High points of Day 2:

1) I drew lots more commissions, and sold some originals this afternoon. I’m pleased with the amount of money I’ve made, and the amount of fun I’ve had making it. This has been, for me anyway, a profitable show. And I’ve got at least three hours to do artwork tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it.

2) My morning panel, on online business, went really, really well. Giles Schildt of Steve Jackson Games sat on the panel with me, and we discussed revenue streams, business planning, and the perils of carrying inventory.

3) Dinner with the Connie, Larry, and their crew was delicious. We ate at PappaDeaux (pronounced “Poppa-Doze”), and I had a scrumptious soft-shelled crab. It looked like a great, big, deep-fried bug. It was as much a visual treat as a comestible one.

4) I judged the cosplay. It was a little sparse again this year, with only five entrants, but it was also quite fun. The winners were a pair of guys who cosplayed Tycho and Gabe from Penny Arcade, and they earned their victory. Their costumes were hastily assembled, but accurate, and their performance was over the top. Tycho even ate his iPod mini, right there on stage.

That’s the news. I’ll post pictures in the con report once I’m back.

–Howard

Brief, BRIEF update:

1) I’m spending lots of time in Artists’ Alley
2) Breakfast is free at the hotel, and I can eat enough then that I don’t need lunch. In short, I don’t need to be fed by others except for dinner, and that’s now covered. I appreciate the offers, though.
3) I saw Serenity Friday night. This is a great movie. See it.
4) On Day 2 (today) I’ll be at Artists’ Alley from noon until 5pm. Then I’ll be gone, doing panels, dinner, and Cosplay judging.
5) I’ve made $135 so far. This means I broke even on the trip. Hurray!

Gotta go.

–Howard

Today was my “travel and meetings” day. Travel was fine, if cramped. I haven’t been on a plane that was too small for my carryons in a long time.

Maybe I should stop hauling this piano around.

Anyway, the rest of the day was spent in the excellent company of Steve Jackson. We discussed lots of things, including a new and improved schedule for the first of the Schlock Mercenary books. I won’t trouble you with it here, except to say that it won’t be ready in time for Christmas. The good news: the new schedule will work, provided I don’t try to catch the bus with my pants down around my ankles.

I’m not sure that metaphor means what I want it to mean. I need to pee now, though.

I spent the evening with Steve and his local crew of MIBs, employees, and regulars playtesting the planned expansion for the Illuminati game. I’d never played Illuminati before — it’s a hoot. Being able to say things like “The South American Nazis are going to take over Microstuff with the help of the Minions of Cthulhu” in intelligent company is a right treat.

Better still, I looked at the Microstuff card and quickly designed a polar opposite to represent the Open Source community. After all, in any proper Illuminati-based conspiracy, Open Source has to play SOME part.

Okay, it’s bedtime. I took my melatonin, and tomorrow will be a busy day.

–Howard

My Linucon Schedule is up, and with it you have the opportunity to participate in my new “Will Draw For Food” promotion.

Begging aside, you can also find out where I’ll be, and when. And now, back to work with me. I’ve got a zillion things to do before I go, and this evening is my weekly shift at the temple, which means I need to get a zillion things done before 2pm.

In other news, I put up a “Third Orleans” footnote.

–Howard