The Revamp of Spring, and Inadvertantly Doing Something Scary
Happy Friday, lovelies! I have to have to have to point you back in the direction of Spring because, as the title of the post suggests, we’ve done a big fat revamping. Not only did we post the very first video with our very new co-host Tiffany Moore (she’s so cute & funny & smart & engaging!), but we redesigned the site, too (“we” being “the lovely & talented Jess Swift”). We have big, fat, grandiose plans for Spring – like starting a video channel, having more contributors, taking over for Oprah (y’know, little things) – but, well, we’re not exactly sure when they’re gonna roll out & how it’s all gonna happen. It’s kinda scary & pretty exciting at the same time, so you know I’m happy (I love living in that scary/exciting place!). So please please (with sugar on top) head on over to Spring & watch our videos & comment everywhere & add us to your RSS feed /get our newsletter or email updates & help us take over the world spark some awesome conversation. Our June videos are all gonna be about the Law of Attraction, & both the videos & the comments that are already happening are super stimulating (hehe, I said “super”).
Speaking of scary/exciting, I hafta tell you briefly about the scary/exciting thing I did on Wednesday night: I attendended a networking event ALONE! Now, you might be saying to yourself, “Michelle, you can have a conversation with a wall, what are you talking about?” in which I’d reply, “But I’d only talk to that wall if someone I knew was in the vicinity!” Seriously, I don’t go anywhere alone – not to restaurants, not to the movies, not anywhere (OK, subways & sidewalks & parks & food stores & coffee shops to work don’t count – I go there alone all the time, you know what I mean). And even though I know I can talk to a wall, & I don’t have a problem meeting new people & – heck, I’ll say it – they usually find me pretty fun/nice/engaging, I don’t trust it enough to have the strength to walk in the door by myself. So, when my friend who was accompanying me to the BlogHer Meet-up left me a voicemail that she had to go home sick (hope you’re feeling better, Kylie!), I listened to the message on the platform of the 6 train, 1 stop from where I needed to go, & panicked. I was tired. I looked great. I spent an hour getting there. It would take an hour getting back. I was scared. What was I scared of? I finally told the Vampires to leave me the hell alone, as I spent enough time looking good (I ironed, for Pete’s sake!) & getting there that I couldn’t just turn around when I was 1 short stop away. Also, I know logically that I can talk to a wall. My Vampire didn’t have a comeback for that one. So, I transfered to the local train, got off at 28th Street, & walked into the restaurant. Because I was a few minutes early, I was told to wait at the bar until the downstairs space opened up. I went about my “busy business”, checking my iPhone to see if any emails came in in the last, oh, 4 minutes, & I was greeted by a warm smile by a woman – alone – at the next table.
“Are you here for BlogHer?”, she said.
“Yes,” I responded, relieved. “Are you?”
“Yes,” she said. We both laughed.
“We must have The Look!” I said. “I was going to ask you the same thing.”
Her name was Patty, & we hit it off right away. By the time we made our way downstairs, we were chatting up a storm, & Patty even told her Mom – who was worried about her going to an event “alone” – that she met “a nice Jewish girl from Long Island” (my words) & she was doing fine. Patty & I got a drink & some nibbles, & sat down in a large booth where Tracy was already situated (alone, too!). Throughout the evening, we were joined by brave BlogHer’s who approached us – sometimes alone, sometimes with a friend or two – to ask if they can join us in our big booth. Blog names & twitter handles & business cards were exchanged, & for 2+ hours, I met a wonderful array of interesting women & – of course – found a whole new slew of friendly faces to speak to at BlogHer this August (which I thought I’d have to go to, gulp, alone).
So a big hello to Patty, Tracy, Ashley, Rachel, Li, Kath & Molly for making a scary event into nothing but fun & awesomeness. See you ladies at BlogHer!
June 11th, 2010 at 3:09 am
Woohoo for you! While I'm still weeping inside a little that i didn't get to go to the event and hang out with you, I am so glad you had a great time. And made new friends! Just amazing. Hope your Friday's killer and that you rock the stage tonight (I've no doubt you will).
June 11th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
I can wait to see you video on the Spring website. I sounds great! It was such a pleasure meeting you at the event. My iPhone is being weird right now. You also made that night very special. I'm excited for the Blog Out Loud event on Monday. Thanks so much for inviting me. Hope you have s great weekend!
~ Patty
June 13th, 2010 at 6:46 am
That's so awesome!!! I have that same kind of fear though. I'm not good–or rather, I am just afraid–of going to big group things alone, even though I like interacting with people.
I'm glad you whipped out the garlic and kept the vampires at bay and had great time!
June 13th, 2010 at 7:21 am
Good for you, Michelle! I'm going to remember this next time a I'm debating whether or not to go to a networking event. What's it that they say, half the battle is just showing up? Now I'm going to go check out those Spring videos!
June 13th, 2010 at 9:58 am
Gosh, good for u. I can handle a movie alone and love it in fact, but that requires no conversation. You were brave!!
June 13th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
It was great meeting you at the Pre-BlogHer ’10 meetup at Pranna! It was great to meet the faces behind so many of the bloggers and people I’ve met on Twitter!
June 14th, 2010 at 7:50 am
Thanks, everyone, for your Woohoos & virtual pats-on-the-backs!
@Kylie – You would've had fun, but I won't rub it in
I certainly missed having you there / getting some quality hang out time, but I'm glad you took care of yourself & got better so quickly!
@Nycgirl0501 – So great meeting you too, & really looking forward to seeing you again tonight. I'm so excited!
@Alisha – Ain't it funny when you're someone who doesn't get big anxiety over social situations (heck, you even love 'em/thrive there), and yet you prevent yourself from going & doing just that! Yay for the garlic in my pocket
@Sarah – Yes, half the battle is showing up! And I realized right away that everyone at the event had at least one thing in common: blogging! So right away there was something to talk about, which made it that much easier. Of course, I didn't get that bright idea until I got there
@Kerri – I've never gone to a movie alone, either! I think I need to make sure this happens…
@Tracy – Amen!
@Carolyn – Really?! I'm so surprised to hear that, missy. What's wrong with us awesometastic ladies keeping the awesomeness to ourselves? We're nuts.
@Li – Thanks for the back-up!
I loved meeting you, too, and your boyfriend was just so sweet. Whadda trooper! But leave him at home for the actual BlogHer (unless we need some swag bag muscles) 
June 14th, 2010 at 9:19 am
Oh I’m so proud of you, Michelle! I would have totally chickened out
.
June 14th, 2010 at 10:35 am
It was so great meeting you! You TOTALLY are super fun and engaging! I’m glad I won’t feel so alone at BlogHer since I’ve met you lovely gals!
Best,
Li
June 15th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
I would be totally nervous too because unlike you I am NOT an extrovert at all
However, I have gone to several movies alone, and I do often hang out at bookstores or coffeeshops alone (I've had lunch out alone too but it's usually VERY quick). But the talking-to-people aspect would have me shakin in my boots 
In those situations where I have to, I usually use a similar approach – find another nervous-looking alone person and say hello.
June 16th, 2010 at 5:16 am
Maggie, I love the fact that you find that like-minded "nervous person" & go up and introduce yourself to 'em. That's so super brave of you! I'm sure it's much appreciated by that other "wallflower", & makes you both feel more comfortable.