If you happen to be in Ann Arbor tonight, jimhines is having a book signing at our best indie book store, Nicola's, over in the Westgate Shopping Center. If you need more reason than that, there's a superb Thai restaurant right next door, and Zingerman's Roadhouse just across the parking lot (follow your nose to the whole-hog barbecue).

Any good books we should be catching up on?

johno tells us of an excellent artist, Elana Kestrel. A good number of you may have her work already: she created the ASCII Jumpgate pins so popular during Babylon 5's Usenet days. (Mine hangs proudly on the pin banner in my bedroom.)

Well, Elana has Stage 4 breast cancer and is in need of some help. And the easiest way to help her is to buy some pins.

Steampunk, that is. The Shadow Conspiracy: Tales from the Age of Steam is the latest release from the authors of Book View Café, the Internet’s largest professional author cooperative.

The stories of The Shadow Conspiracy revolve around the premise that something... else happened on the stormy summer of 1816 at the gathering of poets, far beyond the creation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. These tales focus on the dreamers, experimenters and engineers of this alternative timeline who work their mechanical and metaphysical magic both for good... and evil. Edited by Phyllis Irene Radford and Laura Anne Gilman, authors include Judith Tarr, Sarah Zettel, Steven Piziks, and Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff. The collection will be available for the Kindle, Sony eReader, B&N Nook and a wide variety of smartphone reader apps.

To celebrate the launch, BVC will be holding a twitter fic contest from the 15th through the 17th. The subject of the contest is machines and monsters. The first place winner will receive an ebook copy of The Shadow Conspiracy and a hardcover edition of editor Laura Anne Gilman’s Flesh and Fire. Second place winner will receive an ebook copy of The Shadow Conspiracy and a hardcover edition of P.R. Frost’s Faery Moon. Details can be found at the BVC twitter fic contest page (http://www.bookviewcafe.com/index.php/News/BVC-Twitter-Fic-Contest-9-The-Shadow-Conspiracy).

(h/t sazettel)

Any new books, stories or fic you'd like to tell us about? Stuff you're written, stuff you've read -- link 'em up.

Many happy returns of the day to drzarron!

I assume some folks are going to start heading for their Thanksgiving destinations today or tonight. I wish all of you safe travels, a wonderful and satisfying holiday meal, and some time to reflect on the really good stuff that we do all have going for us.

• I am thankful for each and every one of you. You keep me sane, keep me honest, keep me going.
• I am thankful for Anne, for a gazillion reasons, not the least of which is making sure I saw Avatar: The Last Airbender, Hikaru No Go, and the Stratford production of Caesar and Cleopatra.
• I am thankful for Leslie, for darn near as many reasons, not the least of which is letting me live despite not having watched a minute of Top Chef this season.
• I am thankful for my Mom and Dad and their spouses and extended families, for my sister and brother-in-law and their adorable kids, and for my brother and his family.
• I am thankful for The Lemurs -- Tom & Karen & Miranda, Mark & Sharon, Matt & Pamela, Gail & Jamie, and the newest members Josh and Sarah & Tim & Alexander.
• I am thankful for the filk community, my other extended family. Hugs to all of you.
• I am thankful for PG Music, Sonic Foundry/Sony, and innumerable other software makers for providing the tools I use to rock my, and hopefully your, house.
• I am thankful for Popcap, Bethesda, Bioware, Id, Digital Extremes, RiffTrax, and Everett Kaser for stealing so much of my time in such great ways.
• I am thankful for all the very nice people who got me to various conventions this past year, and who have invited me for next year. I've been having the time of my life.

I could go on for quite awhile here, but I think I'll let you do that. :) I'll also let you know that, Friday through Sunday, I'm having a sale at Tom Smith Online. Basically, all of the downloadable concerts -- including GAFilk 2001 and MarCon 2005 -- will be $1.99 ($2.99 for the multiple sets, LibertyCon and WindyCon). And all the rest of the download albums will be five bucks each.

So. What are you thankful for this year?

smallship1 has a new album. All instrumental. There's a preview track (just below the album cover art). Strings, flute, drums, piano, harp. Nice.

Anybody have any new music they want to promote?

ETA: Zander clued me in about the preview.

Two out of three, that is.

