happily divided

Meeting you was bittersweet. Sweet because I got to but I was pissed not to have more time, one on one, with you and others. The whole weekend was far too overwhelming for me, and I doubt I'll ever attend again. I think it sucks that certain people felt they had to avoid - that's just crap. On the other hand, I applaud you for not apologizing. You rock.

Well, as a gay person who openly dislikes John Edwards and thinks he's a coward, and frankly just weird about gay marriage...I think Elizabeth Edwards is great. I think you walked out on pretty cool chick. Sure, she's campaigning for her husband, but I think if you read about her, her views (in favor of gay marriage), her standing up to that bitch, Ann Coulter, and the fact that she's hanging tough with all that she's been through (her son dying in a car accident, her metastatic breast cancer, criticism of her family for not giving up and going home to wait for her to die), color me impressed by her. Her husband - unless he's running with Al Gore or he's the Democratic candidate for president, I'm not voting for him. I do, however, like him more than Barack Obama. I can't trust a person without pets. Just as an aside, I'm interested in Canadian politics, but that's probably because I live with a Canadian.

That said, I'm glad you had a good time with the people you like.

Weird that they don't recycle in such a big city.

They don't have recycling in Chicago? That's quite shocking, really. I had no idea there was anywhere left that didn't recycle! Boy am I naive.

A very honest and astute appraisal amid the hype. Thanks, Jess.

I'm sorry that I didn't get to spend more time with you, but I think you understand that we didn't have the right kind of time there...quiet time, thoughtful hanging out time. It was more of a rocket ship ride for me. I felt like a cat on a hot tin roof.

My favorite part was being out on Navy Pier, too - that turquoise water on Friday kept calling to me.

I am quite surprised that there is no recycling program in Chicago, and am surprised as well about your comments about waste in regards to the whole conference. Wow. Just...wow.

I really liked your updates on the weekend and I, too, applaud you for standing up and not apologizing for who you are. Bravo, Jess.

I can't believe I never found myself in a post with you for longer than time to smile and give you a pat on the back as I hurried past. My life is crazy sometimes.

As for Elizabeth Edwards - this lesbian American woman is actually very pleased with John Edwards' stand on gay marriage and dislikes his wife's stand on it. I'm not going to vote for Mr Edwards but in this one area, I agree with him. Marriage needs an overhaul in this country and adding gays into an already screwed up system isn't the answer.

But, let's not talk politics.

I really was very glad to see you there, and I expect to see you at BlogHer again next year where I will hopefully do more than just pat you on the shoulder as I rush out the darn door.

It was so wonderful to meet you. And to echo everyone else there just wasn't enough time to really chat with anyone.
See ya next year :-)

I am with ya on the swag. Except for the dildos. I think the dildos will come in handy for many.

You did not make me uncomfortable. You made me happy, especially when you started drinking the wine.

Sounds like aninteresting time. Glad that you dont compromise yourself either. Hang tough jess and take care of you, your friends are rooting for you.

So glad for you that you went to the convention!! Your time alone in the city at the end sounds liberating. I think people avoid because they don't want to say the wrong thing, which in a way is a sign of caring about you and not wanting to make things worse. Just human nature. Also, thought you could make a difference and write the hotel about recycling. The more they hear about it the faster it will get done and you can enjoy knowing you were part of the change. I googled and this is what came up with for a start www.chicagorecycling.org Read ya later.

jess, i'm sorry that i only got to really see you once, and give you a hug. but it was so good to see you and i hope i didn't in any way make you uncomfortable by coming up to you.

you're in my thoughts.

I think I saw you on Sunday, but I was too shy to say hi. I didn't want to bombard you, because I thought you might be overwhelmed with everyone else coming over to say hello.

Now I feel like a dork. I should have just gotten up the courage to say hi. There's always next year, right?

I think you know how I feel -
and I'm so glad to have met you...I want all good things for you this year.
You deserve it.

Wonderful to see you Jess.

So brief, but so wonderful. I saw life and spirit in you, and am glad that you were there and are initiating new beginnings.

I really and truly wish you had come to The Indian Garden with us the last evening, but then, it is hard to leave free drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

I wish I had more time to get to know you better, but in the brief time we were together I appreciated the attention we got from a cabbie, laughter in a bus, and good food at the Real Simple dinner. Can't hardly beat that for a few first dates, eh?

I would have loved to have stayed in the city for a couple more days - envy you that. I wanted to go to American Girls for my gals and to the Apple store to lick the MacBook

Jess - I loved finally getting some face time with you. You rock my socks off, and I'm glad that I had the chance to get to know you.

Hope your trip home is uneventful!

Hi Gorgeous!

You are flying home right now, and I really hope it's quick and your luggage stays with you. Maybe parts of Chicago DO recycle, but the places we were didn't and the couple from Chicago I spoke with said they don't offer it in their area with the trash pick up. Here's a link that at least shows people WANT to recycle, so that's good.

http://www.chicagorecycling.org/index.php

I am so happy I was able to see you and hug you and give you pjs. I can't explain right how much I care for you and about you and how much relief I feel that you are going to be okay.

