"I'm going to go back there someday"

Every year at FilKontario they hold the Filk Hall of Fame awards ceremony

These awards are given to people who have contributed to the filk community. It is not necessary to be a great songwriter, or singer or musician to contribute to the community. Some run filk cons, or filk tracks at general cons. Some record concerts or produce CDs. Some host housefilks. Some recruit newcomers.

The first step to someone being considered is the nomination letter. The deadline for current nominations is January 15, 2010. For more info on how to write a nomination letter, and where to send it, check Here

So if you know someone who you feel needs recognition then now is the time to do something. Don't worry that your effort is wasted if they don't win this year, all nomination letters are kept year to year.

I had a very good time at my first Windycon

The costumes were amazing (Ever seen a steampunk wheelchair?) While admiring costumes in the hall we came to the conclusion that if Steampunk were chosen as a theme again then it would have to be

Steampunk Two the Etheric Bugaboo

The guests were gracious and funny

The filk circles were lively, and I got to hear new people, including one young guitar player who wrote "teenage vampire blues" while at the con. I managed a personal Filk Milestone while I was there. I actually covered a filk song in front of it's creator. I sang This Ain't Over Yet in front of Tom Smith. He graciously played along.

I got to see people I hadn't seen in too long, from some of you I hadn't seen for a whole 2 weeks to voiceofkiki who I haven't seen in over 2 years.

I also got in a bit of gaming over the weekend.

All together it was a successful con

I had a great time at O.V.F.F.

I started slow (performing) because I realized that I hadn't performed or practiced in 2 months. I'm not sure I sang anything on Thursday, and only a couple of times on Friday.

I really enjoyed several of the theme circles on Saturday, and sang merrily at those. I did perform a couple of spoken word pieces in the filk-till-breakfast circle on Saturday/Sunday.

It was great to see and catch up with people from the Northeast.

It was great to see and catch up with people from the Midwest, who I just haven't had a chance to see yet.

The Pegasus concerts were great as usual, a real treat. Also a treat was getting to hear so many "filkers of yore". I especially enjoyed Duane Elms concert.

I also got my copy of Rosemary and Rue signed. squeee

Now I'm fighting off post con blues by reading everyone elses con reports

Today is the last day to nominate for the Pegasus Awards for ( Filking )

This is primarily aimed at those on my flist in or near Upstate NY.

Would any of you be interested in attending a S.J. Tucker house concert held In the Albany area?

No I have a date, I'm just trying to find if there is intrest.

I am going to talk about Concertino out of order and start at the end.

Sunday night at the MassFilc meeting it really hit me hard that I am moving (geographically) away from a wonderful community.

Three years ago, trying to find a social outlet after the break-up of my marriage, I walked into Concertino ’06. Only one person, at the time, knew my name, but I was welcomed. This year I helped make Concertino ’09 happen, and of the 130 attendees there were less than 20 people who didn’t know me.

As the Dead Dog circle got smaller, and more locals went home I was also realizing that once I move, it will be months or years before I see most of you again. I was barely able to hold myself together to sing I’m going to go back there some day which is my typical swan song of the con. (It also happens to be the first thing I stood up and sang at a filk circle, back at Arisia ’05)

I will try to make it to the July MassFilk meeting, and I plan to send my proxy with someone to the Annual meeting (just so that I can feel like I’m still involved), but in case I don’t see some of you again you before I move.

So Long and Thanks for all the Filk

150 friends posts since I was brousing lj last Thursday, and I haven't been reading lj thouroughly since before DucKon, so...

If you have posted any Big News in the past two weeks please give me a wave.

I currently want to add posts on

DucKon
CGC visit
ConCertino
Relocation Process

Home from DucKon, which has an amazing filk track. How amazing?

Seanan McGuire, was Filk Guest. There were also performances including Vixy & Tony, S.J. Tucker, Brooke Lunderville, Amy McNalley, Kathy Mar, Tom Smith, and Riverfolk.

How can they top that next year?

DucKon 2010 Filk Guest will be Talis Kimberley

In other news bankrupt my pants is in effect

for DucKon

Pants, shorts, kilt, bathing suit
Dress shirt, T-shirt, Tree-shirt
Sandles, belt, socks & underwear
3-1-1 Bag (toiletries)
Filk binder
2 books, to read on the plane
Ravens in the Library to get signed
Dice

All in a carry on bag

See some of you tomorrow

This morning I decided I wanted a change of pace for the music I listen to at work, so I decided to see what Filk I could find on YouTube.

