Sold 1 book. One. Uno.

And still have to fill out a form and send in 93 cents to the state of Tennessee for sales tax. Actually 92.5 cents, but I figure they'd want me to round up rather than try to find a pair of tin snips and cut a penny in half.

On the other hand, I did a lot of networking. I joined a writers' group from Athens GA, I had two conversations with a gentleman who wants to see my script for "The Shepherds of M15", I met some very nice people who offered to give me crash space for HyperiCon if I want to go to that. I explained about publishing on demand and CafePress to a lot of people (CP should be paying me for this, really, for all the free tech support I'm giving them).

I bought 2 t-shirts and an ear cuff with a space shuttle dangling from it.

I spent a lot of time staggering around with about 30 pounds of computer, cash box and AAP dayrunner in the laptop bag over my shoulder. And about fifteen memorable moments this morning when I was wearing my very full, very heavy backpack and carrying the laptop bag when I loaded up my stuff in the truck before I'd even had breakfast or Diet Coke. In the freezing cold at 8:45 AM. I felt like an astronaut in the full Moon suit. In full 1G Earth gravity.

For about 45 minutes Saturday night I had the oddly surreal sensation of sitting next to my ex-husband with his current wife on his other side. Mneh.

During which I had the even more surreal sensation of watching a Federation officer and a Klingon -- both of them males, by the way -- ballroom dancing in the ConSuite.

So once again I spent a lot of money for no apparent benefit. But hey, networking.

Now, I am very tired and my cats are taking turns clinging to me. All of my stuff except for the laptop bag is still out in the truck and I have no intention of bringing any of it in until tomorrow. The computer and the money are inside, the rest of it isn't critical and can wait. I don't need my BP meds til tomorrow.

Oh, and taking twice the recommended dosage of St. John's wort twice a day means even if you feel bad, you don't feel bad.

The world is a weird place, my friends. One baby step forward that may -- will -- vanish in the two giant steps back. Or not.

Today I sold one book. One. One all for two days of sitting in the dealer's room.

Then again, I talked to someone who claims to make films and is interested in my script for "Shepherds". He got my e-mail address. So take as you will.

And after wondering if people I've known literally half my life would even notice if I dropped off the face of the earth, the one I thought couldn't stand the sight of me complimented me on a story I wrote years ago and said she wants to illustrate it. Take that as you will. It could all turn out as smoke and mirrors tomorrow in the daylight.

A lot of things are smoke and mirrors in my life. All hope is. And I live on hope.

There will always be another sunrise, always another con, and the next person may be able to hand me the world on a plate.

One more day of ChattaCon. A lot of people wait till Sundays to spend any real money. So we'll see.

Question: The Choo-Choo has free wifi, and when you're in the Dealer's Room there is no password, no gateway, nada. Yet when you attempt to get online in your hotel room, there is a gateway and you need a password.

Huh?!?

(scratches head)


It's only 10:30 and already I've had discussions with two different sets of strangers regarding: The commerciality of DragonCon; starting an intentional community comprised of nothing but real fen; families who don't understand their fannish offspring; libraries and the lack of sci-fi in book form in today's younger generations; publishing and a fellow writer's curse where everytime he submits a story somewhere the publisher dies; the liberal openmindedness and social enlightenment of the fandom community.

HERE.

Terminally early, as usual, but here.

I got out of the house at 9:30 this morning. Packed up, went to eat, went to the bank, and still got here 2 hours before Registration opens. Got into my room. Large room. 6 pillows. So I might be able to sleep considering I have to prop my body into weird positions to sleep even at home.

And thinking how much easier all this will be when I have the new car.

Well, I'm packed for ChattaCon. All I have to do tomorrow is clean out the truck, pack everything in it, and go to the bank on the way to the con.

...

And remember my AAP dayrunner.

I've now got Audacity on Copernicus and after a quick update to get the headset to work all is now well. I could do a podcast from the con now.

Anyway. I need to make much of the cats while I'm here since they'll be locked up in the house all weekend, so...

My leave time for ChattaCon has been approved, so now I've got to order some more books.

And I got a purchase order from BCH for 20 copies of Aquaria in the mail today.

Next up on the social calendar: my cousin's wedding on the 1st. Apparently he's marrying a Catholic girl so we all get to sit through Mass of which the wedding will be only a minor part. I've never been inside a Catholic church much less ever been to Mass despite my long-standing and occassional bouts of fury related to their policies and history ("Wiccan" being one of the religious affiliations I can legitimately claim). I would like to one day ask them why they worship a tortured man. I realize that's their whole schtick, but seriously... sadistic much? You people worship a tortured man. Your priests prey on children. You used to burn people at the stake for little or no reason except that you hated women. And the occassional scientist. And once in a while the odd bit of torture and forced conversion of Jewish people. And the Crusades.

So no, I'm not too sanguine about all this, but it's Dave's show.


I'll let you know if I burst into flames when I walk in the church.

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Up to Show #12 on the podcast.

Up to about 3 dozen subscribers now.

No word from ChattaCon tho I sent an e-mail last week asking if my registration and table fee got there all right. They haven't e-mailed me back and the check hasn't processed. Hmmm... no one updates the website either. I'm going to go ask on the ChattaCon LJ and see if I can get a response that way.

Must go do laundry. Oy.