NASFiC St. Louis (Archon31)

[Adam Israel]

So that's where ya'll are hiding out, at the cigar bar! We haven't made it over to the Holiday Inn yet.

See you all tomorrow!

[tjwriter]

We're getting ready to leave. Hope to see some of you soon!

[Birol]

I made it here this morning. Having a great time meeting people.

[Adam Israel]

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful evening and conversation! It was great to meet all of you in person.

[Dawno]

Well, just one more thing to get packed (my hot rollers - once I've finished doing my hair) and I'll be departing for home.

I had a wonderful time meeting all of you. My biggest regret was that I didn't get to spend time with Birol - I'm so sorry we missed connecting last night - I was down in the lobby chatting with Ray and was just so tired, I couldn't stay up any longer.

[ChunkyC]

Dinner was a BLAST! We had 16 AWers and a couple of spouses.

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s128/ChunkyC_bucket/dinner.jpg

[rhymegirl]

Sounds and looks like it was fun! Looks like Ray is entertaining the crowd there.

(and he says he's shy....pffttt)

[tjwriter]

I just arrived home safely.

It was a great time. I, too, missed talking to some of you, but with so many, there's only so much you can do in one night.

Can't wait to do something like this again.

[maestrowork]

Sounds and looks like it was fun! Looks like Ray is entertaining the crowd there.

(and he says he's shy....pffttt)

I looked like I had a rat in my mouth!

[Bartholomew]

oops.

[rhymegirl]

I looked like I had a rat in my mouth!

Oh....I thought you did. That's what made it so entertaining.

[ChunkyC]

The twins, united at last. :D

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s128/ChunkyC_bucket/meray.jpg

[maestrowork]

Remind me to dye my hair red. ;)

[Roger J Carlson]

Remind me to dye my hair red. ;)Hey! I can hear it, Ray! I can still hear your voice.

[ChunkyC]

Remind me to dye my hair red. ;)
Remind me to grow some hair. :D

[maestrowork]

Hey! I can hear it, Ray! I can still hear your voice.

I do have a magnetic voice and sexy accent, don't I? :D

[roach]

It was great to finally meet you all!

[Good Word]

I couldn't make it. My one wish was for a pic of the twins together...and I see it hath been granted.

I want to see more pictures!

More pics, pretty please!

But Charlie, what is that funny hat you're wearing? Did the Comfort Inn pay you to advertise?

[Roger J Carlson]

I want to see more pictures!

More pics, pretty please?Check out Stew21's new avatar.

[Roger J Carlson]

I do have a magnetic voice and sexy accent, don't I? :DSure do, but I was expecting your accent to be Canadian like your twin's, eh?

[jdkiggins]

Looks like everyone was enjoying themselves. You all look great!

Surely, with 16 AWers together, there has to be more pictures than this.

Please, please post more pics.

[Birol]

I had a wonderful time meeting all of you. My biggest regret was that I didn't get to spend time with Birol

I regret not getting to spend more time with you, too. :Hug2:

Sure do, but I was expecting your accent to be Canadian like your twin's, eh?

Oh, great. Now I hear Ray speaking with a Canadian accent. Thanks a lot, Roger! :e2tongue:

[maestrowork]

For those who are really confused, I actually speak with a Shakespearean accent.

Think Lawrence Olivier.

[tjwriter]

Looks like everyone was enjoying themselves. You all look great!

Surely, with 16 AWers together, there has to be more pictures than this.

Please, please post more pics.


I'll post a few of mine after while, but it seems my camera has sustained grievous injuries. All the photos look a little grainy. If anyone objects to your photo being seen, speak up now.

[Birol]

:scared:

[Dawno]

I only object to the ones that don't make me look 20 years younger. ;)
My camera is one of those little disposable kind - I'll have to take it in to be "developed" onto a CD before I can share any. As tj said - anyone who doesn't want their piccie shared with the world should speak up now.

[maestrowork]

I object to the ones that don't make me look like Sean Connery.

[Richard White]

TJ,

Sorry for breaking your camera. I knew I should have warned you I have that affect on photographic material.

