Eagles Over the Kennebec

So, Steve and I went to BaltiCon 50, to join in the celebration.  As one friend said, "Parts of it were good; many parts were excellent.  We'll put the rest out of our minds."

It was, as one might expect, with such a massive list of returning guests, and the 50th writer Guest of Honor being George RR Martin, something of a zoo to schedule.  Kudos to the scheduling gurus, and to the guest liaisons for their help and their continued good humor in the face of the many challenges that presented during the course of the con.

Steve and I signed a bazillion books, had dinner and drinks with various of our colleagues and friends, did a couple of readings and a presentation; and participated in a. . .demonstration called "Story and Song." This was a very interesting proceeding and I hope to see it done again at many cons in future.

Basically, the idea is that an author will read a passage from a book known to have been filked.  A filker will then sing the song that was inspired by that scene/book.

We read the scene from Agent of Change where Val Con is on the Clutch ship and trying to figure out why the so-called "survival loop" appears to have lost its mind.  This was followed by Bill Roper (one of the filk guests of honor) singing Lee Gold's "Agent of Change."  Connie Willis read from The Doomsday Book, followed by "Lost in Time." (I'm not going to remember the names of all the performers. This is because I have a memory like the clerical hat for the order of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.)  Roberta Rogow  sang "Get Them Lizards Every One," in celebration of Harry Turtledove's (see? nor all the names of the works); and Gary Erlich sang "The Last of Pierson's Puppeteers," following Larry Niven's reading from Ringworld, regarding Teela Brown, the girl who was bred for luck.

In all, a very enjoyable time.

Now, one of the. . .features of the scheduling program being used by BaltiCon this year was that! If there was conflict?  Say, two panels scheduled for the same time in Room A?  The program would helpfully hide one of the conflicting items.  Yes, you read that right.  The program did not simply flag the problem, it fixed the problem.

Sort of.

For instance.  I had originally been scheduled to talk about the carousel books in the room where the "Story and Song" presentation took place.  "Story and Song" was scheduled to last two hours, and my presentation fell immediately in the middle of it.

Therefore, my presentation disappeared, and, given the lack of data to the contrary, I figured it had been cancelled.

I am very grateful to Joni Dashoff, who caught me as I was leaving the filking item, and insisted that my talk was still on.  I walked back to the room, just in case there were people waiting for me.  There were, and I proceeded to give my talk (though, since I'd left my notes at home, it was more like proceeding to babel for 50-ish minutes.)

Between us, Steve and I figured we missed some panels we were supposed to have attended; if we shorted you, or didn't show, please accept our apologies.

We left Baltimore City (which, lest it be forgot, is my own, my native land) at 4 a.m. yesterday, Tuesday, and made it home in one, marathon drive, clocking a smidge over 700 miles on the day.  Let it be known that I prefer Maine (It's so green!  Also?  Quiet.)

I don't have very many pictures from the con (if you have pictures, especially of Steve or of me, please feel free to share), but I do have this one of Steve and me, dressed for Opening Ceremonies, and long-time Friend of Liad Deb Matsuura.  For those who keep of track of such things, that silver-and-black thing I'm wearing is, indeed, the New Corset.

Also!  Just to bring this up to date, we went out mid-morning to take on groceries.  Shortly after we returned home, a UPS truck pulled up and off-loaded thirty copies of this:

Congratulations; you are now caught up.

Still on my plate today is ordering and submitting our receipts, and -- a nap with Trooper.  I promised.

Today's blog post brought to you by Bruce Springsteen, "Badlands."  Here's your link.

The Baltimore Sun has done a nice piece on BaltiCon, for its 50th anniversary.  Here's your link.

We do also have a very preliminary schedule.  We're awaiting confirmation from Programming before posting details.  So!

Watch this space.

This is in the nature of a catch-up post.

