Post Con Blog 2/6 · 7:51pm Aug 19th, 2023
Day 2, Thursday the 10th
Ever since I started going to EFNW, I've bunked with Petrichord and Flashgen. It makes sense: we all like ponies, we all write, we all like animation, and I can throw anime and shows at them to see how they react.
It's always a win, and that means we now have…
And that tradition starts with good early coffee and morning toons. So we headed over to the Top Pot for a cup of joe, (mine was the Ovaltine Latte special), grabbed some donuts, and headed back to watch an episode of Hilda.
Usually we'd have time to watch a couple more, but I had another tradition I had the pleasure of repeating at every con possible:
Breakfast with Monochromatic.
Now this tradition has been happening… I think since her first Bronycon. And it is one of those things that make every trip worth it. We do talk a little about pony, but we usually catch up on life, talk about things that are currently happening to us, changes, hopes…
…and we do it in Spanish, of course, which always unintentionally annoys those that have spotted us and tried to listen in. You know who you are. And let me tell you, Mono has some… intense and socially inadequate fans. (Clarifying: some of her fans, not her friends. Her friends are lovely people, actually.)
By this, I mean that they can't take a hint. But I won't go and rant at them. To each their own, I suppose. But here's hoping a few clue in.
Anyway. We caught up and ate breakfast, joined nearby by one of Mono's friends who is currently doing research into fandoms. She's pretty, super polite, and has this energy that makes you quickly realize she's an awesome person.
We greeted her briefly, chatted a tiny bit, then dug into our food. During our conversation, it emerged that my son had not learned to speak Spanish yet. If you ever wondered what Mono looks like when she's disappointed… well, I could've taken a picture I guess, but then I'd probably be smacked on the back of the head for it.
After breakfast we headed over to the mall to simply walk and talk, and Mono kept me from buying more food—for which I'm somewhat grateful, since I'd be eating soon after—although eventually we had to depart back to the hotel to catch up with Swan Song.
On the way back we bumped into Azure Notion who I'm afraid I had recognized, but couldn't remember her name earlier on. It wasn't my brightest moment. But, either way, she chatted with us for a little bit before heading off and we went down to the Lobby.
Now, Swan didn't recognize me while I was waiting (Mono had stepped away for a bit) but the CCS bling gave them away immediately to me. The three of us chatted for a while about nothing in particular, when it was time for me to head out and catch up with Petri and Flash.
Before doing so, I picked up my badge for the con, as well as my bag of goodies, and I was all set to go!
I had plans soon after: I had messaged FanOfMostEverything and was wondering if he'd be interested in joining me for Ramen.
And of course, he said yes.
It's ramen. Who doesn't like ramen?
Now, the ramen place at the mall is REALLY good, but service can be a coin toss. For instance, we got our food right and quick… but they didn't bring any of the drinks we ordered, and even had them on our bill, so we had to be careful about making sure they were removed.
We talked about life, jobs, and of course writing, as well as our expectations on the Book Nook. Personally, I was worried about the newly-published authors. It's a big deal to sell your book at a con, and if you were there at Bronycon, you had experienced that… but if you were brand new and nothing sold, it could potentially hit you hard… even if it shouldn't.
FOME and I also made plans for something, so… yeah.
Soon after the food was done, FOME had to rush a bit to catch up with his other friends, and we bid him fare-thee-well as we headed back at our own pace to the Hyatt's Lobby, where we met…
FOME again, alongside Admiral Biscuit, Winston, & Olden Bronie.
Of course, since we hadn't seen each other in ages it was only right that FOME and I remark on the long period of time since our last encounter, and how well we remembered that faraway occurrence.
I greeted Winston with far more enthusiasm than he was probably expecting (I had a request for him), bumped Admiral on the shoulder, patted Olden Bronie in the back and spotted Monochromatic sitting with Swan just past them.
