SO!
I’m going to Sydney in less than a week – escaping the clutches of Isaac’s clinging and Amy’s whining and running away. Of course, they’ll be fine, but I am a touch worried about Nathan’s sanity and how he’ll hold up alone.
The conference is set to run all day Saturday and I can’t wait. I’m going to be meeting some of my very favourite women, and getting to know a lot of women that I have read and admired for a while. It’s been a long time coming, but we’ve finally made it happen.
Considering I’ve been seeing a lot of posts around the place about tips and tricks, fashion and what not, I thought I’d add to the confusion and do my own.
– I am nervous, in an excited kind of way. Meeting people in real life is hard for me and blogging is low pressure. That said, I cannot wait to meet and talk to as many people as possible. Some of your blogs I don’t know, some I’ve been reading from the beginning. I still want to meet everyone.
– Because there are people whose blogs I’ve not had the pleasure of discovering yet, I will be asking for business cards from everyone. I like business cards, I come home and they hang around on my desk and remind me that I need to visit and check out new blogs. I would love if you have cards handy – it’s easier than scribbling on bits of paper.
– I might have emailed backwards and forwards with you and still don’t know your real name. I have a terrible time reconciling blog names with author names and real names and just ugh. I’m used to introducing myself as Veronica from SleeplessNights (thanks ABC radio) so that I can give everyone a heads up as to who I am when we’re talking. Of course, we’ll all have name badges too, so that will help.
– If you get really lost, or are terribly shy, look for the lady with purple hair and stripy socks. That is Frogpondsrock and she takes everyone under her wing and is the biggest extrovert I know.
– I have bad joints and added issues. If I’m talking to you and I suddenly bolt for the toilet, I’ve just gone to throw up. Because I’ll be doing my least favourite things ever (travelling, flying, buses, taxis, early mornings and a strange environment) I will be surprised if I don’t spend at least a small portion of the time being sick. This is relatively normal.
– Anxiety, I have it. I plan to be as outgoing as I possibly can, but I might still end up hyperventilating in a corner. I’m fairly sure some of you will be doing the same thing?
– Fashion. I am not fashionable. I am easily exhausted and broken and frogpondsrock will likely be relocating my ribs for me all day. Therefore, I will likely be wearing jeans and a t-shirt for most of the conference and dinner. It’s easier to hide braces under these things. I will pack a skirt and boots too, but it will be casual casual. The dress code is casual, so wear whatever you like.
So that’s me.
What things do I need to know about you?
that I am awesome. And will probably be hiding in the toilet.
Trust me, I will be doing regular checks of the toilets to make sure no one is hiding for too long.
Just that I CANNOT wait to meet you. x
I can’t wait to meet you either!
Thank goddess for name badges. I am hopeless. xx
I’m pretty hopeless too. Heh.
I’m hopeless with names, don’t move very fast at. all. and will be trying to discreetly pop painkillers every so often… oh and I’m clumsy :\
I’ll be doing the same thing and if I don’t trip over nothing at least once, or walk into a doorframe, then something will be wrong.
or knock over a chair at least one chair….
They should have a padded corner for us to sit in 😉 lol
Oh I am so sad I won’t be meeting you – and so many other beautiful women I’ve found here. (Next year:) I just couldn’t do it this year but now you’re all talking about it I wish I had taken the leap of faith and come. I’d say a high percentage of us bloggers are introverted and on the shyer side – so you will be in very good company and people will totally understand. I hope you all have the best time and can’t wait to hear all about it (even thou i’ll be totally green with envy!!) Enjoy
Next year definitely, and it’s a shame you’re not coming!
I will be in a zombie or ninja t shirt and probably hiding in a corner or behind my phone. Probably I will be in the toilet lots because my crohns for not like stress and anxiety and new foods. I blacked out in the toilet a couple of times last night, the pain was so bad. Thus I think it is safe to say the person who appears to be asleep in toilet stall will be me.
There is to be no passing out in toilets (but I’ll keep an eye on you, just to make sure.)
Thank you 🙂
I am looking forward to finally meeting you – and this time there will be no fancy art work or people in 20 billion dollar dresses to stop me!
I have an utter aversion to name tags, and never wear them, but for this conference I am making an exception.
See you there.
Yes! Me too. And like you said, this time there will be no stiletto heels and slightly drunk socialites to contend with. Hehe.
Am so looking forward to meeting you…. I’m the same with putting names and blogs and faces together… even after I’ve been told a hundred times I still get all mixed up, so I’m hoping everyone wears their name badge front and centre!
I’m so hoping my business cards make it in time.. despite the fact that I totally got the numbers wrong and will only have 100 cards….even less stickers…. that’s if they arrive!
I’ll cross my fingers that everything arrives for you.
I have a chronic pain condition so after a day of trying to have very good “I’m paying attention” posture I will be in agony and unable to take anything stronger than Panadol because I’m breastfeeding. As a result I will probably have a few too many wines to dull the pain, embarrass myself and then not be able to feed in the morning anyway!
Plus I’m not sure how to introduce myself. Do I say my real name first or my pseudonym first?