;)

[tjwriter]

If only it had actually started with your picture, Richard. :tongue

And who did the cool avatar changing for stew? I wanna get a cool avatar change. *pouts*

Anyway, I have another group shot, taken by the server, with my crappy camera.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i109/tjosban/Nasfic5.jpg

I cut it down to this size so it wouldn't be so huge. If you want it bigger, let me know.

More to come.

[maestrowork]

It looks like we're all being abducted by aliens...

COOL!

[Stew21]

hey everyone! So glad I got to meet you all.
sorry I had to ditch so quickly after dinner. As Amy can attest my car crapped out. I had to take care of it, figure out how to get it home, etc.
All worked out though. And yesterday it was in the shop and got fixed.
Nice avatar you gave me, Roger.
:D

Looking forward to seeing more pictures. Mine is regular film so I don't have any to show yet. I'll post them when I do.

[ChunkyC]

Well, I'm back.

So here's how yesterday went....

6 AM: Charlie gets up, does his ablutions and finishes packing up. Heads down to breakfast in the hotel lobby and waits for Mac and Lisa, who arrive a little while later.

8 AM (or shortly thereafter): Mac and Lisa drive Charlie to the airport.

http://s151.photobucket.com/albums/s128/ChunkyC_bucket/?action=view&current=stlarch.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s128/ChunkyC_bucket/stlarch.jpg
- crossing the mighty Mississippi

9 AM (or shortly thereafter): Charlie says bye to Mac and Lisa and heads into the airport. Security screening is smooth sailing. That's always the first sign of impending doom.

More to come....

[Stew21]

Charlie, I can't see any of the pictures you post.
Can put them in the thread differently?

[ChunkyC]

Charlie, I can't see any of the pictures you post.
Can put them in the thread differently?
Odd, they're straight links to photobucket, they should show. Lemme try another way here:

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s128/ChunkyC_bucket/stlarch.jpg

Can you see it now, Trish?

[Stew21]

still can't see them. I have photobucket. Normally I can see them.
hhmm...

[Stew21]

can you post the weblink so I can click on it.

[ChunkyC]

Sure. I'll go back and put a link with each pic ... okay, added a link to the 'road home' post, does that work?

[Dawno]

I can see them just fine. What browser are you using? CC - think it could be her settings?

[ChunkyC]

Maybe. Trish, check your setting here in your UserCP, just in case. Make sure you have Show Images (including attached images and images in [IMG] code checked in Edit Options / Thread Display Options.

Mind you, if you can see other images like tj's, then that's probably not it.

[Stew21]

I still can't see them, even when I click the links and I could see TJ's group shot.

[ChunkyC]

Okay, that's definitely not it, then. I checked and tj is using a straightforward photobucket IMG tag, I'll do the same....

...I used an IMG tag in post #284, so if you can't see that one, then I'm baffled.

(y'know, this is really screwing with the continuity of my story ;) )

[Stew21]

Ok, I went to the link, I couldn't see the image even in photobucket, but I could in the preview (previous and next) windows to the side. How strange.

[Dawno]

Has anyone changed the settings on your browser? Check (if you're using Internet Explorer, Tools, Internet Options, Advanced, and then in the Multimedia section of the list, there's an item Show Pictures - make sure that's set correctly) In Firefox it's tools>options>content>load images automatically (should be checked)

[Roger J Carlson]

Charlie, did you happen to set the "Hide from Trish" file attribute to "Yes"?

[Dawno]

I looked at the "Mess with Trish's Mind" settings and it's the same as always...

[ChunkyC]

Security screening is smooth sailing. That's always the first sign of impending doom
So, on with the story....

...security screening is smooth sailing. That's always the first sign of impending doom.

I find the gate and settle in for a bit of a wait since my flight is sheduled to leave at 11:49 AM and it's around 10. The moment I sit down, I hear a deafening roar and turn to the window just in time to see four Air National Guard F-15s taking off. Of course, they're long gone before I even think of pulling out my camera.

This is the second sign.

The third sign comes when they switch our gate from A21 to A19. No biggie since I can see both gates from where I'm sitting.

