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Thursday, August 21, 2008

JBloggers Unite - The First International Jewish Bloggers Convention

Almost 20 years ago, Moshe told me that the day will come when everyone communicates via the internet.

I laughed at him!!

"Maybe you and your geeky friends," I scoffed, "but not normal people!"

When Moshe insisted we put an email address on our wedding invitation, I laughed again. Nobody RSVPed by email back then. (OK, maybe one or two of his geeky friends did -- they thought it was cool. My friends did not even know what email was.)

Over time, I glimpsed more and more of Moshe's on-line world. But it was his world. Not mine.

I did the email thing. But that's it. I did not search the web, read people's blogs, or watch UTube videos.

Then I got cancer and I had to find some way of communicating without making a hundred calls or sending a thousand emails.

So, I started blogging.

At first, I just did my own blog.

Then I found another blog that caught my interest. Then another.

Little by little, I started to learn my way around the blogosphere.

I started following links.

I started reading several blogs regularly.

I started recognizing the names of other bloggers.

I started to feel like I am part of a community, like I know these people, even though I never met them.

I've been blogging for a year now.

I still feel like a new kid on the block.

But I'm beginning to get it.

I was totally psyched to attend The First International Jewish Bloggers Conventions.

How cool to meet the person behind the blog-identity!

It was fun!

I even got the "in" jokes.

I had to leave early, to attend a simcha.

But, I'll be there again next year!



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

You've been blogging a year (a whole year!!!!) and did you hear how many there love your blog!!! as do I!

nah, I'm the babe in the blog world, haven't dared to start one - but after last night, maybe just maybe I'll get braver. (I still don't even know how to fill out comments besides anonymous!!)(boo, I have no identity :<( )

Klara

Anonymous said...

Dear Ms. RivkA,
I am writing on behalf of the Israel chapter of the Computers REally Are People support group. BTW - we do not have an acronym. Some of our members found your blog a bit well... hurtful!
You wrote:
"Maybe you and your geeky friends," I scoffed, "but not normal people!"
We like to think of ourselves as computer empathists, or people of silicon, or chips off the old block rather than "geeks".
May the force be with you!
Your friend and fan,
Garry Edward Edmond Cohn

LOL - that was meant to be funny - I think I was one of your friends who RSVPed by email.
Love ariela

Miriam Woelke said...

B"H

Hello Rivka,

I saw you at the Blogger Convention yesterday.

Unfortunately, I didn't know about your blog and as soon as I heard your speech, I decided to have a look at the blog and recommend it to other people as well. Your blog gives lots of support to and thank you for all your efforts.

Take care,
Miriam from Jerusalem

Batya said...

It was great to f2f. The convention was very impressive!

tafka PP said...

Of course you got the in-jokes. You're in the It Crowd!

Nice to see you. I'm sorry it wasn't so nice to see me at that particular moment! :-S

Baila said...

Great to meet you! I felt a kinship. You asked a good question; you've got a great blog.

rutimizrachi said...

I wanted to echo the advice you got, from Trep, I think, or was it Yishai? You have such a positive approach to your life. You aren't asking for pity. Your signature line, wherein you request "happy, healing thoughts," is so very up-beat, and your content is educational and also fun. Your blog makes me like you. Imagine the good work you can do by connecting with support groups who really need to hear your life-affirming message!

Keep up the good work, RivkA. And, if you can get over those hurtful remarks by snarky little Garry Edward Edmond Cohn, please explain the "in joke" about the waffles. While I thought it might make a nice gift for Bibi, I am too new to get the joke. (See? It's all a ladder, my friend... Give me your hand, and hoist me up.)

P.S. This one's for you: http://rutimizrachi.blogspot.com/2008/08/for-mama-ah.html

Anonymous said...

Ah, the second attempt to leave you a comment and this one is successful! Since I sent you the email, I won't paste the text here, but hopefully this will work for me in the future. :)

Leora said...

RivkA, I only saw bits of pieces of the convention, but I saw/heard YOU, and you were great. Nice to have a face to go with your blog (Baila helped with that, too, by posting your pic).

Anonymous said...

There is a pic of you online at the Blogger's convention. See http://www.jr.co.il/pictures/israel/jerusalem/2008/jer175.htm

I think that you are #2046

A Soldier's Mother said...

You looked great and I was very happy to see you stand up, ask your question and here the response. I think Carl gave you a fantastic additional line on further extending your readership...and though I also had to leave early, I think it was a great opportunity to really delve into the world of Jewish bloggers.

A Living Nadneyda said...

I was so sorry to have missed it... wouldn't you know, we were on a flight back home, with not an internet connection to be found (some of those new 777 flights offer them, but not ours).

Kol haKavod!

ALN

RivkA with a capital A said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
RivkA with a capital A said...

Klara -- thanks so much for your enthusiasm and support!!

Ariella -- LOL!!

Miriam -- thanks. I hope you'll come back again!

Batya – so cool to f2f! Thanks for the link and the picture! I hope to figure out how to post it!

Tafka PP – it is always nice to see you!!

Baila – totally cool to meet you! (I forgot – did we figure out if we met before?)

Ruti – thanks for the encouragement! I hope to find the time to follow up! And thanks for the link. Your post was really moving.

Lena – yay! Glad it worked! (you could have posted your comment again, that way others could read it too)

Leora – cool! My two minutes of fame! I was glad to have a chance to ask. Both questions have been on my mind for some time.

Anon – I tried the link and it didn’t work. Can you resend it?

A soldier’s mom — I think so too. Now, to follow it through…. I had to leave early too (we had a simcha!). I was totally annoyed that Netanyahu took up so much time. I would have rather heard the second panel!

ALN – Total Bummer! There is always next year!

Anonymous said...

Rivka:

Very sorry I didn't get to meet you at the J Bloggers convention.

Next year at the Second convention I'll make a point of coming over to you.

RivkA with a capital A said...

Robert -- I briefly met your wife, but I was not familiar with your blog (my husband told me about it afterwards).

I look forward to meeting you next time.