Confluence!
Aug. 1st, 2006 12:17 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
talkingsoupLong post follows! So the con report shall be under the cut.
Day One
Reaffirmed my utter hatred of airports/airplanes. Ugh. Leaving at 6 am without sleeping=bad idea. Slept a lot on the planes, though. Lots of waiting in the airport. Then once I got to Pittsburg I tried to find the hotel I was supposed to be staying at, but it wasn't one any of the little platforms saying "stay here! look at our hotel!" So I ended up having to phonebook the Sheraton, and they sent a limo to get me. It wasn't until I was in the limo that I realized, hey, I'm not going to the right Sheraton. The guy was nice, though, and drove me to the right one. Lots of waiting again in the lobby until Jules called the desk and they let me upstairs. Slept for two hours or so until Jules came along, then there was more of the sleeping variety. Ah, sleep.
Day Two
The first day of the con! Got up at...say tennish and the two of us went down to see what was goin' on. We kind of got roped into helping the art room get set up, not that either of us were complaining--so we spent about two hours or so putting up these squares of boards and pegboard to hang the art from. Jill came a little after that--Julie's friend from Alpha, the writers group--along with Tamora Pierce, Wen Spencer and the Alphans. The con started at four, and first up was the Writing Your First Novel panel, which had some first-time writers with some pretty sweet advice. At five we had dinner with Jill, two girls from Alpha, and Tammy (Tamora Pierce). Which was when I actually got to meet the Jillith and Tammy, who are both very much awesome. Tammy isn't anything I expected. Plus she's cool!
Nature of Consciousness panel at 7, which was also very much awesomeness and philosophy-ness. We were also poking around the Dealer's Room and the Art Show which are...I can't even talk about it, they're awesome. Jewelry and books and doodads and books and old books and books and knives and books and cool stones and books and art and books and *hyperventilates*
8 was Writing Around Plot Killers and then at 10 was Trivia for Chocolate, the trivia of which I didn't know the answers to. After that we all went back to the room, Julie hijacked my Septimus (lol) and I read and stuff until we all crashed.
Somewhere in between stuff we went to a game of Mafia with the Alphans. I survived, though I did get accused once. It was funny--I talked my way out by pretending I was with the carnival, just passing through. Also by then Julie and I think Jill had left, so I was alone with all these Alphans, and my shy side resurfaced, so I think not talking at all was what spared me. :)
Hafta admit, I was feeling kinda awkward and small the first day, because it was my first con and I didn't know anyone, and I was kinda trying to tag along with Julie but she had her own stuff going on--after all, she knows more people there. But oh well. First day was still fun. ^.^
Day Three
The big day! Saturday, when hella was going on. Julie got up early to see Howl's Moving Castle with Tammy. Then at 11 we tried to go to the Kaffeeklatsch with Michelle Sagara West, but she actually wasn't seen for the whole con (don't know what happened to her...) Right after that was the KK with Wen Spencer, who's another really awesome writer, though I haven't read anything of hers. Then at 1 was the Don't Be a Bobblehead which was kind of embarrassing. The panel was about stupid things to do in fiction, like having your characters nod or sigh or raise their eyebrows too much, and me and Julie were just kinda looking at each other like "Aw, shit." It was funny, though.
After was Tea with Tammy, because Tammy got a special, froofy name for her KK. That was awesome too--it was mostly Alphans there, and they were all asking questions about where her characters came from. We had to run out early to go the the Understanding the Publishing Business. Also somewhere in all this we were wandering around the Dealer and Art Rooms again because really, those places have their own gravity. Jules bought some little wooden pendants shaped like dragons and tigers and such (adorable!) and I bought gifts for the rents and for Liz (we're on good terms again, btw). I was sadly short on cash for the whole con and for the second and third times in my life had to withdraw from my checking account (I hate making withdrawals). Also bid on a few things at the Art Show.
Then was the play at 8, which was based on Guards, Guards! by Terry Pratchett and "Guys and Dolls" and was utterly, utterly hilarious.
After that Julie hijacked Septimus again (don't worry Jules, I don't mind at all!) and Jill read her story, which was also tre awesome (all these great young writers! It's so weird to be around all these people like me!).