Sign number four is when the plane is a bit late getting to the gate and we don't start boarding until about five minutes before our scheduled departure time. When they begin boarding us, I notice a gentleman get up and walk ahead of me to the gate -- it is Richard Hatch of Battlestar Galactica fame. I restrain myself from asking for an autograph, mostly since I'd have to climb over half a dozen other passengers including a woman and her baby to get to him. I don't know if his presence on the flight is the fifth sign, but what the heck, five is a nice number.

Once boarded, I expect to see the cabin door closed ... but it isn't. Then the pilot comes on the intercom and tells us we are being delayed. Apparently, they can't find the cargo net for the forward cargo bay. It wasn't in there when they opened it up to load luggage. Turns out some goober in Chicago forgot to put it back into the plane after unloading, and since there was no luggage being loaded in the forward bay for the trip from Chicago to Saint Louis, nobody noticed its absence.

Well, it also turns out that you can't fly without it if you have cargo in the bay, and you can't move the luggage out of the forward bay and put it in the rear bay since the weight distribution and balance of the plane has already been determined. We're told it will take twenty minutes or so to get a replacement cargo net.

Yeah, right.

One hour and thirty minutes after our scheduled departure time, the replacement net has been brought to us, installed and we're finally on our way.

As we approach Denver where I'm to change planes for the flight to Calgary, I realize making my connection is going to be right down to the wire. We land and taxi up to the gate with seven minutes remaining before my Calgary flight is scheduled to depart. The gate is nearby, so there's still a chance....

And we sit there.

Then the pilot comes on and tells us THERE'S NOBODY IN THE JETWAY TO MOVE IT UP TO THE PLANE SO WE CAN GET OFF!

Ten minutes later, somebody does move it to the plane and we start getting off, but it's too late, I've missed my connection. After going to United customer service, I am fortunate enough to get a seat on the next flight out to Calgary, leaving in about two hours.

Of course, it leaves around 45 minutes late, but I'm on it, thank goodness. I end up getting home about four hours later than I expected, so it's no big deal in the grand scheme of things.

And yes, Sue showed me how much she'd missed me. :)

[maestrowork]

And yes, Sue showed me how much she'd missed me. :)

Hmmm...

Ice cream, anyone?

[III]

When are we gonna get to see more pics? Some of us are trying to live vicariously here, you know.

[jdkiggins]

Yes, more pictures. Some we are familiar with because they have their face plastered in their avatar, but those who don't, we'd love to place a face with a name. :D

I still miss the picture in Mac's CP that she had up with her in her hat. :(

[ChunkyC]

Just waiting for the various attendees to let us know if they mind us posting their pic. I certainly don't mind, seeing as I have one of me in my profile already. :)

[Adam Israel]

Just waiting for the various attendees to let us know if they mind us posting their pic. I certainly don't mind, seeing as I have one of me in my profile already. :)

I definitely don't mind :)

[Stew21]

you know I don't mind. look what Roger did to my avatar.
:)

[III]

you know I don't mind. look what Roger did to my avatar.
:)

Poor, sweet Trish. From luscious to lush with just one pic. (Hey, that was almost poetic).

[Roger J Carlson]

you know I don't mind. look what Roger did to my avatar.
:)Oh yeah! Blame me! I'm not the one who wanted to make sure the Budweiser label was facing the camera.

[Stew21]

You WERE the one who said, "I want to get one of you drinking." then after taking it said "You know I have avatar changing powers. Muahahahaha"



;)

[Roger J Carlson]

You WERE the one who said, "I want to get one of you drinking." then after taking it said "You know I have avatar changing powers. Muahahahaha"Nonsense. I said nothing of the kind. And if I did, I didn't mean it. And everyone was saying it too.

[Stew21]

Budweiser label[/B] was facing the camera.

Well we were in St. Louis! Duh! Anheuser Busch, St. Louis, MO.

[maestrowork]

I am still trying to figure out how Roger got his avatar-changing power. It's a mystery.

Ray, who has a sexy accent

[Roger J Carlson]

Well we were in St. Louis! Duh! Anheuser Busch, St. Louis, MO.Oh. Do they make beer there?
I am still trying to figure out how Roger got his avatar-changing power. It's a mystery.

Ray, who has a sexy accentYou see, one day I was struck by lightning, and there it was. It was a miracle.

