A weekend with 50,000 friends
This past weekend I had the pleasure of traveling down to Atlanta for DragonCon. This is the largest convention I have been to and was concerned that with such a large group someone would have a hard time meeting new friends. I was just wrong about this and now have more than a few new friends that I am looking forward to seeing in the near future. There where few really great things at the con that I am going to write more about this week.
The trip started with a somewhat frantic trip to the airport on Thursday due to holiday traffic. When I arrived at the airport I was pleased to see that there was a weather delay due to bad storms and I did not have to rush to my flight. The flight down was nice and the trip from the Atlanta airport to the Hyatt was a delight on the MARTA. I do so hate the fact that Detroit has a simple abysmal mass transit system. I arrived at the hotel around 10pm and went to find Yanni and I got settled in the room. I was able to catch up with my friend from online that knew I was coming down over at the Marriott and it worked about perfect because Yanni had to meet friends at the same bar. It was a long week and I went to bed at a very early for con time 1am.
Friday started out early and I ate breakfast and got my registration taken care of. I took note that there is no computer involved in preregistration. They just print the names onto sticky labels and break them up in huge book sectioned by each letter. When you get there to get you badge you simply go the line with your letter. Programming did not start till 1pm but there were two other HUGE hotels that I wanted to explore. Yanni and I found our way over to the Hilton and spent some time in the exhibitor’s space. This is when I ended up spending some money; I found a leather vest that I just HAD to have. I ended up buying it and I can now say for sure it was worth the many dollars I paid for it. I spent the rest of the day exploring and going to some of the great programming. Friday night I spent with my new local friends, they took me out to pick leather pants to go with the leather vest I bought earlier.
Saturday Yanni and I attended the annual Kilts and Corsets party. It was a private party and a wonderful gathering where I made some good new friends. Also I ended up telling the story about how a person at a con once told me I should dress up as am umpa lumpa. I said know that I was a hottie hobbit and they just loved that name. I may need to have hottie hobbit put on my badge for next year. After the Kilts and Corsets party I left Yanni and I went to the Rainbow mixer party in the lower level of the Hyatt. I met up with my many new friends and we had a great time at the party. Something need about the parties at DragonCon are that they are in function space. Groups can request the space and the hotel provides the bar service. It is a great was for a group of people to have a big party.
Sunday I went to a great panel on the crazy psychology experiments that they used to perform and how they cannot perform many of them any longer. The presenter kept noting how that if he was not a doctor and hosted a reality TV show that he would not get into any trouble doing it. Another great panel I went to was a discussion by scientist about ht e recent assault on science. This was a great discussion and I wished it was a 2 hours panel once it was over. Sunday night I went to a birthday party for one of the Atlanta friends I nosw have. We had a cake shaped like coffin and went out to a fun local bar. After the bar we all went up to the Gaylaxicon room party. It was another fun night meeting new people and having some great drinks.
Monday I should have been in lots of pain but somehow my body handled all the fun I had the night before just fine. The day was more of a travel and recovery day. I slept in, ate breakfast and packed up. I spent a few hours checking out a few things I had missed but most con activities where winding down. Yanni and I left the hotel early and are now sitting at the Atlanta airport. This post will come a but after I write it because the airport wants $7 to jump into the internet.