I'm home from Orlando

Had a great time, despite the cold I brought with me and thought was going to be a little one and by the time I reached Orlando became such a whopper that the first night I had much trouble sleeping because I couldn't breathe out of my nose and because the room was so dry, breathing through my mouth was a problem. So I mostly slept sitting up on the very large pillows. Next day, Eileen Gunn kindly drove me to a Walgreen's where I stocked up on night and day stuff recommended by the nice pharmacist. So that night I took Tylenol PM with benadryl and who knows what else to knock me out (it helped) and in the day a decongestant that helped dry up the runniness. But I didn't feel like myself till Saturday, when my head unstuffed.

Hotel was 100 times nicer than the Hilton ICFA has been staying at forever in Fort Lauderdale. Seemed to be some decent restaurants around (few walkable)--there was a terrific fish/barbecue place highly recommended by David Hartwell and Chris Barzak separately, and indeed, Liz Hand, John Clute, Farah Mendlesohn, and I very much enjoyed Fish On Fire, which we will all definitely return to next year. Didn't do any sightseeing this time around, but received reports of really nice things to do, including going to Cape Canaveral, where there is a nature preserve. Also, Ellen Klages and I found an antique mall or two but couldn't get to them. We didn't have a car and two days in a row we were promised rides and then those with the cars cancelled on us. Next year, we'll rent a car. Universal Studios sounded like fun. A group went Sunday for several hours. There was a lovely outside bar at the hotel and mostly that's where we all hung out--in or out of the sun. Rumor had it that the big pond behind us had an alligator and I heard that at least two people spotted it, but there was no evidence. Lots of birds though.

Saw the official Hugo Nomination list (which pleases me--I'm sure you know why).

Going to bed.

Blog a book returns

I'm going to give away some recent anthologies to readers who will blog about them withing about a month's time upon receipt...I'm afraid I can't afford to mail books out of the country so unless you're willing to pay the postage (cheapest way possible) you won't be eligible.

First up...two copies of the Prime reissued trade paperback of Black Thorn, White Rose.
Raise your hands!

Jewelry time

ClockworkZero-- whose work I originally saw on someone else's blog (I'm blanking whose)--and I have been corresponding, and I commissioned her to create a few single earrings for me. They're reasonably priced and each is different, made from watch parts, charms, gears, screws, semi precious stones, and other random bits and pieces and parts. I love the bugs and airplanes.

There is now a store from which you can purchase many terrific earrings, brooches, pendants, and necklaces.
Check out her work here:
Clockwork Zero

And men--consider purchasing something as a gift for your girlfriend/spouse.

Am I overreacting?

I just received a notice today from the IRS notifying me that I will shortly receive “a notice and additional information shortly before the payment is made” about the economic stimulus payment we’re all going to receive. So how much did this mass mailing cost us?

Ellen
(outraged by the seemingly waste of MY money and YOUR money on postage, not to mention paper--even "recycled," which it proudly proclaims it uses)