I had a fantastic time as Filk GOH of WindyCon. And I was lucky enough to have incredible concert sets, with great audiences and a lot of energy. Two of those sets, the Friday and Saturday evening shows, are now available as Live Show downloads -- $2.99 each, or $4.99 for both. Recorded by sethb, these are each about 75 minutes of music and banter. Special guests for the first set include ericcoleman and Jason Neerenberg of Toyboat and violinist Amy McNally (sweetmusic_27).

Got anything new you'd like to pimp/promote? Link 'em up.

ETA: Amazing how four misplaced characters can screw things up. If your links weren't working, they should be now.

Just getting ready to go downstairs. I've had a bad headache all morning, and I just had a burger, which helps. But not as much as the ibuprofen.

The set last night was incredible. If today's 3:00 is anywhere as good, I'll blow out the walls. Eric and Jason of Toyboat did join me on stage for "PQR", and Amy McNally and I got a standing O for "Dervish", and Eric played drums again for "Rocket Ride". Gooooooood noise.

How's your weekend progressing?

All weekend. Bunches of nice folks already seen and talked to, including Uncle Vlad, Pat Sayre-McCoy, Cassie, Steven Silver, etc., etc., etc. Spent time talking with Bill Roper, Jodi Lynn Nye, and Phil Foglio. Got hellos from Bill Fawcett and Mike & Carol Resnick (who were also at my Dragon*Con banquet set and told me how good it was, whoo hoo), met Toastmast Christian Ready and the lovely Kaja Foglio. I had the guitar to play in the Con Suite, but the conversations were too varied and enjoyable for me to feel good about interrupting them. 'Salright. I've got all weekend.

• Friday 6:00 Lilac A & C - Technobabble Quiz
• Friday 7:00 Lilac B & D - Opening Ceremonies
• Friday 9:30 Junior Ballroom A - Tom Smith Concert (Very Important! This is listed in the program book as being me and Eric Coleman's band Toyboat. It isn't. We simply didn't have time to get things together. But I very much want to do this next WindyCon, and having a full year of set-up should give us the time to get it right.)
• Saturday 3:00 Junior Ballroom A - Tom Smith Concert (a completely different set)
• Saturday 9:00 Lilac A & C - Masquerade (I'm doing halftime)

I don't think I have anything else, but ya never know. ;) Also, Amy McNally and Luke Ski have concerts, and there are a bunch of other fantastic folks running around, like Author GOH James Blaylock and Fan GOH Chris Garcia and Phyllis Eisenstein and Eric Flint and Bill Higgins and Jim C. Hines and Gene Wolfe and and and and and.

So, who's gonna be here (or is here already)?

Today is the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street. Here is how cool they are: They make me like Elmo and Adam Sandler... together, even. If you want to link up to any particular favorite video clips, go for it; I'll start with "Rubber Duckie, "Bein' Green", and "Batty Bat".

The big video release today is Pixar's Up (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition + Digital Copy and 4 Disc Combo Pack with Digital Copy and DVD [Blu-ray] Anti-Planned-Obsolescence Edition). There's also Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days and, if you haven't got a version already, Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut (integrating Tales from the Black Freighter, Under the Hood, and possibly some other live-action footage). Anything else just released we need to know about?

Happy Birthday, Neil Gaiman!

My Friday concert at WindyCon was going to be TomBoat, i.e., me and Toyboat. Reasons of time and practicality deep-sixed that for this weekend, although we really, really want to do it soon (I hope CapriCon, possibly not till DucKon). So, I was gonna drag out a bunch of stuff I don't usually do. Any requests? ("Heat of the Blood" is excluded from this offer.)

Dragon Age: Origins rocks really hard. It's funny: the forums are filled with people who can't get it to load, patch, work, nothin' (I've had no problems, apart from a single crash to Desktop); they complain because it's too hard, too easy, too old-school, too innovative, they hate that it's party-based, they want multiplayer and MMO; they say that the graphics are dated, and point to the game being in development for years. But BioWare did what they wanted to -- they created a new game world, which I think looks very good, with a superb, detailed story filled with rich characters and cool plot twists and astonishing detail. It's not a loot-fest, a click-fest, a FPS with orcs, or anything besides what it is. It's tough, at least to a duffer gamer like me; I set it to Easy, and I'm still getting slaughtered in some fights, the first or second time through. But dang is it rewarding, shocking, and fun. If you're interested, I think you will like it a lot. If not, no big.

What's goin' on in your quadrant?

