-Picture is the stolen from Andrey Dorokhov's flickr page - this picture rocks - as do the rest of his shots.Here is the deal, the conference, in and of itself, isn't the problem - the panels are interesting (usually), the networking is freaking incredible, and the music and film are like a little virtual cherry on top of my interactive conference sundae. But the damn thing is in my backyard. IT IS IN MY TOWN, and I therefore hate it. I like to run around Lady Bird Lake, but during SXSW it is like a punked out version of frogger - getting to the lake, dodging the hipsters, the unloading vans, the herds of folks walking to their tweet-up breakfast - it is a nightmare. I like eating at any number of Austin institutions, but the wait associated with the influx of conference attendees is more than I can bear. I like watching March Madness with Longhorn fans, not a plethora of out of town visitors determined to support their alma mater in between panel sessions and Japanese punk bands (Peelander-Z is actually kind of cool, I have to admit it). But more than all of that, I don't want to go have drinks at Scoble's party, find the show with the most celebs or gather the most foursquare points - because my husband and puppies are waiting for me at home. My desk, with all its ridiculous demands, is waiting at my office. My everyday life has to run concurrently with the show and that is a nearly impossible feat.
As usual, I whined my way through SXSW this year, missing more than I saw, participating by following along on twitter, thoroughly enjoying myself when I did venture out, but for the most part kicking and screaming the whole way. Peace out, SXSW - I'll see you next year. And I will try to work on my bad attitude in the down time.
*Not the wind one - I love clean energy
