Jenny and I had planned a time to acknowledge those who helped us a lot during the Con, but we didn't manage it. Getting you guys through a schedule was like herding cats.
Anyway, here goes.
My Beloved took the time out from a workday to pick up the food, gor the airport in Rush Hour traffic, deliver the food, and he also designed and printed the labels for the bubble bath. AND! it was his doing that we had the nifty Wenches' Tavern sign.
ladyday also deserves a big ol' thank you for letting us use her sign design.
My sister, Judy, is a great costumer of old, so I asked her to bring some stuff, just in case our costumes ran low, and she was cool about it. I think she was expecting more of the low-key, female bonding we'd had last year, and she missed seeing so many of the Wenches again that I was afraid she wouldn't have a good time, but she says she really did. Here's to ya, my beautiful sis!
Jenny Gardener, wow. It would not have happened without your help scheduling. I'm so glad you took over that. It was a relief, and I'd never have gotten your results. I know it was hard for you to come to a get-together to play, and end up using your Second-grade teacher techniques to controll a bunch of us Nerdlings. Thank you, dear Head Wench, whose Sexy Boots I remain unworthy to zip.
Morbo-- I can't even begin to express how helpful you were to me. I don't think Ron would have let me make that many trips to the airport, etc. on my own. So you saved everyone a hassle and some money on ground transportation. The book exchange was a GREAT idea, too. You're a stand-up guy. And you never even said "I will destroy you!"
Katharina-- Thank you for everything! Not only did you endure the banal horrors of my kitchen and taking the wee ones to Choi Kwang Do, you also made an effort to reach out to my little niece, the Lego-lass. It was fun hanging out with you, and talking about stuff. Those seem to be the most vivid parts of the weekend for me, probably because I was least sleepy when they happened. For two people to have so much NOT in common, there's some part of our friendship that really goes to the bone, and I thank you and whatever powers there be for that.
Larisse, though not in attendance, deserves major kudos for the WenchCon site and setting up the Cafe Press shop, too. You "Rock my face off" as the intrepid Ben would say (he insisted it is a compliment, so I used it).
Jamie, Thanks for taking such Fab pictures, and putting them up so quickly. You really are quite talented with a camera, and I am honored to call you 'friend'.
Ken-- Good LORD, but that fencing was fun! My biggest regret of the weekend was that I kept being called away from that to do stuff and keep other things going. Ah well, maybe next year. You really did look dashing in your uniform--kwsni is a lucky wench.
raventh1-- Mark, I can't thank you enough for buying me new ticket when I gave mine up. You are too sweet for words. I hope we get a chance to talk about the movie sometime.
Ela, thank you for your encouragement, it really helped me keep things in perspective. And thanks for helping to clean up the puddles our young puppies left in the elevators. Men can be such pigs, especially in the larval stages. <g> And you looked so good in that costume-- it could have been made for you.
JaneX-- your costume was far and away the best, most detailed thing I have ever seen. I was floored at the work you obviously put into it. I was unaccountably proud of you. I wish I actually had something to do with what a sweetie you are.
Taalcon-- thanks to you, too, for being there and keeping a sense of fun when things went a bit awry with the movie.
Hobbes-- thank you for being so mature when everything got surreal. You really did make it easier for me not to dig my verbal holes any deeper. Not that I didn't dig them plenty deep... <wry smile>
narrativium-- I'm going to pester you until you tell me what Noah said. When you least expect it, expect it. And if I ever need a cinematographer, I WILL call you.
Zevlag-- Thank you so much for the travel plans graph on your site. It was really helpful, though it would have been more so if I had taken my printout with me. <g> You always smile like you're up to something, even though I suspect you aren't. That's a neat skill to have.
kwsni-- I missed having the time to chat we had last year, but please, PLEASE send me some more of your writing. We really do get better the more we write, and you have been so supportive of my meager efforts. thank you.
Ophelia-- I missed getting to talk with you much, and I'm sorry. I'm glad you had a good time, though. You broke a lot of hearts when you left, you pretty thing, you. <g>
Xnera-- Maybe next time we'll have more time for the female bonding chit-chat. I hope so. Keep your chin up and I'll let you know when I have some editing to send your way.
Shlomo- stay out of trouble, and be nice to your sister and your mom.
Calvin maker/Noah-- I'll make you a tape-- of the video of the Con. Maybe. If you're really nice.
Hot Nathan-- You have to be one of the bravest people I have ever seen. Many people, if forced to do an interpretive dance in orange tights, would really flail. But you entertained us-- you really did. Your willingness to go with the flow and your utter lack of ego were truly remarkable. You're a special guy.
fugu13/Russel-- you always had a ready laugh and a smart comment. Hope you had a good time, and that the company didn't corrupt you too much. <g>
Maccabeus-- You were the scariest farking Nazgul I ever saw or heard. That voice you did made Johnny Cash sound like a castrati. *shudder* Glad you made it home okay.
Ben-- You big goober. Glad to have you on Hatrack.--I--
To those who couldn't make it: We missed you! CT and Belle and ladyday and Rakeesh and Fael, WenchCon was hardly wnchcon without you. Hope you all are well and we'll see you again sometime soon.
Posted by Javert Hugo (Member # 3980) on :
*glowing inside* Completely likewise. I am thrilled and honored to be your friend.
----
It was a splendid event, wasn't it?
quote:Calvin maker/Noah-- I'll make you a tape-- of the video of the Con. Maybe. If you're really nice.
*snicker*
[ January 21, 2004, 01:49 PM: Message edited by: Javert Hugo ]
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
Olivia, a thousand times over and a thousand times again, thank you for organizing this. Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Yes. *sigh* It was wonderful. If I have any real real regrets they'd be that the action figure play got way out of hand, compared to last year. We should have seen that coming. <g> And getting in the Hot tub. I just don't think I should have.
Then there's the half-remembered breakfast conversation with Noah. (giggles) I only hope everyone else's memory is as sketchy about this as mine is. *shakes head* That boy will say ANYTHING.
[ January 21, 2004, 01:49 PM: Message edited by: Olivet ]
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
Yes. Yes he will.
As for the action figures, I still say the "Kiss The Girl" bit had class to it.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
I'm not sure I remember what you mean... but some of it was fun and funny. Your group's were all fairly humorous, really. Afew crossed the line, but I have blocked out the memory. Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
I miss all you people Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Oh my! It's taken me days to recover!
It all began when I got everyone lost on the way to the restaurant. Apparently, I gave out the exit numbers for a different road than the one my friends were on!
It was dark when I pulled up to the parking lot outside El Azabache, a very nice Mexican restaurant in Castleton, Indiana. The place was empty except for Celia and Hobbes, whom I had met before. Ken and Becky called shortly after I arrived, so we all got up to greet them and escort them back to our eating plaza. I had fun being the only person who had personally met everyone there.
Sadly, we had to say Namarie to Celia in the parking lot. I dropped my Big Blue Behemoth off at my sister's house and piled into the Adventure Van. Everyone was excited. I drove us out of Indianapolis, seeing as how I knew the territory. We played all 3 LOTR CD soundtracks.
After my shift was over, other people drove. At one point, I really really really had to go potty. We pulled off, but no open gas stations were in sight. I ended up relieving myself in a field, looking at the stars. It was a balmy night, and I did have a cloak to cover me. Much more pleasant than a greasy, overlit restroom! It was actually a nice little adventure, albeit a tad embarrassing.
We drove all night. By the time we got to Georgia, it was my turn to drive again. Although we had wonderful, thorough directions from AAA, no one had bothered to look up where the hotel was located. Thank goodness for cell phones!
We spilled into the hotel weary, but the sun was up and sleep impossible. I was quite pleased to see several young gentlemen coming out to greet us. They took my baggage and I started grinning like a fool. Being the Head Wench isn't such a bad thing!
When we found our Rumpus Room, the young men went back to their game (Settlers of the Catan). Hot Nathan forever won my favor by fetching my breakfast. Noah, I think it was, made fun of him. Silly Noah!
The next thing I remember is setting up the movies and trying to figure out how to run the events. I did volunteer to do so, but my brain was tired. I'm surprised I didn't come off as annoying or bitchy. Maybe I did, and no one has told me yet.
We had problems setting up the sound, and I was proud of my learned engineering abilities as I stood there with Hobbes, troubleshooting. We came up with a solution that worked all right.
Olivia had a wonderful catered lunch for us. It was perfect for someone who has low blood sugar. Thank you to everyone who had a hand in the dinner!
And we watched the second movie... I think I drifted off a couple of times in that one.
Then it was time for dress-up. Costuming is my favorite part of WenchCon, because that's when people realize it's okay to just play. You can't be self-concious anymore when you are prancing around in a cape! I got my Frodo gear on, and Sarah made the perfect Sam. I think she got a little creeped out, though, because I like to get into character. I kept telling her I couldn't have made it without my dear Sam.
Livvy's cousins had some clever costumes as Aragorna and K'Arwen (I hope I got the names right). Her sister was a Ranger chick who could easily lick a battalion of orcs, and Legolass was absolutely perfect. I was pleased that I could lend her a cloak to complete her ensemble. This girl even had a bow and quiver of arrows!
Sadly, I'd forgotten to bring Gandalf's staff. Hobbes, who played Gandalf, magicked up a rod and I happened to have an extra crystal for the top. He made quite an impressive wizard.
Olivia was lovely as Arwen. She is truly an Elven Princess. As was Katharina, in Galadriel white, and Ela, in a stunning blue dress. Ela looked so hot, I nearly fainted from heatstroke!
The Nazgul costumes are always popular. kwsni had reserved one since last year, since she enjoys menacing others. Maccabeus' voice is hard to determine which direction it is coming from when his mask is on, so that helped him be really creepy. Those were just two of our Nazgul. Some orcs joined them, notably Shlomo's suicidal torch bearer.
In the Fellowship were Gimli, played by the adorable Ophelia (a very hot little dwarf-woman)and several of the "boys" (whom I had to convince capes were cool; I think they will not hesitate to wear one now). It was fun to put my arms around these young fellas and help them fasten their cloaks.
Rounding out our miscellaneous characters were Celeborn, played by Morbo, and Tom Bombadil with his yellow boots! We had just enough costumes thanks to Olivia's sister Judy. Whew!
Oh! And I forgot Mincing Orange Elf-Boy. This would be Hot Nathan in his tights and matching cloak. Mack, who could not be convinced to wear a cloak, went as our National Geographic photographer. Which really works for her.
We all piled in cars to go to the movies. Sadly, ROTK is still a very popular movie. Not all of us could get in. However, some folks were happy to see an alternate show.
At the end of the film, I had to run around with only 9 fingers. Ouch! Then Frodo and Gandalf speed-walked back to the hotel.
Enough for now, I'll post more later.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
I forgot to again thank the Wal-Mart crew, who bought Jenny and me some "Good Friends" and a begonia in a basket. It made us both weepy. *sniff* We just didn't want it to end. Posted by Javert Hugo (Member # 3980) on :
Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 3051) on :
I just wish I had been able to show up a little earlier (and not left my lights on all day and all night...would've made some things easier if my car had started). I had a lot of fun just meeting you folks, even if no one did notice me out of costume.
Thanks for the fencing lessons! I felt like a fool half the time, but I enjoyed doing it.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Hey Olivet, which one was your sister? I have a guess, but I want to find out if I'm right. Was she wearing the red & black costume in the pictures?
Posted by JaneX (Member # 2026) on :
Olivet's sister is the fourth from the left in this picture. The one in the red and black dress is Olivet herself.
~Jane~
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Ah, thanks!
Posted by JaneX (Member # 2026) on :
Mom, Jeremy, Shlomo, and I set out for Atlanta soon after I get home from school on Thursday. The long ride up north is marked by much singing, talking in StrongBad and Homestarrunner voices, grumbling at idiots who are shining their high beams in our faces, and endless repetition of "You smell like pea soup..." We also encounter a fog that is as thick as pea soup.
Finally, we reach the hotel. I'm the last one out of the car, and when I get inside the lobby, I find Mom, Shlomo, and Jeremy already talking to a guy who looks familiar.
"Who are you?" I ask him. "Noah." "Oh. I know you. I met you at EnderCon." "Yes, you did." "Right. Sorry. My brain is a little slow. I've been sitting in a car all day." "Ah."
Noah comes with us to our room, where we all sit around talking for a bit. Then we drive to the Olive Garden, bring back some dinner, and dump it in our room. We decide to go down and play Apples to Apples in the lobby while we wait for more Hatrackers to arrive.
After a while, two guys come in and head towards us. "Are you guys from Hatrack?" I ask them. Yes, they are; they're fugu and Morbo. They join our game.
Then two women dressed in black come in. One of them I know: it's Kate. I have my guesses about the other one.
They come over to us. Kate says hi - she knows most of us already. The other woman says, "Hi, I'm Olivet."
I go over to her. "Hi, mom." "Hi, sweetie!" She hugs me. "Oh, look at you. You could pick a lock with you, you're so thin." I laugh.
We abandon our game to talk to them. After a while, Mom, Jeremy, Shlomo and I go upstairs to eat our food. We hang out in room 222 with Noah, fugu and Kate for a while, IMing other Hatrackers. Then I look out the window and see a car pull up in the driveway.
I run over to the balcony in the hallway overlooking the lobby. Five people are gathered at the front desk, and I recognize one of them. "Jamie!" I call over the railing. They look up, surprised, and I wave. I run back to 222 to notify everyone, then run downstairs to meet Jamie and the others: Ben, Ophelia, Karen, and Nathan. We stand in the lobby for a while having a loud conversation. Dave joins it a little later. I start to really enjoy mingling with Hatrackers.
They decide to go to a Mexican restaurant for dinner, and we decide to go with them, even though we've already eaten. We have a long wait outside the restaurant, during which Jeremy, Shlomo and Nathan take off their shoes and have an orgy, Nathan tries to climb the walls, and Ophelia has her nose violated. Then we go inside, where we all sit at one big table and probably annoy everyone else in the restaurant, especially the waiter. We call Myr and pass the phone around the table (the waiter talks to her, too), Dave plays with his food, and I get left in the bathroom.
Back at the hotel, we have another loud conversation in the lobby until the hotel gets sick of it and opens our meeting room. It's cold in there, so we turn the heat on, and then it's really hot for the next two days. We play Hatrack Pictionary, and Olivet shows up with a mountain of Stuff. She gives me a necklace and says really nice things to me. Then she shows me her Arwen dress, which is really pretty. And finally, everyone starts playing Apples to Apples again and I decide to go to bed.
In the morning, we get knocked up by Jenny Gardener in time to go down and have breakfast before they start FOTR. We all assemble in the meeting room. Jenny gets up and welcomes us to WenchCon and invites us to "come for the food and drink, and stay for the Fellowship." Then, after a few issues with the sound, she gets the movie going. We spend the morning watching FOTR and making comments, many of which I wrote down in the Book. We get up a chorus of "Mine," "Mine," "Mine" whenever Saruman's crows appear. We also count Ring-stroking moments in all three movies; the final tally is 27. Later we decide that we should've tallied shots of Frodo turning around and Frodo falling over, too, but by then it's too late to start.
We break for lunch: lasagna, salad, garlic bread, and little strawberry cream pies, all extremely yummy. Then we go back into the meeting room for TTT and more comment-making.
When TTT is over, we have a break for dinner. We decide to go to the Macaroni Grill, but when we get there there's a huge line. So Mom, fugu, Ben, and I drive around for a while looking for somewhere else, and we call back and forth on the phone with Olivet and with Dave's car, which has somehow managed to get lost. Finally, we decide to just come back to the hotel and eat leftover lasagna.
Then I go to put on my Sam costume and discover that I've forgotten my white oxford shirt. So I run around asking if anyone has one and get a chorus of "no"s. Finally Josh saves the day and gives me one. Yay, Josh!
Nathan gets his orange tights. Jenny takes her role as Frodo to my Sam seriously and keeps hitting on me.
We take pictures and video in the meeting room, then head out to the theater. When we get there there's a huge line, so we get to stand on the line in a big group while everyone points and stares at us. Not that I mind. I'm actually rather amused by it.
When we finally get to the ticket window, most of us get tickets - and then they sell out. (That would never happen in Miami. People in Atlanta must be cooler...) So we do some quick shuffling so everyone who hasn't seen the movie gets to see it, and everyone else goes to see Lost in Translation.
We get into ROTK just as it's starting. I end up sitting in the very front row next to Jenny, who obligingly gives me some more comments for the Book during the movie. When it's over, we all stay in the theater to watch the credits, cheer for our favorite actors, and sing along to "Into the West." Only when the credits end do we collect the Lost in Translation people and head back to the hotel.
When we get to the hotel, some people decide to go in the hot tub, and they cajole me into getting in too. So we sit in the hot tub for a while and talk. A few people do impressions of Gollum falling into Mount Doom. We start up a game of Word Associations, which keeps coming back to two words: "sex" and "nerds." The latter, of course, is Ben's fault.
Finally, I get sick of the hot tub and get out. Olivet asks if I want to play LOTR Trivial Pursuit, and I agree. So she Mom, Becky, Shlomo, and I, along with a few others, start up a game. But the questions are too easy, so we end up playing Hatrack Chat-style because otherwise one team would never get a turn.
Then after a while, Mom and Olivet decide to go to bed. After watching the Scrabble players in the upstairs hallway for a while, I go to bed too.
In the morning, Ken gives us all fencing lessons. He's a good teacher! And fencing is good exercise and quite a lot of fun. I think I do pretty well against Mark, even though he wins 5-4.
Fencing takes all morning, and when it's over, we decide to go to the Macaroni Grill for lunch. This time it's not as crowded, and we have fun writing quotations from the Book in crayon on the paper tablecloth. Jeremy continues our tradition of leaving tips in creative ways (ala Dave at the Mexican restaurant) by rolling up a dollar bill really small and sticking it inside a straw.
When we come back to the hotel, Jenny suggests we have naptime. I don't really like that idea because I want to get everything done before we have to leave, but finally I give in. So we all get pillows and lie on the floor of the meeting room with the lights off. Some of us start singing lullabies, which leads to a discussion of how creepy and/or perverse most lullabies are. Then we start a huge pillow fight, and soon we are shrieking with laughter.
When Olivet gets back with the church people and Jenny has gotten us relatively quiet using her second-grade teacher techniques, we start our action figure contest. No comments about that, except that I should not have been in a group with my cousin, because I'll have to look at him again.
