The good folk at Denvention have put their pocket program online. You can download it here. I’m delighted by this.  I always feel to busy at the con to pay proper attention to it, so it’s good to have a chance to think it over before next week’s events.

Confident in the almost complete irrelevancy of this to the rest of the world, more on getting ready for Denvention. I’ve had a ridiculously long period of time (by my standards) to get ready for this trip, so I’ve spent most of it doing something else. Dealing with medical issues, getting new glasses, buying clothes, reading – that kind of thing. But, given that this is an annual thing for me, where am I usually at by now?

Well, it’s about 60 hours to take-off, so I’m really just scoping out that I have what I need, picking up what I don’t have, and sort of getting in the right head-space for the whole trip. The traditional stopover in Oakland is a big part of any of these trips, and I try to set up get togethers when I can. This time I’m mostly seeing my fellow Locus folk, but I also always try to see Bob and Karen (who are dear friends and have been incredibly generous suporters in the past), and this time I’m eager to catch up with Posse Man (aka Jeremy) if I can. Lots to talk about.

I have four days in Oakland, if you count the day I arrive. I need to get to a T-Mobile store, but other than that am free as a bird. Except I have a batch of proofreading to do. I’ll tell you I’ll do it on the plane, but truthfulkly if I don’t do most of it before I go I’ll be behind the eight ball. I’m also going to spend time researching some books I’m doing or planning, and basically being busy.

Am I on track? I don’t know. I think so. I’ll forget something, but probably not anything important. I am pretty sure what I’ll be reading on the plane, but that could change too. More soon. (Interesting, huh?).

Well, barring something unexpected coming up at tomorrow’s doctor’s appointment I head off on Friday for Oakland and Denver. Every year when I make a trip like this I intend to blog a lot about it. I fail roundly, mostly because I get distracted. Attending a big convention takes all of your time and attention. Writing a summary of the day at 1.00am when you have a 7.00am breakfast just seems impossible. Still, I intend to try. I’ll probably fail, but I hope you’ll bear with me.

There are a lot of things I’m looking forward to. On the way to Oakland I should be seeing Simon and Ally at Sydney Airport. They’re off to Phuket at the same time I’m headed to the US, so it was too good an opportunity to miss. Oakland is always good. It’ll be great to see Charles, Liza, Amelia, Kirsten, Tim, Carolyn, Fran, and everyone else, and to spend a little time sitting on the back deck relaxing. Not so much drinking this year, but a quiet time will be good. I’m also hoping to see Karen and Bob while I’m in town, and Jeremy too. The only thing I have to do is get to a T-Mobile store for ten minutes and that shouldn’t be too hard to arrange. As for WorldCon, the people, the dealers’ room, the art show – lots to do. I can’t wait. And I’ll be hanging with Sean Williams, who is one of my best buddies, so that’s cool. Again, though, I’ll perhaps take it all a bit slower this year. It should be fun though. See you there?