mishalak

I know this is late and not properly formated yet. Sorry, sorry. Will do better next month.

October 3 Friday
§ 8:00pm First Friday Fandom meeting at the home of Kent Bloom and Mary Morman. COSine will be discussed and the book up for discussion is /Guards! Guards!/ by Terry Pratchett. (719) 522-0484 or http://www.rialto.org/first_friday/ for directions.

October 4 Saturday
§ 6:00pm Denver Area SF Assoc. Alternate Party. Contact director at dasfa.org for more directions and information. http://www.dasfa.org/ Or call 303-260-7798 the day of the party.
§ /Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas/ is the midnight movie at the Mayan.

October 6 Monday
§ 7:00pm & 9:15pm- Gigantic: A Tale of Two Johns. A documentary about They Might Be Giants at the International Film Series at CU Boulder. Repeats at the same times on Tuesday and Wednesday.
http://www.colorado.edu/FilmStudies/ifs/

October 8 Wednesday
§ 7:30pm Denver Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Club meets at the Park Meadows Barnes & Noble Bookstore to discuss /Lullaby/ by Chuck Palahniuk. http://members.aol.com/misuly/bookclub.htm

October 11 Saturday
§ 6:30pm Outer Fandom meets at Diedrich's Coffeehouse 9th and Downing, Denver. It is likely that we'll find somewhere cheap to eat for dinner. I'm planning on doing a shopping trip for the Crew of Grenadine the week after.
§ /Friday the 13th/ is the midnight movie at the Mayan.

October 15 Wednesday
§ 6:30pm Stories for All Seasons at West Side Book Annex 3434 W 32nd Ave, Denver. Children's Writers and Artists talk and read, including Join Hillari Bell (The Goblin Wood and A Matter of Profit), Jennifer D. Hollingsworth (Elizabeth Walks the Monsters), and Renee Fajardo and Carl Ruby (Holy Mole Guacamole! and Whole Lotta Enchiladas).
http://www.westsidebooks.com/sfas.htm

October 17 Friday
§ 4:00pm- The SCA Known World Costuming and the Archery Symposium starts at the Denver Renaissance Hotel. It is at 3801 Quebec Street, the pyramid shaped building is near old Stapleton. It runs through Sunday. No Eat, Drink, and Be Merry Revel this month.
http://www.caerthe.org/KWAR/ http://www.caerthe.org/kwcs/

October 18 Saturday
§ 12:00pm Crew of Grenadine shopping trip, contact Chernobog at Mishalak.com for details! It should be fun rather than work.
§ 6:00pm MileHiCon Committee Meeting at Wild Oats Community Room 1111 S. Washington St, Denver. Open to public. http://www.milehicon.org/
§ 7:30pm Denver Area SF Assoc. meeting at Wild Oats Community Room 1111 S. Washington St, Denver. Followed by Dead Dog Party. http://www.dasfa.org/
§ /The Nightmare Before Christmas / is the midnight movie at the Mayan.

October 19 Sunday
§ 3:00pm USS Arapahoe meeting in the Theatre Room of the Aurora Public Library, 14949 E Alameda Dr, Aurora http://www.ussarapahoe.org/

October 22 Wednesday
§ 7:30pm Denver Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Club meets at the Park Meadows Barnes & Noble Bookstore no word on what book will be discussed at publication time. http://members.aol.com/misuly/bookclub.htm

October 24 Friday
§ 3:00pm MileHiCon opens at the Denver West Sheraton Hotel located just south of 6th Avenue and Union Street. The convention continues through Saturday.
September 27 Saturday

October 25 Saturday
§ /Ringu/ the origional Japanese version of /The Ring/ is the midnight movie at the Mayan.

Mountain Empire Conventions
Oct 24-26 · MileHiCon 35 Lakewood, CO
PO Box 101322, Denver, CO 80250 | http://www.milehicon.org/
2004-----
Jan 16-18 · COSine Colorado Springs, CO
PO Box 50618 Colorado Springs, CO 80949 |
http://www.rialto.org/cosine/
April 16-18 · Starfest Denver, CO
PO Box 24955, Denver CO 80224 | http://www.starland.com/
May 28-30 · CONduit Salt Lake City, UT
http://conduit.sfcon.org/

Miffed is likely to be going out tomorrow. So here is my tenative introdution. Maybe I should make it more upbeat. But I have all the bits of Miffed #7 listed in my memories.

THE STATE OF THE FUND
Pretty much broke again. Getting the old mark.1 eyeball checked can be surprisingly expensive ($80). On top of that I blew about $250 on everything convention including a book I really ought not to have bought by any rational measure. I hope to save by not spending much on food and the other traditional geek ways of cutting back. I did some calculations at the convention and concluded that I need to save up around $200 to be able to produce a good-sized run of dead tree Miffed. I hope to have some of my friends help out with the big party at MileHiCon. Then I hope to recover for several months, spending minimally at COSign. And of course I need to get a better job so that I can just do my fanac without as much compromise.