We giggle a whole heck of a lot. We take a group picture; Ophelia falls on top of Jeremy, which makes us giggle more. Then she has to leave, and we follow her out the door with a chorus of "Bye"s. We go back to the meeting room, where Nathan does an interpretive dance in his orange tights. I nag people to sign my WenchCon T-shirt. We play "100 Ideas in an Hour" and end up with a story about a zombie girl who nibbles people. Don't ask me.
When we're done with that, Mom says we have to go. So we hug everyone. We get our strawberry bubble bath and I get the Wenches Tavern sign. We talk to Olivet. We hug people some more. And finally we leave.
The ride home is pretty uneventful, except for the fact that we're so tired that we say things like "He migrated by covered mountain into a wagon..." (that was Mom) and laugh our heads off at place names like Apopka and Ocoee.
And then we're back in Florida, dropping off Jeremy at his mother's house, and then we're home.
And I'm left with a T-shirt full of signatures, a sign, a bottle of strawberry bubble bath, and a necklace. And three rolls of pictures, and a notebook full of quotations, and memories of a wonderful weekend.
~Jane~
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
JaneX and all, thanks for the accountings. It's not as good as having been there, but it does make it better. Sounds fun!
Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
i have to say i enjoyed meeting everybody. the most memorable moments for me...sitting around the hotel room Friday night talking to and distracting Jamie about life stuff while she was trying to upload pictures is one.
Picking up the rental car was another as i was carrying on a ten minute phone conversation with a complete and utter stranger while Nathan was climbing into a trunk is another, and probably almost all of saturday night through sunday morning. great time.
yea everybody did a helluva job putting this thing together and making it happen. the movie thing worked out great. i wasn't too stoked about seeing ROTK again due to the length of the film (it's a great movie, don't get me wrong) and had this shiteating grin on my face the whole time i was watching Lost In Translation (the films subtle brilliance did that for me). So yea....over all the weekend rocked me. Take a bow everyone.
Posted by Javert Hugo (Member # 3980) on :
*bows* Thank you, thank you, I worked so hard.
Heck, I don't see the head wenches around here - I'll take credit. Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Thanks We did work really hard at it.
Um, Bob? My sister's divorced, too. And a fine figure of a woman (note the exposed midrif in the pic)
She will SOOO kill me for that. Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
Yah, sorry it took so long to... calm down. Not sleeping for 24 hours makes me stupid.
I did, however, LOVE WenchCon, thank you so much for getting it together (not to mention keeping it together ) Olivet rocks major... whatever, she rocks everything
Hobbes Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Continuing on with my story...
After the movie, I debated going to bed. The mini-migraine that had been nagging at me was growing a bit. Although Morbo had fetched me drugs and Judy (Olivia's sister) had kindly rubbed my head for me earlier, the headache had not gone away.
And then I remembered there was a Hot Tub. Oh yay! So I put on my suit and joined the already populated tub. It did feel nice! I swam in the water (it was a really big one) and dunked my head under. I spent some time trying to drown myself so that the jets would power against my temple, where the headaches live. It felt so much better to be half-drowning myself than trying to sit upright. Migraines make you do weird things.
After a while visiting in the tub, I did take myself off to bed. I missed Olivia stripping down, though.
In the morning, I was all over my new position as Events Coordinator. I wasn't about to let poor Olivia take it all on her capable but weary shoulders! She'd done so much already! So I outlined important events, slapped them into a tentative schedule, and went from there.
It was Fencing Time, and our sleep-deprived Hatrackers didn't want to get up. Poor Ken was antsy. I suspect he really really loves fencing. So Katarina and I went to "arouse" the boys so they could learn how to use swords. Kat made Gollum noises, but I just pounced on the nearest fellow's bed. Then Kat followed suit. All the guys woke up, and none were too grouchy. Then we left and waited for the group to reassemble in the Rumpus Room.
The tables and chairs had been cleared away. Ken had his fencing suit on, complete with male protection. He must not trust us very much. I was in the first wave of trainees, who lined up against one wall.
First, we learned how to stand and hold our pseudo-swords. You can't trust a newbie with pointy things, so our fingers had to suffice. We learned to advance, retreat, extend, and lunge. After much going back and forth, we finally got a chance to try the swords. They had little buttons on the ends so we wouldn't poke anyone's eyes in. We got to hit Ken on purpose, which was fun. Most people had a hard time remembering how to hold the sword. "It's not a club," we were told. We had to take turns practicing. Then Mr. Ken took the swords away again (pout). We learned to parry with our fingers. Then we got to practice with our swords again.
Next came the fun part! Shlomo and I got to do the first match. We geared up in white one-armed vests, single glove, and beehive helmets. I felt so bad-ass. I had a SWORD and I could POKE somebody! But what nobody ever tells you is how hot this exercise is. I was sweating buckets as we fought. We had a "beautiful" match, but I ended up getting the last poke. Go me! Shlomo was a very worthy opponent, so no one knew who would end up on top.
Then some other folks got to swordfight. I was still pretty tired, so my mind is bleary about what happened then. We all ended up going to lunch at a very nice restaurant with reasonable prices. It was within walking distance. On the way over, I checked out some holly bushes. On the ground was a fresh twig, so I took it as a hair ornament (which you can see in Mark's photos). Lovely, wondrous dinner! Sadly, only a few people at my table believed in "everybody get something different and let's share bites!" I know, it's a cooties thing.
After dinner, everyone was pretty sleepy. Some folks had gone to church, and my brain was really too cloudy to organize and run things. So I called for Nap Time. We all fetched pillows and lay on the floor. Ela sang us a really cool and bizarre Hebrew lullaby. I want her to post it so I can learn the words and the tune.
Of course, Hatrackers don't sit still for long, so I had to start organizing the Action Figure Sculpting contest. We divided into groups and played with the toys, but we had to wait the Official contest on our church people. When they came back, we had the contest.
First Category: Coolest Action scene. Prize: Eomer action figure. Winner: Helm's Deep re-enactment.
We put away the toys and decided to have a 1,000 Ideas session. That was pretty fun. I headed it up (seeing as how I've made this a standard for all my classes), but the writers did a phenomenal job. Hopefully Taalcon will put it together for your reading enjoyment soon. You can see the notes in Mark's pictures.
Dinner was take-out Chinese. Yum Yum! I think sometime in there mack and I dueled. She beat my butt.
Then we went upstairs to change and dance. Livvy and I brought Sexy Boots and short dresses. Xnera looked hot in a tight red velvet top and swingy skirt. I don't think anyone else dressed up.
Noah, I must say, was a very good Swing Dance teacher. He and Kat showed us some exciting moves. I learned some basics, am working on my Charleston step, and got to practice some fancy moves! Noah boldly took me on with the jump-up move, even though I anticipated and bonked myself on the head the first time. Thank you for dancing with me!
Then some folks went bowling and I tried to dance with the people who were left. I had an awful time trying to figure out how to dance to techno, and most people weren't really into the dancing. So we tidied up a bit.
Xnera and I had a wonderful girl-talk up in the hotel room. We found we had a lot in common, and I was very thankful for the breather.
Then we went down for one last hot-tub. I think most of us were not altogether coherent, mostly from lack of sleep. LadyDay called, and it was great to hear from her.
We tried to watch movies back in the hotel room, but couldn't get anything set up. Cartoon Network sufficed. I drifted off after a while.
In the morning, I heard all about the WalMart adventures and Livvy has already told about the sweet gifts. Made me cry. Ate some breakfast, said farewells.
Waited for Maccabeus' car to be jumped. Hugs, and then on the road again.
I drove again, Becky was my Navigatress. Hobbes and Ken zonked in the back seat. We had good conversation. After a while, the boys woke up and we played fun car games. We would make up a story starting with the first person we passed. Thereafter, anytime we passed (or were passed), the story was handed over to the next person - and the person passed had to be integrated into the story. Great fun!
We stopped at a cave for lunch and moving our legs. Then I drove until I became dangerous. Hobbes took over. Said farewell to Ken and Becky, then drove Hobbes to Purdue. Was thoroughly exhausted when I got home.
Walked in the door, said to my husband, "Well, I'm back."
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
quote:In the morning, we get knocked up by Jenny Gardener
I don't know if 'knocked up' means the same in the US as it does in Australia - but it sounds like an... interesting con!
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Olivet, at the risk of offending the other fine looking people who attended, you and your sister are both knockout, drop-dead gorgeous!!!
And it doesn't hurt that you know how to put together a kick-butt event and that she has an entire arsenal of costumes.
Now, I assume she has all her teeth...
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Why Thank you, Bob!
But, honestly, Judy's the Hot one. My eyes get all squinty when I'm tired, and I forgot my hair conditioner, so by the end I was slit-eyed and friz-headed.
Judy was very upset about a recent haircut, as she likes to keep her beautiful mane very, very long. It was barely longer than mine, and she felt scalped (though I thought she was too critical of herself, and made her eat more protien). She's hypoglycemic like Jenny, and they shared some of Jenny's emergency rations (beef jerky).
Um, what's all this about "Mark's pictures"? Where can I find them?
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Hobbes, dearie, I'm usually a very emotionally controlled person-- I don't usually show what I feel. But by Monday morning I was so exhausted... When they gave us the baskets, it was all I could do not to blubber like a baby.
Then, on the way back from dropping Noah,Russell and Nathan at the airport, I hit a kitty. Traffic was too tight for me to avoid it without potentially killing people. I was crushed.
When I told Hobbes, he just patted my shoulder and assured me I couldn't have done anything about it. As silly as it sounds, in that mental state I was in, it really, really helped to have a kind, rational voice absolve me of kitty-cide. Thank you. Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
I thought it was the Brits who used "knock up" in the sense that Americans use "wake up."
My mom was first introduced to the phrase in her late teens, when to her shock and horror, her very proper British host smilingly said, "So I'll knock you up in the morning, all right?"
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
There are no such things as "Marks Pictures".
At least in public there arent.
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
there are, he's just not linking them, and i can't remember the links.
livvy, dearie, any way we can see your video of the event?
I may put a summary up this weekend sometime, i haven't had time this week, with classes and trying to catch up on sleep.
Ni!
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Olivet, at the risk of sounding just plain creepy, you looked fabulous in that black & red outfit in the pics from Wenchcon, and you know it! So knock off the self-effacing stuff.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Yeah, Okay. I thought one of the things I'd learned this past weekend was to take compliments and thanks gracefully.
Guess it didn't stick. Truth is, I felt like a fairy princess in that dress. I wish I had more excuses to wear it, I really do
Well, Geez. *pout* Mark , could you possibly, possibly email me a link to your pictures? I mean, I have yet to see you around or on AIM since WenchCon. I *promise* I'm not stalking you, or anything, even though that was the best shoulder-hug of my life, you sweet young thang. Posted by Javert Hugo (Member # 3980) on :
WenchCon was immensely, immensely fun for the wenches.
Mark, could I have a link? katepilkington@yahoo.com
You know you can trust me. Even though... hey, I didn't even get a shoulder hug! *pouts*
But I know how you could make it up to me...
[ January 22, 2004, 05:29 PM: Message edited by: Javert Hugo ]
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
quote:Yeah, Okay. I thought one of the things I'd learned this past weekend was to take compliments and thanks gracefully.
Guess it didn't stick. Truth is, I felt like a fairy princess in that dress. I wish I had more excuses to wear it, I really do
Heck, wear it to the mall, to soccer and Tai Kwon Do practices, wear it to bed. It makes you feel special, so why not?
And get 10 more just like it (in assorted colors, of course).
And you're welcome.
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
I'll type up impressions of wenchcon later, when I get home tonight (summary doesn't seem really needed, everything with me has been covered just about). Sorry, been busy, at work, had to get some Thai food last night and stayed to watch a movie. Tonight though, I will. Posted by Javert Hugo (Member # 3980) on :
I was just thinking that we've heard from almost all the wenches and, except for the Wal-Mart summary, none of the wenchlings. Yay! We hear from them!
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Hmmm...
*Thinks of ways to let her sister meet the Bob...*
*Can't think of anything*
*sigh*
Posted by aka (Member # 139) on :
Mark, please email me a link to your pictures too? Pretty please? <makes puppy eyes> annekateard@bham.rr.com
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
PART I - Getting There In The First Place
So my directions from Expedia are pretty good. About two exits away from the local roads, Noah calls me on my cell, saying most of who's going to be there tonight is there, and we'll be going to diner as soon as I arrive. I thank him for waiting, and say I should be there within 30 minutes. I'm thinking this is being generous.
SO I take the exits, get into Kennasaw proper, and find the road I'm looking for - Greer's Chapel Rd - that the Hotel is on, and where my directions tell me to go. So I follow it.
And follow it.
And follow it.
Until it crosses ANOTHER street, turns into a black hole of nothingness, and ends at a darkened Crossroads, leading to another Highway.
Well hmm. I guess I missed it.
So I turn around, figuring it was either on my side and I was just too blind to see it, or I made a wrong turn the first time. SO I head all the way back down the road, cross the street again, and go back to the original intersection - only to discover that the other side of the street has A DIFFERENT street name.
So I get Noah on the phone and ask him where the hell are you guys.
Of, course, nobody in his room knows.
"Could you go and ask someone who does know, perhaps?" I ask, calmly.
"Oh, yeah! Sure!"
...
"I'm on Greer Chapel Rd. Tell me where they are on that Road."
"Okay."
...
"Okay. They said they're on Greer Chapel Rd."
"I know that. That's where I am. WHERE on that road are they."
...
"Where are you?"
"Give the phone to them."
...
"Hello?"
"Yes...I'm, well, I just pulled into the Parking Lot of Greer Chapel Baptist Church. Where are you in relation to that?"
"You're at a Church?"
"Yes. Greer Chapel Baptist Church. Do you know where that is?"
"I've never heard of it."
"You're located on Greer Chapel Road, right?"
"Yes."
"Well, so am I, and so is this Church."
"Huh."
"Yeah."
"Well, are you on a hill?"
"A hill? No I'm not on a hill."
"Did you see a hill? One that forks off into different directions?"
I think of the darkened Crossroads.
"We're there. Just turn, and you'll see us."
"Oh. Okay. I'll try that. Thanks."
...the phone changes hands...
"Alright then?"
"Yeah, I'll try again, and if I don't see it, I'll call back."
"Right."
I turn around, and drive over the street again, through the Outer Darkness back to the crossroads. Sure enough, it still says it turns onto Highway something-or-other, but I figure what the heck, and turn off onto it anyway, thinking that perhaps the name changes back or something.
It doesn't. And I'm further away than I was before.
Noah's back on the phone. I tell him that I'm about to murderize someone. He tells me to get back to the main road and to shout out some landmarks. I tell him to wait, and I'll call him when I get to a position where I can do that.
Because there are no lights, I drive PAST the original crossroads onramp, and have to turn around to find it again, then go down the dark road, cross over the street, fet onto the parkway...and drive. I call Noah. I shout out names of places.
Finally, something rings a bell.
I proceed...and finally, finally FINALLY - I find the place. And it's NOT where it's address says it is.
There is a hill. There is an intersection.
But Greer's Chapel Road, my friends, it is not by any stretch of the imagination, no matter what its address sign says.
Noah meets me at my car, and I as I walk in, and instantly recognise Sarah, Judy and Shlomo from EnderCon - and others start trying to get me to guess who they are. I and tell them I'll try later when my head isn't ready to explode.
Which thankfully, it didn't.
But as you know, that wasn't the end of The Adventures of Dave's Car @ WenchCon. Oh no, the fun was JUST beginning...
(TO BE CONTINUED!)
Posted by Javert Hugo (Member # 3980) on :
*giggles* I never heard this story.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Neither did I, but I bet it's a good one
The Hotel, well, it really isn't on a road at all. It's sort of tucked away between parkinglots. And roads around here change names for no apparent reason. I have yet to figure it out, really. That's why I usually give directions by landmarks. It's also why I waited at my house for my sister and her gang. She's been to my house many, many times, but I still had to talk her in.
NO WAY could they have found that hotel, now that I think of it. Gah.
Sorry , Dave.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
I found it without a problem.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Yes, you did!
*feels better*
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
We found it okay too. Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
quote:Hmmm...
*Thinks of ways to let her sister meet the Bob...*
*Can't think of anything*
*sigh*
Not to worry, we are ALL "the Bob" in one way or another. So, in effect, she's met Bob already because you, me, she, we are all the Bob.
Posted by Justin Pullen (Member # 441) on :
Well, I suppose that since Wenchcons are a rare thing and my attendence at said events is an even rarer thing, this merits a post under my own true name. After this, I can slide back into comfortable semi-anonymity and irregular lurking.
I almost didn't make it to Wenchcon. I had originally planned to arrive in the Atlanta area on Friday evening, but a duty requirement thoughfully added to the pile at the last minute delayed me by a day. When I finally arrived in Kennesaw, I had spent about 10 hours driving and 1 hour standing in the rain. (It's a long and somewhat boring story.) Of course, when I at last arrived at the hotel I was informed that the group had left to go see the movie. Undaunted, I daringly decided to leave a note. (I was all out of calling cards.) I then drove around some more, and tried to get in touch with my friend who lives in Atlanta. I encountered some difficulty in this, and after two hours decided to check back to see if anyone had arrived at the hotel. I strolled in a second time, alert for anyone possessing that certain savoir faire common to Hatrackers. I checked the conference room, to no avail. The lobby was also disappointingly empty, and I prepared myself to return to Atlanta. Clinging to a lingering hope, I inquired of the lady at the front desk. Had the "Computer Companions" returned? Madame was uncertain; perhaps I should check at the game center next door. Gamely (so to speak), I went over to the local temple of razzmatazz and frivolity (with sound and fury or your money back) to see if I could find wenches gaming, bowling, or . . . well, wenching. While there was considerable activity in all three catagories, none of the participants were identifiable as Hatrack's own. Forlorn, I decided to leave off searching and go meet my friend in Atlanta. I climbed into my car and started threading my way towards the bottom of the hill. But before I made it too far, I saw something flare in the corner of my eye. There, further up the hill, the wind was toying with the cloaks of two people crossing the street. Cloaks? Who but a Hatracker would be wearing a cloak at this time of the evening? I could even accept a single random person wearing one, but two people? The wenches had returned. I slowly drove up past the two figures (who I think were Jenny and Hobbes), and managed to quell the impulse to pull up to them and try out a few very un-Christian Hatrack/LOTR solicitation jokes. Instead I went up and parked (for a third time) up at the hotel, and went in to find that most of the group was back. I then remained until 3 a.m.; spending a most enjoyable time with friends who were all at once both old and new.
