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Updates
1. I got my second and final vaccination today. Just a few hours ago, so it's too soon to say much about side effects, but right now I feel basically fine. My arm isn't even sore yet. I love the spontaneous artwork that folks are creating by leaving their wait-time stickers on what used to be a sign of some kind. I got a selfie in front of the wall, but I didn't think to take a picture from a distance and am regretting it. Two more weeks.
2. In other personal news, I found about about two weeks ago that I would be getting a promotion at my day job. I knew my manager was submitting me for consideration, and we both thought my chances were pretty good, but it was a definite relief to know for sure. The promotion was effective on April 1st (yes, for real), and so I am now a Researcher (as opposed to an RA). It'll be a step up in pay (although I don't yet know by how much), and I'm making the switch from hourly to salaried (which I have mixed feelings about, honestly), and it means I should generally be offered meatier project work, as opposed to a support role (which to a large extent, I've already been doing -- promotions at my organization are often given in recognition of the work that people are already doing). I'm very pleased, and the positive response from my co-workers was gratifying.
3. After several months of being in limbo, this year's WorldCon, DisCon III, has announced that the con will be in person, with some virtual elements, in December. They've also posted a FAQ, which is worth reading if you're interested -- they share some details about why the announcement took so long (complicated situation with the hotel contract), why they aren't doing a virtual con in August (see above), and the results of the poll they did a few months ago. In contrast to ConZealand, they'll be offering a Virtual Attending Membership for less than the cost of in-person, $75; that sounds like a lot for an online-only con until you remember that this includes the cost of a Supporting Membership, which I believe is something like $50. Now, you might argue that a $50 Supporting Membership is, in itself, outrageous, and I'd be hard pressed to disagree, but given the realities of current WorldCon price structures, an extra $25 to attend the con virtually doesn't seem so bad.
I had long planned to attend this WorldCon, and for me, the new dates make me more likely to attend. Mid-December (12/15-12/19) isn't the greatest time for a con, but I think it's a lot safer than an in-person con would be in August 2021, and it sounds like a fully virtual con wasn't in the cards (see multiple mentions of hotel contracts, above). It's how I voted in the poll, and I think it was probably the best of the bad choices. That said, 2022 WorldCon will be in Chicago, and a critical mass of my fandom friends are already talking about attending that one, and Charlie Jane Anders and Annalee Newitz are toastmasters, and that's a Hugo ceremony I've got to see. So I suspect I'll probably attend both. If you decide to go to either or both, let me know!
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Mid-December is a crappy time to take off work and travel, but we are planning on going. It's annoying, because we are going to Arisia in January, so we'll be going to the east coast twice in the space of six weeks or so.
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I hear you on staying hourly. I'm going to continue working at 75% time, which will definitely help me maintain work-life balance.
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Yeah. I absolutely recognize how fortunate I am that working part-time is financially viable for me.
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I had been planning on the Discon, because it would be easy for me to get to, but for now I haven't bought a membership - too paranoid!
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And Chicago, you say *peeks* I probably would not attend the con but if you wanted to get tea or wine while you're here, absolutely hit me up.
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I wouldn't NOT let you know if I was going to be in Chicago with even a little free time. :D Definitely we should meet up!
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Awesome! Although that's too far out to plan anything really, I'm happy to know that you'll be there. :)
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