First, there's some generalized update text from save_dave:

I'm helping to save a guy named Dave's house and land from foreclosure by promoting the Save Dave Online Auction being held on LiveJournal now through November 20, 2009.
Everything ranging from tech support and professional editing to yarn and everything knitted you can imagine. Autographed first editions and TV/movie memorabilia. Want custom or handmade jewelry, or a custom quilt or book bag? Think someone might like original art or photos (or letterpressed biz cards, or custom notecards) for Upcoming Holiday Gifting? What about baked goods People are even auctioning off surprises and taking offers for custom duct tape creations!

People who don't even know this guy Dave have brought the best of themselves to help him stay in his home. Most auctions are ending around Halloween...go check out what's on offer before it's over! And if you can, spread the word about the auction. Thanks!

My own contribution is an original song for the winning bidder.

Second, kshandra needs some help. (The post was friends-locked; it isn't now, but if you don't want to check out her post, you can donate with this PayPal button --

or drop a dollar in the hat by snail mail:

Douglas & Kirsten Berry
5751 Almaden Road, Apt D
San Jose, CA 95118-3613.)

Third, eleri also needs some help. (She actually needed it last month, and I just missed it -- so sorry, hon). Check out http://helpthehamiltons.wordpress.com/ and hthauction.

ETA: the PayPal button and address for kshandra.

Just packin' up. I've got Whose Line? at 1:00, with billroper, daisy_knotwise, and cadhla, ericcoleman moderating.

I got in "Smash the Frickin' Fairies" and "The Folker" (or whatever it's called) last night, carefully chosen and timed, and they went over well. It was a really good sing for awhile. I also had the chance to talk with Trace, Mark Peters, and Kathy about OVFF and MarCon. And I got lots of hugs. Lovely, lovely weekend.

How's by you?

ETA: Dunno why I thought markbernstein was involved. I guess because I've done improv with him before. :)

Just hangin' and relaxin' and gettin' lots of hugs. I did okay in the Pegasus Nomination Concert, and a lot of the performances were amazing, especially Ookla, Heather Dale, Wild Mercy, and most awesomely the whole audience singing "Stray Dog Man" so Bill Sutton didn't have to. :)

Today will be much more intense. At 3:00, Luke Ski and I represent the whole FuMP in a concert guaranteed to be either the Most Awesome Thing Ever or the Biggest Crash And Burn In History, possibly both.

How's your weekend so far?

vixyish lets us know about saving Dave's beautiful house. There's a new community, save_dave, with auctions for cookies, crafts, and such. I'm auctioning off an original song.

This weekend at the Crowne Plaza in Romulus, MI, just north of Detroit Metro Airport. Should be much fun, as usual. unclekage, the original Bill and Barry Show, jimhines reading from The Mermaid's Madness, that sorta thing. Musically, there's a heck of a lot -- me, ericcoleman and toyboatband, markbernstein, billroper and daisy_knotwise, catalana, mrgoodwraith, peteralway, and blueeyedtigress. (I seem to have it in my head that bedlamhouse and ladyat can't attend, but they're still on the schedule, so I hope I'm wrong.)

As far as I can tell, my only programming is a concert at 6:30 p.m. Friday. We'll see what else happens, and I'll update this as we get closer. Who's planning to be there?

Just a reminder post -- I may do it again tomorrow, 'cause I'm looking forward to this. The wonderful S. J. Tucker (s00j) and I will be performing in Ann Arbor tomorrow night:

S. J. Tucker and Tom Smith Live at Great Oak in A2!
So much Filk-win it oughtta be illegal!
• Host: Sj Tucker
• Date: Friday, October 2, 2009
• Time: 8:00pm - 10:00pm
• Location: Great Oak Cohousing Community - Common House
• Street: 500 Little Lake Drive (down the street from Sunward)
• City/Town: Ann Arbor, MI
• Phone: 734-368-6984
• Description: Great Oak Cohousing has welcomed SJ back again...Little do they know what musical mayhem they're in for! Sooj will proudly welcome special guest Tom Smith at this concert for the first time in history. Consider holding onto your hats, folks, because we suspect the silly is gonna fly tonight! All ages are welcome. Join us!

Crazy mad fun for all.

Who all's planning to be there?

