I'm in a bit of a pickle.

I've been asked to be a Guest of Honor at the biggest Canadian Anime convention (which is also in the top three North American Anime Conventions) - Anime North.

However, I don't yet have a passport.

They just asked me last night, and the con is in two weeks (Memorial Day Weekend). My research shows no reliable way to assure I can get a passport in two weeks, even if I wasn't on my way out the door to go to another convention (which I won't be back from until Monday, making it a week and a half turn around time.)

I'm exploring options. The TSA/Homeland Security website says that at this point US Citizens can travel back and forth by air with /either/ a passport /or/ a valid state driver's license and certified copy of US Birth Certificate. I have my ID and BC, /but/ at least the first airline I called said I /needed/ a passport (regardless of the HS rules. However, it was 10pm here and I was speaking to someone who was obviously not a native English speaker, so I'm going to check more later.

It is, however, pretty clear that to cross the border by /land/ is fine with ID and BC. However, it's a 2 hour drive from the nearest US airport (which I think is Buffalo, NY) into Toronto.

So, I'm asking - are any of my Buffalo area friends going to Anime North? If I made arrangements to fly into Buffalo, could I hitch a ride with someone to the con and get a ride back to the airport in Buffalo? I would be happy to help with gas money, etc.

Alternately, does anyone know of an airline that /definitely/ allows US citizens to fly into Canada and back on just the State Issued ID and Birth Certificate combo? Bonus points if you're a married woman whose name has changed, because (of course) my birth certificate has my maiden name, not my married one, and while that's not addressed on the website, I ran into problems with that when I got my state ID in Massachusetts (they required a certified copy of the marriage license as well (which I don't currently have) even though it said nothing about that on their paperwork - thus my paranoia.

I'd love to guest at Anime North, but am just not sure how to make this work on such short notice. I'd love to hear from those in the Buffalo/Toronto area who might have suggestions.

Weekend after this, I'll be attending my first Camarilla convention in many years. I'm planning on playing Lost and Requiem, and seeking ties for both characters.

If you will be at USCC (even if you won't, but especially if you will) and you'd like background ties with either of these characters, please contact me ASAP, so we can get something set up.

Lost
Time Period (Past 5 years)
Character: Mara-Zen, Spring Fairest Dancer (Fame 2)
Location: Anywhere in the world
Mara has spent the past 5 years since her escape travelling around the world, building a reputation for herself in mortal communities as a creative and innovative dancer whose main claim to fame is blending unlikely dance forms into artistic fusion (ballet and ballroom, for example, or erotic/exotic and jazz/tap) She never stays in any one area too long, being driven by her whims into a nomadic lifestyle. She will settle in one place for a few months, then disappear when fall or spring come around, often in the company of one of the handsome or beautiful people from the local freehold.
Possible tie-ins - Past lovers (male or female, although she has a pechant for the beautiful, graceful, or those who are quick to fall under her charms), past rivals (see above), professional tie-ins (she has a talent scout/agent, but lots of room for other performers, theater owners, arts mentors, etc.)

Requiem
Time Period - Vampiric - Since New Years Day 2008. Human - Past 5 years, on the streets, 15 years earlier in some small rural desert town in the SW.
Character: Blue (previously various aliases, originally Elizabeth Rogers), Carthian Daeva
Location: SW US
Blue was embraced and then abandoned on New Year's Eve.
Possible tie-ins - Mentor who taught her since her embrace (prefer Carthian or Unaligned, but flexible), street folks who might have known her pre-embrace, those who might have known her as a child/youth in her home town.

I just posted a link to a video interview Oracle of Enlightenment did with me at UBCon in Buffalo, NY a few weeks ago.

I think it's my first publicly published video interview as a professional. 

I'm not sure whether to be terrified or proud. I do think I need to start back on my diet, though.

Today is a day that, even when I get hectic and don't pre-plan enough for it, is one of the most important in the year for me. It marks the anniversary of an event that has changed my life, one that has helped shape me into the person I am, and which I am joyful and thankful for every day of every year, since I became aware of it almost 20 years ago.

Happy Birthday, my Viking. In my selfish world view, I am drawn first to say how wonderful you are because of all the things you do for me, do with me, do to me. You are the other half of my soul, my partner, my friend, my lover, my love.

But it is so much more than that. You are a fantastic father, giving all three of our children the love and support, stability and structure, creativity and caring that they need to become the fantastic people they are.

You are a great friend, not just to me, but to those around us. You are a kind person, a sweet person, and intelligent and funny person.

