No Strings Attached

Posted By Kathleen David on September 25, 2014

Haven’t done one of these in a while but there has been something that has been going around on the Internet that got me to thinking.

It started with Denise Dorman’s web log entry which you can read here . And the take away line seem to be that Mrs. Dorman hates cosplay from everything you read that was about this web log.

But that was not it at all. She was explaining how conventions were money makers for them and countless other professional artists but now seem to be money losers for them. She did cite the cosplay as an element but it was an example in an essay that talked about a lot more that has changed in the convention circuit.

More importantly she pointed out how expensive it was for the regular fan to just go to a convention much less a professional who was invited. There is less disposable income to be spent on original art and the like between the cost of parking, food, hotel, and the badge.

I do know what she is talking about but then I am another wife of a professional that goes to a lot of conventions. I understand her frustration. Personally we are happy if we break even on a weekend at a convention. Even better if we can walk away with some extra gas or grocery money.

I am also into the costumes. Most of the costumes I make now are for my daughter or a puppet. I have been cosplaying since the late 70s. I have moved to the professional side of the fence and have judged costumes for various conventions. I would not enter a Masquerade right now for a variety of reasons including being told that I shouldn’t because I have been a judge (I really don’t understand that one). I had fun while I did it. Caroline is having the fun now. And we may have one more Mother/Daughter costume in our bag before I totally bow out.

So I understand the POV of a wife of a professional in the industry and the POV of the people who put on the costumes and run around the convention.

I think the point that is buried in articles that refer her original essay is her really point of the entire essay. The other web articles hammer the cosplay but that’s not it at all.

She is talking about whether it is worth her time and her family’s time to go to conventions. If they don’t, Dave can work at home on projects he gets paid for. The family can spend more time together (Believe me being at a convention even if the whole family is there is not really family time). The burden of the household goes down a person. And there is the expense of going to a convention itself.

Networking doesn’t go on as much as it did in the past at these conventions. The most you get is a contact me and we’ll talk more after the convention.

So why go?

Well, Peter does it for the fans. So that he can meet people who have enjoyed his work. That they can have some face to face time with him as a person.

I go with him because I enjoy conventions and interacting with the fans as well. Caroline goes because she is a minor child and can’t been left home alone. The upside is that she enjoys conventions a lot so it is not burden to her to be there.

Mrs. Dorman asks some salient questions about being a professional at a convention which are getting lost in the noise of cosplay bad which is a sad thing because I think her questions are worthy of thought.

I am grateful for the pros and the fans who understand what I am trying to say here.

Category: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Tags:

Posted By Kathleen David on September 23, 2014

Today is Peter’s Birthday.

We have a few things planned that we usual do on his birthday. We are keeping other options open on how he is feeling today.

I am glad to be celebrating his birthday considering there was a time a couple of years ago that we weren’t sure if we would be celebrating his next birthday. He is a very lucky man.

I have talked to fans all over the world about my husband. They tell me how much his work means to them. What he wrote that spoke to them the most. How what he wrote helped them through things. I treasure these conversations.

One of the questions I do get asked a lot is what is it like to be married to Peter David?

Well, it is never dull. I don’t think I could use the word “boring” to describe my life.

I always have someone to converse with, discuss various topics, and bounce ideas off of. And he feels the same about me.

I know I am loved and cherished. And he knows I feel the same about him.

He is brilliant. I have watched him take an idea and expand upon it until there is a whole novel. I was there when Sir Apropos was “born” out of a conversation at a convention. I was there when the concept of “Fallen Angel” was created. I have watched him sort out storylines and possibilities for different characters. And he has let me help. We do a lot of ‘what if’ around here and come up with concepts for various projects together.

He is a loving father to his daughters. Family means a lot to him. He is proud of each of his daughters for their various achievement and accomplishments. He treats them as individuals rather than extensions of himself. Caroline adores her father and they have a very good relationship.

He still has a sense of whimsy and fun. He makes me laugh and I try to do the same for him. We have running gags around this household that sometimes have other people scratching their heads as to what we find so funny but the context is everything.

He is honest. If I ask him about a puppet, he’ll tell me what he likes and doesn’t like and he doesn’t sugarcoat it for me. He does the same when looking at artist’s portfolios or if someone asks for his opinion on something they wrote. He can be blunt but you know you are not getting sunshine blown up your skirt.

