The spice of life

[randy_byers]

I was feeling blue yesterday -- old, hopeless, bored, and lonely -- but a variety of events in the evening lifted the familiar blanket of melancholy.

First off was a call to old friend ron_drummond in upstate New York. It had been a while since we'd talked, and we had a lovely long chat full of good laughs, complicated aspirations, and odd dreams. Ron and I always make each other laugh, and laughter's always good for whatever ails you.

Then Denys and I watched Hillary Clinton's speech at the Democratic National Convention while munching on an AGOG pizza from Pagliacci's. I couldn't resist the high theater of it all. I thought she gave a great, fiery speech, and I particularly liked the litany of were you in this campaign just for me, or were you in it for these people I met on my campaign who are suffering under the current regime? Great bit of We, The People political transference. We watched the speech on CSPAN for better image quality, then switched over to PBS for commentary. We couldn't stomach the endless parsing of whether she had actually healed the sacred wounds of the Democratic Party. These people would probably be better off just reading tea leaves and having done with the pretense of analysis.

So we gave up on that, and I switched to watching the Mariners-Twins baseball game, just as the Twins tied it up at 2-2 in the sixth inning. The Mariners immediately scored another run in the seventh and then held on to win it for the young Australian pitcher, Ryan Rowland-Smith. There seems to be a real Australian connection in Seattle sports these days. The star of the women's basketball team is an Aussie, Lauren Jackson, and Rowland-Smith is the second Aussie to play for the Mariners. Anyway, sorry about that profgeek. I don't know why the Mariners have played so well against the Twins lately. Don't know why it still makes me happy to see the Ms win in a hopeless cause!

While the game was going on, my co-editor of the north stopped by on the way home from the airport. He and Carrie had just returned from a trip to Madison, where they had a great time visiting his family. One of the highlights of the trip was going to a sold-out Brewers game at the new stadium in Milwaukee. How did they get tickets to a sold-out game? From a guy on eBay, of course. That seemed so 21st Century to me.

And speaking of Aussies, I checked my e-mail before going to bed and found a message from Sharee saying she'd call in ten minutes. From what I could tell, the message had been sent a half hour before, so I just went ahead and went to bed. She called about an hour later, waking me from a dead sleep. Just like old times! It was a slightly surreal conversation, since I was still half asleep. She was mostly calling to let me know that she'd sent the LOC on Chunga, but amidst the natter I seemed to hear her say that she intends to go to the Montreal Worldcon next summer and that this is part of her plan to spend a few months with her mom in BC next year. I really want to go to Montreal too, and if she really is going ...

Wait, did she say she's going to spend a few months with her mom in BC next year? Or was it all just a dream? Well, I found a LOC from her in my inbox this morning, so that much was real.

And so I get by with a little help from my friends.

Comments

[ron-drummond.livejournal.com]

Bless you! I admit it, it's fun making you laugh. Wish I had more opportunities!

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Cue "Make 'Em Laugh" from Singin' in the Rain.

[kdotdammit.livejournal.com]

Yesterday was a weird day. Everyone I know was kind of down and off yesterday. So far today feels better, but I'm too busy with work to direct the feel good into anything I want to (like writing about movies!). It's nice that you had friends that helped you feel better. I had my kidlet.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

I think part of it for me was the weather, which has been unusually grey and wet for August in Seattle. Usually August is a reprieve from the grey and wet around here. But one of the things that sometimes makes me feel old and lonely is the lack of a kidlet in my own life. Not that I really want to be a parent -- far from it; I don't see to have a parental bone in my body -- but I do see how kids give their parents a sense of purpose and focus. I see it in my brother and sister, for example, not to mention my own parents.

[surliminal.livejournal.com]

Hey I want to go the Montreal worldcon too!! maybe we could all get a house? it's way cheaper than the hotel rates..

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Have you looked into it? Sounds like a promising idea. I'd definitely like to spend some time exploring the city before or after the convention. (Before would probably be better.)

[fishlifter.livejournal.com]

Glad you're, y'know, getting by.

I was feeling blue yesterday -- old, hopeless, bored, and lonely

Your feelings, so I'm not denying them or anything, and in particular only you can know if you feel bored or lonely -- but I would never, ever think of you as either 'old' or 'hopeless'.

We'd really rather like to go to Montreal too, but you'll shortly have the chance to read something in which I explain the context that makes it trickier. (Basically we may be going to too many other places next year. Including, ahem, Seattle...)

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Ah well, it was just the blues, I reckon. Not rational. I imagine you'll be going to the Adelaide Natcon too? I selfishly hope that if it comes down to a choice between Seattle and Montreal, you'll choose Seattle, but I hope you can make it to both. 2010 is going to be a tough one for me, choosing between the UK Corflu and the Australian Worldcon. To quote Mr. Charnock, "Hmmm, bongoes ... Hmmm, novel ..."

[fishlifter.livejournal.com]

We have definitely chosen Adelaide and Seattle. I'd just like to be able to choose Montreal too. But I have great guilt as it is...

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Well, as I think I've told you before, I think the answers to global warming are institutional and industrial, not individual. If that's what you're feeling guilty about.

[fishlifter.livejournal.com]

I may need you to write a LOC that says that too...

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Good idea! Maybe it will motivate Yvonne to fly over here and give me a stern talking-to!

[fishlifter.livejournal.com]

I'll suggest that to her. We have in the meantime sent her a tempting convention flier...