MillenniCon So Far
Mar. 20th, 2011 09:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
filkertomDamn.
Okay, "MillenniCon So Far" is a bit of a misnomer. The rest of the con, for me at this point, is hanging out in the dealer's room, getting more hugs, and likely staying for the Closing Ceremonies (I'm already Filk GOH for next year). And I must report the one bit of annoyance, a persistent headache that I think I've finally iboprofen'd into submission.
But, damn.
First: many friends and many hugs -- Christy and Doug and Grant, Pat, Celeste, Melissa, Julie and Bob, Chris, Mark, Dan, Kit and Josef and Aidan, Ramon, Jennie and Andy, Phil, Rachel and Steve, especially Kate, and so many more. Larry Smith laughing frequently, enjoying himself more than I can ever recall. Juanita telling stories all weekend. Karen and her camera. The wonderful Mike Resnick. Robert J. effing Sawyer, with whom I still haven't had a decent sit-down conversation, but at least we had fun shticking about it at the OC. Seriously, I love this man.
FOLLY SMITH nee NEUHAUS SHOWED UP. Those of you who don't remember her, Folly was a sweet and cute and fun lady who showed up at filks for a few years in the early 90s, and then vanished. She felt a need to check out a con, and didn't think anyone would remember her, and I've been actively searching for her on FaceBook. Excellent.
Second: Christy (the con chair) had asked me to write a theme song for this, the 25th MillenniCon. Apparently I hit it out of the park. I'll have the raw audio in the download folder tonight, and the studio version by the end of the week. They had me sing it again at the masquerade halftime.
Third: the performances -- the ConText party, lots of fun. Rather aimless, as it wasn't a formal "concert". The Saturday afternoon, show, again, lots of fun. The halftime at the masquerade went so smoothly it could've been scripted -- lots of banter with great kids in the audience, who practically spoon-fed me song cues again and again. (There were also some pretty damn fine costumes this year, including Kate and her brood as characters from Alice in Wonderland, some excellent steampunk outfits, and a superb Fourth Doctor that won Best In Show.)
The biggest surprise, though, was the birthday cake.
I usually don't make much of a deal about my birthday. (And, for the record, it's in June, not March.) It happens that last year, I was fifty. Since I wasn't at MillenniCon last year, they decided to make me a big honkin' yellow sheet cake with chocolate frosting, and present it on stage just before my set, and get the whole audience to sing "Happy Birthday". And they gave me a lovely blanket covered with images of sheep.
I got the best freakin' friends.
So: Music, friends, costumes, cake. Not too shabby.
And how's your weekend going?
ETA: Various and sundry things I've been remembering throughout the day.
Okay, "MillenniCon So Far" is a bit of a misnomer. The rest of the con, for me at this point, is hanging out in the dealer's room, getting more hugs, and likely staying for the Closing Ceremonies (I'm already Filk GOH for next year). And I must report the one bit of annoyance, a persistent headache that I think I've finally iboprofen'd into submission.
But, damn.
First: many friends and many hugs -- Christy and Doug and Grant, Pat, Celeste, Melissa, Julie and Bob, Chris, Mark, Dan, Kit and Josef and Aidan, Ramon, Jennie and Andy, Phil, Rachel and Steve, especially Kate, and so many more. Larry Smith laughing frequently, enjoying himself more than I can ever recall. Juanita telling stories all weekend. Karen and her camera. The wonderful Mike Resnick. Robert J. effing Sawyer, with whom I still haven't had a decent sit-down conversation, but at least we had fun shticking about it at the OC. Seriously, I love this man.
FOLLY SMITH nee NEUHAUS SHOWED UP. Those of you who don't remember her, Folly was a sweet and cute and fun lady who showed up at filks for a few years in the early 90s, and then vanished. She felt a need to check out a con, and didn't think anyone would remember her, and I've been actively searching for her on FaceBook. Excellent.
Second: Christy (the con chair) had asked me to write a theme song for this, the 25th MillenniCon. Apparently I hit it out of the park. I'll have the raw audio in the download folder tonight, and the studio version by the end of the week. They had me sing it again at the masquerade halftime.
Third: the performances -- the ConText party, lots of fun. Rather aimless, as it wasn't a formal "concert". The Saturday afternoon, show, again, lots of fun. The halftime at the masquerade went so smoothly it could've been scripted -- lots of banter with great kids in the audience, who practically spoon-fed me song cues again and again. (There were also some pretty damn fine costumes this year, including Kate and her brood as characters from Alice in Wonderland, some excellent steampunk outfits, and a superb Fourth Doctor that won Best In Show.)
