Done With Conventions For Six Months
Posted October 26th, 2008 by Howard TaylerAnime Banzai was fun, but exhausting. Now that it’s over, I’m done with conventions for six months.
With luck (and piles of hard work) that will be time enough for me to prep the materials for the next two Schlock Mercenary books.
First, though, I’m going to sleep some more.
Explore posts in the same categories: Conventions, Merchandise
October 26th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Does that mean I will be able to drag you out to see a shot finally?
Friday was a truly great one, they felt it in the next town. Of course, it was much closer to the town than most of the ones out in the oil field usually are.
Barring that, I will at least be able to see you at ConDuit in May. I had better get back to my entry for the writing contest. there is not as much time as I keep trying to tell myself.
October 26th, 2008 at 7:56 am
I am also looking forward to the next book and the chance to buy a set of all five in a sleeve with all matching numbered. Yea limited edition set!
October 26th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Does that mean I will be able to drag you out to see a shot finally?
Probably not. The sabbatical is there so I can get lock myself into a productive schedule, and that kind of thing would disrupt it pretty hard.
October 26th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
What is this “shot” you speak of?
October 26th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
What do people think the over/under is for how many conventions Howard actually attends in 2009? I suggesting it’s 4.
Comments?
October 27th, 2008 at 12:28 am
rbliss: I *know* he ain’t comin’ to the con out here — this being the
con which bans “weapons, or anything which looks like a weapon”;
seeing the content of _SM_ would cause multiple heart attacks…. :P
October 27th, 2008 at 12:44 am
I blow stuff up for a living, (I love my job).
We refer to them as shots. I like to refer to them as what keeps me going at 0200 in the morning when I have to load ten thousand pounds on a truck, knowing that I am going to have to take it all off in a few hours. (Motrin is my friend)
Most days I just get to deliver the product, but about once to twice a week, I get to be part of loading and setting off all our wonderful product. Few things are more satisfying than watching tons of rock and dirt fly through the air from your own devising.
SQUEEEEE!
October 27th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
@ csadn: What the hell kind of boring con is that?
@ WEKM: How does one get into your line of work?
October 27th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Good Grief, Howard, it’s RESEARCH!!! You can’t do your job properly without proper RESEARCH!!!
D.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
@ Linxan: First, get a commercial drivers license with Haz-Mat endorsement, then, live here in the Salt Lake valley; most important, have no felonies or serious other issues as you must pass an ATF and FBI background check.
I have been pestering Howard for nearly two years now, one of these days I will manage to drag him out at 0330 in the dark of morning to go experience the joys of high explosive entertainment.
In truth, I think he is afraid to be alone in the truck with me.
Mwha ha ha HAaaaaaa!
October 27th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
No, actually the problem is 0330. This trip will absolutely kill two days of productivity, and one of the reasons I’m on ConSabbat is so I can INCREASE productivity.
The shot needs to coincide with two or three days where I’ve decided I need a vacation. :-)
October 27th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
@ WEKM: It sounds like your high explosive entertainment is in a mine or quarry? I hope you aren’t loading drill holes in the dark. And really hope you aren’t wiring the detonators in the dark.
October 28th, 2008 at 12:21 am
WEKM: I’d quote the Guy In The Dungeon from _Monty Python’s
Life of Brian_, but it would violate local family-friendliness rules.
Anyway, that’s my sentiment. (Where were these people at my
HS’s career day? For crying out loud, Jet Propulsion Lab is less
than 1/2 mile away, so *someone* who Makes Kabooms should
have been there! [sob!])
Linxan: In deference to the proprietor’s “speak no ill” preference,
I’ll not name them here. I’ll just say I’m near Portland, Oregon,
and let you look it up yourself. (BTW: By comparison, the SF cons
in Seattle I’ve attended use the weapons policy of “if it’s drawn,
you’re gone”. That said, when I was in the Midwest, I once saw a
group of ACW re-enactors with muskets stacked in the hotel lobby,
and no one even batted an eyelash…. :) )
Howard Tayler: How’s the buffer looking right now?
October 28th, 2008 at 3:58 am
It is at least a four hour drive out to where we make most of our deliveries, so I have to leave a ridiculously early hours to get there at 0700.
We can’t load holes in the dark, and should the sun go down before we finish, we can’t shoot it and someone must stay and guard it all night. I don’t do underground work, but we deliver to them too. Brought back a chunk of uranium for my daughters school from one site.
Have I mentioned that I love my job?
October 28th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Aw, c’mon Howard. WEKM picks you up, you sleep in the shotgun seat on the way out, 07:00 comes, watch him load the hole and make the shot. You’re done and home in time for dinner. Meanwhile, you’re coloring strips and learning to draw explosions.
Stop evading, start making pictures. You can’t do justice to explosion scenes without having seen one in real life. You’ve copped out before in the comic. Time to become proficient. (Time to cater to my need for visceral thrills too, but that’s another issue!)
I’m dedicating tomorrow’s Pharm Phinal to you. If I can cope with that aggravation, you can snooze on the drive out. You challenged me regarding birthdays, I’m returning the challenge over your pure research requirements.
Just, pardon the expression, do it.
D.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
If nothing else, you can work on scripts. AND, if I am driving the semi as opposed to the GMC, it has a bed for nappies.
Dev, if you and I are both at a Dragons Keep event at the same time, poke me in the ribs and I will let you see the DVD of some of our greatest moments, including one that, unedited, is NOT family friendly, but is so funny you will have trouble breathing.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
WEKM Chances are that I won’t be at Dragon’s Keep any time soon but I’ll keep your offer in mind against the possibility that I can manage to pull it out.
As to “family friendly,” the sproggen and I aren’t really anyone’s standard Ozzie & Harriet definition of “family” so, odds are good that we’ll enjoy it.
Thanks,
D.
October 29th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Yo, Howard: I passed Pharm, your turn to pass Demolitions Observer 101.
Take lots of pictures!
Onward to Psych (psigh)
D.