Day Four
Well, unfortunately I woke up with utterly awful heartburn, which I vowed not to let ruin the day, despite the fact that I had to take two of the four Rolaids I managed to bring. This was the last day of the con, and I think I slept till about 10:30, when we went sniffing around the Dealer's Room again. Then we went to the POV panel, which was interesting as well. Had lunch at noon, though I couldn't really eat anything for fear of setting off the hydrochloric acid again (I'm going to the doctor...again...sometime soon). 1 was Tammy reading from her book that's coming out in October, her first ever full-length novel in 1st person.
Left a bit early to go hit the Art Auction, where I won not one but two pieces of art, woot! One is a scratchboard print of a wolf in the forest, the other is a painting of a small dragon who has opened a can of tuna for his friend, a cat (adorable!). Then we hit up the Amber Polishing Workshop which was totally kick ass, and taught us to polish amber, woot! Had to leave that early too to pick up my art, oh well. After that it was pretty much it. The con ended at 3 and we kind of hung around until the shuttle came for Julie around fiveish. After that it was kinda lonesome, but Tammy (Tamora Pierce! Famous author!) offered to take me out to dinner with her husband, his brother and one of their friends, a woman named Christina (maybe no -a...something like that).
Let me just say that Tammy and her husband, Tim, are adorable. Really. They're so cute.
It was awkward at first, but it's hard to stay awkward around Tammy. We went to kind of a steakhouse and I had a buffalo burger and Tammy squeed when I mentioned that Nicole Kidman was playing Mrs. Coulter in the Golden Compass movie next year. Which I hope is still true--I'd hate to have given her false information. o.O
Then she offered to take me to Barnes and Noble, which we did, and around then it started pouring and thundering and lots and lots of lightning which was so frickin awesome, let me tell you (we're talking the bolt lightning that lights the clouds all purple). The skies were pretty enough even without it, with all the strange dark clouds. You know me and thunderstorms.
Bought some books and drove back to the hotel, and along the way Tammy was looking out the windows and said she was seeing fireflies. Now, I don't think I've ever seen fireflies. If I have, I certainly don't remember it. So I was pretty ecstatic and I looked out the window and looked all over and then suddenly, *POOF*, there they were, little lights flashing on and off around tall grass and trees and it was so fricking awesome!!! Fireflies, man!
Jill and I moved into Thomas--another Alphan--'s room, but when I went up there no one was there, so I picked at Mot for a little while. They left around four and I slept until twelve, which was kind of an oops for me. With that, my con experience ended.
It was awesome! I want to go to more! Tammy invited us to BosCon next February (us being me and Jules and any of the others if they want to go). So much fun. It's so refreshing and at the same time kind of strange to be around people who are a lot like you, the same interests, the same tastes. Not that I'm a Trekkie, but these are the types who love and write fantasy and sci fi and play video games and watch anime and talk about the stuff I like talking about. *contented sigh* I could get into this world.
As Julie said, "Welcome to con-dom." Hahahaha, and no, I won't be letting you live that down, Jules!
After all that it was off to the airport for the flight back, the flight that got canceled, fuck you US Airways. Fortunately they had one that left later but by the miracle of time zones actually got into San Fran earlier than the one I was supposed to be on.
The wait? Yes, the wait. I arrived at one and had to wait till six. Which would have been a bummer if I hadn't whipped out the wireless card to see if the airport had wireless. And yes, yes it did have a signal where I was sitting, an exremely low signal, but I decided to hop on the internet, see what was flying. Checked my email, woot, whatever. Then I click on the first bookmark on my faves list that I actually check--that being the Shoebox Project. And what, oh what, should I find?
An update.
I was...well let's just say I was giddy for the whole rest of the day. It was a nightmare, though, because the signal was so low that my internet kept crapping out. In fact it crapped out as I was trying to link to the first part of the update--it was split into two. I was almost resigned to having to go the whole flight without knowing what's happening when I tried the internet again and, miracle of miracles, it worked and I got to read Part A! And I thought, well this is simply lovely, I am very happy right now, I hope Part B is as lovely, and I tried to get onto Part B when...my internet crapped out again.
