Post Con Blog 1/6 · 7:54pm Aug 18th, 2023
Alright everybody, it's about time for a real post-con blog from my side.
Let's start by saying that I forgot today was Tuesday. Also, I want to apologize to everyone that met me and discovered what my sense of humor is like in person.
Having said that, and before I go into the details of my week over in Seattle, I want to say thank you for every person that said hi, shook my hand, wanted an autograph, bought my books, hugged me and my friends, fist-bumped me, nodded my way at the airport before and after, had kind words to say, and set foot at the Book Nook.
You are all special and wonderful people, and even though I've had my share of incidents with some of you out there, I am glad to see you all there, doing well and being an active part of this community.
I missed some friends who couldn't make it, and reconnected with some that could. One day, I hope I can have all my nakama in the same place and time to be able to tell you all in person just how important to me you are.
A big shout-out to RBDash for agreeing to have a beer with me at the airport last year… it ended up in the Book Nook happening, and while my share of the load was minimal, he made everything possible, and without Sammi ascending to Alicornhood and Corejo being both her Royal Guard and Sales Assistant, things wouldn't have been nearly as remotely smooth as they were.
It was great to be a part of it, and I hope to see it happen again someday.
Going to conventions is one of my favorite things in the world, because I get to connect with my people, and I get to eat a lot of food with my friends. (Which is always good!) Also, it gives me energy to write and create once more.
Anyway, last week I made a post about the day before the con… so let's pick up where we left it…
Day 1 Wednesday 9th
It's surprisingly easy for me to wake up early when motivated by a trip to Seattle to hang out with friends. If this could only be true for work… Thankfully there were no more mice that I could see, and it seems that the self-sealing foam properly got the little critters to stay out. Good for them. On the other hand, a night of sleep didn't help much with solving the need for a dryer. Either way, these would not be my problem for a while.
Those were problems for future D. And indeed they are.
So drove over to the airport, got past check-in and security relatively quick, all things considered. I still got stopped by the TSA for their as-of-yet pointless so-called security checks despite having kicked off my shoes, wearing no metal and going through their x-ray scanner. Is it really a random check if you still went through everything else they had?
I mean, if they wanted to pat me down that badly they could've at least taken me out for dinner first.
Anyway, what do you do when you get patted up and down your crotch without the dinner offer to go with it? You get a sandwich, that's what. And it just so happens that right next to my gate was a Plum Market that sold Zingerman's sandwiches. Woo!
Since I had 10 mins before boarding by this point, I just stuffed it into my backpack and pulled it out to eat during my flight. I got lucky there, too. Since I had originally booked a 'friendship' seat (if you don't know what that is, it's airplane lingo for a middle seat in the main cabin), I was doomed to be snug between two more people, but it turns out a family was traveling together and I offered to switch seats with the guy that was going to be on the aisle seat, and it was off to Seattle. Yay!
The flight was alright, spent half of it next to the restroom waiting for the food service to finish, the other half dozing off. Eventually, however, I landed in Seattle, and it was time to coordinate with the herd.
Grand Moff Pony, Trekker extraordinaire had offered to give Olden Brony and I a ride, and also provide a meal! (TSA should learn from him.) The plan was to get a bite, then help Dash and Moff load the books into the van that would take them to the Hyatt, where they'd be ready for Thursday evening, when we would set up Twilight's Book Nook.
Unfortunately the van was not to be. The rental location didn't receive it in time, and Dash was asked to wait until the next morning, which tightened the schedule a little. At least, so long as they had it ready early enough, the Book Nook would work out.
On that note, we went to Bevmo to buy some liquid courage, social lubricants and also a bottle of Mead, then headed over to Moff's place, where he proceeded to show off his impressive Trek stuff, as well as plushies that I swear totally made me jealous.
He even offered me the chance to touch a beautiful Sunset Shimmer plush he had there, but I had to decline because if I held her, I was never letting go. It was roughly at that time that I got a message telling me that the hotel room was ready.
Instead of risking his wrath and the possible removal of my hand, we headed downstairs to talk and eat, before Moff's lovely wife (and fellow Trekker) showed up and accompanied us to the hotels.
After a 'see you soon!' to all involved, I went up to the hotel room where Petrichord and Flashgen had already made a mess started to settle in. Turns out they hadn't had dinner and were thinking of going to a nearby tavern to have a bite.
"Sure," I thought, "why not?"
The why not turned out to be the fact that the tavern charged me $17 for 6 chicken wings. The hell?
After confirming that this was indeed not a mistake, I promised myself never to return. It didn't help that it was Quiz Night so the loud volume and high bill made it a miserable experience.
The wings weren't even that good.
After that, there was not much to do, so I asked the question that should be asked every time in polite company.
"Guys, have you watched Hilda yet? Well then…"
And so we watched about three or four episodes before going to bed and getting ready for early next day....
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Today is Friday.
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It was Tuesday when I started writing! But then my electricity went out :(
On the flight, I have an inkling that the family was split up on purpose in hopes that they would pay extra to sit together. It's just too much of a coincidence that you got stuck with a "friendship seat" in a row otherwise occupied by a family.
That sandwich has potential. Is that sauerkraut? If not, lacks pickle.
I look forward to future installments of your con recap, to find out what you were doing on the actual convention days when we weren't crossing paths!
Can't wait to hear more! I was pretty bummed I couldn't go this year, so thanks for sharing the experience with us by proxy!