In retrospect, I was too standoffish during the short period I was able to stay. I was somewhat hampered by the fact that most everyone knew each other (sort of) by the time I arrived, but I didn't really do my part either. My most sincere apologies to all of you whom I met but did not really get to know. Perhaps it will help if I bring a bathing suit next time.
Nonetheless, I had a very good time. It was clear that Olivet and many others put a tremendous amount of time into this, for which I am deeply grateful. I finally got to meet Mack (who had the bad form to visit my alma mater only after I graduated) and see the expressions behind the expressions. I was also delighted to have a long overdue face to face conversation with Kate, although I think we only hit the tip of the iceberg.
All in all, I'm ready to do it again sometime.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
PART II - Commenting On the Economy Through Food Sculpture
So we lounge around and try to decide what we're going to do. Thing is, nobody is making any decisions.
"Are we going to eat? What are we waiting for?" "Nothing," someone says. "Some more people," someone else says. "It's too cold," yet someone else says.
We wait. I take photos for Sarah on her camera so she can be a Good Jew on the Sabbath(something she soon gives up on trying entirely).
The Book is revealed, and we all resolve to watch what we say around her (something we soon give up on trying entirely).
Time passes, more people arrive, and we walk, en masse, to The Mexican Restaurant Whose Nombre Has Completely Passed Out Of My Mind. But there's A Ton of us here, and as we give them our name and number, they tell us it will Be A Short 45 Minute Wait. So we make our way outside, and Hang Out.
I take a picture or two, Jamie starts her own stack going, the notebook begins its journey to infamy, and then - the Infamous Nose Blow.
Congrats, Ben, you're now one of the gang. But that concurrently leaves poor Lindsay once again traumatized for life.
Fair enough trade-off, Neh?
We talk, we mingle, we gape horrified at what we had just seen occur, and finally Our Name Is Called, and we stampede to our table, where I begin devouring the Complimentary Chips at a rapid pace. They're salty - and that's a good thing.
I order the Cheese Enchiladas, because I make it a point to always compare the Cheese Enchiladas of every Mexican restaurant I visit to those prepared at Mexican Villa in - of all places - Springfield, MO. The Missouri Enchiladas have bee, by far, the best enchiladas I've ever had. Just doused in cheesy-tomatoey ( ) goodness. None yet have come close to comparing - not even those I had in Mexico.
Which if you think about it is really, really sad. Missouri having better Mexican food than Mexico? Ce'st le vie, no?
But back to the subject at hand.
Noah gets Myr on the phone, and decides to pass it around - starting with the waiter, who asks her what she'd like to order. She plays along and GIVES the order (which halts the rest of us from getting our legitimate orders through, thankyverymuch) before she's passed around to everyone else, except for me, because I honestly have never conversed with her before (My loss, I know.)
At some point Sarah gets up to go somewhere, and Morbo arrives, taking her seat. Sarah comes back, grumbles about her newfound lack of seating, and eventually finds another chair and joins the group which will hereafter be called the Head Of The Table Crowd (or merely, "Head People"). My group (consisting of Katie, Lindsay, Shlomo, Noah, and Mark)would be at the other end of the table. Some wold call it the 'Ass End', I prefer to call us the 'Tail End'. or, the Tail Folk.
I'd name the folk at the other end of the table, but they don't concern us much at this point of the tale. Or Tail. Whatever.
The conversation is 'swell'. We discuss future ambitions, storytelling, the plot of OSC's Unaccompanied Sonata, and ooh and awe as the Apple Crumble is delivered still bubbling straight from the oven.
And my food comes, and I devour it. Mostly. It's a decent enchilada, but Mexican Villa it a'int.
So I decide to play with it.
Meanwhile, my art is interrupted by Noah semi-whispering (which is more like speaking aloud in a raspy voice) that it is Russel's (a member of the "Head People", I may add) 21st Birthday, and that for a surprise, Noah and Jeremy decided that we should get him some Alcohol because now He Is Legal.
Problem is, Noah is NOT legal to purchase (or partake) by the Laws of the Land, and Jeremy is not legal to purchase that night because of the Law of Moses. But I, of course, being a 22-year-old Gentile (in the Jewish and Mormon sense)conveniently become The Guy To Do It. - hint hint, wink wink, nudge nudge.
:sigh:
I say Maybe, (to which Noah bounces around, saying something like we need to get two bottles of something, and a six-back - to which I point out the number of folk in our group are a) underage, b) Mormon, c) probably abstainers by Choice. If I get ANYTHING, a single bottle of wine would suffice. It took some brow beating a nd knockage of common sense, but eventualy, methinks he saw the inherent illogic in his request.
And I kept playing with my food.
I made a little flag out of a straw, and - after the attention of the entire table was now on my Masterpiece, I added in the rest of my tip to the Work - I stuck a dollar bill on the end of the straw, and created a Flag of Currency. A comment on Capitalism if ever there was one.
Giggles abounded, photos taken, and then, as they grew bored of my nonsense (which, I may add, was already a bit after I had grown bored with my own cleverness) and left the restaurant - and Sarah - behind.
Our folly was soon discovered, and we went back and waited for Sarah to come back to us (surely scaring the bejebus out of the Restaurant staff, who probably feared that We Were Back). We collected her (only because she had the book, of course), and then went back to Hotel.
...where Noah yoinked me aside, and reminded me that we needed to Inconspicuously Go Get The Stuff.
So first, he needs to get cash from the ATM - and the closest ATM is at the big ol' Bowling/Bar/Arcade right across the parking lot from the Hotel. We walk there, make our way in to find an ATM - and we're stopped by the people at the desk.
"Excuse me - there's a cover charge of $5 if you're under 21"
That doesn't apply to me, so I'm about ready to pull out my ID, but Noah shouts out that he's just there to use the ATM, and would they mind?
"No, sure, but be quick", Mr Bouncer says. I begin to follow Noah.
"Woah there," Mr Bouncer says to me. "Only one of you need to go."
And of course that means me, who normally would be the only one of us allowed in there free, had to stay and lean on the rail waiting for Noah to find a working ATM.
Which took about 15 minutes.
Yeah. That's what I thought.
Anywho, he had the dough, so we jumped in Dave's Car, and went on our quest to Make Russell's Day...
(TO BE CONTINUED!)
Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
...yea i had something typed here but i didn't like it. so i erased it. 5am isn't always the best time to type up a summary of anything...it turns into some epic. i'll try again tomorrow
[ January 23, 2004, 05:33 AM: Message edited by: Ben ]
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
's never stopped me Posted by Javert Hugo (Member # 3980) on :
Fifteen minutes? *wonders*
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Believe me, a lot can happen in 15 minutes.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
Especially when Noah was involved. So you can't blame me that I didn't ask what took so long Posted by raventh1 (Member # 3750) on :
Hmm, where to start....
The day before travel: Hectic, I got my check and didn't deposit it... Well, after looking for answers on "how" to get to wenchcon I was lucky enough to have a brother that could spot me the money I needed, until I got back.
4am-11am: Well, after being stuck in SLC for the better part of the morning we finally got out, and had no trouble once we started travel.
When we got to Atlanta, Morbo picked us up and we talked about stuff that the other hatrackers were doing while waiting for the rest of us to get there.
We got to the hotel and were met by Dave, Kat, Sarah, Judie, Noah, Shlomo, and others; and we gathered in the meeting room and played some pictionary, apples and some other games... Like Settlers! *Which some of us stayed up most and other all the night playing* Somewhere in here we had fun of opening a wine bottle...
Around 6-7 am I got a call from Ken wondering where exactly the hotel was gave some directions and they shortly showed up.
This is where I slept for 4-5 hours... and woke up feeling HORRIBLE *headache that felt like a tire in a vice*. I'm pretty sure it was staying up 24-27 hours, and drinking LOTS of bawls.
I got up eventually and went to watch the second half of FOTR, then had some wonderful food thanks to Olivet played some games *More settlers*, and watched TTT. Off to see the ROTK! in costume. Well, I was one of the last in the line that actually got a ticket. I figured since T, was all in orange that he should have a ticket to see ROTK. We debated about what to do for a while, and finally got the tickets out, with about 6-7 of us that didn't get in. (Note: Olivet... Thanks so much for doing all you did for us! Even with all the planning in the world things sometimes happen, I was glad to hang out with you and the others that missed ROTK.) We watched Lost in Translation... Wow, I really enjoyed this movie. After the movie some of us went in and sat in the isles to watch the last bit of ROTK, and there were some that had some "Interesting" discussions out in the lobby. From here we went back to the hotel, and hung out in the hot tub where we all talked about everything from hatrack to daily things *actually sounding a bit like Hatrack was live and not a forum* That night some of us went back to the metting room, and played more settlers while Firefly was on in the background, and later others came in to play Trivial Persuit. An amount of sleep later, I woke up to go fence! Fencing reminded me some of Karate except instead of attacking with your self, you have a foil *in our case*.
I'm really thinking of taking up fencing. I really enjoy it, it makes me concentrate, and I have a well defined goal of what needs to be done in order to win, and what needs to be worked on.
I had lots of fun and I was in a match with Sarah, which she did very well, but I came out the winner of the match. After fencing and watching more fencing, we decided it would be good to get some food. We ate at The Macaroni Grill *where I took the pictures of Andrea*
When we got back we played with pillows and toys for a while 1000 ideas, while Noah and I wrestled for a bit. which is the reason I look dead tired in that pic near the end. We danced while some went bowling, and started calming down *really!* did some cleanup, and retreated back to the hot tub once again.
Checking out and talking about some auction.. Then we went to Stake and Shake *Never actually been there before or heard of it* got shakes to go, and left to go see Big Fish. Big Fish is ... hmm how to say it. You could very well use that story as a way to tell about my relationship with my dad. Minus the talk at the end.
And then we left! Josh and I actually got stuck in Atlanta until around 7 or so because we missed the first flight out but we would have been stuck in PHX anyways *So no biggie Morbo it was awesome to talk to you about stuff and hang out*
All in all I had a wonderful time, and seriously want to go to the next "Event"
This has been a Mark post.
Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 3051) on :
I had a small amount of trouble finding the hotel, but only a very small amount. I easily found directions online. However, I thought that the right turn mentioned meant the highway exit, which led me a good distance astray before I realized I was going in the wrong direction. (And naturally the traffic was terrible right then--20 minute delay getting back.)
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
PART III: Can't We Go To The Supermarket Instead?
So Noah and I are off in the Davemobile on a quest to purchase a bottle of Wine to celebrate Russel's 21st Birthday.
The thing is, I've never PURCHASED alcohol before. Fact is, I'd only had two prior wine experiences before. One (a single sip) following the final rehearsal of a Musical Theater Group I was kind of a part of as a side project in my Acting & Stage Movement class, the second beign a quarter of a glass at the house of a crazy awesome gay film critic in New York who owns the original Jason mask from Friday the 13th Part 3, and who showed us crazy asian exploitational films for giggles.
But that, friends, is a completely different story for a different time.
So Noah had asked the waiter in the restaurant where he could get some wine, and was given directions to a Liquor Store down the road, and this is where we're heading.
I'm a little queasy abot the whole thing - while I'm not morally opposed to safe social drinking in moderation (drinking to get drunk, however, I am opposed to - both morally and intellectually), and seeing that those I knew in college most likely to drink at all are of the latter persuasion and are more likely to be purchasing kegs of beer than Fine Wine for a birthay celebration - I didn't have a frame of reference at all. I'd never been in a Liquor Store. The frame of reference for Liquor Stores are tales of shady establishments with scruffy, shot-gun holding clerks that always get robbed.
I'll never forget this one liquor store I kept passing when I walked to one of my classes Freshman year: it had a hand-written sign on the door that read "ROBBED. NOTHING LEFT."
I had always found that sign hilarious.
Still do, actually. And I don't know why.
So I don't know what I'd do when I get INTO this Mysterious Liquor Store - and Noah, the underage ball of energy that he is, couldn't very well be in there telling me what to purchase. I mean, would the workers there honestly believe me if I told them that, "Oh, I'm not buying it for him, I'm buying it for someone else's birthday, and I just simply don't know what I'm doing."
So I tell Noah I'd feel more comfortable purchasing the stuff at a Supermarket. He looks at me like I'm a dork (I am), and agrees -if we can find one.
On the way to where we think one is, we're stopped at a stoplight - right next to an accident that had just occured. I look out my window, and I see a girl getting out of the passanger side of the vehicle, gasping and gasping for breath as she grabs her asthma inhaler. I sit stunned for a second, and right as I'm about to leap out of the car to make sure she's okay, a guy (either her friend or her boyfriend) comes RUNNING around the corner and grabs her in a hug. The driver is out of the car and is already dialing (I assume) 911. Other are already approaching.
The light turns green. I drive. Seeing the aftermath of an accident (even if the occupents both walked away from it looking relatively unharmed) was still sobering.
No pun intended.
We pull into the parking lot of a supermarket, and Noah gets out to check if it's still open.
It's not. It closed five minutes ago.
So he gets back in, and I reluctantly make my way (having to do a U-Turn right past the Accident) towards the Liquor Store.
We get out, and make our way in, as I brace myself for the Shotgun-carrying maniac I'm sure to encounter.
And instead find myself in what looks like a Sam's Club or Costco filled entirely with bottles. It's clean. and neat, and shiny.
There isn't a single shotfun in site. Or a revolver.
And the attendees are young, easygoing-looking types.
Who knew?
So as my ignorance comes crashing down upon in waves of relief, we wander around, and find a decent bottle of what Noah tells me is pretty decent (this is sad), and he leaves I proveed to check out at the register with my $9.99 Bottle of Wine. I get carded, show my completely legitimate ID, and then make my way back to the car.
"Now let's get the hell out of here."
We did.
We arrive at the hotel, and find everyone in the Meeting Room. It appears that they annoyed the attendees into letting them in - which was in the end beneficial for all.
I send Noah upstairs with the Gift, so's to prepare it for Presentation. He goes on the quest to find a Corkscrew, and I decide to hang out in the meeting room for the time being.
Nobody's doing anything but lounging around, and I notice a dry-erase board just sitting there - with many multicolored markers there.
And people are asking 'what is there to do?!'
Ahem. "Pictionary, guys. Gotta play Pictionary."
After about 10 minutes, people start to realize that playing Jatraquero pictionary could actually be pretty fun.
This is, of course, right after I left the room to find out what was taking Noah and his Stooges (Jeremy and Mark) so long.
Well, it turns out that there isn't a corkscrew anywhere in the hotel, and they're proceeding to try and PRY the cork out using - wait for it folks..
wait for it...
PAPERCLIPS.
They've aleady gone through about three, and they're straining like it's the hardest thing theyve ever done before in their life. If it wasn't so pathetic, it'd've been hilarious.
...
Bah, who'm I kidding. I was having a blast sitting there and watching them try (and fail) to pry this cork out.
they did, however, manage to rip the cork to shreds, and to give themselves friction burns.
I grow tired of this, and go back to Pictionary - which I hadn't known had actually begun.
And it's fun! As if the dinner wasn't an icebreaker enough, people are really loosening up now. We're throwing Jatraquero terminology around left and right - someone will say someone's name in jest and the entire room will start busting up in laughter.
Except for Ben, of course. He doesn't know WHAT the hell we're talking about.
After a few rounds, I go back tot he Wine Room to see if the Marx Brothers have figured out how to uncork the bottle yet.
They haven't. In fact they had sent someone to get more paperclips. Somehow, they had managed to break all the ones they already had. I point out that his Birthday will be coming to an end in 15 minutes.
they look at their watches. It is, in fact, 11:45-ish.
"We'll get it in time."
"Of course you will!" I say, not believing it for a moment, and head back to Pictionary de Jatraqueros.
"Is that a globe?" "No, it's a map! A MAP!" "What's it a map OF?" "India?" "Texas" "Mars" "Poland," I say with a grin. I know this one. "Yes!" The BoardMaster exclaims, and then points to his second piece of explanatory art. But who needs it? I'll let someone else answer, though, becasue I'm not in the mood to draw - only guess. "Poland-absolute-zero?" "Kama! It's Kama!" Yes! Someone gets it. "Yes! You got it!" "But what's that absolute-zero sign there for?" "It means she doesn't exist. Poland -- and she doesn't exist. Get it?" Of course we got it. That doesn't mean it made any sense.
The game went on a little longer (with such marvelous appearances being guessed at as "Bob Scopatz" and "DanRaven", and "The Silverblue Sun" - the last thanks to Yours Truly who finally decided to Give It A Go) until the Wine Boys finally succeeded (somehow), and brought in the goods. We sang Happy Birthday (with most people fizzling out when it came time to say his name - some said Russell, some said fugu, some didn't know WHO the hell he was and just mumbled, "Happy BIRTH-day to la laaaaaa...."), and then distributed the beverage in Paper Cups.
The Eagle, as they say, had landed.
As the consumption of The Gift by those not morally or religiously opposed began, Pictionary ended, and a new game - Apples To Apples - was about to begin...
(TO BE CONTINUED...)
Posted by Dr. Seuss (Member # 2487) on :
Dave, Brilliant. Your doing a great job.
Mark and I arrived somtime just before Noah and Dave got back with their bottle of wine.
Posted by CalvinMaker (Member # 2032) on :
*laughs*
Before I thought of using paperclips, we tried to pry it out with a swiss army knife. NOT a good idea.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
That was MY swiss army knife - the knife that made it through five airport check points. It didn't work? *pats and talks to SAK* Were Noah and Dave mean to you? It's okay, little army knife. I know you tried.
-----------
Dave, this is wonderful. I read it aloud to Coccinelle and we almost cried from laughing.
[ January 26, 2004, 09:27 AM: Message edited by: katharina ]
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
Woo! I made it to the pictionary!
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
i have a few pics up, but since we seem to have lost one roll of film, they're not complete.
Thought people would like to see it... http://r4v3n.com/video Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
PART IV: Apples, Sticks, Ore and Sheep. Lots and lots of Sheep.
Almost exactly a week prior, one of my friends from the Atlanta area had come down to Savannah to visit his old schoolmates at SCAD. We had some good times, saw a couple movies (Last Samurai and American Splendor), ate Sushi (and unagi), drove over the Georgia/South Carolina border shouting out the window at the top of our lungs at the very moment we reached the top of the bridge (a tradition), and then retired to a girl named Lyla's place to play a game I'd never heard of before.
Apples to Apples.
This is the perfect game to play between friends (drunk or sober) when you're just feeling silly, and are too lazy to do anything physically productive.
It's also a great icebreaker.
