Back
Actually, back since Wednesday night.  The blizzard delayed me returning Tuesday, so I had an extra day with Ann Zeddies and Geary Gravel.
Which was lovely indeed.  “Ah,” says I, “I am now inspired both by the excellent convention, and the time spent with my fellow writers, and shall devote all my time to cranking out out great mounds of brilliant prose.”
All my time aside from the DayJob, that is, which pays the rent and supplies the indispensable health insurance. You know.
Plus: sick kitty, oh noes!  A certain amount of worry and phone calls and shuttling to the vet was required.  Meds for the kitty worked, thankfully.
Much. Calmer. Now.
So, the Convention:
I was not staying at the convention hotel this time — and that really does make a huge difference in the whole experience.
Ann, Geary, my sister and I were all staying in New Hampshire with dear friends who have the most amazing house.  And spending time with them was a treat in itself.
But the convention was less than it could be.    I could not do much on the spur of the moment, could not hang out to all ridiculous hours, could not socialize as much as I wanted to, nor attend many panels that I was not part of myself.
Things I wanted to do but could not: attend either of Kate Nepveu’s program items; attend the reading by Chad Orzel; attend David Anthony Durham’s reading; attend Walter Hunt’s reading; attend anything with Melinda Snodgrass on it; see if I could spend some time with Jo Walton;Â see the Zelazny play that was put on ( actually sat down in the audience, then realized that I was really tired, and still had to get back to New Hampshire!); and many more…
On the upside, we were hanging out in the Con Suite, catching a bite to eat, when Melinda Snodgrass sat down with us and just started shooting the breeze (we discussed Facebook); and David Anthony Durham was on a panel with me, so I just turned to him, introduced myself, and told him how much I was enjoying Acacia (he was all Aw Shucks — so charming!).  And I actually moderated a panel (about the Heroine’s Journey), which I have decided I’m pretty good at, and don’t do often enough. And I ran into Kate and Chad, and got my copy of How to Teach Physics to Your Dog autographed.  Plus, at my panels, and my autographing, many people made a point of telling me how much they enjoyed my work.
So, good convention –but I wanted more!  Thus, next time: stay at the hotel.
I only managed to attend one science presentation: Geoffrey Landis on NASA’s mission to the sun!  I was so hungry for science that I spent the whole time bolt upright in my chair, jaw dropped in happy astonishment.  I don’t think I blinked once.
Gotta get more of that!