In case you hadn't heard, the luminous S. J. Tucker (s00j) is gonna be back in Ann Arbor a week from tonight, and she's got a special guest -- me! I'm looking forward to this one a lot. Details:

S. J. Tucker and Tom Smith Live at Great Oak in A2!
So much Filk-win it oughtta be illegal!
• Host: Sj Tucker
• Date: Friday, October 2, 2009
• Time: 8:00pm - 10:00pm
• Location: Great Oak Cohousing Community - Common House
• Street: 500 Little Lake Drive (down the street from Sunward)
• City/Town: Ann Arbor, MI
• Phone: 734-368-6984
• Description: Great Oak Cohousing has welcomed SJ back again...Little do they know what musical mayhem they're in for! Sooj will proudly welcome special guest Tom Smith at this concert for the first time in history. Consider holding onto your hats, folks, because we suspect the silly is gonna fly tonight! All ages are welcome. Join us!

I believe it's gonna be the standard house-concert pass-the-hat or ten-bucks-suggested or somethin', and of course we'll both have CDs for sale. It should be a very silly and fun time.

The past month and a half I've had an interesting trend: I've exhausted the heck out of myself, and not made that much money, but the sheer fun of it all has been amazing. GenCon, ConText, Dragon*Con, and now FenCon -- lotsa work, not as much cash as I expected, but such good times.

Many, many thanks to the whole FenCon crew, especially Russ and Tim who are consistently above and beyond the call. And many more hugs to singingpatient, Joe Giacoio, bedlamhouse, ladyat, billroper (I didn't even see daisy_knotwise or the girls), filkferengi, lukeski, Kerry Gilley, etc., etc., etc. I'm definitely going back next year (which is good because I may not make the Raleigh, NC NASFiC they're running, as GenCon Indy moved its dates back a week, drat them).

How was your weekend?

billroper told me last night that Ray VanTilburg had an emergency triple bypass yesterday. Apparently he's doing much better, but still. Hugs and good thoughts go to him and Barb.

Programming track is online. There's a pun panel on Friday at 3:00 p.m. I might have to worm my way into. I've got a set Friday at 9:00 p.m. (just after Carla Ulbrich [singingpatient] and just before The Great Luke Ski [lukeski] [I love that he's listed in the program as "L. Ski"]), and another Saturday at 1:00 p.m. (with the ultimate lead-in, the amazing Joe Giacoio). Lots of other concerts, including the GOH concert by Carla at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, another by Luke, Bill Roper [billroper], Bill [bedlamhouse] & Brenda [ladyat] Sutton, Margaret Middleton [msminlr], and more. FenCon was superb when I was GOH a couple of years back, and the Ropers and Suttons keep schlepping down there from Indy and Chicagoland, and if you're gonna be in Dallas-Fort Worth this weekend you could do a heck of a lot worse.

So. This time, no kiddin' around. Where in D-FW can I get some good, Texas-style barbecue? Ribs, brisket, pulled whatever.

Nice time, confusing and sprawling hotel. Seriously, this is where OVFF is going to be next year, and it's just a little confuzzling. However, I saw Moonwolf and his wife right off, and Juanita, and rms_butterfly, and Dan Young, and judifilksign signed my concert, and Mark and Roberta Peters did the sound, and it was small but way fun, and then we did the open filk for awhile, and I talked with Kathy Hamilton about OVFF stuff, and I got to sleep around 2:00.

Didn't get to the con today till about 3:00 -- I went to lunch with some old and dear friends I haven't seen in about a year and a half. I did poke my nose into the authors' panel run by Duryea/Samuel T. Clemmons, and then the dealers' room. Saw Larry and Sally, and Sharon, and a few more people. And now I'm back up in my room, waiting to hear from Wolf re: dinner.

How's your day going?

At its new, easier-to-find hotel. If you haven't been there before, very book-centric (although they have a goodly portion of the other stuff, and a special deal with the anime-centric MatsuriCon only a mile away). James P. Hogan, James Sizemore, Christopher Golden, Catherine Asaro, and about three dozen other writers and editors. Music GOH is Michael "Moonwolf" Longcor, and Juanita Coulson will be there with all of her hats -- writer, editor, musician. My concert is tonight, Friday, at 9:00 p.m.

So. Who's going? Or, if you're not going, how's your weekend shaping up?

( I am as happy as a little girl.... )

( Boy, am I tired.... )

( Warning: Way more name dropping than I usually indulge in.... )

persis (along with, presumably, jslove) proudly announces that Love Song Productions is up and running, with notice of their latest album, Kathy Mar Live!

Anything artistic or craftish you want to promote? Link 'em up.

