GenCon, Day 4

[filkertom]

Again, maybe five hours of sleep. But this time, I had to pack and get out of the hotel room. I did in fact manage to do this, and the bellman helped me get everything into the van besides the stuff I needed for the day and the stuff currently in the exhibit hall. I schlepped over there, Luke let me in the back door as usual, and we got on with the day. Water Street Bridge were not there Sunday, as they had to go to a Ren Faire.

I literally cannot remember whether a few people showed up on Saturday or Sunday, but among the nice folks I saw were per_solo (definitely Sunday), Bill Levy, and Cheryl Orouz (I saw her husband Joe on Thursday). Bill I only saw a few months ago, but it's been about twenty years for Cheryl. She looks great, and she had her daughter with her, and yeah.

Busking time came at 1:00, and druidsfire watched the table for me. It was still war-zone loud in the exhibit hall, but I persevered (after a brief stop at the SJ Games section to get a few more on-sale GURPS books). Also ended up at Crazy Egor's and got the Mongoose reboot of RuneQuest.

And I found myself approaching the booth of Blind Ferret Entertainment, producers of one of my favorite online comic strips, Least I Could Do. And there was writer Ryan Sohmer, and there at the far end of the table was artist Lar deSouza. And I started to say to him, "Listen, I'm a big fan, and --"

And I never got that far, because Lar looks at me and his eyes get huge, and he says, "Oh my god! Tom Smith! I've been wanting to meet you!"

And the mutual fanboying commenced.

I gave Lar some CDs; he gave me the two hardcover volumes of their other strip, Looking For Group (a quick perusal after I got home turned into an extended chucklefest, and I highly recommend it). I insisted on buying Vol. 3 and 4 of LICD. I sang him a couple of songs, and he was childlike in his glee. Very fine moment.

I went a little further down, to dhstein's and hbruton's booth. Diana was off at a panel, but I sang again for Heather, and she and passersby liked it. Started meandering back, saw Aaron Williams again. Someone gave me a little plastic Cthulhu from the many Call Of Cthulhu: The Card Game bags of little plastic Cthulhus. Which is, I think, the first time Cthulhu has been used three times in a sentence.

Dang, it was hot in there. By the time I got back to my table, I was beyond whipped. Only a couple of people were sitting in the Entertainment Spotlight, and none of them seemed to be waiting for me to perform, and I said to heck with it. Although I did sing at the table some later. Next time I do GenCon, though, there will be a couple of serious battery-operated fans and some ice packs for the toesies.

Anyway. I went wandering for the last half-hour. Found Lar again, and we took a picture. Found Julie again at the Reaper Miniatures booth, and we talked for a few. Back to the table.

Four o'clock finally came, and I started packing up. Fond farewell to marcgunn, dwimmerlaik and the rest of Willie's Wenches, The Muses, Different Drummer Belly Dancers, and Dan the Bard.

druidsfire, lukeski, and dement1a helped me schlep the last of the stuff over to the Westin, I packed the van, and we all got the heck out of Dodge.

I got to Andersonville, and realized I was having trouble keeping my eyes open. So I found a Motel 6 and sacked out.

And that was my GenCon.

Comments

[kendokamel.livejournal.com]

Oooooohhhh, fans and ice sound like a fantastic idea.

[druidsfire.livejournal.com]

<- JKitteh

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I knew you'd speak up. I couldn't remember your LJ name. Told you I was tired. :) Again, many, many thanks, hon.

[per_solo]

Sohmer kept trying to get me to purchase the BIG BOX of LICD...@100, that was a LOT more than my budget, since loans hadn't come in...still, I love their stuff. He was chatting with me for minutes about coming up with commentary before I realized "Um...this is the WRITER".

Glad you had a good time, mostly. :-)

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Oh, there's no "mostly" about it. Yeah, I was exhausted beyond belief -- still haven't really caught up -- and there were certainly a couple of things to complain about logistically. But DANG that was a great time.

[blienky27.livejournal.com]

I love LFG. I'm glad to see you might be getting into it, too. :D

[isolde-deely.livejournal.com]

<3 and I got a picture with you both :)

You were definitely one of my highlights for the con!

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

You too, m'dear. Thanks for being there. :)

[mythdude.livejournal.com]

Lar deSouza is awesome cause he saw me wearing my Orange Lantern shirt and he called me out in the crowd and we chatted about GL for five minutes. I would have bought something except I already owned the trade and it was at home. :/

Thanks for being pretty cool at the convention! I bought one of your CDs (I was the guy with the back surgery who used his best friend as a mule :/) and I love it! :D

...I seriously need to stop introducing myself by my disabilties. K, I was the guy who wore glasses...wait, I mean had short hair....ummmmmmm.....Kat's friend? :P

[maiac.livejournal.com]

The mutual fanboy moment is so kewl!

[ladyskada.livejournal.com]

FYI: I normally hate the Body Shop with a raging passion. But they make a decent cooling leg gel & cooling leg spray. Quick temp fizes for when you're on your feet so much: Peppermint & menthol are the main ingredients.

[tomreedtoon.livejournal.com]

That story about you and the Blind Ferret folks is just about the best real life story I've ever heard from you. On a bad day, it put a smile on my face. Two creative people in different fields who are fans of one another? Reminds me of an old story when Pablo Picasso met Charles Chaplin and they "performed" for each other.

[batyatoon]

Lar DeSouza!! Man, I haven't been in touch with him since the old days on DAFT. I still tell people about his infamous "Popeye the Sailor Moon" drawing.

[sciffy-circo.livejournal.com]

Hrm, part of that explains why Bristol Renaissance Faire was kinda quiet...

Dan the Bard= Bristol's music director
Water Street Bridge= will be performing at Bristol

[cherydactyl.livejournal.com]

I think it was closer to 13 or 15 years, but otherwise yeah. :) We seem to have plenty of friends in common but manage to miss each other constantly. You can blame me being off SF cons for a while.