Libby Says...
Well, I've been home since Friday afternoon, but I've been completely out of touch. I've not been quite this sick in a long time (despite having been quite ill for a month between Thanksgiving and Christmas). Not only the general creeping crud, but my eyesight is foggy, my lower gastro-intestinal tract isn't pleased with me, and I've got the mother of all headaches. My apologies to anyone I was distracted around at LS after Tuesday morning -- this started at lunch on Tuesday. Also any apologies to anyone who might've caught this from me. I don't think I was the originator, but I'm sure I shared. Sorry! More thoughts on the show, all the great demos and announcements, and the people as soon as I am a tiny bit caught up with work and homework and able to breathe and see clearly on a consistent basis. Permanent Link to this entry: Permanent Link
My new friend Kitty is an absolute star -- she's given me some DayQuil and it's going to make me somewhat audible during the prz this afternoon. Also a star? Debbie for her quickie trip to get me Immodium yesterday. Been a fun show, let me tell you! ;-) Permanent Link to this entry: Permanent Link
Oy. and Vey. Came down with a bit of the crud yesterday during lunch, but I'm persevering. Had a great time with the blogging panel yesterday -- we had great panelists (check out Ed's review or Paul's pic) and a very interactive, interesting audience. Also yesterday had the blogging BOF, and a focus group dinner for the LotusUserGroup.org -- thanks to those who attended our dinner and gave us their unvarnished and very well expressed/considered opinions about our site and what we're offering. Stopped by the Engineering party for a few -- but was just too snuffy and went back to the hotel. Of course, couldn't quite finish for the evening without stopping by to listen to the Jamfest -- 'course, I did it from a balcony on the Dolphin, and it was plenty loud there. I loved the JamFest -- great performers, great idea -- I couldn't breathe in there it was so loud. Maybe I'm just getting old. Quite enjoyable from across the water, though. I've been a bit...tired with the industry -- not done, but tired... but, the panel, the people, the sessions at this Lotusphere are really helping to reinvigorate me. Actually, to tell the truth, I had a technical conversation with Paul and Warren and Kitty last night about Admin/Security topics and actually really wished I were still doing some technical things. Might have to do some ND7+ research and write a few new sessions for next few seminars... Looking forward today to... finding some DayQuil, presenting "How to 'sell' Notes/Domino inside your organization" with Ed at 1:30 in Dolphin S. Hemi III, doing some podcasts this afternoon, and more..... Permanent Link to this entry: Permanent Link
I'm having a great Lotusphere -- better than I expected to, maybe. One of the things I've always loved about the show is how many friends I have here -- it's even more true as time goes on and even when you meet new people, often you find that you've known them online or you make a lucky acquaintance and you just click. I'm reminded of the song we used to sing in Girl Scouts -- "Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver, the other gold." This is a good place for making new friends and catching up with the old (er, perhaps "old" isn't quite the word I want here?). Of course, there is one big difference in my Lotusphere this year -- it's the first year in *many* that I'm not registered as press. I feel like I've been kicked out of a particular club that I liked very much. I'm still just as busy as always, but now the fact that I hardly ever get to make it to the sessions I want to see is worse, because I'm not getting a personalized briefing on the technology. Must work harder. I'm also blogging Lotusphere 2006 in two places this year, thanks to our LotusUserGroup.org Live From Lotusphere blog. It's hard to blog in two places - you don't feel completely natural in either one. But, I think that we're introducing a lot of people to the site, to blogging, and to a part of the community they're not familiar with by doing it, so it's all good. Off to a busy day of podcasting, blogging, homework, sessions, meeting and greeting, and our blogging panel. By the way, I've met a lot of you who've complimented me on my blog or mentioned that you read (or lurk) -- thank you. Not only for being here and reading, but also for telling me -- I'm so glad to meet you in person! Permanent Link to this entry: Permanent Link
Yes, I joined the cool kids blogging the OGS live from the event -- look for it at http://www.lotususergroup.org/blogsphe.nsf Permanent Link to this entry: Permanent Link
So, I haven't mentioned it lately, but, oh, yeah, it's Lotusphere season, isn't it?! Well, heck. And here I thought I was going to have a nice quiet January at home. Or not. Perhaps starting two grad school classes within two weeks of leaving for the biggest show of the year wasn't the actual brightest thing I might've done, but... hey, sometimes you just have to kick it out there and see what happens. Here's what's happening with me at the show... Presentations: Three of them -- sort of: CS104 Reach Out and Blog! (web link) Speaker: Many SW 10 - Tuesday 3:00pm - 4:00pm BOF512 IBM Lotus User Group Leadership: Meet, Greet and Collaborate (web link) Speakers: Libby Ingrassia, Debbie Lynd DL Europe 8 - Wednesday 07:00am - 8:00am ID120 How to "Sell" IBM Lotus Notes and Domino Inside Your Organization (web link) Speakers: Ed Brill, Libby Ingrassia DL S. Hemisphere III - Wednesday 1:30pm - 2:30pm There is actual slideware for one of them, but the others are a panel and a BOF, so different, although the panel at least has required a bit of prep. You might look for something cool there... LotusUserGroup.org: Well, there's the BOF, as mentioned above. There's the booth (#302), where you'll be able to find me a bit, and then there's the Live From Lotusphere stuff (including some very fun podcast interviews with all kinds of cool people -- listen to our rehearsal with Debbie Lynd to whet your appetite for giggly goodness). Just to make it fun, we've launched a brand-spanking-new group blog -- anyone who's a LotusUserGroup.org member and wants to contribute to the blog should come by the booth, blog, and be signed up to win cool stuff. Blogging: Well, now you know of at least two places to find me blogging during the week -- here (oh, and sometimes here) and at the LotusUserGroup.org Live From Lotusphere blog. Plus, if you blog, you can grab our cool new icon (look right -- it's red -- see it?) and pop it up on your own blog! I'm leaving tomorrow, arriving in the land of the mouse around 5 pm, so hope to see many of you during the week. Permanent Link to this entry: Permanent Link
