In London

[ellen_datlow]

I've been in London for several days now--still seriously jetlagged for some reason. I usually find the day flight perfect, getting in late and sleeping in the next day and then back to normal. Unfortunately, I've been going to sleep by 11:30-midnight (early for me), sleep like a log and then wake up at 3-4:30 and can't get back to sleep again for at least an hour, maybe longer. Last night I figured I might as well read when I awoke and figured it would put me to sleep...no such luck. Instead, it took another hour to get back to sleep and then I slept about three more hours. I'll see what happens tonight.

My wireless connection didn't work the first day so I used another computer in the flat. But of course, I couldn't help obsessing about my own brand new laptop and why it wasn't connecting to the free wireless connection for the household. Poor John called the BT helpline in India to say their connection was uneven (which it was) and the guy advised him at one point to stick a pin in the router to restart it...which killed it completely. After about 36 hours, about a third of that time on various helpline calls to India, having bought a brand new router and two new adapters and having another person in India first talk Judith through setting up the new adaptor then John setting up HIS new adaptor upstairs...everything WORKS. We're all online via the wireless. Mine's connecting automatically. John says he has to keep turning his on, but at least it works. Yikes! What a pain.

Eating, drinking, hanging out, theater with Pat Cadigan the other night--39 steps, the comedy which was just brought over to NYC. It's grand. Funny. Four characters playing many roles (well, one playing only one role, a second playing a few roles, and two playing lots of roles)--glad I got to go here at discount prices for the tix I bought before leaving.

More socializing today with Kim Newman, Chris Fowler (writer, not Cadigan hubby), Pat Cadigan, Paul McAuley, Steve Jones, Maura McHugh and her hubby Martin, Judith Clute, Rob Holdstock, and Jon Courtney Grimwood. Stuffed ourselves on crispy duck lunch (aka Peking Duck in the US).

Went to the Wellcome Museum yesterday with Pat and Paul M. Not as good as the Mutter but not bad. A Dream/sleep exhibit and the main attraction --medical instruments/paintings, et al.

Solaris sent out a preliminary pr release announcing POE for January 09 with a terrific tentative cover with a huge Raven on it. Presumably, there will be a more firm cover (with Allan spelled correctly) and I'll post it here when I get home.

Comments

[coppervale.livejournal.com]

Have fun, Ellen. That's a great crowd you're running around with!

[tjcrowley.livejournal.com]

Presumably, there will be a more firm cover (with Allan spelled correctly) and I'll post it here when I get home.

I guess that I shouldn't be too shocked that a modern publisher misspelled this on the cover of a book, but it still makes me sad.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Many people misspell it. But don't forget this is just a mockup and probably done by the designer, certainly not the editors.

[charlesatan.livejournal.com]

Hope the jet lag wears off soon.

Yey, Datlow has Internet!

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Oh it probably will by the time I'm ready to leave :-) so I can be jetlagged enroute home--which I always am this direction!

[catsparx.livejournal.com]

ooh¡ I'm jealous. We really enjoyed our 3 days in London last year. Hay hi to Pat & Chris from us!

[deliasherman.livejournal.com]

Ah, London. I haven't been there in far too long, and miss it. Remember me to All and Sundry (particularly Rob and the Clutes and Geoff Ryman, if you see him). Jet lag's always worse for me in the winter, with the early dark and l-o-n-g nights. Do you have a extra-bright lamp at home? Those help me with home-coming jetlag a lot.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Hi Delia,
I just passed your hi on to the Clutes but am not sure that I'll be seeing Geoff again while here (I had dinner at his house a couple of evenings ago.)

I work under a reading lamp at home--perhaps I'll bask under it when I get home to see if that helps.
I finally got my first really good night's sleep last night here. Yayyy.

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

Aw, sorry about your lack of sleep. I know how messed-up sleep schedules can suck. :( But glad you're enjoying yourself - I was just wondering how your trip was going.

That's great on the Poe book! :)

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Much better now. Maybe the cold meds I took knocked me out :-)

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

P.S. Random fact: It's such a small world. I just saw that your LJ is listed as a featured link over on this blog that I just happened upon. Thought I'd mention it just in case you weren't already aware.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

ooh that's nice. I hadn't realized.

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

It's funny how "small" the internet can be. I found that blog via someone's link to a Neil Gaiman journal entry, where *he* linked the blog (for discussing his audiobook), which turns out to be written by Jennifer Brehl's editorial assistant. And I know Jennifer via working on the Discworld Convention, but I didn't know her assistant, or that she had a blog. But apparently her assistant knows who you are! And I know you too. So it's all very "Six Degrees of Separation." Heh.

P.S. Glad you are feeling better!

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm friends with Jen Brehl, so SHE certainly knows who I am ;-)

Thanks.

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

Well, I figured that was probably the case. :) Isn't she just the nicest person? She's been so helpful with things to do with the convention so far.

I always think it's so cool when I discover that people I know know other people I know, but not through me (if that makes any sense). The funniest example of this is a couple of very good friends that I knew completely independently of each other in college, who met through one of the campus groups and ended up getting married! Even though it's a big world, these kind of connections make it seem a bit more homey. :)

[splinister.livejournal.com]

It was great seeing you on Friday Ellen. Sorry I couldn't make it on Sunday - believe me my head could not have taken the drums and bells!

I nearly thought I'd have to forgo my time with my relatives, but managed to work up to half-speed and negotiate the tube to their place.

It means that I had a great time at the wedding the previous night, but I paid for it the next morning.

[splinister.livejournal.com]

Oh, meant to say there's a Peter Doig exhibition at the Tate Britain that looks marvelous - I just didn't have the time to go. I have to fly to London again soon, so I may try to wrangle a visit before it finishes.