I had a fun time also!
For the record, Mama Zappa was feeling tired, and decided not to come with the kids. Also, she noticed the Dopefest was going to be three other guys and us. She figured if it just guys, she and the kids wouldn’t be putting a damper on guy talk. Not that she minds girl watching in general, or even when I’m the one doing it (another reason why I’m the luckiest so-and-so in the world), but the other guys might not have been relaxed about it.
Anyway, good girl watching, great conversation, very good food, and a very good time had by all.
I got to talk up Mike Resnick (including Kirinyaga and “Bully!”), Kim Stanley Robinson (Years of Rice and Salt and his Mars triolgy), and a couple of Harry Turtledove books (the stand-alone Ruled Britannia and In the Presence of Mine Enemies). It’s fun talking about alternate history with someone who’s published an alternate history novel.