Greg Hartnett

Now that I am finally home from my conference tour, I’m getting back into my groove. Two nights of real sleep, and some time with my family were just what the doctor ordered. After a few days in New York, and almost a full week in Vegas, these old bones needed some down time.

Once again, I depart from a conference a bit torn. While it is nice to return to the homestead, I immediately long for the next conference. We are a very fortunate group, for ours is a close-knit community, unique with knowledge share, friendship, and collaboration. White hats and black hats, side by side. Newbies and old-timers mixing it up. Programmers and designers sharing notes. You can feel the energy as some of the sharpest minds in the industry wheel and deal.

And yet I’m left feeling as if I am doing it all wrong. Maybe I should start doing a little more business at these things and stop viewing them as a social function. For me, these things serve as a vacation where maybe I can do some business. I use these times to catch up and hang out with old friends, and as an opportunity to make new friends. And PubCon provided many opportunities for both.

So, much love to friends new and old:

Brett - a big shout out. Awesome conference - the best yet. Thank you for putting it together, and making it all happen. Without your efforts, we’d all be more isolated, and less the wiser.

The Shoemoney Crew, Jeremy and Dillsmack - great times boys. I was very happy to be able to spend so much time with you two.

Shandyking - awesome to meet the Mrs., I definitely wish we could have all spent even more time together. Thanks for giving me the poker bug.

Todd “Oilman” Friesen - it was great to finally be able to hang out a bit, and I was happy to learn what a down to earth guy you are.

Greg Boser - thanks for throwing such a great party and sharing some of your personal life with us yabos. I feel very priviliged to have been there.

Markus - dude, I’m going to send you a list of all conferences I am going to be at, in hopes that you will attend each one as well. You ROCK!

Shawn Hogan - one of the peeps I have wanted to hang with for awhile.

Chris Boggs - one of the funniest guys in search (and genuine to boot). Love hanging out with you.

Neil and Cameron - thanks for helping us with the booth. You guys are princes among men - I apologize for missing you afterwards. Damn alcohol induced flakiness…

Chris Sherman - it’s the quiet ones you have to look out for.

Jenn Slegg - what a sweetheart. Sorry I wasn’t a very good teacher - luckily it was a free game

Brent Csutoras - an up and comer. I love meeting future stars, though you and Annie are never allowed to play Hold ‘Em with me again!

Brandy and Daron - the hardest working couple in search. Always a blast to spend time with.

Marc Levin - thanks for the invite to the awesome party. Definitely the best conference party I have ever been to. You guys know how to do it right.

I’m sure that there are others, but in an effort to get some work done today, I’m going to cut it off there. So for all my homies, much love - I look forward to spending time with you guys again. And to the people I met for the first time, let’s make sure that it’s not the last. See you all at the next show.