AUSTIN, Texas, Mar. 13, 2006 — When I first started reading online journals (blogs, whatever, I give up call 'em whatever you want), I found myself getting out of sorts with people I like to read who either didn't post every day or didn't put up pictures once in a while. Then I'd think how silly that was...to be demanding content for free from perfect strangers about their lives. It was like expecting mail and picture postcards from friends only maybe you didn't even know the people.

Yeah, silly. But now I'm a person who updates for the public just when I feel like it. So there. I'm one of those people frustrating people looking for a regular read or hungry for my weird shop window photos.

When I worked, I envied people who weren't tied to the desk. People who could, say, go to a film festival and not have to take vacation or just go on the weekends and evenings and get exhausted. I used to envy people kicking back in restaurants and coffee shops when I went out to lunch and had to get back to work.

Yeah. I have seen ten movies since SXSW film started Friday night. I've hung out at downtown coffee shops, bars (including that cool wine bar on Congress) and restaurants. I've taken weird shop window pictures. And it's Monday night and we are taking a break from it all and I'm drinking coffee in front of my computer and reading peoples' journals or blogs. I'm relaxed, I don't have to go to work tomorrow. No, I'm going to the festival, see some movies, try to see Amanda Congdon of Rocketboom at the Trade show.

Our eyes are always bigger than well, our eyes, on these festivals, though. And we end up being those folks who are home with their feet up looking glassy-eyed, alert only because of all the coffee. (Iced coffee at Alamo rocks.)

Yeah. I'm one of those people worthy of envy. One of those annoying dilettantes. But according to this movie we saw today (OilCrash) you might as well kick back and have fun, too. Bad times are coming! I actually believe the oil peak theory. I just hope the black gold (Texas Tea) lasts for my lifetime. Although if I live another forty years (as I expect to do) I think I'll see global economic collapse. But what are you going to do? Me? I'm going to drink wine, watch movies and take weird shop window pictures. I'd save the planet if I could. Really. I'm not going to drive a Suburban or a Humvee, though. I'm not going to be one of those people.

Second Street District...very upmarket