( Events in Colorado for September )

Mountain Empire Conventions
Sep 19-21 · Nan Desu Kan Denver, CO
   NDK PO Box 577 Fair Oaks, CA 95628 | http://www.ndk.cc/
Oct 24-26 · MileHiCon 35 Lakewood, CO
   PO Box 101322, Denver, CO 80250 | http://www.milehicon.org/
2004-----
Jan 16-18 · COSine Colorado Springs, CO
   PO Box 50618 Colorado Springs, CO 80949 | http://www.rialto.org/cosine/
April 16-18 · Starfest Denver, CO
   PO Box 24955, Denver CO 80224 | http://www.starland.com/
May 28-30 · CONduit Salt Lake City, UT
   http://conduit.sfcon.org/

As always I appreciate corrections, updates, and additions. In particular I am looking for information on more convention in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, the Texas panhandle, Idaho, and possibly Kansas and Arizona as well.

Miffed went out yesterday night, theoretically to everyone on my list. I do know that I missed both Dave Gibbons and Richard Moorman (

rmoorman) and I'll get copies off to them today. If anyone else wants an email copy of what I produce, do let me know. Chernobog at mishalak.com

Just in case anyone else wants to see it here is the information that went out about the state of the Mishalak Fan Fund:
Well Rose and I sent in out registrations for Bubonicon and we're planning on heading down on the Friday of the convention. I've just about decided to do Minicon again in the spring rather than going to Gaylaxicon, since I don't think I know anyone besides Sandra who'll be there. It was tempting to go, but ultimately I'm quite shy. Still searching for a better job so I can do conventions in style. Oh and as I mention over in my livejournal http://mishalak.livejournal.com/ I mention I'm working on getting a better Farscape costume together.

So that's the news on my perzine. And I've had a few comments on it all ready. Yay!

This went in Miffed and it is as complete as I can make it at this point.

August 1 Friday
§ 5:00-9:00pm Rocky Mountain Antiquarian Book Fair starts at the Denver Merchandise Mart, I-25 at 58th Avenue in Denver. Admission $6 for one day, $10 for two.
§ 8:00pm First Friday Fandom meeting at the home of Kent Bloom and Mary Morman. COSine will be discussed and the book up for discussion is Rose of the Prophet by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. (719) 522-0484 or the website for directions

August 2 Saturday
§ 10:00am-5:00pm Rocky Mountain Antiquarian Book Fair. See Friday.
§ 6:00pm Denver Area SF Assoc. Alternate Party. Contact director at dasfa.org for more directions and information.
§ Trainspotting is the midnight movie at the Mayan

August 9 Saturday
§ 6:30pm Outer Fandom meets at Diedrich's Coffeehouse 9th and Downing, Denver. Dinner out is planned after the meeting. For more information contact Chernobog at mishalak.com
§ Pee-wee's Big Adventure is the midnight movie at the Mayan

August 10 Sunday
§ 2:00pm Klingon House Veska meets at Sisters Sojourn, 7615 W. 38th Avenue #A-102 Wheat Ridge. (Unconfirmed)
§ 2:00pm MileHiCon Committee Meeting at Linda Nelson's house.

August 11 Monday
§ Today is the last day to get your preregistration in for Bubonicon.

August 13 Wednesday
§ 7:30pm Denver Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Club meets at the Park Meadows Barnes & Noble Bookstore to discuss The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson.

August 15 Friday
§ 7:00pm Barony Caerthe Eat Drink and Be Merry Reval at 1901 East 47th Ave, Denver. For more information contact Ladt Damia at 303-296-7673 (between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM only) or by e-mail at hospitaller at sca-caerthe.org.

August 16 Saturday
§ 2:00pm Klingon House K'Ralvaj meeting/party at the home of John Miller, 2946 Golden Eagle Cir, Layette. Phone 303-919-4497 for directions.
§ 3:00pm Denver Area SF Assoc. annual picnic at the home of Dan in Elizabeth CO. Contact director at dasfa.org for a map and directions
§ 2001: A Space Odyssey is the midnight movie at the Mayan

August 17 Sunday
§ 4:30pm USS Arapahoe meeting in the Theatre Room of the Aurora Public Library, 14949 E Alameda Dr, Aurora

August 20 Wednesday
§ 6:30pm Stories for All Seasons at West Side Book Annex 3434 W 32nd Ave, Denver. Small press show and tell with Wormhole Books and Cocytus Press.

August 22-24
§ Bubonicon get underway at around 5pm. Howard Johnson East in Albuquerque. The GoHs are Charles DeLint, Melinda Snodgrass, and Charles Vess. People wishing to carpool from Denver or points south should contact me chernobog at mishalak.com

August 23 Saturday
§ 12:00pm Denver Anime International meets at Ed Wolf's Game Pit, 4231 S. Natches Ct. Unit H.
§ A Clockwork Orange is the midnight movie at the Mayan

August 27 Wednesday
§ 7:30pm Denver Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Club meets at the Park Meadows Barnes & Noble Bookstore to discuss Fata Morgana by William Kotzwinkle.