In short, you're dealt a hand of noun cards, and you have to match one with the dealer's flipped Adjective Card in a way that they (the dealer) would find your choice the most appropriate, inappropriate, funny, or just plain zany.
Sound random? Oh...it's random.
But Jatraqueros are random folk, so what better game to play with a room full of 'em following the digestion of Mexican Food, concurrent with a little consumption of wine?
Pin the tail on the jackass.
But nobody had any pins -or a donkey tail- , and nobody wanted to start the weekend off by calling ANYONE a Jackass (although I'm sure Mack and Lindsay had a contender in mind after the Nose Blow Incident), so Apples to Apples had to suffice.
And suffice it did.
we played with a much larger group than the game makers probably ever intended to play simultaneously, but that was a bit of the fun of it. We made a Jatraquero House Rule that only the first five cards set down would be in the running for The Dealer's Choice, and the awarded point. This induced a Chum-in-shark-infested-waters-style frenzy.
And lordy, it was fantastic.
I forget who won -- it might have been me --, but this is a game where winning doesn't matter at all. It's a game where the means is more entertaining then the ends - because the ends just means that we've run out of means.
In less confusing terms - when the game's over, it means we're left confused and befuddled as to what to do next.
I suggested the Hot Tub - but it turns out that there's a posted sign stating that the facility closed more than a few hours ago.
Well dang.
Anyway, during this time (and even during the prior game itself) some of our weaker compatriots had made their way to bed.
But as sleep is for the weak (read: smart people), Us Men (well, most of us - the Most Manly Of The Men) decided to not sleep, and to wander around the hotel, check email, Hatrack, etc. Doing nothing, basically, but doing it very very well.
And then it came to my attention that the game Settlers of Catan was on the premises.
Now unlike Apples, this was a game I'd only heard about. But the buzz has good. VERY good. And just a short time before, I'd had a friend tell me how much fun they'd had playing the game with a group, stating also that they played it for nearly 8 hours straight.
Ohhh...this was my kind of game.
So we grabbed some more players (bringing the total to 6), and made our way downstairs to Do This Thing.
For the uninitiated, Settlers is the game that would result if Monopoly and Risk got together and had a crackbaby.
All the jitters, and all the cravings without the illegality and brain damage.
But we were also involved in sleep deprevation, and some with a little bit of alcohol - so the experience was very much like that of a crackbaby afterall.
The game was tough. Nerves were tread upon, traitors uncovered, Robbers Kept Stealing My Wood, and I kept on getting bombarded with sheep I didn't want.
But in the end, thanks to mad talent and only a little luck, I reigned supreme.
Catan was mine mine mine.
Until breakfast, and the rematch, whence I quickly got my arse pounded into the ground.
It was midway into the Arse Poundage ( ) that we learned that the Great Wench Caravan had Arrived, containing Hobbes, Becky, Ken, and Our Fearless Leader, The Almighty Head Wench Herself, the Beautific Jenny "Andrea" Gardener.
While previously we only had one Beautific Acting Head Wench & Coordinator Extroadinaire in our own midsts with Olivia (bless her soul), the addition of the Official Head Wench to our crew somehow made it seem official now.
The problem with Officiality, however, is that now us males' duty as Wenchlings was now to be called into service.
While playing Settlers, we were the Men of The Hour - mainly because we were the only ones awake at those particular hours.
But now...with our Fellowship nearing completion...duty called.
And as all heroes must (according to Joseph Campbell), most of us Resisted The Call.
I mean, we were in the middle of a GAME! We had to resist!
But Nathan didn't.
Oh no, Nathan gladly took on his role as Wenchling, blatantly defying the Archetypal Hero's Journey.
Which means Campbell wouldn't consider him a hero. And that, folks, it what REALLY matters.
Real heroes resist the call, only to come back with a vengeance LATER (in the case of Star Wars, only after Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru were burninated to an extra crispity crisp did Luke finally Give In, and Accept The Call With A Vengeance).
Or would Frodo have been a better example, given the Event? He certainly resisted. He tried to pass the ring off to Gandalf.
I mean, the only one who really didn't resist was Sam, and it's not like he's the hero of th--
Wait. Crap. Nevermind.
(TO BE CONTINUED...)
Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 3051) on :
I was one of those who slept. And slept early, at that. Now, I _had_ worked all night and driven all morning...you be the judge. Posted by peter the bookie (Member # 3270) on :
Isn't Apples great? We use it as an ice-breaker game. Of course, we have to sort through and take out some of the custom cards in mixed company. Some friends filled out a blank deck for us as a wedding gift. *snicker*
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Somehow, it finally seems like it's over.
I just shipped the last of the left-behinds And, the special something for a certain someone.
I'm so pleased to have finally discharged the last of WenchCon-related responsibilities.
Upon reflection, though, I think I have learned somee things about myself through this experience.
1). I'm not as evil as I'd like to believe. I mean, I don't know it counts when you don't do something bad just because you don't WANT to, or if it has to be tempting for resisting it to be virtuous. In any case, I was not tempted to do anything that even the 18 year-old-me would have found questionable. I actually found myself making notes like, Next year I will spell it out that there will be NO alcohol in the meeting room. I was naive to have thought it didn't need saying, I guess. But , there were young people there, and maybe I have become so much the Mom (read: stick in the mud) that I can't help but think of setting an example.
Gosh, I'm Old.
2). When JaneX came around to give me a hug, saying , "Mom!" I was just flattened. Humbled, really, to think that even on Hatrack, where I never considered it, I may have become something like a role model. That is sobering, and I silently prayed to be worthy of her admiration. She's such a cool girl, I had to resist the urge to shake her and say, "PLEASE, don't look up to me-- I'm a bad example."
But I want to be a better one.
3). I am absolutely incoherent when sleepy.
4). As absolutely horribly stressful as it was for me at times, I kept thinking, "I'll do it THIS way next year." Heh. I'm barely recovered, and I already have plans. I wonder if there's a name for what's wrong with me. Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Olivia, WenchCon was perfect. I know what you mean - it just barely hit this week that's it's all over.
quote:And, the special something for a certain someone.
So Noah's getting his tape? Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
The only tape Noah's getting from me is of the Duct variety, applied topically to the facial area just below the nose. Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
You're sending me the mail bomb NOW?
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Yes, sweet. Priority Mail.
Sorry it took so long. I meant to do it yeasterday, and it has actually been in my car since Friday, when I went to the shipping place without printing out your address. (insert dazed and confused icon here).
You should get it by Friday or Saturday at the latest. The case had a Manchester optical place name on it, so it had better be yours. Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Did you at least send the glasses and bomb separately? Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
quote:And, the special something for a certain someone.
I know what she means (secret smile)...I think.
[ January 27, 2004, 09:00 PM: Message edited by: Ela ]
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
Is it a mail order bride? Because if it is I have no interest in that.
Hobbes Posted by JaneX (Member # 2026) on :
quote:2). When JaneX came around to give me a hug, saying , "Mom!" I was just flattened. Humbled, really, to think that even on Hatrack, where I never considered it, I may have become something like a role model. That is sobering, and I silently prayed to be worthy of her admiration. She's such a cool girl, I had to resist the urge to shake her and say, "PLEASE, don't look up to me-- I'm a bad example."
I don't know about role model...I don't really have anything like a role model. I may try to emulate little things I like in various people, but mostly I'm just myself.
So you don't need to worry about setting a bad example for me - or a good one, for that matter. I follow my own example.
~Jane~
[ January 27, 2004, 11:31 PM: Message edited by: JaneX ]
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
I mean, look what kind of influence I have on her!
Posted by CalvinMaker (Member # 2032) on :
Wouldn't it be more appropriate to duct tape my fingers now, instead of my mouth?
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
JaneX, I'm glad. And that's why I like you, because you really ARE your own person. I wish I had been so self-possessed at your age.
Noah, I don't even know what you meant by that, and I'm glad.
What I meant about being shocked about being a good person... I mean, I used to be the sort of person who would say something cruel or scathing because it would be funny. You know, to get the laugh. Not so much anymore. And it never even occurred to me NOT to do Noah's laundry, or to say to anyone the whole time, "Sorry, not my problem."
Maybe it's not being a good person so much just being a mom to the bone. I think I always have been a nurturer at heart, even though I have gone to great lengths to prove otherwise in the past. Even in grade school, the little kids always gathered to me because I'd play with them, pretend to be their mommy or the princess they had to protect. God, I'm sucha girl.
And I told you guys about the doggy biscuit story. That was a story of temptation to do something bad. But I was not tempted at all to be snide or belittling to anyone, no matter how annoying. Either I'm turning good or I've lost my edge. Maybe both.
BTW, Next year, would anybody be interested in an Art workshop? Where we could share drawings and techniques with each other? I'd be up for that. I know Hatrack has some swell artists that I'd love to learn from. (I know most of the stuff we talked about doing, and most of the prizes and whatnot, were girly things. But it isn't called WenchCon for nothing. )
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Olivia, I'm pretty sure Noah is referring to the current method of communication, which uses fingers more than mouths.
But the horror is pretty funny.
[ January 28, 2004, 10:08 AM: Message edited by: katharina ]
Posted by Zevlag (Member # 1405) on :
Kat: It was just as good before the edit!
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
*grin*
I'm mailing my hard drive to you tomorrow, I swear. I had to hunt up the computer box - I'd put it away when I moved.
You are such a sweetie for doing this. Posted by Zevlag (Member # 1405) on :
Great! Glad you found it.
It really isn't a big deal. I'm glad to do so!
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
But Noah has never typed anything that really annoys me. Posted by CalvinMaker (Member # 2032) on :
Yeah, I was talking about typing.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I kind of miss Noah being around and willing to say anything. It was very fun, and he's (you're) very sweet. No harm, no foul, no duct tape.
[ January 29, 2004, 10:19 AM: Message edited by: katharina ]
Posted by Ophelia (Member # 653) on :
I just realized that we never finished the conversation we started in the elevator, Noah! I'm doing much better now anyway, but if you're still curious you can IM me.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
Just wanted to add, I really had a great time at WenchCon, and everyone who showed up rocks! (Even if it only because all y'all were able to put up with me ).
Hobbes Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 3051) on :
You were easy to put up with.
Now, this Ben fellow....
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
PART V: Movie Madness - Part 1:EE
Let me clarify something first.
I, along with the other Wenchlings who I claimed 'resisted the call' did, in fact, all valiantly rush out the door to unload the WenchMobile the moment we knew it had arrived. We all carried suitcases and assorted luggagery. It was only after this primary task (a labor of love) and after we had returned to our game when One was commanded to fetch breakfast.
This - when the luggage of the Head Wench & Co was firmly in place at the Hotel - is when the Fellowship was gathered, and when the Adventure Began.
And when we Resisted the Call.
However, following the completion of the game (which Hobbes substituted in for Josh for a god while), and when the other Attendees of the Fellowship began to awaken from their Beauty Sleeps -- this, THIS is when we finally followed the next path of the Hero's Journey and Heeded the Call.
Most of us did this by getting Olivia's breakfast. It was requested of us, and we didn't know what she wanted, so all of us Heroic Types proceeded to each grab a plate, and fill it with something different. (I provided toast with a veritable buffet of spread options, as well as a side of muffins.)
Nathan may have helped at this point too, but that doesn't matter. He never resisted the call, so his Heroship is still - at least at this moment in the Festivities - a moot point. Sorry bro. Take it up with JC (Joseph Campbell) if you don't like it. Or George Lucas. They're, like, tight.
So after breakfast (which I delivered joyously on socks, sliding accross the slippery floor a la Tom Cruise in Risky Business - sans shades), we had the Opening Ceremonies.
As the machinery was fiddled around with for a short while, I went up to my hotel room, grabbed two pillows, and returned to the meeting room where the machinery was STILL being fiddled with. I threw the pillows to the ground in front of the first row of seats, and then lay down myself.
Yes, both of the pillows were for me. I'm selfish that way.
Seeing as it looked like they were going to start the movie without any kind of pomp or ceremony, I shouted out that we needed an Opening Address by the Head Wench. This brought cheers of agreement, and Andrea took the stage.
She welcomed us, told us the Plan of the Day, and showed off her Ever Sexy Boots for admiration and photographs.
Then the DVD was put in, the sound turned up, the lights turned down, and THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING:EE had begun....
...without any sound. It was stated that we didn't need the sound, that there were sure to be enough of us geeks there to quote the entire opening narration (and to hum the musical score) by memory - but we wanted the Official Soundtrack, dangit - and after a little bit of fiddling, the sound was fixed, we re-started the film, and, once again, THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING: EE had begun....
...and then froze after a couple of minutes.
Apparantly there was either some dust, drool, or lipstick on the disc, and it had to be wiped off.
This was done, and finally, finally FINALLY --- the movie began and proceeded to the intemrission without too many more technical interruptions.
Interruptions from the audience, however, are a different matter entirely.
But you already knew that from reading the CONTEXT MAY OR NOT BE EVERYTHING 2.0 thread. We are a zany, geeky, naughty bunch. And we had a blast.
We'd have made Tom Servo proud.
Not Crow, though. He's always been a little hard to please.
(TO BE CONTINUED...)
Posted by K.A.M.A. (Member # 6045) on :
Taal needs to come to Chicago to write an account of KamaCon.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Taal, you are the greatest. I was actually impressed by the sheer VOLUME of breakfast options given me. It sort of made me wonder if I looked like the sort who could eat that much. But the toast was delicious.
Oh, and Noah-- You are a sweetie, and I hope you know I was only teasin' you, baby doll. Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
He did... until you called him "baby doll".
Hobbes Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
That was part of the teasin', huggy bear. Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Taalcon, the recaps are brilliant. I feel like I was there.
[ January 29, 2004, 01:33 PM: Message edited by: katharina ]
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
Hey! I'm a tiger!
Hobbes Posted by Zevlag (Member # 1405) on :
But Katharina, you WERE there for most of it Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
*waits impatiently for chapter 6. taps his foot and crosses his arms Sonic The Hedgehog style*
...and i've been away a few days so couldnt respond sooner...i'm not a jackass...noseblows open doors for people. enough time hasnt passed yet is all.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
Glad you guys are enjoying my Rant of Remembrance. I'm sure to be leaving out things, and perhaps when it's completed I'll have a special 'Deleted Scenes & Random Musings' bumper post to catch some things that may have fallen by the wayside.
But enough with that, what you want is...
PART VI: Movie Madness Part 2 - Food Fit For Kings, The Pillow Thief, and Bum-Paddage
Noah had never seen the Fellowship of the Ring: Extended Edition before that day.
And to the best of my knowledge, he still hasn't seen it.
You will notice that up until the Dinner Episode, there will be a distinct lack of Noah-related anecdotes, mostly due to the fact that he was OUT COLD sleeping through the presentation of the films.
*sigh*
Anywho...
At the Intermission of FOTR:EE, someone decided to flip the lights on without giving us any warning, sending lightning bolts of photoinduced pain searing through our skulls.
Whoever you were -- thanks. Thanks a lot.
But is also gave us an excuse to gut up and walks around and stretch our legs before setting back down and Continuing the Journey.
After the film ended, it was then Lunch Time. And wow, what a lunch. There were wonderful pastas, salads, mini-cream-pies - and more I know I'm forgetting. Kudos to EVERYONE involved in this meal. The provisions for meals by the Wenches put to shame our measley delivery-boy service earlier.
We were...humbled.
But we still ate like Norsemen. And I think Norsemen eat a lot.
Or at least they made a mess when they ate. Which we probably did too.
Come to think of it, I don't know anything at all about the dietary habits of Norsemen. I just thought it sounded clever. We can't all have our winners, eh?
*ahem*
So after digging into the meal, it was then time to Dig Into The Two Towers: EE.
I had wandered upstairs to check my email (and Hatrack) briefly first. Noah was still out cold. No motion at all. He looks kind of dead when he sleeps. And if I wasn't in a such a hurry to get back to TTT, I may have been concerned.
But I wasn't.
But all my tiptoing around slowly and softly not to wake him caused me to walk into the movie late, missing the Balrog Ent'ract.
But, surprisingly, My Pillow Spot was still open, right next to Josh. I was amazed at the courtesy lent by these wonderful people. It was a prime spot, right in front of the television, and with two specially-fluffed pillows. So I took my spot, and stretched out.
"Uh...Okay...go ahead and take my spot," came a preturbed female voice towards me. It was dark, so I couldn't tell who it was (Becky?), but I didn't waste anytime in leaping up, sputtering out an apology, and grabbing two chairs to lie accross, far AWAY from The Spot.
Because as all men know, Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned.
Plus I didn't want to risk the chance that it was Jamie I'd PO'd.
You know, I guess I deserved the Shoutage. I mean, everybody knows the adage 'Move Your Feet Lose Your Seat' - and I had decidedly moved my feet.
But then again, so had she...that's how I got BACK into The Spot in the first place.
I guess it just all goes down to that I have a fear of Angry Wenches Beating Me Up. Plain and simple.
'cause they could SO take me down. No doubt about it. Plus SOME particular Wenches came attatched to People With Swords.
NEVER piss off Wenches with access to swords. Write that down. Memorize it. Place it on a pass-a-long card with a picture of cute puppies to distribute to friends. You could save lives.
Either way, the chairs I ended up using as my cot were pretty comfortable in their own right, and they provided much appreciated bum-paddage.
Oh yeah.
The movie played, we razzed it, laughed, giggled, took unintended 5 minute naps, etc.
During intermission there was a short screening of the Gollum MTV Award Easter Egg. The fact that they got away with a Landmark Achievement of Acting and Animation literally flipping off MTV and telling them that they sucked during their own award show - and got APPLAUSE for it - just makes me grin all foolish-like.
Part two continued, ended, and then soon after we were hingry again. But where to go?
It was suggested that we go to the Macaroni Grille, 'cause it was close. This was agreed to, and, after a false start at walking there (it was freezing and starting to rain a little bit), the decision to drive was made.
I agreed to drive "some people", and soon ended up with Noah, Katie, Lindsay, Jeremy, and Shlomo in my car.
Now, apart from myself, my car normally comfortably seats 4 additional people.
But this time, I had tons of crap in the back od my car, which gave the three in back no leg room.
And Katie (poor lass) ended up having to sit on Noah's lap.
There was complaining, and there was moaning (Noah), but I figured it'd all be okay because, hey. The Macaroni Grille sign was just around the corner. I could see it from there. Just a short drive there and back, no harm in that, right?
...Right?
A scene from the film Willow now comes to mind: The brownie Rool says to Willow, "With us as your guide no harm will befall you!" -- smashcut to a wet, miserable muddy Tavern of Death.