Waited awhile, tried again, clicked the links as fast as I could and voila! Part B!
Which was...which was...
Jfkladjdfjiowhgdljkgdahkgodjowhalgkjdlajwonvowahigohewolak!!!!!!
!
!!!
XOMG!!!!!
I was incoherent and giggling and it was a good thing not many people were in the gate yet because I know I was grinning like a maniac and giggling sporadically which would have made anyone look at me like I was nuts, but seriously--I mean--only writing can do this, only writing can make me be seriously happy for hours after I read it, or sad, alternately. In Shoebox's case I was happy to the point of tears, quite literally, I was so happy and smiley and all that my eyes started watering.
You have to read it to understand.
That made my day. My week. My life. I left gratuitous comments for Mi'Lady Jaida, and I should probably leave some for Dorkorific though I don't think she's updated her LJ in awhile. Oh man. They--the--writing--guh--they'll be great one day. They'll be greater than great. Jaida especially. I mean, you read her stand-alone stuff, her original stuff, her other fanfics and it's like, this woman is going to be a bestseller in a few years, and not one of those shoddy bestsellers, I mean a real bestseller, the kind whose books you read and you just cry at the end no matter how sad or happy or bittersweet the ending is, the way you cry when you stand before the Mona Lisa, the way I cried at certain parts of RotK that just overwhelmed me, the way you cry when you're faced, unquestionably, with art.
*breathes*
Well yes. It made my flight actually decent. It's hard to be upset at all after a Shoebox Update.
Watched most of the second Naruto movie inflight as well, which is much more awesome than the first if only because it's got Sabaku no Gaara and Shika-Shika and Kankarou (sp?) and big moving machinery-type things and Sakura actually kicking ass for once, thank you. And Naruto being his Naruto-ey self, telling the bad guys what's what about the world in his Naruto-ey way. Some people get bored or annoyed at the way he almost always manages to change people, get them to see things, not that he really intends to be such a hero, he just speaks his mind. I find it endearing. It made it all the more a punch to the gut when...well.
Day One
Reaffirmed my utter hatred of airports/airplanes. Ugh. Leaving at 6 am without sleeping=bad idea. Slept a lot on the planes, though. Lots of waiting in the airport. Then once I got to Pittsburg I tried to find the hotel I was supposed to be staying at, but it wasn't one any of the little platforms saying "stay here! look at our hotel!" So I ended up having to phonebook the Sheraton, and they sent a limo to get me. It wasn't until I was in the limo that I realized, hey, I'm not going to the right Sheraton. The guy was nice, though, and drove me to the right one. Lots of waiting again in the lobby until Jules called the desk and they let me upstairs. Slept for two hours or so until Jules came along, then there was more of the sleeping variety. Ah, sleep.
Day Two
The first day of the con! Got up at...say tennish and the two of us went down to see what was goin' on. We kind of got roped into helping the art room get set up, not that either of us were complaining--so we spent about two hours or so putting up these squares of boards and pegboard to hang the art from. Jill came a little after that--Julie's friend from Alpha, the writers group--along with Tamora Pierce, Wen Spencer and the Alphans. The con started at four, and first up was the Writing Your First Novel panel, which had some first-time writers with some pretty sweet advice. At five we had dinner with Jill, two girls from Alpha, and Tammy (Tamora Pierce). Which was when I actually got to meet the Jillith and Tammy, who are both very much awesome. Tammy isn't anything I expected. Plus she's cool!
Nature of Consciousness panel at 7, which was also very much awesomeness and philosophy-ness. We were also poking around the Dealer's Room and the Art Show which are...I can't even talk about it, they're awesome. Jewelry and books and doodads and books and old books and books and knives and books and cool stones and books and art and books and *hyperventilates*
8 was Writing Around Plot Killers and then at 10 was Trivia for Chocolate, the trivia of which I didn't know the answers to. After that we all went back to the room, Julie hijacked my Septimus (lol) and I read and stuff until we all crashed.
