Back From CONvergence

Friday 2 July 2004

2:18 pm

We are at the hotel, and firmly ensconced in our room. williamofoccam and pezwitch are our roomies this year, and williamofoccam is currently engaged in putting away food. We have a lot of bread, and bread items. A lot.

So far, the only glitch is that my registration wasn't fixed, so I had to get that straight. Luckily, I brought along the Email I exchanged with the head of registration, so the matter was resolved quickly and efficiently.

careswen is currently picking out stuff to go see before we leave for our first panel.

8:45pm

Opening ceremonies ran way too bloody long! We've returned to the room and are now comparing notes, as careswen and I went to different panels than williamofoccam and pezwitch. Our Trek Noir: Deep Space Nine panel went well. careswen was nervous, but the discussion was great. The Moderator Marguerite Krause kept the panel running smoothly. I can talk about DS9 for hours, so was in heaven.

Our hotel room is large and fits all four of us well. The hotel elevators are already having trouble. I'd hoped they would at least last until Saturday afternoon.

We have retired to the room for food. I know we have other stuff scheduled for the night. I'll be back later.


Saturday 3 July 2004

2:33 am

The elevators broke again. At one point there was only one working out of three. Sigh.

The open mike reading went well. I read from "Over the Bridge". It was well received. One gentleman, who did illustrations for the last issue of Tales of the Unanticipated, asked if the story was in print. The dozen or so people in the room seemed to enjoy themselves.

We also went to see some musicians in the Harmonic Convergence Lounge. Machinery Hill was fun, but a bit loud for me. Adam Stemple played next. His set was good, and afterward we had a nice chat with Adam. He greeted us warmly, telling us it was good to see some familiar faces. He told us some interesting stories, including the night Boiled In Lead played for two people, and how they once accidentally built a bomb.

Sadly, I chickened out of the open jam session afterward. More on that in a later post.

I'm going to bed now. Day one done.

9:28 am

Awake and showered. The ladies are sleeping in a little more, as we don't really have any panels or other activities planned until about 11:00 am. williamofoccam has been up for awhile now, but I felt lazy, so didn't get up until 9:00. Having the Classic Convention Breakfast of Pop Tarts and Hot Tea.

1:24 pm

The Klingons doing Shakespeare were entertaining. At times. The art show is cool, and I saw a couple of things I wouldn't mind owning, but I really don't need to own more fantasy artwork. The dealer's room was way too crowded for my taste, but we saw some friends we haven't been with since Thanksgiving. Enjoying the Con a lot! I have a panel to sit next, so I hope it goes well.

5:43 p.m.

Back to the room. Tired. The Women in Gaming panel went well. Mreauow (who was also on the panel) and I told some related stories, since we game together. The Goth panel afterward was funny, though it was mostly Goths (well, people in the Goth scene) poking fun at Goths. There are a surprising number of annoying people here, most of whom seem to be audience members at panels. The damned elevators are bloody slow, as in 25 minutes to get an elevator. My patience running low. We ate, but there's still a lot of bread. We feel a little better for the food. I will probably fall out before everyone else, as I'm feeling a little tired and slightly nauseous right now.

We're off the see Three Pints Gone play. Then maybe hit Cinema Rex. See ya later!

7:40 p.m.

I am back in the room, a little sick to my stomach. The others are at Consuite, getting ready to play a pick-up game of Magic, which I plan to join in a few minutes. The special surprise movie was Trekkies 2, so we left. We had a nice chat with the gaming sub-head about the Paranoia Larp going on and we (our group, not the Royal We) are considering running a Larp at next year's Convention. I wish I didn't feel so icky. It is pouring rain outside, but I don't really care.

9:45 p.m.

Played a couple of rounds of Magic with the gang and some new people. careswen's Squirrel Deck Of Fuzzy Death™ won the first round, and williamofoccam took the second. Still feeling icky, so I came back up to the room. I've taken some meds, and am going to lie down for a spell. The Masquerade had just ended, and there were lots of neat and creative costumes walking around on people in the central area. Maybe some bread will make me feel better.

11:42 p.m.

The group rallied in the room for a couple of hours. We watched the fireworks from Bloomington, and they all filled up on food and drink. The conversation and the lying about was great, I needed some social contact. They've gone back out, brave souls that they are. I'm in the room with ickyness. I'm glad careswen has pezwitch and williamofoccam to hang with, because I would hate to ruin her Con because I'm sick. It is good to have such friends. Day two complete.

