2013 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in Houston, Texas

2013 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in Houston, Texas

Todd Swank's Diary Entry for July 14, 2013

I flew to Houston, Texas on Monday morning to attend the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference to learn about the latest and greatest technology advances in store for us.  Houston, Texas in July?  Sounds HOT!

I went straight from the airport to Toyota Center because that's where the morning's keynotes were being held.  Unfortunately, I arrived too late to see Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer speak, but I did get to see a lot of interesting stuff along with about 30,000 other Microsoft partners from around the world.

It's quite the process to feed 30,000 people, but I thought the convention center did a pretty nice job herding us all through.

There was a lot more dancing than I expected there to be at a technology show.  I was so bummed I brought the wrong shoes else I'd have been out there twerking right along with these youngsters.

There were different parties every night, but my longest night out started at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.  I didn't expect this place to be quite so wild.

I went there with our Partner Account Manager, Wayne Carey.  We've only worked together a few months, but have already developed a special bond that only occurs when you go wandering around downtown Houston until 3 o'clock in the morning.  I feel like we've been through a war together or something.

I was kind of surprised that a museum like this would open themselves up for people to have a party inside.  But I figured what the heck and followed the crowd.  It was a lot more fun riding this dinosaur than I thought it would be!

When I came back to Minnesota it was just in time to help celebrate Luke and Avery's 14th birthday.  They decided they wanted a new tube for their present because the old one would only comfortably seat 2 kids and this would could hold 5.    It's so much more fun to throw 5 kids into the water than it is to throw 2 kids, so I was all in favor of this gift.

It took me a little while to get used to the bigger tube, but soon enough I was making them fly through the air like an old pro!

On Saturday night, the boys had their birthday party which started out with food and fun, but ended with them out getting crazy in the streets until late at night.  I kind of miss the days of birthday cakes and Jumpy Houses, but I guess we can't turn back the clock now can we?

One of their friends surprised the heck out of me when she dressed up in this outfit and quietly hung out near our coat closet.  I went back there to get my shoes and nearly jumped out of my socks!

The boy friends got to spend the night, but we had to be the spoil sports of the evening when we announced that it was getting late and the girls had to go home.  The boys complained and said this wasn't fair and I had to tell them maybe when they turn 15 the girls could spend the night also.  We'll just have to see what their mother says about it.