<p><strong><a href="http://ignitephx.bigcartel.com/product/ignite-phoenix-logo-tee" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3972" title="ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner-300x85.png" alt="" width="300" height="85" /></a></strong></p>

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<p>Have you heard of <a href="http://ignite.oreilly.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Ignite</strong></a>?</p>

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<p>No, I’m not talking about playing with matches. </p>

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<p>I’m talking about an event that sparks your imagination and your soul in one evening of geeky-cool bliss.</p>

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<p>Ignite spontaneously combusted in late 2006 in where else but Seattle.  The Pacific Northwest is a breeding ground for all things geeky-cool. </p>

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<p>On that original dark and (more than likely rainy) night, Ignite presenters had exactly 5 minutes and 20 slides to share their personal and/or professional passion.</p>

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<p>Oh, one other minor detail -- The slides auto-advanced every 15 seconds.  Whoa.</p>

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<p>This idea spread like wildfire (from herein I promise to refrain from all fire-related references), and Ignite presentations now <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">blaze</span> take place all throughout the world!</p>

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<p>Late Bloomer that I am, I first heard of <strong><a href="http://ignite.oreilly.com/" target="_blank">Ignite</a> </strong>last spring when I cyber-stalked a blind date and came across his <strong><a href="http://ignitephoenix.com/" target="_blank">Ignite Phoenix</a></strong> talk.  (Come on, we <em>all </em>do it!)  He scored points pre-date for being an outside-of-the-box type.  I dig right-brainers.</p>

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<p>I next heard about <strong><a href="http://ignitephoenix.com/" target="_blank">Ignite Phoenix</a> </strong>at a Girl's Night Out last summer.  I had just birthed the idea of this blog and shared my budding ideas with the girls.  My friend's neighbor suggested that I add <strong><a href="http://ignitephoenix.com/" target="_blank">Ignite Phoenix</a></strong> to my growing list of <strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/" target="_blank">365 soul-scintillating mini-adventures</a></strong>.  I added it to my writing journal when I arrived home.</p>

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<p>And then got sidetracked.  For 7 months.</p>

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<p>Ahem.  I procrastinate sometimes.</p>

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<p>Upon landing on the <strong><a href="http://ignitephoenix.com/" target="_blank">Ignite Phoenix homepage</a></strong>, I noticed that the event was one week away.  Great!  I'm in time to buy tickets!</p>

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<p>Not.</p>

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<p>Sold out, my friends.</p>

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<p>Sold out at <strong><a href="http://www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org/" target="_blank">The Scottsdale Center for the Arts</a></strong> which accommodates more than a nice-sized crowd.  How AWESOME is that?!?!</p>

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<p>Yep.  I was EXCITED!  I put my personal feelings of disappointment aside.  A sell-out crowd means that there's hope for culture and creativity in my fair city!  Hurrah!</p>

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<p>This also meant that I was forced to stay home and stream <strong><a href="http://ignitephoenix.com/" target="_blank">Ignite Phoenix</a></strong> live while cuddling with <strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/12/day-106-canine-modeling-its-a-ruff-life/" target="_blank">World Most Precious Pooch</a></strong> on the sofa.  Darn.</p>

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<p>Which of course meant that this Late Bloomer better <a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/21/day-113-i-joined-a-cult-please-dont-tell-my-mother/" target="_blank"><strong>keep sippin' that kool-aid</strong> </a>and figure out how to hook her Precious New Mac to her TV.  And she did it all without the help of <strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?s=christy+jo" target="_blank">Christy Jo</a>.</strong>  Hurrah x 2!  (Now I just need to figure out how to listen through my TV so I don't have to hook up my computer speakers each time.  Anyone?  Anyone?)</p>

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<p><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/ignitestream.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3997" title="ignitestream" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/ignitestream-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>

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<p>The lights dimmed, the event streamed, the pup snuggled and...</p>

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<p>My soul scintillated.</p>

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<p>The presenters and their passions were diverse and ranged from <strong><a href="http://ignitephoenix.com/2011/01/14/announcing-the-18-passionate-speakers-for-ignite-phoenix-9/  " target="_blank">funny to thought-provoking to inspiring to heart-warming.</a></strong>    </p>

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<p>And cute.  When you throw a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&amp;v=oyZxzkd-Jsk" target="_blank"><strong>10 year-old kid</strong> </a>and a dog into the mix, the cute factor skyrockets. </p>

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<p>Want to witness these gutsy peeps for yourselves?  Coming soon to a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/IgnitePhoenix#p/a  " target="_blank"><strong>YouTube channel</strong> </a>near you.   </p>

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