Just a Sci-Fi Kid Like Me

I have to get up in the wee hours tomorrow (tonight) to head to the airport for a conference. Masochist that I am, I got my reminder for the shuttle, did some math, fretted at the length of time between projected drop-off and boarding (half an hour), and decided to Assume the Worst and rebook for an earlier time--so 3am instead of 4am. (Given that on last week's trip I got to be the Lucky Random selected for a closer screening, I don't feel too too bad about being paranoid, just pre-emptively tired.) On the plus side, assuming all goes well I can check-in to my room at the hotel and get a couple hours' nap before I have to Be Places and Do Things.

I am looking forward to this conference though; I am pleased with my paper and look forward to trying to be All Scholarly and stuff. I'm already all packed and have my alarm set, so I can try to take it easy--or at least as easy as one can when one is as anxious about travel as me (I am very anxious. I hate it. All these years of having to fly multiple times a year and I'm still not chill about it.), which is not much. So!

 I've spent the last couple days at ASECS, the American Society for Eighteenth Century Studies conference; I sneak in because technically I do work in the long eighteenth century and also it has several book history-ish panels. Anyways, I chaired a panel and gave a paper, and both went well, even if the only reason I got a question at Q&A was because I had a friend in the audience; several people told me later they enjoyed my paper and my enthusiasm, and one woman said she wanted me to hurry and write a book so she can read it.

In marked contrast, I went out to dinner with a bunch of people last night, and most of them like got together and drank and gossiped and talked job market and whatnot; me and another friend had been under the impression we were going to talk bibliography instead, so that was less than fun. Also, one woman asked me about my dissertation, so I started the thirty second elevator-talk summary, and like twenty seconds in she turned to the woman next to her and started talking to her, and so I quickly and awkwardly finished up. But what even was the point of that?? And then at the reception tonight this same person wanted a group photo with some folks I was with, and I tried to sidle out but she had me stay in, like....okay, you remember my name, you'll take a picture with me, but you don't want to talk to me? I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HUMANS, I SWEAR.

(But thank god I was able to talk to Youmi last night, I would have died of boredom, the food was slow and the drinks kept coming, and just. Yeah. So we got to bond and talked about kdramas the whole time, and she said if she moves back to Seoul I can come visit her and she will take me to eat all the yummy delicious things people eat on tv that I can't even pronounce!)

And then today, I got two--TWO--emails from academic presses at PCA asking me about doing a book with them!! One was the new editor at U-Iowa Press, and I'd been in contact with the previous editor there, so I'm kind of curious if the new person hasn't looked in their files or what. The other was someone from U-Mississippi Press, who I hadn't talked to before, so that's good for the ego!! (And in marked contrast to "twenty seconds is too long to listen to you" girl.)

I head home tomorrow and the pre-flight jitters are kicking in; the flight here was the bumpiest I've had in a while, and I'm pretty sure it should be smoother, but I'm still anxious, because me. So, uh, wish me luck??!!

So we were already to leave and then they did their crosscheck and discovered there wasva brake problem, so they hauled the plane back to the terminal, dropped us off, and we're in limbo. Might get a flight out of here at 10, might not. SIGH.

ETA: So they said if maintenance can't fix the problem they'll swap out aircraft, so it looks like I'll get home eventually. *optimism*

Why do so many people buy coffee before getting on a plane? I mean, that means you have to be awake during a time when you're squashed in a little chair with nothing to do. AND it makes you need to pee a lot.

I don't get it.

Or on it. Whatever. Y'know?


The Dreadlord Garfield Varamathras Fluffybutt demands to know the contents of this luggage!

They hate the Bag because they know what it means.

Yeah, so I'm going to St. Louis tomorrow for PCA Annual. Stay tuned. I did a practice of my talk for Todd who graciously listened and gave feedback. Discovered I am complete spaz in front of friend and colleague, now more than slightly nauseous at the prospect of doing this in front of, y'know, a room full of people. Eep!!!!! Wish me luck!

Scott's looking forward to a week of eating pizza, not making the bed, and general bacheloresque sloth. Good for him.

~

Conversations I Miss

This weekend at a con in Houston:

Candy, proffering a photo for an autograph: I'm getting this for my friend Cait! She's a big Dollhouse fan.
DICHEN LACHMAN: Great!
Candy: Yeah, she's even written a couple of journal articles about it.
YES THAT DICHEN LACHMAN: Oh that is so awesome! I can't wait to tell Joss!

I SHIT YOU NOT PEOPLE. I have the picture in my office to prove it. I am SO framing it!!!!! *has the bestest mentor EVER*

~

Conversations I Have

Today, in a faculty meeting:

Me: I feel like it's Episode Three and we're the padawans and the Sith Lords and the Jedis are fighting in the next room. This makes me more than slightly nauseous.
Todd: I don't know what you're talking about. I only know of Episodes Four, Five, and Six. I thought we agreed on this.
Me: ... We did. I'm just, y'know, sayin'. I'm nervous. Pause. I think this means the Dean is Jar Jar.
Todd: ....

~

Anyhow, I'll be gone through Sunday. I'll update periodically to relate notable adventures.

Yay. Nap now.

ETA: Okay, I lied. But the new Hellboy 2 trailer is live now. Is it just me or does the baddy look a lot like Elric?

I just cleaned the kitty box and am leaving two pans of clean litter for them. The kitties are deeply suspicious.