Off to San Diego in the morning - I'll be working the Udon booth, #5368. Jim's got details on the location and signing times here.

See y'all in a week!

Crap. I forgot to pick up a ticket package for the TIFF on Monday and now the one I wanted (Daytime Light) is sold out!

Would anyone be interested in splitting a regular Daytime package ($196 / $98 each for 12-13 tickets for films starting before 5 pm) or a 30-ticket package ($375 / $190 each for 15 anytime tickets) with me?

I'd prefer the Daytime package, because of budget issues, and may be able to trade with you for some volunteer vouchers, which can be used for anytime tickets and also for last-minute gala tickets (at Roy Thompson Hall and Elgin). The split doesn't need to be straight 50-50, I just can't really afford (or use!) a full ticket package this year, and I'd rather not pay the premium rates on the 10-ticket set.

Will include a feature on The Apocalypstix, by Ray Fawkes (ghoidoz) and Cameron Stewart. Sweet!

ETA: Article is up!

First up: a signal boost for Saturday's post about the Fancy Dress Picnic. I'm not sure if the lack of response was because people missed the post, or because they're not interested; if there's no response this week, I'll assume the later!

The downpour yesterday flooded the ZubHaus basement, which would have been less of a problem if I'd finished unpacking and therefore had fewer boxes of books and other paper/fabric-based items stacked on the suddenly-wet floor. Once Jim soothed me out of my meltdown, I was able to rationally assess the damage, which could have been much worse: the Ray Fawkes originals were protected by their frames, the damaged books are mainly in the "don't really need" category, and the water itself seems to be storm run-off rather than sewage (ew).

Ironically, we suspect the flooding is related to having recently cleaned the back eaves trough (at my insistence!), since there weren't any signs of flooding previously.

We're going to be looking into solutions over the next few days, and also reassessing the ZubHaus layout to find above-ground storage spots for my most valuable (and vulnerable) stuff. I was pleased to discover that the City of Toronto has a Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy, which may help with costs. There's also a city inspection service, which I think is free, to help pinpoint the problem, which we might use if Jim's contractor can't help us sort it out.

Locations:
I've narrowed down the possible locations for the Fancy Dress Picnic to three sites; given the pros and cons (and some I may have overlooked), which do you think would work best?

1. High Park
Pros: classic; everyone knows where it is; subway-accessible; good facilities.
Cons: may be crowded; not very exciting/original.

2. Guildwood Park
Pros: Really cool! Park includes architectural debris that would be very fitting in the chrononaut theme for the picnic.
Cons: Harder to reach (subway/Go train + bus); location may dissuade some attendees; may be busy with wedding parties.

3. Trinity Bellwoods Park
Pros: very central location; small/easy-to-find
Cons: Zzzzzzzz; may be crowded; can't reserve space in advance.

Any way I slice it, the booking fee remains the same, as do the restrictions (no vendors, no alcohol - unless we get a separate, pricey permit - no balloons, etc.). It's low enough for me to cover even if no one donates to assist with the costs, which is my main consideration.

Wardobe Lending System:
Many people have indicated they would be interested in attending, but have no clothing that would suit. I have a closet full of costumes, some of which I don't mind lending out.

I am thinking about setting up a lending wardrobe for the event; ideally, I'd like to ask for a deposit on any loans, to be returned once the item is given back after the event. If an item comes back with stains, etc, I'd hold back a portion of the deposit to cover cleaning.

Now, the deposit would need to be both a/ reasonable for people to afford and b/ high enough that they're inclined to return borrowed items. Does anyone think this is reasonable, and what sort of deposit range would you be comfortable with?

Obviously, I'm not going to lend out anything it would break my heart not to get back.

Picnic Dates:
Right now, I'm looking at three possible dates:

Sunday, September 14
Saturday, September 20
Sunday, September 21

Preferences?

Anyone interested in a possible road trip August 22-24 to New York City? I'm keen to attend the Dances of Vice II Festival, which is basically a big dress-up weekend.

Pointers to inexpensive lodgings in NYC also appreciated!

Helpful content post swiped from cupcakegoth:

You know how sometimes people on your friends list post about stuff going on in their lives, and all of a sudden you think, "Wait a minute? Since when are they working THERE? Since when are they dating HIM/HER? since when???" And then you wonder how you could have missed all that seemingly pretty standard information, but somehow you feel too ashamed to ask for clarification because it seems like info you should already know? It happens to all of us sometimes.

Please copy the queries/statements below, erase the existing answers and put your own in their places, and then post the result in your journal. Please elaborate on the questions which would benefit from elaboration. One-word-answers seldom help anyone out.

( cut for length )

I am successfully moved, and have unpacked much of my wardrobe. Huzzah! I will also need to get rid of stuff, as the rest of the wardrobe that remains packed is probably not going to fit.

Why must I be so clothes crazy?

Anyway, the movers were awesome. sarinda, thanks so much for the referral. Tom Trucker, 416-MY TRUCK, I can not recommend them highly enough. They were polite, efficient, professional and hustled so fast that the move came in way under budget, even after a generous tip.

The Norweigans are successfully installed at my old apartment. Apologies for bailing on all social outings Saturday night, but I was just too exhausted to manage anything more than Venture Brothers and passing out early.

Which sucked, because I missed out on the Shuster Awards, so I missed out on castellucci winning for Outstanding Canadian Comic Book Writer 2007! Congrats Cecil!

More exciting stuff: previews are up at Comic Book Resources for THE APOCALIPSTIX written by Ray Fawkes (aka ghoidoz) and illustrated by Cameron Stewart. The book debuts at San Diego Comic Con in July and will be in stores soon afterwards, but you can read the first 50 pages online via the above link.

