-G- Toricon 98 one week later
JB Bridge
I finally got my con pics developed, and for the most part I got
some great shots. while looking thru them, several memories of last
week started to pop in, so I thought I'd touch on a few things yet to
be posted about as well as share some thoughts on the latest
"Con-troversies"....
on Tuesday the 4th, I along with Aimee, John, Jess, Fredrik and later
Robert the Lurker spent the afternoon and evening at the Lilith Fair
in the godawful venue known as Riverport Amplitheatre. It's still
a bitch to get to, and it still takes forever to get out! anyways,
we were able to sneek in Jess' recording equipment in, but since we
were too close to the stage speakers, his right mic got pretty much
fried, though he said he was able to get an okay mono recording.
we were in the fourth row/right side, and we did have a few loud
assholes behind us. I had to tell them to keep quiet at least once
during Liz Phair's set, and they were pretty obnoxious during Bonnie
Raitt's. Aimee finally put the hammer down on their heads during
Natalie Merchant, stating that we paid to hear HER sing and not them!
Natalie did go over to our end of the stage a few times during her
set, which was really cool. during the afternoon, Aimee and I about
pass out in heat exhaulstion waiting in line for Liz Phair's
autograph.
Wednesday the 5th. We took Fredrick up on the St. Louis Arch. We
were baking on our way up (can imagine it freezing during winter
months) and we delighted in hearing all the screams and cheers from
the kids in the other cars. This was my second time up on the thing,
and it didn't sway back and forth this time. we also grabbed lunch at
one of the restaurants on the landing where we discussed the
differences between America and Norway regarding food and television.
we then went to the zoo in Forest Park, but got there just as they
were closing. we did get to see several bears urinating before we
made a quick exit. We went back to Aimee's and worked on the con
goodies while watching a video boot from the sneek preview tour and
later had to make a condom run cause Natasha couldn't come up with the
free condoms and we were about 12 short. much to our dismay, the
local slop 'n slave grocery closes its pharmacy after 7pm, so we had
to go down the street to Walgreens to get the condoms. aimee was also
making last minute phone calls to find new roomies for Karen cause all
of her's cancelled out. we ended the night ordering pizza and
watching MST3K.
Thursday the 6th. Chris, Natasha, Corey and Squirrel arrive a lil
after 3pm, and we take the next hour and a half working out the
logistics on fitting 9 people plus luggage in an 8 person capacity
van. Aimee had some clothes lines and we made a tarp run, and that's
what we used initialally to tie down and cover the luggage on top of
the van. We leave St. Louis just before 5pm. about 45 minutes out,
we notice in the reflection of the vehicle we're passing that the
luggage is totally uncovered and one bag has flapped over. so we make
a stop at a service station outside Nashville Illinois, and right next
to it is a lil roadside chappel. so, of course, we storm it. inside
the lil chappel were a bunch of wooden plaques with the 10
commandments and other scripture, an alter underneith a cross
suspended from the ceiling (covered in wasp nests) and a prayer book
where one can write prayer requests. so we fill a page
with tori lyrics and other blaphemous remarks while Aimee got on top
the alter and posed in front of the cross. Corey did one better and
literally was hanging on the cross! the pics are priceless! about an
hour later we made another stop at a Wal Mart in Benton, Il and got a
new tarp and some bungee cord for the luggage. we hit some storms
when we got back on the road, and the tarp gets toasted, but the cords
held. We stopped for dinner at Mickey D's around 9pm after going thru
Padoucah, KY and stopped for the night a few exits later.
Friday the 7th. Started on the road again around 9am and had to make
yet another stop for luggage check soon after. Hit a few more storms.
stopped at Tenessee for lunch - we couldn't agree where to eat at til
we passed a chinese buffet and decided to eat there. not too bad.
the elderly hostess thought we were part of a band when we tried to
explain where we were going. We drove thru the foothills and soaked
in the amazing scenery while listening to "Boys For Pele" and then
listened to and laughed at fundie radio as we were getting close to
Atlanta. This guy was rattling off about some book he wrote that rips
off the far side, and how Michael Eisner of Disney is calling them
(southern baptists) a bunch of Nazi's.
after a few missed turns in Atlanta, we finally drive in the Terrace
Garden hotel around after 4pm. after checking in, I basically hung
out at the suite waiting for the lasagna, which WAS worth the wait!
