Sunday,
February 23, 2003
A fond farewell
There was much grumbling and stretching as we crawled out of bed this morning -- apparently Robert had a hangover from the margaritas (I didn't have one -- a dubious benefit of having alcohol-absorbing fat, I suppose) and I was supposedly fencing Selina sometime this morning between our various panels.
When I got downstairs and told her what my schedule was, however, it rapidly became obvious that there was no way we could do this and make all our panels. so we decided to call it off until RocKon. The fact that there was a gale wind blowing outside didn't hurt our decision any -- I like fencing, but not when I have to fight my opponent and the wind as well.
So Gloria, Bill, Robert, Derek and myself bopped out for some badly needed protein at the Happy Family Rice and Noodle shop (I wasn't aware that sesame chicken was supposed to come glazed in sweet and sour sauce, but what do I know), then back to the con for Derek's and my first panel of the day, "Technical Writing and Science Fiction Writing." We didn't see much of a connection, to be perfectly honest, but we were on it so we talked about work, writing and how the two occasionally interacted.
After that, I browsed the dealer room a bit and picked up ARD MAGISTER, browsed the art show and picked up a lovely matted print of a hunting panther that reminded me of JJ, and the FutureClassics gang gathered for our panel on starting a writer's circle. Unsurprisingly, absolutely nobody showed up, which was something of a relief because it meant we could blow off the panel and go home early.
Well, they could, anyway -- I had to stay until 3:00 PM and do Writing 101. After bidding goodbye to my compadres, I hung out in the lobby and talked with Selina, Gloria and various other people before staggering off to the last panel of the day with Jayme Blaschke and Dylan Otto Crider. We did have two attendees show up, so we spent the hour talking about what to do and what not to do with fiction. Well, they did -- I pretty much spent the hour waiting until it was over so that I could hit the bathroom. Damn margaritas.
And then, it was
time to return to the world at large. After a brief stop at Michaels to get
a frame for my print, I came home to two affectionate kitties, a cheerful husband,
and my own blessed bed. Oh, thank you, Cthulhuzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. . .