The Energy Was Amazing

Bring out a bunch of bloggers and you’ll soon see a conversation get rolling. After all communication, information, and relationship is at the heart of every great blog.

Still on Wednesday night . . . I finally got a chance to speak with Des Walsh and Suzie Cheel. We’d been passing each other for days. They introduced me to Rich Brooks. Rich was interviewed earlier that day by Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff of the Blog Squad — two ladies I’d had a chat with the night before. Teresa Valdez Klein introduced me to Matt Mullenweg and he gave me a fine WordPress t-shirt. Of course, we only spoke for a minute, but still Lorelle’s name was mentioned as a mutual friend.

Later I was thrilled when a fine man came up and said, “Liz, I’m Kevin Dixie.” It was a thrill to meet this guy, who first showed up in my email at 4a.m. Chicago time with a project that would become a dynamo. I so enjoyed talking to all of his team. It was a highpoint of the Las Vegas Trip.

Early on the next day, a voice said, “Liz! I’m Maria Palma!” Of course a hug shortly followed. Maria soon became a cohort of Robyn and mine.

John Hong introduced himself after I gave a came small talkon content and community that morning. John is the a virtuoso-to-be of Zappos’ soon to launch blogs . . . Zappos had an after-conference party. John and Ned gave Robyn and I a ride over in a real car. (Taxis are much less comfortable.) It was luxury. A little later, Maria drove over to the party in her own car.

The elegant host, Mr. Hong, showed us to the best seats, and saw we were taken care of. A special thank you to John who made sure our evening was with a friend who cared.

Thanks for the conversation about airplanes, business, and great music goes out to Matt Colebourne. And a thank you to Jeremy Pepper who joined us for a talk.

I heard a story about a pink shirt, and a shopping trip Jeremy went on that night with Robyn and John. hmmmm

I wouldn’t know about that — Robyn was already asleep . . . while Maria and I were still in the cafe drinking large cups of hot chocolate.

Those are just some of the Internet people . . . even more will be showing up next year in September.

Thanks to Dave Thomas and Rick Calvert and all who put the show on.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Related
Blog World Expo: Internet People 1
Blog World Expo: Internet People All Have Cameras

How Cool Is All of This?!!

If I said it once in Las Vegas, I must have said it a million times — no I don’t exaggerate . . . much — still the point is the same, blogging is NOT about writing, it’s about the people. The people are who bring the ideas, who give an event life. The halls are quiet and desolate without the people walking in them.

Will you visit a few with me? I thought I’d check what they’re doing today.

Friends I Know and Friends I Met for the First Time

My blogging friends were there. . . . those that I’ve met before.

Thank you for the opening hello from Aaron Brazell and his tech guys — Mark and Lee. A fine hello from Mr. Jeremy Wright started Tuesday evening off beautifully. It wasn’t until Wednesday that I met Brian Layman in person.

Christina Jones was as tall as I am for that that entire night. Mary Jo Manzanares can attest to that! The conversation that followed with Mary Jo, the lovely Leora Zellman –who has so many blogs no one knows which to link to — and the famous Deb Ng set the tone for the event.

Christina’s hospitality was generous and ever so fun!

Chris Brogan’s smile lit up Wednesday morning and was still going strong through to Friday evening. I got to sit by him at the networking lunch, then on Thursday night, we had an impromtu take down in the casino. Barbara Rozgonyi was witness to the event, though she had her back turned as a PR professional might in such delicate circumstance.

In the first b5 media session on Wednesday, I met the notorious Glenda Hyatt Watson and her dear man, Darrell. They are a pair of talking troublemakers. Don’t let them fool you. Mike DeWitt and Susan Reynolds you have that red-haired Glenda pegged.

Also early on Wednesday, I met up with my dear cohort, Wendy Piersall, . . . she wowed them all with her presentation. Who was surprised by that? She was a driving force in getting me to find my way to speak. Thank you, Wendy.

Easton, Tim, Hal, Dan, and Kimberly were there from KnowMoreMedia. Hal got me to play my first game of Wii. How cool is that?!!

Robyn Tippins, community manager for MyBlogLog, and Sleepy Blogger herself, was my boon companion again. So much so that people had trouble telling us apart — except for the part where she’s about 7 inches shorter, with long dark hair, and much younger . . . people were sure that we’re twins.

Wow! And this is only Internet People, Part 1 . . .

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!