HOME. I have now traveled outside Louisiana/Mississippi and returned successfully with no deaths and only two panic attacks. On the second leg of my return flight, despite my having requested all aisle seats, I got a middle seat next to a young man with extreme B.O. I could just about take it when he was still, but I almost passed out any time he moved an arm. Luckily he slept through most of the flight. I'd nearly forgotten all the reasons I so love to fly.

It was a fun trip, though, even if it had its moments of trauma, and it was a good baby step for me. Thanks so much to Neil, The Fabulous Lorraine, and publicist Eryse Marshall for making it happen.

the letter...but Jay DID hear him laugh. Out LOUD. My infiltration of the US Army has begun:)

The pralines are being held in escrow til their next PT test, and then we'll see if he gets to eat one!

Well, I did it. I flew 927 miles from home, only really freaked out once, had a truly lovely dinner with Neil (more details later, or see his journal), and am now at O'Hare waiting to please God fly home. Before coming to the airport today, I had time to conduct an important taste test: half an Italian beef sandwich each at Mr. Beef and Portillo's. I'm sorry, Chicagoans; I know you think it's fast food, but Portillo's is about a million times better.

With the clock ticking down until the con, I'd love to get the last 25 or so people I need to complete this parade group!

I want to get 111 people together and go in the 2009 parade as the periodic table of the elements. It's easy -- pick an element, then do whatever you want to be that element. You can think big or think simple; the only "rule" is that you write the element's info on your costume. For instance, my Hydrogen costume will include:

1
H
Hydrogen
1.008

We are more than 3/4 of the way there! Here's a Google spreadsheet showing what's been taken so far and what is still available:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pLNs7r9AZkuTGCmkx_0FmVw

There are also Facebook and LJ groups to help keep everything organized:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=98025705045
http://community.livejournal.com/dcperiodictable

There are plenty of elements left. If you want to participate, reply here! Also, please pass this message along to anyone you think might be interested.

Hey all, does anyone know the names of the fangsmiths that come to Dragoncon each year?  There are always several in the dealer’s room, but I can't remember the names.  My husband and I are doing Van Helsing and Verona this year and I need a new pair of fangs. 

 

Also, if you know of any good fangsmiths in Montreal or Toronto, that would be great too, as I could have them done before I leave.  I’ve looked around the net, but they all appear to be in NYC/Miami/LA and I don’t want to do mail order as my teeth are a bit strange ;o)

At Katsucon two years ago some friends and I did a Masters of the Universe group. I had lots of fun, but sadly none of them (save a 'maybe' from Skeletor) will be at D*C this year. I heard a rumor that there's a HUGE She-Ra group getting together, and I would love to join in.

I have a full Loo-Kee costume...you know, the annoying elf thing that popped up at the end of the show to tell the kiddies what they should have learned? Yeah him...only as a her since I hate taping myself up. lol

Anyway, if you have any info on how to get in touch with ANYWAY in any MotU group I would be thrilled. I really hope the rumors about the She-Ra group are true. No one gets my costume without some chicks in spandex hanging around...

x-posted

http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/07/how-to-play-with-your-food.html

I'm in Chicago right now, for ALA: the annual meeting of the American Library Association. I've been to a couple of them before and have always had a marvellous time -- once, with people like Art Spiegelman and Scott McCloud and Colleen Doran explaining to curious librarians what graphic novels were and why they should have them in their libraries, another time getting to visit New Orleans for the first time Post-Katrina, when I went to two dinners with Poppy Z Brite, and one of them was the first time Poppy's husband, chef Chris DeBarr, ever cooked for me*.

When I was in Melbourne, five years ago, Poppy was a guest of honour with me, and somewhere back then it was decided that we would be going to Alinea, a Chicago restaurant of remarkable coolness. The years went by and I was never in Chicago for long, and Katrina happened, and once Poppy went back to New Orleans she did not want to leave, but we knew one day it would happen.

And tonight it did. Poppy flew up from Chicago and took me to dinner. It was expensive, and, I only discovered at the end of the meal, Poppy was paying. (This is a big public thank you.)

The service and friendliness and sense of enjoyment from the Alinea staff was remarkable. I've had, on rare occasions, food that was as good, and, rarely, I've had food that was better, but I do not ever recall any meal that was as much fun to eat. 23 Courses (hmm, very illuminati) of things that melted or popped or squrunched in your mouth in astounding ways.

I think my favourite not-actually-putting-something-in-my-mouth moment was when the table was covered with bubbling belching dry-ice smoke, and I asked Poppy very nicely if she wouldn't mind saying, "Tonight, my creature, I shall give you Life!" for me, and, bless her, she did.

If anyone reading this is at ALA, I'm doing two signings at the HarperCollins booth 2011, one at 1.00pm on Saturday, the other on 9.00am on Monday (which should have some amusement value). Also a panel on Monday at 1:30pm on the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. The rest of the time is filled with interviews, receptions, speeches and such.

