a rush and a push
A friend of mine called me yesterday, worried, because I haven’t updated my blog in almost a week.
“Well, I’m glad you waited a whole week to call me,” I said, “because if I were dead, I’d be getting pretty stinky right now.”
“That makes no sense at all,” he said.
“I don’t have to make sense!”I said, “I’m beautiful, Lois!”
“Well, you’re still able to quote Family Guy,” he said, “so I’m going to assume you’re just busy.”
And he was right. I’ve been too busy to sit down and write about anything . . . and most of what’s going on in my life right now is either: a) too personal to blog about b) Totally Top Secret And I Can’t Talk About It or c) it’s so goddamned boring, it’s not worth the effort to talk about how boring it is.
One of the very few things that I can talk about that doesn’t fit the above criteria is Mac World!
The press release already went out, so I didn’t get a chance to scoop it, but the Really Big News is that I’ve been invited to speak at MacWorld in San Francisco in January.
I have been a Mac user since the very early days of the Mac 128. I wrote my first stories on that machine, and I still have the printouts from the dot-matrix printer I used way back then. I’ve been to several MacWorld expos, and I can’t believe that I actually get to be a part of the show.
Until now, the largest audience I’ve ever addressed was close to five thousand people at the Royal Albert Hall in London, but the audience I will at MacWorld will probably be the largest I’ve ever been in front of in my life. I hear that they’re expecting somewhere between five and six thousand people in the room, plus I think there will be some sort of simulcast online (and I’ll release my presentation under Creative Commons again,) so I could theoretically reach ten thousand people. I’m used to addressing an average crowd of about 150 people, and I get a little anxious when the crowd approaches 500 . . . but thousands?
Eep.
I should feel too nervous to even move . . . but my nerves are totally overwhelmed by excitement, because I didn’t get this invitation because I Used To Be Wesley On Star Trek, or anything like that. I got this invitation to speak because one of the MacWorld organizers saw me perform Just A Geek at Gnomedex!! It feels like I earned the opportunity, and I’m going to give the performance of my life when I’m there.
Remember when I wrote that I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be in my life right now? How I’m content, but not complacent? It’s because of things like this. I don’t feel like I need to run away from the stuff I used to do (or the person I used to be) anymore. I feel like I spent the first thirty years of my life building this complicated foundation, and now I’m living in a wonderful house atop it.
I’m off to prepare my presentation for ApacheCon on Monday in Las Vegas. Have a great weekend, everyone.
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YAY! i’m first!!! i also love macs, been a user since i was 6. that is so totally exciting! i was already planning on heading up to frisco for the expo anyways, but now i’ll have to be SURE to go. 🙂 congrats wil!
That is awesome – I heard about it the other day and was wondering when you would post 🙂
I wish I could go – my fiance is an apple rep and he gets to go if he wants 🙁
Good Luck!!! I’m sure it will be an amazing experience 🙂
YAY! i’m fir… Damn!
hehe
Yay! for Wil’s contentment tho.
And Yay for the Royal Albert Hall in London which is right next door to my university where I’m sat now.
That is all 🙂
Good for you Wil!
It sounds like things are coming together for you! Don’t forget that you’ve EARNED every good thing that has come to you. And it’s all because you have been so honest and generous with your time, and have chosen to do the things that are close to your heart.
Take care!
Soooo, when are you going to come to the East Coast? HHHmmmmmm Dragon
Congratulations! =D I think it’s like you said about Star Trek opening doors, although it’s not necessarily Star Trek for the rest of us: we can all be known for something we once did, but that only gets our foot in the door. After that, it’s up to us to keep going, to keep GROWING, and maybe one day we’ll finally get where you are.
At least, we can hope. =)
How dare you let your blog go untouched for so many days. What you’re doing in life could not possibly be more important than my need to read about it. I was forced to read OTHER PEOPLES BLOGS while you took your little happy hiatus. You go and build something up, and then neglect it, letting it settle quietly into the dust. Make up some more stories, damnit! Poker stories, family stories, pet stories, horrible neighbor stories… anything! I don’t want to read how great things are going, I need conflict in my entertainment! Now get back to work!
I know what you can share in your blog that couldn’t be too personal. What are your Thanksgiving plans with the family?
