Hello from Chicago!  I’m here at the BlogHer Conference and have finally slowed down enough to plug my dying electronics into a power outlet and write a little bit.

One of the great things about blogging is getting to make friends with people from all over the world, from the comfort of your couch, kitchen, or local coffee shop.

One of the great things about a blogging conference is getting to actually shake hands, hug, and maybe even dance with those friends.  I have had the opportunity to meet some of my favorite bloggers, hug some of my favorite friends on twitter, and personally thank some of the people who have written glowing reviews about Zwaggle.

On top of that, I’ve been able to meet some amazing new people too and can’t wait until I have a good chunk of time to read their blogs and follow them on Twitter.

Sure, the parties are fun, and the free stuff is great, but meeting so many people who share this passion with me is really what makes BlogHer so special.

Another really cool thing about being here was getting to see the Community Keynote.  This is where 21 various, specially selected bloggers read aloud from their their past posts.  It’s pretty amazing to hear someone read aloud a piece from their blog.  Whether it’s humorous or touching, it’s always full of heart and dedication.  Sometimes we forget that blogging is about writing and storytelling.  We don’t always give it the credit it deserves.  But hearing these bloggers recite their favorite posts reminds me that it’s valid, beautiful, and worthy of our attention.

Tomorrow I’ll be hanging out in the lobby, talking to more people about their blogs, the conference, their families, and Zwaggle.  I can’t wait to track down some more of my favorite authors and to meet some new people, because really, blogging is all about the people behind them…