Speaking of Conventions...

[rolanni]

It says here that Boskone 53 will be my/our 56th science fiction convention since 1996.  It also says that we attended 17 of those soon-to-be-56 conventions as Guests of Honor or Special Guests.

I'm not sure this is completely accurate.  For instance, Steve attended some recent Boskones on his own ticket, while I stayed home to man the day-job or to care for Mozart, when he was too ill to be left with the cat sitter.

Nor did I start going to science fiction conventions in 1996.  My first convention was Balticon 10, in 1976.  Steve and I did a bunch of conventions in the late 70s and early 80s -- as hucksters, as we were called then, and Steve doubling as a pro (I wasn't even remotely a pro until 1980, when I sold my first story to Amazing).  That was before we moved to Maine and gafiated for a few years.  Sadly, I threw away all those convention badges long ago in a Fit of Despond, and, yanno, back then -- why would I even keep records of what conventions we attended? So the Real Record is, I suppose, Lost to the Ages.

Still, 55, soon-to-be-56, conventions in 20 years is. . .something of an accomplishment.  I'll  call it that, anyway.

Here's something a little different -- a galactic ice castle, courtesy of the Hubble Space Telescope:

Comments

[attilathepbnun.livejournal.com]

Oooo, stars .....*is dazzled*

Carousel questions

[ireneha.livejournal.com]

I've been meaning to ask you:

I guess all carousels don't go in the same direction? Is there an American/European difference?

In the doctor's office:
November 2015, National Geographic, page 61.
Wunderland Kalkar
Carousel (turquoise & blue striped cloth canopy, about ½ way down page: {Big wide archs of about 36 degrees each, topped with a ruffled “girly dress”
This site won't let me include the Link, but you can google the pictures

The horses clearly face left. All the American carousels that I have ever ridden, face right.

I also found a model carousel in an antique shop in Bolton, CT. It didn't have a price, as it was under repair for the pieces and the electric. Shall I go back and get you pictures?

RE: Carousel questions

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

European horses, so I've been told, are mounted on the left by their riders, while US equestrians mount on the right, and so we have the difference in rotation direction between European and US carousels, and, as naturally follows, which side of the carousel animal is the Romance side -- that being the side that faces *out*.

I also found a model carousel in an antique shop in Bolton, CT. It didn't have a price, as it was under repair for the pieces and the electric. Shall I go back and get you pictures?

Thank you -- but don't put yourself out of the way to do that. Though they're cool in their own right, I'm not as interested in model carousels, as I am in the real deal.

See you in a couple days!

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

I have lost all track of what conventions I've attended over the years. People tell me they saw me at BayCon and I don't remember attending that show ever. I don't know how many WorldCons I've attended. It's all lost in the mist and fog of age and countless conventions attended. Early on, I thought about collecting convention badges as some of my friends do--that would have been helpful. Ah, 20-20 hindsight!

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

I have lost all track of what conventions I've attended over the years. People tell me they saw me at BayCon and I don't remember attending that show ever. I don't know how many WorldCons I've attended. It's all lost in the mist and fog of age and countless conventions attended. Early on, I thought about collecting convention badges as some of my friends do--that would have been helpful. Ah, 20-20 hindsight!