Hey, it's me

I had a lot of fun, probably more so than usual because I was so busy. Inactive kitty = booooring. Everyone seemed to enjoy the roundtables I moderated, and the panel titti, furiousity, and I hosted. Also got a ton of swag from the various meet-ups, including but not limited to: chocolate cocks, finger handcuffs, erotic art/stickers/buttons, clothing-optional finger puppets, and various and sundry pronalicious goodies.

Alas, it is back to work tomorrow with a full day court calendar and fixing the messes made while I was gone, and there were definitely messes. I got an email from my magistrate saying he'd accidentally left the FTR recorder on all night - oops. Looks like I'll be going in early just to clear the hard drive!

(Of course, now I want to write... but not HP. More AkuDan anyone?)

And there's no free internet access in the hotel, so we're at the coffee place down the block. Poor coffee place is going to be inundated with witches and wizards who primarily talk about porn...

Wednesday's wizarding wrock concert was odd. The people there were, weirdly, not all the same people who will attend the main con. These wizarding wrock bands have groupies. Amusing, and scary. The one band I heard, The Mudbloods, was pretty okay, but otherwise none were really to my taste. All musical genres were represented, though: whiny chick rock, death metal, rap, hip-hop, football hooligan, The Mix, and American Idolists. The one thing they all had in common: they're fandom, too.

HP fen = <3

Aside from catching con crud, Comic-con was okay. As it was my first time there, the size of it was overwhelming and it was probably less fun than I could have had had I'd known what to expect. Because of the size, you have to sit in a room through panels you don't want to see in order to attend the panel you do want to go to, and that's a major drag. They also stagger the panel start times, instead of having them start and end at once, so you're limited in what you can see just by that - notwithstanding the enormous lines you wait in to get into the panels. You might not get into a room because of how long the line is. Also, they close the room once a panel starts, meaning you can't come late to anything, even if there's extra seating.

From my experiences, when you go to cons with personalities present, you want to see those personalities in person, not on a jumbo screen. I can watch television just as easily at home, and for much cheaper. Thus, you want to get seats close to the front to be able to see them in person and that requires all day room sitting or line sitting from before 8am (some people line-sat overnight) when the doors don't open until 9:30a.

We managed to get decent seats the whole time by room sitting. The Torchwood panel was really the only panel worth it, though, with SG-1 coming in a close second. Overall, the organizers didn't do so hot of a job curtailing preambles and other stupidity for those asking questions. And the panels were too promotional, less craft-love, as pretty much everything is current on-air and soon opening stuff and not canceled/old shows/movies.

I took pictures. They are not the best, but I shall share anyway. Instead of clogging the lj with pics, you can open this link in another tab/window to see a folder full of pics. They are labeled behind the cut tag.

( Picture list )

All in all, I will have a different mindframe in going next year, including not staying out past 8:30pm b/c nothing there was worth lack of sleep. I enjoyed spending time with titti mostly and ragging on other fans/the stars.

I am off to the San Diego Comicon with titti and anyone else I may happen to see there. Last Harry Potter thoughts when I get back!

This year, I can't go to Dragon*con for money reasons and what happens? Michael Rosenbaum is listed as a guest on the D*C thing I just got in the mail.

MotherFUCKER!

I come bearing gifts of bad pictures and squee. When I go to dragon*con, I don't look at the website ahead of time, so I do not know who is suppose to be attending. That way, not only am I not disappointed on who doesn't make it, I get to go OMGFLAILTHEGREATESTAMERICANHEROISATDRAGON*CONGEEKOUTSQUEE!!!

In case you don't read geek-squee, the Greatest American Hero was at D*C. Dude. The Greatest American Hero. Believe it or not, I'm walking on air. *g* ( Pictures )

After I spazzed over him, I thought my weekend was set. Then, I found out that Michael Winslow was there. Don't recognize that name? That's okay, I didn't either, until I saw his credits as "That guy who does the all the crazy voices in the Police Academy movies and Spaceballs." FLAIL!!! ( really blurry pic )

Now, Michael Winslow brought down the effin' house. OMG he rawked so hard. He did a thing where he took a clip from Star Wars and played it on the screen, having edited out the dialogue and sound effects (the scene where Luke, Leia, and Han had just escaped and two TIE fighters had been sent after them), and then HE did the sound effects and dialogue and words cannot describe how totally awesome it was. There was a standing O' after that. And then he went and topped himself by doing Jimi Hendrix. And not just mimicking Hendrix, but also Hendrix's guitar. Holy cow. It was un-freaking-believable.

