Dragon*Con report.

[lyssie]

I'm sort of disturbed by how sleepy I was today. But I suppose the whole getting up at wtfdark was to blame.

I am now going to attempt some sort of con report. Ahem. Dragon*Con. =D

Thursday. Because my sleeplessness led into the rest of the weekend: I did my femslash10 assignment, got it posted, then worked on the femslash_today update until 2:30 (many people have suffered updates that long, I just lucked out again). I also grabbed one of the fs10 pinch-hit requests (which led to packing serieses 2 and 3 of MI-5/Spooks). When I went to bed, I kept waking up with ideas for various things. I also hadn't finished completely packing and got up twice to corral bits that I'd forgotten.

I did finally fall asleep, but woke up when the alarm went off about an hour or so later.

Friday. Did frantic last-minute packing and left for the airport about half an hour later than I'd planned. Got there in time to get through the security stuff and to the gate after they'd called general boarding. I was in the window seat, and the other two were filled, which led to the laptop bag on my lap and no time to really get comfy. But it wasn't an awful flight (have had woooorse).

Got into Atlanta on time, and once we'd gotten off the plane, I discovered something: the night before I'd put everyone's numbers in my phone except greycoupon's, because I was certain it was already in there. Which meant I couldn't call to wake her up so she'd know I was in and to expect me. And, I only vaguely remembered the room number. No worries, I thought, I'll text some of the others, and someone'll get her up/she'll text/call... Except that unbeknownst to me, Virgin Mobile's texting service in Atlanta was already screwed by the DC attendees. While people got mine, I didn't get any of theirs.

But it all worked out in the end, despite getting out of the MARTA station on the wrong side and having to walk extra. I also found out my trillian hasn't been logging ANYTHING. In desperation (with two heavy carry-on things), I knocked on the door which ended up being the correct door. MY LUCK had changed.

GC pulled me in and I took a shower to wash the airplane off (and I got a text from nique which I replied to, letting her know my texting was iffy), then we headed down to get lunch with peoples. At some point in there, we met up with asta77, who told us some of the stuff from the BSG panel. Rekha hadn't been there, sadly (she's the only BSG guest I really wanted to see--well, and Mark Sheppard, but I think of him as, er, a guest for every show, really). Iirc, frolicndetour, nicole_anell, ivanolix and Ivan's brother joined us and there was food.

Then we headed to the Walk of Fame where I flopped on the floor near the water cooler and crowd-watched, which led to running into triciabyrne1978 and her nephews (who are giants). We chatted for a bit, then GC and co. reappeared and we headed back to the room.

On the way to the room, I spotted a waterdaughter and used my best shouting voice to get her attention.

At some point, I managed to meet up with havocthecat and Mr. Havoc, as well. And possibly, there was food. Then we trooped over to stand in line for the Kaylee and Simon (from Firefly) panel, and got shiny buttons from some of the organizers. (somewhere in there, we learned bluediamond421 and her brother were going to be late, due to plane issues)

On the way to the panel, which was in the Westin, we had to take a detour as they wouldn't let us out the closest exit of Peachtree Center Mall. The police had it blocked off. They also had both blocks at the top of the hill closed down in either direction. As we were standing there, waiting to get the go ahead to cross, a truck rolled on by. It was the Bomb Squad. Later, I was told there'd been a bank robbery. On a Friday, at Dragon*Con. *snerk*

Jewel and Sean were adorable and cracktastically hilarious. They were by far the most entertaining guests I saw during the weekend.

They also had a bottle of champagne. heh.

After the panel, we ended up in one of the nice loungey sections of the Westin and rambled on about various things. Havoc convinced us to go to the NC17 panel in the SG track room on Sunday night, as she was running the femslash bit (she had to TRY SO HARD, really). There was lots of rampant "I hate fandom" stuff. Srsly, it is SO NICE to say things aloud that I usually only type.

Blue finally got in as we were getting food sometime that night. She and her brother ended up meeting us at the room, and there was more conversation. And a sharing of beccatoria's delightful Other Other Quadrangle BSG vid (some hadn't seen it). Also, emmiere joined us.

