The two highlights of WindyCon were toastmastering for the first time (fun!), and getting to spend time with (Alix) AM Dellamonica and Kelly Robson, who are both just delightful. (And, incidentally, married to each other for 33 years so far…) I’ve recently read one of Kelly’s books, _High Times in the Low Parliament (a lesbian …
Very low-key cosplay on my part at WindyCon– got my book mask (sewn to match the skirt I’m wearing, not pictured), my book earrings, and my steampunk goggles. Steampunk librarian? More elaborate cosplay on the part of my co-panelist, Alice Liddell (her real name is Lauren A.R. Masterson, under which she writes fiction, see comments …
One of the panels I did at WindyCon was for board games that are fast, easy, and cheap (under $30). I thought y’all might like the list for holiday gifting, or just for presents to yourself. Lanterns is the only one one here that’s a little over $30, but it often goes on sale. These …
So I survived my Toastmaster gig at WindyCon! I was pretty nervous, having never done this before, but I think it went reasonably well, especially once the crowd warmed up and started laughing in the right places. By the end, I was having a lot of fun — please feel free to invite me to …
I’m working on my toastmaster stuff now, and I’m not feeling particularly inspired. I think I’m mostly just supposed to introduce the guests of honor, so I can go for short and sweet, but it really would be nice to also be a little funny. I may just pepper in some science fiction jokes? Give …
Finished the convention having dinner with some old friends from Chicago, Lena and Esala, who moved to New Orleans a few years ago — great to catch up on everyone’s lives, and see their adorable son, who is now FIVE. Jeremiah is SO BIG. I can’t even. We had tapas at Lola’s — the garlic …
I didn’t eat or drink much at the hotel (Hyatt Regency New Orleans), but the Bayou Sapphire (Bombay Sapphire Gin, Blue Curacao, lime juice, mint, simple syrup) was tasty, and the ravioli (with sautéed shrimp and crawfish tails in a Cajun cream sauce) was pretty yummy too. For hotel food, pretty good, though pricey, of …
After dinner, Ellen Kushner pointed out we were right by the river, so we walked down to it, and then walked back along the river for a while. Just lovely. In retrospect, I kind of wish I’d taken a little more time to just walk around New Orleans; I had scheduled a bunch of interviews …
Lovely dinner at Tujague’s with fabulous company. I ate: • Oysters Bienville our house baked Bienville filling topped with corn fried oysters with a drizzle of truffle oil — YUM • Boudin Balls house made, served with pepper jelly — this is a spicy Cajun pork and rice sausage, and I thought they were quite …
We didn’t eat here, and I don’t know the name of this New Orleans restaurant, but gosh, it was pretty to walk past.
