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What a weekend! (Outlantacon)
16 May 2011 12:03 pmThursday evening, the lovely ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
skogkatt got here, so she and Ben and I went out to the Wooden Nickel for beer and food (dinner for her, tater tots for us, and some AMAZING pear bundt cake). I love the Nickel.
Friday Julia and I headed off to Atlanta, stopping at Cup a Joe for breakfast and arabica and Weaver Street for picnic comestibles (tabouli and hummus on seven grain, omg yum). There wasn't much traffic, which was great, and we stopped at the welcome to South Carolina to eat our sandwiches. I took over driving somewhere in SC (and probably did horrible things to the clutch because the Honda isn't my Mini and I had trouble hitting the release point right, and reverse managed to elude me consistently), and we rolled into the hotel around 3:30, checked in, and got badges.
Julia's weekend consisted of being the point person for the Outer Alliance and interviewing people, and mine either of trying not to look like a lost puppy following her around or trying to talk to strangers. But with Julia, I managed to actually meet some people and not feel quite as out of place.
The ratio of men to women was REALLY HIGH, so I ended up mostly hanging out with gay guys (three of whom complimented my awesome swirly shirt which, as promised, looks better on a person than being held up), though I got hit on by a (straight, not even bi) guy. Figures.*
Between panels, I thought it would be nice to get a breath of fresh air, or at least not over-air-conditioned extra-dry air, so Julia and I went outside. I saw a person walking toward the hotel in a brown outfit with goggles on the head (which I initially thought was steampunk), then as they got closer and I could see the outfit better, I realized it was America (from Hetalia). I bounced a little bit and said "awesome costume" or something to that effect and got a picture and chatted briefly.
Then I was getting a drink in the con suite and making small talk about Cheerwine (it's good...), and my head was going, man, she looks familiar... and then I realized it was the America cosplayer from the previous day! *waves tonarroch*
What all did I do? Went to the Match Game panel, which was funnier than I'd expected, went to a few readings, a few socials, the Hellebore and Rue launch party, the Outworlders party (where I got to talk about hot soccer players with one of the guys, because eventually everything with me will turn toward soccer briefly), shared cat photos (queer nerds are cat people. I know, shocker, right?), had a little to drink, bought a couple books, and met some people.
The con is small (150ish), so it's a good size to be able to get to know people a little bit, without feeling too sparse (though panels had 5-10 people at them usually). Unlike something massive like D*C, where I've never managed to actually MEET anyone (and half the time I can never find the people I know are there and am nominally travelling with**), I met a few people who I'm adding on facebook and will be seeing at future cons, and I met Steve Berman who gave me a free book when I said I was broke (since I'm unemployed and Ben's income is marginally sufficient...). Meeting other writers and businessy people is important if you're a growing writer. Networking. I am terrified of it.
So we drove back Sunday afternoon, slightly later than intended because someone grabbed Julia to interview them. Traffic is much nicer than during Labor Day weekend, and we made good time. Stayed up way too late hanging out, but that happens.
And as I wrote this, I realized she left this morning without me giving her money for the room. At least she's not far yet, visiting friends in Durham. *facepalm*
All caught up on my corners of the internet and contemplating lunch. I should contemplate a nap at some point, so I don't spend the next few days too brain-fuzzy to get my editing done. I'd love caffeine, but I had some yesterday to be able to drive. Stupid migraines.
Depending on a variety of factors, I might go again next year. Gaylaxicon is in October in Minneapolis, which I can't afford to get to. (Hello, airfare.) I didn't see anything about pre-reg for next year's Outlantacon, so I don't know when it is. We'll see, I guess.
* And "I'm married" didn't deter him >:[ I'm bi and poly, but that doesn't mean I want to sleep with YOU, dammit. I know there's a button with a pithy version of that in existence; anyone know where to find it? Also, having a conversation with you doesn't mean I want to sleep with you. It means I am performing the skill "Social Interaction" which humans learn as they age. Fucking patriarchy.
