The morning was again mostly eaten up by blogging, work e-mail, and things like that -- not very exciting.

I did gt over to the convention center in the afternoon, and stuck my head briefly into the Omnibus Publishing Panel, but it seemed very unfocused, so I snuck back out again and settled into a quiet corner to do some reading. I did make it to the Fighting for Shelf Space panel, where Patrick Nielsen Hayden gave a very detailed explanation of the history of the distribution of mass-market paperbacks, and where the gloom was somewhat cut by the repeated admissions that it always looks like things are horrible now -- but what specifically is making things horrible is regularly changing.

Then it was back to the room and these chiclet keys for more work. (I'm beginning to hate this damn laptop; it's hard to type on and I've been chained to it for half of the convention.) I emerged into the bar, where I started into space for a while (that was remarkably relaxing, though I guess it's not usual behavior for a con-goer).

After various permutations of hanger-outers in the bar had to leave to either get into their fancy clothes or just head directly to the Hugo pre-reception, I led a small deputation of those of us left over (Joel Shepherd, Rani Graff, Laura Anne Gilman, and Deanna Hoak, who had to leave mysteriously before she ordered) into Pavia, the fancy Italian restaurant in the Hilton. After a very nice meal, Laura Anne went back to the bar, but the rest of us went off to see most of the Hugos. We arrived during the unveiling of the Hugo base, so I did miss John Scalzi's Campbell win -- but, on the other hand, I managed to miss sitting though the Seiun Awards this year. The rest of the ceremony was quite amusing, and even surprising in spots (I was thrilled to see Donato Giancola and David Hartwell win).

I neglected to mention in my Hugo Winners post last night that the convention also gave two special awards this year, to Betty Ballantine and Harlan Ellison.

And then it was time for the parties. I learned this morning that the big Hugo Losers party was over in the Marriott (which is why I had no luck even finding the door I wouldn't have been able to get in). I collected a couple of stickers, wandered across the various decks of the lanai level, and then decided to just go to bed.

Today is Day Five, but I don't think I'll even make it to the convention center. I need to do a bit of work, pack, and then get to the airport. So this, I think, is the end of my boring convention blogging. I just hope some of the pictures came out OK.