Vera Goes To New York, New York (For The BlogHer Conference)

It’s that time again!!!

As you read this, I might already be in New York for the BlogHer (BlogHer15) Blog Conference. Last year was my first time, and I’m going again this year. This year, though, is already different from last year. For starters, I’m not as clueless as I was last year. Secondly, this feels like I’m going on a vacation where I get to work at the same time. Honestly, I regret that I don’t have a close blogger friend to tag along for these things. Solachi, Uju, and Funmie have zero interest in blogging. Funmie loves wedding websites, Solachi loves Yoruba movies, and Uju loves Bon Jovi and doesn’t understand why Nigerian people may not enjoy having Bon Jovi music as their travel companion on long trips. I think I might need to make new friends. But mehn, that one is story for the gods.

The conference is over on Saturday, and I’ll be leaving for Baltimore on Sunday, back to reality. Igwe isn’t coming with me because he’ll be bored out of his mind. What will he be doing while I’m attending session after session at the conference? Oh, and I’ll be on a panel hosted by Prudential. We’ll be talking about women and finances. Really, really looking forward to it. I don’t know if it’ll be taped, but if it is and I have it, I’ll share it here. Also, I’ll be previewing a new sitcom coming on television in the Fall. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say the name and network, so I’ll leave it at that.

I bought myself a pretty notebook and a pack of pens, and I cannot wait to write in there and takes notes on how to make oil money and sleep while my account is tripling. Some people prefer to take notes with their laptops and tablets and phones, but I’m still a pen and paper kind of girl. And these are my favorite pens: the Pilot G-2 1.0 [bold] pen. I don’t play with my pens.

After so much drama, I finally got my hair braided. Long story. I don’t know if I’m in love with it. It’s neat, but it’s bigger than I told her to make it, so I don’t know if there was a miscommunication between us, or if she’s one of those stylists, the ones who do not listen to instructions. She’s Togolese and this was our first transaction. Plus, I don’t hate the size anyway.

Last year, I told you to pray for me, so I could make hefty connections and come home and buy everyone a Maserati. I did not make such connections last year, so clearly, you people did not pray hard enough. I’m giving you another chance to pray like your Maserati depends on it. This time, combine it with fasting and prayer on the mountain. It’s going to be a very busy couple of days, but I’m here, if you need me. Follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for my constant updates.

Oooohhhh!!! I almost forgot! Any Sweet Potatoes in New York? Wanna grab coffee? I won’t be mobile while in New York, and I won’t have much time either. I’ll be staying at the conference site (Midtown Hilton Hotel), so if you can come down there, we’ll have coffee! Or cold Fanta. Or even Palmy sef. Just shoot me an email: blog [at] verastic dot com. Or use my contact form.

By the way, I did not start packing any single thing until last night. Igwe even left me and went to bed. I don’t know why I waited till the eleventh hour to pack. Anyway, I’m glad I had previously made a list of things to pack — because guess what I forgot to pack and only realized later? My panties, bras, and laptop! I would have gone commando at the conference and not had my biggest blogging tool. Not smart.

I was going to put up a cute picture of my luggage and its content, the way I usually do, but the way the tiredness of my body is set up, I can’t move from this chair right now. I’ll try and post it today or tomorrow via Instagram.