headed home from the world con

Well, the con is drawing to a close.  Gay and I went out after breakfast and enjoyed strolling for a couple of hours – perfect strolling environment, and in this case, an official one.  Stu Segal has been running "Stroll With the Stars" for some years, which we've been doing every year.  About 75 people showed up to chat and walk.(There were three or four other writers and artists going in their own groups.)
You couldn't imagine a better environment for it.  A lazy well-landscaped river with a well-maintained walkway, thoughtfully populated by attractive young joggers.  Some not so young, but younger than me.  Gay and I just walked along and answered questions and, as always, it was over rather before I was ready to stop.  Much preferable to dragging along waiting for it to end.
The Hugo ceremonies were less acrimonious than I expected, but with David Gerrold in charge, I should have known they would have gone smoothly.  The Sick Puppies, or Queasy Cats or whatever, did their protest thing, and were passively tolerated, and went away.
The ceremony was pretty plain, as opposed to recent high-tech presentations.  I was just as glad.  Walked from there to a lovely book store, Auntie's, where they had tons of food and drink, including fancy cheeses and pastry and good wine.  I could have stayed there for hours, one of the best book stores in a lifetime of haunting same.But duty calls, and we went on in a fleet of taxis to a big mansion that George Martin had taken over for a lavish blow-out, more food and drink, but this time with music and dancing.
I don't dance and the music was rather loud for me.  I should throw a competing party, with cool jazz.  Maybe a hookah in the corner for those who prefer to relax with opium or hashish – oops, no.  It's not really California.The whole show was enjoyable for both of us.  I wasn't overworked – my hardest day had five events, and I only had a half-day of writers' cramp after the signing party.
So there will be the necessary excruciation of a day of airports and airplanes, with a little extra excitement, since we're flying into Hurricane/Tropical Storm Danny.  With two more storm systems coming behind it.  Part of the fun of living in Florida.
But seriously, we are moving into the half-year that's the best part of living in North America's Penis.  Or Dangling Participle.   From October through May it's pretty nice.
Joe