Folks, I count them lucky for have made it to a tavern at all...
But do you remember the crazy, exciting but dangerous cart/chariot race that followed? With the swords, throwing stars, and awesome score?Yup. That's more like what happened to us.
Although without the cool weaponry and music.
And no Val Kilmer. For which I apologize to the ladies. All they got was me and Noah. And some got more of Noah then was probably decent or legal in the state of Georgia.
(TO BE CONTINUED...)
[ January 30, 2004, 05:34 AM: Message edited by: Taalcon ]
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Noah Can't help Spreading The Love.
Hobbes, all you wee stuffed animals look alike to me. Though I do remember the hug after I confessed to cat-squashing. I really, really needed a hug at that point, and I thank you.
Annie, I swear I'm not in any way hitting on your tiger. He was nice to me, is all. A perfect gentleman. Lucky girl. He soprt of reminded me of Ron-- tall and quiet and kind (though not nearly so drop-dead gorgeous )
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
Heyyyyy, thanks. It's here.
*overcome
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Yay! She got it, guys!
And the back is all clear for other 'rackers to sign!
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
PART VII: Lost In Trepidation
Actually, let me change one thing that I mentioned above. We DID have some epic music...there was a point where I felt some levity and additional fun was needed, so I played OH FORTUNA from Orff's Carmina Burana. It elicited laughter and fear.
But we're jumping ahead.
There are two main ways to exit the Hotel - the way I came in, which was to drive past the Arcade/Bowling place, and then there were Back Roads. Since the back roads were the way I'd went before when traipsing around with Noah to find the Liquor Store, that was what I was comfortable with, and thus was the way we went.
That - was my first mistake.
I realized right away upon entering the back roads that having a car filled beyond-capacity on slippery roads wasn't the wisest of decisions. I mean, I could barely see out of any of my rear windows.
For the record, though, I do have a fairly infamous history of overstocking my cars with people. My 2002 Saturn SL (Manual shift) is the third car I've owned.
My first car was a 1989 Plymouth Horizon that I inherited from an old Missionary woman at my church who died. She had made clear to her daughter that I - her Pastor's son - was to have the car.
So that was pretty awesome. I got my first car for free. It wasn't a beut, but it WAS a car. And going off to college, I was going to need one. It was quite the godsend.
So of course a little over a month after I get my licence (On December 23rd after doing some last minute Christmas shopping) I drive in my first snow, skid, and fender-bender someone, cracking my own front grille as well as a headlight.
The moral of the story being - don't put off your Christmas shopping.
Anyway that Car did eventually make it to school, and when I became friends with people Without Cars, I became the Chief Chauffeur. And there were MANY times when the car was filled way beyond what was probably legal capacity. People on laps, etc. The fun addition to this was the fact that after a couple of years, half of the doors decided that they no longer felt the desire to open. So if, heaven forbid, someone HAD caused my clown-car (which we dubbed the Hamstermobile for the squeaking sound the engine made) to be in an accident - very few of my passengers/friends would be able to easily exit the vehicle. It was a pretty bad situation.
But they didn't have cars of their own, so they delt.
*ahem*
Cut to two cars later (I eventually killed the Plymouth, due to a break malfunction. My next car, a 1994 Saturn SL2, committed sepukku the day I returned from EnderCon - and I didn't even USE it for the EnderCon Oddyssey! I flew to Minnesota and used OLLIE'S car for heaven's sake!), and we're back at WenchCon, in the rain, with a car full of uncomfortable people, and visibilty is LOW.
And when we pull into traffic, it's CRAZY. Everybody and their brother is out driving tonight, and just merging into a lane is a chore. Heck, it'd've been a chore even if I could've seen what was going on. But as it was, no such luck. My passengers were my eyes.
Cue the Carmina Burana.
Gladly, I got in a lane, and saw the MACARONI GRILLE sign ahead. I drove past a few lights to get to the corer where the sign was, and then, as the light turned green, I took a right, presumably to turn into the restaurant....
"Dave, why did you turn onto the freeway?" "I thought...the sign was right there." "We're on the freeway." "I can see that. the sign was wrong." "There was another sign that said this was the way to the freeway." "I didn't see that sign, I saw the Macaroni Grille sign. It was right there." "So was the freeway sign. It was green." "The Macaroni Grille sign was bigger, and it was lit up!" "Are we lost?" "No, Shlomo, I'll just take the next exit, turn around, and we'll be right back where we need to be." "What if the next exit takes us to another freeway? Or an interstate Highway?" "It won't. We'll be able to turn around." "People are going to start wondering where we are," "Don't worry about it." "This is AWESOME." "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, Noah." "...." "You okay, Katie?" "Umm, here's an exit, but..." "Good! See, now we can turn around." "...Dave?" "Yeah." "We're on the Interstate." "....Yes. I can see that." "Hello? Yeah. I don't know where we are. We're lost." "Who'se on the phone?" "Shhh!" "Oh, Lord, they're gonna think I kidnapped you." "Shhh! What? We're on the interstate." "Ah! Here's another exit. I'll take this. I'll surely be able to turn around on this one." "That's what you said at the LAST exit!" "...." "Noah, behave." *giggle* "Do you know where we're going?" "Yes, Shlomo, I know where we're going. Now HUSH." "He doesn't really." "HUSH." "Ah, look, see? Over there? It's a turn signal! I can turn around to get back! Haha! Take THAT!" "Dave?" *sigh* "Yes?" "They said there's too many people at the Macaroni Grille and that we can just go anywhere to pick up something, as long as its quick so we can get ready for the movie afterwards."
DOOM.
I eventually got myself back to the main road. But my mood had shifted to that of just wanting to stop somewhere and let people out of my car. Not only did I have miserable CRAMPED people in my car, I had miserable cramped FRIGHTENED people in my car.
This is something you do NOT want to have.
But it wasn't my first time in this kind of situation. So I delt with it. Valiently.
In the Hero's Journey, I had gone on a Quest - I had left the Ordinary World, and entered a New Scary Place - the greatest challenge was overcome, but the objective still was not completed...
We decided to find a fast food place, and after a bit of searching, we finally decided that half the group wanted Quiznos, and the other half (including me) wanted Wendys. We found a spot that had both, and then we exeunt, and, relieved that we had all survived, went on to eat.
I ordered a 99-cent Junior Bacon Cheeseburger, and it was the most wonderul thing I had ever tasted.
Waht you say?
It was Because I was alive. Food you eat after near-death experiences (hyperbole?) seem to taste a lot better than they really are. Even Tofu, or a Boca Burger could've equaled Gourmet Lasagna at that point.
Oh sweet, sweet life. Life with Bacon.
But now we were in a race with the clock and eat to get back in time to 'prepare' for Return of the King...and I still had to get all these people back in my car to get them back at the Hotel. Would we make it back unscathed?
Probably.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
[ January 31, 2004, 05:25 AM: Message edited by: Taalcon ]
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
RANDOM POST OF NOSTALGIA FOR THE THREAD'S 100th POST:
[ January 31, 2004, 07:03 PM: Message edited by: Taalcon ]
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
quote:Noah was still out cold. No motion at all. He looks kind of dead when he sleeps.
Ahem...Dave forgot to mention that when he got lost on the interstate, I was fielding frantic calls from Jeremy:
"We got lost going to the Macaroni Grill!" "How could you get lost, it's only ONE BLOCK from the hotel!" "I don't know, but we're lost." "Well, where are you?" Somewhere on the interstate." "On the interstate??!! Which direction are you going?" "I don't know." "Well, than, I can't help you. Call me back when you figure out where you are."
Later, Dave managed to lose Jeremy and Shlomo. Having given up on eating out, our carload of wenches returned to the hotel to eat lunch leftovers. By the time I realized my cell phone was ringing again, Jeremy had hung up, and didn't answer my return call. A few minutes later, he called on someone else's cell (I forget whose) to tell us that he and Shlomo had gone somewhere different than the rest of their carload to eat, and when they came out they couldn't find the car. We borrowed a third phone to call Dave and determine that Dave was, in fact, not far from wherever Jeremy and Shlomo were, and that Shlomo and Jeremy were NOT left behind. Whew! What on earth did we do before there were cell phones? Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
I didn't forget to mention anything.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
At some point, I also got a frantic call from JaneX as somebody was trying to find fast food. They didn't really know where they were, and I was no help.
It's funny now, but at the time I sort of felt like I'd let 'em down.
Oh, and about the food... a couple of the Strawberry creme pies didn't entirely set. In most of them, the filling was of a sort of pudding-ish consistency, but a few were a little runny. Mine was, thankfully, one of the runny ones.
I just wanted you all to know that, if you got a runny one, I'm sorry. they all came from the same batch of filling, so I don't know what happened.
I sorta miss you guys... Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
I don't remember at all what the consitency of my pie was, I just know that it was incredibly yummy. Yous done good, Olivia.
[ January 31, 2004, 09:44 PM: Message edited by: Taalcon ]
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
quote:I didn't forget to mention anything.
Olivet, my strawberry cream pie was delicious.
And I don't think I will ever use my bath salts and hobbit wash, cause the smell makes me think of Wenchcon and you guys.
That was fun, we need an excuse to do it again... Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
We do. It's called ROTK:EE
Posted by Ophelia (Member # 653) on :
quote:Later, Dave managed to lose Jeremy and Shlomo.
And Lindsay.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
You know, I could see if I could get a good group rate in the fall...
Actually, I must be insane to consider it. But I am. Posted by JaneX (Member # 2026) on :
YEAH! WenchCon 2004: Version 2!!
~Jane~
[ January 31, 2004, 09:48 PM: Message edited by: JaneX ]
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I'd come.
Noah was a complete gentleman, and he kept me from landing in Dave's lap when we made our turns. *grin* It was a great getting-to-know-you.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
In the Biblical sense, no less...
I'm sorry. That was evil. I just had to. I'm weak. *grin*
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Evil, indeed. Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Sorta?
...and when should I get my glasses? (I need to know when to worry).
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
Just what I was thinking. Sorta?
Ni!
Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
i really dont want to be your best friend. all i really wanna do is get to know you, all i really wanna do is get to know you in the biblical sense, woah...
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
what? did that make ANY sense?
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
Methinks Benny was quoting.
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
NO! Doesn't make sense.
[ January 31, 2004, 11:51 PM: Message edited by: Ela ]
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
For the record, I just want to reiterate my love of the word 'Methinks', and believe it should be used much, much more often.
Posted by Zevlag (Member # 1405) on :
Yes, Methinks methinks is a good word!
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Hey josh, the package is wrapped, addressed, taped, bubble-wrapped (a prezzie ), and sitting on my car passenger seat. I'll mail it monday.
Posted by Zevlag (Member # 1405) on :
Kat, Great!
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Mack, I shipped it when I shipped CT's t-shirt. Priority Mail. You should get it Monday at the latest, I think.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
PART VIII: Finding Food and Missing Muppy
I would also like to point out that our Automotive Adventure took place well after sundown on Saturday night, so Shlomo and Jeremy would've had no right to believe that the ordeal of getting 'lost' (as they insisted on calling it) was any kind of divine punishment for any sort of Sabbath Breaking.
However, Lindsay and Noah were both on board, and both may have been the victim if the conversation ever turned to the similarities of the weather conditions with that of Jonah's predicament.
They couldn't oust me, 'cause I was the driver, and would've clung to my keys as I was thrust Overboard.
Plus the car's a stick, and I bet most of 'em couldn't drive a stick. I had the advantage.
And in the eyes of many of us, Katie had been 'victimized' (as much as she'd protest she hadn't been, and as much as we really knew she hadn't), so she would be viewed as the Innocent. And all you get from Taking Out Innocents is...well...bad. Earthquakes, Darkness and the like.
So seeing as there was really nobody we could blame for all this, we'd proceeded to the Fast Foodage.
Actually, the first fast food parking lot we had pulled into was, I believe, a Taco Bell. But as they Exodus from my car occured, everyone also decided that they were not in the mood for Tacos.
I missed that part of the conversation, as I was too busy tossing crap from the back seat of my car into the TRUNK of my car, so as to alleviate the pain a bit Next Time 'Round.
But I looked up and saw Katie and Noah waiting semi-patiently for me, so I decided to heck with it, and slammed down my trunk, and closed my car doors.
I was then informed that Jeremy, Shlomo and Lindsay had chosen Quiznos Subs as their cuisine of choise, and that it was Over There (or allí, as they say in Spanish).
It was then brought up that I had mentioned I'd seen a McDonalds near by, and could it possibly be in walking distance.
Trying to remember exactly what I'd seen, I consented that yes, possibly it was.
Then we turned the corner of the Taco Bell, and saw the Golden Arches... in this case, decidedly allá. Way The Hell Over There.
There was a Wendys near the Quiznos, and being the lazy kids we are, decided it would be wiser in the long run to simply drive over there. It was a courtesy.
The Three Of Us piled in the car (ah, the room! Must have felt like an empty station wagon to the newly emancipated Katie and Noah), and decided to park - for convenience sake - right in front of the Quiznos.
We left the car, and our Triumvirate walked past the Quiznos where we saw J,S&L making their orders inside. We waved to them, and gestured over towards Wendys to let them know our destination.
We were pretty sure they had seen us, and aknowledged with a nod. This satisfied us enough to go to Wendys and get our food.
I already told you how wonderful it tasted to me. Noah and Katie seemed to be enjoying their own Meals of Life just as much as I. We enjoyed a good bit of conversation, involving our own musical talents and/or interests. It was a poigniant little conversation that served as a nice and well needed Intermission between The Madness That Was, and the Madness That Was To Come. (Foreshadowing? Naw. Hype? Definitely.)
After a while, we suddenly realized that we had no way of contacting J,S&L. Noah had my cell phone number, and I had his - but we didn't have any of theirs - and we didn't think they had any of ours. We figured they were taking a while, and we wondered if we should perhaps make our way back over to the Quiznos.
This is about when Noah recieved a phone call from Judy, wondering, in probably slighlty more polite (or possibly much less polite) terms, Where The Hell Are We?
The thought is expressed that we'd left The Others behind, seeing as they didn't see My Car where we had originally let them off.
After a bit of confusion, some profuse apologies, and a few moments of akward silence and quick subject-change concerning the new live action Peter Pan movie, the doors to Wendys slammed open, and in came Jeremy, Shlomo & Lindsay - with their subs in hand, because The Didn't Think They'd Have Time To Sit And Eat, like we had clearly done. They'd been spending most of the time trying to figure out Where The Hell We Were.
I pointed out that we had waved to them, and they had responded.
They replyed quite frankly that "The hell they did," and pointed out that we should've just come in and made SURE they knew where we'd be.
But that would've been too much like the right way to do things.
And we were hungry, and that would've taken more time.
Feeling a bit guilty about the whole affair, I proceeded to point out that they must've had to have literally walked around my car to have reached us. How Could They Have Missed It.
Another side note, all of Dave's Cars since the original Hamstermobile (see additional post above for picture, and Chapter VII for its history), have been attended by the Pets.com Sock Puppet Dog. My sister got it as a gift for me, and it's always had its place of honor in the Rear Passenger Side Window. It was in the Plymouth, the First Saturn, and maintains the tradition still in the Current Car.
A ton of people seemed to mistake it for a monkey instead of a dog, so I eventually decided to name him Muppy, The Monkey Puppy.
Muppy is a very hard to miss fixture, and makes identifying my car incredibly easy.
With the point conceded, and pretty much everybody feeling guilty now in some retrospect, we changed the subject to the much more guilt-free topic of the name of our particular convention, and came to the quick conclusion that The Fellowship of the Rack is in fact a wonderful name that should be used of any further conventions in the future.
Then we loaded up the car again (they all noticed Muppy now), and went back to the hotel.
This trip was relatively uneventful, and Lindsay ended up being the one lapped this time, this time seated on Jeremy.
Now Jeremy and Lindsay got along well, because during the game of Apples to Apples earlier, it had been decided by Committe that Lindsay needed a hug, and the two sitting on opposite sides of her were then given the priviledge and duty to do so. the two Drafted for the job were Mark, and Jeremy. Jeremy dutifully obliged, but Mark Resisted The Call. this was not a Campbellian case of the Resistance, because this particular Wenchling had ALREADY resisted a call. Thus far, both Nathan and Mark have been struck from the Record of Heroes.
Sorry folks. I don't make the rules, I just reports 'em as I sees 'em.
We arrived safe and sound at the Hotel, and as we piled out and headed towards the meeting room - I was suddenly horrified to realize I had suddenly dropped my guard.
It was costume time. And I was unprepared - which meant I'd be getting An Assignment.
Awwwwww crap.
(TO BE CONTINUED...)
[ February 02, 2004, 04:15 AM: Message edited by: Taalcon ]
Posted by raventh1 (Member # 3750) on :
::struck::
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
I've got my photos in the wenchcon album now. I'll ask mark i can put his in, and josh is already letting me put his in. Anyone else is welcome to send thiers to me to put up, too.
Ni!
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I got some today. Should I e-mail them to you?
They are not great - disposable camera.
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
yeah, sure, though I don't know how well my email server is going to like getting a bunch of pictures... maybe throw them in a zip file first? we'll see. Stiaman@yahoo.com I'll be sure to put down who took them.
Ni!
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Okay.
quote:a few moments of akward silence and quick subject-change concerning the new live action Peter Pan movie
I have no memory of this conversation. And I'm sure I was there.
Anyway, yes, very exciting, new Peter Pan movie. Posted by Zevlag (Member # 1405) on :
If you have problems sending/receiving them, feel free to send to jgalvez at webpipe . net and I can pass them on.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
The package got mailed today. I think...
I just realized I forgot to pay the mail room. Oh dear. <see mack's car thread>
[ February 02, 2004, 07:48 PM: Message edited by: katharina ]
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
*furrows brow*
The e-mail didn't go through. I'm going to try to send them to Josh.
No new instalment from last night? I want to read about LIT.
[ February 03, 2004, 01:12 PM: Message edited by: katharina ]
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
LIT? Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
*SPOILERS*
...For the Forthcoming chapters in the Recap, that is.
LIT is Lost In Translation.
*/SPOILERS*
[ February 03, 2004, 10:46 PM: Message edited by: Taalcon ]
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
PART IX: "We Lost A Bet"
Let it be known that I'm a bit shy. Much LESS shy than I was before college, but still shy nonetheless. It's a self-confidence issue that I'm progressively overcoming, but one thing I try hardest not to do is to make an Ass Of Myself in Public. Embarrassing myself is one thing. Embarrassing those I'm with is something else entirely.
