#con trip

Conversation on a Twitch stream (not mine) went on about joking among friends.

I bring up how lifelong friends I have chastise me for being too sensitive (which I am, unapologetically), and the first thing the streamer says is if they can fight said friends.

I’ve had these friends for over 20 years, but I won’t lie when I say the first thing that comes into my mind is yes absolutely. They can really frustrate me at times, and when we meet up at con, they only have about 5 jokes, all of which are over 10 years old. Oh and did I mention how one of them still seems to have a problem with my epilepsy and has taken cocaine in our con hotel room? Hell I don’t even know if they’ll take an issue with me being an egg and not forming a new 10+ year old joke about me being into drag (which I hate more than anything else in the world, kinda).

It sounds awful of me to think this I know. I just wish they would let jokes go. And yes I have just about lost my patience with the one I did mention. She is on strike two; strike three and we are done for good.

(Personal) Con con’s:

-Big one for me: personal space and knowing when to go away.  By now, those close to me know that I’m not a big “people person.”  I can do small crowds easily, but bigger ones drain me.  But nothing gets to me more than somebody who can’t grasp the social cues of “please go away.”  A con-goer complimented my shirt (this one) and I returned the compliment (he had one featuring all the original consoles).  He then proceeded to sit next to me, talk about his hands and how they’re too big for most hand-helds, what kind of hand held system he really wants and how he needed to take care of his bladder.  1) I’m a stranger and I don’t need to hear that shit from anyone who isn’t a close friend.  2) Complimenting you on your shirt is not a cue to spill guts.  3) When I started looking at my phone and my replies moved from “Right” to “barely there head nods,” clue in, dude.  Nobody needs nor wants to hear about your bladder

-Not so big, but still got under my skin a bit.  On the second day, I was grabbing some lunch at a small pizza place a few blocks away from the hotel.  Great food, pleasant waitress, good songs over the speakers.  And the teen pestering her mother (who didn’t look like coming to the con was her choice) about going next year.  The mom tells her how much it would cost to come again (a not insignificant sum), to which the daughter replies, “I’m going to ask Dad!”  Enjoy the present before planning for the next year.  And honestly, the speed she diverted around the monetary issue kind of irked me.  Going to a con like this isn’t cheap, and if you’re not the one paying for travel, accommodations, food, entertainment, etc, listen to the person who foots the bill.

-Geeks versus Nerds was a huge let down.  One side of the stage was reading from their scripts for the majority of the presentation (this is an improv show, by and large), and an overdose of weeb seeped through it.  I say this with all honesty: I’ve witnessed better junior high presentations.  And if you’re getting up in arms about how some people just don’t have great public speaking skills, Geeks versus Nerds is all about public speaking, so why would you bring someone who can barely read a script to a crowd in the first place?

-The schedule wasn’t put out until about a week or two before the con started, so a lot of attendees would be operating on blind faith for whether or not it would be the price of admission.  I think this might have been a deal breaker for me.  If I had known what kind of panels would be shown, I’d have bought a day pass for the one thing I wanted to see and used the rest of the money on books/music/food/gas/etc.  Some people don’t have all that money to throw around, so you’re really doing a disservice to them by holding out for that long.  

-Everything else breaks down into the common things: uncomfortable beds, rough sleep patterns, navigating new city, con stink.  That sort of thing.  And maybe a con for those who travelled with me: when energetic punk music/angry Neil Young is on, I tend to sing along.

(Personal) Con pro’s:

-Merch, as per usual.  A dozen+ albums, a few books (I finally started on Hellblazer!) and my favorite find.  The Storm Front audiobook.  Lots of fun to be had, then and now.

-The food.  Heavens and hellions, there was some good food.  Pulled pork sandwiches, pizza, chicken wraps, some surprisingly good mall Chinese food.  And I managed to stay away from chips and pop (for the most part) for the weekend, which is a small victory for me.

-Walked into a pub (the one where I got that indecently good pulled pork) and grabbed a table.  Opposite me was a guy in full Star Wars Death Watch armour, with his buy’ce (helmet for you nerf herders) on the bar, with a beer in his gauntlet.  I silently geeked the fuck out, and thanked him on the way out for being the best thing I had witnessed at the con.  Bonus: the 501st were represented outside the con.

-Travel wasn’t as bad as I thought it’d be, the city was pretty easy to navigate once you figured out a key landmark and there was enough around to keep me entertained when the con wasn’t doing its job.

Con Day 1

was a rather stressful morning as I try my hardest to get to the con. taking buses Ive never used before but thankfully I made it with only one slight hickup.

though the con was fun, I would describe the pannels I went to as in-prob. Everyone being very funny. seeing the writers pannel, Brony Breakdown live, and the voice actors pannel which features the voice actresses who do applebloom, and the women who does pinkie pie and fluttershy.

Though One of my goals was to try to find the youtube brony annalists who where visiting the con and say hello. in both being an attempt to combat my shyness and to thank them for giving me so much entertainment. I was prepared to spend the whole day hunting them down but apparently without even knowing it during the opening ceremony I had sad just behind the entire group! after spending 20 minutes scanning the room trying to find them they are sitting in the row ahead of me! I was quite flabbergasted . once the ceremony was complete I tried my best to speak to them...and well kinda succeeded...I was able to talk and introduce myself to Paleo but being being such a shy guy... it went as well as you hoped... welcoming him to minnisoda..but forgetting to tell him that I was a fan and that I liked his work.. thankfully he recognized my OC from my con badge so it was kinda.. less awkward.. but still weird as I shuffled off defeated.(hence the weird first picture)

but besides my social phobias I had a lot of fun, checking the place out going on an adventure to get their. I only wish the pony swag was cheaper >< the coolest stuff there are theses adorable plushies... and OMG they rang from 80- 350 dollars.. omg... their goes my hope of getting some pony gear.... but who knows I hear things get cheaper on the final day.