And here I thought you were just down for the count playing Halo 2 like the rest of us…
C
Dude! Thousands! That is SO COOL!!
Its funny I was just watching The Ellen show yesterday and she mentioned how she gets more nervous in front of 8 people than she does in front of 5000 because she figures that the odds are that 1200 of them will laugh at the right parts and she won’t notice the rest and feel as self conscious.
You could think of it that way, although I know the odds are good that there won’t be a single person in the audience that isn’t With You. Once you start, your natural charm and humor will shine through as it has every time I’ve seen you and you will RAWK! \m/
I am so happy to hear the awesome news, you’ll do great and keep up the good hard work wel done Mr. Wheaton, God bless.
Very Cool! I used to drive down from Spokane to the Bay Area every January to visit friends and go to Mac World. Didn’t make it down this year since I moved from Spokane to Seattle in January, but this is my perfect excuse to make sure I’m there this year. Looking forward to it.
Oh sure, you got invited to speak at MacWorld, but the rest of us Gnomedexers got those cool folding frisbee’s flung at our heads! 🙂 I really enjoyed your performance at the ‘Dex, and I’m sure the Macheads will enjoy it too.
The Mac thing (can you see how not-techno-savvy I am?) sounds great, Wil…if you’ve got butterflies, some Inderal should do the trick. 😉
come to the east coast! we want to see you read from your book too. *pout*
A Macintosh 128? I still have printouts from my old (yet still working) Apple IIGS. Gotta love those Dot matix printouts.
Congradulations on the invite from MacWorld. Is there a chance that this is an Open attendance conference? I would love to fly up to San Francisco to attend.
Well Done Man!
Dont worry about being nervous or excited in front of all those people.If you do,just hold your laptop over your crotch and they will never know! ;7) heh *mOjO*
That’s great news. I wish that 1) I could come see you in Las Vegas on Monday and 2)that I could attend MacWorld. I’ve never been able to hear you read live. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve heard you speak via the web, but it would be so much better to hear you in person. Ah well…have a great time at both! We all know that you’ll be the best one up there!
Funny. I was just blogging about your entry from last year. Lamenting over my own 27th birthday a week ago, I decided to look back at your 31st birthday entry and see where I was at with regards to your friend’s theory.
You posted, and I read, that entry when I was 25. Not quite at 30 at the time, but still not getting any farther from it, either. And back then, that entry made me feel a bit better about the whole age thing.
She was right, Wil. Look how far you are now. You’ve earned alot more than just a trip to speak at MacWorld, or Gnomedex, or Linucon, or DCC, or any convention you speak at. You’ve earned the respect and admiration of quite a few people, and not because you were Wesley, but because you’re Wil. Nothing to sneeze at.
See? You’ve passed 30, and now, you’re using the stuff you gathered. And holy heck, ain’t it paying off in spades! Go Wil 😀
I feel like I spent the first thirty years of my life building this complicated foundation, and now I’m living in a wonderful house atop it.
Have you been watching a little too much “Six Feet Under” recently? Don’t forget to put up the scaffolding.
They say that your 20’s are a period of self-discovery. You are six bits old now. I think that means you are firmly in full adulthood now.
Hey Wil, don’t sweat it. You totally earned it! You are a natural public speaker and it’s obvious you like to do it. Now, I have to go beat down on that “Voice of Self-doubt” for you, don’t need him coming along on that trip with you.
Congratulations, Wil!
I will admit that for a while, I just saw you as Wesley, but now that I’ve been on your site, it’s easier to see you as the smart, funny guy that you are (instead of the button pusher who says “Yes, Captain!”). I must say that you’ve done quite a bit since then that is, in my opinion, worth more. Keep it up!
Sure, the year after my husband stoped working on the Mac your performing.
Hmm…well i might just have to send my copy of JAG with some other attendies.
Congrats!!!!
LOL. Well, glad nothing bad happened to prevent you from posting. Indeed, I, too, was forced to read other people’s blogs just for something to do. Even *gasp* the blogs of people I know! (Shame! I shouldn’t have had to do that! 😉 jk)
My usage of Macs vs PCs comes and goes. But I do remember with fondness spending endless hours in my jr high’s computer lab which had nothing but Macs, so I learned everything about computers from Macs. 🙂 I staunchly supported the Mac users when my H.S. went to PCs. (Though I have a PC at home now b/c I *need* to play games. 🙂 )
Of course you earned it! 🙂 Many congrats! Have a great time at both cons. Do con reports this time, too! (Hey, Linucon report anyone? LOL)
Damn right, you earned it! Congratulations, and knock ’em dead.
