The entries below were originally posted on the Lee-and-Miller Patreon Page.
Wednesday. Cloudy much of the day. The rain started just as I landed, so I’m not putting my deck to its planned use. But! I’m sitting in the front window, observing Ostwego Lake as it pretends to be a sea, lashed by wind and rain. Fezzik and I are working together, and I’m sipping the nice hot cup of peppermint tea I just brewed. And it’s all rather pleasant. Yeah, going for the traveling teapot was NOT a splurge.
So, it’s been a day of parts.
I woke up at four from uneasy dreams of wolves to find Rook in the bedroom window swearing at the light that was strobing in from outside. I got up to see what was going on, and it was a roads crew putting up signs. Apparently they’re going to be working on our road. I gave Rookie a cuddle, told him he was big and brave, and yeah, those guys were right outta line.
I put him on the bed; he curled up and went to sleep. I looked at the clock and considered joining him until, oh, Tuesday. Instead, I observed that I’d been gonna get up in an hour anyway, and it was certainly no good to go back to bed now — the upshot of all that being that I was on the road at 5.
…and right back off the road as Google informed me that it had found me a Better Route that was not troubled by road closings, and that I would therefore arrive at my destination by 12:05 am.
My attempts to reason falling on deaf AI ears, I turned to the car’s onboard navigator and told it where I wanted to go, meaning that I traveled via my old buddy the Mass Pike, which I had until the moment I hit it and said, Oh, yeah, Carlton Plaza, completely forgotten about.
I had not particularly wanted to drive the Big Roads, but, while I was in two slowdowns, it was nowhere near as awful as it easily could have been, and most of the other drivers were exceedingly well-behaved, except for That Guy, but his transgression was immediately noted by the Maine licensed milk truck I’d been traveling with for 75 miles or so, and if That Guy ain’t deaf in one ear now, it sure don’t have nothin’ to do with the milk truck’s horn.
Anyhoots, I’m in for the evening.
I did find that the probable “road closure” which had so alarmed Google Maps in the early hours is the ongoing work on the bridge over Quechee Gorge, which likely means that I’ll have to amend my route home from Rutland, but that’s not til next week.
So! What’s everybody been up to today?
I am in Baltimore, prevailing against MANY odds. I have had breakfast and a walk along the Waterfront.
I’ve explored the dealer’s room, and said hi to Sally Kobe, Judy Peterson, Mike Walsh, Sue Wheeler in the art show, Karen the lady who does fantasy hair, and exchanged nods with others.
NOTE FOR THOSE ATTENDING TOMORROW’S BREAKFAST. We will gather at the Watertable Restaurant between 8:30 and 8:45. We may need to simply walk in as a group and ask to sit together. We can do this. I look forward to seeing you all.
The Stuffy Tea is still a Heisenberg Event. More news there when I have it.
In other news I’m about to get busy and my time will not necessarily be my own. I’ll swing by as can, but, like all the rest of life, con-going was simpler when there were two of us to do the needful.
I’m trying to figure out if I’ll have time to look at the shops at Harborplace, which open at 11, or rent a scooter, or drive a dragon boat. I’m figuring the answer is no, but it’s nice to have plans.
Lauretta Nagel is a hero of the revolution, for bringing me a case of water, so I can be hydrated during the convention. Lucy had graciously accompanied her, so I was able to get a hefty dose of Vitamin Dog.
The major odds I had to overcome on my trip here was the Subaru vomiting oil all over the parking lot at the motel in Cooperstown. Long story short — we were towed to the nearest Subaru dealership — in Oneonta — where four hours later it was discovered that the last person to monkey with the oil — my home dealership — had not finished twisting closed the oil port, thus the vomiting and the total lack of oil in my car by the time it reached the dealership.
Oil was refilled, the plug sealed TIGHTLY, and I was on my way through wind and rain and RAIN that was at one point so hard, that the Eyesight feature (which is supposed to augment human eyes) TURNED ITSELF OFF — you’re on your own, Pilot.
