SXSW: The Cocaine Thing
March 14th, 2006We’re home now. In reality. Very real reality with an exhausted Heather, an exhausted dog and what appears to be an exhausted baby. Chuck had a great time at his dog spa. This isn’t California, people. Chuck had his own version of SXSW. He’s wiped as well. Being social for so many days in a row is bound to take a toll. As will dancing maniacally to a band that featured the Concertmate MG-1, a synthesizer once sold by Radio Shack. 40 = Can’t dance like a fool without the musculoskeletal structure staging a near revolt.
What a great time. All the parties went off like it was 1999. Prince, the mothership can pick you up at any point.
I’m so tired and hoarse. It was a great trip. I’m still plagued by this question:
How do people do a conference without resorting to copious amounts of cocaine, crack or speed? We didn’t have more than twenty minutes of what might be called “down” time. That was the only time I posted any big camera photos. And I’ve got photos.
Sleep now. Yes. o
March 14th, 2006 at 10:04 pm
and vodka’s is usually the way. Generally the energy of SXSW keeps you going too…and “oooh, just one more band, awww crap there’s so-and-so playing at such-and-such, we gotta catch them!” too.
Glad you guys had a good time! Next year I’m getting the full badge biznizz and hitting it hardcore.
March 14th, 2006 at 10:04 pm
It should say “insert energy drink” and vodka up there btw
March 14th, 2006 at 11:10 pm
Meth is the new coke. All the Moms are doing it.
I prefer Martinis. Welcome home Armstrongs.
March 15th, 2006 at 2:13 am
Mmm, photos good, post soon!
March 15th, 2006 at 3:13 am
AH but they DO, they just weren’t sharing…
March 15th, 2006 at 3:54 am
The only reason I survived ANY of it was because of alcohol.
Thank you, Jesus, for the booze. I love that blood is made out of wine. Gracias.
March 15th, 2006 at 3:58 am
We’ll be very, very quiet.
Welcome home.
March 15th, 2006 at 7:24 am
deafblind is totally correct. Red Bull and vodka helps immensely. That, coupled with a diet pill or two (over the counter - Fahrenheits work well) during the day also can keep you going. It can also lure you into thinking that you can dance all night in four-inch heels with no side-effects. (Try that, Jon!) The numb toes, four days later, bring you back to reality.
If you can’t sleep - that’s the side effect. But who really sleeps well in a hotel bed?
Be prepared to crash and burn for days afterward!
March 15th, 2006 at 8:03 am
I bet there are people that wish you didn’t have those photos!
BTW: You and Heather must be charmed. I can’t figure out how the two of you get away with drug and alcohol humor in your posts. I make a reference to a high school Jack Daniels hangover from 22 years ago in my blog and the trolls come out to dance on my bones!
March 15th, 2006 at 8:12 am
Thanks for keeping us all updated on the goings on at SXSW! I especially enjoyed the link to the podcasts. The keynote with Heather and Jason Kottke was awesome! It really made me wish you guys had your own little Blurbodooce podcast or something. That would be super cool.
March 15th, 2006 at 9:32 am
Jon, you look so young without your beard. When I used to play in a band, we did two shows in a row. That does not sound like much, but after the second night, I asked myself, “NOW I know why rockers do so many drugs.” So doing a conference with no downtime can be compared closely to rocking out on stage. My only suggestion is get more sleep, and drink lots of Naked Blueberry juice. Sorry I missed the big events. I love you guys!
March 15th, 2006 at 11:22 am
Welcome home, Jon!
Did you see what Molly Ivins had to say about the Democrats?
http://progressive.org/mag_ivins0306
Right on, Molly!
March 15th, 2006 at 12:41 pm
cant wait for the keynote highlights
wish i hadnt been stuck in an office manipulating boolean logic the whole time.. SXSW sounds a lot more fun, glad you guys absorbed as much as you could.
March 15th, 2006 at 1:36 pm
Did you lose the beard before heatstroke-inducing Texas, or after you arrived?
March 15th, 2006 at 1:38 pm
ZipFizz, man.
I’m telling you. This stuff is a freaking godsend.
I have spells there at conferences when everything is go go go go and charm charm charm charm. During the day I have to sell myself and whatever policy, and during the night I schmooze with the bigs at bars, parties, etc. I drink too much, smoke too much, and don’t sleep.
and ZipFizz saves me the next day.
Available at your friendly CostCo!
March 15th, 2006 at 3:11 pm
Next week I’m heading to M3 & WMC in Miami for the 3rd year in a row.
We keep a brutal pace down there between the networking and partying (which facilitates networking).
I get by on sunshine and excitement from all the amazing music. of course I’m beat all to hell once the week is over.
who needs coke when you’ve got endorphins?
March 15th, 2006 at 7:50 pm
Doctor, yes. I lost the beard prior to leaving for Austin. It was time. Sasquatch season is officially over.
March 16th, 2006 at 12:53 pm
Hi John - We are getting ready to leave on a mini-vacation of 5 days and this will be the first time we will be leaving our dog Gabe. I have reserved a spot for him at a doggy day care camp, not a kennel, this is off-leash camp with other dogs. I am still very worried, having never left him for so long before - Did Chuck do OK, if Chuck can do it, I have hopes for our guy!
March 20th, 2006 at 10:48 am
No cocaine, just diet coke… lots of it, but not bought at the convention center for $3 a bottle (bastards). I also tried to sleep at least 5 hours every night…
And then when one hits the TIRED WALL and one wants to just fall into a little heap in the hallway near room 17ab, find Tom Coates and go with him and Simon to lunch at Halcyon. Drink 3 large iced teas and listen to the Brits trade jokes. Feel revived.
Repeat Diet Coke and Iced Tea as necessary. Whatever one does, attempt to not listen to the siren song of Free Drinks at the Adaptive Path party. That bartender made a mean lemon drops. ;o)