UNIX-Head that I am, I use a small script to show me upcoming appointments.

And Math-/Lisp-Head that I am, I create a directory per appointment, aptly named something like 2007-04-23T20:00_Blue_Monday_Session.

in it, there are the following files:

• beginning - [optional] the start time (can also be in the directory name)
• blurb - [optional] some long text (not shown in the overview)
• location - [optional] the physical location
• topic - [optional] the topic (can also be in the directory name)
• URL - [optional] URL to something pertaining to this
• cost - [optional] the cost
• whatever key desired