Wiscon Friday

Laid-back day, for a con. Breakfast, then went walkabout up and down State Street. Bought a decent set of headphones to use with the iBook. Found that the Chocolate Coyote, an ice cream parlor I'd usually visit at least once over the course of the con, had closed. There is another ice cream place on the Street, so all is not lost. But as with The Radical Rye, it's a little sad to see a familiar storefront gone dark.

Wiscon has redone Friday afternoon programming, replacing panels with something called The Gathering. It's a bit like a Boardwalk--lots of booths with things to buy. You receive 2 tickets in your con packet, and can buy more tickets for $1 each. I spent 5 tickets on an upper back massage that was *wonderful*. Was going to make a beaded lanyard for my badge, but didn't have the time due to the fact that I sat in the massage line for so long. But I caught up on things with Laurel Winter and Ellen Klages and met Jane Yolen in person for the first time. Watched Pat Murphy make balloon hats. There was a coffee-cookie booth, one where you could get your hair braided in a Renaissance style, another where you could make a postcard. Fun stuff.

Then came dinner time, when I learned that Ton Ton, the Japanese restaurant across the street from the hotel, had closed the previous month. Settled for fried shrimp and clam chowdah at the bar next door.

Wrote a little last night. Will try to write a little more tonight.

Wiscon Friday

Laid-back day, for a con. Breakfast, then went walkabout up and down State Street. Bought a decent set of headphones to use with the iBook. Found that the Chocolate Coyote, an ice cream parlor I'd usually visit at least once over the course of the con, had closed. There is another ice cream place on the Street, so all is not lost. But as with The Radical Rye, it's a little sad to see a familiar storefront gone dark.

Wiscon has redone Friday afternoon programming, replacing panels with something called The Gathering. It's a bit like a Boardwalk--lots of booths with things to buy. You receive 2 tickets in your con packet, and can buy more tickets for $1 each. I spent 5 tickets on an upper back massage that was *wonderful*. Was going to make a beaded lanyard for my badge, but didn't have the time due to the fact that I sat in the massage line for so long. But I caught up on things with Laurel Winter and Ellen Klages and met Jane Yolen in person for the first time. Watched Pat Murphy make balloon hats. There was a coffee-cookie booth, one where you could get your hair braided in a Renaissance style, another where you could make a postcard. Fun stuff.

Then came dinner time, when I learned that Ton Ton, the Japanese restaurant across the street from the hotel, had closed the previous month. Settled for fried shrimp and clam chowdah at the bar next door.

Wrote a little last night. Will try to write a little more tonight.