rivers_bend: (fun: fangirls)
rivers_bend ([personal profile] rivers_bend) wrote2010-10-26 02:40 pm
Entry tags:

Wincon Week

I'm finally sitting down to do a Wincon Week post. I'm hoping I won't have forgotten everything already. D: This is what happens when you let your life get all busy and stuff ;P


In the run-up to Wincon I moved and started a new job, so everything was a bit chaotic. But Wednesday night after work I went down to my parents' house (where half my stuff still was) and spent the night there so it would be easier to get to the airport on Thursday morning. I had anticipated it being easy and not just easier, but they were out of town, so I had to take the train and BART. My train was cancelled, but fortunately I had left enough time that I didn't miss my flight despite that. Once I got to the airport I was all thrilled and filled with excitement, instead of stressed and freaking. Yay for fangirl anticipation! I landed about 4pm and went to baggage claim to meet [livejournal.com profile] balefully and [livejournal.com profile] lazy_daze and FORTUNATELY [livejournal.com profile] loveflyfree who I had TOTALLY forgotten to text/email about shuttle sharing. I mentioned the stress, right?

After ridiculous numbers of conversations with the shuttle people, we got on the shuttle and found we were sharing with another fangirl, and a lone, poor woman NOT going to Wincon, who had to put up with our squee and flailing and Wincesting.

I had grabbed some fruit and brie and bagel bites at the airport in SF, but forgotten to bring lunch for the plane. By the time I got to baggage claim, all there was was Starbucks, so I got some cake of some kind. Then they gave us a warm chocolate chip cookie when we checked in. By the time I was putting my bags in the room I was shaking with sugar consumption. And, see? I've forgotten already what exactly happened. There was registration, and hugging and somewhere in there some food at the Sports Grille. Sam and Lucy and I gathered a rotating gang of fangirls around us, including [livejournal.com profile] dauntdraws, [livejournal.com profile] nola_rue, [livejournal.com profile] missyjack, [livejournal.com profile] elizah_jane, [livejournal.com profile] aggybird, and other people who I loved talking SPN with but whose recaps I haven't read so haven't had my memory prompted. I also ran into [livejournal.com profile] scarlett in the ladies' and we squeed about my current true love, Adam Lambert.

We totally missed the Madmen Cocktail happy hour, I think. But I did get lots of hugs from [livejournal.com profile] nu_breed and we did run into elizah jane and aggybird and beckaandzac later and hear about their crazy Denny's adventures :D :D

Friday we all made it to breakfast (Sam and Lucy didn't do a lot of breakfasting last year) because [livejournal.com profile] wendy had suggested there might be Sam discussion over waffles, and then went to the opening ceremonies. I lurked around trying to see as many fangirls as possible, went to the Fan Art workshop and had a great time, ate lunch with the awesome [livejournal.com profile] poisontaster, [livejournal.com profile] coiledsoul and [livejournal.com profile] ethrosdemon (though maybe that was Saturday? eeef) and generally rolled around in the awesomness of fangirls some more. Then I went to the Vid show, which I always love. It was fantastic having it be multi-fandom this year, though I didn't know a lot of the fandoms. That night it was SPN viewing time! I cuddled up on a bed with [livejournal.com profile] drvsilla and [livejournal.com profile] beckaandzac and there was singing and a room full of amazing. Probably best SPN viewing ever.

Saturday I managed to lurk in one of the common areas trying to type up some fic and chatting with people and tackle-glomping [livejournal.com profile] deirdre_c when she arrived. Then I went to the tin hat pageant and Fic Idol, where I spent most of the time looking at Adam and Tommy gifs on my netbook and cuddling up with becka in order to block out the scarring fic :D That night I went with nine others to California Pizza Kitchen for dinner, and after quite a long wait and some staff-wrangling by [livejournal.com profile] deirdre_c we finally got tables. There may or may not have been straw-wrapper fights with the other table. There was definitely delicious food shared with [livejournal.com profile] beckaandzac.

