I left Mom and Dads, and drove to Roseburg, Oregon without incident.  Stopped at a giant Motel 6 there.  It is good I made reservations, as they were sold out.  I didn’t care as I had reserved on the web before I left.  Had dinner there, discovered that a chef salad is a really low number of Weight Watchers points, and slept.  Got up, ate breakfast, and drove off, vroom!

Got to Yreka, California, where I always like to stop at the Black Bear Diner.  Stopped and had lunch.  When I got in the car to leave, I turned the ignition key and it broke off in the ignition.  Arrgh.  I went inside, and the people at the diner were very nice while I wanted for the locksmith.  There’s only one in Yreka, a fellow by the name of Jeffery Dobson, of Dobby’s Lock Shop.  He had the right tools to get the key out, and was able to cut one that would get me home.

When I got home, I managed to lock half the key in the car.  Had to call the roadside assistance people and get the car opened.  Waited an hour, then it took three minutes to open.  Pretty slick, really.  A delay I didn’t need, but harmless in the large scale.

Some unpacking, and some sleeping in my own bed.  My own waterbed, no less.  It was bliss, and I slept like a log.  Woke up and felt fantastic.

Today, I’m running errands.  Right now, I’m at a Mazda dealership, having new keys made and programmed to the car.  These new keys are expensive; don’t lose yours!  I’m having three keys made; a new valet key, and two new remotes with switchblade keys.  No more problems with keys for the RX8!

I’m home, and that’s good.  The trip was excellent, and I was really glad to see everyone… but it’s really nice to be home.

As before, I think their casting was excellent.  I wasn’t sure how I thought Anne Hathaway would do in this kind of film, but she handled it well.  The part was a little different than some other authors handled Catwoman, but I liked it.

I won’t say any more, lest I spoil it for someone.  I enjoyed it.

The cast was full of excellent people, and the plot was sweet and odd at the same time.  A pair of misfit kids falls for one another and won’t be kept apart.  Love conquers all.

Wandered through the dealer’s room, picked up a few little things.  A real, wind-up, mechanical pocket watch which I liked, and some CDs from Jeff and Maya Bonhoff.  Then walked across the hall to watch Jeff and Maya perform.  They had Vixy of Vixy and Tony, as well as a cellist and violinist who’s names I didn’t catch.  Their daughter sang backup – again, I missed her name – and it was a fun hour’s worth of live music.  The violin and cello added a lot to the two guitars.  Not all were parodies, some were new folk music.  Will share that with Mom and Dad.

Then, fool that I am, I went to the art auction.  I say I’m a fool because I bought things.  I bought two pieces from Brianna Spacecat-Wu.  They fit together into one big image.  Planets with cat ears and tails.   Spaceships with the same.  Some of her long, thin women, with cat-ears and tails.  They were inexpensive, and a set.  When I got the first one for a low price, I simply decided I had to have the second.  It wasn’t much more.  The hard part will be getting them to San Jose.  May have them shipped.  May try and get a photo to upload later.

Meant to go to a panel on “Urban Science” after the art show, but didn’t.  Wandered around, talked to people, hung out in Hospitality until the Opening Ceremonies.  Went to those, and watched Brianna Spacecat-Wu commandeer the moderator’s spot and run the thing pretty well.  Lots of laughter, and a pretty good turnout.  The con had 900 paying members, and 800 in attendance.  And was officially over.

I swapped out the technokitty costume for a normal shirt and hat and went back to Mom and Dad’s where we had some nice BBQ and a quiet evening.  I need to get a bunch of photos converted and uploaded, and then can update this blog and facebook.

Went to a fairly interesting panel or two on gaming run by Ogre and Mickey – lost both their last names.  Dustin (Gibbit’s husband) was supposed to be there, but couldn’t make it.  Regardless, they went well, and both had some interesting advice about how to structure long and short campaigns, and how to build game worlds.  I wished Bob were along.  He would have gotten more from the discussion, and might have added to the panel.  I shared a couple of his best techniques.

I went to a panel on Chinese Dragons, and one of the panelists was someone I haven’t seen in twenty years, Jonalynn.  She’s going by Wolfcat now, and I hope to try and have a word with her.  She looked well, and had a cute child (see “Tudor Toddler”) below.

