This is a short version of what I sent to the Internet earlier
today. In brief, as most folks hereabouts know, I got hit about a week
ago with walking pneumonia, and have been taking serious antibiotics
and other stuff to get past it, in the hope of being able to attend
WorldCon.

A follow-up today with my doctor resulted in him saying that
even though I'm past some of the worst of it -- though weak as a kitten
-- I'm in that perilous situation where if I push it at *all*, if I add
stress, I will almost certainly go right into acute or bacterial
pneumonia, which would result in certain bedrest or even
hospitalization. Right now was the worst time to push it.

So basically, I got bushwacked. Even Harlan threatened dire
results if I even tried to board a plane.

More than anything, I've been looking forward to this, because
as a fan, I know what it means to be a Guest of Honor at a WorldCon;
it's one of those once-in-a-lifetime things, and the perfect end to the
B5 5 year arc. But if I go, I seriously risk falling down, and if I
fall down, the company falls down, and I *can't* do that.

So with regrets...I can't go. The one positive light: we're
sending B5 fan club director Julie Walker (also previously the head of
the MST3K fan club) to the con, equipped with all the videotapes I
would otherwise be showing, so there will be a presence there, and
you'll see all the stuff I would have been showing.

So there's that...but I'll confess that I'm seriously bummed
about this.

jms

{original post had no questions}

Because we're shooting this week, the first few days on Crusade,
I'm still coming into the office, but taking it easy and not pushing
it. The main problem was the trip and the stress of a full-blown
convention, the recirculated hotel air, shaking hands with a whole lot
of people who may have colds and the like...it was a disaster waiting
to happen under the current situation.

At least filming is going well.

jms

Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks:
> Did you get any more money per ep to make this series?
> Also, is it going to be more expensive not to have the crutch of
> the fixed B5 sets (I know your set designer was sorta a genius at
> creating mix and match theater style sets)?

We have a bit more money...though not a lot. We'll do things as
we always do: smart.

jms

SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
> Will the new Crusade sets be added to the existing B5 sets or
> will you have to put some of the older sets in storage?

Most of the B5 sets are now in storage.

jms

{original post had no questions}

Yeah, it's just a matter of preparation and forethought; 30% of
any series budget goes on waste, frankly. We cut that down to
basically zero.

jms

(blocked) asks:
> Are you sleeping at least 8 hours /night?

Had a bit of a rebound, for that reason, haven't been getting as
much sleep as I should've wit the first weeks of filming...not
monstrous, but vastly annoying. It's exactly what I was told would
happen, but not as bad as it would've been if I'd've gone to WorldCon.

jms

SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
> BTW, Joe, did anyone save a Bucconeer doubloon for you?

No, don't know anything about it.

jms