I will not be bought, only borrowed, occasionally.

Posted bycasey coombsPosted inToo lazy to label.

My big ads are gone.

After staring at my site tonight  and being disappointed with the Internet in general I realized that I don’t even like Ragu, I like to take pictures.

Besides, I buy Prego (when I don’t make my own from scratch with organic homegrown tomatoes and herbs of course.) When I drink bubbles I choose Coke, not Pepsi.

I took swag this weekend that was offered to me. I didn’t fight anyone for any of it. Maybe no one else really realizes this but I won’t have to buy laundry detergent, soap, sponges, vibrators, pens, notepads, lotion, jump drives or shoes for a really long time.

My budget likes swag.

I am not friends with people based on what they can do for me or what they have to offer me.  After meeting George from Crocs and Rick from Tiny Prints, I’d much rather accost George and make inappropriate Jibbitz jokes rather than hang around him in hopes I’ll score a free pair of ugly rubber shoes. And believe me, as much as I love Tiny Prints (which I do and I can say that now because I’m not under contract to ANYONE but myself.) I’d much quicker take Rick down to steal his camera equipment than try and market myself to him in hopes of scoring some free Christmas cards.

(photo by Jeremiah Njoroge)

I did ask Jeremiah for an Eye-Fi card. Frankly because it’s something relevant to me (thanks J.) It’s something I will use and will talk about, but something like a Nikon camera or Nikon sponsored party? I shoot Canon. Not Nikon. Why would I have any interest in anything Nikon related?

(photo by Rick Bucich)

This was my third BlogHer conference. I would give up all the laundry detergent, all the shoes, all the trips, all the everything if the FTC told me to so I could keep my friends. Both near and far. All of you. So that I could keep this space where I can write and have people read and have people touched by what I write. (cheeeeeesy.)

There will never be any swag equivalent to someone coming up to me in tears telling me that what I wrote got them through ugly, lifted them when they were down, made them laugh or helped them learn. Money can’t buy stuff like that.

I will continue to go to conferences. I will continue to take and do stuff that is relevant to me because frankly it’s just dumb not to.

I’m not that proud of a person. Nor am I made of free-laundry-detergent-Wienermobile-riding resistant steel.

Now if you’ll excuse me I have an ad free corner to shiver in.

For the next two days my husband will be taking the bar.

The 16 hour test that will decide our entire future.

Too bad Xanax wasn’t handing out samples at the Sheraton.

Thankfully the Canadians brought chocolate.

(photo by Ali Martell, shocked background reaction by Avitable)

107 thoughts on “I will not be bought, only borrowed, occasionally.”

  2. i didn’t even know about the laundry detergent.
    quite frankly, i didn’t come for the swag. although, i’m so glad i didn’t buy a flip because i got that kodak!! thanks to socialluxe! but regardless…
    i came to meet my friends. nothing more. nothing less.
    and i did meet meet them. it was amazing.
    p.s…i don’t care which diet pop i drink…as long as it’s zero calories. i’m so not picky.

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  3. Not sure, but I think the shocked background reaction by Avitable is the best picture from the weekend!

    And I totally get where you’re coming from – my budget loves free stuff, but never enough to fight over it. That’s just weird.

    Maybe I’ll finally get to meet you in NYC!

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  4. I was at your “you are not your disease panel” and you really touched me with your sincerity and honesty about your journey. I like the move you have made and suspect that you will be just as successful without the Ragu and Pepsi ads. Next year in NYC I’ll bring you some of my homemade tomato sauce (organic tomatoes). And I’m with you on the Coke…

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  5. I couldn’t agree more. The friendships made and strengthened each time I go to BlogHer have no price tag. Period.

    Good luck to Cody.

    Also, thanks for being you. You are pretty awesome and I’m honored to call you friend. 🙂 xo

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  7. I am already putting together plans to go to BlogHer10 with another blog friend (and hopefully one or two more of us!) but I would hate for them to hear about the swag fighting, invite whining, invite rejected, unfortunate side of the weekend. I know it’s never 110% perfection, but still – you get out of it what you put into it. It sounds like a select percentage put football-style-swag-searching into it & made it uncomfortable for the vast majority. That’s just sad.

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  8. What I took away from this beautiful post was probably not what you were hoping for… “Wait? You shocked Avitable??!?!

    I kid, of course – you nailed the spirit of the conference. It’s the The stuff is fine, especially if you need the stuff to make a living in some way. But the stuff shouldn’t be THE point – it shouldn’t eclipse the human connections, and it certainly doesn’t give people the excuse to act like the assholes they obviously are if they are grabbing swag and running.

    (BTW, really liked your black cocktail dress with the tulle hanging out the bottom edge. Friday, I think? Lovely.)

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    1. @Velma, HA! I didn’t even think of that! (the Avitable part…)
      And thanks on the dress, my roommate was quite pregnant so I got to go crazy in her closet.

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  9. That’s awesome Casey, Good for you! I know you have helped many people through icky days, self included… THANK YOU! Also, sending good vibes your way as your hubby endures the bar.

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  10. Well, I’m so blown away by how much MORE beautiful you are in person – and you look amazing on this blog. You left me speechless, gorgeous AND friendly to a pretty much unknown like myself – and I am jealous of your mad hair twisting abilities. Do what works for you – and your guy will rock the bar.

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    2. @Carmen, Dude, I don’t even know what to say to that besides sit her and blush in all my smelly haven’t left my jammies in 24 hours glory.
      Thank you.
      Thank you.
      Thank you.
      (Your check is in the mail.)

