My Pilgrimage to Bethlehem

On Wednesday night I couldn't sleep. I mean, I tried, but I kept having this dream that my ride, Diane kept calling me to stay awake so she could pick me up. Then I'd look at the clock and see that it was only 5:30 in the morning and it wouldn't be for at least another 5 hours before she'd pick me up. Now that I think about it, maybe she really did call me in the middle of the night...hmmm...

I do finally get called by Diane around 9:30 Thursday morning, and she tells me she's running late (maybe because she was up late calling me ), so I turn on the tube and watch Price is Right and then the news for a while.

After having gone through the initial meeting last convention as well as a few lunches together, I recognized her light blue Saturn right away. Of course the first thing I noticed was that she had longer hair! But you know, us guys don't comment on stuff like that even when we do notice.

The trip up to Bethlehem was pleasant, filled with laughter and stories and thoughts of what the weekend would be like. Though traffic in several places made it longer and more of a pain, but taking I-83 through downtown York was a nice scenic route. And we actually made it to the hotel without getting lost! I still pat Diane on the back for that. (Hint to SMs: special merit badge for Sense of Direction)

After dropping my bags off in my room, I headed to the lounge to get my goodies and drop off my auction item. Of course, the first person I hugged was catwoman herself (she wouldn't have it any other way ) and I took a seat to look around at the familiar faces from last year as well as a few new ones.

I have to admit that unlike last year, I spent a lot of the free time for socializing dealing with anxiety problems. So I distanced myself whenever I could, but at least I still got in on some good laughs and jokes. Some of my favorites were the box of choices that were asked to the table, and master_akura got left with an adultery question, the long nights of card games, and the most fun game of team Scrabble. Wenston and I proved we could OVERTAKE anyone in that game.

I had some very interesting conversations over the course of the weekend, however. master_akura and I talked about fantasy writing, and with Jian~Ashen (whom is an old friend from the 2002 convention) we discussed women. I wish I could have talked with several more people, but it was like in high school, when everyone had their niche and you feel left out of particular groups.

I also have to mention the food. Everything was delicious, like the caesar salad I had with dinner the first night, the stuffed flounder (mmmmmmmm!) and the bags of munchies we got in our goodie bag. I must have also drank about 2 cases worth of Diet Pepsi the entire weekend. Fortunately the hotel staff kept the lounge stocked!

The creative sessions were just as fun this year as they were last year, and I think a lot of new catch phrases came out of them. The live campfires brought forth sour milk spewing frogs and "Feral Chicken" s and mariachi cats and Snoopy, and one of the campfires at my table even included (compliments of Gregory S Willis ) a clown riding down the street in his jalopy shouting "My berries! Save the berries!" Needless to say, when the dessert one evening was strawberries, I had something to say to Greg about that.

One thing I learned during the creative sessions as well is that elizm446 and I think on the same level, especially when it comes to doing the robot and Miami Vice, and Super Mario Bros. Maybe we both live in the 80's or something?

My thoughts on Open Mic Night...wow, what can I say about being a part of some of the best performances by great people. Between the excellent monologues by phil1861, Melissa is fashionably late! and MOO for President to a riveting poetic reading by Eliot , it would be hard not to be glued to your seat. There was even a musical performance, done by Just Loti on her keyboard, her music inspiring me incredibly.

And there was also the auction...the event that allows so many members to come, and helps keep the convention going on. So many items were offered and presented, it was hard to pick which to bid on. I won my share of great items, like some poetry books by Vivian ╰☆╮ and a fantasy story by master_akura (hey Boone, I bid on them for you! ), both signed by the authors of course. Unfortunately, I was a little bummed when my item was skipped over until the very end. Oh well. The one who won my item already had my book! Now she can read and listen to my book! hehe Thanks Loti!

In MOO for President 's open mic act, he talked about tenses. I was getting a little tense before formal night, and unfortunately it affected my health a bit. I didn't attend the dinner portion, but I made sure to make an appearance.

Again, my anxieties were acting up, so I didn't talk much, until I met ShelleyA ~ 4000+ Reviews given , who had a lot of kind words about me and my work. I didn't know what to say, but I was touched. Starting to feel better, I finally asked her to dance, and she said yes! As we swayed to Lady In Red by Chris de Burgh, I felt my nervousness slipping away. I met a new friend that night, and really made me feel good again. Though Shelley still owes me a drink and a pool game!

Nothing ever lasts forever, and as much as us 50 people wanted it to, the convention didn't either. Sunday morning came, and it would be a day of mixed emotions. I was around so many friends, whom I love dearly, including the two fine people who started it all. I received more hugs on that day than ever, and like everyone else, I hated to go. It's like the end of the school year, when you know you have to wait until next year to see them all again. The good part is knowing that time will fly and July 2005 will be hear before we all know it.

Oh, and to make up for the lack of sleep? I slept from 6 PM Sunday evening until 9:30 the next morning. I needed a vacation from my vacation!