August 28-31
§ TactiCon starts on Thursday and runs through Sunday at Marriott Hotel Southeast in Denver. This is primarily a convention for board games, RPGs, and live action roleplay, though there is also an art show.

August 30 Saturday
§ The NeverEnding Story is the midnight movie at the Mayan

Mountain Empire Conventions
Aug 22-24 · Bubonicon 35 Albuquerque, NM
   PO Box 37257 Albuquerque, NM 87176 | http://bubonicon.home.att.net/
Aug 28-31 TactiCon 2003 Denver, CO
   http://www.denvergamers.com/tacticon/
Sep 19-21 · Nan Desu Kan Denver, CO
   NDK PO Box 577 Fair Oaks, CA 95628 | http://www.ndk.cc/
Oct 24-26 · MileHiCon 35 Lakewood, CO
   PO Box 101322, Denver, CO 80250 | http://www.milehicon.org/
2004-----
Jan 16-18 · COSine Colorado Springs, CO
   PO Box 50618 Colorado Springs, CO 80949 | http://www.rialto.org/cosine/
April 16-18 · Starfest Denver, CO
   PO Box 24955, Denver CO 80224 | http://www.starland.com/

As always I appreciate corrections, updates, and additions. In particular I am looking for information on conventions in Armarillo Texas or southern Wyoming. I suspect there are some and they are close enough by that they should be listed in Miffed. Also if anyone knows if Conduit is on or off for 2004 the information would be much appreciated.

So this is my report on going to a SCA meeting last Fridays. Executive Summery; I had lots of fun talking to people at the feast. Oh and I bought a shirt after brunch on Sunday that could double as something to wear to these events, so I'm set for next time.

Oh and time for the weird coincidence in my life. I had been to a party for a friend on July 4th and run into Barb there. I talked to her a bit about fandom, but didn't mention a word about the SCA or being interested. Then when I pick up the phone earlier this month to call the number listed on the local Barony's website I end up talking to her again. My life is just like this. So I ended up going the Eat Drink and Be Merry Revel on the 18th of July and actually knowing someone there ahead of time. V. good.

( Longish Discription of Caerthe and the Party )

As always, "Questions? Comments?" I need to know what I should add to this to make it part of a useful guide to fandom in Denver. Am wicked clueless.

Next week I start in on my edition of Miffed for August. So my question to my vast readership is what would you like to see? What are the questions that need answering? What's missing from my navel gazing posts about myself? Anything you would like to hear my rambling thoughts about?

As I promised someone earlier this week here is an explanation of one of the party games that I've participated in with Denver fen.

In The Sack is a late night party game, I've most often played it with friends at Karval Kon, though occasionally a game will happen late at night at MileHiCon. A sheet of paper is found and cut up into pieces. Everyone gets five or six and writes questions on them. Any sort of question can be written down. Since this is about getting to know each other better most of the questions are related to habits, preferences, ethics and so on. Now this could get way out of control with questions that are too personal to be answered, the two checks on this are having a mostly reasonable group and if a question writer pulls his own question he will still have to answer it.

Variations include giving each person a pass on a question, complaining and getting a question thrown out by a majority, and having everyone answer every question pulled. We most often play with everyone answering every question pulled since often the questions are fun and everyone would like to answer. The game's biggest advantage is that it is easy to set up since no special equipment is needed, unlike something like twister.

I've tried to come up with an online version. Perhaps someone could announce a game in his or her livejournal and friends respond if they are willing to play. The next day he makes another post and allow anonymous posting of questions in response. (It would be best if the questions could be limited to those who have chosen to participate, I think that's possible by limiting who can see the open for questions post by a custom setting.) Then he vets the questions as being appropriate and everyone answers the questions in their own live journals of the next few days. It might need adjustment based upon flaws found in actual play, but it seems like it would work and be fun as well.

Who/What Are You Variation
Of a group of livejournal friends knows each other moderately well everyone could propose a funny, silly, whatever sort of Who or What similar to the quiz memes that propagate through livejournal regularly. One is picked and everyone participating writes on what they think they are in that category and gives reasoning. Then everyone else writes back saying "Oh I agree, because of thus and such" or "You're completely batty, you're much more like X because you've done this." I like the idea of a freeform system much better than the limited results that quizzes give.

I want everyone's opinion on this! Am I out of my mind? Do I have a fun idea? Do you have a better one? Write soon!

Woo! I have a comment on the edition of Miffed I just sent out. My friend Shaari writes, "I found this funny as heck. Enjoyed it immensely, despite its lack of direct relevance." Yay! Even people who don't need fannish updates find me interesting!

