WFC: Thursday. In surprisingly good spirits, despite...
Lots of travel yesterday: because of my ride's schedule I was at the Atlanta airport at 6 AM for an 8:30 AM flight. Delta did their usual great job, except for the fact that I was offered 17 (I counted) peanuts as my "snack" on a 6+ hr flight. But I'd packed my lunch and more so it was all good. Sadly, my ride to the con from the SF airport (choose a flight near where I live! said she) had an emergency. The shuttle van to the very distant San Jose Fairmont Hotel, it should be noted, costs $49. Ouch.
I got to sight-see through the Silicon Valley while driven to WFC. The San Jose Fairmont is across from two art museums, one of which has a traveling Star Trek exhibit. We are surrounded by restaurants. There are fountains, and palm trees: these not such a novelty as they were before I moved to South Carolina but there are more varieties of palms.
The 2009 WFC Opening Ceremonies.
People I have seen so far include saycestsay, msisolak,Paolo Bacigalupi, Scott Edleman, douglascohen, jaylake, mercuriodrivera, j_cheney, Michael Swanwick--who was kind enough to ask me to remind him to send A&A some flash fiction as he has a backlog of it--and Kij Johnson. The GOHs Jeff and Amy Vandermeer were fun to be with, as was clarkesworld. I'm looking forward to finally meeting, camillealexa tomorrow and hear that retrobabble will be here Saturday. If I forgot anyone, and I know I did, blame it on my jet lag.
Neil Clarke gets the first annual Neil Clarke Award from the Vandermeers.
My Thursday place to stay near the con (same person as ride) evaporated. And not only was the con hotel sold out but I could not have afforded it if there were room. saycestsay found a greenroom/hospitality con worker with a free bed up for grabs. I owe this godsend person something, for sure. Never has a bed felt more welcome, and it was in a President's Club room. When I came to the next morning I noted details like exquisite views of the city, thick cotton terry robes, dimmer switches on the lamps, a huge flatscreen TV, and a powder room.
There is, alas, no coffeemaker. I shall venture forth to be caffeinated.
I got to sight-see through the Silicon Valley while driven to WFC. The San Jose Fairmont is across from two art museums, one of which has a traveling Star Trek exhibit. We are surrounded by restaurants. There are fountains, and palm trees: these not such a novelty as they were before I moved to South Carolina but there are more varieties of palms.
The 2009 WFC Opening Ceremonies.
People I have seen so far include saycestsay, msisolak,Paolo Bacigalupi, Scott Edleman, douglascohen, jaylake, mercuriodrivera, j_cheney, Michael Swanwick--who was kind enough to ask me to remind him to send A&A some flash fiction as he has a backlog of it--and Kij Johnson. The GOHs Jeff and Amy Vandermeer were fun to be with, as was clarkesworld. I'm looking forward to finally meeting, camillealexa tomorrow and hear that retrobabble will be here Saturday. If I forgot anyone, and I know I did, blame it on my jet lag.
Neil Clarke gets the first annual Neil Clarke Award from the Vandermeers.
My Thursday place to stay near the con (same person as ride) evaporated. And not only was the con hotel sold out but I could not have afforded it if there were room. saycestsay found a greenroom/hospitality con worker with a free bed up for grabs. I owe this godsend person something, for sure. Never has a bed felt more welcome, and it was in a President's Club room. When I came to the next morning I noted details like exquisite views of the city, thick cotton terry robes, dimmer switches on the lamps, a huge flatscreen TV, and a powder room.
There is, alas, no coffeemaker. I shall venture forth to be caffeinated.