BlogHer13: I Need A Magic 8 Ball To Decide

Due to circumstances in my home life and health, I had to wait until the last minute to decide if I wanted to go to BlogHer13 or not. As someone who overanalyzes everything, I knew I’d be torn. First I had to see if it was feasible physically. Would my leg pain and what the doctor would say about it (restrictions, etc) keep me from attending? No, I just found out on the 10th that I could manage that part. Then I researched online to see if I’d need to recover from the EMG I’m having on the 23rd and it doesn’t sound like it. So that was one obstacle removed. I had to figure out how I could be away from Mom that long. Hubby really wanted to come with me to the the conference and I know he would enjoy it. The days of the conference are his regular days off so that seemed to fall into place. Then he volunteered to watch Mom all day (both days), so I could go! That was really a generous offer and I knew I wouldn’t have to worry if he was looking after her.

 

I don’t get out of the house a lot. I don’t go a lot of places alone. I am more comfortable with someone than alone. The thought of going to an unfamiliar place alone is daunting. I’m no longer shy and could strike up a conversation with someone else once I got there. I don’t doubt that. I just don’t know how well received I’d be. Of all the people I know on Twitter, there doesn’t seem to be anyone I could meet up directly with. That and the transportation are the main obstacles. I could take the El train from the south side of Park Ridge to Clark/Lake stop but don’t know how far it is to the Sheraton from there. I haven’t taken the El but a few times and the last time was probably 6 years ago. I’ve never taken it alone. That isn’t even the part that scares me. It’s trying to get from the stop to the hotel and then to McCormick Place. No transportation goes directly to either one. It’s a matter of taking a taxi cab or a bus transfer. I’d rather walk 10 blocks than take additional transportation. Hubby says I need to do this just to get over my fear of it.

 

Financially, it is hard to justify spending money on a ticket. I need so many other things like a new laptop, a dryer, furniture, etc. But this is a once in a lifetime thing and if I don’t go now, I probably never will. The cost of the pass would be my early birthday present. I’d be more likely to go when it’s local than by myself to another part of the country. I’m afraid of being disappointed in the convention and the people. If I don’t go, I’ll always wonder if I would’ve enjoyed myself.

 

People online are blogging about the excitement they feel as #BlogHer13 approaches. They’re sharing their clothing choices and purse and shoe options. I haven’t even thought about clothes right now except that I’m the fattest I’ve ever been and most of my cuter clothes don’t fit. I’m relegated to some generic looking shorts and tops. I’m not even worried about what I’d wear. To me, people will either take me or leave me and wearing something cute won’t make them like me. At least I don’t think it will?! If it does, do I want those type of people to interact with? I don’t wear makeup and most likely won’t be getting my hair cut prior to going (if I do). I wanted to get a new pair of sandals but to me, it won’t be the end of the world if I wear my old black pair that has duct tape on the inside.

 

Looking at it from both sides, every time I remove one obstacle or realize something isn’t standing in my way, I lean more towards going. Then when I start having problems with something else, I take it as a sign that I shoudn’t go. Sunday night I had made up my mind that I would go. I wanted to order the Moo cards first, then figure out transportation, then register and pay for my ticket. Making the Mini Moo cards turned out to be more difficult than it should have been! I picked a picture of my 3 dogs and when I sized it to the cards, there was white space left on both sides. If I made it bigger, I cut my dogs’ ears off. The other (text) side I was pleased with but the colors I chose (black background with pink, purple and dark pink print) clashed with the dog pic. On top of that, I saw there was 30% off Moo cards only through that night. I was going to do it that way, then I saw they were giving 100 free mini Moo cards to anyone attending BlogHer13. I found this out after I’d entered all the info but not paid. You have to go in through a special link to do that so I’d have to start it all over again. I wasn’t happy with it anyway so I had a sample sent to my email so I’d remember what they looked like. Either I’m too much of a perfectionist or just terrible at design but I’m left with nothing at this point.

 

First try at making Mini Moo Cards

Checking into the transportation is when I found out about the bus and taxi options. I STILL don’t know how many blocks between the Clark/Lake El stop and the Sheraton Hotel!! If it’s 90+ degrees and I’m walking 10 blocks or more, am I going to just look like a hot MESS?! I saw on Twitter that Jennifer Evers shared a coupon code to get 20% off a BlogHer pass. So I decided to take the plunge and started filling out the online form. Then I was kicked offline and lost it. So I went on the desktop to do it over again. I put in the coupon code and the next page is the credit card info. It doesn’t show any discount! It also says that there are NO Refunds. Well, I know how my luck goes and if I “assumed” that the 20% went through and sent it, then it didn’t, they wouldn’t refund the difference. There I’d be and pissed off to boot. At the bottom of the page there was a note about if you need help filling it out to email or call this number. Hubby saw what trouble I was having and called for me. The person didn’t answer and he left his name and number. He thinks they *may* call Monday. I would think they’d be available pretty much all the time when the conference is less than 2 weeks away.

 

To make a long story short, I didn’t sign up yet because it seems like it wasn’t meant to be. One thing after another is going wrong and I’m not even trying to get there yet!! I can only imagine what kind of trouble I’d have if I made it there, not knowing anyone! Hubby couldn’t believe it either. He just kept saying “you can’t catch a break!” It’s no picnic being me. Take my word for it. With this kind of stress already, I wonder if it’s worth it. If I should just forget it, put it out of my mind and move on. I wish I had a fortune telling Magic 8 Ball that has all the answers to life’s questions. It could tell me “Outlook good” or “my sources say no.” At least it would take the decision making out of my hands! 😉 Feel free to weigh in one way or the other. There’s still 11 days left to figure it out.