John Bradley took all of these excellent photos; mine were awful.  He had better gear, a better location, and did all the hard work and was then kind enough to share them!  Many thanks to John for sharing his pictures!

Went to the Masquerade.  There were only nine entries, but all of them were quite good.  Three were not-for-competition.

One was a group piece with Chris and Jackie’s son Eli and some others.  Eli’s a perfect David Tennant doctor, and there was a big TARDIS on stage, so they decided to run with that.  It was fun.  

So was “Egyptian Barista” and an excellent Xena costume.

There was  ”Junior” costume “Tudor Toddler” who was a toddler in period clothes, and adorable.

There was a Lord Zuko (couldn’t remember his name!)  from Avatar, who had excellent choreography and streamers for fire.

“The Eight” was Henry The Eighth and all his wives, all well done.  They had a little routine to introduce them all, set to some good filk but the on-stage pictures didn’t show the whole group.  Here’s a posed one from afterwards: 

There was a Will-o-the-wisp with glowy red eyes, very cool.

There was a jellyfush with EL wire and black-light activated streamers and gauze, which was very unusual and pretty.

UPDATE: I found someone who went!  The one I forgot was the Fallen Angel.  How could I forget her, when she had a kitty familiar?  Yes, a live cat.

The half-time show was some filkers called Jeff and Maya Bonhoff, who I enjoyed.  They have a concert tomorrow and discs in the dealer’s room.  I may go.

More if I remember it, and maybe some pictures from the Masquerade.

Went to an 11:00am panel, but decided the next couple were dumb, and wandered a bit.  Looked at the art show – cool stuff, bigger than last Westercon, bigger than Baycon, but everyone says smaller than Norwescon – and am glad nothing demands I take it home.  Dealers room was similar.  Picked up some unusual comic books (which are small, so I can get them home) and didn’t buy the deliciously steampunk cane.  May try and find some books tomorrow.

Bumped into David and Melanie Bennett, who weren’t here for the con, but were dropping something off for their daughter.  She has a panel in the art show!  It was good to say hello to them.  Melanie was fretting over what mischief her dear child might be getting into – if the con I’ve seen is an indicator, not much.

Came up to get a bite to eat.  Started reading a book, “The Stepsister Scheme” by Jim C. Hines.  Ate a sandwich, an apple, and some yogurt.

After lunch, there was no panels till about 3pm, so I read a bit.  As I did, I realized I was having a bit of an upset stomach, and wasn’t really motivated to hurry back down to things.  I’m on vacation.  I took it easy.  I read a book.  I let the last of the upset pass.  I relaxed.

By 7pm the con events had ended, but I wanted some real food.  I want to the hotel’s cheaper restaurant and had a bowl of quite good tomato basil bisque and some Caesar salad.  It sat well.

I bumped into Heather R. Scott in the lobby and talked to her for a while.  It had been years since I’ve seen her.  She’s gone grey, but otherwise looks well.  New service dog, but her same sharp wit and utter lack of patience for lack of support for accessibility.  She liked the ears.  =)

Wandered around room parties.  Most were pretty dead.  The Worldcon in London bid had booze – I did not partake – but the others were quite staid.  There were a few others in a wing I didn’t make it out to.

Wandered down to Hospitality, as the only other thing open.  Ran into a birthday party for Brianna Spacecat-Wu.  She’s a special guest, and her husband Frank Wu is the art GOH.  She’s 6’1 and thin, way taller than he is.  Both are athletic and cheerful.  You have to appreciate anyone who marries and keeps hyphenates her name so she can keep “Spacecat”.  I’ve also seen both of them on panels, and they’re both interesting and intelligent.

They are also obviously very much in love with each other, and it was entirely charming.  I hope they get to keep their happiness.  Here’s a picture of them,  although it was from a later panel and not nearly as cute as they were in the party.

Spent about three hours down there talking to people.  We played “Cards Against Humanity” which is as snarky fun as it sounds (think a cynical, sick and twisted “Apples to Apples”) and some Street Fighter, which Brianna apparently loves.  No one but Frank would play with her.  I tried a round or two, but was just one step above pathetic.  (I was clearly not mashing enough of the buttons.  The controller has way too many buttons!)  Nice people.

Batteries in the ears died, and I decided to call it a night.  I’m going to try and find the giant moth I saw flapping about when I came in, except that it’s taupe and blends naturally into it’s native hotel room habitat.

