Wednesday, 12 March 2003 | Excerpts

Excerpts from my [sxsw] weekend include: (Friday) leaving New York and getting picked up at the airport and being driven directly to a venue full of big-gutted Texans who were listening to Loretta Lynn play live. Standing at the counter there, I heard an uncertain "Lisa?," and I looked up to see an old friend of mine from North Carolina standing on the other side of the bar. Apparently he has lived in Austin three years, which means it's probably been four since we've spoken.

(Saturday) wearing a plastic camouflage helmet that whirrs like a siren when you push the medallion on the front, a noise that sounds like it's coming from the core of your head rather than on top of it.

(Sunday) having an early morning conversation with a five-year-old boy, which went something like this: [him] Last night I wet my pants, and so I got dressed right away this morning. [me, not sure how to respond] That makes sense. [him] Of course it makes sense. You know it makes sense; I know it makes sense; everyone knows it makes sense. People know what makes sense.

(Monday) walking around Austin all afternoon, leaning over railings and inspecting old train cars and getting hot and sweaty from doing absolutely nothing! I miss late spring.

(Tuesday) watching my big, expensive camera bag almost get stolen, as it got pulled by its strap underneath the bathroom stall in the airport. I realized what was happening just in time, won the tug of war, and yelled some profanities at her. I only saw her shoes.

Otherwise, I spent time in panels learning, my time out of panels learning and unlearning, and practically all of my time with other people, many of whom I wish lived wherever it is I live.

In the airport, when I looked up at the turquoise and pink departure board [CHICAGO—BOARDING; LONDON—ON TIME; TORONTO—DELAYED], this time I didn't pick out the large and inevitably more appealing cities and wish I was going there instead of where I was headed. Because I was already going to a large, appealing city. Finally.