fullygoldy (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fullygoldy) wrote2007-07-04 09:06 am
fullygoldy) wrote2007-07-04 09:06 am
Last WisCon 31 Post
I had said before: attending this on my own was a pretty big stretch for me. By and large, everyone I spoke to was thoughtful, intelligent, sincere and friendly.
It's true. I'm a borderline introvert, hooked up with an extreme extrovert in RL. I like to live inside my head. I like my space, my quiet. It's definitely how I recharge. But. I also like to socialize and entertain. I'm very comfortable in groups where I know most of the people. I've got very little problem with standing up in front of a room full of strangers and "performing" as long as I feel my material is well-prepared. It's actually harder to stand up in front of a small group of people I know, LOL. So most people who know me casually think I'm much more of an extrovert than I really am.
I had to approach WisCon like I would if I were attending a conference at my employer's behest. I had to act like I was getting paid to be outgoing. It helped. It's really hard to overcome inertia and make those first couple of steps toward a stranger just to introduce myself. It's really hard when I'm not intending to flirt with said stranger. How weird is that? I like to flirt, and I've been doing it all my life, so if I see someone interesting, I'll just find a way to walk on over (usually I just convince myself I've been invited). K and J were easy to approach in that respect on Friday and Sunday nights. J was a little harder because I'm pretty stupid when it comes to flirting with women. Not enough practice.
All in all, it was a great experience, and I'm looking forward to next year. I hope I'll stay in touch with a few new folks until then too, especially since a couple of them are right here in town.
It's true. I'm a borderline introvert, hooked up with an extreme extrovert in RL. I like to live inside my head. I like my space, my quiet. It's definitely how I recharge. But. I also like to socialize and entertain. I'm very comfortable in groups where I know most of the people. I've got very little problem with standing up in front of a room full of strangers and "performing" as long as I feel my material is well-prepared. It's actually harder to stand up in front of a small group of people I know, LOL. So most people who know me casually think I'm much more of an extrovert than I really am.
I had to approach WisCon like I would if I were attending a conference at my employer's behest. I had to act like I was getting paid to be outgoing. It helped. It's really hard to overcome inertia and make those first couple of steps toward a stranger just to introduce myself. It's really hard when I'm not intending to flirt with said stranger. How weird is that? I like to flirt, and I've been doing it all my life, so if I see someone interesting, I'll just find a way to walk on over (usually I just convince myself I've been invited). K and J were easy to approach in that respect on Friday and Sunday nights. J was a little harder because I'm pretty stupid when it comes to flirting with women. Not enough practice.
But wow, there were so many smart people at WisCon. In just about every panel I attended, someone besides a panelist made interesting, pithy remarks. I worked hard at approaching those people afterward to speak with them, thank them for their contribution, to tell them how much I appreciated their participation. You know, feedback = love in fandom, so I figure it's the same in RL, right? Most of the people I approached seemed pleased to be remembered. I know I'm pleased when it happens to me.
I also think I spoke to at least one panelist from every talk I went to. I wanted to speak to BC Holmes and Hanne I Blank from Counting Past Two, but I was too intimidated by each for different reasons. BC because she seemed so well-known and I felt like a n00b, even though I admired her moderating of a panel that wanted to get out of hand and wander off topic. And Hanne, well. If you've seen or met her, you probably know what I mean. She's so. Wow. I can't believe I'm tongue tied in my own journal. Hanne is (to my eye) one of the few completely self-actualized people I've encountered. I'm usually pretty pleased with my level of actualization but I felt really inferior to Hanne. Maybe next time.
