Long Days with Happy Endings

The longest day of Comicon is about to come to an end. I'm wiped out, but it's been just great.

I had breakfast with my friend Connie Willis and her daughter Cordelia after sleeping through my alarm. Fortunately, Connie called the room and I managed to get in and out of the shower and down stairs in 12 minutes. Connie is one of the other guests of the convention this weekend and it's been a couple of years since I've seen her since she lives in Colorado and I don't get to as many conventions as I did when I was the lawyer for the Science Fiction Writers of America. Connie is one of their most honored members, with a shelf full of Nebula and Hugo Awards to show for her career. I remember the night she won her first Hugo 25 years ago in Baltimore for Firewatch. She's a grand and very funny lady and had her audience in stitches today at her Spotlight panel. I recommend her book To Say Nothing of the Dog and her award-winning short story Even the Queen. Her most famous book is Doomsday Book, a story of time travel back to the days of the Black Death.

I managed to get to Nordstrom's today and bought a pair of shoes. The only time I shop there is during its summer sale when we are in San Diego and I usually go for shoes. These are a pair of Nike trainers that have what looks like red fishnet over white shoes. Very cool and I hope very comfortable.

This evening was the Eisner Awards. It's the Oscars of the comic book industry. Len was asked to give out the three awards for writing, so he had carefully planned his wardrobe. He was also nominated for a place in the Eisner Hall of Fame, which he didn't expect to win this time out. Much to his surprise, Len was indeed inducted into the Eisner Hall of Fame. At 60, he's probably one of the youngest people ever inducted (60 with 40 years of professional comic book experience behind him,) and was one of only two living writers (of six) inducted tonight. He was the only one present for the awards. He looked great--and there will be pictures. He was quite the hit of the evening, in sartorial splendor with a coat that would not have been out of place in Regency England. I am so happy for him, and he did remember to thank me for putting up with "all his nonsense." Hey, it pays the rent and it is so much more interesting that most 9-5 jobs.

Also honored was DC Comics publisher Paul Levitz. Len met Paul when Paul was 12. Len was already a professional but he realized early on that "that kid is gonna run the business some day." Paul was honored with the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award for all of the things he has done to do right by comic book creators. Unlike Marvel, DC has gone back and righted the credit and royalties for its creators. He's done a great job and, frankly, one that helps pay our mortgage during times of little work. If Marvel would do the same, we'd be able to afford the horse property I want, but that is just not likely to happen. If you look in the dictionary under "corporate greed" there's a picture of Marvel's logo.

The Eisner Award, named after the wonderful Will Eisner, is a pretty hefty globe that does spin. Photographs will be posted when I get back home.

Like the Academy Awards, the presentations went on for over three hours. We didn't get back to the room until almost 1 and Len has now gone out for an after party on a yacht parked behind the convention center. My feet just couldn't take any more tonight--I've already walked close to 20000 steps today.

Tomorrow, I'll make my pilgrimage to Mary's Tack and Feed in Del Mar and buy Ace a present to make up for me being away so long. I'd love to find him a new dressage bridle with a noseband for an Arab, but I haven't had any luck so far. I'll probably pick a few things for me as well--they have a nice clothing department and I do need a new wallet.

I think sleep is in order.