Somewhere in between stuff we went to a game of Mafia with the Alphans. I survived, though I did get accused once. It was funny--I talked my way out by pretending I was with the carnival, just passing through. Also by then Julie and I think Jill had left, so I was alone with all these Alphans, and my shy side resurfaced, so I think not talking at all was what spared me. :)
Hafta admit, I was feeling kinda awkward and small the first day, because it was my first con and I didn't know anyone, and I was kinda trying to tag along with Julie but she had her own stuff going on--after all, she knows more people there. But oh well. First day was still fun. ^.^
Day Three
The big day! Saturday, when hella was going on. Julie got up early to see Howl's Moving Castle with Tammy. Then at 11 we tried to go to the Kaffeeklatsch with Michelle Sagara West, but she actually wasn't seen for the whole con (don't know what happened to her...) Right after that was the KK with Wen Spencer, who's another really awesome writer, though I haven't read anything of hers. Then at 1 was the Don't Be a Bobblehead which was kind of embarrassing. The panel was about stupid things to do in fiction, like having your characters nod or sigh or raise their eyebrows too much, and me and Julie were just kinda looking at each other like "Aw, shit." It was funny, though.
After was Tea with Tammy, because Tammy got a special, froofy name for her KK. That was awesome too--it was mostly Alphans there, and they were all asking questions about where her characters came from. We had to run out early to go the the Understanding the Publishing Business. Also somewhere in all this we were wandering around the Dealer and Art Rooms again because really, those places have their own gravity. Jules bought some little wooden pendants shaped like dragons and tigers and such (adorable!) and I bought gifts for the rents and for Liz (we're on good terms again, btw). I was sadly short on cash for the whole con and for the second and third times in my life had to withdraw from my checking account (I hate making withdrawals). Also bid on a few things at the Art Show.
Then was the play at 8, which was based on Guards, Guards! by Terry Pratchett and "Guys and Dolls" and was utterly, utterly hilarious.
After that Julie hijacked Septimus again (don't worry Jules, I don't mind at all!) and Jill read her story, which was also tre awesome (all these great young writers! It's so weird to be around all these people like me!).
Day Four
Well, unfortunately I woke up with utterly awful heartburn, which I vowed not to let ruin the day, despite the fact that I had to take two of the four Rolaids I managed to bring. This was the last day of the con, and I think I slept till about 10:30, when we went sniffing around the Dealer's Room again. Then we went to the POV panel, which was interesting as well. Had lunch at noon, though I couldn't really eat anything for fear of setting off the hydrochloric acid again (I'm going to the doctor...again...sometime soon). 1 was Tammy reading from her book that's coming out in October, her first ever full-length novel in 1st person.
Left a bit early to go hit the Art Auction, where I won not one but two pieces of art, woot! One is a scratchboard print of a wolf in the forest, the other is a painting of a small dragon who has opened a can of tuna for his friend, a cat (adorable!). Then we hit up the Amber Polishing Workshop which was totally kick ass, and taught us to polish amber, woot! Had to leave that early too to pick up my art, oh well. After that it was pretty much it. The con ended at 3 and we kind of hung around until the shuttle came for Julie around fiveish. After that it was kinda lonesome, but Tammy (Tamora Pierce! Famous author!) offered to take me out to dinner with her husband, his brother and one of their friends, a woman named Christina (maybe no -a...something like that).
Let me just say that Tammy and her husband, Tim, are adorable. Really. They're so cute.
It was awkward at first, but it's hard to stay awkward around Tammy. We went to kind of a steakhouse and I had a buffalo burger and Tammy squeed when I mentioned that Nicole Kidman was playing Mrs. Coulter in the Golden Compass movie next year. Which I hope is still true--I'd hate to have given her false information. o.O
Then she offered to take me to Barnes and Noble, which we did, and around then it started pouring and thundering and lots and lots of lightning which was so frickin awesome, let me tell you (we're talking the bolt lightning that lights the clouds all purple). The skies were pretty enough even without it, with all the strange dark clouds. You know me and thunderstorms.