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  12. Eleven years ago, hubs took the bar in Indy. On his birthday. Scruffy. And leaving an apple to rot in his bag to gather fruit flies. But we celebrated by buying a bottle of Mad Dog at the local VP. Good times! And now seriously, GOOD LUCK to the entire Moosh family this week. This is it.

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  14. Pingback: I’m Nobody! | Seagull Fountain

  17. While I may not have discovered your blog if it wasn’t for my job at Crocs, you’re on my list of blogs that I will follow until blogs are no more. You’re a wonderful photographer, hilarious, and just a great person. You blog because you enjoy blogging and go to conventions for the real connections that make the events what they are.

    If I got fired tomorrow, I’d be at BlogHer next year just to hang out with people like you.

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  18. Once again, this is why I love you. This is why I read your blog. You keep it real. After all the stuff I’ve read (good and bad) from this weekend, I’m gonna pop my “Friends of Maddie” button on my sidebar, then leave things alone for a while. No ads, no contests. Why? Beacause at the end of the day, our posts should be for us. Making friends and influencing people is a huge, wonderful perk that I wouldn’t want to live without now that I’ve learned how wonderful those friends can be, but the blog? She is for me.

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  19. Well of COURSE I entered your contest! 🙂 I mean, I’m certainly not above swag. Did I ever tell you about the time I won $3000 worth of baby stuffs on THE VIEW? That sort of rocked…

    I was talking about “popularity” contests on my blog like “ooh, leave me a million trillion comments so I can win a purse” kind of thing.

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    1. @Jen L., Please tell me you didn’t have a baby at the time, because that would have been awesome.
      And my life goal? A million trillion comments. The purse would just be the bonus.

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  21. That last picture is both a little disturbing and also hilarious. And impressive as well.

    Just wanted to know that I adored you and thought you were every bit as lovely in person as I hoped and thought you would be.

    Next year, I’ll be much less awkward and might you know, take some pictures. (I have 8 grainy iPhone pics, one from Valerie Jarrett and one from your panel, fyi).

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      1. @Casey, No no no. I KNOW my iPhone takes crappy pictures. But I also know that sadly, it’s better than the digital camera I have from like 1997. And less embarrassing to hold in public.

        And next time I’d like a picture with you and me, instead of one where I look like a crazy stalker. (I’m not. I promise.)

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  22. Good luck on “The Bar” to Cody. I’m sure it will be awesome to have your husband back in the near future. At the SBux I manage there is a dude named Reid that’s studying for the bar right now and I think saying that he spends 40 to 50 hours a week there just reading might be an understatement!

    I can’t even imagine reading for THAT LONG! EVERYDAY!!

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  24. I so agree with you about the swag, Casey. I brought a bunch home, but also left a lot at BlogHer. You rocked that victory roll, you earned that trip to Project Runway, nicely done.

    Good luck to Mr. Moosh in Indy. I bet he will do well.

    Tina

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  26. He is going to ACE the bar! (Can you ace the bar? I am not a lawyer, can you tell?).

    Also, you are gorgeous. I kinda want to come and find you and beg you to do my hair. Because seriously, you? Are stunning.

    I’m not gonna lie – this post is so sweet it almost made me tear up a little bit… but then I saw you sitting in the Weinermobile and I laughed.

    Yay chocolate… you’ll probably need it in spades while the bar is happening.

    Sending good juju your way!

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  28. You are fabulous. I have several friends with spouses taking the bar and I am a ball of stress for you all. I will be praying. (Just promise to return the favor when my husband takes the nursing boards next year!)

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  29. I just realized that one of those Wunderbars ended up in my belly later that night.

    I was a Wunderbar virgin, but now I’ve been changed.

    Canadian chocolate SUPERIOR VICTORY DANCE!

    oh, and Cody will Rock the Casbah this week. If you need a safe place to hide, you know where to go…

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  30. Casey,

    I love your site so much and I love that you nailed what blogher is supposed to be about. I’m considering going to NYC because I’m introverted and I just want to connect with other bloggers! Swag is nice but it’s not why we’re all a part of the blogging community.

    Good luck to Cody on the bar exam – and good luck to you surviving him being crazy taking it!

    Jess

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      1. @Casey, I’m just trying to convince my husband that everyone who goes isn’t crazy and that I’m not going to be kidnapped or something.

        Oh and that money thing – NYC is a little expensive to get to from Indiana! 🙂

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  31. I’ve never run ads on my blog for reasons you articulated above. Sure, it’s tempting to earn extra money (who doesn’t want some?) but in the end I didn’t like how it felt.

    Also, why didn’t you say hi to me at BlogHer?

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    1. @SciFi Dad, Because you weren’t there. And if you were it’s not my fault because I have no idea what you look like, however you not only know what I look like, you also know what my uterus looks like.

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  32. It would be quite interesting to see who still went to the conference if they stopped giving away all the stuff. I know quite a few who would still go! (me included, I’m SO GOING NEXT YEAR.)

    Hope the next day or so goes quickly for you and Cody!!!!

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  39. During and post conference, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to ads and my review blog, and I’m heading in a similar direction.

    I missed out on the wienermobile! Damn.

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  41. Pingback: BlogHer recap roundup » mamikaze

  43. thinking of you today as cody tackles such important question like: “if client x, who resides in wyoming, slips on a banana peel while visiting indiana, can he sue the chipita banana company which is located in dallas?”

    good luck to you all.

    i hope to say hello to you in nyc next year

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  46. I’m thinking after reading this wonderful post that I should have brought a ton of Canadian chocolate with me to BlogHer – maybe I would have been less shy with chocolate to share!

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  49. You buy Prego over Ragu? I’m shocked and hurt. Fortunately for you, I’m loyal enough to still keep reading. But I won’t lie, I am hurt.

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