BloggerFest 2015

First, a big Thank You to Jeri and Sandi, who organized this event.  (I don't know if anyone else was involved - if so, I apologize for not including you.) UPDATE - I just learned on Jeri's blog post that Marsha also helped put this event together, and George, along with Jeri, was one of the original schemers for this to happen, then he had to head out of town and wasn't able to attend.  We'll see you there next year, George, I'm sorry you missed it.  Thanks to you both, too!  :)

This was such a great idea, and a really fun event.  I heard there were 52 people in attendance, and some dogs, too.  I was so sorry I didn't bring Katie, she would have loved it and if there is a BloggerFest 2016, I'll bring her for sure.

I've spent the morning reading everyone else's post about this new "happening" and loved seeing all the photos.  I think we probably got everyone between us all.  I wish I had more photos - and discovered when I was going through the few I took that I didn't get pictures of Jeanne, Kim, Gayle and Jim and other people who are not only bloggers, but are friends - who also attended.  I guess I was trying to meet people through my camera.  I did get a chance to meet and chat with some super nice bloggers that I really enjoyed, but I missed some, too.  Next year?

Anyway, I'm just going to post the pictures in the order I took them, and hope you'll forgive me for not identifying ALL the people.  You'll recognize some of them, I'm sure.

(One of the suggestions at the beginning was that we all make sure to minimize the size of our photos before posting them.  I already do that, to the smallest web size my program offers, so when I post a lot of photos I hope they all pop up right away and don't use too much of your bandwidth.  I think most of us already do that.) 

Here are Jeri and Sandi, welcoming us all and asking if we would spend a minute giving our names and the name of our blog.  I have to say, being a bit of an introvert, I was thinking, "Rats, I hate it when they make us do that."  But it wasn't so bad, and if we hadn't identified ourselves and our blogs, I would never have known some of the people were there and probably wouldn't have met them.  So, for the 10 seconds of my discomfort, I was able to enjoy the introductions of everyone else.  :)

I wish I could remember what Jeri was saying - it must have been good!  Or at least Sandi thought so - LOL:

Listening to the opening statements from Jeri and Sandi:

Our Famous Judy!  She was telling us who she was (I think most of us identified her right away) and explaining that her glasses broke just as she was standing up.   Anyone have a tiny screwdriver?  I was happy to finally meet Judy.  She's pointing to where her glasses should have been:

Marianne - I have her Frugal Shunpiker's Guide ad on the side and bottom of my blog posts and was glad I was able to meet her and chat.  I've purchased some of the guides and they're worth having, for sure:

Sandi and Denise - I don't think I saw Sandi without a smile - and of course, Denise is a hoot.  (The only introduction that we had to "bleep" out a word.  You Go, Girl!)


Wider shot of Marianne's introduction:

Hazel and her two Greyhounds, Dawn and Jim, and the top of Doug's and Yuma's heads - sorry Doug, but nice hat!:

Al and Kelly - I never got a photo of Pheebes, she was moving too fast!  I enjoyed chatting with Kelly a couple of times - loved her jacket! - but didn't meet Al - have to make sure I do that next time.  I did get to pet Pheebes, though. :)

Diana - she was one of the first bloggers I followed and I got such great boondocking information from her when I started out:

And those are the only photos I took, wish there were more. 

I chatted with Sharon and John (Hey Duke), but didn't get photos - rats!  And Gaelyn who I hadn't met before.  And lots of others.  Hopefully I'll get more close-up photos next year to help me remember everyone.  :)

I hope anyone who blogs or read blogs will attend in 2016 if there is another BloggerFest.  Even those people who are real "solos" and introverts (and that describes me) will have a great time and be happy they stepped out of their comfort zone for a couple of hours.

Click on the links above to read more and see more photos from the BloggerFest.  There are lots of posts already published about the event and everyone has a different slant and different photos to enjoy! 

From me and Katie, have a great Sunday, everyone!  :)