So, on with the catching up on stuff...

( cut for the uninterested... )

Where am I? DPC Feeling... cheerful Compelled listening... nil Define... # 2008, panels, social, swancon, thoughts

Off to Swancon :)

Probably not much access to the net.

See you on the other side!!

Where am I? home Feeling... excited Compelled listening... nil Define... # 2008, lj, swancon

For the non aussies on my flist, Swancon is the WA spec-fic, pop culture/sci-fi convention. It's been running for over 30 years, and all other info is here: www.swancon.com. Also, I'm assisting with running it in 2009, which will be awesome, and if you were thinking of visiting Aussieland, that'd be a great time :)

But for this year, this is where I'll be over the course of the convention as far as the official program suggests:

( details below )

Also, other cons associated with my con experience: Puppycon, Holi-con, girliecon, Gynaecon.

I may have forgotten others :)

Looks like Friday will be the day where everyone will be able to find me, and where I will still have a brain *snerk* :)

Where am I? home Feeling... cheerful Compelled listening... nil Define... # 2008, amazing conversations, amazing friends, fandom, fanfic, feminism, otw, panels, swancon, women

I went to the Listening Tour today - and it was awesome, but I don't have time to tell you all now, so that will be later.

I also didn't:

- email the awards presenters, though I've started the email
- finalise the FAQ and send it to fred_mouse but that's on my to do list too!
- make sure my NAFF con report is done and dusted and ready for printing... mostly i'm just trusting buoy_wonder because he's awesome.
- do much work work at all


I did have a discussion with Manager G on CUA agreements, and they make sense, I will be applying them like a mighty gatekeeper!! We're also going to tackle the organisation and record keeping of the invoices.

My boss Director R is very happy with me, is convinced I'm the right person for the job, despite me not quite having my head aorund it all yet, or being caught up on all the bits yet. He's really happy for me to bounce things off him, discuss stuff I'm thinking of in terms of improvements and stuff, also he's pleased that he and the department got warm fuzzies because I asked him for permission to go to the Listening Tour. More on that later.

Now, to meet alkland and the_informative!!!

OMG so busy right now!!!!!!!!!!

But just so excited and happy - Swancon is almost HERE!!! I can't wait!!!! I get to see you all, and hug you and be impressed by you, inspired by you and catch up on Stuff!! Play games, discuss stuff and and and and MORE!!! *bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce*

Also just to reiterate? I really don't care that the Tin Duck nomination list is long, it's a worthwhile list and people who nominated thought that we in WA should be reminded about those things that were awesome in the past year - if there is stuff missing and you didn't nominate, then do so next year, if there's stuff missing and you did nominate then hopefully it will be helpful for next time.

The Tin Ducks at their core are recognition, appreciation and valuing the talent and time and contribution and stuff that we in WA are doing - we are in my opinion so vibrant and lively and involved and dedicated because in part we're always noticing and recognising and supporting one another in doing so (for the most part). I think the Tin Ducks embody that in everything from their pro awards to my favourite, the Mumfan. We are so lucky to be supported in this way and ot have this - we should be proud of it and stop disbaraging the fact that I didn't make the list shorter because I didn't want to arbitrarily dismiss the works that you've all been doing. That isn't to say that next time I won't make some kind of statement leading up to running the thing that things will be shortlisted and on what basis - but jsut doing so with no explanation and warning? Not my style, it's meant to be inclusive and not exclusive.

Which is to say: stop bitching about it, because you don't have to count the votes and organise the thing, until you're doing that kind of thing, your complaints are not at all helpful or useful.

(why yes, I'm done on this issue. Just done.)

Where am I? DPC Feeling... cheerful Compelled listening... nil Define... # 2008, achievements, awards, bouncy, human rights, listening tour, making the world a better place, naff, swancon, tin ducks, to do list, women, work

The hype has hit in full swing and I'm so looking forward to Swancon!

Given everything I'm glad this yearly anticipation has not deserted me!!

My committee meeting today was great, and once again, I love them lotses!

