Sunday, May 2, 2010

I Love Meeting New People! #Iamtotallylying


I definitely, without a doubt, do NOT love meeting new people. They are strangers and you know what Momma said about strangers.

They look at you. And want to talk to you. And then, the horror of horrors, they expect you to talk back.

And at a conference people actually walk across a room to talk with you.

I have found there really is no where to hide (trust me I tried.)

Luckily #BloggyBootCamp was different than any other convention I have ever been to. The people here didn't seem to care that I was awkward.

They kind of dug it.

I only had to wander away once, eyes averted, from a conversation that belly-flopped! And only once during dinner did I feel like I wanted to just slide from my seat under the table (not feasible here since no table cloths. Which BTW #whatsupwiththat).

I mean, how awesome is that? #Iamcountingitasatotalscore

Then the actual day of the conference...

Ok, whose bright idea was it anyway for my best friend and I to 'divide and conquer?' To split up and go to two different sessions?

Had either of us met me?

Somehow I made it through the day, smiling, nodding my head, you know that stuff I see other people doing to one another.

Then 3pm hits. And I am DONE.

I mean, I have to suppress my flight response.

I suddenly know where all the exits are. I suddenly have a map in my head of the shortest route back to my room. I began seriously weighing how weird it would look if I got up, raised my hands above my head and ran screaming from the room. #becausereally #ifyouaregoingtomakeanexit #makeitbig

And, of course, the more interesting panel is at 4pm!

So, I know this is going to be hard to believe, but I sucked it up! I stayed.

#shockingIknow

I somehow muddled through dinner and the briefest appearance at a cocktail party in the history of mankind (in my defense I tasted the guacamole and found it lacking enough...avocado, so really does anyone blame me for leaving?).

The best part was the party was inside a gated pool area and I could not for the life of me figure out the latched gate.

So I stood there. What do I do? I can't go back to the party and say what...

"I'm Anti-Social, I'm fleeing you and this party but I'm too dumb to get out?"

I mean, I am Anti-Social but even I'm not going to say that out-loud!

#havestandards #veryveryveryverylowstandardsbutstandardsnonetheless


And don't forget my novel Plain Jane is out!

Now be forewarned, there is no pink and definitely no Ding Dongs.

My rebellious pen name @cristynwest went a wrote a book about mystery and mayhem. #weird

If you like Patterson or Silence of the Lambs, you can find Plain Jane at Smashwords (http://bit.ly/b60jVe).

Watch the book trailer, listen to the audio excerpt, and even read over 50 pages of Plain Janefor free. I mean come on... #itcantgetbetterthanthat

Ok, actually it can! Here's a 50% off coupon (use at checkout): RH88E

16 comments:

  1. LOL!! This post had me laughing so hard. I hope that you're still not latched into the pool area:) I could really relate to the awkward feeling of meeting new people yesterday. I thought I was the only one that contemplated making a run for it in an effort to avoid talking to the unfamiliar bloggers. I'm proud of you for stopping in at the cocktail party... I had already reached my maximum social limit for the day, and went home.

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  2. But, you made it through!

    Add me to your tribe!!! @VicariousChels

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  3. You are hilarious. I had lunch with you and honestly, you were so articulate, funny and smart- I'm glad you didn't flee!!!!

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  4. I am totally with you. I'll save the details for my own post, but the bottom line is i thought i was going to hate bootcamp. I'm great with people when there's a computer monitor to keep me safe but in person? Well, I thought I was gonna be living high school all over again. And look!?!? We both survived!
    WAS awesome to meet you!

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  5. Well, I'm glad you survived the experience and the next time, you will be a bit more comfortable. This was my 2nd conference and I was very nervous last time too. This time, I was able to get around a bit more, talk to people more and even be brave enough to take a few pictures.

    My problem is that my menopause brain seems to have stolen my ability to remember names & faces, so I had long conversations with people and sat next to them all day, but without that name tag with their name, twitter id & blog name, I have NO idea who they are now! So, I guess we all have our little anxiety points.

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  6. You did it and did it WELL girl! It was awesome to meet you and just so you know, I will be bugging you and picking your brain in the future...I don't scare that easy. :)

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  7. I totally relate to this entry! I don't think I actually met you in person at the conference, but from your engaging tweets to your expert advice and support, I would have never, ever thought that you would have been nervous! It makes me feel so much better, because I felt that way too. And guess what, next year, when we go to another Bloggy Boot Camp, we will know everyone. :) Cheers!

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  8. Sounds like you had a blast at Bloggy Boot Camp!

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  9. That was #anawesomelyfunnypost #consideringyouruseofhastags #outsideoftwitter too :) I love it!

    And the social anxiety thing? Soooo understand.

    I wasn't at the conference b/c I don't consider myself a "serious" blogger. I just ramble on wordpress and a few other places.

    I've enjoyed your tweets and bet you're just as adorable in person. Well, I think it's cute when people blush and get all nervous and awkward but #imweirdlikethat

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  10. Hey! Did I help you with the gate? Did I actually help you escape? If I knew you were 'escaping' I would have walked you back in a had a drink with you!!

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  11. When in doubt, chant this "fake it 'til you make it." .

    If that gets old (and it does quick) play the, 'how many photos that aren't my own can I get into? It's a time killer AND an icebreaker -

    Rock on.

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  12. Thanks for helping me to remember that even in my anti-social tendancies, I can to survive the upcoming #bloggybootcamp that I'm going to. Very excited... but very nervous (like being in high school anxiety).

    Love the hashtags too. Hi-lar-i-ous.

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  13. I am totally same like you because I also like to meet new people so that we can come to know more people and also can get more knowledge.
    yoga clothing

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  14. Well, I'm glad you survived the experience and the next time, you will be a bit more comfortable. This was my 2nd conference and I was very nervous last time too. This time, I was able to get around a bit more, talk to people more and even be brave enough to take a few pictures.

    My problem is that my menopause brain seems to have stolen my ability to remember names & faces, so I had long conversations with people and sat next to them all day, but without that name tag with their name, twitter id & blog name, I have NO idea who they are now! So, I guess we all have our little anxiety points.

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  15. Thanks for helping me to remember that even in my anti-social tendancies, I can to survive the upcoming #bloggybootcamp that I'm going to. Very excited... but very nervous (like being in high school anxiety).

    Love the hashtags too. Hi-lar-i-ous.

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  16. Sounds like you had a blast at Bloggy Boot Camp!

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