In Haste Before More Readercon

[theodosia]

1. Didn't get impaneled at Jury Duty, which makes life much simpler for the next couple of weeks. Still fraught, but simpler.

1a. There were about 180 potential jurors -- I was impressed that the court officers handled the crowd adroitly and respectfully.

1b. There were no less than three court cases that settled rather than impanel that day. I therefore conclude that my very presence was enough to save the Commonwealth thousands of dollars in court fees, so GO ME! ::revels in her public service::

2. Got to Readercon in good time, immediately ran into wonderful friends and acquaintances. I know far too many people to do any of them justice!

2a. But I got a quick Indian dinner (at the Burlington Mall food court -- "India Quality" is not misnamed) with malkingrey and her family, so I got to spend time with some of the kids, who are all charming young people. Including Eldest Son, who is starting one hell of a neat Master's program, and is Just So Damn Grownup now. I'm still kind of shocked to see the kids of friends actually, you know, growing up, but it's so very neat when they do it so very well.

3a. Watched a presentation by Jennifer Pelland on short story markets that nearly got me enthusiastic about sending out (not to mention writing) stories again.

3b. A panel with malkingrey called "Readercon 101" which went over literary buzzwords like "trope" and "meme" and how they get used at the con versus the proper dictionary definitions

3c. Went to the Kaffeeklatsch for oracne where we talked a lot about vampires, werewolves, WWI novels and had a fun time

3d. And a panel with tnh which in my haste I'm totally forgetting....

4. ...because I'd better get going NOW already. More panels, more talking, the Kirk Poland Memorial Bad Prose Competition tonight... Yep, it's another Readercon, good as ever.

Comments

[reginagiraffe]

It's funny you should mention 'trope'. I just used it last night in a conversation with MrGiraffe and he admitted to not knowing what I meant by it and I admitted to not being exactly sure myself. I said, "You know what I would love to see become a common trope? The sight of an older woman with two young men on her arms." (We were watching a commercial with the usual 'older guy with two lovely young women on his arms'.)

So I was using it in the sense of "stereotype" but really it means (I just looked it up) "figure of speech". Hmmm.

How did they say other people use it?

[noradeirdre.livejournal.com]

I love that Indian place at the Burlington Mall!

[sfmarty.livejournal.com]

I am yearning to go to a Readercon someday, apparantly not enought tho, to actually do it. Keep the reports coming!!

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Is Eldest Son as handsome as his dad?

[hereward.livejournal.com]

Is that the Malkin Grey who wrote Song of the Shieldwall?

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

Yep, the figure of speech thing is what an English-major-type would be meaning if they said trope. Whereas in fanspeak it means what you said!

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

I went back the next day and discovered it is named "Gourmet India" -- but whatever name, it's good!

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

Heh. I've made it to a Baycon -- you owe me! ;-)

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

::whispers:: just might be...

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

Yes, in fact it is! She is really quite astonishingly talented, for all that she can be so quiet....

[hereward.livejournal.com]

Very cool. That song is still very important to SCA culture. There's a whole kingdom comprised of four US states for which Song of the Shieldwall is their cultural touchstone.