Made It Home

[kevin_standlee]

As I expected, playing Locomotion made two hours seem like ten minutes. Before I knew it, they were calling the flight, and I had to scramble to get my machine shut down and get aboard. I had the presence of mind to put the computer into the seat pocket instead of leaving it in its backpack, so I was able to fire it back up again at the first opportunity, and consequently the flight back to Oakland seemed to last almost no time at all. I was fortunate to have an exit row and the person in front of me did not lean his seat back, so I could actually look at the screen.

As if to make up for my having to spend two-plus hours hanging around PDX, the universe dealt me three straight aces:

1. Because I'd attempted to standby the earlier flight, my bag went on that earlier flight and was already waiting for me at Oakland; therefore, instead of having to wait 15 minutes for it to appear, I could just show my ID and claim check and pick it up from the baggage office.

2. This meant I was able to catch the AirBART bus that was waiting at the curb, rather than having to wait 10-20 minutes for the next one.

3. A Fremont-bound BART train pulled up to the platform at Coliseum Station just as I was coming up the stairs.

Consequently, for one of the few times I can remember, it actually took me less time to get home than it took to fly between PDX and OAK.

I started this LJ entry shortly after getting home, but was distracted replying to this thread on the Calgary Con-Version BBS. I know the Board moderator follows my LJ, so I guess I should apologize for being so sarcastic to Miko the Mouth, but IMO he deserves it. I don't know why I let people like this get my goat.

But now, I need to get some sleep.

Comments

[marahsk.livejournal.com]

Judging solely from the comments on the page you linked to, you explained to a rude loudmouth that the entire universe doesn't revolve around him. I don't see why you feel the need to apologize for that.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I appreciate seeing the viewpoint of someone who hasn't been following my ongoing war of words with this guy. (Go look at the CV BBS for other threads in the same area, particularly those having to do with Westercon/Due North, for examples.) He's been espousing his view -- which IMO boils down to "conventions should be free or really cheap and should cater to my interests exclusively" -- in places I've been watching since before Torcon 3. We exchanged substantially the same messages pre-T3, on the Toronto Trek Message Board.

[marahsk.livejournal.com]

I recognize the type. And after reading some of his posts in other topics, I will add that not only do you have nothing to apologize for, but I'm surprised that you managed to show as much restraint as you did.

After years of listening to this attitude, I can only reiterate:

1) If these cons aren't to your taste, don't go; the Earth will not stop rotating on its axis if you aren't there. Frankly, it will be your loss.

2) If you'd like to go but you're hesitant to spend the money because it's more than you're used to spending, buy early when it's cheaper and/or volunteer and get your membership reimbursed. Why on [deity's] green Earth do you imagine that everyone who is willing to pay for their membership should subsidize you because you're socheap special?

3)Expensive and elitist are not synonyms. You have the same opportunity to vote and attend as anyone else; the fact that you choose not to doesn't make it elitist.

[querldox.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, I recall him from the Toronto Trek message board post-T3 during the flak I got for daring to say the T3 Masquerade was massively screwed up. Not really worth your time arguing with him, but your post was probably useful to others on that board not familiar with WFC.

[lunarvixen.livejournal.com]

Ah.. no need to apologize. I think the reply is just fine and well-worded.. I had to try really hard last night when I saw his posts to not mouth off at him for being such a whiny pessimistic bastard... I think you did a fine job of handling that low-brow cardasian with your high-brow perspective.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Thank you! For some reason I feel compelled to reply to people like that when I notice them in public fora, if only to dispell the notion that everyone in fandom thinks that way.