Sunday, January 25, 2015

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!  :)
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37 comments:

  1. our awesome travelsSunday, January 25, 2015 at 2:28:00 PM MST

    Glad that you had a great time, and wish we could have been there, but life got in the way and we had to make a fast trip back to Ontario, Canada, too cold here....next year we hope.

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    1. BarbThursday, January 29, 2015 at 9:33:00 AM MST

      Hi George - I sure wish you could have been there, too, but hopefully you guys will make it next year. Thanks for the planning at the start that you did, and I hope to meet you next year. :)

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    2. our awesome travelsFriday, January 30, 2015 at 4:46:00 AM MST

      That would be awesome, so sad that we missed it...:(

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  2. DianaSunday, January 25, 2015 at 2:34:00 PM MST

    It was great to meet you too - I have been reading your blog for a long time also. What a fun afternoon!

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    1. BarbThursday, January 29, 2015 at 9:35:00 AM MST

      Diana - I was so happy to meet you! You are one of the original blogs I followed, and I sure poured over every post, then went back and read the past ones, too. And dreamed.... I'm really glad you were there! :)

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  3. Mello MikeSunday, January 25, 2015 at 2:42:00 PM MST

    Darn, I wish I knew about this event. We just left the Q this morning. I'll try and make this event next year.

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    1. BarbSunday, January 25, 2015 at 4:40:00 PM MST

      Oh, No! I would have loved to visit with you. Next year - for sure! :)

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  4. Al BossenceSunday, January 25, 2015 at 2:55:00 PM MST

    I think we briefly bumped into each other as we were sneaking in late but we didn't manage to connect again. Unfortunately it is just one of those things that happens at larger gatherings. You made a big impression on Kelly & I'm sure we will meet up with you again. At a quieter time of course:))

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    1. BarbSunday, January 25, 2015 at 9:20:00 PM MST

      Kelly made a big impression on me too - I really enjoyed talking with her. Next time = quieter time sounds good. :)

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  5. GEOCACHING WITH GRAMMY AND THE PAPILLON PRINCESSSunday, January 25, 2015 at 2:58:00 PM MST

    sounds like a great time..... only one more reason for me to make it out west thanks for the report

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    1. BarbSunday, January 25, 2015 at 9:21:00 PM MST

      It was a great time, and I'd love to meet you if/when you travel west. :)

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  6. billandjanrvingtheusa.blogspot.comSunday, January 25, 2015 at 4:55:00 PM MST

    I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to talk with you. I had the broken heel and couldn't move around on the rough terrain very well.

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    1. BarbSunday, January 25, 2015 at 9:32:00 PM MST

      Hey, Jan - I missed you throughout the day, too. You handed me your card and I was standing right behind you, then everyone was moving around and we didn't connect. Thanks for your card - we'll meet up again for sure and be able to spend more time chatting. I'm so sorry about your heel - that can't be fun.

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  7. heyduke50Sunday, January 25, 2015 at 5:22:00 PM MST

    we both thought it was really great meeting you, would have loved to meet Katie as she looks so much like a previous dog of ours...

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    1. BarbSunday, January 25, 2015 at 9:33:00 PM MST

      Great meeting you both, too. I talked to you probably more than anyone else, and couldn't believe I didn't have a photo of you guys! Next year I'll bring Katie for sure. :)

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  8. Travels with EmmaSunday, January 25, 2015 at 6:06:00 PM MST

    Thank goodness there were no flooded roads yesterday. It was good to finally meet you in person.

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    1. BarbSunday, January 25, 2015 at 9:34:00 PM MST

      Me, too, Judy! I'm so glad you came - it was quite a drive for you and I know everyone appreciated it. I hope your glasses are still working! :)

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  9. CindySunday, January 25, 2015 at 6:52:00 PM MST

    Love your photos! Looking forward to going next year and meeting you, katie and the rest!

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    1. BarbSunday, January 25, 2015 at 9:41:00 PM MST

      Thanks, Cindy - I hope to meet you next year, too! :)

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  10. NanSunday, January 25, 2015 at 8:05:00 PM MST

    It was good to see you, but I sure missed Katie!

