I fly home tomorrow morning, on Sept. 11.
When I booked my flight to the National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Assn convention here in Miami, I didn't make the connection. It just fit my schedule best. But all I've been hearing about all day is that tomorrow is the 5th anniversary of 9-11. So many convention-goers are getting the heck out of Dodge so they don't have to fly on the anniversary of that dreadful day. Well, I'm sticking to my flight. Hopefully, will have lots of room to spread out on my return flight and hope they are showing "The Devil Wears Prada." It's been a great time here in Florida and after our farewell brunch today, I had plenty of time to walk along Ocean Drive in South Beach (stopped and gawked at the Versace mansion like everyone else), had some lobster for dinner and went shopping along Lincoln Road. This is a great place, something about it just mellows you out.

Anyway, some thoughts. To be around these thousands of journalists over the past five days has been very energizing. It makes you realize how many talented gay and lesbian people are working in newsrooms - large and small - and doing stellar work with passion and commitment. I already knew some of them, met a lot of them for the first time, and made a few new friends who I am extremely glad to know. Over these days, we talked about the business in general, about gay coverage, about political and business coverage and...about blogging! A lot of my fellow attendees were surprised to hear that my blog, "Out in Hollywood," is done through the Los Angeles Daily News where I've worked since Sept. 2001. This is a pretty rare thing, I'm learning, for a mainstream newspaper to have: a blog that focuses on gay topics. The Miami Herald's Steve Rothaus, who covers gay issues for the paper, has a blog through his paper but most people do theirs independently or work for the LGBT media.

I'm very fortunate for the support I've gotten from my bosses at the Daily News who have been interested, and at times I think delighted, with the blog. Mostly, they have been encouraging and I'm very grateful for that.

See ya back in LA!