ConClave 2006

[jeffreyab]

ConClave has moved back to the Detroit area so I was quite curious and hopeful that things would get livelier.

Friday I packed up including some party supplies since I ended up being part of the ClubFusion party team. Spent well over an hour waiting to cross the border, behind someone who turned out to be Grant Millard with his head shaved. I found out he was a fan when I gave the answer Romulus to the border guard and she replied "Oh, are you going to the SF convention too?"

I arrived at the con and connected with some of the rest of the party crew. Went off to buy beverages and get a new Kroger card, which I only use at that particular Kroger's to buy con supplies. After setting up I spent a brief amount of time reconning other parties and then the rest of the night, until about 1 AM helping host the ClubFusion party. we sold several memberships, more success than I had in the past. Kevin and Teagan of the GT brought free stuff to give away which was quite popular. My roommate obtained a whole box of books. One thing I noticed was that our party seemed spacious and relaxing while the consuite in the exact same size room room seemed dingy and claustrophobic. Strange, its all about the decor I guess, kudos to Diane for her work on that.

The party was mainly about conversation, which was good and Bill Higgins our next Fan GOH dropped by and we talked tech and what he wanted to do at the con. People also dropped by to tell us that their teenage marching band members might drop by and to call them if they caused trouble. We replied that if they did drop by we will sell them a con membership. The next major drop by was con security to tell us that a flight crew had been emergency booked on our floor and could we keep quiet. So it was cool jazz music for the rest of the night. These two factors seem to have jazzed the hotel and con security as there was much more too much noise drama Friday than Saturday, even both nights had the same amount of noise.

Saturday was a leisurely breakfast followed by the purchasing of books, mostly small press and presents for Christmas. I went to one panel. "Quantum mechanics and chemistry" with Catherine Asaro, M Keaton and Bill Higgins. Bil had mentioned it the night before and it sounded intriguing. The former did her Phd on the topic and M was so into chemistry at college that he is forced to make a damage deposit any time he goes back to his alma mater, Bill works at Fermi lab and in the past has dabbled in chemistry. A very interesting panel dealing with chemistry's transition from alchemy to hard science.

Dinner was Middle Eastern with David Gibbs, Rennie and Chuck. The latter can be pretty described as a couple these days in many, but not all respects. The food was good and also the company. I worked on the party Saturday not at all as the Saturday crew seemed to have things well in hand and I was distracted by the Aegis demo and the dance, both of which were fascinating.

Sunday was brief as I was headed to my little sister's for Thanksgiving dinner. It was also my youngest niece's birthday so I bought her a badger puppet which she quite enjoyed. Kids grow up so fast though. I also rode a ferry for the first time in awhile since it represented a short cut to my sister's.

I used my new digital camera so I should be posting pictures as soon as I get my DSL connection up and running. I got to see many folks there, Troy (with short hair!), many of the goths and Ren Faire folk who did not make it last year, the Haas' with whom I had breakfast on Sunday, Sondra and Tom, other members of concom like Ken and Bill and Bill, the Penguicon folk, and some LJ people like Elizabeth who I had never met in the flesh before.

All in all a very enjoyable weekend.

Hopefully more of you can make next time, and even more will be at ConFusion in January!

Comments

[tammylc.livejournal.com]

Dinner was Middle Eastern with David Gibbs, Rennie and Chuck. The latter can be pretty described as a couple these days in many, but not all respects.

Chuck and Rennie are pretty obviously and publicly a couple, so I'm surprised by your comment.

Thanks for the report. I'm sad to have missed it, and must make better plans for next year.

[jeffreyab.livejournal.com]

I have not seen them as a couple, referring to themselves as such so emphatically and tenderly, before.

I don't see them as often as you do.

[tammylc.livejournal.com]

I don't see them very often myself. I was referring to their LJ's mostly.

[jeffreyab.livejournal.com]

For me reading it and seeing it are two different things.(:

[thatguychuck.livejournal.com]

Chuck and Rennie are pretty obviously and publicly a couple, so I'm surprised by your comment.

I was surprised as well.

Jeff - could you elaborate? I'm curious in what ways we don't come off as a couple to you.

Very neat on the border guard bit, by the way. :)

[jeffreyab.livejournal.com]

Now you come off as a couple; before, in person not so much.

I think Penguicon was the last time I saw you together and your coupleness has enhanced since then, I mean you had all summer to do so.

[jeffreyab.livejournal.com]

Also I think that was the first time I ate with you both as a couple.

Milestones

[encorecrazay.livejournal.com]

We had Catherine Asaro as a GoH a few years ago, really enjoyed talking with her, she changed clothes for every single panel she was on. We tried to put out the word that she was a good guest to invite.

[tlatoani.livejournal.com]

She's a lot of fun. I met her at a Confluence years ago, and had lunch with her and others.