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    1. BarbSunday, January 25, 2015 at 9:42:00 PM MST

      Thanks, Nan, me too! I wish I had brought her - she's the one people recognize when we're out walking, and she would have had so much fun. We'll see you next year, I hope, if not sooner. :)

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  11. Jim and SandieSunday, January 25, 2015 at 8:16:00 PM MST

    So glad you came out of your shell long enough to join in. I really think it was a great success.

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    1. BarbSunday, January 25, 2015 at 9:53:00 PM MST

      It really was a great success, thanks, Sandie! I crack through the shell from time to time, and am always glad I did. LOL I think a lot of us are the same way and everyone I've talked to had a wonderful time. :)

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  12. GypsySunday, January 25, 2015 at 9:34:00 PM MST

    Thanks for the lowdown on the bloggerfest, and also for the great pictures. You and I have been blog friends and corresponding for a while now, and I would have never thought of you as an introvert. That's unusual because I'm an introvert also and would have thought I would recognize a "fellow traveler".

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    1. BarbSunday, January 25, 2015 at 10:15:00 PM MST

      You're welcome! I wish you were there. Believe me, there are a lot of us "fellow travelers" out there, and we manage to fool most of the people most of the time. LOL

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  13. Dawn from Camano IslandMonday, January 26, 2015 at 4:55:00 AM MST

    Barb, thank you for this great post & all your photos! We enjoyed meeting you so much! I too am an introvert at heart & understand your discomfort. I echo everyone else's comments when I say we look forward to meeting Miss Katie & seeing you again at Blogger-Fest 2016!

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    1. BarbThursday, January 29, 2015 at 9:24:00 AM MST

      Hi Dawn, I so enjoyed meeting you guys, too! I'm looking forward to the 2016 BloggerFest, and will bring Katie, for sure!

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  14. Wanderin'Monday, January 26, 2015 at 6:35:00 AM MST

    We always enjoy seeing you, Barbara. I wish we had more time to spend chatting a bit. Bloggerfest was great. We've had so many activities this year I've been totally zonked. Maybe I better get at it today and see if I can post something.

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    1. BarbThursday, January 29, 2015 at 9:26:00 AM MST

      I know - I always love talking to you and Terry - kindred souls! It was a fantastic event, and I don't wonder why you are zonked - you guys are the busiest RVers I know. I'll see you next season (if not before). Thanks again for putting the BloggerFest together for us. :)

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  15. Donna HufferMonday, January 26, 2015 at 7:49:00 AM MST

    Darn,Darn. Completely forgot about it. Next year. Hope we see you while we are here.

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    1. BarbThursday, January 29, 2015 at 9:26:00 AM MST

      Yes, I'm sorry you missed it, too, but next year... Hope to see you both while we're here, too. :)

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  16. UnknownMonday, January 26, 2015 at 7:53:00 AM MST

    It felt like you became a good friend in 10 seconds ! Serendipity.......

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    1. BarbThursday, January 29, 2015 at 9:28:00 AM MST

      Hi Kelly - I know how you felt - I so enjoyed getting to know you during the little time we had to talk - I'd love to visit you and Al one of these days if I'm ever up in Congress. Don't worry, I'll give you lots of warning! :)

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  17. Sheila WedegisMonday, January 26, 2015 at 12:01:00 PM MST

    Oh how fun!! Maybe someday we can make it...(probably need to blog a bit more..LOL)

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    1. BarbThursday, January 29, 2015 at 9:29:00 AM MST

      Sheila - I hope you will make it one of these days - and you don't have to blog at all. We had people there who are blog followers, and I loved meeting them, too. :)

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  18. Luci & LoreeMonday, January 26, 2015 at 2:08:00 PM MST

    What a great thing for everyone to do!!! Wish I was able to be there too!! Ah, well, I am a home body for sure now... You guys are all so great!!!

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    1. BarbThursday, January 29, 2015 at 9:31:00 AM MST

      You have so much going on with you friends, family, dogs, house and yard and trips - it's all good! Now you can sit home in comfort and get the enjoyment from reading about things on the road. Sometimes that sounds wonderful to me! I get that "fix" from reading blogs like yours. :)

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