I failed to mention that at this same conference seven years ago is where I met Dave, my ex-husband. Many people who attend the conference were used to seeing us both together, so we had to break the news to many of the people there. We were able to hang out a bit at the conference, and I am happy that Dave and I are still good friends. He was kind enough to bring me a power cable for my Macintosh from home because mine was in my lost luggage, and also loaned me one of his mobile telephone cards so I wouldn't have to get a new one while I am in the US.
The annual conference is probably one of the most special events for work that I truly enjoy: I'm able to reconnect with a lot of people I know through work. Because I work on my own and live in Italy, I don't see many of my colleagues at all. We try to stay in touch through email and iChat, but it's just not the same.
Towards the end of the conference I am always a bit sad because I know I won't be seeing many of my colleagues who have become good friends of mine over the years for at least another year.
I took the picture shown here from the top of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. I was hoping to cross the Mississippi river to go to Arkansas, but I didn't have time.
One highlight of my trip to Memphis besides the conference and my connecting with my friends was that I was staying in the suite right next to Matt Dillon's suite. We took the elevator together once, had dinner at a table near him, and I heard him talking on the phone once when I was standing at my door. I heard that he's in a movie that is being filmed in Memphis with Kate Beckinsale, whom I unfortunately didn't see.
One other highlight was that Dave and I won an award for a website that we developed and continue to manage together. He let me keep the award because he received another one for a software program that he developed.
Tomorrow I am off to San Francisco where I will meet up with Alessandro who arrived today. He'll be staying at my friend's apartment in the City and I can't wait to see him. It has only been six days, but it has felt like a long time since I last saw him.
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