<Uncle Whaps You>
The bit above this is a reference to Uncle on Jackie Chan Adventures. A surprisingly well written animated show. If I had kids I'd want them to watch the coolness of this program, at times it has Buffy level dialog.

JADE (reading fortune cookie): "Danger looms in your future."
UNCLE: We must be very cautious!
JACKIE: You listen to a cookie?
ENFORCERS show up.
UNCLE: Never mock the cookie!

So in the words of Uncle, "One more thing."
I have just sent out an email version of Miffed #5, July 2003. I included the Retailer Review, Inner Circle, New of the Odd, and Fannish Province things I posted over the last couple days. See, I can too get things actually sent out. Now all I have to do is a paper version.

THE INNER CIRCLE
The news in good with DASFA, I've got a program for the month of July and since August is the big club picnic I don't have to worry about a program then. Now onto September and October. Groovy!

RETAILER REVIEW: FAHRENHEIT'S BOOKS
My favorite bookstore in all of Denver is Fahrenheit's at 38 Broadway. It's not the largest of the bookstores in Colorado, or even the largest used bookstore, but Bill has a fantastic eye for acquisitions. Going through his overflowing bookcases is a joy, especially the two sections he has for hardback science fiction and fantasy. The books are well priced, don't expect either a huge bargain or to be totally priced out. The last time I was there I picked up two first edition Walter Jon Williams books for $45, quite reasonable considering condition and so on. In addition to the two sections of hardbacks he also has two of reasonably priced paperbacks.

But the science fiction isn't the only reason to visit his store. He also has a quite good selection of metaphysical books, art books, history, and natural history. If I have any money left after perusing the many works of fantastic fiction (and Easton Press... MMM) I'll wander over to look at the books about myths and legends. Then maybe bother Bill a little bit (he's quite soft spoken, I get the feeling that he's a bit shy, but I like talking to him about books).

The other great thing about going to Fahrenheit's Books is that there are four more general used bookstores on that section of Broadway. If you park on Lincoln Street one block over from Broadway you can generally get a space easier than if you try to park on Broadway and there are no parking meters. Next month I'll review another Ed Wolf's Game Pit and another bookstore on Broadway.

I visited with the members of the Denver anime group on Saturday June 28 and this is a short report on my impressions and who they are.

Denver Anime International, like DASFA, is in some ways an anachronism. Anime clubs formed because fans needed a way to get anime. Now with Japanese imports much more readily available fans don't have to trade tapes recorded on video machines at clubs.

The club was originally just a group of fen who meet up to watch anime after the 1981 Worldcon in Denver. Michael Burgess (hey there's a name that's familiar to DASFA as well) was sort of the first leader of the group back when it was called the Denver Animation Society.

They and their predecessor group have met monthly for over twenty years now and it doesn't look like they'll be stopping anytime soon. For one thing they have a convention to help out with, Nan Desu Kan. As with DASFA and MileHiCon they don't run the convention by themselves. However they do a lot to help out and they run the video room at a number of other local conventions.

So they still have a purpose. If they and the other clubs and volunteers didn't still get together it would be much harder to learn about anime. And I think fandom would be much poorer if we didn't have social groups like them ready to provide answers to the newbies/neofen interested in anime.

I also like the group because they are delightfully informal. Even more so than DASFA, though I wouldn't want to change the way DASFA works (because it does). They have no dues or fees and they work hard to find places to meet for free so they can keep it that way. Currently they are meeting at a pretty nice miniatures & gaming shop in south Englewood called Ed Wolf's Game Pit. The light salutation is a bit hard on being able to see the screenings, but I suspect if they are in that location long enough they will figure out a solution.

If you want to know more about their history check out their page on the subject.

This is the event listing going out with the next issued of Miffed. Please inform me of any errors or omissions.

July 3-6
§ SCA Event, Glory VI at the L.C.C.C. Campground, Buford, Wyoming (24 miles West of Cheyenne on I-80).

July 5 Saturday
§ 4:00pm Denver Area SF Assoc. Ice Cream Alternate Party at Mishalak's apartment, 2507 W. Main Street, Littleton. Call 303-734-1387 or Chernobog at mishalak.com for directions. As the name implies there will be lots of ice cream on hand, feel free to bring anything you feel like eating or drinking as well.
§ Ghostbusters is the Midnight Movie at the Mayan

July 11 Friday
This is the last day for pre registration of XIV Khan.
§ 7:00pm They Live will be shown for free at the Boulder Public Library 1000 Canyon Boulevard, Boulder.
§ 8:00pm First Friday Fandom meeting at the home of Kent Bloom and Mary Morman. COSine will be discussed and the book up for discussion is The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne. (719) 522-0484 or the website for directions

July 12 Saturday
§ 6:30pm Outer Fandom meets at Diedrich's Coffeehouse 9th and Downing, Denver. It is planned to see The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen after meeting up. For more information contact Chernobog at mishalak.com
§ Blue Velvet is the Midnight Movie at the Mayan

July 18-20
XIV-Khan (Unofficially called Changing Number Con) will be taking place at Ramada Inn at I-25 and Filmore in Colorado Springs. Their guest of honor is John Stith.