Sunday 4 July 2004

8:27 am

Feeling better after a decent night's sleep. careswen and pezwitch went dancing last night. They came back to the room wired, and a hilarious early morning ensued, capped off with the ladies doing typical 4th of July music, including Sousa's "Star and Stripes Forever", followed by the "1812 Overture". Oh, and they did them as clucking chickens, Although I knew the cannon part was coming, when careswen and pezwitch suddenly made a noise like a chicken shot out of a howitzer, I jumped, and damn near fell off the bed. We all four laughed our throats raw and had to get up and find drinks.

One panel for me to sit today, the anti-hero panel I've been nervous about. We don't have to check out until 4:OO p.m., which rocks!

I don't know how much more I'll be writing from the room. I expect we will start to pack up after the ladies wake up. I figure the laptop and the Bass Guitar can both go down to the car early, so I might be forced to finish from home. I miss my cat, the Reverend Selena.

Monday 5 July 2004

11:38 am

We are home from the Convention, so I thought I would write a few quick lines about the rest of Sunday.

careswen and I went to the "Community and Fandom" panel, which was an interesting panel on fandom in general, and how to encourage the next generation of fans.

We missed the Larry Niven signing. In fact, we never really saw any of the Guests of Honor.

We preregistered for next year. I love this Convention.

The Anti-Heroes panel was a blast. I was really surprised by the energy in the room for 2pm on Sunday. I spent time after the panel talking with Adam Stemple about a favorite anti-hero of both of ours: Hell Tanner from Roger Zelazny's short story "Damnation Alley" (Don't see the silly movie). We covered anti-heroes in fiction, mythology, and real life. It was a great panel what included Mreauow, her sweetie, Melinda Kimberly, Adam Stemple, and Kristina Halseth. The panel was fast, funny, and high energy, as the panelists and audience all had some excellent points to make.

We stayed for closing ceremonies, then careswen, pezwitch, williamofoccam, and I went to the Vampiric Perkins and got some hot food cooked by another person and served to us, before going our separate ways.

It was a great Con this year.

We now return to our regularly scheduled Live Journal.

Back From CONvergence

Friday 2 July 2004

2:18 pm

We are at the hotel, and firmly ensconced in our room. williamofoccam and pezwitch are our roomies this year, and williamofoccam is currently engaged in putting away food. We have a lot of bread, and bread items. A lot.

So far, the only glitch is that my registration wasn't fixed, so I had to get that straight. Luckily, I brought along the Email I exchanged with the head of registration, so the matter was resolved quickly and efficiently.

careswen is currently picking out stuff to go see before we leave for our first panel.

8:45pm

Opening ceremonies ran way too bloody long! We've returned to the room and are now comparing notes, as careswen and I went to different panels than williamofoccam and pezwitch. Our Trek Noir: Deep Space Nine panel went well. careswen was nervous, but the discussion was great. The Moderator Marguerite Krause kept the panel running smoothly. I can talk about DS9 for hours, so was in heaven.

Our hotel room is large and fits all four of us well. The hotel elevators are already having trouble. I'd hoped they would at least last until Saturday afternoon.

We have retired to the room for food. I know we have other stuff scheduled for the night. I'll be back later.


Saturday 3 July 2004

2:33 am

The elevators broke again. At one point there was only one working out of three. Sigh.

The open mike reading went well. I read from "Over the Bridge". It was well received. One gentleman, who did illustrations for the last issue of Tales of the Unanticipated, asked if the story was in print. The dozen or so people in the room seemed to enjoy themselves.

We also went to see some musicians in the Harmonic Convergence Lounge. Machinery Hill was fun, but a bit loud for me. Adam Stemple played next. His set was good, and afterward we had a nice chat with Adam. He greeted us warmly, telling us it was good to see some familiar faces. He told us some interesting stories, including the night Boiled In Lead played for two people, and how they once accidentally built a bomb.

Sadly, I chickened out of the open jam session afterward. More on that in a later post.

I'm going to bed now. Day one done.

9:28 am

Awake and showered. The ladies are sleeping in a little more, as we don't really have any panels or other activities planned until about 11:00 am. williamofoccam has been up for awhile now, but I felt lazy, so didn't get up until 9:00. Having the Classic Convention Breakfast of Pop Tarts and Hot Tea.

