Gacked from notgoinggently

( It's very long )

logospilgrim had given me a poke and reminded me I'm long overdue for posting. As in, haven't said a peep about Convention Alley 2008 and it's been over for a bit. So let's start there with the update.

Very small, intimate gathering. Fantastic speakers. I owe much gratitude to John Granger and Travis Prinzi for offering their services as keynote presenters. If you're reading, I can never say enough how much I appreciate your generosity! It was fantastic to see everyone and to make a few new friends along the way. Most delightful was that amandageist and her family came up for the event and I got to spend some time with them. Didn't quite break even as an event, but that's okay with me. Still waiting for final bill. Should go check the post office when it's cool enough to walk there without melting. While the weather may have cooperated delightfully for Convention Alley, we're now have a wee bit of heat. It was 88 F in the house when I got home an hour ago. Is overcast though, so have opened the windows to try and catch whatever breeze is out there. Supposed to cool off a great deal tonight, thank goodness.

Work has been, well, the usual since I went back after the conference. Same old, same old - you've heard it all before.

Nyssa is off on her 12 day Mediterranean cruise with her cousin and my parents. Due back on the 22. Am jealous of some of her itinerary - especially the day trip to Pompeii! Looking forward to hearing all about it and seeing lots of pictures when she gets back.

Going to see Wicked next month with friends. Time is counting down quickly for Terminus, too. Have to buy my bus ticket next pay day. Kind of nice to take a trip that's less than 20 hours on Greyhound. They really can't screw that one up for me, can they?

Okay, am sweating on the keyboard. Really must be time to log off for now. Thanks for the nudge, Nathalie! :)

All that last minute stuff to do for Convention Alley. Am very excited. Oh, and CBC will be doing a radio interview with Karen sometime next week. Will post link if they put it on their website.

Yesterday was Nyssa's convocation at Carleton. Out for lunch afterwards and then a couple hours at the UofO settling details for CA.

Have next week off work and enough days the following week to spend time with Amanda and family while they're here. Yay! Andy has agreed to play tour guide for Jan and the kids. It works out nicely as I think he finishes work for the year on the Friday.

Will have belated birthday dinner on Tuesday with Mom, Nyssa, Shawnda and Makayla. No fighting over restaurant this time - Nyssa and I worked it out to find something everyone would like that still falls into my 'favourite places' category. Had dinner with Nyssa, Paul, Alex and Mark a while back and did the birthday thing then with them. Finally went and spent the gc Mark gave me to Chapters. Nice haul from the bargain book section, as usual. Still must find time before CA to go to Collected Works and pick up book I ordered.

Much to do, so little time. No surprise to anyone if I'm completely away from LJ until after next weekend, I think.

11. The Fourth Bear - Jasper Fforde
Such a marvelously fun book. And perfect for my travel book. Thank you, elfundeb!

12. Chill Factor - Rachel Caine

13. Windfall - Rachel Caine

14. Firestorm - Rachel Caine

15. Thin Air - Rachel Caine
Have I said how much I love this series. They're like crack, too, once you start you can't stop.

16. Sheer Abandon - Penny Vincenzi
Meh, it was okay.

17. 1,000 Places to See in the USA and Canada Before You Die - Patricia Schultz
These are fun to read. And dream.

18. The Road to Somewhere: A Father, A Son and a Journey Through Europe - James Dodson
Marvelous story about just what it says - a father and his young son on a summer trip to Europe.

19. Angels Fall - Nora Roberts
Meh, like her writing as J.D. Robb better.

20. City of Bones - Cassandra Clare
Hmm... read very much like her fanfic.

21. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
It took me a lot of pages to get into it to the point where I could keep the characters straight, but once I did I loved it!

22. The Gospel According to Harry Potter - Connie Neal
Interesting, I like how she can find connections everywhere.

Credit for my reading 21 and 22 go to dumbledore11214, for talking me into the first and gifting me the second!

23. Food Network: The Best of the Best of - Jill Cordes and Marc Silverstein
It's about restaurants and recipes - what's not to like?