July 19 Saturday
§ 6:00pm MileHiCon Committee Meeting at Wild Oats Community Room 1111 S. Washington St, Denver. Open to public.
§ 7:30pm Denver Area SF Assoc. meeting at Wild Oats Community Room 1111 S. Washington St, Denver. Anime panel followed by Dead Dog Party.
§ Raiders of the Lost Ark is the Midnight Movie at the Mayan

July 20 Sunday
§ 4:30pm USS Arapahoe meeting in the Theatre Room of the Aurora Public Library, 14949 E Alameda Dr, Aurora

July 26 Saturday
§ Noon Denver Anime International meeting at Ed Wolf's Game Pit 4231 S. Natches Ct. Unit H.
§ Office Space is the midnight movie at the Mayan.

Mountain Empire Conventions
July 18-20 · XIV-Khan Colorado Springs, CO
   http://www.angelfire.com/scifi/xkhan/
Aug 22-24 · Bubonicon 35 Albuquerque, NM
   PO Box 37257 Albuquerque, NM 87176 | http://bubonicon.home.att.net/
Aug 28-31 TactiCon 2003 Denver, CO
   http://www.denvergamers.com/tacticon/
Sep 19-21 · Nan Desu Kan Denver, CO
   NDK PO Box 577 Fair Oaks, CA 95628 | http://www.ndk.cc/
Oct 24-26 · MileHiCon 35 Lakewood, CO
   PO Box 101322, Denver, CO 80250 | http://www.milehicon.org/
2004-----
Jan 16-18 · COSine Colorado Springs, CO
   P.O. Box 50618 Colorado Springs, CO 80949 | http://www.rialto.org/cosine/

This is a new item for my random fanzine, Miffed. I think it would be useful to profile fans in Colorado to introduce local fandom to the world at large and provide a who's who for locals. For this first one I interviewed Rose Beetem, who is both a local BNF and also my best friend. That made it easy for me to persuade her to agree to be my first victim.

Rose was aware of fandom from a very early age as her mother, Doris "The Elder Goddess" Beetem was a fan and at least marginally involved in fandom. But as with many fans in Denver at that time they really got involved when Camille Cazedessus placed an announcement in the local newspapers for a December 1968 meeting to organize the Denver Area Science Fiction Association. Rose was at that meeting with her mother and older sister, Dee, and has been a Dasfan ever since.

And really that's the most important feature of her life in fandom, longevity and tenacity. Where other fans have quickly burned themselves out Rose has maintained a high level of fannish activity for the last 35 years. She is one of only two people to attend every Milehicon. She continued to regularly attend DASFA meetings even when she moved to Karval, a small town two hours from Denver, to teach school after college. And while in living in Karvel she even started a little convention, the renowned Karval Kon, in 1978.

At various times she's been Director of DASFA, chairman of Milehicon, editor of DASFAx, head of Programming for Milehicon, and even run the Art Show in the early days of the convention. The only thing that she was not part of was the 1981 Worldcon bid, though many people assume that she was crazy enough to have been part of that endeavor.

When I asked her what she was most proud of out of all this she answered that she really loves she has encouraged someone to try something new. Like when she gets someone new to be on a panel at a con and the person has a great time doing it.

Rose currently serves as Publicist for DASFA and the Programming Chair for Milehicon. She lives in West Highlands in Denver with her husband Dave Gibbons, three cats, and an incredible collection of videos, memorabilia, and over the top snow globes. Our favorite fact about her is that she almost unfailingly records her favorite shows onto tape and since they're often our favorite shows we can still catch up when we miss an episode. Her interests include books, X-files, Buffy, and Angel.

(These are the event listing going into the next issue of Miffed.)

June 21 Saturday
§ 6:00pm MileHiCon Committee Meeting at Wild Oats Community Room 1111 S. Washington Street, Denver. Open to public.
§ 7:30pm Denver Area SF Assoc. meeting at Wild Oats Community Room 1111 S. Washington Street, Denver. Costuming panel followed by Dead Dog Party.
§ Cowboy Beebop: The Movie, The Dark Crystal, & Vampire Hunters (bleh on the last!) are the Midnight Movies at the Mayan.

June 23 Monday
§ 2001 A Space Odyssey will be shown for free at the Boulder Public Library 1000 Canyon Boulevard, Boulder.

June 28 Saturday
§ 12:00pm Denver Anime Int. meeting Ed Wolf's Game Pit 4231 S. Natches Ct. Unit H
§ Best in Show is the Midnight Movie at the Mayan.

June 30 Monday
§ 7:00pm A Clockwork Orange will be shown for free at the Boulder Public Library 1000 Canyon Boulevard, Boulder.

