Brief Life Update
I can’t believe it’s already May. Time sure does fly. I wanted to take a moment and capture what I’ve been up to the last few months, both to provide my friends on here with an update and for posterity, so, when looking back years later, I know what I was up to the first half of 2010.
CONvergence - My final year as Programming Head is quickly coming to an end. Most of the work has been done for this year now, the schedule of panels is online and packed to the brim and I think Tim and I did a great job. Amanda is stepping into my shoes next year and she’s done a great job of shadowing us this year and learning the ropes. All that really remains is scheduling and staffing the green room (programming ops) for the convention. Then the con itself, of course, and the post mortem and then I’m pretty much done.
It feels nice to be so far ahead of the game this year. My department has come a long way in the three years I’ve been head of programming. I wish I could claim all the credit but most of it has to do with the technology (Sales Force for an online database and Sched.Org for CONvergence scheduling) that Mike has implemented. Last year was the first year we used Sales Force and it was amazing how quickly our schedule got filled this year. One click of a button and an email blast went out to everyone who sat panels last year and voila, we had tons of stuff to schedule in early March. We still managed to attract quite a few first time panelists and left ourselves room in case we had any last minute additions. Now the schedule is pretty much locked from this point forward, a good two months before the 12th CONvergence rolls around.
Other than working on CONvergence, I haven’t done a whole lot. I’ve been making it to the gym a minimum of 2-3 times a week for lifting weights. I bought a recumbent bike that is plonked down in the middle of the basement. I just need to get on it and use it more to get my cardio in. When I do use it, it’s great but schedule-wise, it’s hard to find times after work to use it - I get home, Matt and I make supper, and then we typically sit down to eat and will usually watch TV (we’re working our way through all of TNG, DS9, and Voyager at the moment). By the time dinner is eaten, I’m too full to exercise and have to wait an hour or two and then it’s practically time for bed.
I’ve been meaning to make progress watching a number of TV shows - my short list includes True Blood Season 2, Kings, Weeds Seasons 4 & 5, Pushing Daisies, Reaper, Legend of the Seeker, a bunch of anime series, first five seasons of SNL, and of course there’s always Dark Shadows and Twilight Zone. What I might end up doing is start getting up at 6 AM and watch an hour-long show (or two half-hour shows) while using the bike. That would increase my cardio and make a dent in my “to-watch” pile of shame. It’s just a matter of getting up earlier to do it.
Matt and I are going with my family to a Twins game next week. I think the last Twins Game I went to was about eight years ago in college at the Metrodome. I’m looking forward to seeing the new stadium. Speaking of sports, I went and watch my first rugby match about a week ago. It was a lot of fun to watch. Matt and I are supporters of the Minneapolis Mayhem, which is a local gay rugby team. They are hosting the Bingham Cup at the National Sports Center in Blaine this year - Matt bought us tickets to that weeklong event in June. Should be a lot of fun to watch!
Matt and I are going to Pub Trivia tonight up in Blaine for dollar burgers and trivia. My Uncle Steve is in first place in this trivia league but is up in Grand Marais this month, so Matt and I are being called in to pinch-hit for his team so he’s able to remain in the top spot while he’s gone on vacation. It’s always a fun time - there are sports for Matt to watch in between questions and I get to see/visit with my mom too (she runs pull-tabs Monday and Tuesday nights at the bar to benefit Blaine Youth Hockey).
Other cool stuff - Matt is growing a garden this year, our cats Davina and Sunny, are doing well. That's about it for now. The weeks are just going by so fast.
CONvergence - My final year as Programming Head is quickly coming to an end. Most of the work has been done for this year now, the schedule of panels is online and packed to the brim and I think Tim and I did a great job. Amanda is stepping into my shoes next year and she’s done a great job of shadowing us this year and learning the ropes. All that really remains is scheduling and staffing the green room (programming ops) for the convention. Then the con itself, of course, and the post mortem and then I’m pretty much done.
It feels nice to be so far ahead of the game this year. My department has come a long way in the three years I’ve been head of programming. I wish I could claim all the credit but most of it has to do with the technology (Sales Force for an online database and Sched.Org for CONvergence scheduling) that Mike has implemented. Last year was the first year we used Sales Force and it was amazing how quickly our schedule got filled this year. One click of a button and an email blast went out to everyone who sat panels last year and voila, we had tons of stuff to schedule in early March. We still managed to attract quite a few first time panelists and left ourselves room in case we had any last minute additions. Now the schedule is pretty much locked from this point forward, a good two months before the 12th CONvergence rolls around.
Other than working on CONvergence, I haven’t done a whole lot. I’ve been making it to the gym a minimum of 2-3 times a week for lifting weights. I bought a recumbent bike that is plonked down in the middle of the basement. I just need to get on it and use it more to get my cardio in. When I do use it, it’s great but schedule-wise, it’s hard to find times after work to use it - I get home, Matt and I make supper, and then we typically sit down to eat and will usually watch TV (we’re working our way through all of TNG, DS9, and Voyager at the moment). By the time dinner is eaten, I’m too full to exercise and have to wait an hour or two and then it’s practically time for bed.
I’ve been meaning to make progress watching a number of TV shows - my short list includes True Blood Season 2, Kings, Weeds Seasons 4 & 5, Pushing Daisies, Reaper, Legend of the Seeker, a bunch of anime series, first five seasons of SNL, and of course there’s always Dark Shadows and Twilight Zone. What I might end up doing is start getting up at 6 AM and watch an hour-long show (or two half-hour shows) while using the bike. That would increase my cardio and make a dent in my “to-watch” pile of shame. It’s just a matter of getting up earlier to do it.
Matt and I are going with my family to a Twins game next week. I think the last Twins Game I went to was about eight years ago in college at the Metrodome. I’m looking forward to seeing the new stadium. Speaking of sports, I went and watch my first rugby match about a week ago. It was a lot of fun to watch. Matt and I are supporters of the Minneapolis Mayhem, which is a local gay rugby team. They are hosting the Bingham Cup at the National Sports Center in Blaine this year - Matt bought us tickets to that weeklong event in June. Should be a lot of fun to watch!
Matt and I are going to Pub Trivia tonight up in Blaine for dollar burgers and trivia. My Uncle Steve is in first place in this trivia league but is up in Grand Marais this month, so Matt and I are being called in to pinch-hit for his team so he’s able to remain in the top spot while he’s gone on vacation. It’s always a fun time - there are sports for Matt to watch in between questions and I get to see/visit with my mom too (she runs pull-tabs Monday and Tuesday nights at the bar to benefit Blaine Youth Hockey).
Other cool stuff - Matt is growing a garden this year, our cats Davina and Sunny, are doing well. That's about it for now. The weeks are just going by so fast.