BayCon: Friday

I got out of the office about 12:30 or so, but I had a whole bunch of errands to run...

( Errands )

I finally got to the Doubletree at about 3 PM. My first panel was at 5 PM. I was able to actually find a "front lot" parking space. (Now I'm trapped, if I want to keep it for the weekend. It's only Friday and already the lots are overflowing into the "back 40.") I got my luggage, including all of that Match Game stuff, moved into my hotel room.

( Too many things to do in too little time )

I did manage to get to my 5:30 panel, which was entitled Civil Discussion -- Use it or Lose It...ALL with moderator Andrew Clark, Vickie Brewster, Laura Majerus, Brad Templeton, and Jerry Pournelle.

( Defending the WSFS Business Meeting )

I only got to set through half of the panel because part-way through my radio crackled, and I excused myself and went outside and tried to answer what I thought was a call from Lisa. She didn't answer. I walked all over the parking lot; still nothing. Finally, I heard her again as she got close to the hotel. She'd called from coming down the Sunol grade, and I'd heard her at that distance, but once she hit the flats she couldn't hear my response. I hustled over to the entrance through which she'd be arriving, and when the Giant Orange Van stopped at the entry gate, I hopped inside. We finally found a parking spot somewhere around Sunnyvale -- or so it seemed -- and hauled in the first part of her luggage. However, we did not have time to make another trip out to the van, because it was almost time for my next panel.

My second panel was called Dinner Party from Hell, moderated by Hilary Ayer, and we were joined by Steaphen Fick. This turned into an impromptu "panel in the round" because the hotel was in the process of changing the room from theatre-style to being part of the ballroom used for the Meet the Guests later that evening. The head table and most of the chairs had been struck. We (and the audience) rescued chairs from the stacks and formed a circle.

( Dinner Party Discussion, followed by Dinner )

After dinner, we headed back up to the room and finally got unpacked. I think that rather than trying to move the Match Game material around in the clumsy box, I'll use my rolling luggage, which has enough room on account of my clothing being unpacked and all, and is more maneuverable.

( Why is there a bear riding in your rocket-pack? )

After we turned in for the night, I set up my computer. We have free wired and wireless internet here, which is very nice, and thank you, BayCon, for arranging it for us. I can use the faster wired connection while in the room or the wireless around and about. That always assumes I have the time to write entries. Tomorrow, thankfully, I have no panels and can sleep in.

Sorry to inflict so much on y'all at once, but I needed to do the brain-dump before I forget it. I've tried to cut-tag some of it.

BayCon: Friday Night Epliog

chaoswolf came up to us last night while I was in WSFS uniform playing pinball and said, "You scare me."

Puzzled, I asked, "Why is that"?

"You're dressed all in white. You never wear white!"

Tsk. One reason I like wearing my WSFS uniform is that I like breaking some of the little boxes into which people have placed me.

BayCon: Saturday Morning

We slept in this morning (luxury!), which we certainly will not be able to do tomorrow. Rolling down to the Coffee Garden, we got there fifteen minutes before the breakfast buffet closed, but we made the best of it; possibly too much, actually. But we did go out for a short walk to burn a bit of the carbs.

Changing into our WSFS uniforms, we tossed on our Space Cadet sashes and headed down to the L.A.con IV table, where we'd volunteered to sit while they did their 1 PM panel. However, there are apparently so many volunteers that we weren't needed, so we went and sat in the panel instead.

I fired up my computer and tried to raise the wireless network; however, it appears that you can't connect to the wireless network in the function rooms if the doors are closed.

After the panel, we found some tables that were unoccupied and had chairs, so we sat down and I was able to connect and compose this message and check my mail. As usual, I hardly know what to do with myself at a con other than sit behind a table and interact with people.

Our friend Raven O'Neill came by and she and Lisa are discussing costuming and the fine details of her rocket-pack. We also had our picture taken several times, some of which may appear on-line eventually and I will point to if I find them.

I have, of course, had to explain the WSFS uniforms repeatedly to people. I have different levels of explanation, starting with the one-sentence, "It's related to last year's Worldcon in Glasgow," and working outwards in levels of details. One person in particular took our photo and asked what our costumes were. Now, I eventually got the idea that he really wanted all costumes to be re-creations of television or movies productions with which he was personally familiar, but I tried to explain. This wasn't easy. He had a vague idea of a "World Science Fiction Convention" -- he said he attended one many years ago -- but had never heard of the Hugo Award, and didn't know there was a Worldcon coming up later this year in Southern California. Eventually he got bored and left. Sigh.

In the Navy

This afternoon, while I was walking through the Dealers' Room, a fellow in a Navy enlisted man's uniform came up to me and said, "Excuse me, sir, but are you actually in the Navy?"

At first, I thought he was poking a little fun at me, but it became clear that he was serious. The shortest version of what I said in reply was, "No; it is a civilian space-liner."

He said, "Okay," and showed his military ID, "You see, I really am in the Navy, and I needed to make sure I didn't have to salute you."

I think I should take this as a compliment to both the outfit and to the way I wear it.

BayCon: Saturday Afternoon

Lisa and I went for a walk through the Dealers' Room this afternoon, chatting along the way with many people and stopping to have our photo (and that of Kuma Bear in his BEAR-o-metric chamber) taken, and sometimes to explain the outfits. We stopped by lyzard13's table and collected the gift certificate (and later, the ad copy) for use with the Match Game.

( Kevin admits to ogling pretty girls )

Moving on, we picked up the gift certificate from Cargo Cult, and reminded dinogrl that she needs to give us ad copy or she gets only minimal mention. Time is running out for her.

We then had a few minutes to look through the Art Show. I don't buy art that often, but I put in a bid for one of the limited edition prints of the cover art from the Interaction souvenir book, nicely framed and presented. Whether my minimum bid will hold up, only time will tell.

We couldn't hang about, because we had a 5:30 Match Game production meeting in the Fanzine Lounge.

( Production Notes )

I do hope the Information Desk realizes by tomorrow where the Gateway Foyer is. I have been told that people have been coming by Info Desk asking about this place -- Match Game is not the only event taking place there -- and are being told, "We don't know."

I'm afraid we're skipping the Masquerade. In fact, we went back to the room and changed back into more casual clothes; I composed this and answered e-mail and Lisa played Locomotion on her (now working) computer. But I guess we'd better go get some dinner soon.