I can't honestly say World Con sneaked up on me, but I have been so preoccupied with work and work travel that I am slightly shocked to be sitting in Newark airport right now. I haven't even registered for the convention yet so, of course, I am not on programming, I will, however, go to all the art panels I can and report back. Looking at the list of artists, there are tons of names I do not know -- I'm looking forward to seeing new work. I also get to be Stephan Martiniere at the Hugos. I've had the pleasure of being Donato a few times -- once when he won, in LA. After I gave up explaining that the rocket I was holding wasn't really mine, I had a great time beaming, "Why, thank you! Thank you so much."
See ya in Mountain Time.