For the first time ever (I’ve been saying that a lot lately, but anyhoo…), this lone ranger will soon be rangering it up in the grandest state of them all: TEXAS!
I have been anticipating this trip literally since last August when I registered early to attend SXSW, which takes place every year in Austin, Texas. SXSW is short for South by Southwest, a multi-faceted festival and conference that focuses on film, music and interactive media. The trade show alone will hold over 500 booths, and many events, seminars and parties will be taking place for the duration of the conference. In my case, I’ll be attending the interactive media portion, which according to Wikipedia, has continually “attracted a strong following among web creators and entrepreneurs. Its focus on emerging technology has earned the festival a reputation as a breeding ground for new ideas and creative technologies.”
It’s where hi-tech entrepreneurs tend to go to announce new technology as a prelude to taking it mainstream, and in fact, that’s actually how Twitter got started too.
I was cajoled into going by the only friend I have left in the universe, who believes it would be an awesome opportunity for me to rub shoulders with some of the Internet’s elite entrepreneurs and network with them, which could lead to opportunities down the road that could help take my blog to the next level.
Cuz you know, that worked out SO well when I attended BlogWorld.
In fact, I don’t expect to accomplish anything of that nature while I’m down there. Because of my hearing loss and the sheer noise levels experienced at these types of conferences, any hope of conversation and dialogue is going to be a non-starter for me. Coupled with the fact that I am already anti-social to begin with, I simply don’t have the skillset needed to charm my way to success. If I was a hot looking babe, then maybe, but I have yet to successfully pass myself off as a ravishing looking brunette who can open doors simply by batting her pretty little eyes.
Just ask the only friend I have left in the world, he’ll tell you.
At least there will be seminars taking place that I might beneficial, including seminars on how to improve my writing skills, develop content for publication, how to evolve from a blogger to a marketer, and so on. Still, I don’t expect much.
So why am I going then? For one, my SXSW ticket is nonrefundable, so I kind of have no choice. I’ve also always wanted to visit Texas too, so this was as good an opportunity as any to finally visit the state, and I figured while I was down there, I could hang out for a few days longer so I could visit Dallas as well before returning home. I shall visit then, and I shall eat. And eat, and eat, and eat, and eat. BBQ, Tex-Mex, you name it, I’m eating it. I shall get myself utterly and stupidly meat-drunk, and I will enjoy every solid minute of it.
So, as my itinerary stands now, I’ll be in Austin for SXSW from March 10th to the 16th. After that I check out, rent a car, and lazily make my way to Dallas for another 3 days before returning home on the 19th. Yes, that does in fact mean I will be passing through Waco on the way. I wonder if I can start a cult of my own while I’m down there? Who knows, maybe instead of one wife, I’ll end up having 30. :-D But I hereby denounce myself.
It’s going to be another crazy adventure, and probably my last one for a long while. I hope it’s worth it.

