What's a Hat Trick Plus One

And Strange Horizons has passed on "Running of the Deer." They said the writing was good, but the story arc didn't work for them. Fair cop. I'll update the side-bars soon. At the beginning of the year I had four stories in submission, now I have none. Must get butt in gear and get them out, again.

Downhill Run

Last panel, "Writing Horror." Waiting for it to start. After this I'll head on home, with a stop for outlet shopping (Wamsutta clear shower curtain, here I come, also checking out shoes since my current sneakers are showing wear).

Cool thing about con, on the wholey opportunistic and unexpected scale, asking Tamora Pierce's recommendations for reading for my wife (giving her and explaination of books she's liked, and asking if she has anything that would fit that model). I got recommendations about her books, Elizabeth Moon books, and Joshua B. Palmatier books (which I had just purchased his first novel). So, very cool people. And they're open to off the wall questions about writing and books (hints to people who haven't attended cons, writers are fans as well, and they will talk about their love of books and information at the drop of a question, ask them).

All in all a different experience than last year, better in most ways. My only major critcism is the air-conditioning in the hotel conference rooms (note to Doubletree, moving air, even if "warmish" is good). But EXCELLENT wireless connection (and free to boot) here.

Last panel is starting. Type at ya later.

Dead Dog Slog

It's the last day of Confluence. I'm beat, my stomach and intestines are upset as it appears that my new medicated blood stream doesn't like buffalo meat. Which is a bummer because I love buffalo (tasty and good for you).

Again we're overscheduled. Many readings, signings, and panels that I want to go to. The bags are in the car, the hotel has "walk out" (easy) checkout, but I always like to actually go to the desk.

The panel on "Low tech Ain't No Tech" (which all the panelists are here now). So time to get serious. Put on the "happy morning face" and get back to work.

BTW, thanks to all the readers who have come to the blog in the past week. I was bragging about my analytics (from the joke if you have more than 2 readers you have a successful blog, so I'm doing really good). There have been about 40 unique visitors a day. Woohoo! You are all amazingly beautiful and insightful people who exhibit excellent taste. You rock. :)

Wasted

It was a late night, and a rough evening. Was talking with Tobias and Sam (granted, not adding much to the conversation) at 1:30 AM when I went to the bathroom, when I came back they were gone. So I don't know if they left because I was boring, or that they thought I went back to my room. I also didn't sleep well, so I'm dragging my butt around this morning. It's gonna be a caffine day.

Afternoon Slogging

Waiting for my friend to make it through the book-seller tables to go to lunch. He just started the one side, and he's a big book buyer. I'm giving him a few minutes before I just go get lunch myself.

Because at 4 o'clock, Swords. I mean there's also Geoffrey Landis' and Sam Butler's reading, along with a panel on Writers Workshops. But Swords! I mean, sharp things. Have I talked about this before? Swords!

Okay, I promise I'll stop talking about Swords! soon. Really.

Morning is broken

Here we are, double and triple scheduled for the day. So many cool programs and people to go see. This is quick because David Hartwell is giving me the eye for typing during his panel.

Fun, fun fun, until the Daddy takes the eldritch horror away.

Now, we're on European SF. Cool.

Haiku for the day (Reposted from Camille's comments)

Here's a little thing I composed for Camille's (littlebird blue) blog in her comments. Sometimes I just wacked upside the head in a poetic fashion (the muse isn't always nice).

Flower drunk bees lilt
Sated from sex down the street
The bicycle waits

And here is Camille's picture that inspired it:


Thanks, Camille.

Here at Confluence

First night at Confluence. Just back in the room after hanging out at the bar talking with Emily, Tobias, Joshua, Sam, Michael, Mary, and Goeff to name a few. Cool conversations, fun people, good panels. Just a lot of fun.

I'm getting recharged. The blue are backing away.

Tobias has his second book out. Josh has his second book out at well. Sam has one book and another comming out this year (and, dude, you have a live journal, but I can't find it).

Lots of writing info at the con, which is why I like it. Tomorrow I start into having scheduling conflicts, like should I go to Geoff's "Human Space Flight" panel, or Mary's reading? Decisions, decisions. And then there's Tobias' reading and a Panel of Swords. I like Tobias, and I want to hear his new stuff. But swords, sharp pointing things. And they're shiny.

Ah, well.

As a side note, I'm writing this in an uncomfortable position in my hotel room on the free wireless. In the space of 3 hours downstairs I had two beers, and a lot of conversation (that I mustly shut up and listened, because you should learn to listen when authors speak, if you want to learn about this industry), and I don't think I've made a typo yet that I've gone past the word and posted. Now tomorrow I may find this post riddled with bad spellings and horrible grammer. I just find it weird. I won't start drinking ('cause my father had problems), but if it helps my typing... maybe there's something to it. More experimentation is needed. :)

Agenda for Today

Half-day at work.

Drive to Jefferson (county seat) and deliever my petition for re-election, pay $30 fee and become a legitimate candidate a week and a half before deadline. Come November, "Vote for Me!"

Drive to Pittsburgh, get into hotel and get registration picked up before 4pm start of panels (first panel I'm attending is "Dark Fanatasy"). One day I'll be on the other side of the table, but for now I'm audience.

Meet up with old friends (hey Karl) and new friends (hey Tobias and Emily, Joshua B. Palmatier, S. C. Butler, Mary Turzillo, Geoffrey Landis, and everybody else) and have a blast. Find Con Suite and Party Rooms. Lather, rinse and repeat.

SABOTAGE!

Well, those folks at NASA are sure stirring up a bundle this year. First the whole Diaper Wacker Love Triangle, and now SABOTAGE! and drunken astronauts. Sure, they're bundling a bunch of bad news together on a Friday. But somebody needs to inform the NASA PR people that to get it truly lost, you need to wait until Friday afternoon to do the news dump.

I can't understand the sabotage bit. That one needs to have somebody hang at the end of it.

As for the drinking, well, if you're going to be sitting on top of the world's largest firecracker under a tin-can, I can understand wanting to get a little blitzed. But you know, that thing is LOUD to begin with. Do you really want to be hyper-sensitive to noise when you strap-in? Or have an upset stomach just as you become weightless? These are our best and brightest? I'm rethinking that assumption at this point.

Schooool. Is. Out. For (well, only a month now)

It's time for back to school sales. Yes, I am a total geek. It gets me excited. Fresh, clean books of paper and every writing implement (that cost's under $5) out in the open. It's like seeing ankles on those prissy Victorian Women.

The best back to school commercial? The Staples commercial with Alice Cooper (don't know if it's running this year). The older I get, the more I like Alice.

It's time to run out those sneakers, kids. Swing across the crick on the metal cable risking death and tetanus one more time. Build another sand fort. Climb the trees again (all of them). Soon it will be time to pack away the summer and closet ourselves in classrooms, breathing in chalk dust (yeah, I know, dry wipe boards, but those you have to sniff the markers to get any effect), and exhaling our youth, the slow poison of knowledge.

Woohoo! It's a Homer Simpson Day. D'oh!

mmmm, donuts. mmmm.

Yes, I set my watch to make sure I got down to the donuts before the scent of their bountiful doughiness could spread and my donut-piranha coworkers decend, leaving only memories of what was and caloric deposits in their veins.

And the full court press for the Simpsons' Movie is on. I doubt I'll see this one in the theaters, and depending on reviews may or may not get the DVD. I like the Simpsons, but I've never been a rabid fan. I personally enjoy Futurama more.