Eventually, restless, Havoc and I wandered down to gaming for a bit (it was about 2 am at that point), where we played Mr. Jack and managed to vaguely make our way through it (2 am is not a great time for anyone's brain). She went up to bed (they were staying in the Hilton--also, I met wiliqueen and husband, who did lots of costuming during the con).

On the way back, I got shouted at twice with "GO, PANTHERS!" Having been wearing my "C-Bucks Rule" t-shirt all day, I hadn't heard that said. Apparently, it required booze and 3 am. (idek)

I ended up back in the room, expecting everyone to have wandered off to sleep to find that, no, they hadn't. Some of them might have been dozing, but the conversation was still going strong. =D

I think it was after 4 am when the others packed themselves off to their room so sleep could be had. Poor Blue had a cold, too.

Saturday. I woke up when the others did (v v v early as Blue and Bro needed to get their badges, and GC wanted to go to an early panel), which was a mistake. I was cranky and sleep-deprived with the headache to go with it. So, I settled my crankiness at the desk and watched some Spooks/MI-5, since I did sort of have some fic to write (it was due the 5th). I'm fairly certain people tried to talk to me/text me during this time and my responses were cranky and whiny.

At some point, I climbed back into bed and got in a nap, and then managed to bang out half the fic in a half-asleep state before napping some more. When I finally woke up, I took some ibuprofen and contemplated lunch (breakfast, really).

Blue was back with her badge, so we headed for the food court, where we proceeded to lose each other (I did find it hilarious to count the eight people who wanted her empty chair, though). I was also lugging around the laptop in an effort to prod myself into finishing my fic, not that I typed anywhere but in the room, in the end.

We managed to find each other again, and her brother had arrived. He, apparently, loved DC (it's his second convention) and was disappointed he had no costume to wear *snicker*

Blue wanted to check out one of the fan-run SG panels, but we bowed out after realizing it wasn't so fun. We also discovered there was an actor panel (at first, I thought it was over, but it was actually later).

Back at the room, I finished up my ficathon fic while Blue got ready to go to the SG panel (I was hurrying, as there was a teambasestar meet-up scheduled). Havoc dropped by, and we chatted. I spell-checked, read over the fic, titled it and posted it before heading off.

(that was a weight off my mind, lemme tell you)

GC took Blue down to the panel, where she was a little late, but got a seat, and I joined the Basestar folks in the Pulse Loft, where leiascully had joined them. There were two others who were there, but I don't remember who they were, sadly.

While I couldn't really hear any of the conversation, I happily sat there, amused. We ended up down at the BSG panel afterwards (Blue back with us, happy with her SG panel).

If you're still a BSG fan, you might wanna look away, because that panel... omg. I just. That was possibly the worst panel I have ever been to, and I'm including the awful FAN-RUN Eureka panel I sat through half of several years ago.

Rekha and Mark Sheppard were fine. EJO, AD and Richard Hatch? Not so much. AD was somewhat of an asshole (fake-strangling Rekha is never gonna get old for him, I imagine), EJO and RH were playing "Which of us can be an arrogant, rambly annoyance longer" games. It was seriously, seriously the MOST over-rated piece of shit panel it's ever been my misfortune to be near.

Mark S. was bored with most of it, I think, though he did get to talk occasionally Rekha got to talk once, where she pointed out that Tory's decision were no worse than anyone else's, given all the OMG GREYYYY areas the show liked to flash at everyone (yes, I am the one who let out the enormously pleased shout at her logics). EJO and AD, of course, completely disagreed with her, as did most of the audience. Assholes.

Seriously. The misogyny in that room was sort of frightening. I actually felt really uncomfortable being there, which was why when the phone rang, I escaped to the back and chatted to WD (not that I have ANY idea what we talked about)

Then I finally realized I'd had enough of the "BSG IS THE BEST THING EVER AND NO ONE WILL EVER TOUCH IT EVER EVER EVER EVER" party line, and headed out into the Atrium to take pictures of costumes and wait for the panel to end.

It is safe to look again now.

I also got a reply text from nique that consisted of her telling me she hadn't texted, which made me go O.o (apparently, VM dug it up from ages ago and sent it again. what.) I also had called my sister on Friday afternoon to try and meet up, but her return call said she'd lost her keys and couldn't drive down to see me, but if I could get a ride up... So, didn't get to see her or my nephew, sadly.

