Since last Friday, my days have been 18-hours of non-stop Austin craziness. I've slept little, spent my days in panel discussions and my nights with new and old friends. I've been wanting to write about the conference as it was going on, and many people around me were doing just that. But I'm one of those people who needs to have a little time to absorb and reflect before I can piece together anything that makes any sense. One of the reasons I will never be an 'A-List blogger,' I suppose, is that I lack the ability to live life and blog about life at the same time. I need a little distance between the two. I need time to sort out meaning.

So I'll leave meaning for later, as I'm still traveling in Texas and won't be home for another couple of days. For now, let me stick to the facts:

First, I met a lot of great people, and had some great conversations. You all know who you are - I will be in touch soon! Also, I caught up with old friends from high school, Alan and Chris, which was great. I had lunch with Holly, who helped me design my work logo. And I met up with friends Bill and Joanie for drinks and burgers at Casino El Camino. Though I didn't get much time to see him because of our strange schedules, I spent nights at my brother-in-law's place. Thanks again, JP! Other noteworthy items include going to the Red Bull party, having two-for-one veggie burgers at Huts, and observing an authentic game of dominos between some old men at the Elk's lodge, where the EFF/Creative Commons party was held. (Pictures to follow).

Second, the panel discussions, for the most part, were really good. There were some that kind of fell short, but mostly they were stimulating and well put together. Here are the ones I attended. I put an asterisks next to the ones I most enjoyed.

• Better Blogging Brainstorming*
• How to Do Precisely the Right Thing at All Possible Times*
• Increase Creativity at Work*
• Designing for Global and Local Social Play
• How (and Why) to podCast an Event
• DIY Now More Than Ever
• Blogging While Black Revisited*
• CSS Problem Solving*
• Web Standards and SEO: Searching for Common Ground, Part 2*
• WTF: WaSP Task Force Panel: Getting the Job Done Right
• Design Eye for the List Guy*
• Behind the Scenes: Developing OS X and Longhorn
• Commons-Based Business Models
• Consumer is the Producer: DIY Media*
• Bruce Sterling Presentation: The State of the World*

Now I'm in Dallas. Last night I had dinner with my mom and sister. Today, I'm having lunch and an afternoon work meeting with James. And tonight, I'm having dinner with my dad and bro. I'm hoping to see other Dallas buds either tonight or tomorrow, but need to get in touch with them and sort that out! As for sleep, there will be plenty of time to do that back in DC.

Oh, I almost forgot one of the best parts of the conference: Sunday, after her keynote with Jason Kottke, I met Heather B. Armstrong, of Dooce! So friggin' cool! I asked her a question about writing and told her I thought her blog was helping to shape a new literary medium (which I believe), and then snapped this photo of me with her and her husband, Jon. They were both really nice and I enjoyed meeting them.

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