Stress City

I'm tense. cattitude is tense. The cat is probably tense, though it's hard to tell. It's too hot, still, and this unemployment business is getting very old. Especially since I not only haven't gotten this week's check, I haven't gotten last week's yet, and the Web site FAQ is all about what you need in order to apply, nothing about what happens afterward. I have a phone number somewhere, which I will call on Monday. (A number for questions, that is, not just the weekly dial-the-robot number.)

I should be writing. Instead, the major accomplishment of the day was lunch: blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup! The pancakes were better than last week's: I put the batter in the fridge for half an hour before using it, and I kept the pancakes warm in the oven. I may try a slightly thinner batter next time, but the cakes have to be thick enough to hold a blueberry.

The minor accomplishment of the day was pulling out the exercise mat and doing crunches, three sets (and not quite two sets of the back arching exercise, before my left knee complained and I decided to stop that).

And we never did get that thunderstorm, only the sound of distant thunder and some promising wind.

Stress City

I'm tense. cattitude is tense. The cat is probably tense, though it's hard to tell. It's too hot, still, and this unemployment business is getting very old. Especially since I not only haven't gotten this week's check, I haven't gotten last week's yet, and the Web site FAQ is all about what you need in order to apply, nothing about what happens afterward. I have a phone number somewhere, which I will call on Monday. (A number for questions, that is, not just the weekly dial-the-robot number.)

I should be writing. Instead, the major accomplishment of the day was lunch: blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup! The pancakes were better than last week's: I put the batter in the fridge for half an hour before using it, and I kept the pancakes warm in the oven. I may try a slightly thinner batter next time, but the cakes have to be thick enough to hold a blueberry.

The minor accomplishment of the day was pulling out the exercise mat and doing crunches, three sets (and not quite two sets of the back arching exercise, before my left knee complained and I decided to stop that).

And we never did get that thunderstorm, only the sound of distant thunder and some promising wind.

Worldcon membership

I sort of figured, months ago, that I wouldn't be getting to Worldcon this year. But I dithered. I had the membership, bought a year and a half earlier, from Mary Kay at Orycon, a place and time when it made sense. Realistically, I knew that if I had the time, it would be because I didn't have a job, and thus couldn't really afford it. I didn't reserve a room, and I hadn't even looked at airfares. But it would have been nice.

Sometime in July, I admitted that this wasn't going to happen. I hung onto the membership long enough to get a last-minute Hugo ballot in. Then, while I was thinking about how much to ask for it, Nancy Lebovitz posted to rassef that she was looking for a membership or two.

I emailed her, and (after some confusions to do with my email) she called me, and we agreed that I would sell it to her for $140. (At-the-door price is $200.) I signed two copies of the transfer form, sending one to ConJose's PO box, and the other to Nancy as a fallback. She sent me a check, which arrived today.

Signing the transfer form made it feel real: that does it, there will be no last-minute changes, I'll be home over Labor Day. Not the worst thing in the world, but weirdly, this is looking to be a small enough Worldcon that it might be a bit easier to handle. The flipside of "nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded."

I hope Nancy and her loyal staff enjoy themselves (my membership is being transferred to Rhi, because someone else's has been transferred to Nancy). I hope it cools off so I can enjoy myself, here at home.

Worldcon membership

I sort of figured, months ago, that I wouldn't be getting to Worldcon this year. But I dithered. I had the membership, bought a year and a half earlier, from Mary Kay at Orycon, a place and time when it made sense. Realistically, I knew that if I had the time, it would be because I didn't have a job, and thus couldn't really afford it. I didn't reserve a room, and I hadn't even looked at airfares. But it would have been nice.

Sometime in July, I admitted that this wasn't going to happen. I hung onto the membership long enough to get a last-minute Hugo ballot in. Then, while I was thinking about how much to ask for it, Nancy Lebovitz posted to rassef that she was looking for a membership or two.

I emailed her, and (after some confusions to do with my email) she called me, and we agreed that I would sell it to her for $140. (At-the-door price is $200.) I signed two copies of the transfer form, sending one to ConJose's PO box, and the other to Nancy as a fallback. She sent me a check, which arrived today.

Signing the transfer form made it feel real: that does it, there will be no last-minute changes, I'll be home over Labor Day. Not the worst thing in the world, but weirdly, this is looking to be a small enough Worldcon that it might be a bit easier to handle. The flipside of "nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded."

I hope Nancy and her loyal staff enjoy themselves (my membership is being transferred to Rhi, because someone else's has been transferred to Nancy). I hope it cools off so I can enjoy myself, here at home.