I’ll come and sit with you and sympathise – I’ll have stronger stuff, but probably won’t take it because it makes me slightly manic. Which is fun. Heh.
I’d say your real name and then pseudonym. Plus you’ll have a badge.
I’m terrible with marrying up names and blogs…then some have diff Twitter names too. CONFUSING! So YAY for name badges.
If anyone needs last minute business cards, I used an online place called Vistaprint. You can design your own or use one of their designs and you can get it rushed to you in about 3 days I think. So order soon! They can be found at: http://www.vistaprint.com.au
Or you can print your own up on photo paper and guillotine them. My printer isn’t great & seems to print documents crooked, hence the reason I went online.
Looking forward to meeting you Veronica!
I love Vistaprint – I got mine done with them.
I hope the toilets are roomy, because a few of us might be vying for space in that safe house 🙂
And forgive me in advance for not having a business card to offer you. I didnt have the courage to order them because I still feel I’ve much work to do before I consider myself or my blog worthy. But after ABC I am sure I will have learned so much and be on the right path to that!
I hope so too!
It took a lot for my to order my first set and honestly, I’ve probably still got 3/4 of that first box. I ordered a second set for AusBlogCon that have my mobile number on them, so I’m more easily contactable for those people more call inclined than email.
Have fun. Don’t worry about the kids – Nathan will cope and will have total respect for you on your return. lol
You need to know that I am sulking. Perhaps I follow far away blogs because it means my social phobia never needs addressing….. not going there on that one.
Because I am sulking I am going now……..
The thing is, the kids are always super good for him – no clinging and relatively little whinging. Is it just that he doesn’t notice it? I don’t know.
If I ever win lottery, I am coming to the UK to visit. Or maybe one day when I’ve made lots of money doing something. One day.
Oh no, I have no cards, but I promise to wear my tag, and to also be wearing casual clothes…being my only real option, other than a dresse borrowed from a friend for the dinner.
I’m glad name tags are being provided, it does make it easier to keep track!
I’m the one who is likely to fall asleep at the drop of a hat. So please, nobody drop any hats….
Also I don’t hear well, especially in noisy environments, which means I don’t take in as much information as I’d like, so I’ll have an exercise book and pen at all times and will be madly scribbling notes and hoping I can read them later.
Donna@NappyDaze; VistaPrint has a rush option that can get your cards to you in three days. I got mine from there.
I can’t promise that there won’t be any hat dropping, but I can promise to poke you awake at every chance!
Can’t wait to meet you Veronica. I’ll probably be in the next corner along from you. Look out for me! I hadn’t thought of business cards. Going to investigate now.
Yes! Go and investigate, I think cards are so handy to give out (and to remind me to visit blogs again when I’m having a tired day).
This just makes me feel even more excited! I have a spreadsheet to try and keep track of who is who but am going to rely on nametags so if I keep looking at your boobs, its only because I keep forgetting your name (or you have really hot boobs!)
I gave up on spreadsheets, because they were making my eyes boggle. No really, I’m lucky I’ve managed any organising with the way my head has been. I can’t wait to meet you!
Oops, sounds like the loos will be full! I’ll have to find another hiding place. I will be the short one possibly falling over in heels. I’ve had my business cards made ages ago by Vistaprint, but they are still not here! I check the mail box breathlessly everyday. I do have a few pens I ordered as an extra through them …I’m looking forward to meeting everyone, and I really do feel as though people will be lovely and not at all scary.
We’ll bring our own cushions and have a party in the toilets. Heheh.
Oh no! I hope they arrive! I did mine a few weeks ago too and they showed up – but the first set I had made ended up at a neighbours house and he rather kindly dropped them off to me. I think it was the Postie’s fault, because the address was correct, but still.
Oh it sounds like everyone is going to have a wonderful time. A bit like our Tweetup, Veronica, but on a much bigger scale. I totally understand where everyone is coming from in terms of being nervous and hiding and not remembering names and faces. I’m good on names but hopeless at faces. People must think I’m the most horrible snob if I pass them in the street & don’t say hello, but it’s simply because I don’t recognise them, not that I’m ignoring them.
I’m also terrified of meeting new people. But ‘knowing’ them online makes it a lot easier than meeting people cold. Still scary, but not terrifying.
It all sounds so exciting, I can’t wait to hear all about it 🙂
On a huge scale (but with less screaming from Isaac – at least, I won’t be able to hear him!).
I am finding that I have a problem with faces now too – I look at someone and think that I’m SURE I know them, but can’t work out if I really do. Glad it isn’t just me!
Shit. Sudden thought: There may be a distinct lack of corners in this venue for the number of us needing to hide/hyperventilate/go puke in one….. But it’s too late to cancel my tix now 😉
Bring it on! xo
Yes, definitely a lack of corners. I’m sure we’ll all be FINE (or equally freaked out).
*cries* I soooo want to be there!
Hope you have an AMAZING time! xx
I wish you were coming too 🙁 Trust me, if I win the lottery, visiting you is first on my list.
Hello, Veronica!
See I am practicing your name!
I am excited about AusBlogCon too & have only recently thought “ok” looks like I am a blogger!
I am from Sydney & will be an unofficial guide wherever I can!