----
Roger, who is taller than he looks.

[maestrowork]

That explains the fizzy hair and wild eyes.

http://www.2headsstudios.com/images/artwork/RodneyDangerfield.jpg

[roach]

I don't mind my picture being posted.

[maestrowork]

Roger's reaction to my accent prompts this question:

For those who met the other AWers for the first time, what are you initial reactions? Are you surprised? Do you feel like you've known that person for a long time anyway?

For me:

Roger: I didn't realize he had such curly hair -- I already knew he was tall
Dawno: She's exactly how I imagined her to be in real life
Trish: although I had spoken with her on the phone before, I was still rather taken by her raspy voice
Richard: man, can this guy talk and joke!
Amy: she's pretty and really cool
CC: I do feel like I know him so well already, but was surprised how quiet he is in person. I thought he'd be cracking jokes every two seconds and letting his rocker past come out and play... ;)
Lisa: I was expecting a professor type, but she seems really down to earth
JAWS: I kept looking for that suit and briefcase. LOL
Roach: I didn't know what to expect, but I was impressed by how friendly she was
TJ: I wish I got to talk to her more...

[Roger J Carlson]

My pictures didn't come out so good, but here are a few:

Lisa and Mac:
http://www.rogerjcarlson.com/pictures/lisamac.jpg

Trish (enlarged):
http://www.rogerjcarlson.com/pictures/stew21large.jpg

Ray (whose hand looks just like Sean Connery's)
http://www.rogerjcarlson.com/pictures/rayhand.jpg

Roach, Richard, and Lori:
http://www.rogerjcarlson.com/pictures/RoachRichardLori.JPG

[Stew21]

those are good pictures, Roger. (well except for Ray's hand...and my profile)

[Roger J Carlson]

those are good pictures, Roger. (well except for Ray's hand...and my profile)What I meant was most of my pictures didn't turn out except for these few.

Okay, here's Ray not looking like Sean Connery:
http://www.rogerjcarlson.com/pictures/ray.jpg

And Charlie looking imperious (taken on Lisa's iPhone):
http://www.rogerjcarlson.com/pictures/charlie.jpg

Trish, the only other picture I have of you is also in profile and also holding a beer. Go figure.

[maestrowork]

I agree. That is a horrible picture of me. I told you not to post any picture of me looking like Sean Connery.

Damn you.

[Stew21]

Trish, the only other picture I have of you is also in profile and also holding a beer.

<---- It wasn't posed for optimum cheesiness like this one was, was it?


I'm not really surprised I was holding a beer.

[III]

What I meant was most of my pictures didn't turn out except for these few.

Okay, here's Ray not looking like Sean Connery:
http://www.rogerjcarlson.com/pictures/ray.jpg

And Charlie looking imperious (taken on Lisa's iPhone):
http://www.rogerjcarlson.com/pictures/charlie.jpg

Trish, the only other picture I have of you is also in profile and also holding a beer. Go figure.

Did you guys meet at a crack house? Ray and Charlie look high.

[Roger J Carlson]

<---- It wasn't posed for optimum cheesiness like this one was, was it?


I'm not really surprised I was holding a beer.Oh no. It was a candid cheesy shot.

[ChunkyC]

And Charlie looking imperious (taken on Lisa's iPhone)
That wasn't imperiousness, I had just farted and was hoping nobody would notice. :D

And Ray, buddy ... did you think I'd actually be able to get a word in edgewise with that gang?

[Stew21]

when I get mine developed I know i have a pic of Dawno all spooned up in one of those big cigar room chairs. I'll get it developed this weekend.

[Adam Israel]

That wasn't imperiousness, I had just farted and was hoping nobody would notice. :D

OMG, that was you!

[ChunkyC]

Surprises and not-surprises:

Trish is TALL. (hubba hubba)
Ray is anything but shy, his claims to the contrary are utter baloney.
Richard is a charming, witty and erudite conversationalist.
Jaws is a heck of a nice guy too.
Lisa was everybody's mom, especially Mac's.
Mac is as smart and genuine in person as she is here.
Roger is one of the good guys, big time.
Dawno is like a photon in a particle accelerator, she never stops moving.
Amy is everything I expected her to be and more. What a sweetheart.
Lori kidnapped me and made me talk to strangers.
And roach -- the purple hair suits you perfectly. With or without the purple, you made me smile every time I saw you.
I didn't get to spend much time with tjwriter and StoneTable and a few others, but what I did see, I liked big time. You folks are great.