Food was procured (I went with an entirely lovely and delectable raspberry white-chocolate cheesecake thing), and we headed to the AMSF track room where they were showing The Plan. My own, personal, plan, was to watch only a little and then go join WD in gaming for a while, since I hadn't seen her much yet.

Unfortunately, Sam's manly bi-ceps and the lure of Kara/Sam's Epic Love proved too hard to resist. Even if it the movie did end up starting waaaay later than it should have.

It is possible the Team Basestar Kara/Sam section of the chairs were a little too giggly at times (and some of us possibly yelled things at Cavil), but it was good times, man. There's nothing quite like watching something with a group of fans who are friends and who all possess a healthy degree of snark.

ALSO. PUNK ROCK SIX IS STILL THE BEST.

I'm a little hazy, but I think we met up with Havoc and Mr. Havoc again, then headed down to gaming, as Blue really wanted to play the BSG game. Sadly, someone else had it out, so we ended up with Saboteur, where we were gnomes digging gold and there were secret Cylons amongst us. (srsly)

The game was finally done and then the BSG game was free (including the Pegasus expansion), so we settled down to play that.

Unfortunately, the game is ridiculously complicated, and the setup took something like an hour, and so we only managed one complete round with a little extra before bedtime was looming. I was Kat, which made me gleeful. It was, however, fun. I think it would have been easier with less people or more time, though. =D

Also, WD and co. arrived during the first game, but there were too many people, so they ended up at another table. This was also when I found out that the Marriott had been shut down to everyone, though it was open again when we left, as long as you had a badge and/or a room key to the hotel.

After some people headed for bed, a group of us hit the Hyatt and found a store that was 24 hours. The plan was for me to escort Blue back to the Marriott so she she could sleep, then return, but the others all passed out (luckily, my texts were finally getting through... on time... ish.)

Bedtime eventually happened, not that I remember when (I think it was 3ish?)

Sunday. Slept in a bit more than the day before, but still managed to get up at some point to head to the Walk of Fame to get autographs for Blue. Sadly, the two she wanted them from were at a panel, so I offered to get them and send them on (she was leaving later in the afternoon, sadly). Then we headed for dealers' to find other glossy photos.

Eventually, she was packed and done and she and her brother headed off to the airport (people leaving is sadness. :/)

After that, I managed to get lunch with waterdaughter (we sat on the steps and talked about various things, including what we'd been up to in RL). Then I headed back to the room to do stuff, and also headed down to the Walk of Fame where I scored Michael Shanks' autograph for Blue (I told him she was sorry to miss him and he was her favorite).

Back to the room where I disposed of the photo somewhere flat (not having planned on autos, I hadn't bothered to bring my Bloom County book for storage), chattered at GC, and then headed back out again after having rested my feet. The goal this time was Ben Browder's autograph.

He shook my hand. NEVER WASHING THAT HAND AGAIN.

We also chattered a little about Farscape, and I told him how Blue followed him and Claudia from SG-1 and was complaining about how depressing it was. There was general agreement that it was totally worth it.

Ahem, as a side note, ten years ago, I would have been tongue-tied and speechless and just blushing at trying to talk to Ben Browder. I definitely got hit with the OMG WHATs while I was waiting in line (in person, he is... um. attractive). Even three years ago, I wouldn't have been able to speak without stammering. I think I was just tired, and also, it wasn't for me, so. Hrm. Anyway.

Made my way back to the room where wisteria_ had turned up. We chatted for a while, waiting for amidala_thrace, who was running behind. Eventually, she managed to find the room, and we all conversed for a bit (we all had dinners to get to, sadly), and then said goodbye to her.

Dinner was at Pacific Rim which is a bit expensive, but has very good sushi, apparently (do not like sushi, sadly). I ordered pineapple chicken and was flabbergasted by the amount of food (OMG, if I had known, I would have ordered something smaller). I managed about half of it while conversing with the people at my end of the table (I know it was Havoc, but also Emmiere and Frolicnd, iirc).