In keeping with the last post, bayushisan informs us of a friend of his, a photographer in Canada, who is trying to help a family from India that has just moved into her building. They have very little and the wife is nine months pregnant. They don't know many people, and are culture-shocked. If you can help, that would be most excellent. Go here for more info.

I've mentioned that I hang out at Eschaton a lot. Well, it is my sad duty to report that one of our regulars is gone.

Paul Hylborn, who went under the name Olaf Glad and Big, passed away a few days ago. Though I only knew him online, he was a nice guy and an insightful commenter, and he will be missed. Farewell, friend.

Today's a good day to tell someone you love how glad you are they're around. Actually, every day is a good day for that, but today's a good day to start.

ETA: I wasn't fishing for praise, guys, but many thanks. I love all of you too, and I'm so glad you're here.

ETA2: Thanks to patoadam for the link to the e. e. cummings poem from which Olaf got his handle.

If you're anywhere near Pittsburgh, this is the place to be. It was my fond hope to be able to make it there this weekend, but I simply can't justify it, either in time or money. Ticks me off, because I haven't seen some of those people for a lotta years. mrgoodwraith runs a hell of a music track, and John Scalzi is the Author GOH, and the music is the inestimable More Difficulties, and what are you waiting for?

So, who's there? Or, if you're not there, what are you doing this weekend? I'm trying to finish a commission job, and Miranda's birthday party is tomorrow.

And a splendid time it was. Lots of music -- I had three concerts, and I think they all went pretty well. Many good folks -- I got in a lot of excellent conversation and hanging out and some really great hugs from several beautiful women. I got to hang out with both Steve Jackson and his lady Monica Stephens. I spent time with adorable kids, including Will, who apparently is pretty shy but he came right up and started strumming my guitar so I held chords for him so he was playing scary mood music and then I sang "500 Hats" and he gave me a big hug. And especially Beth, whose parents have called her "Destroyer of Worlds" for years so she thought I'd written that song about her, and it was her favorite until she heard "I Had A Shoggoth" this weekend. Dr. Osborn was there, and the Atlanta Radio Theater Company. And Toni K. Weisskopf said she liked my work, and my words.

Yeah.

Thanks to Randy and Diane, and Sally Kobee, and tcgtrf and ladycheron, and thatcrazycajun who I simply do not spend enough time with, and so very many other people -- what a great buncha folks. Thanks and extra hugs to B.J. and Beth Willinger, who I hadn't seen in years. Many, MANY thanks to Uncle Timmy, Kerry Gilley, Melvin, Brandy, and everybody on the staff. And special ultra extra mega-thanks to the remarkable, indispensable Derek Spraker, who just took care of everything I needed with grace and a smile and some frickin' fine barbecue.

And now, this week. A commission job to finish, my Mom comes in from Arizona tomorrow, I've got two nieces' birthdays coming up, and there's Art Fair to avoid.

How are you doin'?

A very fine InCon indeed. I thought my concert had a rough start but finished well, and the masquerade was a lot of fun, and the panels were pretty cool, and everybody was very nice as usual, and yeah. I do apologize for not making either of the open filks -- I have been off-and-on sick the past several days, and not getting anywhere near enough sleep, and I simply couldn't do 'em. I'll make it up next time, I promise.

Many hugs and thanks to Ellen, Kat, Lynette, Amy, Emily and the Blood Drive folks, and a whole bunch of people whose names I always forget but they rocked, such as the gent I've known for years and can't remember his name (we were even talking about that phenomenon) who got me Subway last night. Thanks to tollers -- we will do barbecue in Indy sometime, dammit (can you believe it? The barbecue place was closed on July 4th). Hugs to Robin Wood and Mike Z. Williamson and sazettel. Hugs to Kathy Mar and Juanita Coulson and min0taur & Sally and tigertoy and Larry and Sally and Shandy Smith and Doug and Christy and Grant and ladystarblade and and and. And, most of all, many thanks and much love to per_solo and his lady Crystal. Chris, you made it all happen.

And so we say goodbye to the Sheraton -- next year it's at the Marriott.

This coming weekend -- LibertyCon in Chattanooga.

How's your week looking?

The wonderful Merav Hoffman (who I'm pretty sure is ladymondegreen on LJ) sent me audio and video of the concert you guys did for me back at ConTata. Sadly, the video doesn't want to work -- keeps crashing my computer, in fact. And the audio is vewy vewy quiet. But that's easily taken care of. And so I've been listening to it.

