 |
|
|
 |
Potlatch 10
You perceive I generalize with intrepidity from single instances. It is the tourist's custom.
-- Mark Twain
Saturday, February 24, 2001
One year ago: Potlatch Begins
Two years ago: Office Space
Three years ago: Dinner with J
It's hard to believe that it was three years ago that my nephew J---- and I were having dinner together. But I haven't followed up on having him watch opera videos with me. I bet he'd enjoy some of my Gilbert and Sullivan tapes!
* * * * * * * *
There were bagels and salmon for breakfast in the con suite. I let Jack sleep, but I wanted to be at the panel discussion on Science Fiction and Science Myths. (I first wrote "versus" instead of "and," but the program guide listed it the way I've got it.) It was an interesting talk about the science in SF. Gerry Nordley (writes as G. David Nordley) was the most stringent about how the science in hard SF needs to be accurate for him to be pleased -- no FTL sneaking in!
Jack did make an appearance during the second panel, on Diversity in Science Fiction, but he didn't stick around for the whole thing. Mary Anne Mohanraj was the ringleader, with Jeanne Gomoll, Ian Haggemann, Jed Hartman and Cheryl Morgan.
For lunch, we decided to walk across the street to Wendy's. They must have difficulty getting workers in this dingy urban neighborhood, since only one person seemed to speak any English. The fact that I wanted catsup, mustard, onion, and pickle only on my hamburger caused much confusion. When Jack pulled out the Theodore Sturgeon collection that was the book of honor and began reading, I looked around and spotted someone with the native guide leaflet that all con members are given. I didn't recognize him, but I suggested he come and sit with us anyway.
It turned out that this was his first Potlatch! He'd heard about it on the net and decided to come down and check things out. Jack and I talked with him about Potlatch and how it differs from larger cons. I hope he enjoyed the rest of the day -- I didn't see him after that. (I hope we didn't drive him off!)
I enjoyed the next panel: The Economics of Iniquity. How do those evil masterminds make a living? And if crime continues in an SF society, is it because the "nice" people are profiting, somehow?
* * * * * * * *
There was a long break in the afternoon, a few hours long. This was intended for Algonquins, or nano-programming: small impromptu gatherings for discussing a special-interest topic, or continuing a thread from an earlier program item. I needed to go back to Chinatown to get my jacket, so I'd posted this excursion as a possible group thing. No one showed up to meet me in the lobby, though, so I took off on my own. Jack was busy trying to find a good source for single-malt scotch, since he wanted to try to have a tasting tonight in the hospitality suite.
I took the old F-line trolley down Market, then walked a few blocks over to the leather store. My jacket was there, and fit well! The two Asian girls and I were pleased and proud. They packed up my SONW jacket in a large bag.
On the way over to Chinatown I spotted a Scottish imports store. Because the liquor laws are different here, they actualy sell Scotch there, not just plaid garments! So I stopped in on the way back; maybe they'd have something for Jack's tasting. The girl who was working there was indeed Scots, with a charming accent and red hair.
Too bad I was a bit low on cash! So I got some sets of single malts, of varying ages, in miniature bottles. I'd tell Jack about the place so he could come back, if he needed more.
* * * * * * * *
The last panel of the afternoon was The Cutting Edge and the Rusty Spoon, with my friend Eileen Gunn as ringleader. Which stories from the past are still cogent and vital, and which have passed their sell-by date? Unfortunately the subdebates about defining terms and so on caused me to get drowsy and bored.
Jack and I chose to have dinner in the "fancy" restaurant in the hotel, just the two of us. I had a braised lamb and pasta dish that was very good! We were done with dinner in time for the evening's special event: The SF Quiz Show.
In previous years, they've done "Whose Line Is It" (and they do it at Orycon), and it's very funny, but strenuous. So this time David Levine opted for a scientifictional version of the NPR quiz show, Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. David was quizmaster, with Eileen Gunn, Ellen Klages, and Jordin Kare as panelists. The competition was fierce! But things zoomed along faster than David had planned for, so the game was all too brief.
Upstairs in the hospitality suite, we had delicious chocolate fondue. I didn't bother with dipping, I just put fruit and cake and goodies in a small bowl and ladled the chocolate over it. Ahhh! Jack did get his single malt tasting going, in the third room of the suite. Lots of folks, about eight or ten, participated, sipping whisky from all over Scotland (and a few islands). He hadn't made it back to the Scottish imports store, but my contributions were appreciated and added to the range of scotch available.
I sat on the bed, out of the way of the drinkers, while Jack gave a little intro for each different scotch. He'd arranged them in a particular order for best comparison. People really enjoyed this event, and told him that they'd learned a lot.
* * * * * * * *
I left the party a bit earlier than Jack did. He was surprised to find me watching HBO's "Real Sex" documentary series when he got back. But that's a show I've always enjoyed. The people they question on the street in between segments are priceless! Very frank and funny.
 |