ChamBanaCon So Far

[filkertom]

The story of the con, for me so far, has been lack of communication.

No, no, not what you're thinking at all. I'll explain.

The drive down was lovely -- overcast but no rain, not much traffic once I got past Chicago, nothing I couldn't handle before Chicago. Lovely. So was Thanksgiving Dinner at the Trupinskis'. (I never get enough of their glorious little girl Lily -- really, an adorable kid.) Everybody was gracious and pleasant, and they had Pepsi Throwback for me, and the turkey was particularly moist and tasty and I should've grabbed leftover to take with, and on Friday Tom brought me pieces of the pie I was too stuffed to eat Thursday, and yeah. Hung out for a few hours, got hugs from Lady Cheron and Barbara, Tom and I talked a lot of Skyrim.

The hotel was only four miles away, and so I went there Thursday night. Very nice. And I basically settled in. The only real problem is that the hotel's internet is... fussy. So I couldn't get online much either.

Anyway. Late Friday afternoon. Found Stevie Mac and Katy and Margaret out in the hallway -- fantastic. Big Bang Theory panel, except I haven't seen much of the show. We tried singing the theme without knowing the words, which got silly. Opening ceremonies 'n' stuff, some lovely con suite time with people I don't see much. Went back to the room for a bit, and got distracted and I actually missed the starting time of the poetry reading. But I got down there in time to [a] participate and [b] hear some lovely words by Author GOHs Drs. Geoffrey A. Landis and Mary Turzillo. Wonderful folks. I read "The Thing In The Crib" and "Hellraiser" and did "Hyperspace Cryogenic Insomnia Blues" and the Carmina Burana pun. All went well.

Then came the open filk, and that was a lovely couple of hours hanging out there, with Brenda and Bill and Phil and and and. I dragged out a few things I hadn't done in awhile, including a couple I rediscovered on the iPod while I was sitting there. Went to bed happy.

Woke up exhausted. 9:30 kaffeeklatsch breakfast after late night filk. After, I went back to the room, found that the internet was finally somewhat less fussy, and I lay down for an hour or so. Next thing I knew, it was 2:00, and housekeeping was knocking on the door. So I didn't surface yesterday until 3:00-ish, and I went straight to the business center to print off some lyrics for my set, which I had already determined would be Something Different.

Went down to the Dealer's Room, set up briefly, hung out with folks, very nice. Got packed up for my 5:00 concert, and who should be there but Moonwolf! He and Ann did a drive-by of the con. Yay!

I bobbled a few times during the set, but the energy was definitely there, and the crowd, and and and. Did LOTS of things I just don't do, including a couple of songs none of them had heard, such as "Hong Kong Denver" (which is what I decided to title the first parody on this page. Finished with "Shoggoth" and "307 Ale" and "Rocket Ride", and yeah.

Unfortunately, right after that my legs and back started to act up. I was just draggin'. I went to the room for the banquet, lugged myself up to the GOH table, and waited as folks filtered in. Stevie Mac showed me a brilliant lyric management program for your iThings called OnSong; I showed him Puzzle Quest and Dungeon Raid and Silene and ThumbJam.

The banquet itself was good, and I sat next to Ray Van Tilburg, whom I have known for years but don't know, y'know? So that was nice. And everybody did little speeches, except Ray who did a slideshow of his various works and designs -- great stuff. Dr. Mary paid tribute to Anne McCaffrey, and Dr. Geoffrey explained how to become a writer (by dropping the hobby of model rocketry) and we got goodie bags from the con (I have two huge mugs, a T-shirt, a number of rubber ducks engaged in cosplay, an inflatable squeaky hammer, and some Writer's Remedy fridge magnets [a cure for Writer's Block]).

After that I went back to the room, and I didn't feel good. Decided to lie down for a bit before the open filk.

And then it was 1:00. And I could barely move.

And then it was 3:00. And I had to move, my bladder insisted.

And now it's 8:30-ish. And, even though the con has been memorable and fun and I've seen a number of people I haven't seen in years, I feel as if I've been unintentionally hiding for most of the weekend. My hypothesis is that the fairly early breakfast following the Friday filk threw me off so badly that it basically ate Saturday.

I will not let it eat Sunday. There's more connin' to do. And my only priority for the day is to hang out, be visible, see people, and have fun. We're having a great time, and we wish you were here.

How's your weekend progressing?

Comments

[jss]

Delightfully. Good food at Mom's Thursday, water heater replaced without incident Friday, more good food (with raves from the guests so I don't mind saying it of myself) Saturday, leftovers in the fridge (including about 2 gallons of homemade turkey stock), and the kitchen and dishes are all clean again.

I don't want to go to work tomorrow.

dropping the hobby of model rocketry

[bigbumble.livejournal.com]

Boo! Hiss!

On another note:
Generally a good laid back holiday in Otsego, Michigan.

[jasperjones22.livejournal.com]

Saw Muppets Saturday (yah) then got a nasty fever right after it (boo). Tired and waiting till semester is over...

[j-e-richards.livejournal.com]

Good weekend...got the Christmas Tree up and spent 5 hours yesterday baking my traditional Christmas cookies, (17 dozen this year) Then spent the rest of the day smelling of peanut butter...