No love to the who responded to my reminder email thinking that since the Ditmar closing date was Friday, that having postal votes needing to have tomorrow's postmark at the latest is unreasonable. It's not. Thursday I'm out at the con from then onwards, no snail mail for me, and the Friday in question, public holiday. That's really only allowing two days if it was post marked 17th for it to make it's way to my letter box.

I've politely responded explaining the situation, thanking them for their feedback and suggesting the official forum to provide feedback and if they were interetsed in volunteering to run this thing next year.

I will be very glad to finish with the Ditmars - I've learned so much, but overall, I think that my love will always be for the Tin Ducks, it's not that they're easier - though they are... but they seem to bring out less 'wank' in people, and have more heart content. That to me is the most important thing.

To end on a good note, let me gush to you about the awards ceremony! I have people lined up to present the awards - I'm waiting on some final emails, but I'll be emailing out the 'how to' and logistics to most people tomorrow. The room will hopefully look something like an old Doctor Who set, thanks to wolflullaby and madradish who have both put supreme effort into helping this thing come together. Also there will be robots. I've planned things so that the ceremony will, if everything happens as I want it to, run under an hour and a half - more time to congratulate the winners and mingle. WASFF are also doing stuff for their 15th anniversary, but I won't spoil that surprise :)

Right now, I'm going to go and finish my book (finishing Cybermancy - probably tonight). Then there will be sleep.

Tomorrow after work there will be alkland and the_informative which will be awesome!

Minor annoyances aside, life is good right now.

Especial love to strangedave and angriest because in their own ways they make me proud to know them and be friends to them. (If you like just call it another one of the many moments I'm expressing sentimentality).

Where am I? home Feeling... tired Compelled listening... nil Define... # 2008, amazing conversations, amazing friends, awards, ditmars, sc2009, sentimental, stupidity, swancon, tin ducks

Hi all,

I'm still looking for a few people interested in presenting an award...


Also, if anyone is free to help me set things up, organise stuff and people that would be fantastic as well. It may be that I don't need much help, or it may have gone pear shaped by that point, whichever it is I'd love to have organised it just in case :)

Where am I? DPC Feeling... productive Compelled listening... nil Define... # 2008, awards, swancon

Not everything written in WA last year was nominated, but all nominations made went on to the ballot.

I didn't announce or declare an intention to shortlist at any stage, so even with nineteen stories on the short work category, I didn't feel that it was something I could just do arbitrarily.

So yes, it's a big list - but then people who vote in the tin ducks will decide who they thought was their favourite. Not to mention - why shouldn't we be proud of what people thought was worthwhile to nominate? I certainly am, and I think there are some great examples of people's talent in this list - especially the fan works list, as I'm much more familiar with it :)

Congratulations to all who have been nominated, and good luck in the vote :)

I am so glad to finally get the details out!

P.S. I'm considering it my penance of having such a long list that I have to work out the optional preferentials for it all, so it's not a case of me making it easy for myself! (I don't think I've done that once with regard to the awards...)

Where am I? DPC Feeling... accomplished Compelled listening... nil Define... # 2008, awards, swancon, tin ducks, voting

Anyone interested in presenting an award?

Comment if so :)

Where am I? DPC Feeling... exhausted Compelled listening... "Me, Myself and I" - Darren Hayes Define... # 2008, awards, swancon

Today has been a great day for the most part - some parts definitely better than others. ( Rather long, but several chunks of information including the ditmar vortex, WA on Show and forays into study as consideration for myself. )

Wow... this got long. No apologies though... this is part of who I am, and being able to detail things here actually serves far more purpose than simple vanity of recording, or some misguided idea that people read what I write. It's for me. It connects me back to things that I don't wish to forget, things that I consider important, or may consider important in the future.

The downside of having had to deal with regressed memories, is that my mind still gets overzealous in protecting me sometimes, and there are things that I just don't wish to forget the words and feelings that were on the tip of my tongue at that given moment.

Where am I? House of Books and Ducks Feeling... excited Compelled listening... nil Define... # 2008, 2009, amazing friends, assertiveness, awards, convictions, ditmars, feminism, moments to remember, murdoch, perth city events, sadness, study, swancon, trust, women

The short summary before I go into detail for those who don't have the time/interest/patience to read below the cut.

