I hate when the hubby isn't around. It really is single parenting and it sucks and makes you nutso.

Sorry to hear about your "family". I hope it works out for the best.

Oh dear. I am sorry to hear about the people I won't refer to as your family. That truly sucks.

I hope you can scrape together the plane fare and buy snazzy new clothes. Cuz after all that parenting by yourself, you surely to goodness deserve it!

And if worse comes to worse, and you have to wear the shoes with the coop poop, well, just think of it as a conversation starter!

you know you want to go, so you gotta make it happen! fuck clothes and all that, i'm sure you will look fab. say the word and i'll start working on the supercool blog tee we talked about...

but, so you know, you are totally welcome to come rock-n-romp with me and paige that weekend in austin! there will be lots of drinking, and a lot less pressure. heh. your call, just be sure to get the hell away BY YOURSELF. you deserve the time alone.

Jess,

What are you nervous about? We know you and love you by your personality you allow us to see here. So CHILL, girl! It'll be ok. Just bring shorts and t-shirts and life will be all good.

You're not backing out of it now. Don't make me throw a party in my room especially for the shy ones. You know what will be really weird? Seeing someone you've read about and wondering what to say first. I'll do something asinine and blurt, "Wait..now, don't I have you linked? Are you the one who posted about boogers in your hair? Or not enough sex with your hubby? I can't remember."

Yeah. It's gonna be just like that.

Plus, you'll see how big my ass really is. Oy.

Something like Blogher would make me nervous too - but think of all the people you'll meet! None of them will care what you wear.

Sorry about the group of people you're no longer referring to as your family. ((hugs))

honest to god, i am breathing into a paper bag just thinking about it. so many new people. the aforementioned fat ass. it is so tempting to pull out. please come and hold me.

You are so lucky to be going -
and if MY husband was about to be traveling so much, and I had the opportunity to go?
Well, there'd be no discussion.

you have to go and have fun! I would be anxious too, I can't go this year but I will try to go in 2007.

you know my husband travels all the time. you need that break.

I'm with jenB. The whole thing is so scary to me that I'm not even thinking of going. So you're braver than I am! You're actually thinking of it, and I truly believe you'll do it and wind up having a great time. And jenB too.

A vacation from everyone (kids especially) sounds so nice! I really think you should go for it! I would just wear what you have, don't worry about everyone else!

Sorry about your "family" and I hope things get better soon.

You MUST be there! JenB convinced me to go last year, and once I got over the awful fright (but not before kind of making a total ass of myself once) I really enjoyed the whole thing. I don't remember much what anyone wore (JenB had an awsome bright flowery shirt that was maybe hot pink)but I do remember that all the attitude or highschool like weirdness I was fearing was just not in attendance.

And, I totally want to hang out with you!

I know you'll have a great time at BlogHer. I'm envious. I can't make it. I am trying to make arrangements for next year though!

i'm so sorry to hear about your "family" being crappy. but you should definitely go - i'm very jealous! enjoy the room, and don't worry about your shoes.

The only thing more powerful than my own anxiety about meeting people (if I was actually going) is how envious I am that you ARE going! Actually, I'm even more envious of everyone who's going to get to meet and hang out with you.

And dude. I'm so sorry about the whole family thing. How stupid is it that they flipped on you for being honest about how you feel? Pretty freaking stupid.

Take a deep breath and relax. There are no airs at BlogHer -- you WILL have fun. (I look forward to seeing you there!!)

Well just think a lot of the cool people there will be nervous too.

I've only been reading your blog about a month, but I wish I knew the back story to not being able to call family family, how bizarre.

!!

You gotta go. Don't worry about the clothes -- I'm gonna be a total schlub in my jeans and flip-flops. And if you need someone to pour you drinks and remind you how motherlovin' cool you are -- well, consider this my application.

I am sorry your relations are making life difficult for you. That sucks.

Okay, i bought my ticket - all systems are go! Really, it's not the clothes. That's just an excuse, plus everyone looked so damn good last year and the whole shoe hubub. I'll be fine. Deep breaths!

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!