Image via my Helio Ocean while I packed tonight.
Scott‘s already there. I’ll be hanging out with my dear friends: Sir Squid, Eddie, Monochrom, pt, Michael Shiloh, and a few others I hope. I’ve been madly preparing for my ETech talk for days; I even passed on the sekrit guest list and even the offer of a free ticket to the sexxxellent (pics) Marching Band show friday night to work on my Sexual Identity Online talk — and it’s not what people think it’s going to be at all. I’ll make it all freely available online as a Google Doc (text) and Google slideshow (my images) after I do the thing, that thing, tuesday.
I have a lot of surprises and solo obsessions to bombard you with over the next few days. I’ve been working hard, I have tech surprises to reveal as the days evolve, and I’m alone. No date but you: just my iPod, my cameras and whatever stiletto fits. My bag is packed. I’m on absinthe, NADH and listening to The Cure’s Pictures of You. I’ll be mobile blogging this whole strange experience from airports and hotels with a variety of devices and intentions.
In other words: welcome to my LiveJournal.
I feel like an impostor in this place I’m about to visit: like my invite to the Forbes conference, I’m this poor punk who can’t do this kind of thing as a financial whim like everyone else speaking there. I know I don’t belong, but I think they want to hear what I have to say. They’re all elite and some are 1337, but I’m actually from the street. I always wonder who this actually matters to. I guess I’m just trying to prep you for my blog becoming more personal over the next few days and all that might entail.
I feel lonely before even closing my suitcase.
I leave in the morning. I’ll blog everywhere I can get a connection, but I’ll wind up in San Diego by 2pm.
My Flickr photostream will have my phonecam pics via my Ocean. Something crazy will happen on my brand-new, yet-to-be announced (uh) livestreaming video page. The trick I’m trying to figure out is how to let you know when to tune in without being totally annoying. I’ve got the livestreaming video set to send a “Twitter” when I start filming live, but you have to join the service and “follow” my as-yet unused Twitter profile to get instant updates: I’m going to try and figure out over the next day how to make an RSS feed for when I shoot live video, and a not-irritating or ugly embed for my sidebar so readers can click (NO auto-start, I promise) to see what I’m up to when I go live with the (yet to be named) device I’m being overnighted at ETech to livestream with.
They want me to be the one of the featured livestreamers for SXSW (especially Interactive) as well. I *do* like to get into some fun trouble. But of course, I’m thinking I’ll really rock livestreaming at Marching Band events, sex toy tours, etc… Could be fun. Like any relationship.
* Oh — and don’t bother looking for me on the ETech front page. I don’t seem to fit into neat categories of hacking, data, survival, games, or corruption. Amusing.
Be my date anyway.
Awww, I wish I could go to SxSW and meet you in the flesh!
As for that feeling of not fitting in. I think more people experience that than will admit it. I think the only thing that can be done is just to jump in feet first knowing that you have an entire virtual cheering squad behind you waving pom poms and shaking their boobies for you. :)
This completely sounds like a good time to me. I can’t wait to see your live blogging.
Have A Great Day!
David
Dear Miss Blue,
I understand completely the feeling of loneliness as the suitcase clicks shut…a feeling of being alone and out of place and transient, electively homeless.
However, you have to know you travel with tens of thousands of friends, even when you aren’t live blogging your experiences. So many will follow your progress, share your triumph and be eagerly awaiting your report that you are home safe and sound. Sometimes it isn’t quite so hard to be away when you know so many people are waiting for you back at home.
Be well, enjoy and Godspeed.
Oh, by the way…those so called “elite” that you are worrying about rubbing elbows with? They are only there because they have something to say and people who wish to hear it….just like you are. You bow to no one, Miss Blue…unless you want to *smiles*.
Zealot