* Tin Duck nominations have been drafted into spreadsheet, this has been sent to Other Relevant People for checking.
* Some eligibility emails have been sent re Tin Ducks if it was easy enough to do as I was transcribing.
* More discussion on the Ditmar Google group - some huge amount of email has passed through this group in the past week, and while at times it's been painful, frustrating and exasperating, I also feel like we're generally circling in the right direction.
* NAFF race is over, waiting on replies from candidates and then I can announce the outcome.
* Discussion/meeting with cupidsbow has happened and we've mostly nailed down our OTW panel for Swancon, including having drafted black_samvara onto it.
* Gynaecon Panel for Swancon with dalmeny has been finalised.
* I've registered for the sf.org.au wiki so that I can offload various masses of information that should be recorded other than in my head, or email or journal. This resource is aimed at being a massive source of information as a resource for the Australia wide community, and has languished unloved a bit for a while - I'm encouraging YOU all to help that change.
* Put in my own nominations for the Tin Ducks.
* Managed to get K's in too.

I have yet to:
* Call Supernova person for 2009.
* Make a couple of venue phone calls for Swancon 2009
* Check eligibility of Tin Duck list
* Publish Tin Duck Shortlist, and open the voting.
* Finalise the other potential panel items that may go ahead.
* Publicise the details of this year's NAFF race finalisation.
* Organise the NAFF delegate to get here, and associated stuff.
* Remind people to vote for Tin Ducks and NAFF
* Write my Ditmar Admin Report
* Draft my proposal's for the WASFF AGM and Natcon Business Meeting
* Finalise the Swancon FAQ for printing.
* Finalise my NAFF Con report for printing.
* Follow up on how my props for the awards are going and try and find more time to actually do stuff for it, also, make grateful and appreciative noises in wolflullaby's direction for taking this on for me.
* Update the sf.org.au wiki
* Finalise the WASFF site so it's ready to launch.
* Follow up on awards trophies.
* Organise someone to take photographs of the 2008 Swancon Art Show to publish online ready for the Ditmars and Tin Ducks next year, this is in line with the eligibility list that girliejones wishes to publish online at ASiF! and what I'd also like to have on the sf.org.au wiki.

Gods knows what else - that's the top of my head.

( And here the detail starts... Ditmar Vortex )

Other than the above, I'm seriously counting down to Swancon, and the fun, the people, the madness and rushing, the relaxation, the sleep deprivation, the masses of cuddlyness and sensuality, the games, the discussions and conversations, the Box... parties - the whole lot. I can't wait till it's here, till I'm immersed... and then I will be glad for it to be done, as for someone not on the committee, I seem to be spending quite a bit of time on things at present. By quite a bit I actually mean reasonably a lot. I'm not working nearly as hard as the committee is though :) I'm reassured by this :)

Okay... bed time.

Where am I? home Feeling... exhausted and yet happy Compelled listening... nil Define... # 2008, 2009, achievements, amazing conversations, awards, changing the world, ditmar vortex, ditmars, dot points, lists, making the world a better place, nominations, social, swancon, the box, tin ducks, to do, voting

At the very least, it will be of very low concentration - promise!

First of all I have to mention the most beautiful and unexpected gift from cricketk. She has given me this exquisite piece of jewellery on pretty ribbons, it is glass that is clear, and black and purple and sparkly and seems to be embedded with something that sometimes in my mind resembles a rose, and other times a fossil. It's amazing and I'm utterly touched by the gift and love it to pieces! What was also unexpectedly heartwarming was that juffles decided to cycle his way up to give it to me for her... there was conversation and much in the way of watering, before he headed off home again (sacrificing keys in the process). It is one of those things that just has just made it for me - I don't have a time period to offer, I'm just so amazed and touched by it. Thank you, thank you, thank you again cricketk - I really don't have the words.

I was meant to be catching up with e_dan before he headed off to Melbourne, and while our original plans fell through, we did catch up briefly for dinner with madradish on Wednesday night. I made redbraids easy peasy bbq pork recipe with some pork belly and accompanied by salad for dinner. It was unfortunately still too hot to really be eating.

