On this Minicon Easter weekend...

...I'm glad I took a moment to stop, reflect, and remember that it is sometimes better to miss out on a chance to build friendships and community in order to avoid the appearance (and perhaps action) of mocking the religious beliefs of the very people you're trying to build friendships and community with.

And that's why the mini Easter basket of seasonal treats I took to the folks at the transfer station this morning had three yellow chick Peeps, two standard marshmallow bunny Peeps, and nary a single Cthulhu Peeps. And the same will probably be true of the basket I plan to drop off at the neighbor's house in another hour or so.

But thanks to Andra, who taught me how to make Cthulhu Peeps way back at...Minicon 34, I think...the bowl of Easter treats I'm taking to share with friends I'm having dinner with tonight? That bowl will be amply protected by minions of the Elder God Himself.

Hey! Someone at Minicon! A personal request...

I was all set to watch the Hugo finalists announcement on the U-Stream feed, but time is not my friend and it turns out I'll be away from my computer and an internet connection when it happens.

I'd love it if someone in the room for the Hugo announcement at Minicon could call me on my cell phone when the announcement is starting, hold the phone up, and see if I can listen in that way. (It's the same cell number I've always had, the one with a 612 area code.)

It doesn't have to be someone at Minicon. It could be someone at Norwescon or even Satellite, but Minicon is the Easter convention of my heart and it would be fun to "attend" it briefly this way.

Thanks!

P.S. I've left a voicemail message for Diane Lacey on her US mobile number. So if you see this and see her before 2:30pm Minnesota time, please tell her to check for it. I think she's at Minicon. In my head, she always is.

Update: Kudos, cheers, and all honor to the utterly fabulous Karen Cooper who answered my call, went to the Hugo announcements, and then called me back so I could hear the entire thing! And to Minicon co-chair Joel Phillips, who put Karen's phone right up on the podium for best listening quality. It all totally made my day. Thank You, Minicon, Karen, & Joel! And to Loncon 3 and Satellite 4 for broadcasting the announcements in the first place.