What a fabbo trip. :)

[Stew21]

Ok so far, tall with a raspy voice and always drinking a beer. that just sounds so delightful!

THANKS GUYS!

By this description if I ran into me in a dark alley, I'd be terrified.

:mumblegrumblemumblegrumble:


5'6' isn't that tall.
and I'm an alto.
who did almost always have a beer.

[ChunkyC]

5'6' isn't that tall.
Yeah, but the heels you wore made you taller than me, you amazon you. ;)

[Stew21]

Ray was taller than me. For some reason I didn't think he would be. He's always talked about being short.

The heels I wore when I first met you! Yes! I had come from work. I was tall that day.

[ChunkyC]

Yep, Ray was taller than I expected too. For some reason, I pictured him about the same height as me. Probably that twin thing.

And Lori was shorter than I expected. Probably 'coz she scares the bejeesus out of everyone around here. :D

[Stew21]

I knew I was going to like Lisa as soon as we talked about Dawno's Mary Kay ladies! :D

[maestrowork]

I wore high platform shoes. I'm only 5'2, but with those shoes, I look 5'10".

There, that's my secret.

[ChunkyC]

Oh, the Mary Kays! :roll:

Dawno, get over here and regale us with your tale of MKs in Dallas!

[Dawno]

They were everywhere. Hoards in matching outfits - purple or black or red. Carrying huge black and pink totes which I am certain were full of cosmetic concotions that they were dying to try out on my poor unsuspecting skin. Big hair on a lot of 'em.

One gal had a series of rhinestone pins with "$10,000" then 20k then 30k then 50k! I can only imagine an entire town of people who've been Mary Kayed to death in order for her to have hit those numbers.

They were generally sober and polite, that I could see. There are a couple of Brighton shops at the airport in Dallas - the Mary Kay's had pretty much bought anything pink they could get their hands on by the time I got there.

My 2 hr layover became a 4 or 5 hour one due to a lot of flight delays because of thunderstorms in the region - many of the MK ladies were similarly stranded. I had nightmares of being shanghaied into a restroom for a full makeover. So I mostly hid out in the Admiral's Club and read Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovitch - which I must have left somewhere, because I couldn't find it in my luggage when I got home. Thank goodness I finished it before I lost it.

As for people's descriptions of me - I guess I should have tried to be surprising :) What you "see" here is pretty much what you get.

And as for always moving - not on Friday when I crashed for a 4 hour nap! :D

[rhymegirl]

Yeah, but the heels you wore made you taller than me, you amazon you. ;)

Charlie, I'm 5'7", so with heels I'd tower over you, too, I guess.

[jdkiggins]

I'd still be shorter than all of you. Pictures look great, everyone. Lori and Lisa look nothing like I pictured them in my mind, but you all look fabulous!

[MacAllister]

I sorta forgot to take any pictures until it was almost too late -- but here's what I got with my phone. :)

Roger:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a11/MacAlStone/roger.jpg

Roger and the big metal tree at the St Louis Art Museum:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a11/MacAlStone/rogerandtree.jpg

tjwriter:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a11/MacAlStone/tjwriter.jpg

AWAmy and Ray:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a11/MacAlStone/amy_ray.jpg

Richard:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a11/MacAlStone/richardwhite.jpg

Avocado Desperado builds a Pirate Ship at dinner:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a11/MacAlStone/bartsboat.jpg

[kristie911]

It looks like you guys had lots of fun! I knew I should have stowed away in Roger's trunk and joined ya'll! :)

[roach]

I wish now I had brought a camera.

