They were doing it in Texas · 2:45am Oct 24th, 2017
Whenever EQD posts conventions, I like to pop them into the calendar and set an alert for six weeks or a month prior to the date. Not that I plan to do everything or go everywhere, but if the opportunity arose, I would like to have enough time. So far, Trotcon and BronyCon are the only pony events I've attended. Ciderfest and EFNW are still on my list. At one point, BUCK was a possibility, if I renewed my passport and could score a cheap flight, but it disappeared before I could make it happen.
That's a very happy Cloud Kicker in the background
Back in September the first alert for Nightmare Nights Dallas popped up, and I was just maybe about it. Then the organizers announced this would be the final go round, so it was now or never. I chose now—I wouldn't be BUCKed again.
First there was finding the time. Working from home while recuperating from surgery prevented me from using a bunch of vacation days. On top of that, my wife's injury cancelled our usual summer vacation. Combine those savings with a bunch of comp days for work related events, and I found myself with sixteen vacation days still remaining. The availability of time off wasn't an excuse, so the next step was to sit down and run the numbers. I always do. Not cheap, but doable. So I did it, because dammit, why not?
I'll fly in on Thursday and stay until midday Monday, so if any of you will be there, look me up. On Friday I will wear a tie dye, as I frequently do at these events, and save my pony attire for the weekend. Should you happen to see a gray haired guy with a really colorful shirt, don't be afraid to say hi, and we'll do—something? If they have a Sofas & Quills equivalent, look for me there if there, except if there's a big event going on. It isn't like I'll be super busy. The only other plans I've made, beside standing in line for autographs and buying things I don't need and can't justify, are to read a couple of books. Those should likely be saved for the flights and the five hour wait I'll have on Monday.
And speaking of flying, when I thought about this trip, I realized this will be my second non-business flight, ever. Weird, huh? Even weirder, the first one, my absolute first flight, was in 1965, a trip to San Francisco and then Hawaii, first class all the way. For the rest of that story, you'll have to ask me in Dallas.
And in other news... Beside some IRL events I really, really could do without, I have been applying myself to writing after a real bummer of a time. For too long I tried to force a character to do something they didn't want to. After discarding draft after draft, it was only this weekend that my son and I talked it out, and we think we have a way forward. Light at end of tunnel and other clichés.
A technical issue affecting writing was avoided. I was going to upgrade to the inauspiciously numbered 10.13, High Sierra, when a friend reminded me to check for 32 bit apps. macOS 10.2 was their last stop. Beside a bunch of ghost entries (WTH Apple?) and a few things I no longer use, there were only two: my ancient scanner software and Scrivener. Literature & Latte says Version 3, a 64 bit version, is on the way, RSN and all that, but if I'd upgraded the OS, accessing in-progress projects would have been a mess.
So after the Texas trip, it will be time to get to work. Taking a dozen vacation days over the next two months should allow me to catch up on my literal home work as well as writing. Let's hope we don't have any early snow storms.
We rarely get snow down here. Mostly ice and while the weather is a bit cooler, it's not quite that cool. Don't know if I'll go. I do hope you enjoy yourself.
Have a great time, my friend. I hope you can make EFNW in May. I'm planning on going , barring any major changes.
I'm still in Georgia for the forseeable future. Long story, but it works for now.
Hope you and your son have been well. Let me know how you enjoyed Nightmare Nights!
I immediately caught the song reference in the title, and I wouldn't be surprised if no one else does. :3
4706598
I was thinking of snow up here, on the North Coast, but I did check the weather in Dallas, to dress and pack appropriately. Glad to see I can skip packing the mukluks.
In the last week, the temperature here has whipsawed through all four seasons in an attempt to invent a fifth. Last year we replaced the POS snowblower, it was "free" with only $200 of work and still never worked well, but had a single snowfall where its was required, and I was housebound at the time. While I love playing with machines, I'd rather not waste too much time on moving something that'll disappear on its own.
4706616
EFNW might be a stretch: I've got more news I'll post here sometime next month. Glad to see you are hanging in there, wherever that may be. We can trade long stories in PMs if you want. Good typing practice.
As for the two of us, we've been moderately okayish, not busy, but not bored, occasionally at each other's throats, which is to say, nothing out of the ordinary.
Now that I've dug through the mobile menus and found where the new blog button was secreted, I'm considering making a daily post from the con, but writing anything of length on the phone feels like building a ship in a bottle. Using my hand-me-down iPad, seven years old next month, would make composition easier. However, I am afraid Knight's Javascript requirements exceed its capabilities; I can't seem to log in anymore.
4706648
Glad someone did! No plans to argue in traffic or lose a leg, just ponies. And no concert either: they're performing this weekend in California.
4706688
I haven't heard that song in ages.