Magento Imagine 2013 Diary - PreImagine

So we're finally here - three flights and a wee bit of jet lag was all it took to get me and @futurederyck to Vegas for the Magento Imagine 2013 conference.

Vegas is crazy. Just crazy. In one day I saw the Coney Island rollercoaster, the Eiffel Tower and a volcano exploding with real fire. Although perhaps more amazing were the foot and a half long frozen margaritas that everyone else seemed to be drinking as they walked down the strip.

Perhaps luckily we're staying south of the Strip at the home of the Magento community for the next 3 days - the M Resort. Overnight the hotel has turned into the mecca for all things Magento with themed cocktails, Magento cakes in the coffee shop and, of course, more Magento people than you can wave a big orange stick at.

PreImagine events kicked off a little early today when I finally got to meet Kimberely from Red Light Blinking (aka @magentogirl) who had the same idea as me in trying to get some sun in before the events began, followed closely by @sherrierohde who I've spoken to so much online I feel I've known for ages already. This was the beginning of finally meeting some great MageTraining friends in the flesh and realising that I'm terrible at matching Twitter profile pics to real life faces.

The #PreImagine Tweetup at the pool bar was a gloriously sunny way to pass our Sunday afternoon and find out more about why @brentwpeterson has a penchant for Newcastle Brown Ale, see a sea of pink Sweet Tooth shades handed out by @SteveDeckert and co and teach Mosses from Magento (aka @monocat) what the meaning of knackered is.

I would tell you what all the Magento gossip is, but to be honest, today was all about catching up with friends old and new. And the gossip there was...well, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

Tomorrow: the conference begins.