Okay, impressions:

Richard: Looks exactly like how I would have imagined he would, if I had imagined. (As in if he was put in a line-up and I was asked to pick him out, I think I would be able to ... if that makes any kind of sense.) And he's a gentleman and great dancer to boot!
Roger: On the other hand Roger looked nothing like I would have expected (again, not that I had expectations, but I wouldn't have picked him out of a line-up).
Mac: Sounds a lot like one of my aunts and that immediately endeared me to her (although I was already certain she's the coolest just from her presence here).
Ray: I actually didn't expect the accent, I think because my husband doesn't have one.
Dawno: Was even nicer in person than she is online.
ChunkyC: Does indeed resemble his avatar and if I hadn't been so wrapped up in the convention I would have totally noticed the resemblance before.
Birol: I had a great time talking about publishing and Coyote Wild.
Medievalist: (Medievalist!) At the same time everything I would have expected from reading her posts here and nothing at all like I expected.

And I really didn't get a chance to chat with everyone else, more's the pity. But I will say that the charity and good will of AW peeps is a bit overwhelming. When ChunkyC pulled out the buttons he'd made with everyone's avatars I got a little choked up. Y'all really are great people.

And I really need to remember to look at people's profiles where they will post their pics!

[ChunkyC]

More pics....

tjwriter with her camera
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s128/ChunkyC_bucket/tjwriter.jpg

Roger
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s128/ChunkyC_bucket/Roger1.jpg

Birol (Lori)
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s128/ChunkyC_bucket/Lori1.jpg

AmyBA
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s128/ChunkyC_bucket/Amy2.jpg

And my fav pic of Mac
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s128/ChunkyC_bucket/Mac1.jpg

[tjwriter]

More Pics, and I will have to go back and make these larger this weekend. I'd tried to cut them down to save space, but I think they are too small. In post #279, I loaded that up as regular size. Now you can see people.

Any, captions to come:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i109/tjosban/nasfic11e-1.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i109/tjosban/nasfic9e-1.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i109/tjosban/nasfic8e-1.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i109/tjosban/nasfic7e-1.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i109/tjosban/Nasfic1e.jpg

[tjwriter]

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i109/tjosban/Nasfic10e-1.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i109/tjosban/Nasfic6e-1.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i109/tjosban/Nasfic4e-1.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i109/tjosban/Nasfic3e-1.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i109/tjosban/Nasfic2e-1.jpg

[Good Word]

It's so great to see the pictures--pics of folks I haven't seen in a while, and pics of folks I hope to meet someday!

[Stew21]

those are so great!

eta: chunky: I can see everyone's pictures except yours.

[ChunkyC]

Avocado's pirate vessel, the good ship lasagne rigatoni (my bad)....
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s128/ChunkyC_bucket/pirate.jpg

[maestrowork]

And it's sailing in the Pacific between...

:D

[Roger J Carlson]

those are so great!

eta: chunky: I can see everyone's pictures except yours.Trish, are you at work and does you place block photobucket?

[Roger J Carlson]

And it's sailing in the Pacific between...

:DNice plug.

[Stew21]

Trish, are you at work and does you place block photobucket?


nope. I can see everyone else's. And I went to Charlie's photobucket and saw the pictures there.
I have no idea why I can't see his in threads.

[MacAllister]

That's very weird, especially since mine are on photobucket, too.

[ChunkyC]

It's totally bizarre. I'm linking to photobucket exactly like half a dozen other people in this thread, and Trish can see all of them, but not mine.

[Roger J Carlson]

nope. I can see everyone else's. And I went to Charlie's photobucket and saw the pictures there.
I have no idea why I can't see his in threads.Actually, none of us can see them, Trish. We're just playing with your head...

...or are we? :e2brows:

[maestrowork]

Trish, try refreshing your cache and do it again. Sometimes it's the temporary files in your cache that is the culprit.

