, ask Natalie or Regan or some of the other locals. 

4. I will probably bring some fancy shoes, but I will probably wear flip flops the whole time.

5. I'll have a car, so if you need a ride let me know!

6. I think a lot of you are going to the Gypsy Picnic or the Texas Book Festival and while those ideas SOUND great in theory I think I will skip them. I, uh, kind of hate people. Wait, that sounds terrible. What I mean is I very strongly dislike spending time with The General Public. I don't like crowds or parking and walking a long time or waiting to use the bathroom or using my elbows to make a path in a crowd. I think I will maybe shop and have a nice ladies lunch and eat a lot of Amy's Ice Cream. If you want to do that too, just let me know.

7. I will be very, very, very worried about the noise level on Friday night. I will probably wring my hands and look over the fence a lot and make sure nobody is giving us the stinkeye. I will want everyone to stay and hang out at the house past 9 pm but the grown-up in me knows we should leave before it gets too late and the neighbors complain.

8. I kind of want to go bowling or play mini golf on Friday night after the BBQ. I, um, am not such a huge fan of bars. It's just that they're loud and it's hard to talk in them and oh my God I sound so old, don't I? But I want to TALK to my friends and tell funny stories and bars are just no good for that. The mini golf place is BYOB. Does that help?

9. I have no shame or guilt about eating all of the desserts. Like, I might have three slices of pie.

10. I can't wait to tell you my unbloggable stories. I can't wait to hear yours.

11. I am an Aggie. I like football. 

12. I am not doing the Town Lake Run on Saturday morning, HA HA NO. I will be sleeping in.

13. I am pretty terrified you will all hate everything we have planned. But, I hope not. If you are? Maybe just don't say anything to me about it.

Comments

[Raven]

I know exactly two people. I have met two more very briefly but it was so briefly, I hardly feel that counts, so TWO PEOPLE. Stressy!

[Life of a Doctor's Wife]

Well, that top bit got me all choked up for some reason. I love that you are brave enough to put yourself out there. It IS brave and I wish I had your guts. I hope you have a fabulous time and that you spill lot of details about how fun it was.

[Elizabeth]

I got choked up too! And I had no idea you almost didn;t come to version 1! Good god, that is terrible!
Anyway. I agree. Of the many very fine things the internet has given me, The Blathering (and you) are one of the best. I CAN'T WAIT!

[Mavsmom]

I think you and I are going to get along well. I, too, am not into crowds and loud places. I heard the gypsy picnic was a nightmare last year with long lines and places running out of food. While it sounds like fun, I think my patience level will be reached pretty quickly. I can tell you some great places to shop and eat. I also know that one of my favorite restaurants is not far from the Blathering living room and we could head over there Friday night for a drink.

[Dr. Maureen]

Little did you know that your bossiness and pushiness are two of our favorite things about you. "What Would A'Dell Do," am I right?

[HereWeGoAJen]

OH THANK GOODNESS. I am so feeling the same way about the noise and the crowds and the bars. And I am so glad that there is someone else who wants to do exactly what I want to do. I mean, I figured there would be. But it is nice to have prior confirmation.

[K]

This makes me sad a million times over that I won't be able to join you all.

I know, however, that you guys are going to have so much fun. But not so much on Friday night that the neighbors will turn pissy.

[Holly]

Oh A'Dell...I will so miss all of you this year! But I can't wait to see all of the fabulous photos! Have a blast in Austin. I couldn't agree more about The Blathering and the awesome people I have met because of it. Life changing!

[Elsha]

I know nobody. I was all set to go the first year and then (long story behind this) I couldn't so now I feel like I'm all behind, even though I've seen that several people's surveys say this is their first year too.

Also, I totally want to go somewhere that people can talk. That's the whole point of this thing right?!

[Jessica]

8. I am SO IN for drunk mini-golf

11. The Aggies are going down on Saturday. Ok, not really. But please don't rub it in when/if the Cyclones lose.

[andrea]

I'm really excited to see what all you have planned for us. I'm sure it will be great.

[Erica]

BYOB mini golf? This is very interesting and delightful. You guys are all doing such a good job planning.

[Michelle]

I hate large general public groups of people too but I still think I am going to venture to the gypsy picnic.

Can't wait to meet you!

[Miranda]

I'm so with you with #6!

I can't bowl (not only am I not very good, I'm pregnant and have a bad back and physically can't) but I could totally be talked in to some mini golf.

Can't wait!

[Linnea]

Oh! Your description of not going... I think the reason I volunteered to carpool with someone flying in, and booked half a hotel room is so I wouldn't back out.

The more I read of these 13 things from everyone, the more excited I am to go.

Thanks in advance for all your hard work, and all the queso. I plan to eat all of it.

[Erica]

I normally like bars, but in my mega-pregnant state I definitely vote for other alternatives too.

I've never met anyone going, and only internet-know one person...I've spent the entire past month trying to work my way from exceedingly nervous to excited....almost there! I'll definitely have it by tomorrow.

[Susan]

I hope I"m not the only reader to ask this silly question; what IS the blathering?