After dinner, we split up again. Havoc, Mr. H. and I headed for the SG panel room for games night. We wandered in and found Tricia, deaniebtvs and karma_aster playing Trivial Pursuit, and chattered at them (probably annoying the other players) until the SG Clue game ended and we joined the new game.

I got to be Sam Carter, Havoc was Vala. We kept joking about them ditching everything and running off to be space pirates. We possibly annoyed people by doing so, though I've no idea why.

The game ended too soon, since they were clearing the room for next panel set-up. Which led to standing out in the hallway and more talking.

That was where we found out that someone had fallen off a balcony the night before in the Pulse lounge (I think?), amongst other crazy things (like the bank robbery!) that had gone on during the weekend. It was agreed that it had been a slightly crazier-than normal D*C.

The Marriott was still being extra strict about letting people in, too.

Eventually, Havoc went off to get her briefing for the NC17 panel and then the doors opened and we all got carded before sitting in the back row (why is anyone surprised that we'd be there? ;D) I'd texted Merry, so she'd shown up to join us, and we ran into leiascully, too.

When the femslash round table was mentioned (the panel was being separated into different types, a very good idea when 'slash' usually devolves into 'penises' while assuming no one cares about femslash), there was lots of cheering from our section.

Surprising none of us (well, I'd had a little hope), the usual suspects occupied the femslash table. We did get an early boost of some random con-goers who really obviously thought there'd be, like, porn shown at an NC17 panel. We covered some of fanfic/femslash 101 with them and then they left.

Which left the conversation to sort of devolve into random cracktastic ideas, like SG-women as King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable, and Merry's admission that she'd once thought of writing SG as Glee fic.

There was some general discussion about the current femslash numbers (and the usual "if people aren't feedbacking, there's no audience and fandom writers move on" type of thing), and me being gleeful about Rizzoli & Isles, Glee femslashers still keeping up with their boyslash counterparts and other stats from archiving at femslash_today.

All in all, it was a very good panel, even if we didn't attract anyone not already in the Circle of Doom.

It was something like 1:30 when it was over, and the group sort of splintered. People headed to bed and I wandered back to the Hilton with Havoc and Mr. H where we claimed a table and some chairs and proceeded to talk about things like newskool Who, comics and... erm, I know there was more stuff, but it was late by then.

Somewhere after a while, I noticed (but didn't... connect it) that the elevators had stopped moving a lot. And also the smell of burning plastic, but I figured someone had burned something while lighting a candle or something.

Eventually, we got up to go to bed. And that's when we discovered the elevators were closed for maintenance. We ended up in the service elevators, which wasn't too bad.

I staggered back to the room, packed as much as possible before there was general passing out.

Monday. I got up and went to stand on the balcony to stare down at the empty atrium level. A sense of sadness gripped me, but I'd known it would happen. As much as there's always a crowd, it's always dissipating by Monday.

Showered, finished packing and eventually went to the food court for breakfast with GC and Havoc. Discovered that there'd been a fire in the cables of one of the Hilton elevators (iirc), but that no one was hurt (it was due to over-work anbd stress) Nicole joined us near the end and then it was time for me to wander back to the room and bag the stuff I needed to take (and hand over Blue's autographs, since Nicole will see her again before I do).

Getting to the airport was fine, and I ended up almost an hour and a half early for my flight (the previous one hadn't even boarded). I read and tried to stay awake.

It was apparently a full flight, but a couple of people missed their plane, which meant there was an empty seat between me and the guy at the window. So the flight was damned comfortable. Save the screaming toddler. I felt so sorry for her mother, she tried everything, but her kid was just hysterical and upset and did not want to be there. Eventually, she got to sleep. (when she woke up, she was back to being adorable and charming everyone around her)

Approaching Chicago, we were put into a holding pattern over the city, as Obama's plane was leaving Milwaukee, so I was about ten minutes late landing, but still managed ok time. nique picked me up, and then I was home.

Sigh. And that's about it, I think.

BTW, the weird shit followed me home. On the way to work this morning, I swung by Walgreens, and discovered the police blocking off Oakland at the Kinkos and putting yellow tape around the bus shelter on Farwell. srsly. wtf. (also, This is kinda near there, too)