My intention is to do a thorough re-cap of SteemFest. I will be going in-depth, giving an overview of all of the conference videos, links to posts that others have made, the evenings, and a personal touch along the way. I will try to remember all of the names of people who I had significant encounters with, and the special times that happened, as well as the awkward moments, and the times when I felt like I was breaking.
However, before I do all of that...
I'm realizing that it's going to take a long time for me to do this the proper way. So... before I continue with this detailed coverage that may be spread out over the next few weeks, let me offer a really big Thank You, to everyone who has helped me even get to SteemFest. Let me offer my apologies now, if anyone who has helped me along the way feels neglected. I can assure you that it's been in my heart and mind to do a post like this, and reach out to each and every one of you personally. However, life has other plans that slow me down. Not having any time to do much online while I was in Lisbon means that I'm coming back to a huge load of unfinished tasks, and fleshlife complications that I was not prepared for. Enough with my excuses, lets get on with the Thanks!
First and foremost I have to thank @dan, @ned, and the incredible team of developers that have gathered around their vision. A lot of hard work, dedication, and often thankless, painstaking labor has gone into creating a space that you and I can be productively addicted to and obsessive over! Without these guys, I'd still be doing nothing much besides drinking beers, watching cartoons, begging, and turning the occasional wrench to keep my truck alive.
So......
Thank You Steemit Founders and Developers
Next on the list is @roelandp for setting up this marvelous fest for us all to be amazed. Shock, Awe, Wonder, Enrichment, Enlivenment. The words have not all been invented to describe how incredible and decadent this fest really was.
Ultimately, this was one of the most luxurious events of my life. Not just because the accommodations for all of the events were over the top. Not just because you made it accessible for the poor and rich alike. Yes, it was attractive to investors, it was indulgent for detractors, it blows the mind to even try to understand how you were able to organize such an intricate detailed complex event, and then only to charge minnows $266. I don't know of any festival or conference or anything of the like I could pay $266 and get anywhere close to what was made available to us at SteemFest.
Thank You @RoelandP
A complete and Thorough Thank You post could not go without appreciating the sponsors who helped to make Roelands vision come to life, and made it affordable for almost anyone to purchase a ticket:
- Thank You: Steemit Inc.
- Thank You Whale Sponsors:
- Thank You Platinum Ticket Buyers (people who spent way more than required for a ticket):
- Thank You SteemFest Team:
A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE STEEMFEST POSSIBLE
(SteemFest Thank You Source: @roelandp Thank You for coming and Thank You for Helping to make it Epic and Unforgettable)
and now...... an EXTRA BIG THANK YOU to everyone who made it possible for me to attend steemfest.
First of all
- I'll have to thank my dog who is always wondering if I'll stop staring at this screen and play with her.
- My family for being as much in love with my dog as she is with them.
- My Mom and Dad for being super supportive and helping me find a flight, as well as supporting my decision to go into some debt for this and telling me to not worry about it even though I really do, also they gave birth to me, which sometimes I wonder if it wasn't a hasty decision... but it's led to some cool times, and lets not fret about the misery.
however... I wouldn't have gone, and this post wouldn't exist, if it wasn't for:
@FirePower
So, not only had you already given away a ticket to SteemFest2, you also decided to give away a Second ticket to SteemFest. For this I'm eternally grateful. Despite all of the best efforts of the aforementioned people, I never would have gone to SteemFest if it weren't for you. Regrettably, I barely got to know you at SteemFest. I assumed that in a group of 300 people, it wouldn't be hard to meet everyone, and we would meet as a matter of course. I even though you didn't go, because it was Day 5 and we hadn't met yet. No... you messaged me to meet you at the ticket counter.. but my phone was dead :( I searched you out on Day 5, and at least I got to give you a hug and shake your hand. I wish I could have spent more time getting to know you. I hope you can believe me when I say that, if you ever need help with anything, I will make a hole in my schedule, and shit will get done. My inclination is to ramble on here for a while about what it means to me that I got a chance to attend such a beautiful event. I've been to a lot of festivals, I've been to a lot of events. I've NEVER experienced ANYTHING like SteemFest.
THANK YOU FIREPOWER
I'm going to stop myself there and offer some appreciation for my friend, partner in #newsteem, and seriously impressive human:
@mikepm74
Next thing I know I was nominated for a ticket to SteemFest. I didn't think I had any type of chance to go... however:
@reggaemuffin, @eturnerx, @sunravelme, @rycharde, @patrice, @paulag, @rt395, @thalliance, @topkpop, @juliakponsford, @narconaught, @tattoodjay, @vm2904, @neander-squirrel, @sixersfeds, @torico
These incredible people came out and showed support for me in the comments of @mikepm74's post, as well as firepower's post. I am honored such a wide variety of people from across the steemiverse thought it appropriate to send me to steemfest!
So many kind words and thoughts were put into those nomination comments, I'm really speechless at how to thank an honor such amazing support.
MUCH LOVE AND GRATITUDE TO @MIKEPM74 AND ALL OF MY AMAZING NOMINATORS!!!!!
