Real Kato Blog: BlogHer Coverage 8: Saturday Evening

This is about the conference wrap-up session, and the cocktail party.

Saturday 4:45 p.m.
Wrap-Up
We're back in the main room and drawing things to a close. It's a bit of a self-congratulatory session, but that's well deserved. People feel empowered and satisfied, except only for the feeling that it all went by too fast. There are a few suggestions for genuine actions; will people follow through? I wonder.

Me, I think the conference could hardly have gone better. Considering it's the inaugural event of this type, it was efficiently and professionally organized, and the discussions were all productive and inclusive. I intentionally kept my mouth shut during the sessions, because I didn't want to be THAT MAN who tried to take over the discussion, as men are prone to doing. But the great thing is, I didn't need to open my mouth, because nearly every important question I could have asked, already got asked.

I almost mention this thought during the wrap-up, but I also don't want to be THAT MAN who feels like he has to pontificate on the session, as if it's necessary to put the male stamp of approval on things. So I save my comments for people who ask me (and, of course, for the readers of my blog). I'll have some more overall thoughts in a summary post later.

Saturday 5:30 p.m.
Cocktail Party
Free drinks, courtesy of Yahoo. They try to make it a two-drink-per-person thing, by giving people drink tickets, but I've played this game before. There are PLENTY of people who don't use their tickets, so it's just a matter of swooping on them. (Where are the pregnant women?) The bartender gets to know me and baketown pretty well.

I finally get to meet supermodel Mindy, and she and her companion Mr. X are SO FUNNY. They couldn't be more charming, and a crowd is gathering around them because of all the laughter. We spend some time talking with Lauren of The Adnostic, swapping dating stories, and I get a few nice pictures. I think Mr. X still wants to remain anonymous, though...

We're having a rocking good time, but they shut down the cocktail party at around 8:00.

Lots of people leave to go off to dinner with Lisa Stone, but I decide to go with the mommyblogging panel to the hotel bar again. This is when the party REALLY gets cooking...

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