Then it was PROM. omg Prom at Wincon is THE BEST EVER. All those women dancing and drinking and laughing and dressed up and being totally gorgeous. There are no words, really. One of the highlights was [livejournal.com profile] flawedamythyst and [livejournal.com profile] saltburnbaby dressed as demons, mostly because it's been ages since I saw Amy, and I'd been dying to meet [livejournal.com profile] saltburnbaby. [livejournal.com profile] ignited and [livejournal.com profile] aggybird were other costume favorites for me. So very much awesome, though. There was rather more drinking of alcohol than I usually do, and after shutting down the Con Suite, [livejournal.com profile] missyjack, [livejournal.com profile] elizah_jane and Sam and Lucy and I retired to our room and talked until 5 in the morning.

I wasn't in too bad shape the next day, but Lucy was really suffering. Despite that, she made it to our Beta panel. I'd gone to the pro writing workshop that morning, which was useful and then we did a bit of planning in time to do the Beta Shop at 2:30. Only a few people came, but that meant that we could all talk and have discussion, and I think it went really well. I also got to meet [livejournal.com profile] appols and talk to her about Arthur/Eames fic, which was very happy-making :D Unlike the fact that people were leaving already, so I was having to say goodbye. D:

Went to the "stragglers" dinner Sunday night where [livejournal.com profile] wendy and I had a table on a raised mezzanine which meant we could look down to where all the other fangirls were having a wonderful time. We got a little nostalgic and even a bit teary-eyed about the awesomness of fangirls, and it was really awesome to get some time to chat with her. We retired again to the ConSuite where a group of us laughed for like two hours about clowns shoving people under tables and flailed about all kinds of things. It was a truly awesome night.

Then, as happens every year, Monday morning rolled around. I'd missed saying goodbye to [livejournal.com profile] nola_rue the night before, so she was awesome and came back to the hotel before driving home, so I got another hug. Then there was packing, and meeting fangirls in the lobby for more hugs and to catch a taxi to O'Hare with [livejournal.com profile] missyjack so we could pick up our rental car.

And that was the beginning of the epic 5-day road trip from Chicago to San Francisco. Which is where I'll leave you now, because I have errands to run, and I'd like to post this today.

[identity profile] lazy-daze.livejournal.com 2010-10-26 09:46 pm (UTC)(link)
<3333333! I MISS YOU AND IT AND EVERYTHING SO MUCH. I was so pleased to room with you again <3 even though I know I can be a nightmare popping up and down and all around in my insomnia. *APOLOGETIC HUGS*

I was trying to write a Wincon recap on the plane home and FAILING UTTERLY because I literally cannot remember what happened when, it's just a blur of awesomeness! I am going to sit down with the schedule, this post, and my own memories, and try and get it down in some coherency and order, soon XD BEST WINCON EVER I THINK. It gets better each year. ♥

[identity profile] rivers-bend.livejournal.com 2010-10-27 12:07 am (UTC)(link)
OH MY GOD YOU NEED TO NOT LIVE SO FAR AWAY I'M NOT EVEN KIDDING. You and Lucy are awesome roommates, actually. bizarre popping up and down night aside ♥ I love sharing with you!

My Wincon recap sucks. I should be much better! I think last year I managed more coherency, but I also posted every day of the con.

It does get better every year. I think the more people we get to know, and the more relaxed we get, the better it is. I CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT YEAR.

I will be in London soon, though!

[identity profile] wendy.livejournal.com 2010-10-26 09:59 pm (UTC)(link)
That Sunday night dinner seriously is one of my favorite [livejournal.com profile] wincon memories. SUCH a good conversation. *hugs forever*

[identity profile] rivers-bend.livejournal.com 2010-10-27 12:07 am (UTC)(link)
Mine too! It was awesome! *so many smishes*

[identity profile] drvsilla.livejournal.com 2010-10-26 10:02 pm (UTC)(link)
♥ & couches!

