15.3.05

SXSW Interactive Conference After Parties

Written account first, pictures to follow~

Mission Accomplished folks. I wanted to meet Tony Pierce and last night it happened.

Tony rang my mobile around sixish to tell me about a blogger party at Club Deville. I was ecstatic that he called and I eagerly accepted the invitation. I was beside myself at the prospect of coming face to face with my most favorite blogger of all time. I also knew that he would be accompanied by SK Smith, my second favorite blogger of all time, and with that compound excitement I had to pee.

When I arrived at Club Deville Tony and SK were nowhere to be found. That was OK because Club Deville is a spot that I am quite familiar with so I found the bar with ease. I started off the night with a Guinness. When I realized that the situation was open bar I promptly ordered a second. I wandered around looking for Tony for a spell before settling in at a perch near the door where I could chat with strangers until my man arrived.

When Tony and SK finally hit the scene I was into my second Guinness and out of my head. I was really having to hold it down as not to seem like a total spazz. I was trying to rep the ATX with a little class. So greetings were exchanged and was relieved to find both Tony and SK delightful individuals in their corporeal forms. Tony said that he didn’t know what I looked like cause I never post pictures of myself. A statement which he retracted when we got around to taking pics. He was all “oh now I remember your picture in your blog from that face you just made.” I make silly faces for pictures.

Tony was of course straightaway mobbed by busblog fans which allowed me time to get to know SK, much to her chagrin I’m sure. She took it gracefully and chatted with me for quite a while.

When SK is talking she has the most deliberate method of forming her words and phrases. It’s really wonderful, it makes you feel safe and warm. She is in a graduate program at UT that I am interested in so we talked about that. Turns out SK knows Tony through her man Dan who attended UCSB with Tony. I got enough context clues out of her to assess Tony’s real age. He’s 84 not 111. Doesn’t look a day over 76 though.

Tony was all “wanna meet the hosts” and I was all “hells yes.” He then proceeded to introduce me to all the founding fathers of blogger. I was starstruck and not very composed about it. I was shaking hands and hugging and taking pics and engaged in a brand of merrymaking that could only be brought on as a result of south by southwest.

Tony tried to talk his way into the Real World house while SK and I discussed “playing with the forms” when it comes to painting and writing respectively.

Before I knew it the Google party was over and it was off to The Sidebar for the gawker party.

Biz was all "next party Dep, lead us to The Sidebar" and I was all "yes sir, c'mon everybody, follow me" and then I got everybody lost. The gawker party was approching crunk when we arrived. Guess who was there? Ana Marie Cox, THE Wonkette. Hello, uh, hotness alert. I hope my erection wasn’t that obvious. I took a picture of her without her consent and I hope she doesn’t sue me for it. I think she is loverly even though I don’t read a lot of political blogs.

I got pics of Tony meeting Wonkette for the first time. Talk about your seminal blog moments. Are there any respectable publications who wish to pay me for those pics? I’m cheap as far a paparazzi is concerned.

There was a Korean Kissing bandit and there was people from all over and the booze was flowing and I think a good time was had by all.

At one point Tony was trying to give somebody directions. I just shook my head. He handed me the phone. It was Kristen from Madpony. She was on the outskirts of town. I gave her directions to the joint we were at. I was unfortunately too tired and at that point too drunk to stick around to meet Kristen. I would have just made a fool out of myself anywhos. But I think those kids are still round town. Tony’s gonna be here till Friday so I hope to hook up with him again.

When I got home I was so excited I had to call Ms Miss to tell her about it. I don’t think she was very impressed.

Pics coming soon.

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