conference schedule

If you want to see my SIGGRAPH Conference schedule, you can follow this link:

http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=6st1tthl47085hj6i5sh1ooj0k%40group.calendar.google.com

or, maybe it will embed properly here (click on agenda for a list and scroll back to July & August of 2006):

in the air

I should have loaded my personal copy of the American Airlines "Safety Video" on this laptop. For the record, the S80 does not have video screens, so we had to watch the live demonstration. I was so looking forward to seeing my animated bits while seated on the an AA plane! I did the yellow slides and rafts inflating and floating off, while the camera makes a gentle S-curve around the front of the jet and down it's centerline. I also animated the "no smoking" cigarette in a metallic ashtray, altho the circle with the line through it was added later by John. That's my "most seen" animation, by some 40 million people per year (or something like that!). I watched my luggage get tossed up the conveyor belt to be tucked away just a few feet beneath me. At least I'll have t-shirts to wear!

Before we left the gate, I called Brandon at ReelFX. We've been travelling to SIGGRAPH together since 2001, and it is strange that he is not here. He told me to watch for show specials on the expo floor (the second person to ask this of me), especially training materials. I figure I'll just visit every booth on the show floor at least once. Pixar is overdue to hand out a poster, since they skipped an advanced "Cars" poster last year, interrupting a three year run ("Monsters, Inc" then "Finding Nemo" then "Incredibles") - how many different colors of Teapots can you make?! Altho, this is the Big Year for the Teapot, what with the whole Teapot display. I wonder if I can get a teapot autographed by Jim Blinn? I'll have to ask him, after finding one big enough to write on!

We sat on the taxi way at Dallas for quite awhile as the captain informed us we were "sixth" in line to take off, and we're behind schedule a bit. Apparently, the Eastern Searboard is a popular and crowded "sky lane."

Nothing but white clouds below us now. No more tiny toy villages visible. I'll be going back to sleep...

in the terminal

I arrived at the airport entirely anc completely early. So early that the previous plane (bound for New York City) was still at the gate. I witnessed the "shift change" or the lounge seating. Now before me are a brand new cast, never to be assembled quite like this arrangement again.

I am going to SIGGRAPH Conference, I should say. It's a sort of pilgrimage, a new years day, a grand adventure, and party.

Now MY plane has pulled into the gate. At least I assume it is my plane, since there is only an hour until we take off. The concourse is a long L that wraps around me from my front left, through my back left, to my back and far right.

I am tired, beyond drowsy, and slipping unconcious every so often. I did not sleep last night. I could have, if I had not spent that extra day in Memphis. Or, if I did not call a Short Guys EC meeting for Tuesday night, or if I had packed very lightly. None of these are the case for me. Expecially the part about nodding off, since it makes it very difficult to type or to comnpose a conherent thought stream. Even if I reread this paragraph, I'll just fall asleep before the end, then wonder what I was saying and why I spelt so a simple word wrong!

People are walking off the flight in a nicely sporadic line. It's not too crowed, not too slow, but it's not rushed, either. Again, it's a long concourse, so there's plenty of time to see who people are, and guess at the story of their trip to this place, Dallas. Most are dressed in shorts, or blue jeans. Almost everyone has a short-sleeved shirt. A few are on the top side of casual, but there is been no one in a suit.

I am asleep now. I cannot wait to wake up on the plane, having flown to Boston. But, for now, I wait at the gate (C-12) and try to stay awake so that I don't miss my boarding call.