Kevin's Watch

Happy Black Cat Appreciation Day. I don't generally approve of random made-up holidays, but I support this one.

(ducks in)

(looks around and notes that nothing's blown up)

(ducks back out)

Feeling good. As I was saying elsewhere, winter is nearly over. Forecast maximum today is 26°C. Spring is just around the corner.

--A

We're still around the mid to high teens, but I think (hope) the worst is over

aliantha wrote:(ducks in)

(looks around and notes that nothing's blown up)

(ducks back out)

Will you visit more often if I set random corners of GenDisc on fire?

Just curious.

StevieG wrote:We're still around the mid to high teens, but I think (hope) the worst is over

Well, it's unseasonably warm here. We should probably be about where you are now, but winter was unexpectedly mild. We'll probably have a cold snap or two before spring sets in, but mostly we're done.

--A

Sorus wrote:

aliantha wrote:(ducks in)

(looks around and notes that nothing's blown up)

(ducks back out)

Will you visit more often if I set random corners of GenDisc on fire?

Just curious.

Probably not. And let's not try it to see, shall we?

It's taken me a while to get over not getting the job in Denver. Plus I'm still waiting for my brother to resolve all the stuff with the estate and the house. Let's just say it has not been ali's best summer ever.

Latest deadline for the house/estate stuff is August 28. If I don't have my money by then, I'm gonna sue his ass. I even sent a retainer check to a lawyer at the end of last week. We'll see how it goes...

There's no drama like family drama. Sorry Ali.

I'm having a bit of a job-related existential crisis myself, and this week has kicked me up one side and down the other. And it's only Wednesday.

Right? One of my attorneys asked me today to book a conference room for her for tomorrow. So I booked it for Friday. When she pointed out to me that I had the wrong day, I said, "You mean tomorrow's not Friday? Rats."

Well, on the plus side, tomorrow is now Friday. In my time zone at least.

--A

Here too. Though by now it probably is Friday for you.

I feel physically and mentally exhausted. Hope I'm not coming down with whatever plague is circulating at work; that would be the proverbial icing on the cake this week.

It was when you posted that. Just.

Early day today, and tomorrow off to a friend to finally get the clutch sorted on my jeep.

--A

Looks like I'll be going to Helsinki for the weekend of the 9th-13th August 2017, because they just won the bid to host Worldcon!

Damn, you plan far in advance huh?

Anyway, turns out it's not my clutch. Looks like one of the synchro-rings in the gearbox is worn.

--A

I would love to go to Worldcon, though I will probably have to wait for the next time it's held in California. Still trying to decide whether or not to get tickets for the gaming convention that my guild attends. It's in December this year, and the new venue isn't as convenient for me to get to. It would be nice to see everyone, and to actually see some of the panels this time - last time we all just camped at our recruitment booth.

The current con's only in Washington, not too far from you by American standards. Halfway over now, though. Next year is Kansas Missouri, I think. Then Helsinki!

By 2017 it'll have been in America 5 times in 6 years, and it's almost certainly in the US in 2018 (the only bids so far are New Orleans and San Jose), so I'm really glad Helsinki won. Hopefully we'll get Dublin 2019, too. Needs to be more "world" in Worldcon.

Avatar wrote:Damn, you plan far in advance huh?

They always vote for the winning bid to host the con two years in advance, and if there's a con somewhere reasonably near to me I'm gonna make sure to get there, since it ain't that common. Helsinki is close enough, I think.

Fair enough.

--A

Flying to Washington would actually be a faster trip than the train to San Jose (which is where GX3 is this year). Would have liked to see David Gerrold - I've read transcripts of panels he's been on. And wait, there was a steampunk and Discworld event?

I'm really not a traveler, but I would like to be at some point in my life. Maybe one of these years... Probably not Helsinki though.

I had another accident Friday before last (the last one was when I fell in the bath and hurt my ribs). I got on the bus and my favourite seat was free (the one with lots of leg room) but a lad got on behind me who was about 6 foot 5 and squashed into a seat opposite to me so I leaned over and asked him if he wanted to swap. He had things in his ears and couldn't hear so I leaned over a bit further and tapped him on the arm. He declined to change seats, so I flopped back into mine, and landed on the hard arm of the seat! I caught the bit of bone next to my coccyx and it is just getting better now. The best seat in the house for me to sit in is the one I'm in now, no back around the bottom region. Sitting up in bed is impossible, and I can only sit sideways on sofas. Going up the stairs was agony, but it is getting a little better each day. Another lesson learned - sit down carefully!!

Just wrote yet another obituary, this time for a good friend who died suddenly of a massive heart attack last week. Only 73 years old. Not a funeral but a "Celebration of his Life" on Thursday. Still, it's our Chairman's birthday next Sunday and she's having a party - she'll be 80! Another two of my friends have just turned 89.

And I think I'm getting sick. In fact, I know I'm getting sick.

--A