[identity profile] rivers-bend.livejournal.com 2010-10-27 12:08 am (UTC)(link)
YES. THOSE THINGS. I feel so lucky to have gotten so much Dru time! ♥

[identity profile] deirdre-c.livejournal.com 2010-10-26 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
*needs more you*

[identity profile] rivers-bend.livejournal.com 2010-10-27 12:08 am (UTC)(link)
DEFINITELY. There was not nearly enough Dei to go around. this is the trouble with insane popularity ;) ♥

[identity profile] victorian-tweed.livejournal.com 2010-10-26 11:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh how wonderful! *vicarious squee*

[identity profile] rivers-bend.livejournal.com 2010-10-27 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
It was so great! Now I just need to figure out how/when I am going to come to Australia! ♥

[identity profile] victorian-tweed.livejournal.com 2010-10-28 07:50 am (UTC)(link)
THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN!!! ♥ ♥ ♥

[identity profile] errant-jane.livejournal.com 2010-10-27 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
I had SO MUCH FUN hanging out with you!!! ♥ It would be difficult to pick a favorite part of the weekend, but I really enjoyed Saturday & Sunday night, just hanging out chatting (until I lost my voice. Oops?) and laughing and OMG SO MUCH FUN WHY IS IT OVER NOW???

[identity profile] rivers-bend.livejournal.com 2010-10-27 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
Meeting you was definitely a highlight! SO MUCH LAUGHING. And Jules and I totally agreed that we choose to believe you just are Allie Brosh. In disguise. :D :D

I think it has to be over sometime or we would none of us have any voice left at all. IT MAKES ME SAD IN MY FACE, THOUGH.

[identity profile] errant-jane.livejournal.com 2010-10-27 03:57 am (UTC)(link)
I ENJOY THE LAUGHING!!! Whaaaa? That's kind of the most awesome compliment possible short of adding "and a unicorn!" to the end of it. I'm all flattered and blushing now. ♥

Hmmm. You make a good point. I suppose, in a way, having to wait a year makes it all the more awesome when it does happen. Still, the withdrawal sucks something fierce.

[identity profile] balefully.livejournal.com 2010-10-27 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
I MISS YOUUUUUU!!!

<333 Best wincon!

JUST GET IN! DO ITTTTTTTT!!!!!

[identity profile] rivers-bend.livejournal.com 2010-10-29 12:30 am (UTC)(link)
OMG LUCY. WHY ARE YOU SO FAR AWAY?????????????? I WANT TO MOVE TO DC EXCEPT FOR HOW YOUR WEATHER IS APPALLING.
(deleted comment)

[identity profile] rivers-bend.livejournal.com 2010-10-29 12:32 am (UTC)(link)
I was so glad to get to meet you! And cannot wait to read the rest of your fic :D :D
sylvanwitch: (Default)

[personal profile] sylvanwitch 2010-10-27 12:19 pm (UTC)(link)
It sounds like you had a fangirlicious time, hon, and that's awesome! It's sort of amazing to look back on the River I "met" more than two years ago and the River I met in person over the summer. You've grown and changed SO much. NOt that you weren't awesome to begin with--you totally were--but you've just really emerged into this whole transformed person. I think it's fantastic! *hugs*

[identity profile] rivers-bend.livejournal.com 2010-10-29 12:33 am (UTC)(link)
I was thinking a lot that weekend about the differences between the River who went to Wincon back in 08, and this one I am now. Yay for some self-confidence!

*smishes you*

[identity profile] saltnburnbaby.livejournal.com 2010-10-29 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
*hugs*

It was so awesome to finally meet you, if only briefly due to Wincon craziness! Amy had been telling me so much about you, I was so totally nervous! HA!

Also, I am so jealous! SAN FRANCISCO!!!!!!! Not that I didn't love my own trip with Amy, but SAN FRAN!!!!!!!!!!!

Fangirling for the win, yes yes?

[identity profile] rivers-bend.livejournal.com 2010-10-29 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
Fangirling is the best ever! :D :D

I'm so glad you had a great trip. I actually live in San Francisco (or near enough, now) so you should come and visit! \o/

LOL that you were nervous of me, though I totally get it, because that's how it is. ♥