I got to fawn over the Beastmaster again, Marc Singer, who is still as warm, funny, and handsome as he is every time he comes to a con, and I make it a point to see him each time he's at D*C. Cuz, well, he's the Beastmaster and was in V. How much more awesome can you get? ( another blurry pic )

There were also women of awesomeness there. The most awesome being Nichelle Nichols, who is as beautiful today as she was when she played Lt. Uhura on television when Star Trek: ToS first aired. ( Though my pic doesn't do her justice )

Ms. Nichols told us about her various projects coming out, including a certain television show she'll be on this fall (WOOT!), and she shared a story about how Dr. Martin Luther King himself complimented her on her role in Star Trek and was a deciding factor (not just the compliment, but something else he said) in her remaining on the show after season one. Amazing how history is interwoven isn't it?

It's also amazing how things change. Remember stalking James Marsters? This D*C, I did everything I could to get out of seeing him at all. I was despairing that I couldn't see Juliet Landau alone, because I wanted to see Robert Picardo, Lori Petty, and Juliet Landau, but the scheduling wouldn't let me, and so I'd have to see James again, too. But the D*C gods must've been smiling upon me, because Picardo got a CSI gig, I got to see Lori Petty in Picardo's spot, and Juliet in Lori's spot, and didn't have to see James at all.

Heh.

Lori Petty cursed non-stop and the Classic Sci-Fi TV track director was a fershimmeled by it, since usually he gets, well, the Greatest American Hero and Beastmaster, not Tank Girl. You can see it in the bad picture. ( pic )

Lori was so cool. A totally no-nonsense woman. A go-getter. She almost got killed on the tank while filming Tank Girl b/c men are men, and during rehearsal the tank went 5mph while she rode on the outside of it and when the director said action for real, the guy went 30mph and knocked her off. She caught herself right above the treads and held on, hoping not to get sucked onto the treads. The man kept driving for ages until he finally stopped. Know why he stopped? "Because I couldn't see." She was blocking the viewport. Instead of stopping immediately, though, he drove for a long time first, then stopped. Men.

Juliet Landau, by contrast to Lori, had less of a potty-mouth, but was equally as vivacious. Aside from a bunch of films she's currently working on/has starred in, she's starting to finance an independent film like Amber Benson did for her two films. Juliet's also done a stage play with her mother. She told a story that she never wanted to be an actress. Dance was her thing until she was in her early 20s, then she tried an acting class and liked it. ( Pictures )

Another Star Trek panel I went to was the Trek Trak Show, which I try to always attend, because Eric Watts, the fabulous track director, does a great job with it. This time around, Eric didn't get to do much, as Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, and Gates McFadden stole the show, telling stories and ribbing each other as they answered questions. ( Pics on the comfy couch )

The other people I saw at the con you had to be there to really get it. I shall post my bad pictures though behind the cut. I can tell you a few things. According to Paul McGillion (Carson Beckett), Jason Momoa (Ronon) is very shy in public. Chris Judge and Jason Momoa appear to be good friends, as Chris invited Jason along to D*C with the SG1 group. Jamie Bamber has a great accent. Eric Estrada is a real police officer now. Tom Braidwood and Bruce Harwood would've liked to had the Lone Gunmen die in a huge explosion.

( More picture )

I'm a leeetle bit late with the Dragoncon pics. Blame laziness. And my suck-ass picture taking skills. Out of 100 pictures taken, about 10 are showable. Le sigh.

( Dragoncon 2006 )

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For those of you who are new to reading me, I am a) very strange and b) I like to do strange things with my action figures. Why else have them, if not to torture play with?

( Shelfwars #whatever: Special Hell Bus )

Back from Lumos. It was... not very good. I think I attended five panels, maybe. It was heavily continuing education/presenation weighted, as opposed to fanpanels or roundtables. Disappointing. There were a few really good convos had, though, about our thoughts for Book 7, and I continuously find it amusing that we can all point to canon parts by memory to support our arguments. Lexicon Steve was there and he, as usual, gave the best presentation. He also pulled out things from the book that I knew, but didn't blatantly see: Harry going from a boy to a man, from a follower to a leader, using quotes from books 1-6. Mostly, pay attention to each time Harry returns to the Dursleys at the ends of the books, in each one he grows a little more. Also, Harry reassures his friends "I'll be fine. I'll be with Dumbledore." Then, the power shifts when Dumbledore says "I'll be okay. I'm with you." *fangirlflail*

JKR can really write. It never ceases to amaze me the depth there really is to the books.