But what happens when everyone you're with is planning on embarassing everyone evenly?
Welcome to WenchCon, folks, and preparation for the Main Event, the viewing of Return of the King, in the theater --- in full costume.
I have never dressed up for a movie before. The geekiest things I've ever done were to go to a Star Trek convention when I was like 11 (got to see Michael Dorn speak and sign something of mine - the entire attending audience cheered after an attendee made him Worf out and say "I am NOT a Merry Man"), and to skip school to wait in line to buy like 10 Phantom Menace tickets of the very first showing on opening day for friends, family, and business associates.
Oh yeah, I also showed up for midnight sales of Episode I action figures. George Lucas had me whipped.
I think my retaliation was having my own personal premier of Episode II in my friend's dorm room, a week before the film came out. We had it even earlier, but our conciences and inner geeks wouldn't let us spoil it for ourselves that way -- until my one friend who was even more against viewing a pirated copy came into my room and said, quite clearly, "Dude...we have Star Wars." After a moment of silence, we bounded into the room, and loaded up the Handycammed .avi, and had one of the most memorable, most fun moviegoing experiences of my life.
We later went ot the theater and payed for a screening, and I eventually bought the DVD. No hard feelings, eh George?
*ahem*
Anyway, they were now making me dress up, and there was Nothing I Could Do About It. Some had prepared their own stunning costumes. Sarah was the perfect Sam, Andrea was the perfect match as Frodo, and Olivia put Liv Tyler to shame as Arwen. Hobbes worked it as Gandalf, as did Judy and Katie with their stunning blue and white apparel, respectively.
There were others too, and there are many photos flying around. Everyone looked great.
Geeky, certainly, but great nonetheless.
But for those of us Who Thought We Could Get Out Of It, there were Provisions Made. Cloaks and swords for "Generic Fellowship Members" (who we eventually assigned specific character names), Nazgul suits (of which Lee made especially creepy use of), and Not-Very-Orc-Like-But-You-Get-The-Drift-Anyway Orc Masks - the most memorable of which was worn by Shlomo along with his Tin Foil Torch Of Death.
Nathan went as Orange Tights Man, and Jeremy was stuck as the yellow-booted Tom Bombadil (Tom Bombadillo!
And Lindsay, God Bless 'er, was an absolutely joyous Gimli. Beard and all.
Knowing, of course, that there was No Way Out, I decided to go straight to the source (Andrea) and try to get out with a decent character.
She purveyed my current attire to see What She Had To Work With, and after making note of my Facial Scruff and (in her own words, and not mine) "Sexy Leather Jacket", it was decided that I was to be Boromir of Gondor.
All I needed was a cloak, a belt, a sword, and I was off!
All the camera-carrying folk now were yelling at us to get into group photos. People were now scrambling around like crazt, getting bumped to-and-fro, and I think I freaked out Andrea a few times by getting into character and taking several swipes (physical and verbally) at the Precious Ring around her neck. "Hey, it's for my Dad!" I told her. The reaction was still the same:
Then just as people were yelling at all the Orcs/Nazgul to gather together for a Evil People Picture, one of the Orcs started shaking - it took us a moment for us to notice that this wasn't a GOOD shaking. It was Noah, and he was having a bit of an attack of sorts. It was a frightening moment, but he was soon escorted out to get some air by Katie (I think), as the rest of the pictures resumed.
This is when the photo of The Fellowship was taken, and we were all told to "look in character". So what did I do? I looked lustingly towards The One Ring. The fact that it happened to be around Andrea's neck have made viewers of the photos sound off that to them, my eyes appeared to be straying elsewhere.
And contrary to my somewhat humerous response to those Vile Character Assassination Attempts, I will come out and say that yes, I was merely attempting to be in character and Stare Down The Ring. I'm a good kid.
Really.
*ahem*
More photos were taken, and the Fellowship (of the Con - not just those dressed as The Nine) decided that now was the time to head off to the theater if we were to Make The Movie On Time.
I left the Conference Room to check on Noah, to make sure that everything was okay (it was), and then We Were Off...
Somewhat. It was still raining, and nobody would be walking, and there were Lots of Us.
And there was no way in Kansas I was going to drive again.
After continuous instances of 'passing the buck' and remaining silent when people asked if there were 'any other cars available', I eventually snuck off with Lindsay to have Morbo take us to the theater in his Truck.
And Morbo, man, I love you bro, but you scared the be-crap out of us.
This was Karma in motion.
Perhaps I was just a little too uptight thanks to the Prior Happenings, but I kept thinking we were gonna die, and as the moment passed through my head that this is exactly what I put The Others thorugh earlier (except in somewhat different circumstances - it wasn't my fast driving, it was my lack of knowing Where The Hell I Was), we arrived at the theater, and Linday and I jumped out and stood there at the curb, in costume. We looked at the long line of people and wondered if we were going to have things thrown at us. The idea was made to de-robe until other arrived, but just as I began to uncloak (and Lindsay to de-beard), we were shouted at by members of our Own Fellowship. Already in line. We gave each other tentative looks, our brows furrowed, and we Made Our Way Towards The Line.
We discussed the idea that if anyone asked, we'd tell them that we lost a bet, and this is our pennance.
This was right before a young moviegoer shouted out to our whole group that she LOVED our costumes, and could we possibly get together for a group photo that she'd be taking on her Camera Phone?
We obliged, hoping that the photo wouldn't end up anywhere TOO public, and continued to proceed towards the Ticket Booth where finally, I purchased my ticket.
As I walked inside, saw the Ticket Collector give me a glance, and then begin snickering. I approached him sullenly.
"I lost a bet," I said,
"Nah, man. Thas coo', thas' coo'" he said, as he snicker snicker snickered.
But then I Was Through The Barrier, and waited for the others to finally make it across with me, so we could All Go In Together.
But then came word of a small bit of a problem, as others of our Fellowship were still approaching the Ticket Booth.
"I'm sorry...but Return of the King is now all sold out."
....
(TO BE CONTINUED...)
[ February 04, 2004, 12:11 PM: Message edited by: Taalcon ]
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
I'd just like to thank you all for having no dignity. You truely are an inspiration to those of us who strive for normal social interaction.
Posted by Psycho Triad (Member # 3331) on :
Awwww primal's just jealous. I'm sure Andrea would have a nice skirt for ya. Especially if you complained.
Posted by Snuffles (Member # 4332) on :
I suppose that posting a link to the wenchcon album would be good.
Just where did I come from anyway? Will I ever be seen again?
Wait...Noah had an attack? I missed that entirely. Maybe I was being interrogated by the security guys at the time.
[ February 04, 2004, 02:14 AM: Message edited by: Maccabeus ]
Posted by raventh1 (Member # 3750) on :
<-- wasn't yellow boots
<-- was Merry.
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
Jeremy was yellow boots. And shlomo's too-small blue jacket.
Ni!
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
That's what I said. I have no idea what you're talking about.
Pay no attention to the edit times behind the curtain! They mean NOTHING!
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
The Orc mask Noah wore was known to be poorly ventillated. It has now given both Rakeesh and CalvinMaker hypoxia (though Jeff took it off a little sooner, I think-- before the shakes )
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Noah was fine, by the way. Posted by CalvinMaker (Member # 2032) on :
Huh? What?
...
Where am I?
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
CHAPTER X: Santori Time
So now we had a bit of a problem. Half of the WenchCon attendees looked to be blocked out of The Main Event.
We had no idea that this long into the film's theatrical run it would still be selling out. The idea that it had generated mixed emotions all around. We're glad it still CAN sell out...but we're not particularly happy that it DID.
So those of us already in and ticketed stood around, in costume, looking a bit befuddled as we tried to figure out exactly What We Were Going To Do.
It was soon decided and agreed upon that those who had never seen Return of the King before would be getting first priority.
Noah was offered a ticket, having professed to being a ROTK Virgin earlier, but he stated that he wasn't actually all that interested in seeing it, and would rather see something else instead. This idea was upheld by others as well.
The Fellowship was Broken.
...but many of us already DID have tickets, and a quick look at our watches informed us that the movie had probably already begun - and since there WERE a few first-time-initiates with us (I know Lindsay hadn't seen it yet), we wanted to get them in there. So we DASHED to the theater...
And walked in as Smeagol was holding up a worm.
We were pleased to find out it was just beginning - and on a VERY nice sized screen. But we were also a bit frazzelled to discover that the only seats left were in the First and Second rows.
Our crew quickly filled up the Front Row, leaving myself and Katie having to walk around the row of seats to take a set of two seats in the second row, separated from the rest of the crew.
I sat down, and looked up...and realized that I couldn't do this.
The last time I was forced to sit this close to the screen was a screening of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. As if having to physically move my head from left to right to take in all of the subtitles wasn't annoying enough, there was a man behind me who had brought his young kid - who apparantly couldn't read yet -, and proceeded to LOUDLY whisper-read every single line of text to his son. IT was a very lousy theater-going experience, but at least I really enjoyed the film.
But I hadn't seen that film before. I HAD seen Return of the King before (Twice), and the thought of sitting through nearly 4 hours in this position became unthinkable.
I turned to Katie, and suggested that we go see what else was showing. She agreed, and the theater once again got a view of a couple of costumed geeks hunching their way across the theater to make their exit.
So here we are ... in the theater ... in costume ... and we're not even going to see Return of the King.
Great.
I take my cloak The Hell Off, and wrap it around my plastic glow in the dark sword. Unfortunately for Katie, her costume was a little more elaborate, and de-geeking was not an option.
We wandered around the theater for a while, checking the times of all the films that would be starting soon. We made our way around the ENTIRE theater with out seeing anything that looked even slightly viable until we reached the final theater - and it was showing Lost in Translation, beginning in about 30 minutes.
Now, I had already seen LiT, and loved it, and had actually been itching to see it again. And Katie had never seen it, but had heard good things about. So We got ourselves stoked for it, and went in.
...and found that a few of our Fellowship that had been left without ROTK tickets had bought LiT tix instead, and were there chillin' in the seats: Noah, Olivia, Mark, Jamie, Ben, Jeremy, and Josh.
So we had a nice crew of Wenches and Wenchling to experience the movie with us. Cool.
Apart from us, there were only two other people in the theater - a young couple who was probably had thought that they'd be getting the theater all to themselves.
But it would still be a while before the film started. I thought of sneaking back into ROTK to alert others of our unfortunately-seated crew that we would be viewing LiT, and to send out an invitation for them join us. So Katie and I took a walk back to the ROTK theater, where I went in myself (doing the crouch-and-walk again) and told the first of our crew I came to (One of thee guys and Lindsay) of our plan, and that they were welcome to join us, and to pass it on).
They were, however, already engrossed in the film, and weren't about to leave. I guess I can't really blame them. Especially Lindsay. For a girl to go the theater dressed up as Gimli (beard and all) to celebrate a movie she'd never seen before, only to LEAVE that movie when she got there would be kind of...well...pointless.
So I did the crouch-to-exit trick again, obtained Katie, informed her it was a no-go, and then returned to the LiT theater.
After the ads (one featured a restrospective on LOTR Trilogy Tuesday), commercials (one for a movie ticket pre-buy service - we all got a good laugh out of the irony of that one), and Trailers (there were some pretty good ones shown, thankfully) - the movie finally began. And I think my reaction to this movie can be summed up with a single emoticon:
I enjoyed this movie even more the second time. Part of the fun was watching and listening to other's reactions. The gasping, the laughter, the sleeping (Noah) - it all enhanced the film experience entire for me.
And when it ended, most of our crew just SAT and relished the credits. This made me want to hug each and every one of them.
You can tell a lot about what someone thought of a movie - and to some extent people themselves - based on how quickly they try to leave the theater. For most films - and most people -, you'll see them bounce up the second the screen starts to Fade To Black, and head straight for the doors without looking back at the screen. I call these folk the 'Bounders'. Then there are those who wait for the first credit line to make sure that the film really is over before standing a couple moments, and slowly walk to the door. AKA, The 'Standers'. Then there are three varieties of people who stay through the entire run of credits. First you have the 'Clever', who are staying just in case there may be a hidden easter egg following the credits. You can usually spot them because they make a disgruntled noise (or perhaps swear) once the reel rolls out, and no additional footage was shown. Then they make for the door. Then come the "Yappers", the type who immediately after the credits come up, start out talking about the film in absolute terms ("Awesome!" "Sucked!"), before quickly changing the subject to something that has NOTHING to do with the movie, but continue to stand around and talk about that subject just as loudly.
And then come my favorite group - the Affected. These are those who sit in silence when the credits begin to roll, pondering what they just watched, knowing they were affected by it, and perhaps trying to figure out why. Or maybe tears had come on the way, and sitting still is the only way they can focus on fighting them without letting them just run free. It is only after several moments of silence that the Affected can sigh, and then turn to others to softly discuss what it was they had just been thinking about with others. Absolutes are rarely thrown around, and they all know that they just shared an amazing experience.
Now, not everyone will always react the same way for every movie they see. While one movie may leave you as an Affected, another may make you a Bounder or a Clever. Rarely, however, do the Affected and Yappers overlap.
This crowd was filled nearly entirely with Affected. And it was an exhilerating experience.
After the silence, we discussed many aspects of the film's ideas, themes, and concepts. It was the kind of conversation I'd love to have with people everytime I go to the movies.
I mean it. I'm spoiled now. Everytime I go to a movie, I'll wish Katie, Olivia, Jamie, Jeremy, Josh, Mark, Noah and Ben were there with me to discuss it immediately after. As a film enthusiast, you can't get much better than seeing a movie with these people.
And because this film was shorter than ROTK, and there was another of our group that I'd ALSO like to share a film-ending experience with, Katie, Josh and Myself quickly made our way to the ROTK theater, and walked in -- just as Sam was about to pick up Frodo, and quote my favorite line of the Saga.
We had arrived for the best parts of the movie.
So the three of us sat in the entry-aisle of the theater, and huddled against the wall, and, coming out of the shere honest and wonderful conversations we'd just had, let the movie just TAKE US.
The three of us shivered. We laughed. We smiled. Hell, there were moments where we giggled. I was Experiencing this film like I had never experienced it before. There was an energy - a charge that just filled me with electricity. This was pure cinema - I was a child again, experiencing the wonder of film with some friends who were experiencing the same exact thing I was. It was unbridled Joy.
I'll never forget it.
And as the First Fade To Black occured, there was an immediately noticeable Family of Bounders. They made their way over to stand right next to us in the walkway before they realized that the Movie Wasn't Over Yet.
My little Geek Jeesh giggled as we realized something that they didn't - they'd be standing for another 15 minutes. Serves them right for Bounding at this particular film.
And when the film finally ended, and the crowd began to disperse En Masse, I made it a point to sit down and watch all of the credits.
Mainly, because both times I'd seen the film before I'd been robbed of the experience. The first time, it was my own guilt that kept me from doing it. It had been the midnight show, and I was the last one in the theater. Almost EVERYONE had Bounded. And I was sure the projectionist was waiting on me to leave so he could shut down and go home...so I left. The second time, I was with my father, and he had just recieved a cell phone call informing him that the son of a member of the church had gone into a cardiac arrest and had been taken to the hospital - and now my father, as their Pastor, was being requested to attend to the family.
But now... nobody was going to stop me. I watched. I led applause for the Cast in their Illustrated Roll Call.
Sarah and a few others sang along to Into The West.
What topped it off as the perfect movie-going experience was upon leaving the theater, someone Not Of Our Fellowship approached Katie and myself with a question about the ending, because we, in his words, "Obviously Know A Lot About The Whole Thing"
We happily answered his question, and he left satisfied.
Then, after a little more lingering and informing a destressed Olivia that under no circumstances did we view the evening as a disaster (many of us affirmed that the night was even better than we had imagined it would be), we had one more question we needed to answer, because for us, the Night Was Still Young.
The question being, of course, "So...what do we do now?"
(TO BE CONTINUED...)
[ February 06, 2004, 07:32 PM: Message edited by: Taalcon ]
Posted by Zevlag (Member # 1405) on :
I so relish this last experience, it was absolutely awesome. I will forever associate Lost in Translation with WenchCon, and good friends. Dave is right when he says we made it in for the best of ROTK, absolutely great.
These are some of my fondest memories of Wenchcon. LiT is movie that can only get better each viewing (3 now ) especialy when associated with memories such as this.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
*wriggles happily* This is my favorite installment and my favorite memory; you captured it completely.
quote:What topped it off as the perfect movie-going experience was upon leaving the theater, someone Not Of Our Fellowship approached Katie and myself with a question about the ending, because we, in his words, "Obviously Know A Lot About The Whole Thing"
We happily answered his question, and he left satisfied.
This experience was fabulous. *happy*
[ February 06, 2004, 04:24 PM: Message edited by: katharina ]
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Geez, I thought Jeremy was with US in LiT. Oy.
I was between a sleeping Noah and a very sweetly Affected Mark. It was great, even though I nearly DIED during the etickets commercial. Then there was some giggling when one of the commercials said something about "the babe in the third row", and "no, Dude, that's a guy." 'cause we were in the third row of the upper section. I was already a laughingstock, so it was cool.
Anyway, Dave's right. It was incredible to see a movie-- even if it wasn't the one we planned to see-- with such cool people. (Even though Noah was asleep before the opening credits, and I feared that Mark was shocked by the long, long opening shot of Scarlett Johanson's peachy behind. <giggles>
Great movie, though, and it is now out on DVD, BTW.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
Maybe I'm wrong...was Jeremy there? Now I'm starting to think you may be right..I asked Mark when I was writig this to double check that I wasn't leaving any out... this is going to bother me now until someone sets the record straight Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
Jeremy was in LiT - he gave his ticket to ROTK to Jamie, who hadn't seen it yet. So Jamie went to ROTK, not LiT.
Sheesh, Dave, you don't even know who you were with! Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
In case anyone was wondering, the question the "Hey, I'll Ask the Geeks" guy wanted answered was what on earth Frodo meant when he said that they had saved the shire, but not for him.
[ February 06, 2004, 06:07 PM: Message edited by: katharina ]
Posted by CalvinMaker (Member # 2032) on :
Even worse than what Dave said, I actually HAD a ticket to RotK. I tried to give it to someone else, but all the other RotK "virgins" now had tickets. So I went to the customer service place and exchanged my ticket for LiT.
