Apr. 19th, 2004

gerisullivan: (Default)
…I didn't know if I had a house or not. I was waiting for the sellers' reply to my post-inspection contract addendum. Waiting...and waiting some more.

Fortunately, Minicon provided a lovely distraction, albeit one that passed by Much Too Quickly. Deb Geisler was a fab FanGoH, cracking people up with her quick humor, deeply appreciative of (and appreciated by) Minicon and its members, and, of course, baking up a storm of sweet rolls. I think there were ten or more sweet rolls by the time she finished Saturday afternoon. Cherry filled, and apricot, my personal fave. Almond, poppyseed, and plum. Cinnamon pullaparts, each segment drenched in melted butter before being rolled in cinnamon sugar. There were sweet rolls for breakfast, and at the late night Food Geek panel featuring all of the Guests of Honor.

Deb made it utterly easy to be her liaison, not sweating even a bit when I was so late with the layout of her chapbook -- "Recipes for Disaster" -- that she ended up reviewing it over a late dinner the night she arrived. A dinner she treated me to...hmmm. That's not how *I* remember this GoH stuff working....

Even later that night, I added a few more pages of material and fixed a few oversights thanks her comments. A day and a half later, I was utterly relieved to deliver the finished chapbook to the Minicon Bridge a mere few hours before Opening Ceremonies. Karen Johnson and Susan B. Levy Haskell both pitched in with proofreading support at the last minute, which was a Fine Thing indeed, given that my eyes were too glazed over and sleep-deprived to see much in the way of layout mistakes. Kids, don't try this at home. It's *not* the way to design greatness, much though I was satisfied to have come up with something credible at the last minute.

Both [livejournal.com profile] laurafish and [livejournal.com profile] lsanderson had set deadlines of last fall for chapbook production, which left me extra appreciative of their support when I ended up doing Deb's at the very last minute, rather than back in January and February, as I'd planned.

My lateness with the chapbook, and the resulting exhaustion and minimal amount of pre-con and at-con work I was able to do for the consuite, was a real life reminder that I've been trying to do too much for too many months now. I'm hoping to adjust things as needed, and to lighten the commitment load, as I at last finish the rest of my move. That's not easy, as I was recently reminded when I had to back away from doing wedding invitations as a gift for a friend. People have been doing so much for me of late, I want to pay it forward even more than I usually do. But the whole idea of paying it forward is to do so within one's capacities and capabilities. A lesson I seem fated to continually be reminded of....

The waiting on the house continued through the week after Minicon, my return to Fanhihall in Yorktown Heights, NY, and several days of sleep and taxes. The good news came Sunday morning, in the form of a call from my Realtor. The last of the inspection items is being resolved -- huzzah, huzzah, calloo, callay! We're delaying the closing for a month while the major items are dealt with, but then all looks to be on track for the closing and my move to Wales, Massachusetts. Fingers crossed, knocking wood, and All That Jazz.

More memories of Minicon to follow, I hope. I've certainly enjoyed reading everyone else's reports!
gerisullivan: (Default)
Thrifty Car Rental Counter, Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, Saturday, April 3rd: The sheer pleasure of not needing a map, followed by days of knowing where I was going without having to think about it. I know this won't last, that memory maps will be overwritten by new routes regularly driven. But, man, I sure appreciated it on this trip!

Parties, parties, Saturday, April 3rd and Sunday, April 4th: Two music parties within 24 hours of my arrival was *just* the way to re-immerse myself in the best of Minneapolis Fandom. Sheer luck and happenstance, or an early dose of Minicon Magic? Some of each, I expect.

Como Conservatory, Original Pancake House, and other destinations, Sunday, April 4th: A morning's outing transformed into a full day together with Gavi. Comfort, silliness, easy times. More, please. Soon. And again.

Nordstrom's, Mall of America, Thursday, April 8th: "Geri, going shoe-shopping with you is great. I know you'll never, ever buy the last pair of anything I want." Deb Geisler, after seeing me holding a pair of bright, multi-colored, striped rain boots and reaching for a pair of outrageous, sparkly, strappy party shoes. The boots fit [livejournal.com profile] burningriver; they didn't have my size. Just as well; I have a mortgage commitment. My Minicon treat this year was making a small contribution and thus becoming a patron of the arts, thanks to [livejournal.com profile] papersky and the conspiracy to gift [livejournal.com profile] pegkerr with the [livejournal.com profile] elisem necklace that suits her so well.

Millennium Lobby Bar, Friday, April 9th: Seeing Steve Brust for the first time and going over for a hello hug as I was on my way to Target to pick up waxed paper and aluminum foil for the sweet rolls. The utter, ordinary rightness and pleasure of seeing him, followed by a hug that just went on and on and on. Life has changed too much for each of us for such a meeting to be taken for granted anymore, and it was neat to discover that neither of us was inclined to do so.

Opening Ceremonies, Friday, April 9th: "Shiny! They're shiny!" Five thousand 1973 pennies, each one gleaming with uncirculated, mint in bag shine. Who knew?

Music Circle, Friday, April 9th into the wee hours of Saturday morning: Needed to be asleep hours ago, but staying around for one more time around the circle, one more song, and, oh, just another one or two. Food may be sleep; music isn't. But it's something richer and more comforting still. Minneapolis Music brought me into fandom as much as any person or three. It's my anchor, my grounding. And so I listen...to more.

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