Category Archives: moxie

We NEED You!

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We’re planning on attending SXSW Interactive in 2008 together which will be the first time Kathy and I have attended something at the same time and the first time I’ve seen her in over a year. I think it’ll be only the 4th time we’ve ever been in the same vicinity, actually.  Not only are we hoping to participate on a panel but we’re planning to hopefully have a Blogging with Moxie book signing at the SXSW Bookstore as well which will be both fun and probably the basis of some good comedy.  Susannah Gardner of Hop Studios submitted our proposed panel this year for Blogging Tool Death Match where a group of us will “throw down” and battle it out over the best and the worst of blogging platforms.

Blogging Tool Death Match!

Every blog project starts with the same question: Which blog platform is the right one to use? Answering this question correctly can make or break the final product. Get the nitty-gritty on each platform from experts who will defend their software choice against all challengers. Will it come to blows?

Obviously, we’ll be defending Expression Engine and I will totally take it outside if I have to.  wink If the panel is chosen, one of us will go up against our fine colleagues including the lovely Lisa Sabin Wilson (WordPress – she did write the book afterall), Peter Flaschner (covering MT and we all know how I feel about that), and Paul Chaney for TypePad.  Susie Gardner will be moderating the panel in case it comes to name calling and hair pulling. 

It hasn’t been chosen yet, voting ends TODAY, September 21st at 11:59 pm so we need your help to vote us into the mix this year! Go! Now! Please??  This is going to be a great panel, even if it doesn’t get violent… but with this bunch, who knows?  wink Please go vote if you haven’t already.  You’ll need to quickly register and place your vote (5 stars!!!) for the Blogging Tool Death Match panel.  Search for “death match” if you lose your way.  While you’re there vote for any other panels you think would make a great addition to the conference. Even if you’re not attending, you can still sign-up and vote for us.  Do a girl a favor, won’t you?  grin

Also, while I’m begging shamelessly, if you’ve not already sponsored me for AIDS Walk 2007, I would appreciate any penny you can give to help this cause.  I’m up to $330 $380 $405 (through some very kind donations — thank you!) and have been holding there for about a week. I’ve only got until next Sunday to meet (or hopefully exceed) my goal of $500.  Please help support AIDS and HIV support and services.  Thank you!

Next Panel: How to Make an Ass of Yourself in Front of Your Colleagues

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I haven’t done it yet, though. But let me tell you somethin’ kids, these panels are HUGE!  I went to “How to Be a Web Design Superhero” this morning and it was filled to the rim (not with Brim, though. That was me. Caffeinated and slightly nervous are a classic combo).  It was a great panel, though with Andy Budd and Andy Clarke. It was entertaining and it made me feel better, really, about my process as a designer and how we do things.  We utilize most, if not all the “superpowers” they outlined in the panel, which was reassuring.  But equally and possibly more reassuring was hearing that these two designers also are growing and adapting and learning to better handle clients or critique or whatever… just like we do.  I mean, I assumed that. We don’t live in a vacuum, but it was nice to hear it, straight up like that.  I think that everyone is really their own worst critic, no matter how confident you are in your skills.  It is also nice to hear that many of the designers I admire may be like me, not formerly trained.  Sure, I had a year of design school way back in the Stone Age, but I quit, knowing I could do it on my own.  Comforting, somehow.  It lets me feel like maybe, someone I admire someday may admire my work in return, however remote the possibility.

So, I’m having a cup o’ joe and taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi they’re offering over here at the convention center.  Mike‘s back at the hotel. He’s still feeling under the weather and I’m working on catching it. I think I’m just staving it off until I get home.  Fortunately, working from the couch in my bathrobe is something I do best.  wink

I still haven’t run into anyone I know. At all. ANYwhere. Really makes me feel out of touch. I wish I had more time in my everyday life to connect with colleagues. I feel like sometimes we’re so busy that we don’t get a chance to come up for air and really network.  Obviously, being busy is a plus, but balance is really the key, I think.  We’re workin’ on it.

Our panel is at 3:30 CST.  I haven’t seen Susie, Peter, Paul or Lisa yet.  I suppose I may have and didn’t know it, but I’m fairly conspicuous with my pink bag and pink shoes and look of complete “holy crap!” so I’m sure they’ll find me. We have to meet in the “green room” at 2:30, which I’m looking forward to, mostly so we can chat about what we’re going to say. “How to Make Money with your Blog Design Skills”… what do I say? What do I say?  Add one part coffee, two parts photoshop. Shake and serve with a CSS garnish?