In my search I quickly found a set of interviews done at Conflikt 1 and though, "I remember that, I wonder if he used any footage of me"

Turns out I was the first one in the interview

Then at about minute 3:35 is John Caspell giving his answer to "What is Filk?"

First, my condolences to those who were close to him.
Next, my condolences to those who didn’t get the chance to know him.

I knew him only briefly, not sure we every shared a conversation, but I had the pleasure of sharing filk circles with him a number of times.

I first met him at O.V.F.F 2006
I remember he and hsifyppah performing I fell asleep (reading the Silmarillion) onstage and though to myself that I should look for them at the open circle that night. I did find them performing in the smallest circle that night. Hsifyppah declared that we needed spooky songs for Halloween, so the two of them performed The Mad Scientist’s Love Song (It’s even spookier performed on banjo). I had been planning on asking them to perform it for Gary at Concertino this summer.

In circles he was always patient, kind, cheerful, and was a die-hard lingerer, at least once I was in a circle with him that lasted till breakfast.

I was looking forward to seeing (and hearing) him in June. I’m sure there will be many circles in the future where I will notice his absence.

On the drive to FKO we listened to The Arrogant Worms, to get into a Canadian frame of mind. Arrived at about 1:30 Friday, started hugging people. About 3:30 registered for room, con, and banquet. About 6pm CGC arrived. 7:45 went to “Tie and Tails” party. 8:15 went to opening ceremonies. After that it becomes a blur.

I do remember

Toyboat gets better every time I see them

The highlight of the 1-shots was “Suburban Travesty” singing “Pretty Filkers” with visual aids.

The What’s my con speed reading of con promotions went very well. It was done before the Auction, instead of after the Banquet.

Bill Roper did a great song for the at-con song writing contest: “If your baby wants a penguin…”

The concerts were great

The consuite was great

What did I sing/perform?

• Friday night Heather Dale hosted a “places” theme circle. Based on the news Friday, I decided to sing the Iowa by Dar Williams.


• East of my Kind


• Rich Fantasy Lives: There was a person at the con who hadn’t heard it before, so I fixed that.


• Captain Jack and the Tardis


• Two Left Feet: which I first learned from Renie at FKO last year, I got to sing it for her in circle this year.


• Sam’s Song: They asked Erica to lead Sam’s song, so she got up on stage, and asked for any and all backup to join her on stage, so I did.


• Henry the Fifth will not have Rideable Horses (spoken word)


• Sister Fatima A request of Jan

Plus other stuff I’m forgetting.

I spent $223.00 dollars on Interfilk, (I need a sign made to remind me not to get into bidding wars against Kathleen) most of it went for the “Filk You” package including: A handmade filk bag, two novels by Norma McPhee, a copy of her songbook and a CD of her song If you don’t like how I sing, filk you. As well as a harmonica, some cough drops, a hat of song triggering (many filkers will sing at the drop of a hat) and earplugs.

CD’s Bought: Phil Mills’ Rain on the Sand; Randy Hoffman’s More Vocals in the Monitor, and Marion Call’s Got to Fly
There were not any copies of Abseiling for Beginners by Playing Rapunzel or Red Roses and Dead Things by Seanan Mcguire for sale at the con.

There were so many Amazing people there I couldn’t begin to list them all. I had a great time.

It has been pointed out to me that I haven't mentioned my weekend plans.

I am in Toronto for FilKOntario

I'll be home Monday

My copy of Ravens in the Library has arrived.

I haven't had a chance to do more than look at the illustrations read the Introduction, but I can say that it is quite Shiney.

I started off dodging the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Boston to go to the Concertino Concom meeting at 1pm in Cambridge. (I actually got there about 1:20.) I was found by Ben & Sarah on the way to the meeting and we talked about books. We got out of the meeting at about 2:30.

[Shameless Plug]
By the way Concertino is going to be a great con, with wonderful music, and everyone should go, June 19th through 21st, 2009, in Worcester, Massachusetts.
[/Shameless Plug]

After the meeting I went to maedbh7’s house and played a couple of games of Race for the Galaxy. The people in that house are getting too good at that game.

From there I took the Red Line to Harvard Square where I caught a bus to Watertown, where s00j was performing a special birthday concert, at the Church of the Good Shepherd. The birthday girl got to sing backup for s00j, and gave a reading. She did very well, and their two voices blended quite sweetly.

I think we will go with ( bullet points )

I have now been ( Gafilk’d )

Skip 75, assuming nobody writes anything in the morning

For those who I haven't already told; I am going to Atlanta, Georgia on Friday for a filk convention.

I'll be home Late Sunday. While I am gone please don't expect me to post on LJ, throw virtual snowballs, or proofread novels.