The biggest surprise, though, was the birthday cake.
I usually don't make much of a deal about my birthday. (And, for the record, it's in June, not March.) It happens that last year, I was fifty. Since I wasn't at MillenniCon last year, they decided to make me a big honkin' yellow sheet cake with chocolate frosting, and present it on stage just before my set, and get the whole audience to sing "Happy Birthday". And they gave me a lovely blanket covered with images of sheep.
I got the best freakin' friends.
So: Music, friends, costumes, cake. Not too shabby.
And how's your weekend going?
ETA: Various and sundry things I've been remembering throughout the day.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 01:58 pm (UTC)Friday night was awesomesauce (see my LJ for the writeup)
Yesterday was absolutely LOVELY outside and for the first time in a long time I was able to go out in it because I didn't HAVE to be somewhere else or doing something computer-related.
Today, I'm going out to a potluck party, and there is a bread pudding in the oven right now making my house smell like brown sugar, vanilla and WIN!
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 02:02 pm (UTC)So far, so good, as it's the Jewish holiday of Purim. To mark the occasion, we eat and wear costumes. I am wearing a bow tie. Bow ties, as you know, are cool.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 02:26 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 02:30 pm (UTC)*One daughter came with me in a princess/ballerina costume. She said she was Esther and I was Vashti. Either way, I was in a Middle Eastern queen outfit rather than a more Western queen outfit.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 03:09 pm (UTC)Today, lounging around listening to Billy Joel (because a friend put "Captain Jack" in my head) and who knows what else I'll be doing today!
~*::Meow::*~
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 03:22 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 03:28 pm (UTC)We're almost done, so soon will come the joyful time known as OH HAI, YOU HAZ EMPTY BOXES, WE SHALL PLAY IN THEM NAO! (cats, y'know)
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 03:29 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 03:39 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 03:53 pm (UTC)But I think you had the better time of it. :)
Today: SHOPPING, among other things. I'm out of OJ and peanut butter, a situation which CANNOT be tolerated. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 03:54 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 04:17 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 05:12 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 05:28 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 05:38 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 05:49 pm (UTC)Other than that, all is mellow.
Happy Random Cake Day!
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 05:52 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 05:58 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 07:16 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 08:04 pm (UTC)Spending the weekend making kumquat marmalade, doing a ham radio emergency drill, eating some great Thai and Italian food, and finalizing my taxes for mailing. (I work for the IRS, so we have to set a good example for everyone else. Besides, the dough just whips around the bureaucracy once and comes right back into my paycheck so I don't tend to whine about it.)
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 08:28 pm (UTC)In spite of the bum ankle, which seems to be getting somewhat better today anyway.
Folly
Date: 2011-03-20 09:28 pm (UTC)Nate
Re: Folly
Date: 2011-03-20 10:32 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 11:25 pm (UTC)However... I've finished my two weeks notice (first time I've ever quit a job I *liked*), the garage sale is over and everything that didn't sell at the garage sale is packed to be donated to various charities. Now I have an uninterpreted week to finish packing before The Husband returns to help with the actual move.
Anyone in the Chicago area have a house for rent?
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-21 12:32 am (UTC)Millennicon lost my con business years ago. I think you know the story.
Yesterday, I went to
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-21 01:28 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-21 01:39 am (UTC)Speaking of DucKon, we should have the filk schedule up this month (it's not on your upcoming shows and cons list). We also recently signed up another filker that everyone here knows. I don't want to say who just yet. (I want to be sure it's official and give him the chance to announce it first.)
Anyway, I'll be working on the site this week posting schedules and adding more information. We also expect to get the store open soon so people can finally register online! (I'm off work this Friday so if I'm not done by then, they'll get done that day.)
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-21 02:27 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-21 03:01 am (UTC)Christy can be such a sneak, y/y?
See you at Confluence if you're there. At Millennicon next year if not.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-21 10:09 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-21 10:11 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-21 10:16 am (UTC)*HUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGG*
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-21 07:02 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-23 01:51 am (UTC)-Nameseeker (who lives further from her wife's job than is good for domestic tranquility)
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-24 11:21 pm (UTC)I missed the new song since I had to leave the concert and also missed the masq half time. I look forward to hearing it some time soon.