Probably because I only arrived back in Maine yesterday morning and slept away most of the afternoon, it still feels like it’s Saturday to me. The calendar, however, insists that it’s not.
Yesterday’s red eye closed out a successful but tiring week on the road. So tiring, in fact, that I unexpectedly discovered what happens if you fall asleep on the BART. Here’s what happened.
After meeting folks Friday first at the Thirsty Bear and then The View, where the view is indeed something else, I grabbed a quick dinner and got on the BART @ Powell headed to SFO. Thirty seconds after sitting down, I was out cold. When I woke up I heard the PA warbling “Dublin / Pleasanton” and thought that that couldn’t be right (it’s the termination point opposite to SFO), just as we pulled into…Powell station. Oops. The good news was that I had just enough time to hop off, catch the next train in the other direction and make my flight home.
Anyway, the RedMonk events on Tuesday and Thursday were great for hastily organized, last minute affairs.
In NYC, the Stoned Crow was as empty as I’ve ever seen it, which meant more space and more beer for Luis, Andy, Jim and I to debate all manner of matters technology and otherwise and give each other a hard time. It’s not a RedMonk gathering until DRM, joint copyright assignment, open source economics and flying penises have all worked their into the same conversation.
San Francisco’s event was a bit larger, but no less entertaining for that. An eclectic mix of folks, as befits a RedMonk gathering, with the House of Shields bringing as it always does its A game. A good part of the amusement for the evening came at my expense, when Jason Hoffman’s better half saw through some frantic dissimulation of mine and absolutely called me out, with hilarious and unexpected consequences. Good times, indeed.
In between the social events, of course, were the Sun analyst day – which I’ve written up – and Office 2.0 – which I haven’t.
So that was the week behind us: what of the week ahead?
Regrettably, my originally planned trip this week to Dublin was cancelled when the folks from Mashup Camp pushed the event. But not to worry, I’ll be on a plane for nearly as long as I would have been otherwise; I’m headed instead right back to San Francisco for VMWorld. Given how long the flights are from the east coast, I gave serious consideration to just staying through the weekend, but the travel math said that coming home was cheaper and my obligations here (cat) agreed. Ergo, two quick days at home to enjoy some very cool evening skies, and then I’m back on JetBlue. At least I’m racking up the miles.
As for specifics, I’m in Maine tomorrow morning, then en route to SFO tomorrow afternoon. My current flight back is midday Thursday, but that’s subject to change based on whether or not a.) a client schedules time with us on Friday and b.) I survive the next three days at the only hotel left (that costs less than $600, anyway) near Moscone this week whose neighborhood is variously described as “sketchy,” “unpleasant,” and “questionable.” I’m straight outta Southie>, though, so I should be fine.
Wish me luck 😉
Bob Plankers says:
September 10, 2007 at 1:11 am
I stayed at the Air Travel Hotel the other night. Wasn’t sold out, was reasonably priced, had good service, but the neighborhood was sketchy, with a lot of homeless folks in it (the church around the corner does a lot with the homeless, so they stay close). Didn’t have a problem. I think people just get it in their minds that the neighborhood is “sketchy.”
Some friends and I are probably going to systematically investigate the brewpubs and beer bars in SF, while out at VMworld. If you have a free evening we’d love to have you along. Shoot me an email.