[Richard White]

Looking at some of the dignified poses you all caught me in, I obviously need to spend some more time reading my Emily Post (and avoiding those entirely too-overstuffed chairs) *_*;

Reactions:
Roach - The leader of the purple-hair gang was an absolute fireball most of the con. Had a great time hanging out (as well as running interference for you *grin*). Really appreciated your coming to my reading and my kaffeeklatch.
ChunkyC - His avatar doesn't lie, although I'm still having problems believing he's older than I am. Curse you young-looking Canadians!
Mac - What can I say? It was a pleasure getting to meet you and I look forward to visiting with you more next time.
Lori - Thanks for listening to me rattling on about some story ideas. You deserve some type of medal for that.
Maestro - I have to agree with Roger, you don't type with an accent. *grin* Ray was a pleasure to talk to and listen to. (yes, I ended a sentence with a preposition, live with it.)
Roger - Another of the entirely too young looking guys in the group. It's a conspiracy, darn it.
Jaws - I have to admit, Jaws looked nothing like I was expecting him to, but as soon as he spoke, I knew what his profession was. *grin* A pleasure sharing the Writer Beware report with you at the SFWA business meeting and swaping military stories at the dinner table.
TJ - great visiting with you.
Stew - sorry we didn't get to visit more than we did. Darn those seating arrangements . . .
Dawno - my hero and recharger of my cell phone. My wife appreciated the fact I was able to call her the last two days of the convention.
Medievalist - next time, I'm going to make some time to talk shop with you. I don't often get to spend time with other historians.

And, as always, I know I'm forgetting people for which I apologize. Some people have a mind like a steel trap . . . mine is more like a steel sieve.

[Birol]

Lori - Thanks for listening to me rattling on about some story ideas. You deserve some type of medal for that.

Ha! I loved listening to your ideas and stories (some of the best stories aren't fiction at all.) I was looking at your comic book just this morning.

I hope we cross paths and end up in a group talking like that the next time we're in the same geographic locale.

[roach]

Roach - The leader of the purple-hair gang was an absolute fireball most of the con. Had a great time hanging out (as well as running interference for you *grin*). Really appreciated your coming to my reading and my kaffeeklatch.

I got the idea of signing up for empty kaffeeklatches from here (I think Medievalist posted the idea?) and I highly recommend it. I got to listen to Jaws and Eric Flint talk about book distribution (which really is fascinating, no really). I got to see Richard's collection of anime cells and hear about some series I hadn't known about before. I got to catch up with a couple of friends at their own kaffeeklatches and educate a writer on POD the business model and POD the technology. But the best one by far was the kaffeeklatch for an author who I've seen on the con circuit for years (and is all over the net). After listening to her and her cowriter for an hour I realized that she's utterly crazy and sincere in her craziness and it just made me smile. Oh how I've missed SF conventions!

I heard several times throughout the convention that this year's headcount was somewhere between a third to a half smaller than what Archon usually gets. Has anyone attended past Archons and can verify this? Because if that's the case I'm seriously considering going again next year.

[MacAllister]

Roach, I registered for next year -- mostly by accident, thinking I was at the preregistration table for Denvention -- but now I find myself considering it seriously, depending on how my schedule goes. I had an awfully good time.

[Adam Israel]

It's probably the largest local (and by local I mean within driving distance) con that I know of. I'll probably go again next year. I do like roach's idea of signing up for empty kaffeeklatches (if only I could pronounce it).

[MacAllister]

I was bummed I didn't get to tell you guys goodbye, Adam. :) I'd thought everyone was retiring back to the cigar bar for after-dinner drinks, but we lost about half the party between the restaurant and the hotel.

[MidnightMuse]

Wow - you guys look almost . . . what's the word --


Normal :D

[roach]

I just pronounce them "coffee-thingies". And now I'm even more tempted to go. At $40 a pop it's a bargain at twice the price. And I have gamer friends who I know would be up for sharing a room.

Despite not having brought a camera I managed to get pictures of me from Saturday night.

roach gets gussied (and painted!) up:

http://www.idiorhythmic.net/roachbpretty.jpg

[tjwriter]

Wow, roach. You look really wonderful in that pic.

So what's this thing about the next one? Is there a link or other info? I really had a good time and would like to enjoy a full con. Now that I've fully embraced how geeky I am, I love it.