I got the room upgrade, which is quite nice.  Bigger, with a nice sofa and a balcony.  I brought some food, so I can eat breakfast and a lunch or dinner in and not be quite so restaurantastic.

Ran to the Closing Ceremonies, saw the end, said “Hi!” to Bobbie, then went up and changed into my goofy hall costume.  Went to a “Women in Gaming” panel which was all women on the panel, two in the video game industry, two in the table top game industry.  Was a good panel, but got distracted by the video games.  Lots of active women in the audience, and no hecklers.

Talked to Gibbit a bit after that panel.  She didn’t recognize me, which was fun.  Bumped into Chris Nillson, and found Jackie running the art show.  Stuck my head in and said hello, but  tried not to get underfoot.  (Offered to help, but she had bodies, just not enough organization.)

Secret to having women (all attractive, and of all ages) speak to you at conventions:  motorized cat ears.  Possibly any very cute costume.

Am now in the bar where there’s wifi, posting a blog and catching up on mail and quietly freaking the mundanes.  Didn’t mean to.

Did talk to a nice women who’s struggling really hard.  Furloughed from the airlines, took a job for what turned out to be the Russian Mafia, and now can’t get new work because her security check fails.  She’s in limbo because no one will take the risk that the mobster won’t retaliate on a plane.  She’s lost her home, everything she owns, and is struggling from job interview to job interview.  All this, and she was friendly and cheerful.  The Republicans say everything’s better.  Nos so much.  Made my heart ache for her, and count my blessings.  I couldn’t do anything but listen, but I did that.

The nav system in the car gave up and left me in the middle of Ocean Shores, but a quick call got me sorted, and got me to my Aunt’s.

Her house is lovely, and a good size for her.  It’s just her and her three little fluffdogs, but she’s got enough room for a very nice guest room and enough space for a fine living room.  It’s a newish place and everything works.  It was nice to see some of the familiar pieces of furniture from Grandmother’s house had made it out there, but also nice to see my Aunt making living her own life.  She seemed happy and relaxed and is doing some local volunteer work, which is good and is keeping her busy.

Wednesday morning, I got up, and drove to Seattle.  Got in about 4pm, and had a nice BBQ dinner – chicken shishkebabs – with Mom, Dad, and the Sister.  Watch Seattle’s impressive fireworks display on the TV, took the sister home, and will sleep soon.

Today, Dad wants to have breakfast in Ballard, and I go to Westercon.  It will be another full day.

My vacation seems to be more demanding than my day to day life.

The nav system had me take 280 South to 680, which worked great. No cutting over at Mission Blvd.

Hit I5 at about 8:15am and finally stopped for a break.

The tire pressure light on the car came on, which is vexing because I put two new tires on it yesterday.  The place the correct pressures are supposed to be listed is unhelpfully blank, but I stopped and checked; all four tires have air.  I’ll check them in the morning (cold, like they’re supposed to be) and see if that doesn’t sort it.

Stopped and took pictures of things.  Mt. Shasta, which is always surprisingly beautiful, with it’s rugged white snow-capped crags sticking through a wall of trees.  The Rogue River and some invasive foreign plants.  Will get them onto Flickr eventually.

Got to the hotel, tired, ate food, and have an hour or two to relax before I crash.  Have to leave early tomorrow!

I did post some rambling “deep thoughts” on another web page, but they weren’t very organized.  Maybe I’ll repost them here, if they still seem interesting when I re-read them.  Other than that I’ve not bothered much with this new-fangled blogging thing.

What has finally gotten me to go to the effort of setting up a blog and maybe actually writing something in it regularly?

Two things.  One is Matt S. Trout’s blog post We Are Iron Man.  If he thinks one post a week will mean something, I think I can manage a post a week.  Some weeks I might even manage more!

The second is vanity, really.  I wasn’t going to set up a yet another  domain, but I realized that laufeyjarson.com was available.  That’s the name I’ve done some of this work under, and it pushed me over the edge.  Shiny new domain name!  Yay!

I need to think of something to do with the main page, which is quite blank.

So!  Now I just need to write something Perly and then join the crowd.  Yay!

I probably will not just write about Perl.  It’s a whole blog, where I can write anything I want.  I do things besides write code, and they will show up here, too.  Tags and categories should help keep that clear.