Monday
Oct172011
What I Did At Blissdom Canada '11
Monday, October 17, 2011 
I just got back from Blissdom Canada '11 last night, and it exhausted me. I sat down to watch some television while I spooned hello on the couch with my Onion, and I was unconscious by nine o'clock. It was a good kind of exhausted, though, being that it was born out of squishing as much goodness as I could out of the two days I had to spend with mah peeps.
I will keep this Blissdom Canada recap short on words for you, because my brain can only do pictures this morning. Sentencing is hard.
First, the Palinode and I arrived at our hotel in the lovely city of Toronto:
This is the view from our hotel room at the Hilton Toronto.
We partied at the CBC on Thursday night:
Barbara Jones and Catherine Connors worked the room.
We took a walk down Nostalgia Lane,
The Palinode waited patiently for me, which is one of his many talents.
where we saw Mr. Dressup's treehouse:
Mr. Dressup's treehouse!
I got to meet my long-time media crush, Nora Young, after Scarbiedoll dragged me over and stood me right next to her, because I am in grade six. I have no photo documentation of this, because I was trying to act really cool while I tried to breathe normally and not dribble my coke down my chin.
On Saturday, I spoke with Bon Stewart and Tanis Miller on the panel The Art And Science Of Finding Inspiration – And Using It. I also have no photo documentation on hand of this blessed event, but it is unforgettable for me.
Any time I have done public speaking in the past, I was so terrified that I had to sit on my own hands to hide my shaking, but this year? I'm not shy to say that I loved it. It was such an honour to speak with Tanis and Bon, and the session attendees filled the room with such warmth, and no one kicked me out when I got teary not once, not twice, but THREE times.
It means an incredible amount to me that I was given so much support when, while talking about things that matter so very much, my emotions got the better of me. If you were there, thank you!
And then it was Bon's turn to be a giant baby:
Fisher Price should make furniture for grown-ups.
On Saturday, I started my day next to one Kyran Pittman, which is nothing to sneeze at:
Kyran does bedhead right.
The Palinode took his turn at bat on the panel Take Your Craft to the Next Level with Karen Green and AngellaD:
The Palinode is a smartie.
A quote which came out of that session is one I could write a lot about, so I'm sticking it here to keep it around:
The story teller makes no choice. Soon you will not hear his voice.I fell in love with Catherine Jackson, who is brave and beautiful and wickedly smart with a spirit I cannot begin to tell you about. As I told the Palinode, I want to move to her city and make her be my best friend and hang out and listen to records and learn to smoke cigarettes together.
His job is to shed light, and not to master.
– "Terrapin Station", Grateful Dead
I hope she doesn't curse me for posting her photo.
Saturday night, I helped Bon finish orange-ing her hair for Blissdom Canada's traditional Halloween karaoke party. She makes a hot Annie Lennox:
Hot-cha-cha.
And here she joins Catherine Connors and the Palinode. I can't decide if the Palinode is a Catherine wannabe or Garth Algar:
Snort.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention that New Kids On the Block's Jordan Knight was there, because he totally was:
From left to right and clockwise, we have Eric Alper, Alli Worthington, Jordan Knight, Catherine Connors, and Barbara Jones.
Mr. Knight even came into the party to karaoke with us:
I was never a screamy NKOTB fan, but this was some serious fun.
And then, I dragged myself back up to my hotel room and passed out, because I'm an old lady who finds fluffy hotel room beds more exciting than almost anything else after over-extending her introverted self all over a social media conference for two days.
And now that my What I Did At Blissdom Canada '11 slideshow is over, I'm going to spend some time snuggling up to my little kittens. This cat lady's got to get her some cuddles after three days away.
categorized in writing and blogging and tagged in Blissdom, Blissdom Canada, Jordan Knight, NKOTB, New Kids On the Block, Toronto, blogging
writing and blogging and tagged in Blissdom, Blissdom Canada, Jordan Knight, NKOTB, New Kids On the Block, Toronto, blogging 
Reader Comments (21)
It was so good to have all of that time with you guys.
I want to make all of you move to Summerland so Aiden can cook us tasty meals and we can go out for coffee together.
My favourite part of this year's BlissDom was haviang dinner with YOU TWO and Bon, Angella, Catherine, and Terra.
That to me = way cooler than Jordan Knight.
Sadly, no photos to prove I was there.
But, I'll blog about it ofcourse, so that's all the proof I need!
xo
Your session was one of the highlights of my weekend, too, so thank you for THAT! It was, as always, lovely to see both you and The Palinode, who is totally Garth Algar. xo
Argh, typo, argh. *having
I'm glad you had such a fabulous time ! I know i did--- and i'm wondering how the heck I missed Bon in her Halloween costume?? She rocked it!
Your session was definitely the one that resonated the most for me. Seeing you again was one of the highlights of the weekend.
-your pal in teary moments
I didn't have the chance to chat with you at Blissdom (I'm kind of shy... and french, so that increase my shynest and I'm actually better at writing then speaking so...)
Well good job at the conference, It was one of my favorite, make me feels like I was doing the right thing lately with all the changes I'am about to do.
Oh and I like your writing :)) Hulk arms I am, make me laugh :)))
Alexis, I'm sorry I didn't get to see more of you over the weekend. I don't know if you noticed, but I kept looking at you every time I cried on stage, because it made me feel more connected and stronger to see you right there with me. Thank you.
It was such a pleasure and an honor having you and @palinode again at BlissDom Canada - thank you for everything and thanks for sharing this awesome post-conf-post. :-) And yes, Bon's Annie was remarkable!
Of all the pics, I got most excited about Mr. Dress-Up's tree house. I dreamed about living in that tree house.
These photos made me happy. I was there and saw you there, but didn't have Scarbiedoll to drag me up to you, so I didn't say hello. Maybe next time?
I am so unbelievably jealous that you got to see Mr. Dressup's tree house! I would be more excited about that than Jordan Knight!
You write and I want to read, you take amazing photographs and you inspire people with your spoken words. You're a triple threat. I was in your session and it was pretty much the best possible way to kick off that conference for me. You, Tanis and Bon hit the perfect note and I so wish I'd had the guts to come tell you in person. I was touched and inspired and truly thankful that I got the chance to see you speak.
I am so glad I thrust you in Nora's path. Always a pleasure to spend time with you. Here's hoping at the next shindig, we can sneak away with Ms. Jackson and Ms. Stewart and have a proper tete a tete. Tell Palinode I found his panel inspiring (even if Katie Motherbumper and I couldn't shut the eff up).
I may have squeed when I saw you and Aiden at the CBC party but I was too shy to come over and introduce myself. I loved, loved, loved your session it was the highlight of my weekend. Thank you!
How did I miss the dress up tree? And seeing both Bon and Palinode in drag gives me strange, confusing feelings. I love you all. Let's do it again next year. xoxo
Yopur session was hands down the best session from a "take knowledge away and run with it" point of view. Thanks for being so inspiring!
Evan
Was lovely to see you and your 2-ply tights :)
Mr, Dressup's treehouse!!???!!! For reals? I would have loved that. Any signs of the tickle trunk?
I'm gonna ask you about inspiration - sounds like a great talk.
That is an awesome recap. If I could take photos I would like my recap to look like that.
love the outfits! pretty cool!