[sveethot.livejournal.com]

My tum has been giving me grief for close to a week. I made mac n cheese from scratch w/panko crumbs on top & dump cakes for the family dinner (hey, that's what they asked me to bring). Thanksgiving dinner was a big wash, even the potatotes/dressing/gravy (which is all I ate) set me over the edge. So I'm back on herbal teas & yoghurt w/a little granola.

On Friday I wandered the lanes for a couple of hours at Texas Ren Fest w/a friend & her daughter. Hey, any excuse to put on a long skirt, a corset, and get lots of hugs from handsome men.

[alverant.livejournal.com]

Settled back in. Going through some leftovers. Doing some things with City of Heroes. Got some yams steaming on the stove for later mashing. Might go outside for a walk if the weather holds.

Glad the convention is going well for you.

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

Even at tiny, relaxing Chambanacon there's too little me and too much to do. I woke up Saturday at 11:45 with a bus parked on top of me. It was 2:30 before I staggered into the con. I wanted to look at stuff in the dealer's room. The filk panel interrupted this at 3, and the dealer's room was to close at 5, so I ended up missing Wax Chaotic except for what I could hear through the wall. Then got to your concert, and then off for Indian. Back at the con, got into another game of Dominion, and ended up missing Wulf anchoring an impromptu filk. Did some poetry in the poetry hour in the circle. I closed down the Saturday night filk at 2:30. We're all getting so old and feeble, we can't party all night like we used to. Then smoffed with the Suttons and dropped in on the Barfleet party again. They were still partying like crazy people at 3, but I realized that if I wanted to survive my trip home, I needed to leave while I still had something left.

Now, I'm writing this and eating breakfast and it's solidly before noon, so I'll see you soon.

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Dr. Geoffrey explained how to become a writer (by dropping the hobby of model rocketry)

Oddly, my entire career as an author revolved around model rocketry. and I essentially stopped being a writer when I (mostly) gave up the hobby of model rocketry.

[joecoustic.livejournal.com]

Sometimes you're body just decides you need the rest and you end up with no say in the matter :). At least that's been my experience, especially as I get a little older.... Glad it's been a great con otherwise!

I've had a very good weekend getting to see some family I don't see enough of and getting back to my routine that Thanksgiving sort of jumbled up.

[gorgeousgary]

Got home from Darkover (small convention north of Baltimore) a little while ago. Did some Balticon-related smoffing, saw some good concerts, sat in on some steampunk programming, and hung out with assorted folks. Not much open filking and I went to bed last night before a circle actually broke out. But we had a good time anyway.

[virginia-fell.livejournal.com]

Hullo. It's the green-haired woman who said she'd friend you and leave an awkward comment to that effect.

...Hi.

[tomreedtoon.livejournal.com]

Well, I got Thanksgiving off, and spent time with my friends at a little fish camp/restaurant that also had a petting zoo. Afterwards, took them to see Puss in Boots, although the tryptophan kept putting me to sleep. (Had to watch it in 3-D, which cost me, since that was my contribution to the party.) Now it's back to work to try to make enough money again.

[tcgtrf.livejournal.com]

Green-haired lady, lovely lady,
Strolling slowly 'round the con....

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Tom Trumpinski

[virginia-fell.livejournal.com]

Oh hey! It's you! *adds you*

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

And hi, lovely lady! Welcome to the party.

[capt-video.livejournal.com]

Ended up working part of Thursday -- the giant Turkey Trot/Fun Run through the village was *supposed* to bring in business! I was afraid that my first Thanksgiving ever away from family and friends would be spent alone (the Husband had to work his regular shift -- The Casino Never Closes!) but my bosses invited me to dinner with their family. So this Pagan had a kosher Thanksgiving.

Work the rest of the weekend, busy despite the damp weather.

Monday is our day off together, so we're going to the Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza to do a little shopping for family.

[poltr1]

Damn! Now I need a keyboard with a great Hammond organ sound. And the percussive keyclick to go with it.

[poltr1]

Can't talk about my Thanksgiving weekend just yet. Hopefully I can by this time tomorrow.

[jiggercat.livejournal.com]

Strolling? Try slithering, shimmying, gyrating...and a whole lot of other facinating adjectives that I can't seem to come up with right now. That woman can MOVE!

Great con

[geoffrey a. landis (from livejournal.com)]

Hey, great to meet you! Sorry to hear you were kinda laid low for much of the con. It was fun doing the poetry reading with you.

[barbarakitten-t.livejournal.com]

Really enjoyed seeing you...you are a great dinner guest. You always say it best...These are MY people...my family. Chambanacon is a family reunion of chosen family people.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

[hugs] Thanks, dear, and y'all are great hosts and hostesses. And definitely my family. :D

Re: Great con

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Great fun indeed, sir! The laying low wasn't as bad as it could've been, and I'm feeling better now that I've had eighteen hours sleep. And I sent some e-mail to your lady wife earlier today, which I hope will keep you both entertained. :) See you at some other con soon, I hope!

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

If you've got the PC rig, I've got the faux Hammond (http://www.kreativsounds.com/fxpointaudio-nubi-le/).