So, I was scrolling through all my posts this year, going to do a year end wrap up like everyone else is. But I figured that pointing back to my post that I enjoyed World-Con wouldn't be much of a wrap-up.
So...I read lots of good books this year, looking forward to more in 2012. Saw some good movies this year, looking forward to more in 2012.
And here's to more good news on the news this coming year.

Uncertain Allies, Book 5 in the Connor Grey Novels by Mark Del Franco.
Book 5 in the series, and I'm definitely still enjoying it.
The characters we've come to be friends with are still here, along with the political intrigues and some action. It's interesting to see what comes out of the climax of the last book, and all the repercussions will continue to be felt, at the individual level, and at the global level.
Connor investigates missing people, and dead dwarfs, and of course finds more than he's expecting.
I will agree with some of the other reviews that I'd like to see a little more resolution of the ongoing threads, but only if that happens in a way that we can still get more books in the series, as I don't want to leave the characters and the world.

OK, now that I've been back home a few days and we have working Internet access again (not directly related), I'll try come up with some thoughts about my first WorldCon.

I had fun.

Reno in August is Hot and dry.

One of the streets between the two main hotels was Gentry Way, which I found amusing. And it may also explain the altered time frame the Wendy's on that corner seemed to work in.

I'm glad I went to the Hugo ceremony, even if my body complained for the rest of the night that they were the most uncomfortable chairs of the week.

While it might be good to plan ahead and book the hotel reservation starting the night before, it's even better to remember that you did that and not try to rush to town for the start of things and then realize your dates are out of sync.

There were lots of interesting sessions, definitely having to decide between 2 or more for a time slot more often than picking something just to fill the slot.

But I did manage to hit a few on topics that I wouldn't normally go to, and I'm glad I did.

Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch

After reading a review somewhere, probably this one, I was interested in this series. So when I ran into the first couple at my local and now lamented Borders, I grabbed them. I finally got to Touched by an Alien a couple weeks back, and picked up the 3rd book last weekend. It's a fun, action packed, humorous, at times touching read.
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1. We finally made it to the library last weekend, and brought home an armload or two of books. My son had a pretty thick trilogy as part of his haul. Today he said he stopped reading the first book because it was slow, and the back sounded boring. So I asked why he picked them in the library. He liked the cover of book three.

2. Speaking of the library, my wife bought a Nook. The connection there being that our library theoretically loans ebooks that can be read on the nook. Maybe more on that coming once it's actually attempted.

3. It's funny how when I was a kid and forgot about a school project to the last minute, it was honestly forgetting, but when my kids do it, it must have been on purpose.

4. Has anyone, anywhere, ever looked up a DIY type project online and had it work just like that when they try it at home?

5. I was flipping through an exercise/diet/be a superhuman book the other day and got caught up in it. The author tells in an entertaining style about all the terrible things he's done to experiment on himself to be healthier. I want to just sit with a cold 2 liter of regular soda and a big bag of chips and read it.

That's it, just wishing everyone a happy new year. May 2011 be full of joy and wonder for all.
I could go through a recap of 2010, but in summary, it had its highs and its lows, could have done better on my goals for the year, but I'm still around to see how well I do in 2011.
Oh, and I read a lots of good books :)

Just some random thoughts to share, since I haven't been sharing much around here lately.

1) Christmas colors are red and green, which means the season probably isn't quite as colorful for all the folks out there with red/green colorblindness.

2) I've thought before about e-readers meaning you can't connect to strangers over seeing what book their reading (due to not seeing a cover), but it hit me today that that means for example someone that wouldn't want to be seen with a romance book cover can now buy and read freely.

3) I finally watched the end of Season 2 of Being Human on BBC America,and now I'm extra worried about the SyFy version starting next month.

4) I got the old Buck Rogers TV series on DVD for Christmas. I'm guessing it'll be a case of watch a little at a time and remember how much I used to enjoy it, rather than an engrossing marathon.

5) Have you ever noticed that, while most things take longer than you expect, that's particularly true when a deadline is involved?

I had an entertaining afternoon in San Francisco today, with one slightly embarrassing moment that worked out kind of cool.
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And I can always blame the blushing red cheeks on the cider.

Wow, I've been getting worse at this posting thing instead of better. I'll jump on the "blame Twitter" bandwagon :)

I spent last weekend at my little sister's wedding. The baby sister who can't really be old enough to get married, yet reminded me when she told me about the engagement that she's older than I was when I got married. But anyone with a much younger sibling knows what I mean.
The wedding was nice. I only got misty-eyed a couple times, and never even needed a tissue. The reception was fun, but loud. I'm ready for a sonic barrier to be developed to keep the dance tunes thumping on the dance floor, but quiet enough to talk over at the tables. And it was a long day, since I was roped into volunteered to help setup and work the reception. But it was a good time, and I wish them well in their married life.

Anybody else following the Smart Chicks Kick It tour? You know, the one that was in Texas while I'm in California, and in California when I was in Texas? Grrrr.

And a fun little small world example. On our flight back, we had to change planes in LA. When we got to the terminal for the second flight, out from the plane that just landed came some family friends on their way to Hawaii. It's a funny world, some times.

Jim C. Hines' Red Hood's Revenge (PRINCESS NOVELS) is possibly his best book yet (depending on what I'm in the mood for). Taking advantage of characters we already care about, he introduces a few new ones. Once again, lots of fully realized characters, in yet another new culture in this world he has created. With an interesting and engaging plot to go along with it all.
And he manages to pull off a book with several POV characters that I enjoyed thoroughly, without ever bouncing out to figure out who's thoughts were whose, or feeling cheated by who was telling which part. Quite impressive.