I Should Probably Introduce Myself

I'm pretty afraid that various bloggers I know and love won't remember me when I see them in a few days for BlogHer10 in New York City. This is a natural product of the fact that I'm so busy during the school year - I not only don't have time to blog, but I don't have time to read and comment on other blogs, and I definitely don't have time to hang out in the Twitterverse. I lose the sense of community when I'm just too stressed to participate in it, and I lose the connections I have with other writers. I tried to make up for it over the last few weeks, but it's hard to rebuild relationships so quickly.

So I have a feeling that there might be some awkward moments in NYC where I'm all, "Hey, it's so good to see you!" and their eyes flash nervously down to my badge so that they can be all, "Yeah... Lara! Of course, yeah, great to see you..." and then glance around looking for a way out of this horrible conversation. I'll probably preempt as many of these as I can by walking up to pretty much everyone and just saying, "Hi, you probably don't know me, but I'm Lara." I'd rather have the "Duh, of course I know you!" reaction than assume incorrectly that they'll know me.

Then of course there's the meeting brand new people, which is one of the most awesome and yet simultaneously most terrifying parts of BlogHer conferences. I read somewhere once - can't remember where or I would give due credit and linkage - that the term "popular blogger" is a contradiction in terms, and it's so true. The vast majority of bloggers are introverts who deal with some level of social anxiety and avoid large gatherings like the plague. Yet when we step out of our comfort zones and meet each other, we can sometimes make the kinds of bonds that last forever. Or at least, have lasted up to this point and don't seem to be ending soon. I'm looking forward to meeting new folks even while I am simultaneously fearing it.

In the event that I do meet some new folks and they decide to come here and visit my online home, I figured I should do something to introduce myself. So without further ado, I present to you...

How I've Spent My Summer, and What it Says About Me:

Historical Dance Seminars - This tells you that I'm a huge dork who likes doing dances from the Renaissance, Baroque period, Regency era, etc. Just a big dance nerd.

Shopping - This tells you that I am female. In case the photo and/or my name wasn't enough.

Moving to a New Apartment - This tells you that I moved to a new apartment! And... not much else, actually.

Playing Spider Solitaire on my Laptop - This reminds you that I'm a huge dork but adds the information that I don't have many friends / any desire to be social. This also tells you that I have an addictive personality and am easily amused.

Reading Romance Novels - This tells you that I like to read. It also tells you I have no boyfriend.

Watching General Hospital - This tells you that I enjoy melodrama and am possibly interested in the medical field. It also, like the one above, tells you I have no boyfriend.

Visiting Family in Vegas - This tells you that my family lives in Vegas and that I love them enough to visit them in 110+ degree weather. It also hints that someone in my family just *might* be a Vegas showgirl. (Note: No one actually is, sadly.)

Working - This tells you that I work too much. What else will tell you that I work too much? Watching how rarely I post during the school year, and how many of those rare posts are whining about work.

Sleeping - This tells you that I'm a teacher, and therefore spend as much of the summer catching up on sleep as possible.

Having Anxiety Dreams About BlogHer - This tells you that I'm an introvert who has social anxiety and avoids large gatherings. So basically it tells you I'm a blogger.

What's one thing you've done this summer, and what does it tell us about you?