Updating my blog...

I've been told by 4 people (one by proxy) to update this blog. Since that represents nearly the entire readership here, I better do it.

A few things have gone on in the past week that I'm aware of: Twitter acquired Atebits (the programmer behind Tweetie), I smashed my laptop & not on purpose (thankfully it still works... only louder!), a volcano erupted in Europe, the NHL playoffs started, the Oilers won the draft lottery, Souray demanded a trade, AdTech kicked off in SF, I discovered a bunch of new music, some drunk Apple employee left the new iPhone in a bar, Calgary had Ad Rodeo, the SEC sued Goldman Sachs, there was a blizzard in Calgary which caused the lights to go out, and some other things.

However - I was in Maui with Ashlea last week and was not in the mood to blog. Here's a picture of the sun setting from our lanai (lanai = patio).

In Austin, waiting for luggage

After a whirlwind day in Calgary yesterday, meeting up with several friends, some pho at Co Do, a productive meeting for Game Plan, sliders at Loungeburger, and a chance to do some laundry and drop off 2 of my big suitcases - I didn't end up getting much sleep last night. Which matched my lack of sleep the night before in Toronto. And the night before in Brooklyn.

I'm now sitting in Austin, without my luggage (which didn't make the connection) and an inability to take out my contacts which are really bugging me. I'm exhausted but also pretty pumped about SXSW and trying to figure out what I'll do the first few days. I came across the video above and now am really having trouble getting to sleep.

Exhausted

I'm lying in bed at the place I'm staying at in Brooklyn - listening to the trade deadline and marveling at the Oilers' trades today. All I really want to do is sleep though.

I had a long call with a friend of mine at 8pm Mountain time on the 1st - which was 4am in Spain. I got a few hours of sleep but got up early enough to enjoy my last day in Malaga. Then flew out at 5pm in Spain and 12 hours later arrived in NY without sleeping on the plane. What a relief being back in NY - it definitely seems like home in a lot of ways. When I got in I was talked in to going out with my previous roomie, Patricia, who I stayed with last night. I finally went to an underground speakeasy, which was a lot of fun. But by the time I got home at 3am ET (9am Spain), I was really overtired and although I fell asleep instantly, I woke up only 2 hours later. The 2 hours I slept involved a very surreal dream and I wasn't able to get back to sleep. Thankfully I could get a little work done, as some inspiration hit.

So from the time I woke up on Mar 1st to now (which would be 11pm Spanish time on Mar 3rd), I've got a total of 5 hours sleep. I want to make the most of my time in NY (Animal Collective plays at the Guggenheim tonight & midnight showing of Alice in Wonderland), but I'm also getting sick & am pretty much useless right now. I've been trying to sleep for the last 4 hours and no luck.

I might need to head back to Soho. Maybe the unfamiliar setting is keeping me awake. The lack of sleep is probably making this blog post non-sensical, and if so I apologize.

One thing I will say is that the feeling this time around in NY is already a lot different. Like I mentioned, it does seem a bit like home now, and my schedule looks full for my 5 days here. For some reason, I'm also in the mindset to go out a lot more now. I also have offers to move in full-time with both the girl in Brooklyn that I'm staying with now (starting in May) and the girl who replaced me in Soho (in July). Gives me a lot to think about.

I'm also really looking forward to my meeting in Calgary, but really wasted the day away in my tired/sick haze. I hope I can pull my shit together tomorrow.

One disappointment so far: not being able to arrange a caesar-making contest with my hockey-loving friends I met at the Digital Dumbo event in January.

Busy Day

Holy shit, what a crazy day. It's funny how sometimes things just fall in to place. Yesterday I was faced with coming back to Calgary this week to take care of some things at home (thereby missing Brooklyn) OR staying in Brooklyn and missing out on the things in Calgary I needed to take care of.

Luckily this morning, one of the things finalized itself.

Almost immediately afterwards I got some follow-ups in both Calgary and NY and all of the timing was able to line up nicely. So now I'm going to do both. I leave tomorrow and will be in NY from the 2nd to the 8th. Calgary on the 9th for a meeting and to drop off all the luggage I've been dragging around with me, and then on to Austin on the 10th for SXSW. The festival doesn't kick off until the 12th, so I will have a couple of days to unwind luckily.

I have a crazy travel schedule in front of me and so much work to do, but I have a ton of focus right now and am really excited. I'll definitely be feeling like George Clooney's character in Up in the Air by the end of the trip.

Nice Surprise

They actually showed an English-language movie on the train ride over to Madrid & it was one of my favorites from the past 2-3 years. Ghost Town. If you haven’t seen it yet, do yourself a favor and rent it. Ricky Gervais is one of my favorite comedian-actors and if you like his shtick, then you will find the movie highly entertaining. Of course, as a rom-com it attempts to pull at the heart strings and is able to pull it off admirably. After seeing it 4-5 times, it still gets me. Thumbs up.