Concrete jungle where exhaustion and spontaneous tears are made of, there's a lot of stuff you can't do.

Sometimes you stay up all night and listen to Elton (because he is your friend, OKAY?) and upload BlogHer pictures and think that yes, maybe things are just rolling along okay. 

It was in New York, so there were things like this: 

I met Margaret Cho and told her something I haven't told many people. She stepped back from me, put her hands on both of my shoulders, and said, "That's so beautiful, dude." 

I liked that a lot. 

I think we were both pretty excited about it. 

I also kidnapped Margaret Cho with my camera, and forced her to take pictures with Sarah and me (why didn't anyone take my hair down? I can only conclude that everyone hates me.) 

...and then with Tarrant and me.

Margaret Cho is gritting her teeth in exhaustion from me at this point. Except really, I don't think she is. She's a cool person. She may go out in the alley and punch herself repeatedly after these ordeals are over, but when she's in there, you don't know that. That's professionalism, man. 

I got to listen to Vikki read in Voices of the Year, and I loved it. I cried, because basically Vikki likes me to be in pain (Hey Vikki, typing your URL is painful. Do you know how confusing all of those p's are? 

No, seriously. I give Vikki a hard time, but that is because from the minute we Twitter-met, I got her. She's a spectacular human being, an interest in the game of Spoons aside, and although I really had no right to be, I was wildly proud of her writing something important and beautiful, and for reading it so well. 

Now I don't have to say anything nice about Vikki for awhile, right? Good. 

Spoons sucks so hard. KILL SPOONS WITH FORK FIRE. 

Let's see, what else? Oh. Schmutzie and Neil and I did a panel based on our Blog2012 chats, and it was so much fun. People filled the seats and had things to say, and at the end I ran around with a microphone like a fool for awhile, asking people what they needed help with from other bloggers.

Shhh, psst, y'all? Can someone pay me for that? Because it wsa invigorating as hell. I want to do it again, except I also need to eat. No? Okay. I'll just do it for fun. WHO NEEDS HELP?

The panel was pretty much everything and nothing we planned, but we took a lot away from it, and we are busily planning for more chats this year. I am so grateful to everyone who showed up. It was truly a highlight of my time online.  

I did not have my favorite conference year by far, but that was mostly me, because right now? I'm a hot mess. But it was New York, and so there was a form of twisted redemption after the second act, which is to say on Sunday and Monday after all you crazies got the hell out of Dodge. (I love you.)

There were buildings and slices of sky. 

Italian crudo I think about every day and wish to be shoving into my face (I am not lying. I don't think about any food every day, but for this one I make an exception, because it was glorious in every way. Please meet me in Eataly NYC, any time. Please.) 

There was an unexpected view of something so wonderful all I have is this to explain it. 

It was that wonderful. 

And yes, there was a vague, terrifying, memory of this. 

A promise of Chicago, too.

And always this:  

 

I'm pretty sure I'll see y'all there.

Comments

[Vikki]

1) Thank you for saying such nice things about my VOTY piece and I'm irrationally touched that you were irrationally proud of me.
2) You think spoons sucked because you couldn't keep up or, apparently, count to four.
3) Your panel was great. You were great. There were some sketchy folks in that audience however. Ahem.
4) I LOVE THAT PICTURE! My hair looks fabulous and Deborah looks perplexed and Stacy looks beautiful and oblivious. Perfect.

Look! I counted to four!

All kidding aside...I get you too.
Onward and upward!

[Aimee Giese]

I freaking ADORE Margaret Cho! And you!

[Liz @ The Six Year Itch]

That picture of NYC is amazing. I can't believe that I missed Margaret Cho. Damn! I was one of five watchers of her infamous ABC sitcom. VOTY was so powerful and also hilarious. I was impressed with how strong everyone was and how each and every reader read with grace and power.

And of course you are AWESOME but you already knew that.

[Arnebya]

The promise of Chicago is what is propelling me forward these days, seriously. I'm trying to determine how I will make it a whole year. The thought is maddening. I am mad. I'm angry, even, because come on, can't we put together something else between now and then and why in the absolute hell didn't someone tell me about the BlogHer withdrawal, the undeniable shaky DTs? Sucks like spoons does, which I never win at because, ouch, my fingers.

[Sarah]

We don't hate you, it was just hot in there.

Margaret Cho loved you. I think she would have stood there all day.

[Sarah]

And I forgot to say that I agree about all of the Vikki stuff (except the spoons which I think I am probably glad I missed) and next time I go with you to Eataly.

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