July 5 Saturday
§ 4:00pm Denver Area SF Assoc. Ice Cream Alternate Party at Mishalak's apartment, 2507 W. Main Street, Littleton. Call 303-734-1387 or Chernobog at mishalak.com for directions. As the name implies there will be lots of ice cream on hand, feel free to bring anything you feel like eating as well.
§ Ghostbusters is the Midnight Movie at the Mayan

July 11 Friday
§ First Friday Fandom meeting at the home of Kent Bloom and Mary Morman. COSine will be discussed and the book up for discussion is The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne. (719) 522-0484 or the website for directions
§ 7:00pm They Live will be shown for free at the Boulder Public Library 1000 Canyon Boulevard, Boulder.

July 12 Saturday
§ 6:30pm Outer Fandom meets at Diedrich's Coffeehouse 9th and Downing,
Denver. It is planned to see "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" after meeting up. For more information contact Chernobog at mishalak.com
§ Blue Velvet is the Midnight Movie at the Mayan

Mountain Empire Conventions
July 18-20 · XIV-Khan Colorado Springs, CO: http://www.angelfire.com/scifi/xkhan/
Aug 22-24 · Bubonicon 35 Albuquerque, NM: PO Box 37257 Albuquerque, NM 87176 | http://bubonicon.home.att.net/
Aug 28-31 TactiCon 2003 Denver, CO: http://www.denvergamers.com/tacticon/
Sep 19-21 · Nan Desu Kan Denver, CO: NDK PO Box 577 Fair Oaks, CA 95628 | http://www.ndk.cc/
Oct 24-26 · MileHiCon 35 Lakewood, CO: PO Box 101322, Denver, CO 80250 | http://www.milehicon.org/
2004-----
Jan 16-18 · COSine Colorado Springs, CO: P.O. Box 50618 Colorado Springs, CO 80949 | http://www.rialto.org/cosine/

I need to start saving money for going to Britain as it is somewhat more likely that I can scrape together enough money than it is that I'll win TAFF. Though I should run for TAFF anyway, just for the fun of doing it.

Visiting Minicon again would be excellent! I just don't know if I can right now as I have no idea what my job situation will be a year from now. My current job is cutting back on hours and I'm mildly afraid that I won't have this job or a new one next year. Or if I do I might be making even less money than I do now and be unable to afford going to a convention out of state.

I wish I had a bit more time to walk around downtown just looking at things. Also I wish I had been able to take Riawa's advice on going down to one of the gay bars on Monday night. If I'm not going to Worldcon next year maybe I should just blow most of my vacation time on Minneapolis if there are fans willing to put up with me for a week after Minicon.

Next time I see Cally Soukup I'm should take her to dinner, I didn't talk to her enough at Minicon.

I owe both Larry Sanderson and Sue Mason one (1) Chicken Paprikash dinner.

The MiFF needs t-shirts or something to raise money. Maybe I could sell sponsorships like PBS, promising to mention and talk up our generous contributors at whatever convention they contribute money for. Or maybe I should open up what convention I go to a contribution election. One vote per dollar, vote early and vote often.

Victorious – Ennio Morricone
Wednesday
I awoke on my last day and got finished packing up. I had mostly done so the night before, so it was much easier than when I left the hotel. I snacked upon a few leftovers for breakfast. Sue gave me the wonderful present of an elf-boy drawing. Eeee! I'm so happy that I could burst.

Soon after I set off walking towards downtown. After about 20 blocks I realized that I had left behind the mobile phone my mom loaned me for the trip and I decided that I had enough time to go back for it. About half a block after turning back I encountered Elise Matthesen! "Matthew, give us a hug," she said. She was just done visiting John M. Ford who was recovering from successful cataract surgery. I seem to have some sort of strange luck associated with her and Minneapolis fandom in general.

I arrived back at the house to find I just barely made it before Sue got into the shower. Lucky again. Deciding this was karma, fate, or something I went the opposite direction this time, to Dreamhaven books.[1] Which as luck would have it opens at 11am, just a little bit after I arrived at their front door. I was amused to see it was near the corner of Colfax and Lake, since Colfax is the name of a major avenue in Denver. Inside the Neil Gaiman shrine, holding his Hugo and other awards for American Gods also tickled my fancy.[2] This was a good diversion, though also bad since I bought five more books and had them shipped to my parent's home (UPS is bad about being able to get me things at my apartment).

I managed to make all my bus connections out to the airport with very little effort, though I missed being able to take a picture of Solera due to time constraints. The plane ride home was less perfect. One of those silly things with the plane needing a mechanical check out and us being trapped on the plane in our seats for 45 minutes. My legs felt quite cramped by the time we descended into a rainy day in Denver. Everything came full circle with going from sun to rain on a plane journey.

[1] Look the storefront of Dreamhaven, exciting.
[2] I had to take a picture of the Case o' Gaiman awards.
The lovely and talented staff at Dreamhaven:
E.V. & Elizabeth.

