Unquiet Desperation

This coming weekend, cmdln¹ is flying up to Cleveland and we are driving up to Penguicon together. This is exciting on three levels.

First, I get to spend time with one of the smartest folks I know². I’ve been a fan of cmdln’s work for a long time now, and meeting him at Dragon*Con last year was a real treat. As we are both software developers, gamers, geeks, and podcasters, we have a tremendous amount in common. I’m looking forward to getting back together and chatting with him.

Secondly, Penguicon is a combination Science Fiction and Open Source software convention. Talk about a perfect mix for me. Topics range from the future of programming languages to why to write short fiction to all manner of gaming. I’ll be in heaven.

Finally, I got the chance to meet and chat briefly with Matt Arnold³ at Notacon this year. We discussed his efforts to get a podcasting presence launched at the con, and he invited me to participate in the Podcasting Panel which takes place at 10pm on Friday night.

I’m hoping to get some audio from the con for The Secret Lair, but we shall see. My schedule is looking pretty jam-packed so far.

If you’re going to be at the con, drop me a line. I’d love to meet up and chat.

1. Commandline, to those who need vowels and such[back]
2. That would be cmdln.[back]
3. The Head of Communications for Penguicon, and newest member of Escape Artists, Inc[back]

This week at game night, I was discussing the December Info Detox with Kris. While we were prepping for our Savage Worlds campaign, I made a mental list of things that I wanted to do while I was going dark for December. Here’s the complete list:

1. Clear out who I am following on Twitter, Facebook, Skype, AIM, etc. Some folks I’ve not spoken to in ages and some I don’t even know.
2. Clear out my del.icio.us account, and my local bookmarks as well. Time to get things organized.
3. Clean up my hard drive. Archive this year’s old podcast files and other media.
4. Clear out my podcast list. There are only about six podcasts I listen to regularly and that need to be downloaded. Everything else can be moved to my Google Reader, to be heard when I feel like it, rather than taking up space on my hard drive.
5. Clean up my RSS feeds.
6. Find specific times for writing and for working out. Next year is going to be more about these two things than about writing code.
7. Clean up my office (again), including those bookshelves. Need to move the books I’ve finished to the basement and make room for the 40+ books I have yet to read.
8. TEASER: Prepare for a new podcast from yours truly and the witty Mr. Johnson. Should go live in late January.

Most importantly, I’m going to unplug, spend time with the family, and clear my head for the new year. It’s so easy to get swept up in the things that happen on and around the Intarwebs that we forget that we are more than just digitally social beings. We need the analog facetime with others just as much.  I’d encourage everyone to take a little time away from email, twitter, and such this winter (or summer, if you’re Down Under) and reconnect with those around you, your neighborhood, your community.

In case I do not get a chance to blog, I want to wish everyone Happy Holiday-of-Your-Choice, a Happy New Year, and a safe holiday season.  I’ll see you all in January.

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