Patia Stephens :: Missoula, Montana

BlogHer wrap-up

Today's BlogHer "Unconference" was great. I've had conversations with some amazing women, including the very inspiring Jody DeVere of AskPatty.com and Cynthia D'Amour of People Power Unlimited. These beautiful, confident women were so encouraging to me, as I struggle with trying to find my place in work and relationships. Last night's cocktail reception left me feeling shy and insecure -- I just don't do well in crowded social situations. But today's more intimate gathering has renewed my courage.

I have so many new ideas floating around in my head. I'm looking forward to seeing which ones will percolate up after my thoughts have had a few days to settle. I know I definitely want to redesign my site and incorporate lots of new tools. I haven't done any significant work on the site since before I started grad school three years ago. It really needs an overhaul.

I also have some ideas for a few new sites I'd like to set up, if time permits.

In other news:

Video of Elizabeth Edwards' discussion last night has been uploaded to BlogHer in several segments via YouTube. Check it out if you're interested in her perspective on her husband's campaign, blogging, health care, child care, Hillary Clinton, Ann Coulter and more. Bonus: The moderator is Missoula's own Lisa Stone, a Hellgate High School and Wellesley grad who is one of the founders of BlogHer.
There are a ton of pictures in Flickr's BlogHer07 group -- among them, the above photo by Josh Hallett (Hyku on Flickr).
Nancy has posted photos of Birdie and me holding The Girl (who I helped name, which is such an honor).

Patia and Birdie in Chicago!

Shot in the AOL Body video booth.

BlogHer07 winds down

The past two days have been exhilarating. A few highlights:

Sessions on following your passion, body image, traffic-building tools, artificial intelligence, book publishing and professional blogging.
Meeting legendary body-acceptance authors Laurie Toby Edison and Wendy McClure (and getting books signed by them!).
A closing keynote featuring Elizabeth Edwards, wife of presidential candidate John Edwards. She was delightfully candid, intelligent and techno-savvy.
Dinner with blog buddies Birdie and Nancy (and Nancy's sweet husband and beeeyoooteefull baby girl).
A Seadog speedboat cruise on Lake Michigan, complete with Venetian Night fireworks over the Chicago skyline.

Tomorrow is the BlogHer "Unconference"; once that wraps up, my big plans are to visit the Art Institute and Millennium Park. I also really want to ride the El.

BlogHer babble

I'm sitting in a beautiful ballroom on the end of Chicago's Navy Pier with approximately 800 other people. Most, but not all, are women. (The men really stand out here.) Rumor has it that this is the biggest blogging conference ever held in the world. I've already gone through all the business cards I brought and had to get more made. Fortunately one of the vendors is printing business cards while you wait. There are a lot of vendors (and lots of good schwag!). Major sponsors are Google, Yahoo, AOL, Dove and GM.

I'm collecting lots of business cards and URLs, and hearing about all kinds of opportunities to get paid for blogging. I'm not sure if they're enough to live on, but it's something to look into.

Time to go to the next session, where Birdie is speaking on the Art of Storytelling panel.

The adventure begins

Birdie and I are at BlogHer, plotting world blog domination over green curry and red hot pepper noodles. Watch out!

Our fortunes (we got five) were:

"You [sic] luck has been completely changed today." (Birdie)

"The eyes believe themselves: the ears believe other people." (Patia)

"You have an unusually magnetic personality." (Birdie -- so true!)

"Be moderate where pleasure is concerned, avoid fatigue." (Patia -- duly noted.)

"You will do well to expand your business." (Birdie and Patia -- we were just talking about starting a blog together -- and we found this fortune cookie on the floor!!! Yep, we ate it anyway.)

BlogHer For Hire

This blog is on a light publishing schedule for the summer.

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I'm on vacation. My cousin is here visiting from Olympia, Washington. Kat and I floated the river with a few friends on Sunday; yesterday we went to Philipsburg to hunt for sapphires at Gem Mountain. We're having a good time.

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I leave Thursday for the BlogHer conference in Chicago.

I'll be taking business cards, and I'm seriously thinking of getting a button made that says "Blogger For Hire." Things haven't worked out here as I'd hoped. Much as I'd like to stay at the University, if I can't afford to pay my student loans and buy a house, I'll have to look elsewhere.

So:

Writer/editor/photographer/blogger/web content manager seeks creative, challenging position in communications, media or marketing. Fourteen-plus years of editorial experience; bachelor's degree in journalism and master's degree in creative writing. Prefer to telecommute, but willing to relocate to West Coast or travel as needed.

Resume upon request.

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Yeehaw!

Just as I suspected

If I had it to do all over again, I would become a forensic psychologist. Of course, I had no way of knowing that 12 years ago, when I set out on my path of earning degrees in journalism and English.

You scored as Psychology/Sociology, You should strongly consider majoring (or minoring) in Psychology, Sociology, or related majors (e.g., Counseling, Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology, Social Work, or other social science majors).

It is possible that the best major for you is your 2nd, 3rd, or even 5th listed category, so be sure to consider ALL majors in your OTHER high scoring categories (below). You may score high in a category you didn't think you would--it is possible that a great major for you is something you once dismissed as not for you. The right major for you will be something 1) you love and enjoy and 2) are really great at it.

Consider adding a minor or double majoring to make yourself standout and to combine your interests. Psychology and Sociology are both great minors to add to any major. Please post your results in your myspace/blog/journal.

Psychology/Sociology

100%

History/Anthropology/LiberalArts

94%

English/Journalism/Comm

88%

Visual&PerformingArts

81%

PoliticalScience/Philosophy

81%

HR/BusinessManagement

81%

Religion/Theology

63%

Education/Counseling

63%

French/Spanish/OtherLanguage

63%

Accounting/Finance/Marketing

25%

Biology/Chemistry/Geology

19%

Nursing/AthleticTraining/Health

19%

Physics/Engineering/Computer

13%

Mathematics/Statistics

0%

WHAT MAJOR IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
created with QuizFarm.com

Via the Daily Cat Chase.

Take me home

This blog is on a light publishing schedule for the summer.

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I just uploaded a bunch of old slides that I had scanned. This is Camas Prairie, one of my favorite Montana places.

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Being without Internet access at home sucks. I really miss blogging and commenting and instantaneous access to information. But ... I am probably getting more done.

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I have lots to post about, but it will have to wait for later. Until then ... enjoy your summer and stay cool.

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