Still, and as noted, I got here, where I was taken in hand by Derrick, who brought my stuff upstairs for me, gave me a brief oral tour of the hotel and the neighborhood, and promised to off-load me when I leave.
Yes, I did go down to the garage this morning to make sure there was no oil coating the floor under my car. There was not.
So, that’s the news from here — and it’s time for me to Get Official.
What went before: The interview with Tom Schaad went well, and the poetry awards ceremony/open mic was interesting. The stuffed animal tea was, I think, a welcome breather and a chance for the stuffies to get together and chat.
I have one more thing to do this evening, then I’m off until 10 am tomorrow, when I’ll be hosting a kaffeklatsch, which seems to have grown from a Strict Limit of Ten to a list of 19 or 20.
Tomorrow between 1 and 5, I have a panel discussing Stakes when and how to raise them; an autographing, a reading, and the guest of honor dinner. Yeah, tomorrow’s gonna be a thought full.
Sunday. Had a good night’s sleep, according to me. The Garmin wishes to differ, but I do believe this is the Garmin’s first convention.
I notice that I’m starting to get a little people’d out, so I had breakfast in my room and just sort of puttered around, as much as one can putter around in a hotel room, even a large hotel room. Watched the comings and goings in the harbor, while I drank my tea.
Now dressed and lazily getting ready for my first event of the day — a kaffeklatsch up on the 12th floor.
After that I have a free few minutes, and I have to make the decision of whether to add another plushie dragon to my menagerie (yes, yes: no more stuffed animals. I said.), or leave them to find a different home.
Then the afternoon begins, and I will be pretty busy for the rest of the day.
What’s your Sunday look like?
Pics from the con: Getting ready to give my acceptance speech, with an able assist from the Dread Pirate Ducky. The Stuffed Animal Tea. And a Before Con shot with Debi Chowdhury.
BaltiCon Monday, May 26
What went before: The link to Etsy store for Heroes Hoard: https://www.etsy.com/shop/heroeshoard/?etsrc=sdt.
I apparently got my dragon on a “show special,” plus! He rolled a discount, and also won two die.
Dinner was a complicated affair. I started out able to hear and to join in conversations around me, but, as the upstairs filled up, the noise level rose, and I couldn’t hear, and was starting on a headache, so I bade farewell to mine hostess and came on back to the hotel, from which location I write to you.
Today’s early morning kaffeklatsch was invigorating, the panel on raising stakes lively; I signed a lot of books, and Jean Marie Ward and I read to an appreciative and attentive room.
There were a couple gotcha moments today. At the autographing, someone gave me one of the Del Rey paperbacks to sign, and I kinda froze up. Those who have been with us a LONG time will recall that the Del Rey paperbacks were issued (against our expressed preference) as by Steve Miller and Sharon Lee, which meant that Steve signed first and highest, and then I signed below him. We’ve signed a LOT of Del Rey editions over a LOT of years, and my brain froze up trying to figure out how to sign the book.
Happily, my brain did come back online after a minute or two, after a couple of sniffles, but no actual tears, and on we went.
The elevators in the hotel have been doing really well, considering they had to handle the demands of three separate groups– Muslims, musicians, and scifi folks — and this morning two of them had a nervous collapse. They were declared fixed at least twice, but when I came back from dinner, both were out of commission again.
There are parties happening, but I think I may be in for the evening. No disrespect intended, but I’m kinda worn out.
And on that note — everybody stay safe. I’ll look in when I can.
Monday. Break Down the Con Day. Sunny and blue.
Had a nice breakfast conversation with Virginia DeMarce. I have one more panel this morning, on how to organize your manuscript, and a couple of other pieces of business to take care of, before I change into my traveling jeans and beat feet for Corning. The hotel there was pleased to extend my stay by one night, and it’s easier to depart the city this afternoon than it will be tomorrow morning.
I hope everyone has a good Monday.
