I think the big takeaway from Orycon 33 is that I NEED A NEW CAMERA. Or wait, let me correct that. I need a camera, period. The camera on my stupid Droid X is not a camera at all, it is an evil demon that lives only to lull you into the false security that you have a camera when you need it, only to COMPLETELY FAIL at every important picture-taking opportunity. My feelings of anxiety about that phone have morphed into full-on hatred. My hate-switch has been flipped and now I hate everything about that stupid phone. I want to go back to a phone that does nothing except place calls. I want an incredibly dumb phone, like I used to have in 1999, with a battery that lasts for 3 days.

But enough about my hated phone. Here is a quick wrapup of Orycon 33. It was lots of fun. Daughter and I got to walk in the masquerade (and I got no pictures, because my phone SUCKS) and it was fun. We’re already planning our costumes for next year.

I hung out (not long enough, it’s never long enough) with really wonderful friends … too many to namecheck here, but it was particularly nice to see the peripatetic Camille Alexa & her new beau, the charming Claude Lalumiere. I also really enjoyed meeting & waving at Tina Connolly’s sweet little one (who seemed a bit overwhelmed, but who could blame him, it WAS Authorfest.) And for the first time in my many years of attending Orycon, I actually had a hotel room on Saturday night (shared with the ever-charming Sara Mueller and Amy Wood) … I’ve always been too thrifty to actually pop for a room, but it made a HUGE difference in my enjoyment of the con, and I think I’ll have to make it an ongoing habit (especially if I can always luck into such accomodating roommates).

I also got to participate (for the first time!) in the late night “Whose Line Is It Anyway” improv panel, and it was a complete blast. I only experienced one moment of imagination-failure — at the very end, I couldn’t think of a single “Worst Wizard in the World” joke. Even the esprit d’escalier doesn’t help me, I can’t think of anything even now. I guess I was tired.

The Broad Universe reading was fun and well-attended, and wonderfully organized by MeiLin Miranda, who was kind enough to take the reins from me this year. There were a lot of great readers, as always! Go Broads!

I did miss Seams Like Magick in the Dealer’s Room this year. It just didn’t seem the same.

Authorfest V at Powell’s Books was super-busy … I think I moved at least 10-15 books. And I got to sit between Mary Robinette Kowal & Nina Kiriki Hoffman (can you tell we were seated alphabetically?) and Nina gave me a lot of good advice about buying a new camera. I have already started dropping hints to the husband.

Speaking of Christmas presents, my daughter got to play around with Copic pens for the first time in the “Teen Lounge” and now she’s hooked. Great fancy Jesus those pens are expensive! It’s like $300 bucks for a set, and there are FOUR sets you can buy! I think I’ll go jump off a bridge now, thanks.

Oh! One other thing (that happened after the con, when I got home on Sunday night and went through the weekend’s mail) … I got my second royalty statement for THE NATIVE STAR, and guess what? There was a check inside!! A whole 3-figure check! But it’s not so much the check I’m excited about; rather, it’s the fact that my debut novel earned out its advance. That makes me very, very happy.

OK, I apologize that this has been such a scattershot post. More a collection of impressions, really. I’m trying to learn to blog faster and not take so much time obsessively polishing my posts, so please bear with me.

Peace out!