Preamble.

Before I start to write about Sundance I think it's appropriate to question why I'm writing about Sundance. I have, after all, let this page sit idle for over a year.

I should get one thing out of the way - there's a lot of self-indulgence here. Like, even more than in a typical blog. This envisioned series of posts is but one symptom of an entirely unearned wave of self-importance that surged over me from the moment I touched down at SLC. Others include a veritable tsunami of facebook (friend me!) activity - three status updates in three days, each one practically shouting "I'M AT SUNDANCE." I'm not blind to all this. I can picture the wee version of me reading over those somewhat breathless, graspingly elliptical notes and sighing, "Dude, we get it. You're about as subtle as the movie Homework" I hope, though, that it's not purely self regard behind this uncharacteristic oversharing. I also feel that there was some innocence in my excitement. I was a little giddy walking down the Main Street and overhearing other people talk about movie stars. I was thrilled to wake up at 6am and walk shivering to a tent, there to wait for an hour to maybe get entrance to a movie. Willing (eager!) to pay $15 to watch something I knew virtually nothing about -- that even the internet didn't know much about (occasionally this backfired - cf Homework). Engaged, for four days, in the entirely self-indulgent & precious (in all connotations) activity of observing things around me and observing my own reactions to them. I want to share what I can of those feelings and experiences. I like that version of me, and hope you do too. Because he's doing the writing for the next few days.