Norwescon

I hadn't actually planned on going to Norwescon this year... I still have some problems with pain in my shoulders if I'm standing or walking too much, or sitting in the wrong sort of seats (it really just comes down to needing a bit of support from time to time). In fact, I was in the middle of writing a lengthy comment, dithering about whether I was going to go, to an entry about the convention over on genebreshears's LJ, when it occurred to me that I was planning on heading down to Ikea anyway, and the convention is at a hotel just a little bit further south, next to the airport. So, I deleted the dither, hopped in my car and headed out.

I'd seen that telaryn was going to be in Seattle this week, but had absolutely not connected her trip with the convention. While on the road down to Sea-Tac, it occurred to me that I had her cell number (from DragonCon), so I flipped on my phone... and there was a message from her mentioning that she was in town for Norwescon. So, another good reason to go!

I wasn't able to stay very long... but, really, Thursday is for mingling and for dancing. Okay, every day is for dancing at Norwescon -- they throw the BEST dances (sadly, I'm not up to dancing yet). But it was still well worth the trip! While waiting in the registration line, I heard my name being called and turned around to see one of my best friends from my High School years! We'd lost touch with each other about seven years ago (we moved and she moved and that was that). Very cool!

Then I headed over to a nearby t-shirt booth and sure enough... there was Telaryn! We're going to see about getting together later this weekend, some evening after she gets off work.

I didn't ever run into genebreshears, but I saw flyers for Tai-Pan *everywhere*.

And then, while I was in the Dealer's Room, a guy dressed as an anime character (I'm blanking on who it is... big, slightly boxy green guy) with an anime-dressed woman trailing behind him came up and gave me a hug (trust me, this is not an unusual thing at SF&F cons) and said "you don't recognize me, do you?" And I knew that voice! Yes, it was Paul the Car Salesman! The guy who sold me my new car... See! I so knew he was fannish.

I'm planning on heading back for at least a little while every day... we'll see how much I can handle. It's quite a different thing, going to a convention and actually hitting the panels. I don't think I've done that since I was 14 or so.