Let's see, right off the bat, I met JB, whom I still owe a follow-up email. She had a great wit, and sarcasm was not lost on her. Plus, she's just as cute as a button. I loved her enthusiasm and friendliness. Then there was Sand, who was being brave like me, and just making herself get out there. So I felt a little bit of recognition/comaraderie with her, and I'm happy to say we're still bonding over mutual interests. It was nice to recognize a few faces as I went through the weekend, and feel welcomed back each day. Saturday night, I met the boys from Scribe Agency. They were setting up for their party, and I was a few minutes early, but they let me in anyway, and proceeded to show me their homebrew project. This was a seriously cool idea. Each of them (6 or 7 I think) brewed a beverage (mostly beer, but also a hard lemonade and a root beer). Alas, the beers were mostly from kits, or malt, but we still had fun with a little geeky brew-speak. The labels were each parts of a round robin story written by the brewers. The object was to put the bottles in the correct order to read the whole story. I think there was really more than one order that would work, but they didn't cop to that. They were all vying for me to choose their beer first, and that was fun. They were definitely in full geeky frat-boy mode, and I worried from time to time that I was overstaying my welcome. But srsly, theirs was the best party on the floor that night, (and possibly just the best party of the weekend). I kept going to explore other parties, but always returned to the boys. ::g:: While there, I had a lovely chat with Heidi Lampietti and Rachel. I hadn't intended to crash their talk, but they invited me to sit and stay :) The ride home was a bit emotional - too tired, too many new people met, too much time pushing myself to be outgoing. I was worn to a nub.
Sunday, I might not have gone as early in the day if I hadn't already signed up to work in the Art Show. I worked the register with Connie Toebe, the creator of the wonderful gift boxes given to the Tiptree Award recipients. Each one received a box that reflected her book in some way. It was really cool to hear how she felt about being commissioned to provide the pieces, and then afterward to congratulate her on how well they were received. The Art Show itself was well worth the time required to absorb everything. I was amazed by the quantity, quality and diversity of the works. Sunday night, after the ceremonies, there were more parties. One of the Lady Poetesses admired my outfit (as did a couple of other people) and that really made my day. I had changed the outfit up at the last minute, going from a fairly conservative black skirt to a fabulously short pink & black plaid pleated mini with my shiny black boots and the new corset from DH. I spent most of the evening at the Endicott Studio party and the Wyrdsmiths Party, although I did drop in on the LJ crowd. Everyone seemed engaged in quiet, semi-private conversations by the time I got there though, so I didn't attempt to interrupt, other than to say hello to Rachel. One of the most memorable conversations I had on Sunday included a foray into neuroscience. Apparently, pictures of the brain have been taken during memory creation and then during memory replay. The pics show that the brain lights up almost exactly the same during the memory firing as during creation. We speculated about how the pics would look over time, as a memory "faded." Would they be smaller over time? Would they retain their core shape? "Too bad we're not neurologists," I quipped. Seriously, this kind of thing (the esoteric, scientific, curiousity-feeding thing) just floats my boat. I love this shit. I love meeting other people willing to jabber on about it.
When I finally had enough, I headed out, but peeked into the Con Suite to see if I should say goodbye to anyone. Well, there were the Scribe boys again. Jesse is just too adorable (in the flavor of Joe Flanigan), and he knows it, LOL. The boys wanted me to help them play a practical joke on a friend/client who was bartending at the Wyrdsmiths party. It was very tempting to play along, especially when Jesse took off his shirt as an inducement, but I was so wiped, and I just couldn't be that mean to someone I didn't even know (they wanted me to say I'd read this stuff on their site and say it was terrible, and then "realize" he was the author - all while they observed from nearby) so I finally dragged myself away and went home.
I also think I spoke to at least one panelist from every talk I went to. I wanted to speak to BC Holmes and Hanne I Blank from Counting Past Two, but I was too intimidated by each for different reasons. BC because she seemed so well-known and I felt like a n00b, even though I admired her moderating of a panel that wanted to get out of hand and wander off topic. And Hanne, well. If you've seen or met her, you probably know what I mean. She's so. Wow. I can't believe I'm tongue tied in my own journal. Hanne is (to my eye) one of the few completely self-actualized people I've encountered. I'm usually pretty pleased with my level of actualization but I felt really inferior to Hanne. Maybe next time.
