introversion

I was greatly surprised to hear someone I was talking to at Baycon -- it might very well have been vixyish -- disagree with my self-assessment as an introvert. Her reasoning was that someone who enjoys being at cons, enjoys good conversation, and performs filk in front of a live audience, just has to be a "people person". Apparently the fact that I'm horribly shy except with people I know doesn't count.

The thing about conventions is that, because I've been going to them for so long, there are a lot of people I know there. And online places like LJ and, before that, alt.callahans, mean that I've been introduced to a lot of people before I have to interact with them face-to-face. The recent trend of people putting LJ usernames on their badges is great for me. Even so, you're more likely to find me at a panel or a filk concert than hanging out in the lobby with the flower_cat.

As for filk concerts, there are a couple of factors: filk audiences are friendly, most of the people coming to my concerts are people I already know, and keeping my performance together requires enough concentration that I don't really notice that there are other people out there.

I hardly ever take a book to parties anymore, but on Wednesdays at the Starport you're still most likely to find me in the office, either reading on the Web or talking with a small number of geeks about some subject I'm familiar with. I'll sometimes play guitar, and occasionally sing, but mostly only if asked. It sometimes takes me a couple of weeks to psych myself up to the point where I can make a phone call. I have great difficulty reading emotions from people's faces, don't remember names, and only rarely pick up hints or cues that other people think are obvious.

So if you run into me at a con, feel free to come up and introduce yourself. Especially if you think I ought to remember who you are -- I probably just have to be reminded.

Will wonders never cease?

Amazingly enough, the girls appear to be cleaning their rooms! I'm impressed. They must be terribly bored. No, I don't want to know how long it takes for chocolate milk to petrify.

flower_cat update

The Cat's been doing really well (in my opinion) -- she's even been able to sleep a little on her right side (the injured side). She's cut the happy pills down to two or three a day, and was feeling well enough this evening for dinner out (dead cow at the Black Angus) and a longish drive afterwards.

As for me, I feel like my brain has turned into swiss cheese over the course of the last couple of weeks.

Household party next Saturday -- a week from today -- see web for directions.