Thursday was the night I took entirely OFF from fannish commitments. I caught up with livelurker while we waited for syncretin to join us. Following that _fustian and wildilocks turned up, and we fled the Belgian for the airconditioned comfort of the Moon and Sixpence. Later shrydar turned up as well as three others that I don't have appropriate tags for. It was a gorgeous evening of conversation, relaxed and just... easy. Meandered, is a good word. Arguably the most fun of the night was the baileys and lemon juice cement mixer that syncretin decided to try after being told of it's potential uses - highly amusing. No I didn't try the concoction - I was happy to accept that three of those at the table agreed that it tasted like vomit.

Arrived home at the sensible* hour of midnight. Checked email quickly, found that a certain google grouplist hadn't exploded while my back was turned :P Went to bed before 1am.

The working week has been good - I'm slowly finding my feet and getting the hang of things. The job is very busy and I'm hoping to alleviate some of that by improving some of the admin systems, but it will be slow going for a while, and really some things will just be a hard slog till after the new financial year.

There is the WA on Show event this weekend, including free public transport Perth wide on Sunday 2nd March! There are several presentations/stall things put forward by the GLBTI community - I'm hoping to get down there on Sunday - anyone want to meet up and wander through with me?

This afternoon I have managed to snaffle the lovely cupidsbow for coffee, we're discussing our OTW panel (anyone want to join us for this at Swancon?) and also so that I can learn how to construct a water tight argument. (somethings are important enough to me right now to do it right, and not leave it to chance.)

Later there will be the wonderful company of my usual Friday night companions (I keep feeling we need another name other than 'Friday Night'), and I can't wait! It's still a highlight of my week over a year and a half later - we're coming up close to 2 years actually I imagine. I am also hoping that prk may be able to take me out for another driving lesson :)

Now, to get some more work done so that I can catch up with lady_niav for lunch :)

Tomorrow my loose plan is the laptop, Exomod, coffee, aircon and shuffling through the Tin Duck nominations to get the short list together, and possibly tackling my report for the business meeting and also look at starting my proposal for the business meeting.

( Paragraph on awards stuff for those who wish to skip it )

Oh last thing - I'm interested in seeing Tina Cousins at the Court on Sunday... anyone else remotely interested? (No eye rolling, it's not Roxette nor Darren Hayes so be thankful!)



*Bedtime of late has been post 1.30am because I've been that damned busy

Where am I? DPC Feeling... and busy!!! Compelled listening... "I like the way" - The Bodyrockers Define... # 2008, amazing conversations, amazing friends, awards, coffee, concerts, ditmars, friday night, general, gifts, intimacy, moments to remember, music, social, swancon, tin ducks, update

Deadline is midnight TONIGHT!

Email me: transcendancing@gmail.com your nominations asap!

Where am I? DPC Feeling... busy Compelled listening... nil Define... # 2008, nominations, tin ducks

This is via editormum and girliejones:

http://asimmum.livejournal.com/73722.html

http://girliejones.livejournal.com/865745.html
Tehani Wessely and I were talking on the phone last night and mulling over Ditmars stuff, as our ilk are wont to do. And she mentioned that she thought there should be a package of the short stories and maybe the novellas that are nominated on the ballot that could be sent out with the Ditmar Voting Ballot. They do it with the Oscars - it's one of the coolest aspects of being in the guild and being able to vote - you get all the movies sent to you to watch before you vote.

So we mulled it over and thought ... hey! that's not so hard to do! And really, most of us never see all the art that's nominated either, how hard is that to include? And the other stuff? What if the best new talent contenders each provided a little mini bio that you could read? And what if all the relevant links to all the online material were compiled and readily available for voting perusal?

And so, at 11.30 last night she and I were emailing and googling away. And I have to say, the response has been overwhelming. Authors and artists are giving permission left, right and centre and already this morning we have a pretty decent-looking package compiled. We're still waiting for a few items but for those of you eligible to vote on this year's Ditmars ballot we will be presenting: Your 2008 Ditmar Ballot!!! A package of fiction, nonfiction, artwork, links and bios. It will be winging it's way to your inbox very very soon.
---

girliejones writes tonight with regard to the above that there are some good things about Ditmars, and she's right - certainly this is one of them!

