Thursday I went over and registered, looked to be a good start to the con. The convention center was an easy 2 block walk from the main hotel, and you could walk down by the riverwalk and avoid the traffic. What I didn't notice then was that since they were so close I walked back and forth a lot, oh and up and down stairs. There was a food court in the mall attached to the main hotel so lots of quick cheap meals.
Checked out dealers room and art show. Went to a panel on Abuse in SF, then Safety, Sanity and Consensuality panel, then off to Opening Ceremonies. Went to parties, ended up holding court in the lobby waiting for a friend who ended not not being able to showup. POUT ! Got about 8 hours of sleep.
Friday I found a buyer for his's membership, found out lots of people didn't make it at the last minute. Went to a Astronomical Art panel and PN Elrod's reading, a feminism panel, Voted for Chicago. Dinner with Lunatic and some of his friends (Hi Cliff). Hung out in the bar with Becky and Ann. More parties, Had Chad call me holly TWICE in one evening - took to slapping him, he now uses Star in every sentence when I am around to try to get it right. Got about 6 hours of sleep.
Saturday morning I was feeling the walking and stairs, so off to the hot tub instead of morning panels. Pre-supported Phillidelphia (probably due to all the hugs from Danny) found 'Come Thirteen' print in the art show that I had seen before for over $100, it was $50 quick sale, it's mine now. Panel on Genre, Gender, Identity and Sex was pretty good. Talked about how uncomfortable people get when the don't know a characters/persons gender. "Gender is an accessory, you can choose to wear the gender trappings".
Tried the dance but not in the mood, did parties with Ann and Becky, ended up on the balcony of the Phil party chatting. 6 hours of sleep.
Sunday, Why is it always erotic Horror panel was much fun, mostly the answer was that since horror is not ever geared towards children it is easier to include erotic tones in it. The Queer to Stay panel. Then I made the mistake of going to the 'Parasites or Part of Us, Some regional conventions have attracted audiences which seem less connected to SF fandom. Have we been to tolerant or are 'those people' fans too? Panel was Covert Beach, Seth Briedbart, Janice Gleb and two other people. By the end of the panel I was furuios. I had my hand up all panel long but was never called on, and I really left feeling like I was the 'them' they didn't want at conventions. I calmed down a few hours later and grabbed one of the panelist to give him a piece of my mind. (then I get home and find the minicon high resolution proposal in my email - sigh). Went to the any taboos left panel where I actually agreed with things John Norman said, pretty weird. time for quick dinner and Masquerade.
Afterwards went over to the dance - wow is watching Lunatic dance fun. Party roving with Ann and Becky, then back to lobby to chat. 5 hours sleep.
Monday mostly went over to convention center and said my goodbyes then off to the airport. Ran into Allen Steele at the airport, hadn't seen him all weekend.
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Last Updated: 05/16/03
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