PAX East 2012: Plot vs Play panel

Here are Ken Levine (Bioshock), Chris Avellone (Fallout: New Vegas), and David Gaider (Dragon Age) speaking about the importance of writing, plot, and game mechanics.

Feline Intelligence FTW

So.

Today my kitty was poking at one of her toys and mewing that she needed help getting it out.

So I stand up to walk over there.

Whereupon she darts onto my chair, right where I was sitting and curls up.

Leaving me standing there, wondering if this is simply opportunistic behavior from a cat with a short attention span, or a carefully crafted cunning plan to get the best seat in the house.

Such an innocent face, such a devious mind.

Magical Scottish Fling

If you attended the RT BookLovers' Convention you know about this year's Magical Scottish Fling Faery Ball. For those unable to attend, here are some photos, the stage shots courtesy of RT Book Reviews:

THE CLAN MACFAE

This was our Faery Court for this year; we hosted the party. I'm the one in the blue hat next to James Rollins. You can't tell, but I'm in a matching blue cavalier coat and Appin Stewart tartan skirt (kilts are only for men). Unfamiliar with Appin Stewart?

The plaid inside the shield is Appin Stewart.

Each of us had tartan badges like this lining the entrance to the ballroom. I chose Appin Stewart as my tartan.

The costumes this year were fantastic (as always):

Six foot wing-span on this one!

tattooed wings!

You might be wondering - why is this event called both the Faery Ball and the Magical Scottish Fling?

Traditionally, the Convention's Thursday night dinner and dance was called the Faery Ball and had Faery/Mythology themes and costumes. It was thought that after so many years, it would make a nice change-up to open the theme beyond Faery/Mythology. 

So this year the Thursday dinner and dance was called the Magical Scottish Fling. We're the same Court, but your costume only had to connect with Scotland. It could be historical, mythological, steampunk, whatever.

And under the category of I-have-wings-and-am-ready-to-party:

J.A. Konrath & Blake Crouch

Next year we may cast an even wider costume net, we'll have to see. Anything to get the fellas to participate, right?

Courtesy RT Book Reviews

Oh, and if you want a closer look at my hat:

Jacobite Susanne

I hope y'all can attend next year in Kansas City, MO!

That Flu Virus Going Around

So who has been sick recently? Anyone? (Bueller?)

I recently caught whatever it is going around and it is TERRIBLE. Truly. It's on the biologically-engineered-and-weaponized-will-brutally-melee-you-to-the-floor level of terrible.

Started coming down with it at the RT BookLovers' Convention in Chicago, so I had the hotel provide me with chicken soup:

Yes, those are matzo balls in the soup!

Delicious!

My friends Sahara Kelly and Amanda McIntyre swear by stingers as an aide to flu recovery, so I tried that, too:

Not sure if they followed my directions or not. It's supposed to be 3 parts White Creme de Menthe to 1 part... brandy? Now I've forgotten. (The flu virus ate that part of my brain!)

How do you folks combat the flu/flu season?

Bag of Holding... Cats

I received many compliments on my Bag of Holding from ThinkGeek at WonderCon. This I kinda expected. It's stylish, strong, and able to carry everything I need - and then some.

What I did not expect is every time I put the bag down, a cat claims it.

This messenger bag is the perfect Jumbo-Kitty size, and soft, so clearly it was made to be a cat bed. End of discussion, as far as felines are concerned. You want it back? Don't make me claw you.