Friday

[windelina]

Woke up early and we started getting Volunteers set up. Discovered that the light poles needed to be assembled. And some needed light bulbs. Started trying to wrangle comfy chairs.

The Badging Stations took most of my morning. I took point on this (with Rusty assisting in assembly) to free up Mom and the rest to get the table set up. I also had peanut butter m&ms and Invader Zim buttons on me to hand out randomly.

Brief encounter about a concom badge that will be addressed at the post mortem. (Noted here for my own later remembrane.)

The guy who offered massages actually showed up and wasn't creepy! The facade was amazing, but presented space issues that had to be worked out.

Closing Ceremony sketch rehearsal at noon, I think. Back to the room to sew. Costumes still not done. Mark Time rehearsal at 2pm. Back to the room to sew. Costumes still not done. Mark Time tech was at 4pm. Then showtime at 6:15.

I want it noted I wasn't frantic with sewing. I took time to chat with people on Friday. I got things done.

And I arrived at tech grinning from ear to ear. I was done! Tim got several chanting declarations about how Done I was. I made sure to chant it at others as I passed them. Done!!

Earlier in the day, I had run out to Joann's for longer zippers - separating zippers! Whilst there, I had the amusing moment of getting a call from Nathan Clark, unaware of my whereabouts. Did I have some grommets or safety pins? They needed to hang stuff at their dealers table. "Well, I'm at a fabric store as we speak. Do you want me to pick up some grommets?" No, we want safety pins. "I'll bring them to you."

I arrived back at the hotel, grabbed Moneygod to play courier (she got a pre-view of the costumes in the process and grinned), and sent the safety pins on down while I sat down and started on the zippers for Gir's head.

Would I have preferred to be done sooner? Yes. But I didn't kill myself, and I still got them done in good time.

Anyway, Mark Time. I had a bare 15 minutes to get back to the room and get ready for Mark Time and Opening Cermeonies. I changed slap-me-quick and threw some make up on. Thank god for hairspray and short hair.

The show went off great. Not as funny as last year's script, but very fun. "Googly eyes?!? There are no googly eyes here! Would you shut up about the googly eyes?!?"

Then Opening Ceremony. I kept the Volunteers blurb short, as requested. The video was a major hit. Hell, I still giggle when I watch it.

After Opening Ceremony, I Had Plans.
First up: MISFITS Party Room. Very minty! Where I ran into people such as Wired and Redbird and chatted muchly. Vincent Truitner showed up and geeked out with Cajones for a while. My shift done, I proceeded on to the Main Event:

Liquor.

I nabbed two bottles of hard lemonade from the room. Dumped them in a big ol' cup and started on my merry way. I drank. I watched quite a bit of "Dracula" in Cinema Rex (eventually my sleepies were taking over and it was either move or snooze, so I moved on outta there). Then I drank some more. I hit the Dystopia Party, where I got my picture taken. I ran into Crist Ballas and schmoozed him for a bit. I wandered through more parties. I drank. I whined about being unable to get a drink cuz of long lines. And then I found myself in Vice City, playing DDR.

Interesting note: I played the best I have, which is suprising given I've been to busy to play the last few months. Also, I was drunk. But apparently, drunk is only applicable when between sets. I would finish a song and "yay!" and then promptly fall off my feet and stumble off the pads, then have to find my way back onto them to pick another song.

I played for over an hour. I sweated. I drank. After that, I took a last wander round. I was leaning on the balcony over garden court, outside of Ops. I spotted Pisces. I waved! And Cheris came up behind me and poked the only thing holding me up - my left knee. Down I went. Once horizontal, I discovered that I was
1. comfortable
2. getting attention
So, I stayed there for a bit. Nadim was worried when I didn't immediately pop back up, but I informed him I was Drunk and The Floor and Drunks go together. Tkeeley ran out with masking tape and promptly taped around me, making me truly a part of the convention theme.

Eventually they got me vertical and I went to my room. And the sleep was mighty and good.

The costumes were done.