I’ve been trying to put this year’s South by Southwest Interactive experience into words, but it’s proving impossible. I was hoping to come home inspired and focused, and I definitely got what I wanted. I’ve already been doing some work in the area of online privacy, and the keynotes and sessions I went to proved that I’m on the right track. Stay tuned!

During the conference I wrote reviews of the sessions I attended at Lunch.com. Please go check out the reviews from me and others, and while you’re there have a look at Lunch, it’s a great new community site!

To name a few who helped make the trip special:

Adele McAlear shared my hotel room and was a fantastic roommate. Her research in death and digital legacy is fascinating stuff!

Sarah Vela let me tag along as she met with people to help promote her awesome new site helpattack.com (go sign up!) She introduced me to bunches of amazing people.

I devoted an entire blog post to how Thom Singer helped me out. Go read it.

Len Edgerly joined us for a recording of Push My Follow despite my failure to record our attempt to do the same thing last year!

Thomas Knoll invited me to help promote Lunch.com and proved once again why he’s so good at what he does. Look for him to cause fireworks in his new job at Zappos!

Conversations with Amber Marlow Blatt inspired me yet again. Love that girl.

I had a long, rambly conversation with Jason Jarrett at the end of a long day and it was just what I needed!

I finally met Ann, Shannon, Gavin, Ethan, & Baratunde!

Bonus- I got to grab a quick empanada with my grammar school classmate Linda! We hadn’t seen each other since 1977!

Others I hung out with or at least hugged:
Rob
Sarah
Tracy
Jake
Krissi
Mike
Phil
Zane
Wesley
Lloyd
Melissa
Steve
Rachael
Mary Ann
Jeff
Cathy
C.C.
Zane
Ewan
Becky
Derrick
Keith
Jeff
Jane
Alicia
Brian

Happy to have also met:
Kelly
Molly
Beth
Ian
Randall
Angie
Kevin
Mark
Liz
Joanna
Debbie
Diana
Noah
Sam
Cindy
Heather
and tons of others whose names I never even got (bad Annie!)

Sorry I missed:
Laura
Dave
Giannii
Sukhjit
Erin
Lucretia
Gary
Aliza
Chris
Bryan
Goldie

(if I saw you and missed naming you I apologize- I tried but I’m sure I forget a few!)

Until next year, Austin!

I just noticed that I’m on 101 Twitter lists. Lists are a new feature that let you group people you follow any way you like, publicly or privately. I have a few lists myself: Jersey people, funny people, creative people- and a couple private ones that include the folks I like to follow a little closer than the rest.

What’s cool about being included in lists is that it gives you a little glimpse into how other people see you. I’m on some NJ lists, some WordPress and geek lists, and others that just make me smile. Some of my faves include

• the-good-shit-list
• smartladies
• smartypantses (defined as “The SmartAssii.”)
• respect
• women-that-rock
• mega-helpful
• team-hot-salad-dressing
• boobenvy
• the-awesome-squad
• sunshinepandacakeparty
• makemesmiletoo
• awesomesauce
• ny-mets-fans

Thanks everyone who’s listed me! I need to spend some time making a few more myself- what other groups can I come up with?

I’ve got lots to say about Blogworld Expo, but let’s start simple. How was the schwag? Specifically, how were the t-shirts?
I only grabbed shirts from 3 sponsors, so this isn’t an inclusive list…

Most Well-Targeted to the Crowd:

Geeks love braaaains!
(from Server Beach)

Most WTF:

Complete with a Sharpie to fill in the blanks. Did anyone fill them in? Will anyone wear this in public? This is what I call a “home treadmill shirt.”
(from People Pond)

Love (?) the space for comments on the back…

Best Design:

Great tagline, love the flying devices and icons!
(from Blubrry)

I know there were other shirts out there on the floor, any good, bad or ugly ones I missed?

I’m heading to Blog World Expo this week and my main goal for this conference is to come away with something NEW and BIG and CHALLENGING to work on.

I have no idea what that might be, or even what form that might take. It could be a client for Pixel Currents, it could be a connection with someone who has a great idea and needs help making it happen, it could be an idea for a new blog or podcast, it could be knowledge that will kick-start some creative venture, or it could be something I haven’t even imagined yet.

In fact NEW and BIG and CHALLENGING to me may be something old, tiny, and simple to you.

If you’ll be there please look for me and say hi. Maybe you can help me hit that goal?

(image by frli on flickr.com)

This Thursday, September 3, I’ll be joining Eva Abreu to present Intro to Social Media at the Highland Park (NJ) Library. This is the first in a series of sessions Eva has arranged titled Making Connections Using Social Media. More information may be found at Social Media Connections.

If you’re in the area I’d love to meet you! This session is free and a great way to learn how to take those first steps into using social media.

Follow Pixel Currents on Twitter here.
Follow Annie on Twitter here.