As if I didn't already have more than enough reason to love you all. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

There's gotta be some East Coast con in the next year that doesn't conflict with my schedule, so I can come out there and rock you guys. Anybody? Beuller?

( A lot happened yesterday.... )

Lots and lots of fun. I admit that I was concerned about how packed the filk track was -- I thought people wouldn't be able to get a bathroom break or anything; it just seemed like a whole lot o' stuff. Well, it was a whole lot o' stuff, and it was great. Wish I'd seen more of it, but I got to hang out with so many lovely folks I don't often see and I thought my set went pretty well and the Whose Line? on Friday was fun and Toyboat kicked ass all weekend and so did Seanan and Vixy and Tony and I finally met the lovely S.J. Tucker and there was Riverfolk and Graham and Randy and Brooke and I could go on and on and on.

This week: Music. Cleaning. Catching up on sleep. Saturday, back to the scene of the crime: Christine Lavin is at The Ark.

You?

One of the best filk conventions that isn't actually a filk convention. And all-stars from online! cadhla, vixyish and tfabris, hsifyppah, musicmutt and dammit I can never remember Becca's LJ handle, same with Amy McNally, I don't even know if Kathy Mar or Tom Jeffers are on LJ, the second thing to go is the memory, ericcoleman and toyboatband, catalana, mrgoodwraith, and a whole bunch of other musicians, including possibly me. ;) And billroper and daisy_knotwise and shsilver and janmagic and huskiebear and tollers and jrittenhouse and and and and and....

So who else is gonna be there? :)

huskiebear is hoping we can all help out with something.

Hello all!
I apologize for the mass mail, but this is something that is very important to me and I want to spread the word.

Tomorrow - May 27, 2009 - is the first ever World MS Awareness day ( http://www.nationalmssociety.org/get-involved/events/world-ms-day/index.aspx ). Here in the US, the new administration has pledged to reform our spiraling out of control healthcare system and The National MS society is taking this opportunity to make our voices heard in congress.

I was diagnosed with MS almost four years ago. I am *extremely* lucky in that the University of Michigan, where I worked for 16 years, provided me with excellent health care insurance, as well as long term disability insurance that continues to pay for that coverage, even though I can no longer work at my job there. Besides the cost of extended testing and doctor visits involved in my diagnosis and monitoring, the insurance pays for the drug that has so far kept me from losing any major physical or cognitive function. That drug costs almost $1800 a month! I have *no doubt* that if I had been working for almost any other company, I would be significantly more disabled than I am now.

I don't believe quality health care should be a privilege granted only to those who can manage to be employed by a good company - there are too few of them around (and too few jobs in general, right now). If you agree, please take a minute or two to go here: https://secure3.convio.net/nmss/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=798 By filling in the form, a message will be sent to all of your legislators on your behalf, outlining what is important to those of us living with chronic diseases, and those who might someday me in our shoes (hint: YOU!).

Our goal is to send 50,000 letters before midnight tomorrow.

Thank you all for your love and support,
Leslie

I go to a lot of conventions, and Duckon is one of the better ones. Nice part of suburban Chicago, lots of great people, excellent music track spearheaded by janmagic. And they've got a Filk Fund, which brings some superb people to the midwest -- people like vixyish and tfabris, old_fortissimo, Frank Hayes, Ookla the Mok, them kinda folks.

You can now support the Duckon Filk Fund online, by getting CDs and DVDs of past concerts and pre-ordering for this year.

Sorry I'm posting this so late in the day, but... many happy returns to one of our favorite people, Barry Childs-Helton!

I have the feeling that I'm not going to be there -- I'm singing for a wedding this evening, and I'm finishing getting ready for that -- but there's a wonderful sing today here in Ann Arbor.

( Details behind the cut.... )

I finally got to one of these awhile back, and had a splendid time, and if I can make it there for a bit early in the afternoon I will. Come one, come all, come sing!

What else is going on this weekend? Events, movie viewings, just hangin' out...?

Hi and hugs to many of our dear friends, gathered at FIlkOntario right now. Heather Dale is the GOH, Urban Tapestry are the Filk Waifs, Gerry and Sandy Tyra are the Interfilk guests, and the Special Guest is Robert J Sawyer. If you're there with that bunch and not having a good time, you're actively trying not to.

I wish I could've made it this year, but it was not to be. I'll try again for next year. And, of course, later this evening we'll have the newest inductees into the Filk Hall of Fame.

