KellyGirl's Reports

KellyGirl's first report - Thursday: Pre-Con



I’m usually so organized but frankly having been to Florida for the funeral just 11 days before this trip really threw me off. So although it had been in my head, I hadn’t actually started packing until Tuesday. Which is how I wound up with two suitcases and a messenger bag and not enough shoes. Not to mention more food than we could possibly eat because I packed food in an effort to be budget conscious. The plan was we would only have dinner out and that it would be a decent meal - no crappy fast-food. I do have to say that after watching Dreago struggle with her one giant suitcase, I was pretty glad to have my two smaller ones. But the important part is that we both made it to Atlanta. Dreago was waiting there for me when I de-planed after having had to run all over the airport. What kind of airport doesn’t have all the planes on one airline in the same area? Anyway, Dreago’s looking very fancy in her white pants and jacket with a flowy low-cut green top. Later, as we were checking into the hotel, I realized that in my jeans/open black shirt over a Misfits t-shirt I looked like her butch girlfriend. Which is probably the only time in my life that the word ‘butch’ has been used to describe me. Oh, and FYI - as much as I love the Glen Danzig Misfits, the t-shirt was actually the Misfits from Jem & the Holograms so that makes it slightly less butch. Okay, I’m going to stop saying butch now.



We stayed at the Marriott again and were super pleased and surprised to find a bathrobe in our closet! Just one but still. And since Dreago had packed a robe I got to claim it for my very own. Which is good because those hotel towels are not big enough to wrap around a person who has breasts. Since we were going to be there for so many days, I insisted on unpacking. Home away from home, y’all. Dreago’s staff so we wander on over to the Tribe track room where I got to see first hand the Lex and Siva costumes that were sent over to be auctioned off. They are both tiny people. And I mean that in the ‘so cute I could squish them’ way. Eventually, the track staff is gathered and with me (the interloper) tagging along, Scapebabe drives us out to one of her favorite local restaurants. Which, I don’t know, maybe I’m just wierd or I’ve been burned too many times trying to share things I appreciate with people but it’s really nice that she was willing to take a bunch of people she may not know very well there. Yummy food was had and I got my introduction to Calzephyr along with Danielle and Lindsay, who may have cute pseudonyms but I don’t know them.



Upon returning from dinner, Dreago is nice enough to accompany me over to Registration, which thankfully is not crowded as it’s about 10:30pm. We also run into Matt Robinson for the first time but he’s chatting with other people and we are so not going to hang around like little fangirls. There will be plenty of time for chatting with him later. And so we return to our room to get our last decent night of sleep before the Con swings into action.

Friday - The Many Types of Discomfort

We don’t exactly get to sleep in. Tribe Red Dragon is throwing a VIP Breakfast and the Fabulous Girls are invited. And so, we primp. Arriving at the suite, there’s a buffet set up along with some tables and chairs as well as couches yet no one seems to be eating. Okay, I see one guy finishing up but that’s it. Whatever, it’s not going to inhibit me. Hello, bacon and eggs and potatoes. I’m wondering if maybe I should say hello or introduce myself to someone but then... it happens. Matt and John are going to do a few songs. Now let me tell you, I already believe that whoever invented the “jazz brunch” deserves a good smack upside the head. For me to try to eat with someone in close proximity performing is just massively uncomfortable. I feel like I need to be polite and pay attention but dammit, my food’s getting cold! In the end everyone survives the performance with little physical or emotional damage. Dreago has a fashionista chat with a woman whose name I don’t remember. By the way, that’ll be an ongoing theme for the weekend - I am terrible at remembering names. We then get a chance to chat briefly with John and Matt a bit. And thus begins our campaign of fear, so that by the time we have our interview with them tomorrow they will be terrified of us. *evil genius cackle* Really, John seems like a total sweetie-pie but it’s so fun to tease.

The first Tribe track event is the Welcome. We pop into that and then wander off to do some shopping unfortunately making it back to the second panel just in time to catch only the last minute or so of the message that Raymond Thompson had taped for the fans. Oh well. I really hope that he makes it to DragonCon (or some other US con) someday. I would totally fangirl him and there’s not many people I could say that about. The only other one I can come up with off the top of my head is Rob Zombie. I don’t know how I’d manage to contain myself around Mr Zombie even though I’m actually only three degrees of separation from him since my friend Erin used to work with his brother Spider at Tower. Anyway, from there we hustle to get in line for the 4pm Serenity panel.

So, as is my destiny, I’m sitting next to a crazy person. The woman to my right keeps responding to the things the cast is saying as if they are having an actual conversation with her. *stabbity stab stab* Also, we are repeatedly subjected to “questions” that have no answer because the person just wants to say something into the microphone. Luckily, Adam Baldwin is there to snark on people. When a fan asks a question about the shooting script, he responds with “You don’t think we released the final shooting script to you?” Heh heh heh. I’m sure everyone’s heard about the exchange between Morena and Ron when she was asked about women’s roles and she said she was very conscious about what roles she takes. He interjected “Did I miss something or don’t you play a whore?” To which Morena said “The word is companion. There’s a difference between me and who was in your room last night.” Also, Jewel and Morena are the cutest thing ever with their “let’s be best friends” and shoving each other and saying “I hate you.” I swear, they are just like Dreago and me which is why we had to run out and get a picture of the four of us together. Also while discussing pranks they talked about how Morena had once pulled down Jewel’s pants in a bar though Morena said “Not so anyone could see you.” When Jewel said “You could” the look they gave each other was adorable.

From there it was on to the Mature Themes on the Tribe panel. Sadly, it kind of de-evolved into a Matt Q&A but some interesting stuff was covered. Though of course, that panel is always going to be remembered as the one where Matt was asked what his favorite swear word was. Because there was one dude in the crowd (and bear in mind you had to be 16 to get into this panel) who did not know what the c*** word meant. *shakes head* So after the panel we’re kind of hanging in the hallway. Dreago had brought her purchase of the day to show off - a sword. Now this isn’t a slash ‘em up type sword, it’s a dull edge sword for bellydancing that you can balance on your head or hip. So Matt asks her about it and we start talking to him about bellydancing. He asks if it’s improved our confidence and I comment that it’s certainly improved my posture. And then, obviously still under the influence of the mature themes panel, Matt turns to me and asks me if it’s improved my sex life.
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Sometimes quick wit evades KellyGirl. Eventually I muttered something about how I’d have to ask which even now sounds so stupid I’m blushing. Truth be told, although I’ve taken 3 terms of classes and a chakra workshop, I’ve only been studying since January. And because of taking so many classes and trying to spend time with Dreago because I knew she was moving and other socializing (most of which is with the Happy Hour crew and I’m not the kind of girl who pees in the pool she plays in), I just haven’t had time. I know, I know - the world’s tiniest violin is playing for the girl who’s calendar is too full to make time for romance.

Friday isn’t over yet. We try to go to the Harry Potter Sorting Ceremony but it’s full by the tiime we get there though we do end up in a long discussion about book 6 theories with some guy. After that Dreago and I head to the bar (where we spy Mercedes McNab) to grab some food before we go upstairs to do the final prep for our interview tomorrow. Once we’ve got our questions sorted out for a good flow, it’s time to freshen up and change into yet another outfit to go to the Serenity Shindig. It took me a while to get warmed up but then after dancing for a while things got too warm and I had to stop and drink lots of water. Everyone looked very pretty in their party clothes so pictures were taken. Finally somewhere around 3am, it was bedtime.