Blue Ice 1.17.2010

Originally uploaded by Notley

My 99 week plan was cut short by 89 weeks, and that’s alright by me. I had a week of work where I felt more refreshed at the end of the week than when I started the week.

That’s a good sign.

I was also afraid being unplugged from the inbound marketing industry for 10 weeks was going to leave me behind. It only took a few days to catch up.

It’s because I didn’t have to relearn it all.

And that leads me into today. In a bit I’m taking a trip down to Columba, Missouri to teach a couple classes on SEO and Journalism at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. It’ll be fun and exciting. I’m looking foward to seeing where these sect of students are in relation to SEO.

At this point, mots speakers would have their own powerpoint deck so they can throw it on SlideShare.

I’m not a fan of the approach, especially not in a college setting.

What I’m going to do instead is give them something they can use. Most of these students will start blogging – if they aren’t already – and the demand for web copy far exceeds the need for journalists. So, instead of giving them a self-promotional presentation, I’m going to use the Google Search Engine Optimization Start Guide during my presentation. It’s a PDF. They can download and use it.

And let them know where my life is know.

And then ustream it so my buddy – their teacher – can use it to test them later.

Looking’ forward to watching a Missouri sundown tonight. Can’t wait to get in the car and go. It looks like I won’t be making my Fort Myers, Margaritaville return trip so this will have to do for now.

How many of you have read the Google SEO Starter Guide?

Popularity: 36% [?]

Oh, what a night
Late into the evening at BW3s
What a very special time for we
As I remember, what a night…

Last night was my first Social Media event since I’ve been back from Ft. Myers, Margaritaville. I wasn’t sure how it would pan out. Wasn’t sure if it was going to be like riding a bike or like rehabbing.

It was a good bike ride.

Old friends, new friends found, and a with whom I should have spent more time. You’d think I could get it all in in 8 hours.

A few of those I wished I talked to more included:

• Chris Keller
• Chris Mahlmann
• Ben Fraley

I could add quite a bit to the list, but in short I only talked to a 1/3rd of the 31 attendees who braved the sleet and ice slicks to make the event in Portage.

The Week Ahead…

I head out tomorrow for Indy for a few days. See some old friends, some new friends. Watch the Colts game and make it out to Scotty’s Brewhouse downtown for the night game. Then Monday is the Indiana Rebar event. Looking forward to seeing how realtors get crazy with their online marketing.

Then the fun starts when I get back home. I’ve got two meetings, a couple phone calls, a special Blog Indiana Viewing Party #NWITWeetup to host, and then my aunt is in town for a few days to catch a couple Purdue men’s basketball home games.

It’s a family friend thing.

Hopefully, once the flurry of activity has come and gone, I’ll have a much clearer picture of where plan B will head.

Popularity: 11% [?]

I’m on Southwest Flight 138 in Fort Myers, headed for Chicago w a stop in St Louis. And my judgment is skewed, subjected to my bittersweetness of leaving oldold man Finn, my love for my second home – Ft. Myers, Margaritaville – and claustrophobic barriers being pummeled by an unusual selection of self-centered passangers not wanting to share seats. my need to escape this eerie chi is only magnified my feeling that this flight is ominous.

I hope my senses are off.

luckily 1) I got the aisle and 2) the nicest person in the cabin is now sitting next to me. He’s a boy, not much older than 12. Already lost in his book, he seems to share my need to simply get this flight moving. he doesn’t hold the same angered expressions the elders in the front held.

time to shut this down. don’t need the iPhone wordpress app to be the predestined reason for my fears.

Popularity: 6% [?]

So I was falling asleep on the couch after dinner Saturday night as oldold man Finn watched The Lawrence Welk Show. An uncommon occurrence indeed. Somewhere ’round the end of “Huckabee” I woke up with a tune in my head.

I thought the tune was played on The Lawrence Welk Show, but then I remembered the show’s theme was Disney and that I couldn’t have fallen asleep faster to the alluring sounds of The Mickey Mouse Club Mambo.

What the hell?…

The tune in my head wouldn’t have fit the pattern. Merle Haggard would have set the set of the show on fire if his outlaw gem was in the same show as the Mickey Mouse Club Mambo.

No one could steer him right, but Mama Tried, Mama Tried…

If you check the playlist above, you’ll find some great renditions of the definitive outlaw song:

• Merle Haggard’s (studio cut)
• Johnny Cash
• Grateful Dead at Woodstock
• Everly Brothers on the Smothers Brothers Variety Show (What the F*CK?)
• David Allen Coe (and if that ain’t country, you can kiss his a**)
• Willie, Merle, and Toby

Road Tested

The oldold man & I tested out several of this classic as we headed back from the Ocean on our road trip.“Mama Tried” became our unofficial theme song of our road trip.

Yeah, I’m finding Grateful Dead covers he’ll hum along too. His repressed outlaw is coming out.

The more I research for Book of Blues Prequel and the farther along I go in Plan B, the more I can’t escape the bond between Country & Western Outlaws and Blues leaders. I didn’t place “Mama Tried” in the Book of Blues – nearly a shame but for the fact I can put it in the Prequel, and perhaps the Blues Book Sequel. I think I know how I’d do it to.

But getting back to that Saturday night, as I hummed the chorus:

It dawned on me where I heard the song…

As I was in an out of consciousness before The Lawrence Welk Show, oldold man Finn was watching the Time Life Gold Age of Country infomercial.

F-in’ infomercials. Will I ever escape them?

It only shows that inspiration can come from damned places.

Speaking of oldold man Finn

He made it out to the Florida Gulf Coast University men’s basketball game just fine last night. And he still made his bike ride, too. The old man is still leaving footprints.

And I’m breathing easier.

(photo credit: J.W. Doran [and MERLE!] via Flickr)

Popularity: 8% [?]

(Here’s a NASA Tweetup in Setember, 2009. This took some planning.)

Yesterday I talked about how not every Tweetup Can be planned. My late night consumption of steak tacos and enchiladas is a testament to the spontaneity of Tweetups and other Social Media Events. (#afteraftertweetup shout out to Dave, Josh, and Rich)

I love unplanned Tweetups. I get to repaint coffee houses and eat great food because of them. But I also like a good, planned tweetup. Here are the next couple I’m going to. See if you can see why they need planning:

Monday, December 7, 2009. Lafayette, IN – #lafayeTweetup

Being held at the Courtyard by Marriot, the upcoming Tweetup in Lafayette, IN will include two panel discussions with distinguished industry leaders including Douglas Karr and Michael Reynolds of Indianapolis.

The event will begin at 7pm EST. RSVP due to limited seating. Here’s the Eventbrite link to the venue.

Monday, December 14, 2009. Valparaiso, IN – #nwitweetup

This time held at Inman’s Fun & Party Center in Valparaiso, IN, the December 2009 NWITweetup will be a family-friendly event that will include discount bowling, charity auctions, and good friends. The organizer of this tweetup is James Barath. Information can also be found at NWITweetup.com.

So if your playing at home, the following is a good primer list of reasons to plan your next tweetup:

• panel discussion
• family-oriented (need those babysitters)
• holiday season
• discounts at venues
• charities
• industry leaders speaking at your event

What other reasons can you think of to make sure you plan an event

Popularity: 16% [?]