What-all are you doing this weekend? I'm trying to get some music written; it's been awhile, and I've got to make some progress or I'll go crazy. Also a bit of kitchen-cleaning.

ETA: D'oh! Other friends are at other cons this weekend, such as wormquartet, marcgunn, unclekage and I think devospice up at ICon.

The brackets are established. And I just fucking love that Dr. Demento is in there. And, it's by yet another member of our community with a way cool online strip -- if you didn't know him already, gang, say Hello to pabsungenis!

It's a good day to hype some friends and their work:

• the online journal Anthrozine
• new stuff up at Accidental Centaurs
• the always hilarious Something Positive
• brand-new vertical Sunday strip format for Kevin & Kell
• an animated storyboard Bill Holbrook did for a prospective animated special that hasn't worked out yet -- you may recognize at least one of the singers

And what do all of these things have to do with each other, besides that I think they're great and talented folks?

New album.

You also might notice that the web site has been slightly buffed up. This is an ongoing process. If you have any problems with it, please post them in this thread, with the subject "Website Bug Report". Thanks.

As if you all didn't know it already, but devospice fuckin' rocks.

I'm a bit hesitant to say "Happy Birthday", because the poor bastard didn't have many happy days at all. Born on this date in 1943. Scary great chess player, the best in the world, the Harlan Ellison or Muhammad Ali of chess, you didn't know what he'd do next but there was a good chance it'd be brilliant and an equally good chance he'd kick your ass with it.

But there was something wrong inside him. Upbringing, brain chemistry, experience, some combination of the three, something else, I dunno. But he was one of the most paranoid and delusional people of the last century, and that's saying a lot. And that's also probably the politest way to put it.

I mention this because I can't help thinking of all of it. For a time, early in my life, Fischer was one of my heroes. I wanted to play chess like he did. But even at the age of 12, I could see he was a jerk.

So let's discuss his good legacy: helping to popularize chess in the U.S. Of late, folkmew has been pleasantly surprised to find out that there are a lot more chess players in filk than she ever knew about. (Her son is very much into it these days.) Who else here likes a good game of chess? And, should we try to set up something at a con?

Well, not the actual final encounter, 'cause I might've had that this past summer, the last time I was at The Ark, and by crackie I'm gettin' back there tonight. And again later. And again and again and again.

Anyway.

There seems to be a difference of opinion, which is just fine and dandy. Some people want to go to BD's Mongolian Barbecue, at the corner of Main and Washington; some want to go to Prickly Pear Southwestern Cafe, several doors south of The Ark. At 5:00 p.m., I am going to be getting a table for at least six at Conor O'Neil's, just a couple of doors south of The Ark. All of these are on the west side of the street, for those coming from out of town.

There is ample parking in the lot on the other side of the block from The Ark [albeit with a one-way street involved], and at the William St. structure. Basically, get to Main and William, one block south of Liberty. For the lot turn west, then right onto Ashley, then right again near the end of the block; for the structure turn east, then left into the structure. They're both right there. Or, if you can find it, metered parking on the street is free after 6:00 p.m. The Ark itself is in the middle of the block on the west side of Main Street between Liberty and William.

I, huskiebear, jss1113, violinsontv, bayushisan, shadowriderhope, and a few other people should be in line no later than 7:00, I'm thinking. archiver_tim, if you're gonna make it, that extra ticket is yours.

So. Who is gonna be at what restaurant tonight, so we can all look for each other?

Okay, between the previous thread and a couple of other conversations, sentiment seems to be leaning toward doing something on Main Street, a couple of doors down from The Ark. Wherever we end up, I'll likely be there between 4:30 and 5:00.

IF YOU ARE NOT GOING WITH US TO THE JOCO CONCERT ON FRIDAY, MARCH 6 AT THE ARK IN ANN ARBOR, MI, PLEASE DO NOT VOTE!

Here are some of the likeliest, and closest, options:
Poll #1360090 The Big Pre-JoCo Dinner
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 13

Where Should We Have Dinner?

ETA: If you have voted, please say who you are and how you voted in comments, mmkay? That way, we all know who's supposed to be where. Who knows, we may end up with multiple parties. I voted for Conor O'Neil's.

ETA2: IF YOU ARE NOT GOING, PLEASE DON'T VOTE.

