Journeyman

So I went downstairs and grabbed a "to go"  breakfast and coffee and have been going over the workshop stories. I have time before my appointment at the SFWA table and other duties, so I'm taking things slow.

So I didn't tell you about the experience of passing a blazing motorhome on the side of the road in Virginia on Tuesday, close enough that I could feel heat through the window glass despite having the airconditioner on at the time. Black smoke hung away from the road, the field next to the vehicle was starting to burn.  There were people sheltering on the other side of an underpass, looked like several sets of older couples -- they had with them some motorists who had stopped -- and the entire front half of the semi-bus style contraption was burning ... here's a slightly more newsy story -- with photo
http://www.whsv.com/home/headlines/99887794.html

The odd thing was that I'd spotted the smoke a few minutes before, off to my right but as traffic was cruising at 75 or so didn't  think much about it, assuming something industrial -- but then the road curved and cars began slowing  down and i realized this was not some purposeful event. Luckily, it was not a full-scale tragedy -- I have family members who are truckers and they have sometimes told of the scenes they've ween along the roads -- but it was impressive enough that I decided to stop and take a walk-around break at the pretty rest area at Mile 262

http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/map-ra-newmarketsb.asp ;

Coincidentally, this is one of my favorite highway rest areas ever, complete with wooded trails and flowers... and I (and Sharon and I) have stopped there a  few times in the past until it has become a looked for stop. Oddly, I'd overlooked it my planning this time around, so it was a welcome chance to climb wooden stairs under the big trees and sit on a picnic bench for a snack, despite the heat. I also spoke briefly with Big Kake and Little Jake -- two nearly identical Dalmations who happened to be ... wait for it ... mother and daughter.

Breakfast today, by the way, included this interaction:

Me, hearing that the charge was $7.92, handing over $8 -- a $5 bill and three gold-toned coins.

The cashier looked up.  "I don'  like dees dollars," he said, turning the coins over and looking me in the face.

I pulled a pocketful of change out, pennies, a few quarters, and three or four more of "dees dollars" -- "What I have on me. We use these coins up north in Maine."

He shrugged, moved his change in the drawer around a little to make a place for them, and gave me my change.  

Oh, I know Canadians use coins in palce of bills at the low end -- how about Europeans?

And last night was the Guest of Honor dinner, which went well I thought, even though several people I was expecting to be there for dinner were not -- but lasagna, cheesecake, and a sititng at a table with folks sharing good conversation on topics like Andre Norton's publishing and residential history, fanzines, the fate of old collections  -- hey, good stuff. Right beside me sat Doug Fratz, who bought an article from me many years ago for his excellent review and commentary semi-pro zine THRUST SF. 

So SFWA table and dealers room coming up for me today. Hope to see some of you there!

The day lily count for today is 4 -- this is our first of the season from one of Maine's latest breaking day lily pods, I guess. There look to be a lot on the way -- the pods are red for tomorrow and into the weekend, I'm thinking.

If you're going to NASFIC -- more on this in a moment -- watch for the special edition Carousel Tides sampler chapbook. Free while they last, at NASFIC -- I'll try to have some at any Baen function I get to -- and watch for me at the SFWA table ( I should have at least one autograph session there) and probably I'll be at the ASFA party as well. My schedule beyond that is on the knees of the ghods; and since it is our call, we're trying to judge how many of these chapbooks to print.... so see below.  About the only part of the schedule I'm reasonably sure of is the newly announced and likely soon to be filled Reconstruction GoH dinner -- and that I need to be on the road out of Raleigh sometime on Monday, August 9th.  

Now, the more on NASFIC: I did a quick run through of the most recent NASFIC attending member list and it looks like this NASFIC will be the size of many medium to medium-large regional conventions -- assuming a reasonable small last minute (which now means At The Door!) attendance kick since big summer cons usually get such a kick. If you haven't joined but want to, the bet is to make sure you get your hotel reservations in velly velly soon -- and plan to get to the convention  center early when you get to the con so you can get all your paperwork, including that all important pocket program! 

Meanwhile, the glance at the list shows around 20 or 25 people I can pick out as FoL -- that is, folk who have shown up at FoL events before, helped with or come to parties,come to breakfast,  read the chapbooks, comment on the Liad list or blogs, and such.  I do hope to have an FoL breakfast, so we'll be watching for location for that -- given the recent heat in the south it may well be in the Marriott or next door at the Sheraton to keep travel down.  I expect to have connectivity, so this blog or Facebook may be the bet for keeping up ... maybe one of the Liaden facebook pages, too ...

If you haven't made plans to come to Reconstruction, the 10th NASFIC, now is the time. Besides a couple dozen FoL, (and me, of course!), the con will have lots of good programming, a good dealers room, an art show with art auction, a masquerade, and will be an excellent chance to get to see and talk with some of the 100 plus program participants, guest, and panelists.  If you're within a few hours drive or easy travel, this could also be a good first convention for you -- and could convince you to come on out to next year's WorldCon in Reno.

Hope to see you at the NASFIC a half month from now!