24. Wicked - Gregory Maguire
Beginning was so-so, once she got to school I was hooked. :)

25. Shooting Butterflies - Marika Cobbold
Meh, standard chick lit stuff.

26. She Got Up Off The Couch and other heroic acts from Mooreland, Indiana - Haven Kimmel
OMG, one of the funniest books I've ever read! I really need to find the one that came before this.

27. Northlander - Meg Burden
I loved it. Good characters, twists and turns in the story. Meg, if you read this, I ended up having to buy 2 copies of your book. My first copy disappeared when I was only halfway through! Looking forward to book 2. :)

Wow, I didn't realise I'd gotten this far. I thought War and Peace would really slow me down for the year.

I really should start working on my movie lists. I haven't done a single one so far this year and I must have watched a couple hundred movies by now. :)

Convention Alley is pleased to announce the addition of another Keynote presenter!

Travis Prinzi will be adding two presentations to our line-up, bringing our total of keynote presentations up to 5. Mr. Prinzi has an M.A. in Theological Studies and is currently working on his M.S.Ed. in Secondary English Education. He presented at Prophecy last summer and will be speaking at Portus later this summer. He's also working on a book and is excited to be joining the world of published Harry Potter analysis. We're very pleased to be able to add Travis to growing schedule of events!

The first presentation will be:

"Quills, Queries, and Quests: Literacy Learning in the Wizarding World"

When the term "literacy" is used in popular discourse, it most frequently refers simply to "the ability to read and write," and in education, it follows that becoming "literate" involves a process of rote repetition in order to get down basic "facts" and "skills" in order to become "literate." Literacy, however, is far more complex than that simple definition, and more than that, all constructions of literacy are inherently political. This presentation examines literacy in the Harry Potter series. Defining literacy as "changing participation" in a sociocultural setting, we will examine Harry and Muggleborns as outsiders to the dominant discourse; the way education is framed by Hogwarts teachers; the "Ministry-approved, theory-centered" curriculum of Delores Umbridge; the student subversion in the form of Dumbledore's Army; and finally, Albus Dumbledore's lessons with Harry as an example of an Apprenticeship model of literacy learning.

A second presentation is currently being determined.

All keynote presentations and meals are included in when you register for Convention Alley 2008. To register, visit our website: http://www.conventionalley2008.org/

Or wait until tomorrow night when I'm way too tired to care. Closing shift tonight, opening shift tomorrow. Am definitely getting too old for this, I think. Don't feel nearly 49 but surely feel too old to get by with little sleep.

I really thought Steve getting promoted at work would let me go back to 4 days a week, which is what I really, really, really want. In fact, what I think I'm supposed to be working. Had a look at next week's schedule - 5 shifts. I really would much rather be working on Convention Alley stuff on that extra day. But, the boss is out of the store most of the week, so someone has to work the shifts. *sigh*

Will not be doing the birthday dinner dance o'doom with my mother this year. She is going to the cottage and not coming back for my birthday. If it weren't for Nyssa's suggestion that we call Shawnda and make plans for just us then my birthday would go without family celebration at all.

Should be sending out press releases for CA's newest (and third) keynote presenter. Am so tired I can hardly see straight, so that is best left for when I am awake and unlikely to make mistakes. Maybe tomorrow right after work.

In lighter news, I bought a Wii! Is much fun. And addictive. Note to self not to start playing anything that takes more than 30 minutes in the wee hours of the morning after work. :)

Convention Alley 2008 is delighted to announce its guest speakers for this year’s event!

John Granger will be presenting “Unlocking Deathly Hallows: Five Keys for a Greater Appreciation of the Last Harry Potter Novel” on Saturday evening. Mr. Granger is the author of a number of books based on the popular Harry Potter series, some of which are used in classrooms across the continent. He has also been a featured speaker at numerous Harry Potter conferences.

