A word of thanks, a day overdue, and a hippo birdie

[thatcrazycajun]

For those who don't know, the last entry's catalogue of dire events has increased. Last weekend the Songbird and I were to have attended the fourteenth annual GAFilk convention. I had been looking forward to this for months, and especially to hearing the Guests of Honor, vixyish and tfabris, perform.

Well, guess what? Your Dumbassed Correspondent, knowing when we returned home last Wednesday that our three cats had been allowed to shed hair and dander into the copious carpeting in our apartment for weeks while we were away, failed to vacuum it all up at once on Thursday. As a result, SB's usual allergic reaction of respiratory congestion was inevitable, and she was too ill to go to the con Friday evening. I went by myself to pick up our badges and banquet tickets and stayed long enough to tick her off when I came home around two a.m.

As Saturday morning came (and went), she had a fever in excess of 100°, which kiboshed any question of her attending the con at all, and I did not feel it right or safe to go back and have fun by myself with her in that condition. Ergo, we missed out on all the concerts, the banquet, the Interfilk auction (where I had placed a written bid on an old NolaCon II tape) and all the rest of Saturday's festivities.

Then I got a text message from my older brother, back home in Louisiana, saying that my mother's brother James had died, after languishing in a nursing home for the past year. His obituary is at the website of Delhomme Funeral Home, which has served the Leger and Girouard families for generations. Naturally, with Mary too sick to travel and me not being able to afford a plane ticket or risk a 15-hour drive alone, I could not attend his interment scheduled the next day.

About Sunday noon, SB was feeling somewhat better, although still not well enough to go out. She insisted I go back to the con and have at least a little time with friends, which turns out to have been both very wise and generous on her part. When I got there, I was blessed with hugs and sympathy aplenty from all present, plus a thoughtful condolence card signed by many. I got to chat for awhile with my filk parents, Harry and Marilyn Alm, and meet their doggies, then have a nice dinner with starmalachite and her husband stevemb among others at the favored after-con dinner spot, the Barbecue Kitchen (no website, alas)...and hms42 was kind enough to cover my meal when I discovered I lacked cash (the Kitchen doesn't do plastic, either). I also learned that another kind fan, Larry Kirby, had picked up the $5 tab for my auction item and made sure it was held for me. After dinner, it was back to the hotel for the always-fun Dead Dog Filk, where much fun was had by all at least until I had to bail to keep my promise to SB that I would be home at something vaguely resembling a decent hour.

Thanks, however belatedly, to both Harold and Larry, and a very happy birthday to Harold today. Both of you, please let me know how I can send you repayment for your expenditures on my behalf. It's good to have friends...especially when the universe isn't one.

Comments

[lemmozine.livejournal.com]

It was good to see you at GAFilk for the little bit of time you were there, and I'd like to say you didn't miss much, but I'd be lying. The concerts were outstanding. Everything was wonderful. In particular, the open filk Saturday night in the small room was perhaps the most singularly enjoyable open filk I've attended in years. Small room. The GoHs, a string section to back us up, many fine performers.

I wonder if Harold would consider burning a few discs for you so you could at least hear some of the stuff you missed. Do you mind if I ask him?

[hms42]

Lem - email me about this. (Something can be arranged.)

[delennara.livejournal.com]

I am very sorry that things went so bad for the two of you. And I am sorry that I didn't meet you really.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[hms42]

Glad to pickup dinner for you the other night. I did not know that Larry K. had done that for you.

Did you get the bonus item I left with the tape?

[poltr1]

You seem to have a chronic case of FML. Sadly, so do I. I won't get into details about it online. I hope things gget better for both of us soon.

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Ugh! What a horrible interval of time (just read your last post and this one). I'm glad you did make it to the con, and I'm glad I got to hear you singing at least a bit (maybe along with someone else?--my brain is shot) at some point over the weekend.