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Inspiring, eh? It's already that kind of a year. At the personal level: not a good start. At the international level: not a good start at all. I'd love to be an unabashed optimist... if I could also be right. Wouldn't that be nice? Ah, well.
Insert platitude here.
An Update within an Update
I nearly forgot to mention the Great Decision I must make very soon. Last year, I attended the Origins convention in Columbus, Ohio for the first time. Previously, I had attended four or five GenCons, a like number of FalCons, and a NOWSCon. For those of you who are happily unaware, all of these are conventions devoted primarily to role playing games, war games, and board games, and secondarily to science fiction and fantasy in general. The Origins convention is one of the largest of its kind in the world, and it is the official convention of the Game Manufacturers Association. In other words, it's my kind of place. And it's NEAR my place! (I live in Ohio.) I was in attendance for two of the four days of the convention last year. The first day was Paradise. Everything I could hope for was in one place, and I had a significant sum of money dying to be spent. Well, I spent it. Euphoria, that's what it was. But I'm glad I spent it! Do you hear me? Glad, I say! Glad! Ha ha ha ha haaa!
Then there was the second day. Very little money left. Not even enough money for food or beverages after admission and parking costs were taken into account. Hungry. Dehydrated. And surrounded by all that merchandise begging to come home with me. Paradise lost.
I ought to have known better. Had I been wise, I would have planned far in advance. I would have secured the cheapest admission rates, I would have preregistered for events, I would have reserved a room in a nearby hotel, and I would have saved LOTS OF MONEY for food, beverages, and GAMES. No, I had to waver all year long, unsure of whether anyone would join me, because no one wanted to commit.
This is my chance to do it right. If I plan to attend Origins 2003, I must decide now, because the convention organizers have extended the Early Bird Registration deadline to the 10th of January. I can register for all four days for $40 AND I can bring a friend who has never attended Origins FOR FREE. 'Tis a very good deal, especially when the onsite registration is about $20 per day. And this time, I could run some events, which I haven't done since the second-to-last GenCon I attended in the late 1980s. I would really enjoy running a few Fudge events and several other games.
Origins also attracts some interesting special guests, too. John Rhys-Davies (Gimli in Lord of the Rings), Kenny Baker (R2D2 in Star Wars), Carrie Dobro (Dureena Nafeel in Crusade), and Julie Caitlin Brown (Na'Toth in Babylon 5) were among the actors and actresses there. Richard Biggs (Dr. Stephen Franklin in Babylon 5) and Jason Carter (Marcus in Babylon 5) even taught an interactive acting workshop dubbed "The Biggs & Carter Experience." Special guests from the game industry included Jordan Weisman (of WizKids Games and formerly of FASA), James Ernest (of Cheapass Games), Dr. Reiner Knizia (the legendary game designer), Dave Arneson (the co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons), and John Kovalic (the cartoonist behind Dork Tower).
The question, then, is this: Do I preregister and start saving and begin work on some events to run at the convention, which runs from 26-29 June 2003? Or do I forget and regret? Or do I procrastinate first and then regret? What do you think?
Site-Seeing
My two favorite non-alcoholic beverages are coffee and tea. Here is an interesting family of websites devoted to tea, thanks to the U.K. Tea Council:
From the Bookshelf
On Friday I purchased The Physics of Christmas by Roger Highfield, the science editor of The Daily Telegraph. Too bad it didn't arrive in my shop until after Christmas. If you are a book and you wish to attract my attention and interest, merely add the words "The Physics of" to the beginning of your title. It never fails.
At the Cinema
Nothing new to report, as my intentions to go to the cinema on Sunday were thwarted by a general feeling of unwellness and a specific pain in my jaw owing to the continued presence of some disagreeable wisdom teeth. I reiterate: ow.
I also missed my chance to see Spirited Away on the big screen. Christmas is always a great time of year to miss opportunities. Blast.
On the Telly
I recently discovered The Daily Buzz, a syndicated morning program, and I am now a regular viewer (until I boycott it). The irreverence of the show appeals to me (for now). Give it a try (or don't).
I'll keep posting if you keep reading. Be seeing you... :-?