You're also a golden god, but perhaps I'll keep the details on that just for myself for the moment. *Grin*

I love you, bearness. Today, and forever.  Thank you for being the most important part of my life, for allowing me to share yours, and for being my best friend.

(Since he doesn't really use his LJ, those who would like to drop him a birthday greeting can do so at: teknoviking at gmail dot com. I'm sure he'd be thrilled to hear from you all.)

Don't know when I'll be back again....

Well, okay, actually I do. Barring unforseens, I'll be returning Monday evening. 

In about 6 hours, I'll be taking off from Tucson and heading Buffalo-ward. I'll hit Atlanta at around 7:30, and leave from there around 9:15, to arrive in Buffalo at 11:15 tonight. Counting the drive to Tucson and the changes in time zone, that's being "on the road" from around 8am until midnight. :) But I'm looking forward to it. I wish the layover in Atlanta was a little longer. I'd love to stop in and see Joe and Eddy and Russell and all the folks at White Wolf, but... alas, it is not meant to be.

For those of you who didn't see my earlier post, I'm going to Buffalo for UBCon. It's going to be a blast, so if you're out there, or can get there, stop in! Last years was fantastic, there are photos and a con report on my website: www.jesshartley.com.

I'll be coming back late Monday night, so if you need me, text or drop me an email. If not, I'll talk to you all again Tuesday!

I'll be in Buffalo, NY this coming weekend. It's my second year as a guest at UBCon, and I'm very excited about it. Last year was awesome, and I'm sure this year will be even better.

I've obtained permission to do a reading from the yet-unpublished core book for White Wolf's next big game - Hunter: The Vigil.

I'll also be participating in as many games, LARPS and events as I can possibly shove into the weekend.  I'm especially excited about getting another chance to play Amputheatre and to visit with the folks from Bent Castle.

So, if you're interested in the World of Darkness, and you can get to Buffalo this weekend, come on by and check out the fun! I'll be arriving late Thursday night and will be there through Monday!

Blatantly stolen from mechanicalhyena ( I am A Seven )

Great interview with Alexander James Adams (formerly Heather Alexander) one of my favorite musical performers. Awesome of Just Out to cover our favorite Celtic fiddling god.

The Interview is on pages 24 and 25.

For the past several years, I've been using WordPress to run my website. It was fine when I only had a limited number of books in the works, but now that I've got pushing two dozen books either published or soon to be, I really need something that will allow me easier modification/structuring of the back end of the site.

For example, on my Resume Page, when I wanted to move my published works into more organized groups (by game, for example), cutting and pasting either didn't work or scrambled the formatting of the page leaving me with bolds, tabs and the like where I didn't want them.

Does anyone have a non-Word Press web-page creator that is a) easy to learn, b) free or cheap, c) easy to learn, d) easy to /use/ and make changes to, e) pretty/customizeable?

Offers to be my go-to person for such a product would be heartily appreciated and garner said individual many brownie points (And potentially brownies as well.)

Thanks!

It looks like the Viking and I may be spending a week or so in Seattle in late May. He's got a conference up there, so while we'll be spending part of our time doing "romantic just the two of us" stuff, there will be several days where he's gone all day at conference activities, and I would love to spend that time catching up with some of my Seattle friends.

If you would like me to contact you while I'm there, please leave contact info (email and phone) and what times of weekdays or weekends are best for you in general, and I'll try to contact you while I'm there.

(Comments screened for privacy)

 

Stolen from about half my friends-list:

Everyone has things they blog about.

Everyone has things they don't blog about.

Some of us rarely blog.

Challenge me out of my comfort zone by asking me about something I don't blog about, but you'd like to hear about, and I'll write a post about it. Ask for anything: latest movie watched, last book read, political leanings, thoughts on lima beans, favorite type of underwear, favorite classical artist, etc.

Re-post in your own journal so that we can all learn more about each other! I'll do my best to answer the questions publicly, although I reserve the right to be less than 100% candid depending on the topic.

Can't really give specifics yet, but I'd appreciate any good "writer" thoughts y'all have to spare.

La Serenissima (my novel) is on someone's desk and we're discussing it at 5pm today.

Thanks, y'all.

Bought new costuming for my Fairest Dancer, Mara Zen...

Proud as a Peacock

tagged by habibbibrod
a) List seven habits/quirks/facts about yourself
b) Tag seven people to do the same
c) Do not tag the person who tagged you or say that you tag "whoever wants to do it"

1- I am a native Californian, although I don't remember ever living there.