I'm actually here to receive the Newbery Medal for The Graveyard Book. Which will be presented on Sunday night, and for which I have written (and already recorded) a speech. (Which will be played if I forget how to talk on Sunday night. It's possible.)

And I want to thank Harper Collins for indulging me, and keeping up the free version of The Graveyard Book on the mousecircus website all that time. You can still listen to (or watch) me read The Graveyard Book, chapter by chapter, across America, at http://www.mousecircus.com/videotour.aspx. You can also buy it.

(And to answer a sharp-eyed questioner, yes, there are a couple of changes in the latest printing of The Graveyard Book; I fixed an error in astronomy I'd made, and a misspelled foreign word, and fixed some paragraphs in the acknowledgments that were truncated in the original US edition.)


(And that reminds me: yes, I will be at San Diego Comic Con briefly on Friday July 24th, to do a panel with Henry Selick about Coraline, and a one hour signing afterwards. I'll be at the Eisner Awards for a bit that night, then will zoom across town to the Benefit concert that Amanda Palmer and Vermillion Lies are doing for the CBLDF.)




*Chris says people have been asking for "The Mezze of Destruction", the code-phrase that tells him they were sent from this blog, at the Green Goddess, and getting special extras -- restaurant Easter Eggs, as it were, and I have been getting happy messages from people who have eaten there who tried it. And, almost needless to say, lived.


Right. Bed.

For those of you attending the Young Adult Lit track's Yule Ball, you can request your favorite dance tunes over at our LJ...

http://community.livejournal.com/dragonconyalit/68174.html

For those of you who DJ professionally, we're also looking for your help. Check it out. :)

Greetings steampunkers -- I was at my local Harbor Freight Tools today and noticed that they had a couple of items that might complete a steampunk look:

( Airship Captains inquire within )

Hi:  Malcolm McDowell is listed in the Dragoncon booklet that I got today but he's not a listed guest on the website.  Does this mean that he's coming but just hasn't confirmed yet???  This is totally exciting if he comes!!!!
thank you,

Hi kids, your busy but eager and mostly fearless leader Brian Richardson here to announce our last major taping event for Dragon*ConTV 2009. This is going to be a little different, so pay attention and see if you can give us a hand.

We need costumes. Many different costumes. Preferably ones that have a full mask over the face. Furries, Stormtroopers, battle armor ... anything that is fairly easy to move in and fits sci-fi or fantasy.

What do we need it for ... well, that's still a secret ;) Some of that secret will be revealed at our last taping on Saturday, July 18th ... 12:00-5:00pm in Loganville, GA.

If you have the right costume then send me the details & a picture - dragoncontv@gmail.com - If you have a costume that will work I'll send you the details and add you to the shoot list for the taping.

Thanks again for your help in making Dragon*Con a little less ordinary.

Crossposted in DragonconYALit

This year, my three friends and I will be attending the Dragon*con Yule Ball. We are three girls, Myself as Luna Lovegood, as well as Moaning Myrtle, A Slytherin, and a Hufflepuff.

We would like to endeavor about finding gentlemen whom would like to escort us to the Yule Ball.

All ask is that you be 21+ as all of us are in our mid to late 20's.

I would like a canon character as well as Myrtle, however, that is not required.

I just thought it would be fun to do. We will probably attend in our school uniforms as I won't have time to concoct Luna's ball gown in time.

I do hope someone responds and the Nargles don't cause mischief with the posts.

You can reach me at lovegoodlogic@aol.com if you are interested.

Thank you.

Look at the socialist our president is pallin' around with. Not only a socialist, but a socialist who was formerly of a terrorist organization that targeted America.




Man. Where's Palin to take him to task for this?

So, I will be going to New York City for the first time as an adult and would like any tips or idea that any of you guys would have for me. What to do, where to go, cheap fun? I will be traveling with a handicap person, so there will be no stair climbing, running, jumping and what not. Thank you for your ideas!!!!

I'm at the gate posting on my iPhone. Nolagoraphobia fairly well controlled by -pams. The fuckers at security made me toss not just my $1 hairspray, which I didn't care about except now my hair will be all floppy at Alinea, but also my expensive tea rose perfume. Yep, I could have taken out the captain with that shit. Thank you, "terrists."

Hey guys. I've been a smoker for years now and have recently converted to eCigs. One of the hardest things about being a smoker at D*C last year was scheduling time to run outside for a quick drag between panels. But with my new "personal vaporizer" I feel it will be MUCH easier on me. I was wondering if there were any vapers here attending the con. Or even better, has anyone had experience vaping at a con or the hotels? Anyway, if there are, maybe we can arrange a meet up or something. Thanks for listening.

Arghh! I've got so many books I want to get autographed! Ringo, Stirling, Nye, Zahn, Stackpole, David, Resnick, and Foster! (fetal position) Can't decide, can't decide. Do I take ALL my books by those authors and hope I can get most signed, or do I choose which ones I want signed?

tONIGHT!

We have New Eureka and Warehouse 13! Also Bab 5.

We have goodies and pizza and cheese and beer.

We have the gondola robot!

casa cthulhu. 8 pm. come!