He knows me well. He can tell when I am having a bad day. He can tell when I need some space. He knows what I like and dislike. He knows what I need sometimes before I know I need it myself.

He’s still a fan. Being a professional in the industry doesn’t mean that you have to totally lose the inner fan boy. There are times that we both say that our inner fan is doing cartwheels due to something or someone that makes our lives that much cooler. I wish you could have seen the smile on his face as he sat in the TARDIS set. I treasure it.

To sum up being married to Peter David is awesome and I am so very grateful that I am.

Happy Birthday Peter!

Love your wife,
Kath

Category: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tags:

Posted By Kathleen David on September 17, 2014

And here is what I built for Dragon Con besides Nick, Sherlock, and Watson.

From left to right Nameless SHIELD Agent, Phil Colson, Maria Hill
(for the VI; The puppet on the left is wearing a blue outfit with a SHIELD patch, the puppet in the middle is wearing a suit, and the puppet on the right is wearing a blue SHIELD outfit with patch)

(Bruce Banner, Thor, Tony Stark/Iron Man with Hulk Hand in foreground)
(for the VI: The puppet on the left is wearing a purple shirt and has curly hair, the puppet in the middle has a red cape, silver armor, grey circular chest plate, black tunic, blond hair and beard, the puppet on the right has black hair and a van dÿkë and is wearing red armor with a light source in the middle of his chest)

(Captain America, The Black Widow, Hawkeye)
(For The VI; The puppet on the left is wearing a red, white and blue outfit with a red white and blue shield, the middle puppet is wearing black with a red and black belt buckle, the puppet on the right is wearing a maroon and black vest)

(Loki, Loki, and Loki with a Frost Giant overhead)
(For the VI Loki #1 is wearing armor and his eyes are green. His outfit is black and green. Loki #2 is the same as Loki #1 but his eyes are cat’s eyes. Loki #3 is wearing a suit and overcoat with a scarf)

So those are the puppets for the puppet slam this year.

I am grateful I got these done.

Category: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tags:

Posted By Kathleen David on September 17, 2014

First congratulations to the Baltimore Orioles for clinching their division title. The Orioles were my first baseball team and the first team I saw play baseball in person. It has been fun to watch them this year.

I don’t know how much I want to watch of the NFL these days considering all the things that are happening off the field. The “this is how I was disciplined” or “this is how I was raised” argument never held water for me. Abuse is abuse and there is a morality clause that is in every person’s contract that works in the NFL. I know plenty of people who were raised like that and have never raised a hand against anyone because they know how it felt when it happened to them and swore it was not going to happen again.

Staring down a couple of projects that either must be done or should get done. Kind of in the morass of which one to start or complete first. Solution is to start with one and let the others drift in and out as needed.

Nice morning this morning. The temperature is pleasant and the humidity is not bad. Good morning for dealing with the cat boxes outside.

That and laundry are on the must do list.

Con Crud is leaving but not without a fight. I do feel much better today than I did yesterday. Now I just have to figure out what of this maybe Con Crud and what may be seasonal allergies.

Caroline has learned to open her locker and she is quite proud that she can. It only took her a week to figure it out.

Next Tuesday is Peter’s birthday. He had a good essay on his website about fan entitlement. I am appalled that fans are attacking actors on various social media platforms because they don’t like how a show is going. The actors say the lines to the best of their ability. They don’t have much (any?) input into the writing of the characters.

I have a bunch of Loki looking at me. Need to figure out where I am putting them.

I am grateful for things that allow me to progress onto other things.

Category: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tags:

Posted By Kathleen David on September 15, 2014

Usual rules Spoiler are behind the Cut and in the comments. Thank you for your cooperation.

Maybe Moffat should stick with the senses because Listen, to me is as brilliant as Blink.

The Doctor has a problem to solve and he forgot to tell the rest of us what it is or even why he has to solve it. But we are along for the ride.

Also considering Clara’s history with the Doctor, the ending made an enormous amount of sense to me.

Loving Capaldi more and more with each episode. Jenna Coleman does great both with the humor and the horror in this one. Samuel Anderson showed why they hired him for a rather tricky role.

Overall quite happy with it.

I am grateful for episodes like this one.

(more…)

Category: Uncategorized | 9 Comments »
Tags: