Hi all! Those of you who read this site and aren't in Austin may not be aware that that's where I am. If you are in Austin and don't know that I'm here ... well, we'll just have to try harder to hook up.

I neglected to bring my camera card reader with me, so I have not been able to post any photos yet, but they're all only of interest to me anyway. Lots of 'so-and-so and me, smiling big' pictures, just to show we're here and having a great time.

This is the first year that I have not stayed downtown with everyone else. Instead, I am staying about 10 miles out of the downtown area, with one of my bestest friends. It's been hard, after 4 other conferences, to not be spending every waking minute with the sxswers, and I have to do a lot of juggling so that I can spend enough time with my hostess, who I haven't seen in almost a year, driving and finding parking downtown (ack!!), and finding and hanging out with everyone else I come to see in Austin ever year. I'm trying not to stress about it, hoping that it'll just all work out. So far, I think it's gone alright.

A few notes about this trip, before I forget them ... we tried to find a C&W dance place last night. We hit the Broken Spoke, which was asking for a $12 cover, so we left. We went to Midnight Rodeo, which was $8, had a huge dance floor and lots of people, and was totally boring - no one was dancing! Then we went downtown (driving! parking! ack!!), and went to Rainbow Country, the local gay C&W bar and oh. my. god. No cover, tons of people, and they were dancing. Next year, no messing around. Hit the gay bar first.

The local modern music station is totally in love with Green Day's Holiday. In the first two days I was here, I heard this song 5 times, each time I got in the car to go anywhere. However, it also introduced me to OAR (Of A Revolution). Need to remember to look them up when I get home.

And although all my Texas friends told me that it was hot here, I have to admit that I didn't really believe them. But when I walked out of the airport to 90 degree heat while wearing the sweatshirt and jeans that were so appropriate in SF, well, I was proven wrong. Today is the first ok day, with a lovely breeze. I wish I didn't have to wear something long-sleeved. Speaking of which, snow? in SF? I'm so glad I'm suffering from heat exhaustion rather than freezing to death right now.

And driving in Texas is a trip. Driving an SUV in Texas is a trip. I'm handling it alright, though, in case you were wondering. And that's my report from this year's SXSW. See you later alligator!