DragonCon 2005

Our first plan of the day was to go check out the acoustic performance Last Picture Show (Matt and John’s band) was doing in the lobby of the Hyatt. How were we to know the schedule - which said 11:30 - would be wrong? I think we caught the last 3-4 songs. Seems they’re just as obsessed with Firefly as everyone else these days as they did their own version of the theme song. I actually took a little movie of it with my camera and assuming I can convert it and compress it down, I’ll try to get that put up.

Since the performance was done earlier than expected, we called our friends and made plans to have brunch with them before they left town. They had a recommendation for a local place and it really was good. I would have eaten my entire plate of pancakes had I not felt so bloated. Unfortunately, after too short of a visit, we had to say goodbye.

The afternoon was panels, panels, panels. At the Villains of Tribeworld, I think we concluded that just about everyone was guilty of some sort of villainy. Matt’s Q&A included him being a tree. Also, Dreago was moderating the Q&A and there was one moment where a look passed over her face that made me laugh and laugh till I thought I’d fall over. She, of course, was mortified when I told her. After that came the Society, Politics, and Religion in Tribeworld panel which was another spirited discussion.

Then it was time to take a little rest. Shhhh, while it’s naptime, let’s talk about the celebrity encounters of the weekend thus far. We repeatedly ran into Kevin Sorbo in the hall. We chatted with Gigi Edgley in the elevator - she’s very perky and said that it’s never too late? early? (don’t remember context) for a party. Also chatted with Dean Haglund in the elevator. When it lurched Dreago remarked how she didn’t want to die in the elevator at DragonCon and Dean joked about what would happen when the doors finally opened - he mimed waving at someone on the floor “Hey man, great costume!” We also chatted with a sweet older woman who may have been Betsy Palmer but we didn’t quite get her name since - did anyone else notice that the ‘hold open’ button on the elevator doors didn’t seem to be working? Yeah, the door shut in her face. Oops.

Post-nap, we ran and got some food to go and headed over to get in line for the Masquerade. I am only slightly ashamed to say we committed the heinous crime of cutting in line to be with our friends. But it was necessary! We would all need one another’s support later. So the Masquerade itself was entertaining; I could not have been more tickled to see the Misfit Toys. I have all the little stuffed ones and put them out every year for the holidays. People always ask so the answer is my favorite is King Moon Racer possibly because there was a Boston band that I liked that used that name.

Then it came time for intermission. Many of the Tribe fans were very tense because Matt and John were going to be performing and we knew, and had warned them, that they were not what the average DragonCon goer wanted to see. I especially had to giggle to see the girl in the row in front of me who was hunched down with her hands ready to cover her eyes or ears - whichever needed it most. But in the end, it was fine. I honestly could not tell you how most of the crowd reacted because, as I said, I was in the midst of people who were very vocal and supportive of the guys. Very vocal.

After it was over, I wanted to go take some photos so we did that. I kind of wanted to go see Gene Loves Jezebel but what really happened was I degenerated into a two year old. Dreago was very patient as I became that cranky kid who’s too tired to do anything but doesn’t want to go to sleep. Eventually though, that’s exactly what we did.