Unofficial announcement, followed by unofficial plans.

[gridlore]

According to moles at Worldcon, Montreal has won the 2009 Worldcon. It won't be official until the WSFS Business meeting later today, but w00t!

We're going to this one. I've always wanted to see Montreal, we have some friends up that way, and it would be a nice vacation.

So, step 1: Buy memberships as soon as possible, apply for passports, and learn German.

What, you expect me to learn French?

In other news form the Mysterious Orient, the Hugo awards are up.

Nippon 2007 has the coolest Hugo statue ever. Seriously. Ultraman standing next to the rocket? Nice to see Vernor Vinge win, Rainbow's End was a great book. Of course, I'm demanding a recount on the two categories johnnyeponymous should have won. Where's Diebold when you really need them?

Comments

[pauldrye.livejournal.com]

Just in case you weren't joking: you don't need to know French to go to Montreal. Everyone there is bilingual. Say "Bonjour" when you approach someone you suspect may be French-Canadian, and then the other person will switch to English based on your accent (unless he's a jerk).

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

I'd like to learn a little French so we can really enjoy the city.

[grimmwire.livejournal.com]

W000T!

You won't need much French to get by in Montreal. I live here, and my French, c'est terrible.

Heh. Ultraman is just slightly taller than the rocket.

Having a wonderful time, wish you were here....

[kshandra]

Dude, the Penguins are rockin' the Esplanade this year. I LOVE the new tents.

Re: Having a wonderful time, wish you were here....

[grimmwire.livejournal.com]

You got TWO Burns for the price of one!

Re: Having a wonderful time, wish you were here....

[kshandra]

<tacky>And a token black man for a day!</tacky>

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

But only for about five minutes, then that light on his chest starts blinking, and he shrinks.

Ultraman, the Viagra of superheroes.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Based on watching the live-action Ultraman Family Battle on stage at the Hugo Awards ceremony, the real reason Ultraman shrinks away after only five minutes is because he sweats off the rest of the mass in that rubber suit. (Friends of mine were backstage at the Hugos and described the scenes as the actors were extracted from the suits.)

[katster.livejournal.com]

Montreal, here we come!

-kat

[lisa-marli.livejournal.com]

Michelle My belle - that's about it. But Montreal should be nice.

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

Merci Dieu, c'est Vendredi!

About the only phrase I remember from French I, which I only took because a certain young lady of questionable brains and unquestioned mammaries was singing up for the course.

[lizw.livejournal.com]

I was so pleased to see Steven Moffat winning for Girl in the Fireplace, especially since he's said it's his favourite of everything he's written so far.

[jarlsberg71.livejournal.com]

awesome...

Would love to meet up with you guys in Montreal... It's about time you've been introduced to Poutine.

You may also wish to look up flying into a US airport and driving across the border. sometimes to take an international flight costs a few hundred more per ticket.

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

Ooh! Flying into JFK, even with adding a care rental, knocks almost $200 off the per-person cost. It's way too far out to see the actual dates, but blocking a similar week next year gives me a red-eye from SFO to JFK, so we'd be able to meet up with fimbrethil for brunch, then up to y'all in Albany, and onto Canada through what appears to be a really sweet park.

[jarlsberg71.livejournal.com]

well it's a 7+hour drive if you do that.... (the border can be a pain)

Actually, if you're interested and we plan it right, you guys could get round trip train tix from NYP to ALB (it is an absolute GORGEOUS ride, which is shocking since for the first 50 miles you're looking at Jersey to the west! ;) But I got a big truck (ok not *your* kind of big truck) but I'd be happy to drive on up and be your transportation up and back.

It's just a thunk. WAY too far to plan at the moment. but it's an option.