I just got back from a whirlwind trip to California to cover the Foursquare NextGen Summit ’07.

I got out to Anaheim about 12 hours late thanks to the vomit-thing the rest of my family succumbed to. Thankfully my bout with it was the shortest and about 15 hours after I stopped throwing up I was able to jump on a plane. Not the smartest thing I’ve ever done, but a job’s a job and it all worked out in the end. (Plus my new flight meant running into Josh and Steph at the airport–well, I didn’t actually run into them, more like caught up with them in security since they were slowed by dog and child and I skipped ahead in line thanks to flying first class–another bonus to buying a ticket hours before you go when all the coach seats are soldout.)

I made it through the NextGen Summit unharmed (though perhaps a little jaded–emotional events aren’t for me) and a bit inspired (it’s good to see such a focus on social justice). I rang in the new year with a few thousand teenagers and then hurried back to my hotel room for a few hours sleep before waking up at 3 a.m. to catch my shuttle to the airport. I told you it was a whirlwind.

Temperature today in Anaheim: 70 degrees
Temperature in Minnesota when my plane landed: 0 degrees

Favorite Part of the NextGen Summit: Jack Hayford’s Cosby sweater.

Most Disappointing ‘All-Access’ Badge Moment: I held my all-access badge up to an Anaheim Convention Center worker Wayne and Garth style and she simply looked at it and said, “What’s that?”

Best ‘All Access’ Badge Moment: Slipping into the green room to nab free food. I never bothered to actually meet the celebrities (unless you count Gregg Johnson–I’m not sure if he counts as a celebrity, but he did have some pretty swanky shoes).

Best Part of the Trip: Getting home and watching as Lexi spotted me, lit up, and then ran across the baggage claim into my arms.