PodCamp Summarized. Sort Of.

Another PodCamp has come and gone and, as usual, I'm sort of short on cohesive words about the whole adventure. It's hard to sum up two days of non-stop awesomeness with any less than a novel. Since I'm not in the business of writing novels, I'll just list some random stuff:

• Thanks to everyone who took the time to introduce themselves to me. It's always fantastic to put a face to a name or even an IP address. And if you didn't introduce yourself, next year? Please? Or even sooner? I promise I don't bite. Much.

• To those who I bullied into attending, thanks for doing so with an open mind. I think it was unanimous that it was a worthwhile weekend, which is always a good thing. Oh, and I TOLD YOU SO. (*cough* BECKY *cough*)

• Justin Kownacki knows how to put together one heck of a great session. Every year, without fail, he does a fantastic job. He didn't even have to give me any deodorant to get me to say that.

• Huge thanks to Jenna for co-presenting with me. I adore that woman.

• Speaking of our presentation, video of it will be available as soon as a PodCamp volunteer is able to trudge through and edit the hundreds of hours of video. I'll post the link once it's I get it, but in the meantime, here are the slides that we used:

Blogging 201: Finding Fodder

View more presentations from burghbaby.

• Because TWO people have commented about it, can I just say that my posture isn't actually as bad as it seemed during the Blogging 201 session? Standing in the spotlight in that room was like having a short human show up at the side of your bed in the middle of the night and shove a flashlight in your face. I tried to sort of melt into the wall to get away from it, but that didn't work. BUT I SURE DID TRY.

• Odds are that I will be charged with presenting Blogging 201 again next year at Podcamp Pittsburgh 7. If you have thoughts about what would have made that presentation better, please let me know. I have some notes of my own, but it's really helpful to hear other perspectives. Just don't tell me to stand straighter because I KNOW.

• I'm not posting the slides from my second presentation, which was about Stumbleupon. The reason is that the slides don't really stand alone. I will, however, post the video once I have it. Oh, and I apologize to anyone who has StumbleFinger from clicking too much this weekend.

• I would like zombies and hatchet-wielding bunnies to show up every time I try to eat lunch. Can that be arranged somehow?

• Jonny Goldstein put together this visual summary of the Blogging 201 session. Way cool, no? (Click here to view it full-screen.)

• Somehow my last name showed up on entirely too much stuff this PodCamp. I don't care for the sake of me, but I do try to keep Alexis' name from being google-able. Good thing I have a plan that will fix that little mess, eh?

• No, I'm not telling you what that plan is. You could probably figure it out if you tried, though.

• Bar Louie is awful. The service is horrendous (I nearly died waiting to get a simple caffeinated drink. Seriously, my tombstone would have read, "All she wanted was a soda.") and I really didn't need to see the next generation of mom bloggers being impregnated. Oh, and GET OFF MY LAWN.

• The word caffeinated looks like it's spelled wrong, but the dictionary says I have it right. Interesting.

• I told you this would be random.

• The organizers and volunteers, as always, did an amazing job. They sacrifice a huge portion of their personal time, which is no small thing. So, thanks, guys. All of you.

• The generosity of Pittsburghers never ceases to blow my mind. You know who you are. Thank you.

• Anybody want to organize a PodCamp to run next weekend? I'll show up! Promise!

• Just don't try to give me any more Vitamin Water. I think I'm done with it for a little while.

• Well-written blog post conclusions are overrated.

Comments

[Kassandra]

Bar Louie is awful. The service is horrendous (I nearly died waiting to get a simple caffeinated drink. Seriously, my tombstone would have read, "All she wanted was a soda.")

Can I just say I empathize with this plight? I'm still waiting for a drink I attempted to order in Chicago (you know when I was there a MONTH ago) and it STILL hasn't come.

[rebelliousflaw]

PodCamp. Again. This weekend. Too bad I'm too tired to hunt you down and beat you. LOL. Thanks for being the go-to Blogging 201 "expert" again this year. You know I <3 you. I even took Katie out to get her back for those hugs!

[hello haha narf]

*couch* ONLY BECAUSE I LEARNED OF AN EASY WAY TO GET NEW PORN *cough*
(and because of all of the magnificent people. truly. but i am not admitting that. not after you totally called me out on this here bloggy thing.)

[hello haha narf]

p.s. to all who were kind enough to introduce themselves or welcome me with open arms when i introduced myself, thank you. xoxo

[tehamy]

The reason it took so long at Bar Louie was because the bartender was all "Caffeinated Soda? WTH is that?" She took a guess and was hoping that you meant pop. It just took her a while to figure it out.

[Jackie]

Wishing I lived closer so I could A) meet you and B) go to the supper cool things you go to. You always seem to find fun stuff to get into. I wish I had your drive to get out and do things.

[Ex-Pat Pittsburgh Girl]

Thank you for shouting at me on twitter to get me there! I had an amazing time, learned so much and met a bunch of fantastic people. I agree with your assessment of Bar Louie and I forgive you for running as fast as you could and allowing me to be accosted by the random hugger. The fact that he was young and cute faded quickly as the death grip exceeded five seconds and my ability to breathe became more and more difficult.!

[Roxy]

I was sad that I couldn't attend this years PodCamp sessions. I guess I waited too long to register and all it would allow is VIP tickets. I look forward to seeing the video of your session!

[ColettaBallash]

I told my husband as we were leaving your last session, I should have stayed to meet you, I just felt dorky (more than usual I guess), haha. Although, I think you might have figured out who we were, the ones who tended to get the case of the giggles easily. I promise next time we are in the same place, I’ll be sure to not feel so dorky so you can put a face to my name, blog, twitter, or some form of internet thing (oops I’m rambling). I loved both of your sessions, and you truly inspired me to get my blog re-going by reminding me WHY I was blogging before. Also, thank you for giving me the gift of “shiny button” website to spend mindless hours on the Internet clicking away, haha! OH! By the way, thanks, my husband now *KNOWS* he is a hoarder! Now only if I could get him to clear out some of those old things, maybe that can be added into next years session, lol!