I got to see the usual crew and got to meet a few other peeps in person, like myashke, and Rosie and coffeejunkii. Made smiley faces at a few new people, too, whom I hope to smile at again at either Sectus or Prophecy next year.

On the not-so-happy note, I wasn't inspired to write ANY fic. I did totally get inspired to do a fanvid, though. Maybe I should learn how to use the dang software.

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Vacation book report: I finished two books on the trip. Both were excellent. Both are also book 1 of a series, so WHEE!

1. Voyage of the Shadowmoon, by Sean McMullen. I loved this. It's exactly what I look for in a fantasy book: compelling characters, intriguing plot, and conversational humor. The last is the most important. I don't like "humor" fantasy books all that much, but I don't like my fantasy to take itself too seriously, either. McMullen hits it perfectly, with characters that say "Oh shit!", tease about sex, say digs at each other, use sarcasm, and otherwise wonder what the hell they're getting into. I laughed a lot, was sucked into the twists and turns of the various plots, and was quite suprised by who the final bad guy turned out to be. I also loved that all the characters were strong, not simpering, but also that the women were still women and the men thought with their dicks.

2. Dhampir, by Barb & JC Hendee. Recommended by tangledaria. Very good first book. It's got a Buffyish type plot, with a woman unknowingly born to kill vampires and her half-elf partner who has a History of his own. You actually feel sympathetic to all the characters in the book, including the vampires, which makes it slant towards a tragedy, but the two main characters also feel guilty and sad about what they'd done, too, adding depth that usually lacks in books like this. It's heavy with fighting, so if you like that sort of read, it's a good book to try.

I solemnly swear I'll be up to no good.

Back from vacation and The Witching Hour. Therefore, I shall now spam the lj with various things of varying interest to those reading my blather.

"And then we drink... but first--"


Dear ziasudra, reddwarfer, and lydialovestruck:

"THERE IS A SHIT-MONSTER ATTACHED TO MY MAN-BREAST!"

Kryptonian Mating. Remember, you asked.

Love,
Saber

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( The Witching Hour )

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( Massachusetts )

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I just want the fic

The Witching Hour has posted its master schedule for the convention. I'm going to have to poke around for the descriptions of the events. I do know my sis and I will be at the H/D gathering on Thursday night:

Harry/Draco Shippers
Do you sail on the S.S. Guns & Handcuffs? Are you a fan of the Great and T00by Love? Then this is the place to be. Stop by to meet your fellow Gutter Pirates and discuss everything you love about H/D.

Location: Sheraton Ferncroft
Time: Thursday, October 6, 2005 at 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Contact: Chris (harrydraco@witchinghour.org)


titti will be going to everything Snape and I will most likely be at everything Draco. Those of you who are going that want to meet up and say "Yaho, Lord Helmet" will be able to find me or titti at those places. We're staying at the Ferncroft, too.

Almost here!

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Dragoncon is even closer to here, as it's in two weeks! If anyone is going who wants to meet up, lemme know. I usually attend one SV panel (that has no spoilers!) and one Buffy panel, the HP panels, and a bunch of stuff on the X-Track. Otherwise, I doubt I'll see anyone but the usual Trollops.

Otherwise, I'm looking forward to seeing all the Firefly people there. Last year, we had Mal, Jayne, and Kaylee show up, but this year others are coming, too. Plus, the Weasley Twins are supposed to be in attendance, too. Whee! Now, if only TF were there, so that I might twitch and perv (though he's 18 this September, so I don't feel too naughty any longer).

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Then, after all that, the Man and I go on our yearly vacation. We're spending a week in Massachusetts, visiting places like the House of the Seven Gables, the Lizzie Borden museum, the plumbing museum, a bunch of dead people's houses, and a few histerical sites. I think we might try a whale cruise, too.

I love the fall. So many vacations, so little work!

Went to Chicagocon comic book convention. Ran into my (ex?) Sunday bookstore coworker there and then ended up driving behind him in downtown Chicago. Saw Mercedes McNabb (Harmony from Buffy/Angel) and she is

thisbig

. Bought a whole lotta stuff I don't need, but will enjoy. Am v. v. tired now. ZZZzzzz.