Dancing Queen & Bohemian Rhapsody – arr. for Player Piano
Tuesday
Tuesday found me playing with my camera for much of the morning. Larry has a tripod so I couldn't help but start messing about with the timer to take a few pictures of my favorite person in the whole world. (Yes I'm kidding, mostly.) Also I thought no one had taken a picture of me in the Goth outfit, so I decided I would get that as well as me in my new tee shirt. [1]

As it was getting close to noon Sue informed me that there would be room in the junket to the Mall of America. I had been planning on doing some sight seeing around town, but hanging out with fans sounded outstanding to me, so that's how I came to be at the Mall of America with Sue, Alison, Steven, Jonathan, etc... (big group) The only way I can describe the experience is as Minnesota big. The mall is huge, but it doesn't feel that huge when walking around in it. The only time a person gets an impression of the scale is when looking across the little amusement park taking up a sort of covered courtyard space surrounded by the mall. It was interesting to see, but as usual I was out of luck in the shopping (just as well I technically had no money left). It was still fun to go once and now I'll be able to skip it the next time I go to Minneapolis. [1]

After we were done we went to the home of Dean Gahlon & Laura Krentz. Two things were planned barbecue and seeing the legendary player piano of Minneapolis Fandom![2] Sue Mason holds the opinion that it is somehow wrong for a player piano to be playing Meatloaf songs. I was quite amused, especially by putting on the ABBA's greatest hits roll. "Beelzebub, Beelzebub, has a devil for me!!" (Which is strange since Bohemian Rhapsody was by Queen.) Surprisingly it seemed like Jonathan and Marianna were not as fascinated as the adults were. The barbecue was good and I had a wonderful time. Fin day seven.

[1] Me in tee shirt and jeans. Hurm suspect I must work on being prettier than Legolas.
Me acting silly for the camera. Note the cute ass.
[2] Us at the Mall of America
[3] The famous player piano
And the great wall of piano rolls

Devil's Dream – Traditional (Mark O'Connor, arr.)
Monday
I awoke at 11am, not bad... And very little in the way of a hangover. Faint headache, but nothing serious or head splitting. Of course I panicked because I thought we had to be out of the room by noon. So I positively rushed through cleaning, dressing, and packing my bag. To my pleasure and amazement I was able to get everything into my bag despite coming home with four more hardbacks than I set out with, and pretty easily too.[1] I dashed out of the room at noon and headed upstairs. Much of the packing was already done, but I helped with putting away a few more things. Mostly I stood around and looked useless because I didn't know what stuff should go in which boxes, though I helped as much as I could. I might have tried to catch the party going out for sushi instead of doing this, but I didn't want to miss my ride or spend much more money.

Looking at all the milk and stuff we had left Geri had a crazy idea. "Milk and cookie party at Toad Hall, someone talk me out of this." I think we were all too tired to talk her out of it. So the plan was on for everyone to go over to Toad Hall, Geri's graceful abode, for an after convention party.

Larry arrived with more of those wonderful sandwiches. We moved stuff down to the truck and then we drove over to Larry's house. Being a wonderful person he was putting up both Sue Mason and myself for a couple days after the convention. (Thank-you Larry!)

After dropping off my bags we went over to the Minicon storage unit to see if they needed any help unloading the truck. We arrived about five minutes after they finished the job. Larry's comment upon this was, "All the work is done? Oh Darn." Back past Uncle Hugo's Bookstore to check on an author signing that I decided not to do. I'm a fan of Laurel K. Hamilton, but mostly I like to get books signed when I know the author and it is like getting a yearbook signed. We then we back to the hotel to pick up Sue. She had gone on the St. Paul sushi expedition.

Larry's car has two seats, so a person might wonder how we all got back to his house. The feat was accomplished by me being skinny enough to take a place behind the seats that only a small child or an elf-boy like myself could possibly fit into. I think this amused Sue.

Back at the house[2] we sat around and talked and I tried some of the French beer that Sue brought. I normally don't like beer, but this was quite all right. I also pestered her about the way British conventions work differently than American ones. For example she had mentioned that she bought the beer because at many of their cons everyone is expected to bring something of this sort. (Note to self: Bring Colorado wine along when I head to a UK con.)

When she went to read email and Larry went to get food I spent my time messing about with my camera. I discovered three more functions, including a setting for color light amplification. When Larry got back he found me setting up my camera to take pictures of myself using the timer. Being vain I had great fun doing that over and over. After some writing and dinner we embarked for Toad Hall. By the way riding stuffed in a sports car behind the seats is not comfortable, not matter how graceful I make it look. Mind you it was my choice to do this because I didn't want Larry to have to make two trips or something.

