I'm home from Orlando

[ellen_datlow]

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.

Comments

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

Glad you had fun *and* got some sun - here, it's supposed to be spring but we seem to be getting more winter. Gah.

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

Oh, and congrats on the nomination! (meant to add that above!)

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

thanks!

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I had to stay OUT of the sun as much as possible or I get really ugly blotches --but it was lovely looking at the sun (obliquely of course)...I got to the hotel, and discovered that my really neat vintage sunglasses had cracked in half (the frames), and tried to find a cheap pair while at Walgreens but they only had $15 pairs. I only buy them on the street for $5 or less in NYC--except for the lovely vintage ones, which I'd gotten onsale at a boutique several years ago for $10.

There was a nice fat full moon for a few days, too.

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hear you on the sun-problems; the worst burn I ever had was in Tampa a few years ago - one day out, and I was reduced to a lobster-y mess; I couldn't even go out in the sun the next day because it burned just to be out of in the light. *shudder*

Oh, that's too bad - I have a really hard time finding sunglasses I like, but ironically, I usually end up liking the cheap ones I buy better than nicer ones. I have a pair I got for $40 once, and I always wear the $5 ones instead!

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

It's payback for my youthful sunbathing for hours on Rockaway Beach where we competed to see who could get tanner each summer. ;-)