So we've got our start date. We've got our end date. We've got our rules. Time to get writing.
I have a couple story ideas already that should work. I'm shooting for maybe 3 or 4 (no way I can manage 10 barring I get COVID and have nothing better to do while self-isolating).
Anyone else getting pumped and ready for this?
A new comp and a celebration. We'll have to have a party here in the cafe on October 12 (which, I think, is Thanksgiving Day here in the Great White North). Cake, cookies, tea, coffee. Heck, maybe we'll slip a few two-fours and some wine in the fridge. Just don't tell the LLBO (Liquor License Board of Ontario). They'll probably want us to get an event license or something.
For now, some green tea and cookies will suffice.
Meetings over. I have meetings today, but they are proper meetings not day-long conference sessions.
Tripped while on my walk last night. No serious injuries but enough scrapes and scratches to be in pain. I am prone to doing this (klutz) but it has been a while. At least I didn't twist my ankle as I am prone to doing. I just got over a twisted ankle.
Nice weather here though they are calling for showers on the weekend.
Tea is in the pot. Hot, black, and strong.
I am currently reading the Transmetropolitan series by Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson. Darkly humourous s-f graphic novels compiled from a comic series that ran from 1997-2002. Definitely not your usual comic book fare as it tells the story of an eccentric gonzo journalist living in a weird future. Lots of cyberpunk and transhumanist elements. Also very much not for kiddies or sensitive folks. A faithful movie version would get a hard R for sure, probably an NC-17.
And I find those are sometimes the best graphic novels for me. Not the superheroes, but the fantasy, sf, and other genres. A couple other faves are Neil Gaiman's fantasy series Sandman (which had various artists over the original comic books run) and Jeff Smith's excellent (as in better than a lot of straight literary fantasy) fantasy series Bone.
Anyone else into non-superhero comics and graphic novels? Or even high quality superhero material?
Survived Day 2, but barely. I find that day 2 of a conference is always the one that drains me the most. When I go to in-person conferences away from home, day 2 is usually the one where I cut the last session to go to my hotel for a rest, or even a nap, before dinner. Of course, there is usually a reception that evening so I head back for that. Not going to miss free food and booze.
Stuck in an all day meeting today, tomorrow, and Wednesday. Yeah, fun. * scarfs as many chocolate butterscotch crunch cookies as he can find and hunkers down with a large mug of green tea *
Apple cider, hot and mulled. Love it.
Swim in a lake or swim in a pool?
Grocery shopping is done. Just sitting down for a bit before starting on lunch (avocado chickpea salad in a honey-lime dressing).
Lovely weather daytime but getting cold overnight.
Haven't turned our furnace on yet but it is getting tempting. Definitely a bit chilly when I got up this morning and only 8C outside when I left for work about 8:15am.
Working on my Halloween horror story now. Last year was a ghost story. This year, I'm going for cosmic horror, I think, though trying to keep it very focussed and personal. Also have another story I am toying with but not for here.
Making a pot of Scottish Breakfast tea for anyone in need of a non-coffee caffeine fix.
First off, I love what a great field we got for this comp. An incredible turnout for our first Stories Space comp in quite a while. Some terrific stories there including, but not limited to, the top ten.
Second, I am truly humbled to be on the podium with these two. They are terrific stories and quite deserving of the prizes they got. In another universe, though, some of the other top ten could well have been in the top three. It's that good a field.
So congratulations to all who entered, with a special high five (virtual, of course) to my fellow winners and top-tenners.
Now, let's head over to Inspirations, break out some drinks and goodies (esp. some of Sara's cookies) and celebrate the success of this comp.
I finally had my checkup and cleaning at the dentist. Got delayed from, I think, June or so. The Ontario college has really gone hard on COVID-prevention so it took him a while to get his office up to par, delaying all his appointments from the spring. Not to mention the front steps seemingly collapsed, forcing him to use his side door as the entrance (he converted an old bungalow into a dental office).
Now I am working in my office. Trying a mix of in office and remote for the next few weeks.
Automatic. Had good intentions about learning to drive a stick at one time but I think the time has passed.
Gas, hybrid, or electric?
Shoes. I always seem to have problems with sandals for some reason.
Sedan or SUV?
Piano. My days of learning new languages seem to have passed.
WYR play piano or guitar?
Perfect day is rare thing.
Never played Phase 10 but UNO was a family favorite back in the day. Nonetheless, I will go with Phase 10 just for the opportunity of learning a new game.
WYR sing in the choir or play in the band?
Our version of Panamanian chicken soup (chicken, cassava, carrots, cilantro). Something my wife figured out after having the real thing last Christmas on a tour of the country.
It has, hasn't it? We need to do more here, I think. Livens things up and gets the creative juices flowing.
Getting noisy around here. Our local airshow is the only one in Canada going ahead this year so we've got the USAF Thunderbirds (which fly F-16s) and other assorted loud flying objects filling our skies. They are going with a "drive-in" format due to COVID. No ground displays and spectators sit in their cars in a parking lot at the airport, spaced out for social distancing. Domino's is delivering to the cars for people who want munchies to go with their high-powered jets. I haven't gone to the airshow since it was revived 3 or so years ago and I think I'll wait until it is back to a normal airshow. I enjoy ground displays where you can get up-close to the planes.
In any case, I am looking forward to the big announcement.