alfreda89 | Finally--A convention report

No, I don't have time to do this. I will take a page from

rolanni next time and write the thing while on the road.

This was the first real convention with W along. He went to one of the first ArmadilloCons, so he's not a stranger to this stuff. But one of the biggest problems with conventions and my Ex was you never knew if he could entertain himself. I was always worried about it, which made we nuts at the things.

W is totally adult about cons. He enjoys things whether or not I'm there, doesn't demand any of my time other than what we'd definitely planned for, and finds that I know the cool people and interesting people, allowing him to avoid weird people. Therefore, con attendance was worthwhile for him. And there was a dealer's room with books!

He handled the usual people flirting with me in stride. Very good sign, since you can't control that. I mean, I dressed in jeans or other pants the entire weekend, and still had several men very attentive. My friend Beverly Hale tells me it doesn't matter if you;re married, if you're pudgy, if a guy is on your arm--some men are attracted to women writers. She may be right.

Lots of small, fun things, like the Yard dog Traveling Road Show (Great silliness, and the Paris International House of Bubbas story was a scream) or Bev's "yard gnomes" in her new novella for YDP. I found out Sunday that Steve Brust had been looking for me all weekend. He'd been busy and preoccupied, so I hadn't spoken with him much. He'd been looking for the woman with curly hair--she's long gone--and it took reading my name tag to make the connection. He actually confessed to this, and we had a nice talk for an hour or so until he left. Steve is behind on his book contracts, and decided to do something drastic to get them written. He left Minneapolis for Las Vegas, where there are apparently exactly two people who read, and the woman is not available. I think he's lonely and ready to go home to Minnesota--but he's getting a lot of writing accomplished!

He gave me a new sig for when I'm ready to change:

"If it doesn't have onions, it had better be dessert. If it doesn't have garlic, it had better be chocolate!"

--Stephen Brust

Of course, at The Stinking Rose, they make garlic ice cream....

Did not get to talk with Teresa N-H as much as I'd have liked. She, PAtrick and Steve were in a smoking ring Saturday night, and I found them wrapped in the intimacy of that smoke--it seemed too private to interrupt. Silly, perhaps, but it felt like a real barrier.

Saw several people I hadn't seen in years, like Warren and Gigi Norwood (looking amazingly good for people who should be dead, as Warren and I reassured each other. They've had their share of scares this year.) Didn't get to talk enough--I hope more time next convention. Todd Brantley looks great--I had to stare at his nametag a while to keep from tearing up--yes, I admit it! I'm sorry that MJ is so lost to us, though I heard she was fairly happy where she is, but it was very good to have Todd back among us. Mel. White is roaring ahead on her thesis, and I expect interesting things from her. Hey, Mel.--the Hopi Coyote Clan is in one of my Yard Dog chapbook stories!

Bill Fawsett and Jody Lynn Nye looked good and happy and busy. Bob Aspirin is hanging in there, and reminded me that not smoking or drinking was going to add years to my health. Nina Romberg and Dean Anderssen went out to dinner with Bev and Mike and W and I, right before we all scattered to the winds. A great meal, great conversation--hope we get to do it again.

Panels were intelligent, a few people showed up for the reading--and Fogo De Chao is still awesome. I win the Lotto, I want to go 4x a year. We also got to see my cousin Holly, her husband and youngest son (A HS student) at a local steak house. Much fun to see how she's doing--very well. The biggest sweetheart you'll ever know.

Only hotel complaint--no hot tub! And why can't they tell you on the phone what the handles on the sinks are like? I had to get a handicapped room to make sure I could operate the taps--but it wasn't necessary, the rooms all have column H-C sink controls.

ConDFW was worthwhile, and even against an Origin con and an SCA event, they made money. I hope to visit them again next year.

Finally--A convention report

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