ETA3: Big honkin' message before the actual survey. I'm a little disappointed, guys -- I thought it was pretty obvious that you shouldn't vote if you, y'know, weren't gonna be there. Don't worry, we'll have a poll on your favorite restaurants in the next few days.

Those of you who are going to be at the Jonathan Coulton concert at The Ark this Friday: Do any of us want to try to get together for dinner beforehand? If so, let's discuss it here. Points to consider:

• Showtime is at 8:00 p.m.; doors open at 7:30 p.m.
• It will likely be very busy along Main Street, as it's supposed to break 50° Friday.
• Parking will be interesting, for exactly the same reason.
• The more people we have, the earlier we should get together... but some of you are coming from out of town.

So the basic questions are, on Main Street by The Ark or not? Where exactly? And where do we try to park? (I'm shootin' for a handicapped space on Main, myself.)

ETA: Choices along Main Street include: Marnee Thai (which we haven't been to yet); BD's Mongolian Barbecue (very good, but VERY loud); Middle Kingdom Chinese; Gratzi (Very expensive Italian); Palio (different Italian); The Real Seafood Co.; Shalimar Indian (which I'm not even sure is still there); Conor O'Neil's Irish bar; Parthenon; Prickly Pear Southwest Cafe; The Chop House (VERY expensive, uppah crust); and Cafe Felix (another I haven't been to).

Places I'd recommend a little further away include: Zingerman's Deli (by Kerrytown); Miki Japanese (just two blocks off Main); Gourmet Garden Chinese on Stadium; Pizza House on Church (which may also be crowded); Knights Restaurant on Ann Arbor-Dexter Road (the sign is a big chess-knight, no words on it).

There seems to be at least three inches of snow out there, more falling. Fun. I'll likely meander over to the con in a few hours -- ideally, things will be plowed and salted by then.

Last night was fun. Got a decent number of hugs, saw a lot of friends, including many of the ones I mentioned in the previous thread.

If you haven't heard the news, Barry & Sally Childs-Helton are not here. Sally had a treadmill stress test earlier in the week, with inconclusive results, and when she complained of chest pain on Friday the doctors basically said, "Angiogram, NOW". Fortunately, everything looks clear, she's fine, and she's going to rest this weekend. tollers and harperjen are going to soldier on, with other folks (including some from toyboatband).

My set went well, I thought. About fifty people -- it's a bizarre and heady experience to realize you can greet at least half your audience by name -- and I brought out some older stuff that I hadn't played in a long time (and I should FRICKIN PRACTICE IT...). Many thanks to billroper for running sound -- I haven't spent enough time with him the last couple of years, and we talked about Just Stuff, and it was very nice. Not much sales, but that's not really why I'm here -- see hugs, above. :)

So, like I said: snow. Driving down to the con in a few hours. Concert at 4:45 in the non-Internet Cafe.

How's the day looking for you? Any snow out your way?

Chicago northshore. Should be a grand ol' time as usual -- billroper and daisy_knotwise, catalana, lukeski and dement1a, ericcoleman, min0taur and Sally and harperjen and tollers, singlemaltsilk and janmagic and jrittenhouse and shsilver and mstrhypno barbarakitten_t and tcgtrf and everybody. I have a set tonight at 8:00 p.m. in Ravinia A (after which is the Open Filk in the same room), and one in Botanic Garden A (the CapriCon Cafe) Saturday at 4:45 p.m. Ideally, I shall avoid the snow for travel's sake; if not, well, Super 8 is comfy and cheap.

What are your plans for the weekend?

March 6 is on a busy weekend.

First, there's MarsCon up in the Minneapolis area. Awesome con, with an incredible music lineup.

Second, there's Dorsai Thing, which I would love to get to this year.

Ain't goin' to either.

See, right here in town, Jonathan Coulton (along with Paul and Storm) is going to be at The Ark.

(It'll be the first time I've been to The Ark since the night of the accident.)

Who is interested in going? I mean, I'm not gonna buy tickets for you or anything, but it would be fun to have a bunch of us lay claim to several tables in front if possible. And, if you're going into town any time soon, Herb David has tickets with only a $2.00 service charge, rather than the usurious rates charged by TicketMaster. Ya gotta pay by cash or check, but hey.

And, the next day, Saturday, Anne and huskiebear and Tom U. and I are planning on seeing Watchmen at the Showcase Ann Arbor. Probably a noonish show, followed up by our traditional dissection of the movie along with copious food, most likely at the Red Robin or Steak & Shake across the way. Again, who's in?