Life During Con Times - Phillip Mills, October 2007 TTTO: Life During Wartime (Talking Heads) Heard of a van that is loaded with filkers, Packed up and ready to go. Heard of a consuite, stocked full and waiting Complete with people you know. The sound of guitars, alternate tunings I'm getting used to them now. Play in a hallway, play in the lobby We'll play wherever allowed This ain't no trade show, this ain't no gencon It's hardly even earth-bound It's time for hugging and happy dancin' We've all got time for that now. First make your entrance at registration Hope for a program someday I got three tee-shirts, a couple of badges With just my name from LJ High on excitement, forget unpacking Ev'rything's permanent press I chat through the daytime, I sing in the nighttime I might not ever get rest. This ain't no meeting, or planning session It's hardly even earth-bound It's time for hugging and happy dancin' We've all got time for that now. What about dealers? What about workshops? What about dinner today? You oughta sign up for a one-shot on stage Let people hear you up there. This circle's bigger than Ben-Hur's cast list Might last a couple of days. But I ain't got no Elf Quest, ain't got religion Ain't got no songs about space. Why live in hotels? Why drive for hours? It's much the same every time? Can't hear the laughter, can't see expressions When just connecting on-line. Trouble with waking, made it through breakfast Got coffee, coffee, and cake. There's nothing but concerts from now 'til dead dog The sugar keeps me awake. They sing like angels, they sing like... choirs I make a horrible din I've changed my capo so many times now I don't know what key I'm in. It's Monday morning, I feel displacement As if a year had gone by I'm too exhausted to think of driving Why didn't we choose to fly? Burned out by Tuesday, what good are Tuesdays? The paycheck helps me survive My six new CDs play through my headphones The music keeps me alive.