My lj is a public lj. I do not friends lock nor will I ever. Anyone can friend me, read me, comment to me good or bad, defriend at will and move on their merry way. My flist is not a "friends" list, it's a list of "Stuff to Read", i.e. people I have friended either a) post stories, b) run a ficlist or c) talk about my obsessions obsessively with near exclusivity. If you end up friended by me, you fit either a, b, or c and I will defriend if, after a while, you've veered off the course of a, b, or c. Do not take this personally, as I'm fixated on the pretty boys and has no reflection on you.

Everyone reads me gets hugs 24/7, whether you sit down and stay a while or are simply stopping for coffee. My stepford sis will cuss you out in seven languages if you play meanly. My ex-Reader's Hell compatriots will regale you with manager horror stories that makes lj squbbling seem logical. I will just hug you and let you be.


Dance like no one is watching
Love like you'll never be hurt
Sing like no one is listening
Live like it's heaven on earth

As I've been so busy with editing this past week, and am finally DONE (and found a mistake this morning in my mind's copy and thus must fix tonight), I can now give you the con report. Part 2 will be pictures once I upload them.

( Geeks 'R Us )

I'm back from Dragon*con. Had a great time. Am very tired. Took too many pictures that I shall post sometime. Found a superb surprise in my inbox - the rest of the HP: DMTE beta - and starting tomorrow I'm going to edit like mad. Luckily, I have the rest of the week off.


More con reports at a later date.

I am here at the Marriott marquis in Atlanaa GA using te crap tv intrrnet ecausee my latopwon't ork here.ASou can see by my spelling/typing, it is el suck. I am nothapp aboutit because I luggedthe lapop frm Indiana to use and now...

supersekiitmsgtohappyminionfromPepeattheMuppets panel: "Hey, baby, you ever peel a king prawn?"

I wuf Jim Henson. They sold to disney, yo know and there was a Memorial service atth muppetpaanel.

I HTE TIShing. I am going to bed.
seconsperrsekritmsgtotitti: Wish u were here so I could ue your lapptop :)

hasta from dragncon

PS nathan fillion, Adam Baldwin, and Jewel Staite are all gorgeous in person. nyahnyah.

It broke 80* here today. In fact, it might be over 80* the entire weekend - because, naturally, I'll be gone the entire time. *sigh*

But also yay! Because it's Dragoncon! time. Adam Baldwin's supposed to be there. So is Nate Fillion. And Margot Kidder. And Marc Singer. And others that are fun to see because they're treated like Kings and Queens at the con and totally get their groove on with their audiences. Last year, Noah Hathaway showed up with a hangover for his Sun Morning Q&A that he got from party-hopping in various fans' rooms, and he loved it. Geeks rule!

Don't forget, we're having the unoffical real Smallville panel in the hall outside the ASF room during their read directly from kryptonsite printoffs and don't even watch the show, the wankers presentation. I want to talk Smallvile with fandom fen! And gush about the Sexy. (I've seen the war going on between lexcorp_hope and aelora, and let me say GUH!)

Now, all that's left to do is pack. Oh, and finish work, but who cares about that.

Amber Benson is tiny. *Tiny* Like, me-size, tiny. Makes me wonder how small SMG really is in person. I didn't get to talk to AB, but I did take two pics that I'll eventually post on my Buffy site.

Saw a couple other peeps who'll be at Dragoncon in Sept. Drooled briefly over Marc Singer, because he is hot damn and 'here's a telephone book just stand there and read it while I stare at you', and I get to see him again soon.

Bought lots of crap I don't need, but comics are books and I've enjoyed them so far. I'm really liking Outsiders at the moment, which is nice because they fucked with Robin and I had to stop reading that. Jake commented, and I agree, about the con, that current comics were jacked in prices. Some were $3-4 dollars a pop.

I did get this really cool purple Bizarro Supes t-shirt. And an Alex doll to go with my Joe doll from Crimson.


Next week: Parental units invade Indiana.
Three weeks: Dragoncon

Ha. Made you look.

Back from Convention Alley. Twas a lot of fun. I now have about five theories on the prophecy from OotP and what it means, learned that Snape to everyone not Harry in the books can't be all that bad (but that doesn't mean I still don't loathe him; still, you don't have to be a good person to be morally good), learned that JKR is scared by people who like Draco, and was fed the incredible lie that the people, places, and things in Harry Potter aren't real. Devastating, I know, but apparently we're just all a bunch of crazy people anyway, so it's okay.

Fourteen months until Salem!