For those who have been following along with the numbers game at home, the latest information garnered from the latest blood test is that the 1 mg dose of thyroid medicine is a winner.  The poor pituitary has stopped with overtime manufacturing of kick-me hormones for the thyroid, and the thyroid is producing numbers in the normal range without being kicked, and -- this being the important part -- I am fully awake and at optimum crankiness and sarcasm levels for the first time in. . .years.

Come to think of it, that should serve as a Public Service Announcement.

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Also -- this repeats news shared on Facebook yesterday evening -- I have successfully concluded a project years in the making -- a ceiling fan in my office.  I'm so happy -- I can't tell you.  Here's a picture:

. . .isn't it BEAUtiful?

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I have been reminded to remind y'all that!  Registration for BaltiCon 50, held over Memorial Day Weekend, May 27-30, 2016, at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, is now open.  Here's the direct link.

In addition to Guests of Honor George RR Martin, John Picacio, Bill and Gretchen Roper, and Martin Deutsch and Shirley Avery, BaltiCon 50 aims to welcome back as many of the con's previous Guests of Honors as are interested and able to come.  So far, 21 Alumni GoHs have agreed to return for BaltiCon's 50th anniversary, including Steve and me (Writer GoHs, BaltiCon 37, 2003).

This is a big, big project, and BaltiCon is asking for your help in funding the travel for the returning GoHs.  There's a donation page here, where you may donate to your favorite GoHs.  (Yes, I know that Steve and I are listed separately; I don't know what's up with that, but at the bottom line, I don't think it actually matters.)

BaltiCon 50 is also selling a limited edition promotional tshirt in order to raise funds.  You can view and/or purchase a tshirt here.

Finally, for all the latest news about BaltiCon 50, you can sign up for the Twitter feed:  @balticon50

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This is a Hard Writing Weekend, which means I'll be somewhat scarce on the web.  The beginning of next week includes an interview, and a visit from the generator guy, as well as Yet Another Phone Call to the health insurance company, which seems stuck in an Endless Loop of sending me a form I've now filled out and returned three times, while at the same time being unable to generate a monthly invoice.  Sigh.  Also, the Colby Art Museum is hosting an Open House on Thursday evening.  I always like to go to the Art Open House.  So, not an insanely busy week, but busy enough with mundane things -- and writing, too.

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Extra credit paragraph:  From the Department of Anthropomorphism, Cats Are Not Social Committee, we have the following Observer Report.

This morning, I was sitting at the kitchen table finishing the wonderful tuna melt Steve had made for breakfast.  I have a direct line of sight into the living room from my place at the kitchen table, and was able to see Trooper in the cat hammock, Belle stretched out on the rug close to the kitchen, near, but not on, the cat scratchers.  Sprite walked into the living room, fell on Belle, cleaned her up, cleaned herself, up, cleaned Belle up and in due time, as frequently happens, the grooming morphed into a wrasslin' match.

This morning's match was. . .vigorous.  Sprite broke twice, but came back, and Belle, seeming slightly put-upon, finally threw her Whole Being into the thing, grabbing Sprite around the waist and kicking her in the stomach.  There were no growls, but Belle, at least, was clearly intent on teaching Sprite a lesson, rather than savoring the Joy of the Wrassle.

Sprite tried to break a third time -- Belle wouldn't let her.  Sprite renewed her efforts to get free, Belle held her closer.  I was on the edge of producing a loud, "Ahem!" when. . .

Trooper jumped down from the hammock and approached the melee.

Belle let go of Sprite and twisted to her feet to face him; Sprite escaped to the hall, where she sat down and began to groom her shoulder.  Trooper walked directly up to Belle, tail slightly higher than straight behind, but not a full upward sweep, and put his nose against hers.  She allowed this -- then swatted him in the head.

Trooper went back a couple steps and walked carefully around her, as if he was going to go check on Sprite.  In fact, he paused by the television stand, where he could see her in the hall, cleaning up, stroked his cheek against the wood a couple times, turned, and went back to the cat hammock.

Belle began to bathe.

I stood up and got myself another cup of coffee.

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Everybody have a nice weekend.