Yeah, you're a friend of mine

I am still alive. Readercon has not yet eaten me entire. My nightly intake of sleep, however, has plummeted like the proverbial lead balloon. This is the abbreviated report.

I am now in possession of several books in which stories of mine have either been published (Cabinet des Fées #1) or reprinted (The Best of Not One of Us, Fantasy: The Best of the Year 2006), as well as a well-loved hardcover of Harlan Ellison's Strange Wine, for which I had been looking for some time; copies of the second and third issues of Fantasy Magazine, for which I have been waiting for some time; and my brother was highly amused to receive a signed copy of Nick Mamatas' chapbook, Cthulhu Senryu. I plan to pick up more tomorrow. Of all the cons I have attended, I think the dealer's room at Readercon has consistently provided the best selection of books. Wiscon's may contain more neat stuff, but Readercon has the literature. As it should be, I suppose.

I have given readings: "Chez Vous Soon" (Not One of Us #35), "Exorcisms" (Mythic #1), and "Tarot in the Dungeon" (Mythic Delirium #12). So far, beyond the expected criticism that I read too quickly, no one has complained. Next year, I may ask for requests.

I am slated to appear tomorrow on a panel about the New Weird. Thus far, my considered position on the matter is: Why does everyone at this con keep saying that fantasy is comforting!

And, finally, I can say for the first time in over a year that my meal was an entire goat.* Dinner tonight was at Punjab in Arlington Center, which I'm still amazed could seat us all within shouting distance of one another—myself, lesser_celery, hans_the_bold, yuki_onna, nineweaving, grailquestion, godlyperspectiv, rushthatspeaks, eredien, raxvulpine, captainbutler, and 2muchexposition. There was much excellent conversation. If not always the same conversation; like a game of telephone, it differed the farther one got from one end of the table to the other. As we got up to leave, the ocupants of the table behind us asked where we were from. I can see that they might have had reason to wonder. What is the sound of the unheimlich conversing?

I should really, really like to see i Sebastiani in performance sometime.

I am having a wonderful weekend.

* All right, this means I ordered goat curry. But the metaphysical implications still stand.