I’m in Austin for SXSWi

From my probable borderline-obsessive tweeting recently, you probably know that I’m in balmy Austin, Texas for the South By Southwest Interactive Conference (#SXSWi, as the “hip” folks say). I’ve been to the Music version of this, but that was six years ago. Strangely, my life was in flux back then. I had just lost my job at the Vail Daily (similarly, I’ve been forced into temporary early retirement just a few weeks ago). I’m also here to see friends, but different ones from last time.

Tech was different back then. I remember trying to send these idiotic jpeg attached emails from my old (like way fucking old) cell phone. And they were supposed to post to my blog. Well, I sent about 25 one night, and they all bounced. I wasted so much time. Now I’m armed with everything I need – iPhone, DLO phone charger, DSLR, and all that shit – ready to be part of this insane shared experience. We’ll all be broadcasting a ton (I wonder how much we’ll all be listening, though). I guess I just hope the AT&Suck network holds up so I can tell you all about the cool shit I’m doing.

The last two days have been the pre-game – the actual conference starts tomorrow. I showed up yesterday and spent the time with my cousins who live here, saw a bunch of deer right outside their house, met my friend’s fiancee for the first time, and drank a bunch of half-pints at the half-filled Ginger Man – one of the best craft beer bars I’ve been to. Today I spent time with my other friend who lives here (we went to Cisco’s for some Mexican breakfast), spent a few hours in Progress coffee shop (a great space, but I was somewhat disappointed in their coffee, sadly), hung out with a bunch of friends, had some frito pie (which brings me back to middle school, actually), had barbecue at Rudy’s (one is opening in Colorado Springs in June!), and had more drinks on 6th Street.

So I’ve already done a ton, with the entire conference still to go. I hope I can regulate to make it to the end. I think the key is to not get trashed the whole time – I need to remember to treat this like a beer festival!

Anyway, I’m sure there will be more to come over the next few days. Stay tuned, if you give a crap.