Ray also has a story in Popgun vol. 2, the Image Comics anthology which hits stores next month. Also appearing in Popgun vol. 2 is a piece by the awesomely talented Chris Stevens and Jim Zubkavich (aka zubkavich, aka MY BOYFRIEND). Jim's got the first two pages of their story online here. Sweeeeeeet.

June continues to kick the crap outta me.

I`m mostly packed: this weekend is the Shuster event on Saturday and moving on Sunday, with whatever social events I can manage crammed into Saturday evening.

Much of my furniture will be staying at the apartment, aside from bookcases, my sewing table and a wardrobe; there are, however, an appalling number of boxes. The Norweigans will be moving in once my boxes are out, and we will need to organize another move at the end of the month to get them settled into their new place (assuming they have a place by then).

I have a week to unpack at ZubHaus, then we leave for Cuba the next Saturday. On a vacation we haven`t yet booked.

So now you know. Also, I am pretty cranky these days.

Fancy Dress Picnic
I want to have one. I`m thinking either Sept 14 (Sun) or Sept 20-21 (Sat, Sun) - early fall, so the weather has cooled off enough to make Victorianna fancy dress more practical. Are people interested?
(inspiration)

Dear People Who Have My Phone Number:

If you call and I do not answer, leave a message. I am prone to leaving the ringer off, but will usually hear the ping of a new message.

If you don't leave a message, I will not call back even when I see you have called, since I will assume the matter is not urgent.

This may leave you sitting on the ZubHaus steps in the rain, when you could have easily picked up my spare keys. For instance.

That is all.

No, not for me!

The Norweigans have arrived, and are in need of housing asap. They're looking for a one-bedroom or one-plus-den, near a subway stop and ideally within walking distance of Bloor/University.

Something that's available asap would be ideal, although we can likely jury-rig for July 1. Upper range is about $1200 inclusive, I think? They're keen on the idea of a high-rise: a room with a view.

If you know of anything, please drop me a line!

My sweetie is very talented. D&D 4th ed go! I'm looking forward to seeing Jim & Chris's art in print over sushi dinner this evening.

Sunday: High Tea at Hart House with the Strawberry Social. Tickets are free, but you have to call to reserve! I'm going with RocketMom, who is apparently whipping up a new pair of gloves for the occassion.

I need to book movers for mid-late June and would appreciate some recommendations: folks who will haul boxes and handle the driving, no packing required. Moderate budget: I'd rather pay a bit more for reliable help.

Based on thornleaf's recent experience, anyone suggesting U-Haul will be setting themselves up for a shin-kicking.

For those of you with a taste for techno-industrial tunes, check out Bone Music, the debut album from Jairus Khan, aka Ad·ver·sary.

The complete album is available for download, but if you enjoy it (and have the funds) I encourage you to buy a copy and show your support!

Thanks to everyone who came out and made Jim's birthday party so fabulous!

More photos on Facebook here and here.

( New dress )

I sort of wish I hadn't opted to try a new dress design for making up this fabric, since the high-waisted fit makes me look a bit dumpy. On the other hand, super-comfy!

For a Jim-less weekend, it was a pretty good one. I finished the latest draft for BEARERS and did most of my location scouting for FAMILIAR TRICKS, which is set in Toronto. There is a surprising lack of abandoned warehouses in the Queen/River area these days, thanks to all the condo development going on.

On Saturday evening, my superintendent stopped by to check out my plumbing, as my tub's been draining slowly of late.

Twenty minutes later, my toilet had backed up into the bathtub.

Fortunately, my superintendents rock. Gary stayed up until 11 pm Saturday cobbling my plumbing back into decent enough shape that I didn't have a tub full of sewage, and they've given me access to an empty unit in the building until a proper plumber can sort out the mess. Fun!

Also: I made this on Saturday morning. Isn't it pretty?



(flat yardage)

One of my favorite blogs lately is PZ Myer's Pharyngula, not only for the posts themselves, but also for the oft-delightful comment threads.

Today's comment gem:

Buzz off, you lying piece of shredded doormat. Benighted codswallop! Go to Texas. If you can't figure out why I'm angry with you, buzz off seven times seven times more. Abrade your jaded corneae with a cheap plastic crucifix. Ratdong. Cellpore. Nanophalic drone.Go away, nihilist. You're a poison on this earth, a cancer, a cold, writhing, hungry parasite on the heart of humanity.

How dishonest you are, you bevenomed, motley-minded ratsbane.
Begone, slithering snake. Simpering crookpate. Malodorous gasbox. Doghearted horn-beast. Gangrenous carbuncle. Virulent pustule. Puking, fat-kidneyed flap-dragon. Witch-burning pigsherd. Rump-fed clotpole.

Go pray now, lambchop. Leave us, and go whisper sweet nothings under the sheets to your murderous little fever-dream.

What we're dealing with at work today: bisphenol A.

Four weeks into a 12 week contract and I still don't have the software I need to do my core job. Fun!

As a few of you have noticed already, I've been making some changes to my online presence.

My core domain, StacyKing.com, finally has content. Yipee!

The site includes a new blog, mirrored at stacyking for those of you who despise RSS feeds. If you are interested in my writing process and occasional pop culture quips, this is the LJ to follow.

charmingmonstrs will remain for social planning, fashion communities, and reading the blog posts of real-life friends. I've also trimmed the friends list down considerably; no drama is intended.

Any major developments in my life will be mirrored on both LJs. Feel free to read one, both or neither as suits your interest. I honestly won't take it personally!