Ok, so sxswi. It was fun! It was hot!

That's what I've told everyone at work who asked me today how my trip went. And I'm not lying! Looking back on my inability to elaborate, though, I realized that my trips to Austin have drastically evolved over the years. I used to go and try to get what I could out of the conference itself, since once or twice I have actually paid for a pass, other times I felt I needed to justify whatever free pass I had scored from my really really good friends (you know who you are!). And although I could feel the excitement and passion around me for personal and professional projects on the internet, the feeling didn't really follow me home, since this site is really just a hobby and I don't work in the industry.

Instead, each year has brought me to Austin more to see my friends from all over the world and to meet new ones. This year, I forewent the conference pass and hotel cost altogether and stayed with my bestest friend about 10 miles from the downtown area and came in only to have lunch with 'the group' and then again for dinner and socializing afterward. Sure, I missed the hallway conversations and that handy little guide that conferencers get to tell them what's going on every night. I missed Nikolai's performance at the Bloggies. I missed being able to drink as much as I can hold (3 vodka drinks or many beers) because I had to drive home every night. And I missed the final goodbyes on Tuesday and Wednesday. Bye y'all!

But in the end, I got what I really wanted: I spent almost enough time with all my buds who were in Austin with me this year (except for Jane - sorry Jane!).

Other things ...
- I heard a song on the radio that hasn't made it to SF yet. I can't remember the song, but the group is OAR (Of A Revolution)
- Everyone knows this, but BookPeople really is the best bookstore ever
- You shouldn't apply SF parking mentality to Austin. If you try hard enough, you'll find a parking space closer than that first one you spotted 10 blocks away. Trust me.
- My bestest friend is renting a house, with a yard, for just a bit more than I'm paying for my 1 bdrm apartment.
- My goal when packing for trips is to 1) not overpack and to 2) wear/use everything I bring along. I cursed myself for bringing a stupid jacket that took up too much space in suitcase and that I knew as soon as I stepped off the plane in Austin into 90 degree heat that I would not use. However, when I stepped off the plane in Oakland and it was pouring rain, I took it all back. Other than that, I packed most excellently for this trip.
- When you spend 9+ hours either in one of 3 planes or sitting in airport waiting areas, don't blithely offer to sleep on the couch with the dog when you head home the next night to visit your family. Especially when you have a history of back problems. I'm using all my powers of zen to relax my lower back muscles so that I can drive my sporty stick-shift car to and from work (not to mention that 3.5 hour drive back from my parents'!) and still walk. I need this pain to be gone by the time I go Home for my brother's wedding.
- Speaking of the wedding, I had to go in for my final fitting on Saturday. The bodice was just big enough to require a bit more altering. The woman asked if I had lost any weight. She was so sweet.
- Oh! Oh! And for the first time in years, I met someone I knew only from the internet who I read regularly and had hoped to meet one day. She lives maybe an hour away and we had to be in Austin for me to finally see her. And I did. And I almost walked out of Paradise without introducing myself. But her enthusiastic reaction was enough to make me feel better about how dumb I sounded as I tried to assure her that I am not a stalker, I just really like reading her site. So Helen Jane, I know our 30-second hello wasn't enough to register on your radar (it was late, and everyone had been drinking after all), but I'd just like to say it was a pleasure to meet you.