"Bill Thomasson2/24/2014 01:23:00 AM BTW, once you're a published author, don't you think you should start going to conventions to promote your works? :-)"
Promoting your conventions, eh? 8)
Seriously, I'd love to go to conventions. Would have been doing it for years if it were possible. You live within your limits, though they aren't always set by you yourself.
Bill, maybe I'll send you a consignment of books and charge you with selling them for me at Worldcon *wicked grin* That would be a major challenge for you.
Yes, promoting my conventions, but also hoping I might have a chance to meet you in person some time.
Authors don't go to conventions so much to directly sell their books (which would require them to become dealers) as to bring themselves -- and hence their books -- to the attention of readers.
I find it hard to shake the conviction that there should be SOME workaround that would let you attend conventions. I know it's not as simple as hopping in a car. These days it isn't for me either. But there should be alternatives. Particularly given conventions' commitment to helping disabled fans attend.
To be honest, the barriers are very largely in my parents' minds. I was never allowed to so much as handle a white cane, much less have O&M training; never was taught how to cross a street by myself, how to take a taxi or a bus on my own, even in my twenties when I was really in quite good physical shape and these thing would have been physically possible. Never so much as allowed to walk down the corner of the street to mail a letter, which involves crossing the street.
I remember having a minor fight with Mum over asking her to teach me how to use a pay phone. She didn't see the need. I'd never be anywhere alone where the need to use a pay phone might arise.
It's not so much that they fought to keep me dependent as that they lack the imagination to realize that a disabled person, even a multiply disabled person *can* be independent to any degree whatsoever.
By this point, of course, I'm in bad shape. Need the walker at best and often the wheelchair. And of course I've grown timid and afraid. I truly couldn't travel alone now. And no one in my family would take me to a Science Fiction convention! Patty and Chris have family and work commitments, even if they would be willing, which is slightly more likely than parents and Sis, but not a whole lot. It's like going to concerts. I can't unless it happens to be something that appeals to Patty or Chris and also happens to be convenient for them. Like, a couple years ago Enge was in Boston. But it was a Thursday night so I didn't even consider asking Patty to take me. A Friday or Saturday I would have thought about but even at that probbly wouldn't have asked in the end. Even the kindest friends have limits of what they are willing to do, to put their money where their mouth is. *shrug* It's how life is. Wasting time being angry and bitter and self-pitying isn't worthwhile and just raises your blood pressure for no good reason.
I'll never meet any of you guys in person. That makes me sad, but it's just a fact.
I think there is no way I could have met anyone here, or even known of their existence, if it hadn't been for this blog. And there is, realistically, no chance I will ever meet any of you in person either. It would be nice, I suppose, but there it is. But it truly fills in a gap in my social relationships that would otherwise be there, and does so conveniently.
[sigh] It must be hard knowing exactly what to do when you are the parent of a disable child. But I fear overprotectiveness is all too common.
This reminds me of an incident when Dear was here for the "Endless Summer" tour. There was a wheelchair use (high school age) who wanted to go and posted on our Meet-up page for somebody to go with her -- her parents wouldn't allow her to go alone. I said sure and started talking about meeting at the "L" station -- the one that was wheelchair accessible. But then she said she couldn't go. I had the feeling that her parents had pictured someone whisking her downtown in a car (as though driving into the Loop ever made sense) and couldn't see her taking the "L" even with someone else.
But she did go off to college later, so I guess it wasn't too bad.
Our mild spell has ended and we're back to twenties and thirties. A fair bit of the snow cover has gone, though there's still enough on the ground for things to look wintry. Flurries forecast for later in the week.
I need help with spelling, or maybe homophones? Our word is cheesy, as in "cheesy Seventies’ schlock." Is that the right spelling, or is there a z instead of the s? Not of course that I approve of such language! Felicity has a run-in with, well, a jackass is how Allen describes him, who says this of Barry. Felicity puts him firmly in his place!
Bill, do you begin to see the, er, possibly limited appeal of the dragon Christmas stories? LOL
Our mild spell -- 20s and low 30s -- is predicted to end tomorrow night. During the even milder spell last week, with temps occasionally edging into the 50s, the snow cover went from about 18" to about 4", but still pretty much covers the ground.
And yes, an internet search (Goodsearch) confirms my belief that "cheesy" is the right spelling. Don't see anything wrong with the word, although it's not a flattering description.
I have quite a love life in Dreamland. Saturday night, I dreamed I was engaged to Donny Osmond, to his father's rage. Since Donny was over twenty-one, barely, there wasn't much Mr. Osmond could do, but that didn't stop him throwing a hissy fit. Donny was very brave and stood up to his dad, defied him even, and we went off happily.
Last night I was a bit older, mid-twenties maybe, and going steady with Barry Manilow.
Funny how childhood fantasies come back, well, not to haunt. These dreams were quite enjoyable. Who knows? Maybe tonight I'll go out with Engelbert!
And once again, Howard is first!