As Admin, I've enjoyed much of the correspondence I've had with people throughout the Australian scene. Additionally, I've gotten to see what people nominated before anyone else - which was rather cool and it appealed to me :)

Also, I love things that celebrate talent and inspire others, which I think is one thing that the Ditmars do.

Here's to the good things about the Ditmars, and to there being more of them!

Where am I? home Feeling... cheerful Compelled listening... "The Only One" - Darren Hayes Define... # 2008, awards, ditmar voting package, ditmars, positive things, voting

I am trying to put together a list of things that would be eligible for the professional and fan productions for the 2008 tin ducks... feel free to jump in with suggestions...

obvious ones i have already are:

Professional -

Borderlands

Fan -

Night's Edge
CyPEC
ASiF!

What else am I missing?

Where am I? DPC Feeling... thoughtful Compelled listening... nil Define... # 2008, nominations, swancon, tin ducks

Greetings all,

Don't forget that nominations for the 2008 Tin Duck awards are drawing to a close - get your nominations in now!

Deadline is February 27th 2008.

Information and nomination forms for the awards can be found here: http://www.swancon.com/tinducks

Where am I? DPC Feeling... productive Compelled listening... nil Define... # 2008, nominations awards, swancon, tin ducks

I have had a very very busy and productive day:

- sent out reminders for NAFF voting (vote!)

- sent emails to people re NAFF with bank details, cheque details and answering other questions

- did spreadsheet for the votes on the NAff candidates so its easy to track the amount of votes and for who etc.

- started tin duck spreadsheet

- started work on ditmar voting form

- didn't kill woman i'm working with for overcomplicating explanations and processes again. black_samvara i look forward to our diagramming on Friday!

- went to iProc training, fell in love with it.

- was useful to black_samvara in carting groceries home for her in my spare hour before we headed off to the city for a hotel walk through.

- hotel walk through went well, am positive.

- walked to train station, the long way via discussion with R, was horrified by replacement bus for train, and whimpered at the thought of standing all the way to Kenwick.

- by this point I'd been wandering about all day in fairly comfortable shoes, but not so comfortable many hours after the fact, and I think I've quite solidly bruised them. I was in enough pain that the getting home thing just filled me with wibbleness.

- the 2 replacement stops for maddington and kenwick are at the extreme ends of each station furtherest away from my house as possible. Getting off bus in Maddington (I'd hoped it was the closer of the 2), I nearly sat down where I was and bawled.

- bus on its way into the city came along, caught that and very very very very wonderful bus driver kindly did me a good turn and let me off at the stop near my house. Am very grateful to her, and to the universe for providing for me, as that one more thing today would have been just a bit too much.

- reviewed the program items list that strangedave posted with his 'nifty' form that i filled out a bajillion times. He may hate me now.

- avoided watching and listening to the hillbilly horror film that K's laughing at where there are bits of body everywhere amongst other things. He stopped trying to tell me about it when I pointed out that he'd have to take care of me tonight if I had nightmares. Yes I am that susceptible to some things.

Where am I? home Feeling... thankful Compelled listening... movie of awfulness in background. Define... # 2008, amazing friends, dead feet, general, naff, sc2009, swancon, universe providing, voting, work

The deadline for voting for NAFF draws near!

February 24th 2008 and it's done and dusted!

Three worthy candidates:

Aimee Smith
Paul Poulton
Edwina Harvey

Votes cost $5 and go directly towards the funding of the delegate's trip to Perth. If you don't know the candidates, or aren't comfortable voting for them, but wish to support NAFF, a donation towards fundraising would be gratefully accepted.

Further details on voting can be found here: www.swancon.com

Comment if you have any questions or queries - feel free to email me also: transcendancing@gmail.com.

Where am I? DPC Feeling... cheerful Compelled listening... nil Define... # 2008, fan fund, naff, voting