11/24/08: Orycon et seq.

[davidlevine]

At Orycon I thought I was having a pretty good time, though I recognized that the con was passing in a blur because I was so heavily programmed. Seeing other people's con reports afterwards, though, I realize now that I missed an awful lot of people... in fact, I feel like I practically missed the con. There were many people there I saw only in passing or not at all, I attended only two program items that I wasn't on, and I had only two meals away from the con hotel: I walked down to the farmers' market by myself for a quick lunch, and we had a very nice French dinner with akirlu, libertango, iggyspawn, and Lise WINOLJ. Every other meal was either eaten in the noisy sports bar or snagged from Hospitality or the Green Room, because I didn't have time for anything else.

Next time I will try to remember that panels are not my only Orycon program commitment. I was only on 6 panels, but in addition to that I had a reading, a writers' workshop, auctioneering the Sue Petrey Auction, and Opening Ceremonies (which included a runthrough beforehand and the Endeavour Award ceremony -- congrats to bjcooper!). jaylake phoned while I was at dinner on Saturday to ask if I could help out with Whose Line, but I begged exhaustion. Orycon is my hometown con and I feel I owe them a lot, but next year I think I need to tell Programming to schedule me on only one panel-qua-panel per day to leave room for all that other stuff.

At the end of the con Kate was very low in energy and we left early. Lise is staying with us for a few days post-con, and we took her around for some touristing in Portland today, but Kate was pretty draggy all morning and after we got back from lunch she threw up and went to bed. She's been sick as a dog all afternoon, poor thing. I hope that our Thanksgiving plans will not be affected, but she's really out of it. Neither Lise nor I is affected, at least not yet.

Comments

[kate-schaefer.livejournal.com]

Oh, poor Kate. I've read a number of comments about people being ill after Orycon, including several with whom we spent some very pleasant time (e.g., Kate). So far Glenn and I and the grandchildren we brought home with us are fine; I hope this won't be like the Wiscon crud. Stay healthy.

(Goes and washes hands for luck.)

[paulcarp.livejournal.com]

So far Julie and I are not fine.
Best wishes to Kate.

[davidlevine]

"Not fine" = sick, or typo? Hope it's the latter.

[paulcarp.livejournal.com]

Sadly, not a typo.

[libertango.livejournal.com]

"(Goes and washes hands for luck.)"

Don't forget to wear this (http://www.thisnext.com/item/914CC3B7/92ACCD5D/Lady-MacBeth-Hand-Soap-T-shirt).

[kate-schaefer.livejournal.com]

If I were to use all the perfumes of Araby to sweeten these little hands, I'd be sick sick sick for sure.

I've always thought someone should make Lady MacBeth brand soap for bloodbathing.

[foomf.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's not required to burn yourself out. You're not 24 any more.

Hope Kate's feeling better after sleeping.

[libertango.livejournal.com]

"...we had a very nice French dinner with akirlu and libertango."

And, quiet though he is, iggyspawn. And the aftermentioned Lise.

Hoping all gets more healthy in the household...

[davidlevine]

I'd forgotten he even has an LJ... updated the entry.

[iggyspawn.livejournal.com]

I use LJ so infrequently it's perfectly reasonable for people to forget I'm here.

Sunday night the contents of my stomach stopped being solid, it's still only mediocre but improving. I didn't notice any other symptoms that couldn't be explained by exhaustion and I drank a Thomas Kemper loaded with maltodextrin so if I end up with dermatitis on the bridge of my nose in the next week it's likely Celiac.

[libertango.livejournal.com]

"I'd forgotten he even has an LJ..."

It's easy enough to do.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Eleven items? That's not too many! Oh, wait Actually, it is. By a lot. But I'm glad we were able to entice you off campus for dinner, then. I know you're a popular guy, but sheesh.

Give my best to Kate. I hope her grunge passes quickly.

[brotherguy.livejournal.com]

And you were on a panel with my friend Melinda, so she tells me; I hope she didn't catch whatever it was that was going around. She is tired enough, running after twins. (Yes, I see you said hello from her on a comment to me; thanks!)

As for too many panels... I know the feeling. (But they can be so much fun!) My limit is no more than two in a day, four total for a con, unless they're actually supporting me being there, in which case they have the right to get their money's worth...