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Today my internet is fallible. Today I'm fallible. I am finally post-viral and I know this because of this zone of fallibility that surrounds me. All this means is that I'm nearly well and can stand up without getting dizzy (which yesterday I couldn't). Also, that life seems overly large, for I'm not quite up to managing complexities. My messages might have to wait until tomorrow, even the urgent ones.

None of this means I'm being slack. One proofreader has reported in for the bibliographies and all the changes are entered (most of the problems were due to Microsoft Word being its ineffable self, but not all), so that's one step closer to final. Also I have edited other things. One editing stint proved that I can't possibility be a postgrad student, for I have the wrong language. I am too undignified, I suspect. That's OK. Only a few more weeks and I won't be a postgrad any more and can be as undignified as my inner self prescribes. Later I have the joys of back email, but sandwiched in between everything is a close reading of my dissertation. The introduction looks fine, which is a start (and yes, my capacity to make bad jokes has returned).

To be honest, my list for today is short. It's all big stuff, however. World-will-end-if-this-is-not-done stuff.

If I meet all my deadlines, I am going to Floriade next week. This week is when I had planned to go, for it's officially my quiet week, but next week will do. We're finally, finally into the full Spring weather pattern and there is much blowsy wind and many flowers. Early blossom was very early this year, but the main blossom has only just arrived. I might have to take my camera around with me for a bit.

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I've decided to stop being grumpy: it's too much effort. I'd like to stop being boring, too, but I think being obsessed with my current subjects is just part of the PhD thing.

Did I admit here that I actually sang in public at Conflux? In public and in Latin? I still can't sing, but the context permitted it anyway. Also, it fitted the thousand-years-of-apocalyptic-literature-in-five-minutes that I had been challenged to give by Cat, who was moderating. For those who must know what I sang, it was the first two lines of my favourite Sponsus from Albert Henry's Chrestomathie (for I don't really know much Sponsus literature and that tune is awesomely misleading). I translated those lines, straightfaced, and only explained them when the laughter died down. I was going to keep quiet about it (for I truly cannot sing) but ratfan blogged it and obviously enjoyed it and I know at least five of you who will appreciate that it was done.

This is why Medievalists should be banned from science fiction conventions, or only put on certain panels under guidance or with gags. Or, at the least, you should check to make sure they *can* sing and will not pervert the course of Latin legend in any of their translations.

Thanks to Yaritji, I have photos of all sorts of Conflux things this year. If anyone would like to see any of it, just shout out and I'll put a couple online. There is one of an author wearing an apron while his publisher points a sword at certain delicate body parts that possibly needs wider circulation.

Conflux pictures 1

First, the one I promised, where Coeur de Lion demonstrates how the modern editor subdues the modern author:



And what Jack Dann really gets up to at book launches:

That other booklaunch

I should have said - all these pictures of Conflux are by Yaritji Green, who had custody of my camera, which was much safer for everyone concerned.



From right to left: Jane Virgo, Nicole Murphy, Janeen Webb, Keri Arthur. This is a random crowd photograph, I think. We had very high calibre random crowds at our launch.



3/5 of the launchees: me (obviously), Jodi Cleghorn and Greg Mellor.



"I beg you, Mr Baxter, do not make me sign that book!"

Gillian , possibly singing

Please note the looks on the faces of the rest of the panel. The audience was even more interesting to behold but, alas, Yaritji had my camera...



In order: Jodi Cleghorn, Claire McKenna, Cat Sparks, Me.

And that's enough photos to disturb anyone's downloads!