So, I found a hotel outside of “Bumland” for the conference in Savannah, thanks to the Internet. I got on Google Maps and made a note of every hotel within a 10-block radius of the conference. I looked up each hotel’s rates, and the Springhill Suites started to look like a good value. I then got on Google StreetView and took a virtual walk all around the Springhill Suites. I “walked” to the conference center; I “walked” to the venues where the after-hours parties will be. “This neighborhood looks totally safe,” I thought, and having lived in Memphis for 20+ years I’m pretty sure I’m a good judge of what’s a safe neighborhood and what’s not. I booked the room.
Then I got on Facebook and Flickr and found photos of last year’s conference. I was pleased to see that there was not even one pic of anyone wearing a tie. Makes me think the attire I plan on wearing to the conference (T-shirt, shorts, sandals) will be entirely appropriate. Actually, I didn’t see many people in shorts, but there may have been a cold snap in Savannah that weekend last year. I also saw only a few people with laptops, so maybe I won’t bother carrying the MacBook or netbook with me.
Makes me wonder how we lived without the Internet. I’d totally be planning for this conference in the dark without it. Of course, it’s a conference about the Internet so I guess it wouldn’t be happening otherwise.
All right… I’ll try to do a “news update” post at lunch but I can’t promise it… I have to go buy something called “bronzer” which is makeup that will turn my skin a ghastly shade of orange so I’ll look like Bruce Pearl for Halloween. Time to get on Facebook and catch up (I seem to have a lot of new friend requests this morning for some reason) then head to work.