Did I remember I agreed to MC that last year when we were chatting?
Um. No, but, hey, I'm good.
Jim, who sometimes is known to get excited and rant a bit, was making cut signs at the folks on stage, who were blithely ignoring him. When they finally trooped off, and Jim got a mike, it kept going off every time he seemed about to say something disparaging. Either wonderful coincidence or a sound guy with a wicked sense of humor.
It did come back on just in time for Jim's " -- bunch of muthafuckahs!"
Imagine it with a slight Germanic accent.
Then there was the award, a lovely glass plate etched with a design by artist Ashley Harper.
Where is the award?
I thought you had it.
I don't have it, I gave it to you!
Hey, Moe! Hey, Larry! Wooowoowooowwoooo -- !
Finally we got it all sorted out, over my somewhat hysterical giggles.
My part was easy, all I had to do was get up read the names of the finalists, then call out the winner. Wore a sport coat and leather shoes. People who have known me at this con for thirty-odd years walked past me, not recognizing me. Perfect disguise, a sport coat.
I read out the finalists. Asked the audience for a drum roll, and made the announcement. And the winner -- David Marusek -- was onstage behind me and so deep in conversation with the other two finalists who made it there that he didn't hear me. Got a nice, classic double-take when I went over and tugged on his sleeve. Hey, Dave? You, uh, won ...
Best laugh of the evening.
Saw Rory Miller in the green room -- we're doing a panel together on the morrow. He sent me greetings from a guy we both know and wondered at the tone of the message. Something going on there? he wondered?
Oh, yeah. Maybe after our panel I can take him to lunch and tell that story ...