Excusing myself from the small gathering, I went over to say hi. It had also been some time since I had seen her, after all! We didn't talk much, but I found out that Admiral had ghosted her! The temerity of the man. I of course asked Mono if I should mention to him that he had missed saying hi to her, and she told me that under no circumstances should I tell him about this. So I didn't.
She brought it up later with him, so it's safe to share now.
Flash, Petri and I went back to the hotel for an episode or two more of Hilda before I headed back to the Hyatt to help set up shop. I was a little bit early, so I hung out with David Silver and Bernd while we waited for the previous event to clear the floor.
Soon enough, as the doors were about to open, who do I spot but RBDash47, Corejo, and Sammi. We quickly split up into teams. While Corejo and Sammi headed over to borrow a luggage cart from the hotel, Dash and I headed into the parking lot to get started on unloading the TON of boxes we had in the van.
Work progressed quickly. Sammi and Corejo came down several times and left with a full dolly and a full luggage cart about… 5, 6 times.
By then, Heartshine and Lillowisp had caught up with us and informed us that the Ministry of Image books were in the parking lot as well.
Corejo and I took the dolly out there to get them. And boy, oh boy. Those were heavy. The tires on the dolly were crushed down and I had to push hard to get them into the elevator, and then across the Lobby. By the end of it, I needed a break just from that.
I need more exercise.
Dash had obtained and put up bookshelves from IKEA that were brought down and work got started.
Soon enough we were joined by Xepher Swan, Winston, Olden Bronie, Grand Moff Pony, Mono, and many others. In fact, several others were constantly messaging if we needed more help, but we were already at full capacity if we didn't want to overwhelm the staff watching over us. It was a lot of work and books so Dash turned, looked Sammi straight in the eye and told her she was in charge of Winter Wrappup logistics and organizing everything.
This is where Sammi ascended into the Alicorn of Human Resources & Logistics. (Eat your heart out, Twilight.) With her ever-vigilant eye and organizational skills, we sorted through the boxes (which contained different books, they were not packed by title).
Dash started working on the display position, we hung up the Book Nook sign, and started to fill in the bookshelves. My one contribution to the organization other than manual labor, was just to suggest that we make sure all books were placed with the cover art facing outwards for maximum appeal, but other than that, I was a good drone and followed orders.
While things were being set up, the people at the Sponsor Lounge took pity on us and offered pizza, drinks and snacks to whoever wanted them. So naturally, a few of us took them on the offer, with Olden and I also bringing back bananas. Because bananas.
It took a lot of work, but thanks, and I can't say this enough to RBDash and Sammi, we had a working setup for the next day.
On that note, we left the rest to the next day… well, later would be more accurate, with Dash summoning us for 9:30AM.
I walked back to the Hilton Inn, and went to bed at around 3AM. Tired, but happy with the day so far and hyped about the next few.
Huh. I hadn't even known Mono was in that state, much less at the con. I saw neither hide nor Pikachu hat of her all weekend. (Having said, I fully expect three different people to chime in with "FoME, what are you talking about? You gave her a piggyback ride on Sunday," with photographic evidence.)
Fun fact: I have the same birthday as Naruto. It's fate, clearly.
I would have happily helped set up the Book Nook, but I got up at 12:30 AM Pacific Time on Thursday. I would not have been especially helpful by the time the insurance conference cleared out.
Yay friends! Though boo oblivious fans ><
And Twilight would definitely be *so* proud.
Boxes! Boxes of books bursting at the seams! But I have it on Good Authority that it wasn't a ton of books. Actually, a few hundred pounds short of a ton. Such a missed opportunity!
You needed a dolly with properly inflated tires!
Prominently displaying the book covers was an excellent strategy. Kudos!
Do you like... bananas?
Since the previous event had to finish clearing out before you could set up, I'm guessing the Writer Unrap Up took about five hours, say 10 pm to 3 am?
Five hours of unpacking boxes
And awesome drinks and snacks
Under Sammi's watchful eye
We sorted all the stacks...