Strangely distanced and vaguely reluctant

[scarlettina]

It's how I'm feeling about attending the Nebula Awards here in Seattle. It's been years since I attended, and what I remember of the several I attended as an editor at Bantam was that at worst it felt like a glorified corporate banquet; at best it felt like a really good dinner with fine friends and a little too much talking at the podium. It's just been years since I've gone, and I suspect it may feel odd going with no official affiliation.

Still and all, I've finally started making some plans partly because I've discovered that people are coming into town from Back East whom I very much want to see, partly because I promised the_monkey_king I would go, and partly because I'm beginning to think that picking up some freelance work (which I've strongly resisted until now) is looking like a good idea. And the truth is that, as I've said here before, it's always nice to have an excuse to get dressed up.

Besides, I know that there are local friends who will be attending who are going just to experience it; seeing them will be comforting. Seeing them dressed up will be ... novel. We're a pretty casual crew here in the PNW, and the Nebs tend to bring out the sparklies. My decision now will be, do I go full-length sparkly or business-length sparkly? Just that thought alone lightens the prospect of attending.

Comments

[hygelakthedread.livejournal.com]

You go, have some fun, see some friends, and get some work! Knock 'em dead!

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

::grin:: Thanks, Hygelak! (Odd not to call you by your name--but I won't out you here!)

[mysticalforest.livejournal.com]

I always characterize where I grew up by pointing out that there was no place to buy books in the entire county. One had to drive an hour one way to do so. Then a Wal-Mart came but that was shortly before I moved away so that doesn't count. You can extrapolate everything else about the environment outside my home from that.

Anyhoo, I had no idea of what to read. I decided that I would buy an award winning book of some sort. I grabbed and bought the first one I found: Nebula award winning The Left Hand of Darkness. I'd never heard of it or the author or story or anything at all about it.

Worst. Book. Ever.
I put it down out of frustration and disgust seven chapters into it. I've heard from others that the book picks up in chapter eight or something. Not that I'll never know. That was the last Nebula product I knowingly bought. Certainly I never again bought anything because it was Nebula.

However, I got out of that experience that I would never ever read a book past the first chapter or watch a movie past the first reel or suchlike if it wasn't good by then. Too much of a waste of time to pour in to an activity like that. Ugh.

I guess it also hardened me to reading through the slush pile. No regrets for dismissing someone if the first page didn't have something going for it.

Today I go almost entirely on interest in subject matter and suggestions from friends.

[lagilman]

Go and have fun for me... :-(

(And I'd say business-length sparkly. After years of Specific Northwest casual, it may feel more comfortable. And you never want to be the dressiest in a room, according to Ms. Manners...)

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

I suspect that Astrid Bear will be the dressiest in the room, and she's kinda hard to outshine for 1) blood glamor (by which I mean pedigree and association) and 2) Amazon presence. That woman can wear huge jewelry and make it look outstanding. What with her and Greg being at the center of the Science Fiction Experience museum and that being focused on this year, she's more-or-less the Hostess and Ms. Manners also says it's inappropriate to outdress the hostess so...

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

I think it depends on how you are going to use the evening. If it's for finding freelance work/networking then I think the business sparkly would work more towards your favor. If it's to go have fun with friends and catch up and you like your full-length sparkly better, wear that and wow the group.

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

Well, I like my full-length sparkly better. Still and all, they're both the same color (wine red), and heels and jewelry can dress up a business suit so I suppose that's the better course. Ijust don't have much occasion to wear the full-length more than once a year (usually company holiday parties or new year's eve). Ah well, it's probably for the best.