Open Thread: Post-PenguiCon, Pre-ToBeContinued

[filkertom]

Well, PenguiCon was fun, but would've been a lot more so if not for the late-spring blizzard. The driving was really bad Sunday morning, made worse by the frickin' morons who insist on TAILGATING AT OR ABOVE THE SPEED LIMIT ON SLIPPERY ROADS IN POOR VISIBILITY. (If any of those folks happen to be reading this, please understand that, from your stupidity, irresponsibility, and selfishness, I wouldn't want to share an elevator with you, let alone go to Hell with you, so when you are determined to kill yourself, kindly don't try to bring me along.)

The Saturday set was a lot of fun, and the Sunday set worked out as well, although by the end of it I was really tired. Not enough time hanging with Rob Balder, Luke Ski, etc. Many thanks to Bill Putt, Kimba Wilson, Lady Sarah, Melissa Owsley, and the rest of the crew.

Next up: To Be ConTinued in suburban Chicago. Between now and then, a day or two of cleaning, and a whole lot of arranging 24HP2.

Feel free to treat this as an open thread.

Comments

[smoooom.livejournal.com]

Personally I think that people who tailgate especailly in slippery roads in poor visibility are well, ............... anyway, they drive me to distraction. It's bad enough during nice weather, but add icky road conditions to it and well. Mike (who is learning to drive) doesn't know what to make of it either, they tend to make him very nervous.

[surakofb5.livejournal.com]

I'm really bummed because I couldn't go to PenguiCon and I had to cancel my plans for 2BeCon. At least I'll get to see you at Marcon. And Lee has promised not to schedule me into a panel opposite your concert this year! (Last year wasn't his fault, though.)

[pickledcritter.livejournal.com]

To quote Dave Barry, "I am not making this up"

In Memphis 1-2" of snow (yes, one to two INCHES) is enough to completely shut the city down. I mean shut down - all the schools, businesses. churches and goverment services close. And being good southern folk, such an event convinces everyone that it is a National Emergency and that they need to stock up on food, water, generators, batteries, gasoline, and first aid supplies like Armageddon was upon us. Going to the grocery store when there is even the merest hint of snow possible in the forecast just to get a gallon of milk for breakfast becomes a surreal combination of equal parts Salvidor Dali and Fear Factor.

However, no matter how many times you hear the newscasters say "Unless absolutely necessary, stay off the roads!!", there are always a significant number of people that utter the apparently magical incantation "Yup, I gots me this here FOUR WHEEL DRIVE vee-hickel." (please note, in the south "4 wheel drive" is always capitalized, even when speaking). These people must believe that that having the "4WD" badge on their beat up, 15-year-old pickup confers some kind of eldritch power allowing them to drive 60+mph in sun, rain, sleet, snow, hail, etc.

Now you have to realize also that usually it will ice (sleet and freezing rain) before it snows, so even if you see an inch of snow on the ground, half of that will be ice, so not only are these driving like the barn was on fire and a mare about to give birth, they are doing it on ice.

As is normal, though, Mother Nature usually takes care of her own - it is amazing to drive around once the roads are clear for SAFE driving and see how many 4WD cars and trucks are nose down in a ditch after encountering "black ice".

critter42

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

When I was at the last MusiCon in Nashville in, what, 1995, they had about four inches on the ground. The whole county freaked. Actually, that whole trip home, between the insanity driving to the airport and the fun midway at Midway, was one of the worst travel experiences of my life.

[madmanotl.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear that as far as I know, everyone get home safely.
See you in 2 weeks.

[partiallyclips.livejournal.com]

I passed seven single-car accidents on the way home. I was only heading as far as Pittsburgh, but I gave up in Macedonia, Ohio and checked into a Motel 6. Macedonia, OH was apparently the very center of the snow accumulation map, and I woke up to find seven inches of snow on my car.

I am home now, but that has to be the worst weather I have endured for a con. Even Arisia last year was not this bad, and Tom you were there, so you know how bad that was. And the Dragon*Con hurricane was not this bad. Come to think of it, Tom was at that one too. Is there something about you and I being in the same con that affects the weather? If so, we could make a lot of money avoiding places. :D

[wildcard9.livejournal.com]

waitaminute... I'm going to Dragon*Con for the first time this year. Please tell me that both of you will not be there! I was at Arisia this past January (I am a Boston local) and that was the worse weather I have ever seen for a con. I am glad that I was already staying at Arisia for an extra night (pre-planned when I made my reservations), and that for PenguiCon I was flying home on Monday instead of on Sunday night. It looks like those extra night stays are turning out to be wise decissions. I am staying at Dragon*Con for an extra night, so watch out everyone in Hotlanta this year!

[partiallyclips.livejournal.com]

Yeah. We'll both be there. And a plague of frogs will follow. Or at least, a plague of frog impressions.

*snirfle*

[swanofgrey.livejournal.com]

I was extremely disappointed that I couldnt be at Penguicon this year. First time I've missed it since it started! Ok, it's only been a couple years, but darnit! Not to mention I missed out on seeing my friends like Lukeski and Davroz... This is what happens when you move to far away states like Texas.

However, I dont have to deal with people driving like idiots in the snow down here. We dont get any snow!