On Friday evening, Dr. Karen J. Kebarle will offer her keynote presentation: “If Rowling says Dumbledore is Gay, is he Gay?: In other words, what do we do with Rowling’s interpretations of her own books?” Dr. Kebarle is presently writing a book called “Is Dumbledore Gay?”. Karen has a Ph.D. in English, has taught on the college and university level and has been a presenter at three previous Harry Potter conferences.

We invite you to join us for what are going to be some very interesting discussions at Convention Alley 2008. Remember that registration for the event includes both keynote presentations as well the regularly scheduled programming and all meals. We look forward to seeing you next month!

Sheryll Townsend
For the Convention Alley Planning Committee
http://www.conventionalley2008.org/

Gacked from lapsus_0_calami, who is teaching me the fine art of procrastination. :)

1. Where is your cell phone? On the coffee table

2. Your significant other? In the kitchen

3. Your hair? In need of a washing, should go shower

4. Your mother? Am assuming she's at home.

5. Your father? Probably at home, too, since he's not driving to the cottage for a couple weeks yet.

6. Your favourite thing? Friends, family, good food, good movies and good books. And my kitties.

7. Your dream last night? Don't remember

8. Your favourite drink? Dr Pepper

9. Your dream/goal? Right now? Probably a good night's sleep and life without crazy people.

10. The room you're in? Dining room

11. Your ex? Hmm.. am guessing downtown, drunk on a street corner.

12. Your fear? Not afraid of much, really. Heights.

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? On a nice vacation eating good food? Really, it's too early in the day to think of anything but fun stuff.

14. Where were you last night? At work.

15. What you're not? showered and dressed. :)

16. Muffins? None in the house.

17. One of your wish list items? Airfare to England. Heck, airfare to anywhere!

18. Where you grew up? Air Force bases

19. The last thing you did? Lit a cigarette, eyed the empty Dr. Pepper bottle.

20. What are you wearing? Flannel nightgown.

21. Your TV? On and being ignored

22. Your pets? 3 kitties - Purr C., Akira and Homeslice

23. Your computer? Working :)

24. Your life? Pretty good, really. I have a great family, good friends and I actually like my job. What more do I need? Well, aside from lots of vacation time to spend with the good friends. :)

25. Your mood? Good, all things considered

26. Missing someone? Amanda

27. Your car? I ride the bus.

28. Something you're not wearing? Socks. My feet are cold

29. Favourite Store? LUSH, any good bookstore. My store! I can get cheap movies there. :)

30. Your summer? Convention Alley, Terminus, work, maybe a short trip with hubby. Helping out Alex at Leatherfest. Being at the finish line when my sister and her husband finish the marathon. Surviving the heat in our non-air-conditioned house. Seeing friends, enjoying good food.

31. Like someone? Like lots of people, yes.

32. Your favourite colour? Red

33. When is the last time you laughed? Last night. I worked with Matt, he's amusing.

34. Last time you cried? Watching P.S. I Love You.

35. Who will/would re-post this? Anyone else who'd trying to procrastinate! :)

Hopefully that's the end of my dealing with them. Debbie was definitely in hight psycho mode yesterday. Screaming at me in the hallway outside Pete's apartment, saying I wasn't aloud in because Nyssa was an adult and didn't need me there. Yeah, right, like I'd abandon anyone to the mercy of a crazy lady. She swung back and forth from nice to crazy at the drop of a hat, with crazy in the forefront. Also, much a liar. Said that she tried to contact me at work the day after Pete died and again on Thursday. Claimed that her going to my work on the Friday was her third and last attempt to reach me and that she never asked my boss for my contact information. Um, yeah, calling my boss a liar is a way to get on my good side. Oh, and as for being unable to reach me at work on Wednesday and Thursday? Um, I don't delete my work schedules from my Excel files. I worked both Wednesday and Thursday, my days off that week were Friday and Sunday - the only 2 days she showed up at the store. *sigh*

I did an interview a few weeks back regarding the Steve vs. JKR trial. My interview was mostly along the lines of how fandom was reacting to the trial. All of it was cut from the article but Tim Wu did mention it in a blogpost here: http://www.timwu.org/log/archives/257 Let's face, those who know me know that my saying fandom eats its own is nothing new. I've said it for ages and will probably always say it. Much as I look for the best in everyone, there's not always a best to be found.