And, I'm so glad we got to go to the museum together. Anyone else would have pushed me down the stairs for whispering "oh my god, oh my god, look at this!" so many times. Thanks for staying with me.
xoxo

It was wonderful to meet you in person and I'm glad that we got to talk even if only in snatched moments. I'm glad to hear you got to the Art Institute - it's an amazing place. Like the Louvre or the Met you leave there with your head spinning from all the beauty. Rooting for you, Jess.

I'm glad you went and I'm so glad you had such a great support system. Screw the rest of them.

How a gay person can be against gay marriage, I'll never know. But, I could bet money that the person isn't part of a bi-national couple, being threatened with separation because they have no legal rights as a couple. It's easy to reject rights for other people when you know your partner can't be deported. http://www.loveexiles.org/stories.htm

Sorry Jess, it just annoyed me. If someone doesn't want to get married, fine. Don't get married. To not want to allow others the right is so selfish. As a part of a bi-national couple, this affects me directly. When we go to Canada, we're getting married so I can start my paperwork to be a duel citizen (recognized by Canada only, of course), so we can at least know we'll be safe together in one of our countries. Oh, and I hate weddings. I avoid them at all costs, but I want that piece of paper that legally recognizes us as a couple.

Again, sorry to go on about this here. But

Jess, way to go! Thanks for voicing your opinions with a full voice. From a strong person, a strong full voice. And what a wonderful voice!

I'm glad you had a wonderful time. I found you via twitter and am impressed by your voice and the strength of your writing. Wishing you all the best with your new beginnings...

I was so glad I got to hug you. I'm just sorry I didn't get to spend any time talking with you. I really am.

I am happy to have met you though.

I'm so happy this year's trip was good for you. It was good for me too. And I had NO idea you were going it on no anxiety meds - and you got up with the MICROPHONE. You rock in so many ways.
xoxxo

Actually we DO recycle in Chicago.

There are many different ways to recycle....and why does it HAVE to be picked up with the garbage? Yes, some neighborhoods don't have collection with their garbage yet, but there are recycling centers all over the city.

Well, curbside recycling makes it *easy* for people. As a slow to learn or change species by nature in order to change habits we need to make it simple. Most people will not drive to a recycling depot when it is easier to just toss it.

Why not have recycling cans beside garbage cans around the city? Especially in such an abundantly wealthy area like "The Miracle Mile?"

Lack of recycling is a major environmental issue. It's a reflection of over-consumption and lack of a global view.

I pay for garbage collection curbside and have free recycling pick-up for plastic, paper and tin. I have three recycling depots within 10 miles, a compost drop-off and bottle depot and i live in a rural area. I make a huge effort to recycle as it's free (paid by local taxes) and am proud when i have six bags of recycling and one of garbage.

Lynae,

I'm the reason why you need curbside recycling. In San Francisco, where our apt. had two huge bins for recycling (and my parents had a big bins in Southern CA for their house, so it's possible for single residences), we were terrific little recyclers and barely had any extra trash. In Las Vegas, where we live now, they provide tiny little open crates for recycling, and even though they pick it up with the trash, it's almost useless because it's windy on what seems like every trash day. Our yard, due to its odd angle, ends up collecting everyone's "recycling" bit by bit over the week. I'm not going to drive anywhere to recycle, the trash company never bothered to deliver my recycling crates...so I don't recycle in Las Vegas. The trash company makes little effort to recycle properly, and I regrettably follow their lead. I'm not proud of it, but when it's convenient, I recycle readily; when it isn't, I don't.

We were at Whole Foods over the weekend - we bought a drink in a glass bottle and some snacks in paper bags. Outside of Whole Foods they have recycling bins...and what did we do? Yep, after we were done eating & drinking, we put the glass in the glass bin and the paper in the paper bin.

I am sooooooo glad you brought up the recycling and lack of it! I was horrified! So horrified I actually wrote to the mayor of Chicago and suggested he speak to a few Canadian city mayors about the logistics and costs involved in developing such a program. Really. Wow. How such an advanced country can be so behind in enviromental issues. Wow.

And you should have been there when I corned Mrs. Edwards and asked how her husband was going to finally resolve the softwood lumber issue and if he was going to abide by the UN's ruling or if he was going to continue to ignore what the world has already decided. It was so fun to see her squirm.

But she didn't manage to answer the question either.

Harumph.

And to the commenter who said that Chicago does have recycling programs, I'm sorry. I did not see any. At all. Not a recycle bin to be had anywhere I went. And I traipsed all over your beautiful (and golly, it is beautiful) city and never saw one. And I was looking.

I mean no disrespect, but here in Canada, there are recycle bins attached to our garbage bins, on every corner, in every mall, everywhere. Not to mention the curbside recycle program.