2- I drink my coffee with enough cream and (fake) sugar to qualify as melted mocha ice cream.

3- I have written three full length novels, only one of which has yet been published.

4- I am relatively easily addicted to people/situations/activities to the point of semi-destructive behavior, but not substances (alcohol/drugs, etc.)

5- I have a horrible sweet tooth. Very few times in my life have I ever uttered the words "That's too rich/sweet."

6- I pick up accents so quickly that I've had folks think I was mocking them because i was sounding like they did without realizing it.

7- I have a particular way I like to fold towels, and get frustrated if my towels are folded any other fashion.

I tag -

cwricheson
kradical
seraphina_marie
auntiemame67
irishcoyote
eleri
anselm23

Expect a run of memes... The rum and coke is well established, and I will be capable of nothing else productive until the morning.

I am a Sunflower What Flower Are You?

GAH! Holidays sneaking up on me is not fair!
The Valkyrie's been sick for the past 2, going on 3 weeks now, and I'm running behind (lack of sleep, hours that should have been spent on work spent on doctor's visits and tending the ill, etc.)

The Viking said today that I shouldn't make plans with another friend for Thursday, and he had to remind me that it was because it was Valentine's Day. How can it be mid-February already? Wasn't it just Christmas a few days ago?

So, anyway, to bring in the season, here's my Valemtimes mailbox... Feel free to leave me a little somefin somefin....


Get your own valentinr

wow, it's been ages since I posted anything of real content... What to say, what to say? Kiddo's had a persistant cough for 2+ weeks now. It's something that's been coming and going at seemingly random patterns (no particular environmental or seasonal source) for years now, but this is the longest I can remember the cough being so bad without it being diagnosable as pneumonia or bronchitis or something. Our doctor in MA never ordered allergy screenings or sent her to a pulmonologist, so the doctor here is doing so, but both are up in Tucson and we can't get in for 2 months. (WTF?)  In the mean time, she's got her 3rd dr appt (her throat/tonsils are now swollen) in 2 weeks today. We're hoping he can give her something for the cough.

In more chipper news, I am finishing up my "second to the last" project for WW before I take a 3 month sabbatical from writing for game stuff and work on some "me" stuff. I'm more excited than I can express and really need to take this time to not only work on a few of my own writing projects, but also do things like paint our house and make more friends here in AZ. The transition here was much harder than the one to MA. Partly, I think, due to the difference in climate and remoteness, and partly due to it being the second cross country move in just over two years, for a gal who had lived the previous 35+ all within 6 hours of "home".

Last month, I stepped out of my hobbit hole and traveled up to Phoenix for the Camarilla's Featured Game of the Month up there. I played Changeling: The Lost and Vampire: the Reqiuem, but more importantly, I started making friends, which was awesome. Now if only most of them weren't 4 to 9 hours away! Still, thankfully with electronic media we can keep in touch and I'm really enjoying getting to know them virtually with plans to visit soon. (y'all know who you are! *grin*)

Topher, Pat's "second in command" at HEC in MA got a job working for him out here, so he and his family are going to be our neighbors! They're going to be renting the house that Pat's family lived in when Pat was in high school back in the 80s. Right now, however, Topher's living with us (in my office/guest room) and... I love the boy dearly, but after a week or so, house guests (even the best ones!) get old. We're going now to take him to sign the lease paperwork on their new house (which they're getting into through a comedy of errors) and then take the kiddo to the doctor. Exciting weekend, eh?

anywho, that's a quick update. I'm sure I'll be writing more here once these last two projects are off my plate, but the combination of sick kid, house guest and "short timer's syndrome" is making it hard to finish!

Take care, y'all!

Anyone have an "in" with the travel industry?

We're trying to book flights from Tucson to Indy over August 14-18 (Gencon). Looks like it's going to cost us about 300$ per person, $900 total. We've tried a day or so before and after, no real luck.

We've searched all the discount consolidators (Orbitz, Travelocity, Expedia, Kayak, Priceline, etc, as well as the direct site of the airline that was cheapest (NW Air).

Anyone have any ideas on how to save some money on this trip?

Owie!

I has the bestest viking EVER!
Not only did he bring me a bouquet of beautiful flowers to my day job, just because...

He also created this shirt for me.


I am sooooo into him... (but I'm not sure I'm too smart for him...)

SQUEE!

For those of you who have been living under a rock, here is the reason for my joy...

Skull Crusher Mountain