  I stood around after the presentation... talking to people... hearing their enthusiasm for my presentation... the concepts I discussed, the clips I chose. Now, I'm staring at the check and thinking, yeah you can do this . I don't mean to be repeating Soblo... but I guess a lot of us question our abilities. We wonder if we're really capable of what other people think we're capable of. I tend to doubt it and then when I hear otherwise, I assume that people are deluded or just don't have high standards.
A year ago, I turned down this speaking appearance because I didn't think I could do it. This year, some work and an extra measure of confidence, and look what happens. Spent the evening with my friend Mark and his family. Mark and I go back to 1988. He's one of my oldest friends. We've done a lot of growing up together over the years... he made those calls to tell me he had eloped... or there was the call from Alaska telling me about their first baby. He was the first person I told that I was gay. He's my buddy... a true pal. I hadn't seen him in person for more than a year. And tonight, here I was in Phoenix and we had the chance to hang out. I look at the two of us ... and the thing is, we don't change.
When we're around each other, we're still so much like the Mark and Todd who were inseparable in 1988. Maybe we have changed... but we've changed together I guess. In any case, it was great to see him. Well off to Toronto today... for a great weekend with friends... a chance to hang out, people-watch and SLEEP. Speaking of which, I can't keep my eyes open a moment longer. 