Let's see, right off the bat, I met JB, whom I still owe a follow-up email. She had a great wit, and sarcasm was not lost on her. Plus, she's just as cute as a button. I loved her enthusiasm and friendliness. Then there was Sand, who was being brave like me, and just making herself get out there. So I felt a little bit of recognition/comaraderie with her, and I'm happy to say we're still bonding over mutual interests. It was nice to recognize a few faces as I went through the weekend, and feel welcomed back each day. Saturday night, I met the boys from Scribe Agency. They were setting up for their party, and I was a few minutes early, but they let me in anyway, and proceeded to show me their homebrew project. This was a seriously cool idea. Each of them (6 or 7 I think) brewed a beverage (mostly beer, but also a hard lemonade and a root beer). Alas, the beers were mostly from kits, or malt, but we still had fun with a little geeky brew-speak. The labels were each parts of a round robin story written by the brewers. The object was to put the bottles in the correct order to read the whole story. I think there was really more than one order that would work, but they didn't cop to that. They were all vying for me to choose their beer first, and that was fun. They were definitely in full geeky frat-boy mode, and I worried from time to time that I was overstaying my welcome. But srsly, theirs was the best party on the floor that night, (and possibly just the best party of the weekend). I kept going to explore other parties, but always returned to the boys. ::g:: While there, I had a lovely chat with Heidi Lampietti and Rachel. I hadn't intended to crash their talk, but they invited me to sit and stay :) The ride home was a bit emotional - too tired, too many new people met, too much time pushing myself to be outgoing. I was worn to a nub.
Sunday, I might not have gone as early in the day if I hadn't already signed up to work in the Art Show. I worked the register with Connie Toebe, the creator of the wonderful gift boxes given to the Tiptree Award recipients. Each one received a box that reflected her book in some way. It was really cool to hear how she felt about being commissioned to provide the pieces, and then afterward to congratulate her on how well they were received. The Art Show itself was well worth the time required to absorb everything. I was amazed by the quantity, quality and diversity of the works. Sunday night, after the ceremonies, there were more parties. One of the Lady Poetesses admired my outfit (as did a couple of other people) and that really made my day. I had changed the outfit up at the last minute, going from a fairly conservative black skirt to a fabulously short pink & black plaid pleated mini with my shiny black boots and the new corset from DH. I spent most of the evening at the Endicott Studio party and the Wyrdsmiths Party, although I did drop in on the LJ crowd. Everyone seemed engaged in quiet, semi-private conversations by the time I got there though, so I didn't attempt to interrupt, other than to say hello to Rachel. One of the most memorable conversations I had on Sunday included a foray into neuroscience. Apparently, pictures of the brain have been taken during memory creation and then during memory replay. The pics show that the brain lights up almost exactly the same during the memory firing as during creation. We speculated about how the pics would look over time, as a memory "faded." Would they be smaller over time? Would they retain their core shape? "Too bad we're not neurologists," I quipped. Seriously, this kind of thing (the esoteric, scientific, curiousity-feeding thing) just floats my boat. I love this shit. I love meeting other people willing to jabber on about it.
When I finally had enough, I headed out, but peeked into the Con Suite to see if I should say goodbye to anyone. Well, there were the Scribe boys again. Jesse is just too adorable (in the flavor of Joe Flanigan), and he knows it, LOL. The boys wanted me to help them play a practical joke on a friend/client who was bartending at the Wyrdsmiths party. It was very tempting to play along, especially when Jesse took off his shirt as an inducement, but I was so wiped, and I just couldn't be that mean to someone I didn't even know (they wanted me to say I'd read this stuff on their site and say it was terrible, and then "realize" he was the author - all while they observed from nearby) so I finally dragged myself away and went home.
All in all, it was a great experience, and I'm looking forward to next year. I hope I'll stay in touch with a few new folks until then too, especially since a couple of them are right here in town.
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