On a much lighter note, Happy Mother's Day to all who are celebrating today. Lunch with Nyssa on my agenda today. Tonight is Survivor finale party at Mark's - Nyssa, Mark, Alex, Paul and I talking to the TV for a few hours and eating pizza. Oh, and must persuade them that watching hockey in commercials is essential, as game is not this afternoon as originally anticipated.

well, not the wizard but quite possibly the Wicked Witch of the East (given that she lives in the east part of town). Yes, today is the fun afternoon of meeting Debbie and Julian at Pete's apartment to divide things up. Nyssa has asked me to go along to prevent Debbie from trying to push her around, something we both know she'll try. She doesn't know I'm coming.

Could be interesting. And contentious, as Debbie has failed in her legal obligation to provide Nyssa with a complete and accurate accounting for Pete's belongings. We're stopping at our store first (which is next door to the apartment building) to compile a list of DVD box sets that Pete purchased, since no DVDs at all are listed on Debbie's inventory. She promised Nyssa a list of his books and then sent a message just saying 'assorted books'.

Like I said, could be interesting. Could make me cranky at work tonight, too, if I completely miss my power snooze this afternoon. *sigh*

Okay, only two have weighed in with a specific day preference so we'll try going with that. Gathering will be Monday evening. Am assuming at my place. There is no hockey game that night, at least not for my team, so rush on my part to get to watching it. :D

Just an FYI that we should wrap up by 9 at the latest, as Andy gets up at 4:30 for work the next day. So I'm thinking 5-ish for arrival, start eating 5:30-ish. Does that work for everyone? I'll definitely supply an entree-type dish.

So who's in for Monday and who would like to bring what? I will ask everyone to bring their drink of choice as my fridge is currently too full to stock up on anything.

Okay, nothing in my schedule this week worked for me, so here's what's possible for me next week. I'm off completely Monday, Thursday and Sunday. I work days the rest of the week, so nearly anything is possible. Except Wednesday, as I don't finish until 6. I don't make it home until nearly 7 that night.

Okay, I know that's cut at least one person out of the picture unless we do it Monday night. :(

So, what works best for everyone?

Oh, keep in mind that the Flyers are still in the play-offs, so if there's hockey, I must watch. :)

Are you a fanfic author looking for a new forum for your story? Come and read to a captive audience! Convention Alley 2008 will be hosting an afternoon of fanfic reading and would like your work to be part of our event.

Do you have a story to share and aren't able to attend? You can designate someone else to read for you. Or you can ask us to find a reader for you. Yes, we'll even supply the reader if you give us permission to read the fic in your absence!

To sign up for reading your fic, to designate another attendee as your reader, or to request a reader for your story, please send us an email to convention_alley@yahoo.ca

Comment and I'll give you a letter; then you have to list 10 things you love that begin with that letter (unless you've just done this meme, in which case, comment away without fear of being compelled to do it again - just let me know you've already done it). Post this in your journal and give out some letters of your own. Please do keep it going, and request a letter.

vado gave me a B. Here goes:

1. Baths - Being a LUSH addict, this one is a given. Having an old claw-foot tub adds to the fun. Fill 'er up, toss in a bath bomb and grab a good book.

2. Books - I figure this one's a given, too. And really doesn't need an explanation. Usually 4-5 on the go at one time, though right now it's only 3, um, 4, er okay, so I've got 5 going.

3. & 4. Bread and butter - yes, they have to go together. Fresh baked bread needs butter - margarine just won't do.

5. Blockbuster - I knew I could get movies in here somehow! Blockbuster gives me a paycheque and 10 free movie rentals a week. What's not to love?

6. Buddies - Friends, pals, whatever you'd like to call yourselves. I have the bestest friends and I couldn't possibly leave you off the list!

