June 20, 2010
Homeward Boundentry,
BrainShare Africa has been fun. The session I was most worried about presenting (one where I had no technical expertise, and which was supposed to be two hours long) went off just fine Thursday afternoon. It's amazing what you can accomplish with the help of concentrated study, engineers in an eight-hour-distant time-zone, and a healthy helping of panic.
Today is Friday, and I've got one more session to present, followed by a seat on a panel in which I'm almost always expected to liven things up by going all "Jerry Springer Show" opposite my friend and nemesis Ted. It's traditional -- the two of us will take one of the questions posed to the panel, adopt finger-pointing stances (we work for different departments in the company) and verbally spar for a bit before reconciling and announcing that we've actually decided to work together to solve the problem. I'm looking forward to it.
Barring unforseen delays I fly out of here at 5:05pm. It's always a logistical trick to leave right after the show ends. Right now my checked bag sits over at the hotel waiting for me to pick it up. When I collect it I need to locate a restroom, strip out of my conference garb and don more practical travel clothing (baggy jeans, a long-sleeved denim shirt, and loose-fitting shoes), repack a few items, and then hop the courtesy shuttle to the airport.
After that it's easy. Follow directions, sit tight, and a mere 31 hours and 30 minutes later I'll be home. 21 hours of that will be spent on the same aircraft (I believe that when I arrive at Atlanta International, I'll be able to open a checking account by showing Delta Flight 7799 as my permanent address.)
Look for interim updates here.