Pep

[clevermanka]

Feeling better. A lot better! In fact, I feel good. It's awesome. 5HTP? Summer weather? Time off work? A combination of all? Who knows. Who cares. I'll take it. I'll also continue to take the 5HTP, at least until the current bottle runs out. It's not helping with the food/digestive issues, but boy am I feeling better emotionally.

*brief intermission while Wescoe Hall is evacuated for about twenty minutes*

ConQuesT was great fun. I got to hang out with some fantastically cool people. I had piss-poor timing and missed a lot of activities--most notably the opening ceremonies and masquerade--but the excellent social opportunities made up for that. The only two events I desperately wanted to attend (Brad Denton's reading and the panel on Women in Military SF) were, of course, scheduled at the same time. I flipped a coin, which sent me to Brad's reading. It was excellent. Sorry, auroraceleste. I hope the panel was awesome.

I learned three things this weekend.
1. Ellen Datlow likes her BBQ sweet and spicy.
2. John Scalzi has a beautiful wife and child, whom he adores.
3. I can (just barely) survive on nine hours of sleep during a three-day weekend if I have sufficient coffee and quality conversation.

My stomach lining is still recovering. I drank so much coffee, but really, very little booze on Saturday. Friday I drank nearly an entire bottle of wine by myself (I forgot solan_t was such a cheap date). As early as late morning Saturday I was so tired and so over-caffeinated that I got the spins, but I soldiered on. I've not been able to function on such little sleep in decades. I wonder if that's another effect of the 5HTP.

Monday my grand plans of cleaning the sewing room fell apart (surprise), but I did get a couple rubber stamps carved, using this fabulous carving kit. I'm very happy with them. bestill, I must confess I totally ripped off one of your design ideas on the little single-flame stamp.


I wasn't going to name-drop, but my angel of shallow nature won out. Pssst...I hung out with this guy for a lot of the weekend and it was awesome. That quality conversation I mentioned for number three, above? He supplied most of it. I really need to read some of his stuff outside of the Old Man's War universe.


Edit: Oh! I forgot to mention. I bought two pairs of earrings from Paraselenic Studios who were vending in the dealer's area. Their jewelry is nothing short of one-hundred-percent fancy baby. The pendants are too bulky for me, but I was hard pressed to pick just two pairs of earrings. I'm thrilled with the ones I wound up with, but I think if I'd had the money, I would have come home with another four or five pairs beyond them. Also, they are enormously personable people. Quite quite charming. I just got word that they will be vending at NakaCon in February 2010. Check them out! You won't regret it.

Edit 2: Note for me and whomever else is following the Saga of Food Issues: Today is Day One of Eating Like A Cat. Mostly meat, some little bits of greenery, and a touch of milk.

Comments

[gamera-spinning.livejournal.com]

Ellen Datlow came to speak to me senior writing class when I was in college. She was a friend of the Professor's, and had just finished work on the anthology, "Alien Sex". Very fun lady and one hell of an editor.

Glad to hear that you're feeling better.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I am feeling better. It's nice. Really really nice.

Sorry I didn't get an email notification of this comment yesterday. I just now saw it up here at the top!

[bestill.livejournal.com]

I can (just barely) survive on nine hours of sleep during a three-day weekend
Is that 9 hours a night, or 9 hours total?

Hmmm, maybe I should try 5HTP again because I could really use some pep! I'm so o o o o t i r e d.

I'm glad you had fun carving some stamps. I'll try not to kick your ass the next time I see you for ripping off my design.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

That would be nine hours total. Five hours on Friday, Four on Saturday.

I appreciate you not engaging in any ass-kicking. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?

[queza7.livejournal.com]

FYI, Naka-Kon doesn't have a vendor director for 2010 yet, so the Paraselenic Studios is a maybe. We usually have plenty of space though, so I would guess you'll see them there. :)

[slinka.livejournal.com]

James used to take 5htp for episodic anxiety. He says it actually helped him sleep better and wake up better rested.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

You know, that's really interesting. Hm. Because over the past couple months I've had times where I thought "am I having an anxiety attack?" They usually happened right before I had a social obligation when I felt tired or cranky (and thus, started stressing about it).

I'll pay more attention to see if that happens now that I'm taking the 5HTP. The stomach pain issues I had with it in the beginning are gone now, too. I guess my body got used to processing it.

[skyflame.livejournal.com]

I appreciate you letting me sit in your conversation with Scalzi on Sunday afternoon. :)

[belluthien.livejournal.com]

It was a great weekend. I was so glad we met and got to spend some time talking, etc. :-)
YAY!
y

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Yes! You are super awesome. My only regret is not being able to see you in the Masquerade. Next time, though--right???

[belluthien.livejournal.com]

Yes! There will be a next time.
Did I say that?
Hmmmm.
;-)
y

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Yes, you did, and I shall hold you to it! =D

[belluthien.livejournal.com]

I may claim it was a momentary lapse of reason. ;-)
y

[starstraf.livejournal.com]

I would love to try stamp carving sometime.

PS I'm going to try to drop off your parchment when i take pooch to church today at 11 so check your front door later

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thank you!!!!

bestill has really great instructions and everything you need for getting started on carving your own in that kit I linked to, above. If you want to order one, I'd be happy to get it from her and pass it to you so you don't have to pay shipping.

[starstraf.livejournal.com]

thanks, but no idea what craft space I'll have for the next 6 months - so will wait until I have a clue - but I'll mark th page

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Good point.

[orrin.livejournal.com]

I didn't know you were at ConQuest! I'd've hunted you down and said "hi!"

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I saw you, but you looked like you were headed somewhere on a very important mission. And then I didn't see you again the rest of the weekend!