7. Blue - Blue skies, blue water, soft old blue jeans. Lots of lovely things come in blue. Not blue cheese, though. When the cheese gets blue it's time to throw it out. :D

8. Birthdays - Yours, mine, all of them. Even if I do complain about the annual "let's find a compromise restaurant for Sheryll's birthday" dance that we do every year.

9. Buses - You didn't really think I'd leave Greyhound off the list, did you? The best method of cheap travel I know. If only airfare were as cheap, I'd be a world traveler. :)

10. Am struggling to find a tenth one here. Oh wait, I know! Berries! Raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, blueberries. Not so much on the strawberries.

Okay local HP folks, the request has come in for a gathering before Convention Alley rolls around. I'm off every Sunday until after the event. Anyone up for a get together? Do we want to do potluck or go out somewhere? I'm in favour of potluck, but mostly because I think it's fun. If you all think it's too much trouble we can definitely go out somewhere.

Thoughts? Show of hands as to who's in?

You all know I was pissed yesterday. I found Debbie on Facebook and sent her a brief message. Just asked her where she got off not telling Nyssa anything. Nyssa did the same thing.

Today I got a call from my boss. Debbie called my place of employment and asked for my home number. Needless to say, she didn't get it. Heather asked who was calling and she just said Debra. Wouldn't even give her last name. Refused to give a number where we could contact her. Then she started telling Heather all the details for the viewings and the funeral. Said if I had any questions I could contact her at the funeral home! Right, like I would call the funeral home to talk to anyone there for a viewing. Good Lord, woman, the funeral home is not your messenger service!

I will send her another message via Facebook. Mostly just to ask when the reading of the will is, since Pete indicated to me that he had one. Am severely tempted to thank her for waiting until the day of viewings to let Nyssa know, effectively making it impossible for her to attend - she works until 9 tonight.

Thanks to all you for your thoughts, prayers and good wishes. Nyssa managed to survive yesterday AND get her thesis handed in. Maybe now I'll get all my YA/kids books back. :)

Nyssa's dad died on Tuesday. We had to find out about it from a mutual friend who stopped by the store today because the family didn't bother to let Nyssa know. Well, sort of. Nyssa has a half brother, Julian. Julian's mom, Debbie, is the one who didn't bother to let Nyssa know. I know she's making all the arrangements from the wording of the obituary. She lists herself as Peter's 'companion' despite the fact that they don't even live on the same side of the city. I know Peter saw Julian regularly but didn't see Debbie half as much.

In any event, Patricia came by the store today to let me know what had happened. She still had the keys to Pete's apartment and said she'd been in there and they'd cleaned out a lot of his stuff already. She went back today and took some of his CDs to give Nyssa and said she had a jacket of his in her apartment that Nyssa could have, too. Pete stopped by the store some months back and said that he was putting something in his will to make sure that Nyssa got a few things. Don't know if he ever got around to actually doing it, he was a world-class procrastinator. He wanted me to know because he said he knew that Debbie wouldn't tell Nyssa she was getting anything.

The whole thing just pisses me off. I have no idea why Debbie dislikes Nyssa so much, aside from the fact that her presence in Pete's life takes a teeny bit of attention away from Julian (who is spoiled beyond belief). Even so, nothing justifies not telling a child her father has died. Nothing.

And to boot, freaking Montreal just scored with 30 seconds left in the 3rd and we're going to overtime. No, I'm not cheering the last remaining Canadian team in the playoffs, I'm sticking with my Flyers. :)

Yes, yes, I've been remiss on this one. Raise your hand if you're surprised. Okay, the few with their hands up, put 'em down. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a procrastinator. And probably remembers that it took me until January to finish posting about an August visit to NYC a few years back. You newcomers will get used to the delay.

Plus I have a reputation for good Greyhound stories, so there's something to live up to there. I think the trip back will have to be an entry of its own, so that may wait until tomorrow.