This post brought to you via the home office iMac. 😉
How sweet of you not to post until I finally had time to check the blog! 😉
Congradulations, Wil! You have earned it. Have fun and goodluck in Vegas. I was actually watching Family Guy on TiVo when I started reading this entry. Hilarious!
i was about to buy “JUst a A Geek”
but i didn’t
i should have
it was either that or al franken’s book
oh well
Glad to see you back Wil. I hope you’re doing ok even though you won’t get into detail. I don’t blame you for wanting your privacy….
Glad you’re alive!
So very full of the awesomes. Congrats 🙂
Btw, i’ve been checking the blog like 20 times a day in the hopes of seeing as SOON as you updated 😉
I’m a recent Mac convert and am completely in love with my PowerBook. I only wish that I could play the Sims2 right now with everyone else…
Good to hear that things are going well for you. I have only been to one MacWorld, even though I only live a few blocks from the Moscone Center, but I will try to make it so I can see your show.
FYI, some of my favorite postings are about everyday events — maybe what you refer to as your boring life. 🙂 My favorite story in “Dancing Barefoot” is about your aunt’s house.
Glad to hear that you’re alive and kicking, and back to posting!
I’m glad to see I wasn’t the only one obsessively checking your blog to see if you’d updated. I’m so happy for you! Congrats on getting the chance to speak. I wish I could offer some advice on dealing with a crowd that big, but I know I’d be a mess if I were in that situation. So I’ll just wish you luck, and tell ya I think you’ll do a great job.
Its great that you seem to have everything in order, but they say that if you have to always reaffirm how happy you are, you’re only trying to prove it to yourself. Not that its any of my business, but it seems like you’re trying too much to convince yourself and others of your happiness. Let your life’s work speak for itself, you have a lot to be proud of!
Will!
Mac su…. rocks! 🙂
Seriously…MAC’s come a long way in recent years especially. That conference would be a blast to be at. There’s surely a whole load of new crap that’s coming out! Go and enjoy the experience!
I just have to ask – any of those writings on a LaserWriter?
I hope to see you there! I’ll be up there for a tea expo and hope to be able to stop by macworld and see if there will be any more product announcements.
woohoo!
dude. you rule.
It’s a nice feeling, isn’t it Wil, to be recognized for the work you really want recognition for? Congratulations! I shall quote Jedi Master Obi-wan Kenobi here and say “You’ve taken your first step into a larger world.” Quite literally, in fact. Good luck with the multitudes. You’ll do fine. Just picture them all in their underwear. On second thought, don’t. It’ll just make you laugh.
Hugs,
Ayla
A fellow programmer I know used to tell me, “There are only three numbers in the world: 0, 1 and n.” 500, 5000, what’s the difference? It’s just more people sitting there naked as you talk. Just pick out a few and talk to them. Maybe I’ll drop by. Good luck!
That’s awesome, Will. I’ll be in San Francisco over the hollidays. Maybe I’ll see you at the convention. And maybe, just maybe, I will switch from being a loyal PC user.
Don’t be nervous. You’re an actor- think of it as just another performance. And also, have a great time in Las Vegas. *hugs*
-Vanessa Nichole
Macs rocks, Wil Wheaton rocks, Macworld+Wil Wheaton = awesomeness
Wow, Wil, that’s going to kick so much ass! Congrats!
Also, I just wanted to let you know how much I’m enjoying “Just a Geek.” I really appreciate how open and honest you are. Thanks for such an awesome book! :o)
I wanna go to Mac World to see Wil….wait, I am available to go…I’m gonna go! *Happy Dance*
I figured you were off playing GTA.
Or mudding again.
glad to have you back again, Wil!
Excellent Wil!
I’m pleased to have such an outstanding guest speaker for the show! You’ve done well using a Mac and this is a good way to pay it back. Break a leg kid.
Enjoy your trip, and fold a few for me. 🙂
P.S. My posting code started off with The Hammer…hehe…