Around Lawrence with Kij

[pegkerr]

We started with another gorgeous brunch at the Paradise Cafe. Since I couldn't decide between the swiss and artichoke omelette and the apple cinnamon pancake, I ordered the omelette and got one pancake on the side. By the time I had finished eating, it was decided that I was going to take the restaurant back home to Minneapolis with me.

We browsed around shops for a while. Kij took me to meet radcliffe, so that I could see her costume making shop. (Click here to see some of the gorgeous fantasy gowns in her catalogue). verminiusrex stopped by as well while we were there. I admired a gorgeous brocade with dragons. radcliffe had a scrap to spare, so she gave me a bit of it to put on my ribbon coat.

Then kijjohnson took me to meet Jim Gunn. Very nice gentlemen, whom I haven't met before. Very gracious. It was fun to hear him reminiscing about John Campbell. He chatted with Kij about the novelette he's working on. (Still working at 80!) I went back to the university bookstore to get one of his volumes of The Road to Science Fiction for him to sign for me. When I brought it back to him to autograph, he impulsively took another volume off his shelf and autographed that one for me, too.

More shopping, and then we met worldforger at Chipotle, where we gorged on Mexican tacos and burritos and talked about writing, motorcyles, boy points versus girl points, martial arts (what do I know about martial arts? Practically nothing). Mostly I sat and listened to kijjohnson and worldforger with both deep interest and amusement. I'm not shy at all, but there was a distinct sensation that it was difficult to get a word in edgewise, and I was content to simply listen this time.

Stayed up late, sewing my new brocade dragon on my ribbon coat and listening with yet more amusement to Kij as she talked out loud as she surfed the Internet. She got an e-mail from Claire Eddy at Tor, telling her that the rewrite on Fudoki was accepted and the book will be put into production on Tuesday, which was a big relief to Kij. Went to bed at a horrendously late hour--I picked up one of the P.G. Wodehouse books at 2:30 a.m. and finally put it down after 3:00 a.m. thinking this is ridiculous. Must get sleep.

A lovely day. Today will be another one. Will call my family to make sure that they've managed to survive for three days without me, and the off to play some more.

Cheers,
Peg

Comments

[kishmish.livejournal.com]

*speechless* Those are such beautiful gowns. Wow. Glad you had a lovely day.^_^

Aren't they?

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

It was delightful to look around her office. Unfortunately, she didn't have any completed gowns for us to see, because once she finishes them, she ships them right off. She said that she made about eighty gowns last year. But even looking through the scraps and fabric samples left from her work was fun. Kij borrowed a book on clothing design, and radcliffe showed me a book I would have killed to have had while I was writing The Wild Swans because it was all about women's fashions in England in the 17th century. I would have loved to have had it at hand when I was describing the dress that the Countess had made for Eliza.

But I was reassured, looking through the book, that I seemed to have gotten things right, even if I had to use research books which weren't as directly applicable.

Cheers,
Peg

Re: Aren't they?

[kishmish.livejournal.com]

That must have been validating to know that even without the book your research was still right. I haven't read The Wild Swans but now I'm wondering if they have it at my bookstore...

[worldforger.livejournal.com]

I had a lot of fun. Thanks to you guys for inviting me out. I'm sorry if it was hard to get a word in edgewise, though. I did enjoy our conversation, but yes, I'm afraid Kij and I did most of the talking. *cringes and tried to look contrite* At least everything you had to say was relevant to whatever topic was at hand, though, as opposed to our ferret-like pouncing upon whatever shiny idea we associated with some random word in the previous sentence. *grins*

Speaking of ferrets,(it never stops, sorry) you must begin reading <http://www.sluggy.com">Sluggy Freelance if Kij has not already started you down that road. Trust me. *winks*

No need to cringe!

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I didn't feel left out in the least, and it just suited my mood to be little quieter than usual. It just that it felt unusual because it was rather uncharacteristic for me. I was a little tired, and bothered by the allergies, which may have been part of it. But listening to you was fine; it gave me more of a chance to get to know you. I, too, really enjoyed the evening.

And I've known Kij for over twenty years, and I'm still learning new stuff about her this weekend. That, too, has been fun.

Cheers,
Peg

[kijjohnson.livejournal.com]

...there was a distinct sensation that it was difficult to get a word in edgewise...

I don't know what you mean. I must have had to take a breath at least five or six times.