**most common phone/sms conversation at D*C: "Where are you?"
skogkatt got here, so she and Ben and I went out to the Wooden Nickel for beer and food (dinner for her, tater tots for us, and some AMAZING pear bundt cake). I love the Nickel.Friday Julia and I headed off to Atlanta, stopping at Cup a Joe for breakfast and arabica and Weaver Street for picnic comestibles (tabouli and hummus on seven grain, omg yum). There wasn't much traffic, which was great, and we stopped at the welcome to South Carolina to eat our sandwiches. I took over driving somewhere in SC (and probably did horrible things to the clutch because the Honda isn't my Mini and I had trouble hitting the release point right, and reverse managed to elude me consistently), and we rolled into the hotel around 3:30, checked in, and got badges.
Julia's weekend consisted of being the point person for the Outer Alliance and interviewing people, and mine either of trying not to look like a lost puppy following her around or trying to talk to strangers. But with Julia, I managed to actually meet some people and not feel quite as out of place.
The ratio of men to women was REALLY HIGH, so I ended up mostly hanging out with gay guys (three of whom complimented my awesome swirly shirt which, as promised, looks better on a person than being held up), though I got hit on by a (straight, not even bi) guy. Figures.*
Between panels, I thought it would be nice to get a breath of fresh air, or at least not over-air-conditioned extra-dry air, so Julia and I went outside. I saw a person walking toward the hotel in a brown outfit with goggles on the head (which I initially thought was steampunk), then as they got closer and I could see the outfit better, I realized it was America (from Hetalia). I bounced a little bit and said "awesome costume" or something to that effect and got a picture and chatted briefly.
Then I was getting a drink in the con suite and making small talk about Cheerwine (it's good...), and my head was going, man, she looks familiar... and then I realized it was the America cosplayer from the previous day! *waves to
narroch* What all did I do? Went to the Match Game panel, which was funnier than I'd expected, went to a few readings, a few socials, the Hellebore and Rue launch party, the Outworlders party (where I got to talk about hot soccer players with one of the guys, because eventually everything with me will turn toward soccer briefly), shared cat photos (queer nerds are cat people. I know, shocker, right?), had a little to drink, bought a couple books, and met some people.
The con is small (150ish), so it's a good size to be able to get to know people a little bit, without feeling too sparse (though panels had 5-10 people at them usually). Unlike something massive like D*C, where I've never managed to actually MEET anyone (and half the time I can never find the people I know are there and am nominally travelling with**), I met a few people who I'm adding on facebook and will be seeing at future cons, and I met Steve Berman who gave me a free book when I said I was broke (since I'm unemployed and Ben's income is marginally sufficient...). Meeting other writers and businessy people is important if you're a growing writer. Networking. I am terrified of it.
So we drove back Sunday afternoon, slightly later than intended because someone grabbed Julia to interview them. Traffic is much nicer than during Labor Day weekend, and we made good time. Stayed up way too late hanging out, but that happens.
And as I wrote this, I realized she left this morning without me giving her money for the room. At least she's not far yet, visiting friends in Durham. *facepalm*
All caught up on my corners of the internet and contemplating lunch. I should contemplate a nap at some point, so I don't spend the next few days too brain-fuzzy to get my editing done. I'd love caffeine, but I had some yesterday to be able to drive. Stupid migraines.
Depending on a variety of factors, I might go again next year. Gaylaxicon is in October in Minneapolis, which I can't afford to get to. (Hello, airfare.) I didn't see anything about pre-reg for next year's Outlantacon, so I don't know when it is. We'll see, I guess.
* And "I'm married" didn't deter him >:[ I'm bi and poly, but that doesn't mean I want to sleep with YOU, dammit. I know there's a button with a pithy version of that in existence; anyone know where to find it? Also, having a conversation with you doesn't mean I want to sleep with you. It means I am performing the skill "Social Interaction" which humans learn as they age. Fucking patriarchy.
**most common phone/sms conversation at D*C: "Where are you?"