Glad to hear about the name tags..
And I am certain it will be a very noisy Conference..lots to say & catch up on!
See you soon! D x
Yes, hehe, I’m excited too!
But I don’t have business cards? Will I be the only one?? I can’t wait to meet you and congratulate you on an job well done. The conference is going to fantastic! Can’t wait x
You won’t be the only one not having them, I just find they make my life easier to be able to hand out. I gave them out at MONA and managed to hand one to Richard Flanagan and Leo Schofield – total score.
I realize that you needed money to go to the Blogging conference but it beats me why you still have this pay pal widget on your site long after you have generated more than enough money to go (are we now paying for your bills and general day-to-day life?). Sorry, but I do have to know as I did donate.
I kind of feel taken advantage of. Just being honest.
I’m sorry – I meant to take it down Friday night, but life got in the way. Also, I only asked for the money I did because it was the bare minimum that I needed to be able to attend, but the extra makes it easier, lots lots easier. I’m so thankful for all the donations, including yours.
…”I do have to know, because I did donate.”
The self-righteous tone in that sentence makes me want to puke.
Dear Captain Conscience, I would pay a little bit more attention to your question if you had the guts to comment under your own name.
There is a pay pal widget on my blog, are you going to come over and whine at me on my blog as well?
I was going to take the Paypal widget down today, but I might just keep it up for a bit longer now as you have got my back up.
I have been amazed and overwhelmed by the wonderful generosity shown to my daughter.
But you Captain conscience have reminded me of the shabby side of life. Can you please tell me how much you donated to my daughter and I will happily reimburse you.
Some of us want to help Veronica out any way we can, but have to wait for pay day to be able to donate. So I for one was glad the widget stayed up for a while.
That I will not be going. That if I were still living in QLD I probably would have been going. Ugh. Have fun 🙂
P.S Lots of photos. (That is my request from everyone for everything!)
I will be taking loads of photos and wishing you were coming, I think you’d enjoy it!
Have a great time! I hope you spend very little time in the bathroom and more time enjoying yourself. x
I hope so too. It should be amazing fun!
What you need to know about me is that I am casting my Type A ness to the wind this weekend and I am going to have a GREAT TIME. I am looking forward particularly to meeting you.
I am going to be trying to do the same thing. I can’t wait to meet you either.
That I am very very nervous and shy but that I am so excited at the same time to be finally meeting you and lots of my other blogging friends.
That I am stressing about what I am going to say
And that I am not game to write about it on the blog just yet because the last time I looked forward to something as much as this, I jinxed myself and Ivy ended up in the hospital.
I have been trying not to think about that too much, because I don’t want you jinxing yourself, because I really REALLY cannot wait to meet you. xx
I’ll help reimburse Captain Conscience on a matter of principle.Paypal can just return funds to sender right? I may only have a little but if a little to this person makes them happy then I hope their conscience is clear. Because leaving snidy sarcastic hurtful comments like that is just nasty. I am sure you are probably a good person in reality and this comment was made in a moment of vitriol when perhaps something in your day wasn’t going well.
Email me when you have a moment Veronica to let me know how much Captain Conscience willingly gave and I will contribute to reimbursement. By the way anyone who promotes themselves to the position of Captain should possibly do some soul searching. I hope you regret such harsh words Captain Conscience and having searched your conscience realise that Veronica is an honest young lady and you owe her an apology at the very least. Shame on you.
Because they were anon, I don’t know who they are, or how much they donated.
Said my bit don’t want to feed a troll. If he/ she wants to come out I am sure they will after a little soul searching.
Have fun at the conference Veronica you deserve some fun.
xoxoxoxoxo
Have a lovely, lovely time (I’m trying to hide my jealousy, really I am).
Kiss everyone I know for me please?
I,too,am terrified and will probably be found in the corner, rocking……….
I am thrilled to be coming and scared to death as well!!!!!
Cant wait to *meet* you!!!!
pfffttttt to Captain Conscience………….how rude!!!!!!!
Looking forward to the conference! Trying not to think too much about it really, so I don’t get nervous… I haven’t been keeping up with all the pre-conference dinner organisation on the AMB forums as I’m quietly sh*ting myself about meeting all you fabulous people. I too am hopeless at putting blogs to names and tend to over-drink when nervous … but I’ve got my blog cards and I’ll get a fresh notepad and maybe a special pen and everything will be okay. See you Sydney!
Some of us are catching a train into Chinatown for tea on Friday night. Would you like too come along as well Belinda? It will be heaps of fun, or it could be a complete disaster. What ever happens it will be an adventure 🙂
Sounds like fun! Sorry for late reply… I have been knocked out with a vomiting bug this week which is finally leaving me so I will be free to enjoy chinatown on Friday night … I will be in Syd from Fri afternoon onwards
Have fun! Good for you, breaking out of your comfort zone and mingling a bit. I am also so so terrible at matching names to blog names/emails!
Will be great to meet you! I’m unlikely to be hiding in the loos – I love chatting and meeting people and am only worried I’ll miss catching up with someone!! Oh, and I answer to SquiggleMum or Squigs if you forget it’s Cath… xx
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