Posted by CalvinMaker (Member # 2032) on :
And no, I still haven't seen RotK, and I don't plan to until it comes out on video. Actually...I haven't seen a single LotR movie on the big screen.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
*grin* I just can't believe you slept through every movie at WenchCon.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
*apologises for his foggy memory, and writes Jeremy back into the acount*
Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 3051) on :
While several people were still trying to decide what to do, I was accosted by the cops. You might think it was because I was dressed as a Nazgul--who'd let a Nazgul in to see ROTK? Well, sort of. It hadn't occurred to me, because I'd never seen a movie in costume, that you weren't allowed not to show your face in a theater.
So much for anonymity.
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
Macc, I thought that was extremely weird, cause I did it last year in the same theater, and I remember walking right by a security guard with the mask on. ::shrug:: It did mean that I didn't get to scare any one this year, though. which sucked.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Actually, it was a different theater, a bigger one. That may have something to do with it. Posted by ak (Member # 90) on :
<waits anxiously for the next installment>
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
Which reminds me AK, it was great to get to talk to you for the first time, even if it had to be over the phone I still got to meet you at WenchCon.
Hobbes Posted by Anti-Chris (Member # 4452) on :
I don't suppose I'm going to get my checkbook back, am I?
Posted by ak (Member # 90) on :
You'll get them back one at a time, when they come through in your statements. Posted by ak (Member # 90) on :
<<<<<Hobbes>>>>> It was great to talk to you too! I really wish I had been able to go. I was dying of envy in California. Clicking refresh every few minutes waiting for the latest pictures to go up. Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
anne kate:
Olivia, I called the post office and they're investigating my glasses. The guy said he CAN run a trace with all the information and that it SHOULD have arrived early LAST week. He was very confused about why it hadn't.
Anyway, he was very nice. I think this'll learn me good not to leave my new glasses behind.
*kicks self*
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
I'd leave the kicking of Jamie up to Ben if I were you. I'm sure he'd do a much more complete job and take more pride in his work.
Hobbes Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
::herewithin apologizes for the lack of updates these past couple nights, and assures everyone that he will be returning to his Regularly Schedules Updates very soon - probably even tomorrow. Your patience is appreciated::
Posted by Anti-Chris (Member # 4452) on :
Dave...
Checkbook. Where?
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
Somewhere between here and there...
Posted by Anti-Chris (Member # 4452) on :
Ok. That be good.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
...but as for the individual checks, beats me. I know that a few at least 'stopped by' at Best Buy, Sam's Club, Outback Steak House, Chuck E Cheeses, and Al's Anger Management Gun Shop.
...okay, that's not true. I didn't go to Chuck E Cheeses.
Posted by Anti-Chris (Member # 4452) on :
Ya, I can understand Best Buy, Outback, and the Angermanagement Gun Shop, but dude, whats up with Sams Club?
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
Lots of Root Beer. Cheap.
Posted by ak (Member # 90) on :
Al's Anger Management Gun Shop!
Is this the gun store that runs those great back-to-school specials in the fall?
Posted by larisse (Member # 2221) on :
*Waits patiently for an update*
I love this stuff. It almost makes up for not being able to go. Almost.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
New pair of glasses ordered.
Note to self: don't pack and leave hotel until after you've taken your ritalin so you don't forget a $250 pair of glasses. Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
I'm so sorry, Mack. I should have sent it UPS. I feel terribly guilty. Posted by CalvinMaker (Member # 2032) on :
quote: Al's Anger Management Gun Shop!
Is this the gun store that runs those great back-to-school specials in the fall?
That's so horrible and twisted. Exactly my kind of humor!
Speaking of which, has anyone ever been to tshirthell.com? They have a T-shirt on there that, similar to a "Band's Tour" shirt, with the locations and dates on the back, is a School Shooting tour shirt, with all the dates and schools on the back.
So wrong. So wrong. So wrong. hehe.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
CHAPTER XI: Ben's Butt & Wet Wenches. Or, We're All Going To Hell.
That got your attention, didn't it? Now read on...
Even though we just had shared a wonderful experience together, we were still ready to Get The Hell Out of the theater.
While I jumped in Olivia's Wenchmobile, a few others took alternative methods. I know Jamie took off in her Mackmobile, and Hobbes (still fully decked out in GandalfGear) started his own reinactment of the Money Shot from the FOTR trailer (you know the one).
Either that, or Moses. Or Maybe Brigham Young. Who knows what goes through that kid's violently orange head. All I know is that they chose to walk and it was raining.
Which brings to mind another one of Dave's Tangents™: In my Junior Year at SCAD (I'm now in my Second Senior Year due to indecisiveness) I took a class called Acting for Animators, in which, after a while, I learned that the professor was nuts, plain and simple, and shouldn't be teaching anything, let alone an Acting for Animator's course. This, added to the fact that people in Savannah were getting on my nerves in general finally got me to spout out the phrase "It's in Idiot Exodus, And This Is the Promised Land. And [Our Teacher] Is Their Own Personal Moses!" I still use that Idiot Exodus quote wherever it may apply. Which unfortunately is often.
Not that this statement applied to anyone or anything in This Current Account, of course.
Ahem.
On our way back to the Hotel, we pass the Happy Wanderers and offer them a ride. They refuse, and we drive on - but quickly get stopped by the MackMobile who appear to be waving us over to them. We pull aside, and Olivia rolls down her window.
And the Mackmoblile asks if "We've got the Kid," referring to Olivia's Niece (right), who, due to her adorable costume, came to be known as the Legolass.
Olivia answers that we do, and the Mackmobile says cool, and drives off, leaving an irate mother of the Legolass, who thought that somehow they were second-guessing her mothering skills.
But they weren't.
Thing is, the Legolass saved us. Appears that the Happy Wanderers got an addition to the Photographic Emoticons that's not featured in the MadOwl archive. Yep, Ben introduced them to the true meaning of OO.
And we would've gotten it too, if it weren't for the presence of that wonderful, wonderful Legolass.
I owe you, kid.
And I had told the Wanderers that walking home was only asking for trouble. Maybe NOW they'll listen to me (no they won't).
Anyway, we finally got back to the Hotel, and tried to decide What It Was We Were Going To Do. Some of the Wanderers, as well as those in the Mackmobile had eventually decided on making a Waffle House excursion, but several others decided to stay Far Away From The Mooners And The Wanderers.
So we got in the Hot Tub.
And folks, I tell you, it was glorious. Bubbles and all. Nothing like an early-in-the-a.m. soak to make you feel alive.
I'd name everyone who was there at first, but I'd probably leave people out. All I know is that one point Andrea decided we should do 'Gollum's Dance & Falling Into Lava' Impressions, which were funny until I killed it. We soaked for a while more, and eventually the Waffle Housians returned, and started making faces on the Window - at one point Noah even started making out with the window, which was incredibly disturbing, to say the least.
We soaked some more, discussed the difference between Geeks, Nerds & Dorks (firmly placing them into one of these categories - you guess which. And you'll probably guess incorectly too, unless you've been Properly Schooled), to which Ben thereby took on his Mantra of 'Nerds'. Partially due to Becky, Russell, Josh and Mark's discussion of their Hard Drives and Technical Specs.
Eventually some people left, and some more came in (after prodding, Sarah and Judy joined us), and after a while we began an impromptu round of The Word Association Game.
I had just been musing about how one of the coolest things about some of my friends back at school was that we could sit on the ground, and play a productive, thoughtful session of the game that lasted over an hour. I also thought a group of Jatraqueros would be just as cool, if not COOLER to play with.
The game ended up being something like this:
Dave: "Dog" Jeremy: "Fur" Lindsay: "Sex!" Ben: "Me!" Shlomo: "...." Sarah: "I'm not playing." Noah: "Monkeys!" Dave: "Zoo!" Jeremy: "Horse!" Lindsay: "Brego!" Ben: "Nerds!" Shlomo: "...what was the word?" Sarah: "I told you, I'm not playing." Noah: "Sex!" Dave: "Cookies." Jeremy: "Keebler Elves" Lindsay: "Legolas!" Ben: "Nerds!"
Etc, etc.
I'm not, however, going to mention that we finally coaxed Olivia into the Hot Tub. And I'm definitely not going to say that she didn't have a Bathing Suit. And I ESPECIALLY would never tell you that she chose to join us anyway in her Modest Slip.
Yep. My lips, they be sealed.
(TO BE CONTINUED...)
[ February 10, 2004, 04:19 AM: Message edited by: Taalcon ]
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
It really was modest, I swear! And it was made of the usual swimsuit type material-- kind of a singlet undergarment I wore to avoid undie lines on my Arwen dress, as well as to minimize my ample bottom. I'm certain that my appearance was no cause for lust. I figger it was the opposite ("I thought she was cute until I saw THAT-- Oh my eyes!"). And I was covered from just below the collarbone to mid-thigh... I didn't even have any shorts or anything to else to use, and Judie and Katie both approved it before I went in public.
But I still regret it. Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I missed the Gollum imitations! That sounds so fun.
Where the heck was I?
Heh. You know what, I'll bet I was on Hatrack, reporting about the movie.
---
I love the recaps. There's a line from Silas Marner that I absolutely adore that goes something like the following: "He had an emotional memory unencumbered by details." The details of WenchCon are slipping, but I remember exactly what I felt.
So, the recaps are nice to resupply the details.
[ February 10, 2004, 10:17 AM: Message edited by: katharina ]
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
Funny thing is, I found Silas Marner to be an immensely boringly written book with a really great story behind it. Then again, I was in 10th Grade when I read it...
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I tried to read it when I was teenager, and I was miserable and bored. I don't think I even made it through. I read it again when I was 23, and it was a revelation. It's breathtaking.
It's just that the sorrow contained is of a ... non-dramatic variety, and back then, dramatic emotion was all that I knew. If you tried it again, I'll bet it's better.
[ February 10, 2004, 06:01 PM: Message edited by: katharina ]
Posted by Anti-Chris (Member # 4452) on :
quote: We soaked some more, discussed the difference between Geeks, Nerds & Dorks (firmly placing them into one of these categories - you guess which. And you'll probably guess incorectly too, unless you've been Properly Schooled),
Band Nerd.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
Dancing Dork
Posted by Anti-Chris (Member # 4452) on :
Star Wars Geek
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
...that's all I've got. I'm out.
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
quote:I didn't even have any shorts or anything to else to use, and Judie and Katie both approved it before I went in public.
But I still regret it.
I still think you were just fine, Olivet. Nothing to regret.
Dave, you forgot the word association that cracked me up the most:
"Bob!" "Scopatz" Ben: "Huh? I don't get it." Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
for the record, i was NOT involved in any discussion about hard drives, other than to say larry's a bastard. that was ken and josh and mark.
Ni!
Posted by Zevlag (Member # 1405) on :
Becky is right, she did not talk with us about Hard drives, just about that bastard larry. It was Katharina who talked about hard drives, and that was at lunch.
Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
making sure dave doesnt think hes off the hook from posting this morning.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
CHAPTER XII: A Hatrack Pastime Is Born
So maybe Becky wasn't talking about hard drives. Either way, there was a conversation about hard drives, and Becky was directly between the two (or three) discussing them. So in a way , she was right in the midst of the conversation. From a certain point of view.
Anyway, we soon all left the Wonders of the Hot Tub, and went our separate ways. Some went to their rooms to change, some went to sleep, some went to check Hatrack. After a while, a few more congregated back downstairs, where a game of Lord of the Rings Trivial Pursuit was going to be played in the Meeting Room.
But before I could be yoinked into participating in what was sure to be a Grand Display of Geekyness, I saw Lindsay sitting on the couch in the Lobby listening to some music, and Ben was hovering over her.
I asked what was up, and before long Ben was propositioning us away from the Trivial Pursuit (with the "Nerds", as Ben inaccurately insisted on calling them) into playing a game of Scrabble - of which he had brought his own portable set.
So I agreed, as did Lindsay (still with headphones on, listening to Ben's music), and Russell eventually joined us as well.
The Match, and Hatrack History, had begun.
It being the Wee Hours of the Morning, we attempted to keep our voices down, so as the People In Charge wouldn't hate us - but some of us (Russell, and Lindsay talking with that 'headphones on so I must speak louder so I can hear my own words but I don't realize that I'm yelling' voice) couldn't manage that, so it was first recommended that we play the game in the Elevator. This was soon dismissed, because it was thought that the lights would eventually go out from inactivity.
After Scrabbling a bit more, and after getting even louder, and finishing the first game, we finally decided to up the festivities to the second floor, in the little area next to the Ice Machine. Sure, we may wake some guests, but at the management wouldn't know about it.
So we played - and as we played, we began to have an audience join us. Shlomo, Katie, and Noah both joined us for a while, and other came and went as well (prefiguring what would soon be the 'Watchers' in the Consonants Creek at games.com).
The game was intense. So intense, we decided to move yet again - this time back to the Conference Room (the Wench's LOTR Trivial Pursuit had long since ended). It was sometime in this game that Russel bowed out, and Shlomo took his place. Both, sadly to say, were killing our pasty white posteriers.
The game was so fierce and fun that it gave a lasting impression beyond WenchCon. A few days after we'd all returned home, Ben and I were talking in Hatrack Chat, and mentioned that we wanted to play Scrabble again - which sent Ben searching for a way to play online.
Which he found - we downloaded a two-player client called WordBiz and ended up playing NIGHTLY. This is one of the two main things I blame for my now insanely screwed up sleeping patterns (WenchCon in general I blame for the rest of it - which in a way, the Scrabble phenomenon was born out of. So it's blamed twice.)
After a while of talking about our games in Hatrack Chat, a few others now stated they wanted to play. So we searched for a multiplayer version - and found one at games.com - and THIS one was the OFFICIAL Scrabble version. And not only could 4 people play at once, but others could be in the room watching and ***honking at the players.
So if you've been in Hatrack chat at night lately...you know the rest. And now you know where the legend began.
But one of those First Visionary Games was still in progress...
It was around this time that someone noticed that more Alcohol had suddenly appeared - this time bottles of Beer.
For the record, I Had NOTHING to do with these, and am not really sure where they came from (Morbo?), but not too many people really cared. But this time I decidedly did not partake.
Lindsay and Russell, however, did. They each downed a couple of bottles.
Now keep this particular point in mind - it's important later on.
Trust me.
(TO BE CONTINUED . . .)
[ February 12, 2004, 07:03 AM: Message edited by: Taalcon ]
Posted by Ophelia (Member # 653) on :
It is not important.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
This would be the "Katie is Sleeping" section of WenchCon. What was I thinking?
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
*laughs to self about Ophelia's alcohol-induced happy place*
Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
i'ts hard not to appear to be looming over somebody one and a half feet tall.
Posted by Ophelia (Member # 653) on :
It's hard not to appear to be loomed over by someone ten feet tall. Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
CHAPTER XIII: What Nathan Is Really Like In Bed, Massage Therapy, and Dave Gets Aroused
Following the end of the Game, I decided that I needed to Get Some Sleep.
I was looking ahead to my return drive to Savannah that would be occurring Monday morning, and figured it would be in my best interests to get at least a little sleep the next couple nights so as to be fully recharged for the journey.
So I said my goodnights, and found my way back to my room. Noah was sending emails and posting onto Pweb and Hatrack on his Laptop, and Josh was at the other end of the table on his laptop working out the Code to fix a section of Pweb that's needed fixing for a good long time.
Hobbes was sleeping in the bed on the far side of the room, and on the floor was Nathan.
Allow me to degress for a moment.
Earlier in the day, I had returned to my room to get something - I don't particularly remember what it was. But I had entered to find Nathan all sprawled out on his air mattress, dead to the world -- or so I thought.
I must have mae a noise or something, and he immediately sprung up, and looked into my eyes, and spoke:
"Ehh...What...What did I do? What am I doing?"
I just stared at him. "I'm sorry?"
"What is this? What want you? Whaaa?"
the kid was sleeptalking. The moment briefly crossed my mind to take advantage of this situation in some insidious way - but The Better Good weighed out.
"Go back to sleep, Nate."
"Sowhaaaaa?", he asked, pleadingly.
I gestured with my hand towards the pillow. "It's okay. Go back to sleep. forget you saw me."
He stared at me blankly another moment before collapsing back to the bed, snoring contentedly.
Freak.
Back to the present, which was hours later, and Nathan was STILL snoring. Although now 'contentedly' may not be nearly as acurate as 'boisterously'.
So I cleared off the one non-occupied bed, took off my glasses, dived under the covers, and tried to sleep.
And couldn't. Maybe it was because of the insessant clackity-clack of the dual computers (no). Maybe it was because of Nathan's snoring (bingo). Either way, I was not finding an easy path into slumberland.
After I made a small mention of the fact that Russell and Lindsay had choked back a couple cold ones, and that I had noticed that the former especially had started to become a little more 'happy' than usual, Noah then suddenly mentioned that he felt like going downstairs to visit with the crowd.
After a moment of realizing that sleep probably wasn't on the agenda for me, I figured screw it, grabbed my Pillow, and decided to join Noah on his way downstairs, tripping over Nathan as I made my way to the door.
Back in the meeting room, Ben, Lindsay and Russ were just lounging around, talking. I grabbed a couple padded chairs, pulled them together (much like I had for the TT:EE screening), tossed my pillow on the end, and just reclined, resting while listening to the others talk. During this time and the final Scrabble game earlier, we had also been listening to some of Ben's choice music. But now, Noah had some CDs he wanted us to listen to. Which we did.
Meanwhile, Ben kept getting himself cups of water from the water dispensor in the room, and when it had emptied -if I remember this correctly- he had kept leaving and going to the Bathroom to fill up cups from the sink.
I remember mentioning at one point that it might be simpler to just take the Dispenser in there and fill it up ONCE so he could keep using it, instead of making return trips. Eventually, he seemed to find the logic in this, and left to fill it up. Somewhere around here Noah also found the scene a little too boring for his tastes and went back upstairs.
These continued trips for Ben were also causing Lindsay much durress, because she had been using him as a headrest.
Now, I don't remember what actually led to it, but eventually I seem to remember Russ starting to give Lindsay a foot massage, which eventually led to a Back Massage - which Ben seemed to find disturbing upon his return with the filled up Water Cooler.
Not out of jealousy, mind you ( )- but because just as Lindsay was using him for a head rest, he was using her as one as well. And now his headrest was gone.
Either way, he coped with it, and as the Massage continued, the talk also continued. In this case, the topic of the talk happened to be The History Of The Life Of Ben - which, contrary to popular belief, is actually quite fascinating, and will make an interesting read once he makes his eventual Landmark Thread. This is the point where I really began to warm to Ben, and realize that he Really Wasn't All That Bad, And May Actually Be A Pretty Cool Guy.