Getting to Texas was a piece of cake in comparison. We arrived at the Ottawa station the required 1 hour in advance. Now, we expected busy, what with it being the first weekend of Spring Break here. I didn't quite anticipate and neverending line. Nope, not kidding with that one. As fast as they could load a bus headed for Toronto the line filled right back up again. In the US, this is a problem, as they I've rarely seen them add a second bus when the first one left passengers at the gate. Here, however, adding buses is the norm. They just kept bringing buses and more buses until the line was gone. At least I'm assuming so, since we left long before the line was gone. In fact, we left early. Very early. Our bus was scheduled for departure at half past midnight and I think we left right away. Not a bad thing, though we then discovered on arrival in Toronto that they close the station there from sometime late at night until 5 in the morning. Yes, we were there well before 5 in the morning.

We're smart, though, we know our way around. We hooked up with another passenger, had a quick smoke outside the station and headed for the 24-hour coffee shop up the road. Despite the sign in the shop about a time limit, the owner never said a peep about us taking longer at the table. Still, we had time to kill in TO before the next bus. Thankfully, after the station opened, that meant time to pick up a few magazines and a set of headphones so that Nyssa and I could watch on the portable DVD player together.

Arrival in Detroit wasn't quite as smooth. The tunnel was packed but we got there without too much delay. A bit of delay at the border because a they weren't sure a couple had the appropriate papers. The bus was acting up so the Customs agents didn't make the driver turn it off while we were inside. Still, as we all got back on the bus, the bus died. All attempts to restart the bus failed. Fortunately for us, the Tunnel Shuttle was on its way back through and it was virtually empty. They hailed the shuttle and it kindly agreed to take us all to the station. And we all fit on just nicely, luggage and all. In the last few minutes before we arrived at the station my brain somehow forgot that Mike was going to try meeting us there and I nearly walked right past him when we got off the bus! Mike wanted to take us somewhere to eat and we finally tossed our luggage in the back of his truck and headed out to look for food. With not enough time for a sit-down meal, we stopped at Subway and grabbed sandwiches and took them back to the bus station. Probably shouldn't have done that. Or, at least, should have made the decision on what we were doing just a wee bit faster. We did get into line when we got back to the station, but apparently not quite fast enough. Yes, you guessed it, we didn't make it onto the bus! They told they were bringing another bus, but they lied. So we killed a couple hours, thankfully with Mike's delightful company. Detroit has one the most boring bus stations I've been through. Just before we left there we called amandageist to let her know what had happened and that we would, unfortunately, be arriving just before 3 in the morning instead of just before midnight. I did suggest that Nyssa and I could cab over to Mi Tierra's on arrival and get a late dinner on our own and then Amanda could meet us a more reasonable hour in the morning, but she said she'd meet us anyway. Just one of the reasons why I love amandageist!

Most of the rest of the trip went very smoothly. I'm sure Nyssa will remind me if I've left out any traumatic experiences, but I'm pretty sure those were all on the way home. We had a bit of a concern in Dallas, where there we also far more people than would fit on one bus. Thankfully there was more than one bus and they sorted people in line according to destination. Somehow we ended up on an Americanos Lines bus. Much nicer buses than Greyhound and the only ones I've seen in the US that actually play movies for the passengers. The only drawback, of course, was that the bus driver only made his announcements in Spanish. Um, we don't speak Spanish. But it wasn't hard to figure things out and we didn't manage to do anything stupid like get off a bus and forget to get back on in time. :)

We arrived in San Antonio at the projected "sometime just before 3 a.m." and we met by the lovely, accommodating amandageist. We headed over to Mi Tierra for a very, very late dinner or an extremely early breakfast. Depends how you look at it. Still, it was good, plentiful food and Nyssa's introduction to "not what Canada pretends is Tex-Mex food". Then we headed back to Amanda's house and we all fell into to bed.

Yes, this is the last chance to register for the lower price of $300 per person. As of midnight March 31, 2008 (EST) the cost of registration for this great event will increase to $350 person.

To register, go to http://www.conventionalley2008.org/ and click the "Registration" link to be taken directly to our secure registration website.

If you have any questions, feel free to drop us an email at convention_alley@yahoo.ca

Hope to see you there!