1:24 pm

The Klingons doing Shakespeare were entertaining. At times. The art show is cool, and I saw a couple of things I wouldn't mind owning, but I really don't need to own more fantasy artwork. The dealer's room was way too crowded for my taste, but we saw some friends we haven't been with since Thanksgiving. Enjoying the Con a lot! I have a panel to sit next, so I hope it goes well.

5:43 p.m.

Back to the room. Tired. The Women in Gaming panel went well. Mreauow (who was also on the panel) and I told some related stories, since we game together. The Goth panel afterward was funny, though it was mostly Goths (well, people in the Goth scene) poking fun at Goths. There are a surprising number of annoying people here, most of whom seem to be audience members at panels. The damned elevators are bloody slow, as in 25 minutes to get an elevator. My patience running low. We ate, but there's still a lot of bread. We feel a little better for the food. I will probably fall out before everyone else, as I'm feeling a little tired and slightly nauseous right now.

We're off the see Three Pints Gone play. Then maybe hit Cinema Rex. See ya later!

7:40 p.m.

I am back in the room, a little sick to my stomach. The others are at Consuite, getting ready to play a pick-up game of Magic, which I plan to join in a few minutes. The special surprise movie was Trekkies 2, so we left. We had a nice chat with the gaming sub-head about the Paranoia Larp going on and we (our group, not the Royal We) are considering running a Larp at next year's Convention. I wish I didn't feel so icky. It is pouring rain outside, but I don't really care.

9:45 p.m.

Played a couple of rounds of Magic with the gang and some new people. careswen's Squirrel Deck Of Fuzzy Death™ won the first round, and williamofoccam took the second. Still feeling icky, so I came back up to the room. I've taken some meds, and am going to lie down for a spell. The Masquerade had just ended, and there were lots of neat and creative costumes walking around on people in the central area. Maybe some bread will make me feel better.

11:42 p.m.

The group rallied in the room for a couple of hours. We watched the fireworks from Bloomington, and they all filled up on food and drink. The conversation and the lying about was great, I needed some social contact. They've gone back out, brave souls that they are. I'm in the room with ickyness. I'm glad careswen has pezwitch and williamofoccam to hang with, because I would hate to ruin her Con because I'm sick. It is good to have such friends. Day two complete.

Sunday 4 July 2004

8:27 am

Feeling better after a decent night's sleep. careswen and pezwitch went dancing last night. They came back to the room wired, and a hilarious early morning ensued, capped off with the ladies doing typical 4th of July music, including Sousa's "Star and Stripes Forever", followed by the "1812 Overture". Oh, and they did them as clucking chickens, Although I knew the cannon part was coming, when careswen and pezwitch suddenly made a noise like a chicken shot out of a howitzer, I jumped, and damn near fell off the bed. We all four laughed our throats raw and had to get up and find drinks.

One panel for me to sit today, the anti-hero panel I've been nervous about. We don't have to check out until 4:OO p.m., which rocks!

I don't know how much more I'll be writing from the room. I expect we will start to pack up after the ladies wake up. I figure the laptop and the Bass Guitar can both go down to the car early, so I might be forced to finish from home. I miss my cat, the Reverend Selena.

Monday 5 July 2004

11:38 am

We are home from the Convention, so I thought I would write a few quick lines about the rest of Sunday.

careswen and I went to the "Community and Fandom" panel, which was an interesting panel on fandom in general, and how to encourage the next generation of fans.

We missed the Larry Niven signing. In fact, we never really saw any of the Guests of Honor.

We preregistered for next year. I love this Convention.

The Anti-Heroes panel was a blast. I was really surprised by the energy in the room for 2pm on Sunday. I spent time after the panel talking with Adam Stemple about a favorite anti-hero of both of ours: Hell Tanner from Roger Zelazny's short story "Damnation Alley" (Don't see the silly movie). We covered anti-heroes in fiction, mythology, and real life. It was a great panel what included Mreauow, her sweetie, Melinda Kimberly, Adam Stemple, and Kristina Halseth. The panel was fast, funny, and high energy, as the panelists and audience all had some excellent points to make.

We stayed for closing ceremonies, then careswen, pezwitch, williamofoccam, and I went to the Vampiric Perkins and got some hot food cooked by another person and served to us, before going our separate ways.

It was a great Con this year.

We now return to our regularly scheduled Live Journal.