And that's also the point where I decided that now I REALLY needed to get to bed.
So I said my goodnights (again), grabbed my pillow, and made my way back up the elevator, through my room door, stepped over Nathan, and plopped down on the Bed.
Within minutes, I was out like a light. It was now nearly 8:30am.
Seemingly moments after I fell asleep, there was a pounding on our door. I awoke, but pulled the covers over my head even more than they were before.
Someone (Noah?) answered the Door, and was greated by two Wenches - Andrea and Katie - who proceeded to loudly proclaim that they had come to "Arouse us" to to bid us to come with them and "Play with swords".
Now realize that I had just been blasted awake here. Having the first thing I hear upon waking up being women discussing my Arousal wasn't something I was all that used to - which immediately made me rethink the situation.
Ah yes. Fencing was planned for this morning, and Arousal was also a term for 'awaking'. She ladies were being perversely clever. Ha diddly ha.
I wasn't going to be aroused to play with swords, I was going to sleep. So I continued to feign unconsciousness.
Eventually, I personally was being addressed, seeing I was the only one who hadn't responded to the Call for Arousal.
I stayed still.
Then the order was given to physically shake me awake. I think it was Katie who followed the order - the shaking was tentative and gentle, but I think then Andrea leaned closer and spoke again, "Good morning! We've come to Arouse you and bid you to come play with the swords!"
To which I finally decided then only way to Get Them To Go Away was to acknowledge their presence. But if I was going to do it, I may as well make a humerous impression.
So I opened up my eyes, and said, in reaction to one more call for arousal:
"Good morning INDEED!"
There was a moment of laughter, and then they quickly fled, perhaps thinking that they'd done too good of a job in their Call.
Sleep came to me once again, and I slept well in the thought that I could now tell people that two gorgeous women had come to my door, insistent in their attempts to arouse me.
Baby's don't sleep that good.
(TO BE CONTINUED . . .)
PS - Lindsay was right. The downage of alcohol didn't, in fact, play as important a part in this chapter as I had hinted it would. Aside form the fact that it made the Massages a little funnier (and possible) than they would be otherwise, it was mainly a cheap way to create a cliffhanger and to attract a broader Male demographic.
And I ain't apologizin', 'cause it worked with flying colors. So
[ February 14, 2004, 08:32 AM: Message edited by: Taalcon ]
Posted by CalvinMaker (Member # 2032) on :
quote:Someone (Noah?) answered the Door, and was greated by two Wenches - Andrea and Katie - who proceeded to loudly proclaim that they had come to "Arouse us" to to bid us to come with them and "Play with swords".
Actually, I was fast asleep, and had no idea who opened the door. All I remember was Andrea waking me up by pouncing on top of me and telling me something about getting up to go fencing. Somehow, despite being delirious, I managed to explain that having had one hour of sleep that night I wasn't going to go, and she finally accepted.
I must say though, no female has ever pounced on top of me in bed like that before. Well, I guess it really wasn't in bed. I was sprawled on top of a chair and footstool.
Posted by Anti-Chris (Member # 4452) on :
I could have sworn Katie was in the room on the computer during one of the times I woke.
BTW, I got my check book back. Yay.
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
ROFLMAO at Dave's description of Nate sleeptalking. Posted by Anti-Chris (Member # 4452) on :
Ya, at times I can be pretty interesting when just woken up.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Okay, I finally figured out where I was during the last few installments.
Noah was teaching me how to dance. *dances around computer* That was for later. We went down the hallway to find the Scrabblers, but they were gone. That's probably around the time Nate woke up to find me at one of the computers in his room.
When waking them up, I tried to do the Gollum voice to wake up the Sleepies, but it didn't seem to work. Calling them Hobbits seemed less than nice first thing in the morning, mad-Samwise-adoration notwithstanding.
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
I have no idea how you boys survived, you got almost no sleep.
Someday I'll write up a good long post about it, but I want josh's frelling pictures first. Ken and I have somehow lost a roll of film, so pictures I thought I had are gone.
Ni!
Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 3051) on :
I slept plenty, myself. Of course, there is this little matter of not being remembered....but I think I've harped on that enough.
Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :
i don't think i could pass on a chance to mess with a sleep talker.
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
We are waiting for the next installment, Dave.
::taps foot impatiently::
Posted by knightswhosayni! (Member # 4096) on :
Mark's pictures are up on foobonic, for anyone who hasn't seen them yet. Haven't captioned them cause foobonic is beign weird, but i'll get it done pretty soon.
Kat, I don't know if you sent your pictures to me or josh, but we didn't get them.
Ni!
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I'll send them again. I guess they didn't make it.
-----
Yahoo won't let me deliver them. *thinks* The zipping process doesn't make them as small as I'd like to think. I'll try to shrink them again.
[ February 17, 2004, 02:32 PM: Message edited by: katharina ]
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
*bumps thread in a discreet but hopeful manner*
Added:
<that's not going to work>
Dave! It's up! Start reporting! </wenching>
[ February 18, 2004, 09:06 AM: Message edited by: katharina ]
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
Tonight...sorry, sorry.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
*apologetic*
[ February 18, 2004, 03:03 PM: Message edited by: katharina ]
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
Nu?
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
CHAPTER XIV: Lunch & Lullabies
Once again I was woken from my peaceful slumber, this time to announce that everyone was going to be heading over to Macaroni Grille for Lunch.
Lunch? But what happened to Breakfast?
Oh, yes, right. I slept through that.
Thus, I was starved, and quickly got out of bed, did a quick presto-changeo, sheared a few extra scraggly whiskers off of my face, and bounded out the door, meeting the rest of the crew just in time to joing the Walking Caravan over to the restaurant.
We walked because, well, you know what happened last time I tried to drive there. This was simple and safe, and thus sane. S, S & S.
After causing the host to just about have a heart attack from our Massive Numbers, we were surprisingly quickly seated, and given our menus - and crayons - with which to entertain ourselves.
Andrea kept calling for us to do a 'plate shares' deal, where everybody orders something different, and thus all get a portion buffet style.
I was tired and hungry, and quite frankly wasn't in much of a sharing mood. Plus I think my hair might have been sticking up - which I mention for no other reason apart from the fact that it probably was. I'm random like that, as you've probably guessed by now. Raspberry Creme.
Anyway, I ordered my own personal bowl of some sort of cheesy pasta, and revelled in the company of others (and my crayons) while I waited on my food.
I do remember Katie mourning her Hard Drive at this conversation, and Josh volunteering to See What He Can Do About It, if she would just send it back to him. I think Katie may have actually squeeled wit delight, but I may be mistaken. But I do remember squealing...
And I'm pretty sure it wasn't in response to Hobbes' many Engineer jokes. There were groans, and there was stunned confusion, and yes, the odd chuckle (some real, some in pity), but not a squeal.
Although there may have been a repeated 'clank'. that was me banging my head against the table.
But then the food came, and we began to partake, and then soon after, most of the Mormons had to go jet to make it to Sacrament Meeting, and the ever-wonderful non-Mormon Olivia would be taking them, out of the sheer kindness of her heart.
There was a brief confusion as of what to do concerning the checks, but it was soon figured out (make Morbo pay for everyone, snicker snicker laugh!), and the LDS were Off To The Races!
The rest of us contentedly ate our meals - I say contentedly, because the source of the Engineering jokes had just left. Plus there was now more tablecloth space for me to draw on with my Crayons. Bliss.
The meal ended, and we all toterred back to the Hotel.
So what were we to do now? One of our leaders and a good sized amount of our crew were now gone.
But then, came the brilliant idea, spoken originally by I Don't Know Who, but it was, nonetheless, a Godsend:
"Let's have group naptime."
Sold.
There were already blankets there, so we just all lay down in a line, shared a few blankies, and all snuggled up in a row together, even as Sarah was protesting that this wasn't 'Fun Enough', and that she wanted to 'Do Stuff'.
Ah, youth. When you get to be My Age, you'll appreciate the beauty and wonders of Nap Time. The availability of such arises so few and far between, that an invitation to proceed with one among such fine people was irresistable to me. Sleep, and Fellowship, all in one neat little package. This, THIS, was what WenchCon was all about.
And yes, someone did call out 'Orgy', but we swiftly put him to death. Or rather To The Pain.
Actually, I think we just said "Shut up, and grab a pillow, because you can't share mine." And that did suffice.
But what is a naptime without a Lullaby? disregarding all of the Freudian notions that having a Naptime-complete-with-Lullaby would have at a "WenchCon", Judy quickly and lovingly sang to us a wonderful Lullaby in Hebrew that we pleasantly regarded as lovely, even as we had no idea what it meant.
But just as the adage tells us to be careful what we ask for, Judy did tell us what it meant, and it happened to be, to my memory, something actually quite morbid and disturbing that I think I may have since banished it out of my memory.
But the melody, and the voice singing it was lovely enough, and I quickly wished that the English would stop, and that she would continue once again in the Hebrew that I can blissfully not understand.
It's like in the Shawshank Redemption when Andy Dufresne plays the record of the cue from The Marriage of Figaro, and Red hears the women singing, and says, "I have no idea to this day what those Italian ladies were singin' about. Truth is, I don't want to know. Some things are better left unsaid. I like to think they were singin' about something so beautiful it can't be expressed in words, and it makes your heart ache because of it."
Red, I know what you mean, man. I know what you mean.
(TO BE CONTINUED...)
[ February 20, 2004, 05:56 PM: Message edited by: Taalcon ]
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
Oh, please tell me that you guys got to hear Jenny sing "The Road Goes Ever on and On"!
*fangurly squee*
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Dang, I missed the orgy.
Hey, this reminds me...
[ February 20, 2004, 12:54 PM: Message edited by: katharina ]
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Ela, what did you sing? *rifles through memory banks for Hebrew lullabies with disturbing lyrics*
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
It's nice to have fans. I did sing it, Livvy. And I sang "Seal Lullaby", another tune I made up with stolen lyrics.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
*smacks his head* NOW I remember Andrea's songs, and they were wonderful too. *sigh* That's what I get for writing my account at 6 in the morning. Someone's always bound to be left out Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I love the recaps. They are funny, insightful and embarassingly (usually) accurate. I'm just sorry I missed the lullabies.
Posted by CalvinMaker (Member # 2032) on :
<-----Was sleeping during that entire chapter.
And the strange thing is, I really didn't sleep that much. I netted ten hours of total sleep from the night before I left to the airplane. Ten hours in four days.
Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
i missed naptime. nuts.
Posted by Ophelia (Member # 653) on :
You weren't asleep the whole time, Noah. You left for that end part. You took Jamie and Ben and you went shopping. And that's why I didn't get to give any of you guys a proper good-bye. Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
And here I was thinking I'd been successful in singing someone to sleep. You weren't supposed to LISTEN; you were supposed to fall asleep!
[ February 21, 2004, 10:02 AM: Message edited by: Jenny Gardener ]
Posted by raventh1 (Member # 3750) on :
How could we slumber to such beauty?
Posted by raventh1 (Member # 3750) on :
All of the singers that is. Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
My daughter somehow does. Posted by raventh1 (Member # 3750) on :
and I bet she gets them all the time no?
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
quote:Ela, what did you sing? *rifles through memory banks for Hebrew lullabies with disturbing lyrics*
"Lilah, Lilah."
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
This? Posted by knightswhosayni! (Member # 4096) on :
Mark's pictures are up and captioned, along with Kat's pics, and my lost roll of film.
[ February 22, 2004, 11:51 AM: Message edited by: Ela ]
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Indeed! I don't know that one . . . maybe it's better that way.
Although really, it's no worse than "Ring Around the Rosie" or "When the Bough Breaks" -- oops, sorry, I mean "Rock-a-bye Baby." A bit less subtle, maybe. Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
It's a very pretty melody...and babies don't understand what the words are anyway. I sang it to both my kids. Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Oh, I've sung many lullabies with some rather dreadful words -- more in Yiddish and English than Hebrew. But that's just because I didn't know this one . . . Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
just a friendly reminder that this could use a new Dave installment.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I think he's writing the other half of his landmark.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I heard he was writing the next installment...
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
This is the only time that I wished I'd never left Savannah...I missed WenchCon.
*is still trying to figure out how she's going to get to Kama-Jatracon*
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
Sorry, sorry...new part will be coming shortly. As for the second 'half' of the landmark, well, at this point there will be two additional parts, but I don't know when I'll finish them. All in due time.
But don't worry, consider this dry spell like that time on television between sweeps, when there's no new episodes in what seems like FOREVER - but then they start again, and they're all new and great until the end of the season.
The new season may be starting any day now...check local listings. It may even be tonight...unless some event happens to Pre-empt it, like it did everytime we were promised new Futurama episodes. *sigh*
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
*surreptitiously nudges with her hip the WenchCon legal pad back onto Taal's desk*
No pressure. Just, you know. Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
Forthcoming. Midseason break almost through. More sweeps on the way.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
I hate to upstage you, but I really needed a summary of our 1,000 Ideas session for a class I'm in. Here's my retelling:
“Hominy was dead, but that wasn’t the problem. Her hiccups were getting worse. Her mother encouraged her to eat more, but Hominy refused. When you’re a zombie, there’s only one thing on the menu – human flesh. And Hominy refused to kill anyone. Perhaps her family didn’t care what happened to their neighbors, but Hominy did. She hiccupped again, but her parents took no notice. Their ears had rotted off long ago. Still, they were healthy, well-fed zombies, and Hominy wasn’t. The less she ate, the worse her hiccups got. Hominy sighed, and left the house. She kicked a can down the street and frowned at the hate-filled graffiti scrawled along a fence. It seemed that the neighborhood was going downhill fast. Yesterday, she’d come across two ten-year-old boys beating a little girl so badly that she’d had to take the victim home for her family’s dinner. There was nothing else Hominy could have done for her. And there were drug deals taking place at noon in broad daylight. Hominy shook her head. The most blatant dealer had been a family man who mowed his lawn every Sunday just two weeks ago. Now he was a hardened criminal. Hominy tried to figure out what was wrong. It really bothered her to see how people were hurting each other. Nearly everyone in the suburb had been so friendly when her family had first moved in. Now they were actively nasty to each other. And, with a lump in her throat that nearly squelched her hiccups, Hominy began to form a theory. Each of the people who developed a sudden personality shift had been nibbled by Hominy. No, she couldn’t bring herself to kill anyone, but sometimes in the night she would creep in and take a nibble just to keep herself going. Too late, it seemed, she remembered her granddad’s advice – a living person only nibbled by a zombie would lose part of their conscience. And Hominy could tell him where that conscience went. She carried it with her, and it gave her the hiccups. Realizing what she’d done to her once innocent neighborhood, Hominy lurched forward with despair in her heart. It took her all the way to the bus stop, where she boarded a Greyhound to Minnesota. When she got off the bus, Hominy wandered down the road listlessly. A car slowed, then stopped. Inside was a man who looked her over with hungry eyes. He asked if she needed a ride. Hominy accepted, not caring where the man might take her. She leaned back in the seat and watched the road go by. The driver kept up a soft patter of conversation, telling her how pretty she was and how he bet she’d have a lot of boyfriends in a couple of years. His hand snaked down to rest on her thigh, but Hominy didn’t care. She kept her eyes on the road. Eventually, the driver pulled off at a deserted rest stop. Hominy was nearly sleeping. She heard the driver’s breathing get heavier, but she didn’t open her eyes. He came closer to her, and she could hear a soft gulp. Then the driver was yelling, and retching, and finally he dissolved into heartwrenching sobbing. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry!” he moaned. Hominy didn’t have any idea what he was going on about until she caught a glance of herself in the rearview mirror. A chunk of her neck had gone missing. And her hiccups were gone, leaving only a strange ache in her throat. As the driver became more and more remorseful, Hominy found that she didn’t seem to care as much about his problems. And that disturbed her. The driver apologized to her for trying to take advantage of her youth and naivete. He mumbled something about losing his job for incidents like these, back when he had thought his clients liked his attentions. But he would help her now, to make up for all the times he’d abused the children he’d run into in his job. Hominy decided to trust him, and told him all about her problems. She couldn’t keep her conscience if she killed, but she would always cause people to become evil if she nibbled their flesh. What’s a zombie to do? Her driver, Max, pulled out his laptop and linked to the internet. He finally found a little-known site called ZombieFamily.org where he could interact with the online community of families who had zombies among them. Through their recommendations, Max connected Hominy with a sympathetic coroner who provided her with the fluids drained from the bodies he worked with. In this way, Hominy was able to maintain her undead loveliness, her human conscience, and her connections with the zombie community. Max offered to take Hominy home, and she accepted. Unfortunately, her family was so happy to have her back that they prepared Max for her Homecoming Feast.”
Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :
We were , like, VERY sleep-deprived. Posted by ak (Member # 90) on :
Awwwwwww, that was so sweet! <wipes a tear>
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
I had to add some of my own touches. This was written in about 15 minutes from our notes so I could have something to turn in for my Creativity class lab.
Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
a friendly reminder that DAve's lazy ass still has NOT finished his account.
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Embarrassed]](redface.gif)
![[Kiss]](graemlins/kiss.gif)
Then she shows me her Arwen dress, which is really pretty. And finally, everyone starts playing Apples to Apples again and I decide to go to bed.![[Wave]](graemlins/wave.gif)
Sounds fun!
![[Blushing]](graemlins/blushing.gif)
We did work really hard at it. ![[Evil]](graemlins/evil.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
) Olivet rocks major... whatever, she rocks everything ![[Wall Bash]](graemlins/wallbash.gif)
![[Grumble]](graemlins/grumble.gif)
as I walk in, and instantly recognise Sarah, Judy and Shlomo from EnderCon - and others start trying to get me to guess who they are. I ![[Dont Know]](graemlins/dontknow.gif)
and tell them I'll try later when my head isn't ready to explode.![[Confused]](confused.gif)
) goodness. None yet have come close to comparing - not even those I had in Mexico.![[Angst]](graemlins/angst.gif)
![[Laugh]](graemlins/laugh.gif)
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
![[Evil Laugh]](graemlins/evillaugh.gif)
![[Mad]](mad.gif)
![[Cry]](graemlins/cry.gif)
I really, really needed a hug at that point, and I thank you.![[The Wave]](graemlins/thewave.gif)
![[Group Hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Hat]](graemlins/hat.gif)
![[Hail]](graemlins/hail.gif)
![[No No]](graemlins/nono.gif)
![[Monkeys]](graemlins/monkeys.gif)
![[Sleep]](graemlins/sleep.gif)