As you can tell, ALL of the SIX Risky Regencies are in San Francisco at the RWA National Convention.

There have been excellent workshops, squee-worthy author sightings, some lovely gowns (and pantaloons! Go Amanda!) and the occasional cocktail. Ahem.

But I am not here today to talk about the fun we’re having.

No, as is my wont, I am here to talk about dealing with things that are outside of our normal ken–in my case, dealing with loads of people.

I live in Brooklyn, New York, a city that is quite bustling. I see many different types of people during the course of my daily routine. But, and this is the difference between my usual routine and now, I DON’T SAY HI TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM.

Nor do I have to look and act friendly. Or look good, if I don’t want to.

But here? Here I am wearing my sartorial best, each and every day, wearing make-up each and every day, smiling, saying hi, remembering people’s names and what genres they write, each and ever day.

It’s exhausting. And draining for someone as introverted as me.

But Conference–and its accompanying sturm und drang–comes but once a year. Like Christmas. A gynecological exam. A birthday.

So I remind myself that this is my community, I can suck it up for just a few more days, and I sneak up to the room for naps and alone time.

But I look forward to being back in New York City, where I can finally be alone.

What about you–do you need alone time? Or thrive on company? And do you have any tricks for remembering people’s name without having to stare at the nametag on their chest?

Megan

PS: The pic is relevant in that it is a small crowd, but more to the point, has the heroes of both my WIPs–Djimon Hounsou and Sean Bean–together. How cool is that?

People can be fanatical about things such as coffee, Clive Owen, black hooded sweatshirts, silver hoop earrings.

Yes, that’s just me. But that’s okay, this is MY day to post, and I’ve got packing to do, and a darn house to clean, and San Francisco to get to, and introvertism to overcome, and–yeah. You know.

One thing I am not fanatical about is getting to see or read stuff early. Honestly, it makes me feel like a dud. For example, I still haven’t seen The Dark Knight; I’ll get to it eventually (maybe Monday!), but it hasn’t been burning a hole in my chest or anything.

Likewise, Stephenie Meyer‘s Breaking Dawn is pre-ordered from Amazon, but not because I plan on reading it as soon as it ships–no, I just like the pre-order price discount. I’m cheap, not fanatical.

And the X-Files movie opens today. And Josh Whedon‘s Dr. Horrible has been online and causing havoc and frenzy. And Nas‘s record came out. And the iPhone. And Sherrilyn Kenyon‘s Acheron. And loads of other pop culture things that other people are so excited about, and I am, too, but I’m not as early adoptive.

I envy people that passionate devotion to things. I was pondering just what would make me get all fluttery, so passionate I had to not only GET the thing (like a book), but sit down and ingest it right away. Nothing. J.R. Ward, I get as soon as it releases, but I usually wait to read it, just because I’m in the middle of another book. Movies? I’ve got a nine year-old, and a workaholic husband–you do the math.

Makeup? Nope. Shoes? Uh-uh. I do like hearing music as soon as it’s out–and sometimes before (the benefit of having a music reviewing husband)–but I don’t chase it down. I do proselytize, as in the case of Adele, Duffy, Alice Smith and Rufus Wainwright (back in the day, before his first record came out). But I don’t HAVE to hear it day-of-release.

I think I might get crazy when Clive Owen (my favorite, duh) is finally starring as Philip Marlowe (one of my favorite fictional detectives) written by one of my favorite authors (Raymond Chandler), directed by Frank Miller (Sin City!). Then I might make sure the babysitter’s lined up. Might.

What are you fanatical about? Do you get or see or hear things as soon as they are released?