Now, before I go on and thank the rest of the people who have supported me on this journey... lets stop to consider the other people who were in this contest, that didn't get this ticket (although most of them won other contests afterwards).
Other notable entries
In @firepower's post announcing me as winner, he made this statement:
"Other notable entries that caught my attention were from @lifemovedbysteem, @virtualgrowth, @elear, @martibis and @gabchik's nominee @rossenpavlov. There were also other interesting entries and this is where I wish I could sponsor many more people to SteemFest."
I'm not even going to... because the people above mentioned by @firepower are all so incredible, and have contributed so much to the blockchain... for me to win the ticket, and not them... I'm starting to feel undeserving again.
In the above linked post there is a bit more about those users, and I linked to some of their material there.
Thank You To Everyone who Supported me Financially!
Just off the top of my head, I know that @blocktrades and @roelandp gave me some nice upvotes during the week when I was posting SteemFest related posts to increase my chances of winning a ticket. Appreciation to everyone else who helped me earn on those posts. This very much helped me to fund my trip, before and after the fest.
@eturnerx has been much more than a financial supporter to me, but he has been a great friend, and I like to think of him as a mentor. I am indebted to him for all of his wisdom and guidance. Also, much thanks for the financial support, which I won't detail here. It's on the blockchain for anyone who is really curious.
Other people who financially supported me are:
@mikepm74, @paulag, @techtek, @knowledges, @ruah, and @narconaught
Without the support of all of these amazing people, life would have been more difficult than I was prepared to understand, in Lisbon, Portugal! During the event we didn't need to much money, because so much was provided for us. But my feet had a hard time with those stone sidewalks, and having cab fare really really helped me. I don't know where I would be without all of your support. I would have figured it out, however... I definitely wouldn't have been as comfortable.
YU SAY MON!!!!!!!!!!
Big Ups to @yusaymon, who's art is always an inspiration to the community. Last month was @Yusaymon Appreciation Month, and I'm pretty sure we won't be done appreciating him, for a long time. Everywhere I go, I see people have resteemed his art, and all it takes is to mention his name, and people cry out I LOVE YUSAYMON. I am blessed to count him as a friend, and I am very grateful that when i suggested that he submit some art for ArtAtSteemFest, that he took to the challenge and came up with something incredible.
Thank Yu
After the proceeds from the fundraiser posts we did last month, he has saved up $150 which is half of the fines he needs to pay for overstaying his visa in the Dominican Republic. Every chance I have some extra, I have been sending it to him, but he still needs help so he can go home to Venezuela for a while, and stop getting more and more fines. Anyone who can contribute to this cause, we will very much appreciate supporting this man, who publishes 4 or 5 pieces of original art a day for the community, and lives off of what he earns here.
Obrigado (Portuguese for Thank You!)
TechTek and SteemPi
Another person who has been very significant in my journies, but hasn't gotten as much attention on my blog, yet, is @techtek.
I have worked with @techtek preparing some of his posts for SteemPi. When I got to Lisbon he arranged to send me one RasberryPi loaded with SteemPi, as well as a few SD cards for me to distribute to other RasberyPi owners at SteemFest.
Because of the slowness of international shipping, I did not receive these materials in time to present the product or distribute the SD cards during SteemFest.
I very much love this product. I know, as a long term traveler, how useful this will be for me in my journeys. Not only for my personal use, to put Steem applications on a Television Screen, wherever I go, but also for demonstration purposes. Now, anywhere I go, it will be simple for me to do pop up demos of Steem, and SteemPi. This revolutionary little device
makes it simple for almost anyone to be able to afford a computer. All you need is a few accessories, that tend to be laying around anyways, and a screen, and you've got a working computer.
I'm very excited about the potential for this, in my life, and lives around the world.
Soon I will be doing a giveaway for some Micro-SD cards, to developers who are interested to work on SteemPi, or anyone who can make a case for why they should have one of these Micro-SD cards loaded with SteemPi (already having a RasberryPi would be a good start). Soon I will have a more complete post about my adventures with the SteemPi, and announce details of the contest. But if you reaaaaaly want a MicroSD card for the RasberryPi or OrangePi, let me know why you should have one in the comments here. I can always make more of them, if I need a few for the contest.
I'm also going to have to offer a HUGE Thank You to NewsTeem. This group of writers, including but not limited to: @mikepm74, @shello, @mooncryption, @narconaught, and @torico, help me to get stuff written that's important for everyone here on the blockchain, but I don't always have time to write myself. Because of these amazing folks, we are able to get the information out there that benefits everyone, which allows me the time to focus my writing on SteemFest. Without them, I'd be very torn on how to keep up a blog. I am very grateful to this amazing team, and look forward to meeting new members whenever they appear!
I am very much afraid to hit send. I must be leaving some of you out... I know it's true. There are so many amazing people on this platform and you all have affected and improved my life in some tangible way. I am forever grateful to the Steem Community. You will keep seeing me, posting the most useful information I can think of, for everyone to appreciate.
:bow:
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