Corey, Ben and I were basically entertaining ourselves and anyone else
within earshot with corey's acoustic and ben's bass. I recall
flirting with the Diva Chick, but that's all I'm prepared to say about
that. ;) oh, and most of us flocked in the suite when Tori was on
Conan O Brian around 1am. i think I stuck around the smoking suite
the rest of the night and went to bed around 6am just as Hyoun was
getting up, so I get the bed to myself.
Saturday the 8th. woke up before noon and ran to the mall across the
street to get batteries for my camera. I join the majority and go to
the Underground Mall. The place itself is nothing to write home
about, although there were a few street musicians there to listen to
and enjoy. we splinter off in several groups. I ended up with Aimee,
Doug and Ben (and occasionally Robert and John). the line for World
of Coke looked long, so we said "fuck it" and did some shopping.
found a jackpot of Cartoon Network stuff at the Warner Bros. store and
got me a Dexter's Lab plastic cup and a Space Ghost Coast to Coast
bank. I wanted to get shirts, but they were all kids sizes. While
waiting for others and on the train ride back to the hotel, Ben and I
compose the lyrics to "The 12 Days of Toricon" and he and the others
come up with the Barenaked Ladies parody.
saturday night - nice banquet hall. The quiz wasn't that hard. The
steak was a lil harder according to most everyone, but I liked it.
various dancing occured. about all you can say.
the piano lounge sing-a-long was indeed prolly the one moment I'll
remember and cherish the most. Though not excatly planned, it went
over very well, and all of you singing "China" just made me all tingly
while I was playing.
i did end up getting to chat with the Gothsuite as the sun was slowly
rising. as far as the goths not making themselves avalible, I don't
believe that was the case. I don't think they were secluding
themselves and being exclusive to themselves only, because I felt very
welcome when I was with them. I realize that it is hard for some in
the gothsuite to initiate when it comes to meeting people or making
one's self available, but I don't believe they were shutting the rest
of us out. most of us didn't know. most of us didn't visit them.
most of us instead waited for them to make their appearance cause we
were afraid to bother them, and some were disapointed that they
weren't visible enough during the weekend. this isn't anyone's fault
- it was just a wide misunderstanding. but I don't think Darrien and
Bramble should have to apologize for the entire suite! of course I'm
sure they regret not being able to converse more, but I don't think
they need to explain themselves as much as they've done regarding
their "lack of public presence". let people think what they will, and
just enjoy the con anyway you wish, I say. I'll make the effort to
find you all next year (if I come), and you can always throw me out
when you're sick of me. ;)
and yes, I'm seriously thinking about sitting out next year. Right
now I don't know what's ahead of me job wise for the new year, and
if/when I change jobs, I'm not sure if I'll have enough finances to
swing it or if I'll have the vacation time. All my vacation this year
has been Tori related (either seeing concerts or the con), and next
year I may wish to do other things with the limited vacation time I
think I'll get next year. I will regret not being in Portland if I
don't come, but I will send you all my love as well as a few donations
for next years auction. i'll will certainly let you all know either
way.
i getting off track here, and the rest of the weekend's events have
pretty much been covered. I was able to get to the airport in plenty
of time for my 7am flight. Don't care for Atlanta Airport - too
bland. Chicago O'Hare was quite nice for my hour layover. and
miraculously, my parents were able to meet me at St. Louis airport
despite missing their exit to the metrolink station by the casino boat
in Illinois.
I'm sure the Watcher will be getting a site of pics up, so I'll prolly
mix a few of mine with his.
thanks to everyone for making this a memorable week! you all rock in
your own lil ways!
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JB Bridge ** remove spamblock to email
Okay! Everybody get in line so I can
whup all yo asses! - Chef
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