A flashback

[thebitterguy]

In keeping with the 10 year policy, here's my old house when I was living in Ottawa going to The Gonk.

The summer of that year was an ugly one. To be honest, I should have gone back to napanee and redid the Puppy Patrol job. But, no. To the best of my knowledge, I was unemployed that entire summer. I think. Really, it's pretty darn vague. All I remember was an unpleasent trip to Quebec City (but, really, is there any other kind?) and working on CanCon.

CanCon was my first convention experience. God knows it should have warned me away from them all, but such was not to be. Eh.

Admittedly, it was fun. I got to sit beside Judith Merrill as she did a reading at the Rideau Centre, which was an honour for me.

But, on the subject of readings at the Rideau Centre: Christ wearing tennis shoes, who thought that was a good idea? Really, now. SF writers reading in a mall? It got downright embarassing sometimes.

CanCon is also where I met the Luminous Angel of Canadian Fantasy for the first time, beginning a love affair that would echo through the ages.

Don't tell my wife. Or hers.

I was also at the time a member of the CanSF Imagineers writing group, which was also the CanSF Imagineers eating group and Trivia Association. There was also a guy named Ross whom I regularly wanted to kill. But that's another story.

In addition (yes, I forget things) I played Axis & Allies at mr_weasel's house repeatedly that summer. Gabe, Wes, Marty mr_weasel's roommate at the time; the non Amway one) and I. I often got Russia, which means I was often fucked up the ass, strategically speaking.

We played another game Marty owned about the North Africa campaign, a tactical game that involved moving a bunch of pieces around a board. He'd gotten it at a game store in the states for $5, and it was a good deal. I think it was an old TSR game.

I miss Ottawa still. Really, I miss the old days when there was nothing better to do than play A&A until it was time to go home (or crash on the couch, at least). Ayep.

Comments

[mr-weasel.livejournal.com]

Ah, memories.

Damn A&A was fun. We need to play more strategy games.

[thebitterguy]

I have a new strategy game that's about Mobsters. We could play it and eat a pasta dinner.

[andpuff.livejournal.com]

But, on the subject of readings at the Rideau Centre: Christ wearing tennis shoes, who thought that was a good idea?

On the up side though, once you've read at the Rideau Centre you can read pretty much anywhere because nothing will ever be that bad.

[thebitterguy]

I suspect a Honky Tonk might have been worse. Might.