Bought some books and drove back to the hotel, and along the way Tammy was looking out the windows and said she was seeing fireflies. Now, I don't think I've ever seen fireflies. If I have, I certainly don't remember it. So I was pretty ecstatic and I looked out the window and looked all over and then suddenly, *POOF*, there they were, little lights flashing on and off around tall grass and trees and it was so fricking awesome!!! Fireflies, man!
Jill and I moved into Thomas--another Alphan--'s room, but when I went up there no one was there, so I picked at Mot for a little while. They left around four and I slept until twelve, which was kind of an oops for me. With that, my con experience ended.
It was awesome! I want to go to more! Tammy invited us to BosCon next February (us being me and Jules and any of the others if they want to go). So much fun. It's so refreshing and at the same time kind of strange to be around people who are a lot like you, the same interests, the same tastes. Not that I'm a Trekkie, but these are the types who love and write fantasy and sci fi and play video games and watch anime and talk about the stuff I like talking about. *contented sigh* I could get into this world.
As Julie said, "Welcome to con-dom." Hahahaha, and no, I won't be letting you live that down, Jules!
After all that it was off to the airport for the flight back, the flight that got canceled, fuck you US Airways. Fortunately they had one that left later but by the miracle of time zones actually got into San Fran earlier than the one I was supposed to be on.
The wait? Yes, the wait. I arrived at one and had to wait till six. Which would have been a bummer if I hadn't whipped out the wireless card to see if the airport had wireless. And yes, yes it did have a signal where I was sitting, an exremely low signal, but I decided to hop on the internet, see what was flying. Checked my email, woot, whatever. Then I click on the first bookmark on my faves list that I actually check--that being the Shoebox Project. And what, oh what, should I find?
An update.
I was...well let's just say I was giddy for the whole rest of the day. It was a nightmare, though, because the signal was so low that my internet kept crapping out. In fact it crapped out as I was trying to link to the first part of the update--it was split into two. I was almost resigned to having to go the whole flight without knowing what's happening when I tried the internet again and, miracle of miracles, it worked and I got to read Part A! And I thought, well this is simply lovely, I am very happy right now, I hope Part B is as lovely, and I tried to get onto Part B when...my internet crapped out again.
Waited awhile, tried again, clicked the links as fast as I could and voila! Part B!
Which was...which was...
Jfkladjdfjiowhgdljkgdahkgodjowhalgkjdlajwonvowahigohewolak!!!!!!
!
!!!
XOMG!!!!!
I was incoherent and giggling and it was a good thing not many people were in the gate yet because I know I was grinning like a maniac and giggling sporadically which would have made anyone look at me like I was nuts, but seriously--I mean--only writing can do this, only writing can make me be seriously happy for hours after I read it, or sad, alternately. In Shoebox's case I was happy to the point of tears, quite literally, I was so happy and smiley and all that my eyes started watering.
You have to read it to understand.
That made my day. My week. My life. I left gratuitous comments for Mi'Lady Jaida, and I should probably leave some for Dorkorific though I don't think she's updated her LJ in awhile. Oh man. They--the--writing--guh--they'll be great one day. They'll be greater than great. Jaida especially. I mean, you read her stand-alone stuff, her original stuff, her other fanfics and it's like, this woman is going to be a bestseller in a few years, and not one of those shoddy bestsellers, I mean a real bestseller, the kind whose books you read and you just cry at the end no matter how sad or happy or bittersweet the ending is, the way you cry when you stand before the Mona Lisa, the way I cried at certain parts of RotK that just overwhelmed me, the way you cry when you're faced, unquestionably, with art.
*breathes*
Well yes. It made my flight actually decent. It's hard to be upset at all after a Shoebox Update.
Watched most of the second Naruto movie inflight as well, which is much more awesome than the first if only because it's got Sabaku no Gaara and Shika-Shika and Kankarou (sp?) and big moving machinery-type things and Sakura actually kicking ass for once, thank you. And Naruto being his Naruto-ey self, telling the bad guys what's what about the world in his Naruto-ey way. Some people get bored or annoyed at the way he almost always manages to change people, get them to see things, not that he really intends to be such a hero, he just speaks his mind. I find it endearing. It made it all the more a punch to the gut when...well.