[tjwriter]

I really love the first picture of Mac in this post:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1533647&postcount=339

As for people I met:

Roger - Was very interesting to talk to.
Dawno - The nicest person with a heart of gold.
AmyBA - Good conversation, but she seems to be a fairly quiet person.
Stew - Had a voice that carried more than I expected, but she's so enthusiastic and funny.
StoneTable - Seemed like a nice enough fella, but I didn't get to talk to him much.
Mac - Is just awesome. We talked some, but I didn't get to talk to her as much as I wanted.
Lisa - Great to talk to. I got to converse with her quite a bit as well.
Birol - I didn't get to talk to her hardly at all, which was a shame, as I often enjoy her posts on the board.
Richard - is one heck of a funny guy. I really enjoyed talking to him.
roach - Looked like someone I could really enjoy conversation with, but I never got the chance.
Avacado - Was a really nice guy.
Ray - I barely got to talk to, but he had all kinds of people cracking up.
ChunkyC - Is just the sweetest guy. He made buttons for all of us with screen names, user titles, and avatars. I was so touched. I didn't get to talk to him much, but he's a doll.
We also had our tech guru there. He was nice too.

The thing really was that I could have just contributed nothing and really enjoyed the conversations around me. I could totally do this again. You folks are great.

[poetinahat]

I'm wild with envy. I'm glad you all had such a grand time, and thanks for sharing the photos.

[roach]

Wow, roach. You look really wonderful in that pic.

Awww....thanks. It was all I could do not to break out into "I feel pretty" all night long.

So what's this thing about the next one? Is there a link or other info? I really had a good time and would like to enjoy a full con. Now that I've fully embraced how geeky I am, I love it.

Archon's website is here (http://www.archonstl.org/). There isn't much up yet for the 2008 con (which is in October btw) but they have all the information for past conventions and the like.

And when I bounced the idea off my husband about going next year he was all for it. Yay!

[tjwriter]

Okay, my dingy self found it this time around.

The timing kind of sucks with the big events at work, but I might be able to get off and go. I really, really, really want to go to the whole thing and hang out with cool people again.

[JennaGlatzer]

Best thread in a long time. Thanks for all the great pics! Wish I could have been there with you fine folks.

[maestrowork]

I'll let Roger tell the story about him finding the anal probe...

[Stew21]

You know I shouldn't have a problem being there next year either. Hopefully I'll get to spend more time, instead of stopping in after work for an hour and ditching after dinner.
though I am thankful I missed anything to do with anal probes.

I warned you all I talk a lot - I guess I forgot to warn TJ that I'm also LOUD! :) (my husband comments on it all the time when we're in a crowded place - "I could hear you all the way across the room!")

[aka eraser]

Great seeing all those pics! Looks and sounds like you had a great time. :)

Um, Mac dear, what size, approximately, might that spiffy, colourful shirt you're wearing be?

:D

[Roger J Carlson]

I'll let Roger tell the story about him finding the anal probe...Hey! I washed my hands afterward, didn't I?

I warned you all I talk a lot - I guess I forgot to warn TJ that I'm also LOUD! :) (my husband comments on it all the time when we're in a crowded place - "I could hear you all the way across the room!")Actually, that worked out great when the piano player started in. I could still hear you from across the room!

[Stew21]

*feels twinge of self-consciousness*
really?

[Roger J Carlson]

*feels twinge of self-consciousness*
really?No, it was great. Really. You were the only one I could hear.

[MacAllister]

Don't let 'em kid you, Trish. You've got a great voice. :)

Frank, that shirt is the same exact size as The Hat -- go figure!

[Stew21]

Thanks Mac! :) (finally someone willing not to call me loud and raspy)
I had such a great time meeting everyone.

[ChunkyC]

I'll let Roger tell the story about him finding the anal probe...
There was an anal probing panel? ;)

Don't let 'em kid you, Trish. You've got a great voice. :)
She sure does. :)

Frank, that shirt is the same exact size as The Hat -- go figure!
Careful, Mac. I think he's after your entire wardrobe, jackboots and all. ;)

[tjwriter]

No, it was great. Really. You were the only one I could hear.


He's telling the truth, Stew. I was sitting right next to him and he couldn't hear me.

:tongue

I'm so considering next year. The whole thing would give me plenty of time to socialize with everyone. It seemed like everyone I hadn't talked to much yet had gathered at the opposite end of the table during dinner, so I missed them again.

[Medievalist]

Here are my pictures.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalmedievalist/sets/72157601339729683