Weekend competition information for me

I'm posting this because a couple family members wanted to see me in a demo or competition. Eventually we'll put the videos online (not because we think we rock, but so we can see what we did right and wrong). I'll be doing just one event, will be up for about 3-10 minutes, and since this is my first event, I'll probably do mediocre at best. I like to think I'm good, but I'll probably be a bit nervous and am likely to make some silly mistakes. Of course, besides competing I'll be coaching so I'll be pretty busy and will only have so much time to be social.

So if you want to sit on bleachers by yourself for hours starting at 9:30 am in order to see me give a go for a few minutes then here is the address:

Saturday, November 1, 2008
Driving Directions to the Tournament
University of the District of Columbia
4200 Connecticut Avenue NW
Physical education BLDG 47
Washington, DC

Quick update

For those who care, here is what is in the Danny news:

• Bought the kid a nice bike as an early birthday present. Money came from his grandparents and us for the bike, and its much better than what I have. Now he easily outpaces me. I am very jealous!
• Jen is off to Calgary over Halloween.
• Saturday I compete in forms for the first time. I'll be doing Koryo, and if I can land the side kicks then I'm certain to win.
• Shaved my head. So far at work for 90 minutes no one has noticed.

The temptation is very strong...

I want a vacation. One away from home, my daily chores, work and anything involving responsibility. A clean break from life. Our finances are in improving shape, so a vacation is in our reach. I don't have expensive tastes, and neither does my family. Preferably I want to go somewhere warm and enjoy the ocean. The sea gives my soul energy. Ideally I want a $1000 vacation for the three of us (me, wife, 16-year old son).

However, upon any sort of reflection, now is not the time. We have so much that needs doing. A quick list of things to do:

• Take down the dying tree in back ($2300)
• Take down a tree growing on the side of our house ($1000)
• Redo the kitchen sink ($1000)
• Install a dishwasher in the kitchen ($1000)
• Electrical work in the basement ($500)
• Replace the upstairs toilette ($300)
• Replace all our 1960s era windows ($5000)
• Fix the back porch roof ($750)
• Pay back a hospital bill ($300)
• Buy me a new bike ($500)
  
• Pay back a bigger bill or three ($infinity)

And that is just after a minute of thought. Bleah. I think if I can consult more and use leave time to get regular salary while doing so things might be better. Hrm...

End of the conference

Today is Wednesday. The last day of the conference ended for me at about 4:30 pm on Sunday. I spent a week of training, networking, presenting, and coding with a great group of very smart people. I also got to eat three times in Ethiopian fare, which is nice after a 14 year break from that notable cuisine.

Doing this sort of thing in your own town is interesting. Except for one night with insomnia, I got enough sleep. On the other hand, the sense of excitement you get by going far away was missing. On the plus side, I managed to get some gym time in. On the other hand, home things were a constant distraction.

Anyway, here is to hoping for the next conference being in a fun country far away!

Start of the Conference

I had trouble sleeping unday, so I too two benedryl to get to sleep. That made me blurry in the morning but sleep is something I need in order to focus. Breakfast was a handful of grapes.

The conference is taking place at the Ronald Reagan building, so I took the Orange line train from East Falls Church to Federal Triangle. Then I wandered the RR building for 10 minutes trying to find my class. Came in, saw my buddy Vern Chapman from the bootcamp this summer, sat down, and got ready.

The class I'm taking is Plone theming. It was well taught but most of the first day is just review stuff for me. I learned a couple new things, but nothing super-critical.

I did spend a good 15 minutes talking productively with Amy Clark, the better half of aclark.net.

I was thinking about going to the gym tonight to work out, but people are going to an Ethiopian restaurant this evening and it might behoove me to do that instead of staying fit. We'll see how I feel in a couple of hours.

362 days ago I was off to Italy

The 2007 Plone Conference was set in Naples, Italy. I captured my adventures under the PloneConf2007 label on this blog. This year the conference is here in Washington, DC. Today, instead of waiting nervously to board a flight across the Atlantic, I'll be tooling around Arlington, Virginia. Much as I like our home, I have to admit a sense of disappointment.

There is something about visiting someplace new, seeing things you've never seen before, and taking your clothes out of suitcases and into hotel drawers that makes me happy. I know my local Plonistas put a lot of work into this effort, and yet my memories and heart remains in Italy.

I am excited about two more days of training under Joel Burton, three more days of Plone conference, and two days of Plone sprinting. Plus the odd bit of socializing mitigated by our own careful house budget.

I'll be taking pictures of Plone friends and some of the places I'll be in. That is if they let me take pictures inside the brobdingnagion Ronald Reagan building.