ReplyDelete"Bill Thomasson2/24/2014 01:23:00 AM
BTW, once you're a published author, don't you think you should start going to conventions to promote your works? :-)"
Promoting your conventions, eh? 8)
Seriously, I'd love to go to conventions. Would have been doing it for years if it were possible. You live within your limits, though they aren't always set by you yourself.
Bill, maybe I'll send you a consignment of books and charge you with selling them for me at Worldcon *wicked grin* That would be a major challenge for you.
Yes, promoting my conventions, but also hoping I might have a chance to meet you in person some time.
DeleteAuthors don't go to conventions so much to directly sell their books (which would require them to become dealers) as to bring themselves -- and hence their books -- to the attention of readers.
I find it hard to shake the conviction that there should be SOME workaround that would let you attend conventions. I know it's not as simple as hopping in a car. These days it isn't for me either. But there should be alternatives. Particularly given conventions' commitment to helping disabled fans attend.
To be honest, the barriers are very largely in my parents' minds. I was never allowed to so much as handle a white cane, much less have O&M training; never was taught how to cross a street by myself, how to take a taxi or a bus on my own, even in my twenties when I was really in quite good physical shape and these thing would have been physically possible. Never so much as allowed to walk down the corner of the street to mail a letter, which involves crossing the street.
DeleteI remember having a minor fight with Mum over asking her to teach me how to use a pay phone. She didn't see the need. I'd never be anywhere alone where the need to use a pay phone might arise.
It's not so much that they fought to keep me dependent as that they lack the imagination to realize that a disabled person, even a multiply disabled person *can* be independent to any degree whatsoever.
By this point, of course, I'm in bad shape. Need the walker at best and often the wheelchair. And of course I've grown timid and afraid. I truly couldn't travel alone now. And no one in my family would take me to a Science Fiction convention! Patty and Chris have family and work commitments, even if they would be willing, which is slightly more likely than parents and Sis, but not a whole lot. It's like going to concerts. I can't unless it happens to be something that appeals to Patty or Chris and also happens to be convenient for them. Like, a couple years ago Enge was in Boston. But it was a Thursday night so I didn't even consider asking Patty to take me. A Friday or Saturday I would have thought about but even at that probbly wouldn't have asked in the end. Even the kindest friends have limits of what they are willing to do, to put their money where their mouth is. *shrug* It's how life is. Wasting time being angry and bitter and self-pitying isn't worthwhile and just raises your blood pressure for no good reason.
I'll never meet any of you guys in person. That makes me sad, but it's just a fact.
I think there is no way I could have met anyone here, or even known of their existence, if it hadn't been for this blog. And there is, realistically, no chance I will ever meet any of you in person either. It would be nice, I suppose, but there it is. But it truly fills in a gap in my social relationships that would otherwise be there, and does so conveniently.
Delete--Alan
[sigh] It must be hard knowing exactly what to do when you are the parent of a disable child. But I fear overprotectiveness is all too common.
DeleteThis reminds me of an incident when Dear was here for the "Endless Summer" tour. There was a wheelchair use (high school age) who wanted to go and posted on our Meet-up page for somebody to go with her -- her parents wouldn't allow her to go alone. I said sure and started talking about meeting at the "L" station -- the one that was wheelchair accessible. But then she said she couldn't go. I had the feeling that her parents had pictured someone whisking her downtown in a car (as though driving into the Loop ever made sense) and couldn't see her taking the "L" even with someone else.
But she did go off to college later, so I guess it wasn't too bad.
Our mild spell has ended and we're back to twenties and thirties. A fair bit of the snow cover has gone, though there's still enough on the ground for things to look wintry. Flurries forecast for later in the week.
ReplyDeleteI need help with spelling, or maybe homophones? Our word is cheesy, as in "cheesy Seventies’ schlock." Is that the right spelling, or is there a z instead of the s? Not of course that I approve of such language! Felicity has a run-in with, well, a jackass is how Allen describes him, who says this of Barry. Felicity puts him firmly in his place!
Bill, do you begin to see the, er, possibly limited appeal of the dragon Christmas stories? LOL
Our mild spell -- 20s and low 30s -- is predicted to end tomorrow night. During the even milder spell last week, with temps occasionally edging into the 50s, the snow cover went from about 18" to about 4", but still pretty much covers the ground.
DeleteAnd yes, an internet search (Goodsearch) confirms my belief that "cheesy" is the right spelling. Don't see anything wrong with the word, although it's not a flattering description.
Thanks for the check. Uh, no, not flattering.
DeleteI have quite a love life in Dreamland. Saturday night, I dreamed I was engaged to Donny Osmond, to his father's rage. Since Donny was over twenty-one, barely, there wasn't much Mr. Osmond could do, but that didn't stop him throwing a hissy fit. Donny was very brave and stood up to his dad, defied him even, and we went off happily.
ReplyDeleteLast night I was a bit older, mid-twenties maybe, and going steady with Barry Manilow.
Funny how childhood fantasies come back, well, not to haunt. These dreams were quite enjoyable. Who knows? Maybe tonight I'll go out with Engelbert!
I'm glad to hear that Danny has that kind of spine--good for him!
Delete--Alan
Cat, keep us posted on upcoming concerts. You never know.
ReplyDelete