Worldcon in Brief

Note: This is merely a brief summary because a full worldcon report would be (a) too long and too much neck-strain for me to spend time typing in one go, and (b) too impolitic in spots to post in an online forum.

I cheerfully expected this worldcon to be a relaxing one, secure in the knowledge that I was not in charge of anything. Australia in 2010 was officially kicking off its bid so there was some advance prep work but I figured I'd just be sitting at the bid table most of the day, which I don't mind doing, and helping with the party to the extent my injury permitted. I also was helping out on the Fan Fund auction, which I figured would just involve running items in the auction, as always. Because friends who have helped me out in the past in Program Operations were running it this year, I had also volunteered for a shift a day there but again figured that I'd just step in for a few hours and then wave goodbye. Stephen had been volunteered to help out in Facilities but also wasn't in charge of anything in particular so he also figured this would be an easy year off. ( It is to laugh... )

One time commitment that I was happy to make was to work the Hugo pre-reception and ceremony. I was honored when constant_reader asked me to be one of the onstage escorts and, as previously mentioned, got to escort elated Best Short Story winner davidlevine. (Plus, of course, I got to show off my new outfit from India to a cast of thousands :-> )

I still regret not being able to spend more time with some people I'd hoped to get to know a little better after interacting with them online, such as sleigh and betnoir, and old friends like athenais, sweetennui, and obadiah. Also, for some reason I hadn't thought about the fact that I was likely to see scores of LA people I used to know when I lived there (like Elst Weinstein, who dismayed me greatly by cheerfully offering to show me a photo of his granddaughter, thus destroying the illusion that it was just yesterday that I was reading his hoax zines) or other people from my past who were drawn by the location, like gamemeister Steve Jackson and New Orleans fan legend Joe Grillot.

OTOH, I did get some meals with buddies like debgeisler, pmcmurray, and marykaykare, and some quality catch-up time with eackerman. As usual, spending time with friends made up for the frantic scurrying and lack of sleep. The bid also seemed to be received well, with good parties and positive buzz. So, all in all, a good if more-hectic-than-expected time.

Worldcon in Brief

Note: This is merely a brief summary because a full worldcon report would be (a) too long and too much neck-strain for me to spend time typing in one go, and (b) too impolitic in spots to post in an online forum.

I cheerfully expected this worldcon to be a relaxing one, secure in the knowledge that I was not in charge of anything. Australia in 2010 was officially kicking off its bid so there was some advance prep work but I figured I'd just be sitting at the bid table most of the day, which I don't mind doing, and helping with the party to the extent my injury permitted. I also was helping out on the Fan Fund auction, which I figured would just involve running items in the auction, as always. Because friends who have helped me out in the past in Program Operations were running it this year, I had also volunteered for a shift a day there but again figured that I'd just step in for a few hours and then wave goodbye. Stephen had been volunteered to help out in Facilities but also wasn't in charge of anything in particular so he also figured this would be an easy year off. ( It is to laugh... )

One time commitment that I was happy to make was to work the Hugo pre-reception and ceremony. I was honored when constant_reader asked me to be one of the onstage escorts and, as previously mentioned, got to escort elated Best Short Story winner davidlevine. (Plus, of course, I got to show off my new outfit from India to a cast of thousands :-> )

I still regret not being able to spend more time with some people I'd hoped to get to know a little better after interacting with them online, such as sleigh and betnoir, and old friends like athenais, sweetennui, and obadiah. Also, for some reason I hadn't thought about the fact that I was likely to see scores of LA people I used to know when I lived there (like Elst Weinstein, who dismayed me greatly by cheerfully offering to show me a photo of his granddaughter, thus destroying the illusion that it was just yesterday that I was reading his hoax zines) or other people from my past who were drawn by the location, like gamemeister Steve Jackson and New Orleans fan legend Joe Grillot.

OTOH, I did get some meals with buddies like debgeisler, pmcmurray, and marykaykare, and some quality catch-up time with eackerman. As usual, spending time with friends made up for the frantic scurrying and lack of sleep. The bid also seemed to be received well, with good parties and positive buzz. So, all in all, a good if more-hectic-than-expected time.