Geri also has a great house, just the sort of place I would love to own. Two levels with an attic room above. It has plenty of space for entertaining and lots of knick-knacks. She has the most impressive collection of Pez candy dispensers I have yet seen and also some great and weird items like a stuffed unicorn head. Unfortunately only about half my pictures came out as I was testing the light amplification setting and it requires both a more steady hand than any human can provide and the subject to stay still. I should have just used the nightvision setting like I did at the convention.[3]

Lots of cookies and things to eat, but not much milk. Most of it went off to a charity apparently. But we got on just fine with other things. The dead-dog drinking bout was a topic of interest to those who were not there. I learned that Sue heard Alison and Lydia when she was getting up at about 9am and thought they were just getting up as well. Alison said she regretted the sushi she had for lunch, though both she and Lydia thanked me for pushing water on them. All in all it was a v. fine and quiet after dead-dog party. We headed back for the Sanderson Residence around midnight.

[1]I arrived with one copy of From the End of the Twentieth Century by John M. Ford I brought to get signed. I was to shy to ask when dinning with him at Milehicon, but I managed to get it signed Sunday night this time around.
[2] Larry's House
[3] Toad Hall, exterior

Teenage FBI – Guided By Voices
Sunday
No hangover greeted me on Sunday, so I count that as a minor victory. Two of my friends from the previous night invited me out to breakfast with them. That worked out just dandy and was not too expensive, though I was told later that I could have had an even better meal at Hell's Kitchen for about the same price. Maybe if I am able to go next year I'll try that. The one thing I was really annoyed with myself over is missing the slide show of early Worldcons including Denvention I. I would have liked to have seen that, I think I'll try tracking down whoever has the slides and seeing if they're going to do this again or might consider sending them to Milehicon.

About forty minutes later I was hanging under the dome with my fellow photograph aficionados. The light through the clouds was very good for taking pictures and the dome made for an interesting background. Especially for Alison who was taking and showing off her 3-D pictures.[1] Everyone there had a go at looking through the little plastic image combiner at the photos on her laptop. Being fans we were all impressed by this combination of technological wizardry and a traditional pastime.

It was also noted that the dome was a hot spot for open wireless networks and many fans were logging on to check email or upload photos. This felt like what the future should be to me. Checking mail using electronic devices in a plexiglas dome.

Most of the day was filled with tasks of minor interest like buying more books, paying for my Sue art, claiming a tee shirt (size small, yay!), and helping out with some clean up of abandoned eating detritus. Things got interesting again after closing ceremonies (which I accidentally missed, much to my dismay). I got to join the Minsif and GoH dinner party at Ruth Chris's Steakhouse. Good food, great conversation, and very cool dinner companions! I got a nifty 1940s sort of dinner party picture of the group too.[2]

When I got back to the con Alison was showing off even more photographs and we were having the usual fannish discussions about everything from employment issues to 'zine production. I was told that people were needed to come help finish off beer in the penthouse consuite and by the time the filking was winding down there were a fair number of us down there drinking and eating. Mostly drinking.

I had enough bad wine that I thought it would be a good idea to take off my shirt and wear Marti Gras beads instead. And it was tremendously bad wine, though not as bad as the turpentine kosher brandy which no one partook of. I didn't get totally drunk, though I kept myself nicely buzzed to mildly inebriated for the rest of the night. I again took over as bartender when the previous tender of that post left us around 2am. My good deed for the night was to keep pushing water on Alison, Sandy, and Lydia Nickerson when I could not convince them to slow or stop drinking.[3] (Hey, you try to come between them and a drink!)

Many things were discussed, some of which I cannot reveal due to my sense of honor and self-preservation. But the conversation kept on circling around to certain points. About the sixth time the same point had been made, the sun was coming up and a small amount of beer was spilt upon me. (I had been on the floor.) At this point I decided it was time for me to leave the conversational merry-go-round and head to bed. So I washed out my shirt and turned in. It was 5am. I was told later that Alison and Lydia didn't go to sleep for another four hours (1) and were much worse off than me due to having a higher blood alcohol content at the end. (And still went for Sushi!) Sandra slept with Joel in the consuite while we were there... just in a same bed. They did it in the same room where the rest of us were drinking and talking under the theory that with lots of people around to see it would be clear that nothing happened. Though we didn't even notice they were asleep in bed for about two hours. Very little could have distracted us from our serious bout of drinking and talking.

[1] Alison in background with computer, general picture of the dome crowd.
[2] Our Dinner Party in Black and White
[3] Wheee, I'm shirtless! This would be at a tipsy stage.
And the rest of the drinking party.

News of the Odd

Miffed September 2003

News of the Odd

Miffed Six

NEWS OF THE ODD

The Provinces of Fandom: Barony Caerthe

Readership Survey

Fandom Explained: In The Sack

So Glad I Amuse You

One More Thing

More Miffed Bits

The Provinces of Fandom: DAI

NEWS OF THE ODD

Fannish Profiles: Rose Beetem

NEWS OF THE ODD

Conclusions & Random Thoughts

Fate Rules With Strange Attractors

In the Halls of the Consumer King

Toad Hall and What Happened There

Thank the Spirits

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June 2020

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