Not too many lurkers then, I see. Ok. You didn't have to be an actual *lurker* to post, by the way. :-) Weekend Update: Busy central. Working on grad school homework. Oy. Hanging out with friend in from out of town (hi Margo!) and boyfriend's family for boyfriend's birthday (happy birthday Philip). Working on more homework. Working on 80 million things for Lotusphere. Not ready yet, in case you were curious. Double Oy. And freaking that my laptop seems ready to bite the big one. Yes, the laptop power cord no longer consistently powers the laptop and the screen goes in and out all the time. Looks like it may be that time. So, your mission, should you choose to accept it -- laptop advice. Here's how I use it:
Your thoughts? Permanent Link to this entry: Permanent Link
Apparently, this is happening: So... as stolen shamelessly from Profgrrrrl, delurk yourself, comment, and tell us about your most memorable toothfairy experience, your recent reading, and how many computers you have in your house. Would you believe that at the moment, I have ONLY ONE computer in my home? When the ex and I broke up, I kept my laptop and he took all the other machines. This laptop is now starting to burp and twitch, though, so it may be time to invest. Edited: By the way, no need to (and not trying to) vilify the ex for taking all the old computers -- he had revitalized most of them from dead or dying hulks, or built them himself -- only a little claim on them and not too much interest in their care and feeding. Thanks. Permanent Link to this entry: Permanent Link
While my previous two posts were focused on my dad, I wouldn't be here (physically, emotionally, intellectually) without my mom. I guess it's a common failing to take for granted those people who are most important to us, but since I've just reminded us all not to take anyone we love for granted... Thank you, Mom, for teaching me how to treat people as people, for supporting everything I've ever tried to do, for being excited for me for every happy thing and consoling for every sad thing, for giving me an intellectual curiosity and indulging it with me. Thank you for being forgiving when I swrew up and for always being the one person who I can count on to love me and support me in the face of, well, anything. I remember all the times you were there with orange slices and Tiger's Milk bars for me and the whole swim team; I remember all the fun summer "outings" we went on to the ship channel and Brenham and etc when you were home with me in the summers; I remember all the times I asked you a question and you took it so seriously -- even if I didn't want the "essay answer" -- you thought about what I asked. You taught me to eat spoonfuls of peanut butter and cereal or pancakes at any time of the day or night (extra useful when I got to college), even while you cooked healthy meals for dinner (thank you for teaching me to like brocolli and spinach!); you made me honor my committments even when I wanted to flake out; you welcomed all of my friends to our house and made us all feel comfortable; you heard every wrong note I ever played on the piano and loved me anyway. You made sure my elementary school library didn't lose Where the Wild Things Are, took me to see my first opera (The Magic Flute) and helped me to keep my enthusiasm and openness, even when I wanted to be cranky and cynical. Thank you for never telling me I wasn't allowed to read a book, even if was a bit out of my reach at a particular time. Thank you for sharing your New York Times and so many last bites of things, even though that's the thing you hate worst! You left your whole life behind and came to take care of Daddy (and me) when he got sick. I'll never forget how much that taught me about the person I wanted to be and how grateful we both were. Thank you for always telling me the truth, even if I didn't want to hear it or disagreed or didn't take it well -- it means that there's nobody in my life I trust more than you. I love you, Mommy! Permanent Link to this entry: Permanent Link
It's funny, sometimes when you work from home and don't see folks all the time, you forget just how many caring, good friends are out there supporting you. You all said very heartwarming things yesterday and I appreciate it. Writing the entry made me think happy thoughts about my wonderful daddy. Permanent Link to this entry: Permanent Link
I woke up this morning with a huge painful punch to the gut. One of the cats decided to use me as a jumping off point to get to the top of the headboard. But when I woke the rest of the way up and realized what day it is-- the 15th anniversary of my dad's passing -- the symbolic punch to the gut happened. My dad died January 5, 1991, from complications of AIDS and I've missed him every day since then. Please take a moment to tell your family -- parents, children, grandparents, family of choice (aka friends) -- that you love them, that you forgive them for anything you were mad about, that you hope they forgive you for anything you've done to them, and that they are important to you. Today, instead of just mourning, I'm working on remembering all the happy things, like the time he tried to throw me a surprise party for my 16th birthday. I had been out of town in California, and he'd planned the party with my best friend Julieana's mom, Paula. He bought a bunch of fajita meat for the party, and left it in our fridge. When I went to get breakfast, I had to ask... Dad, what's with the meat? Um, it was on sale, honey. Okaaayyy... Of course, when I saw his car drive past a while later with a bunch of balloons, I put two and two together... He used to have plant sales, when we lived in New York, where he'd sell clippings that he'd rooted or plants that he'd nursed to beauty, to make room for new plants. He designed his gardens on graph paper. He liked the Bee Gees, Flash Gordon, and Stephen King books. I'm grateful for all the times he made fried macaroni for dinner and cuddled up with me on the couch. He taught me to put ice cream on waffles, he ate a half of a grapefruit and a bowl of cheerios for breakfast, he ironed his jeans, he hated mayonnaise, he loved his garden, he could build or make anything, from the drapes to a patio, and he loved our family -- me and mommy. To all of you -- my family, my friends, my colleagues -- Thank you for being part of my life; you're important to me. Permanent Link to this entry: Permanent Link |
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