Denvention - Day 5

Sunday, August 10, 2008
Today was the last day of Denvention. I'm really glad I went, and I'm also glad it's over. I'm not used to leaving the house this many days in a row, and I'm wiped.

This morning I got my nerd love Bob Sawyer to sign my Denvention T-Shirt:















On the front I have Lois McMaster Bujold, David Coe, S.M. Stirling, David Brin and John Scalzi. On the back I have Elizabeth Moon, Joe Haldeman, Bob Sawyer and George R.R. Martin. Of course, now I'll never wear it, unless I go to another WorldCon.

After that, I met Jeri and Anne at a panel on Lois McMaster Bujold's writing circle - the gals who have been reading each other manuscripts forever, and now they're all published authors. Jeri says I get to be the fan moderator if the UCF writers ever make it to a panel like this. Woot! This is Lillian Stewart Carl, Peggy Rae Sapienza, Lois McMaster Bujold and Patricia Wrede.



I then went to a panel on misfits in SF&F, including panelists Larry Niven and George R.R. Martin. It was okay, but started to devolve when the misfits in the audience started to "participate." And by "participate" I mean the guy behind me was having a conversation with the panelists just loud enough for me to hear. I had a photo, but it's blurry as hell, so you're out of luck.

Then it was lunch at the Appaloosa Grill. The Smart Man stayed home today so it was just us gals. Doesn't Anne look hot in her sari?


Jeri made the suggestion that perhaps it might be worthwhile to use WorldCon as an excuse for the UCF to get together in person. It's as good a reason as any I can think of, so I thought I'd throw it out there.

I have to say, one of the things that made this experience so worthwhile was the convergence of so many members of the UCF in meat-space. I already knew I loved Anne and Tania, and now I know that Jeri is also as fabulous in real life as the other two. I consider myself extraordinarily lucky to have stumbled upon such interesting, caring, and fun people completely by accident. My life is indeed the richer for it.

15 comments:

Anne C. said...

Hear hear on the so-glad-I-stumbled-into-this-group sentiment. I feel very lucky to know you guys and lucky to have gotten to meet so many (relatively speaking) of you in person. I had a blast going to the convention with you guys and would definitely try and do it again if I can possibly manage it. (I'd better get restarted on the writing, so I'll be able to participate in the panel too!)

I think Jeri will probably post her full length picture of my sari, so no need to pretend you can see it in this pic, folks.

Nathan said...

I see that the next one is in Montreal, a city I could most reasonably get to. I could totally get behind the concept of a UCF sub-convention at WorldCon.

And Anne, yeah I'll wait for Jeri's post to gush about your sari.

Random Michelle K said...

Is this a good time to mention that I don't have a passport?

Please John, keep your mocking to a minimum.

Nathan said...

Michelle,

My passport expired 10 years ago.

John the Scientist said...

Get your passports NOW. Immigration is damnably slow, and you never know when you might need to get out of Dodge.

I get mine expedited through work, so if your employer has a travel office, use them.

And Michelle - I recently had to get 20 new pages sewn into mine because I had only half a page left for Visas or stamps, and France requires 4 free pages. :p

Random Michelle K said...

Nathan, at least you've had one in the past. :)

And I know. I know. I've been meaning to get mine for about a decade now, but never got around to it.

Janiece said...

I have a passport, but the Smart Man does not. He needs to get cracking, and we need to see if we have enough dough in our fun-fund to swing a trip to Montreal...

Janiece said...

Oh, and I heard back from Scalzi, thanking me for the T-Shirt.

mattw said...

Sounds like a great time was had by all.

And Michelle, I too don't have a passport.

Jim Wright said...

Niven and Martin? Oooooh, Dammit, Janiece - my two absolute favorite authors in the same room at the same time? Argh!

Did they say anything about me?

;)

Cindi in CO said...

Don't feel bad, Michelle. Hubby and I talk about getting passports, but that's all we ever do.

Maybe soon.

Janiece said...

Jim, clearly you're not paying attention.

It was a panel on misfits in SF&F. Of course they said something about you.

Jim Wright said...

Bawhahahahaha! I knew it. Those guys are the best!

Jeri said...

Jim isn't a misfit in SF. He's a Mary Sue in SF. That was a different panel, wasn't it?

Janiece, you, too are every bit as fabulous in real life as you are online - and your pool boy ;) was great fun too.

I'm definitely exploring the possibilities of Montreal in 09. Alaska Air doesn't fly there but there are always partner airline mileage awards. :) Plus, I think that Montreal would be fun city to go to just to visit - I'd tack on an extra couple of days for that.

Janiece said...

Pool boy! Oh, pooool-boooyy!