geoviki: (haring - heart)
geoviki ([personal profile] geoviki) wrote2006-08-01 01:50 pm
Entry tags:

Lumos

The Obligatory post-Lumos post:



I think all cons need to come in pairs. At the Witching Hour, I was a con newbie and even with [livejournal.com profile] isiscolo nurturing me (and did we ever miss you, sweetie, but we talked about you so that your ears must be burning -- no! It was all good things!), it took me a bit of time to meet folks and settle in and get with the program. I was all o_O that weekend.

This time around, I felt part of the action from the minute I hit the airport and ran into [livejournal.com profile] cordelia_v heading for the Night Bus. We never stopped talking for an hour! She mocked me for my primitive cell phone skills, but I eventually forgave her.

I was lucky enough to snag [livejournal.com profile] meri_oddities as a roommate for most of the time, and we were very compatible and good for each other, I think. Her mileage may vary, of course, but she is too gracious to tell me that I probably snore like a rock drill. On Wednesday night, though, [livejournal.com profile] emmagrant01 shared her digs (thanks, sweetie!) and I met [livejournal.com profile] jedirita, who was engaging and fun, too.

I enjoyed the resort. The rooms were comfy, the bathroom to die for. I froze in a few of the meeting rooms and kicked myself for forgetting a jacket. All paths led through the casino (aka the Mouth of Hell), and the normal clientele were older (by which I mean older than me). Even with a steady stream of folks in full Wizard regalia, they never even looked up but kept a 10-yard stare at the slot machines. I never dropped a single coin in one, and I suspect that few of the rest of you did either, from what I saw. You know what they say: gambling is a tax on people who are bad at math. Too many Ravenclaws came to Lumos.

I practically lived in the Irish pub for the first 24 hours. There were 2 H/D meetups and a Snarry one that I went to because all my friends are Snarrinistas. I never got the mojito I was craving the whole weekend. I suppose Irish pubs are not known for trendy drinks. I did imbibe an Avada Colada, which was made using rum, creme de menthe, and citrus-something, which tasted more like mouthwash and reminded me that I really, really wanted that mojito.

I'm glad I showed up on Wednesday, because that gave me nearly 2 days to just meet and greet. When the programming started on Friday, I was ready for content in a more formal setting. But first, I watched [livejournal.com profile] amanuensis1 play Water Quidditch. We, and some surprised non-con resort guests, were treated to an amazing display of skill. After that, the slash and het panel kicked off my morning with a bang. [livejournal.com profile] bethbethbeth read and categorized 400 (!) fics for the discussion. That's devotion to the cause.

I especially enjoyed the panel on Religion in the WW by [livejournal.com profile] jedirita, [livejournal.com profile] femmequixotic, [livejournal.com profile] ellid, and.... one more, and I don't have my program handy. They introduced the current status of Muggle religion in Britain and extrapolated how the students might carry their home perspectives to Hogwarts - from evangelical Christianity to neopaganism.

The H/D roundtable met at the bar by the pool, where we were reminded that, yes, it really was about 110 degrees in Las Vegas. *waves to everyone I met or re-met*

That evening, a group of us dined at the Japanese restaurant and drove into Las Vegas proper to the Star Trek Experience. We saved all of our sorry selves from Borg assimilation and Klingon kidnapping, so phew for that.

I was Imperio'd to fill in for several panels on Saturday. I started the morning discussing Draco/Snape (yeah, I could hear you all muttering under your breath about my admittedly meager qualifications for this, but I excel at bullshitting. Longtime readers of this LJ already are aware of this). [livejournal.com profile] femmequixotic, [livejournal.com profile] titti, and [livejournal.com profile] goseaward did the heavy lifting, really. Thank you so much, Goosey, for sitting on the end near the Olduvai Gorge that was the stage edge. Otherwise I'd have been sitting on your lap.

In the afternoon, I served on the Crackfic! Panel. [livejournal.com profile] emmagrant01 was the moderator and question-asker, and [livejournal.com profile] scarah2 covered the art while [livejournal.com profile] furiosity and I did the fic. I read part of Never Mind the Bollocks, It's Harry/Draco - and there's the link so you can read the rest, if you dare. Luck of the draw had us in the smallest room and people were turned away after the room filled. Sorry, everyone! I think the dynamic of the panelists was absolutely wonderful, and after my initial nervousness faded, I had a ball playing off Furiosity (a BNF Deathmatch was proposed for the hot tub, if you're wondering about those icons showing up). She managed to look beyond my faults, including that I've 1) written non-crack mpreg, 2) use Boyd icons liek whoa, and 3) have written model!Draco. Meanwhile, [livejournal.com profile] scarah2 was drawing funny cartoons and text. The audience was warm and open, which fed the fun.

I cooled off at the poolside Ron meetup that [livejournal.com profile] thrihyrne organized, then got ready to brave the Strip. We took a large bus without air conditioning, so we were all nice and baked by the time we arrived. I'd been to LV a few times in 1976 and 1977, and again in 1993. The changes between visits were enormous. This time, I felt as though the scale of everything had moved beyond what the human brain was prepared to accept. I had a constant feeling that I could never get there from here. The group of 20 we began with fragmented into different interests, which helped our ability to walk through the crowds, although I wanted to be three places at once. [livejournal.com profile] gilded_kage, [livejournal.com profile] jamoche, and I took the monorail as far south as it goes, and spent 20 minutes trying to find the front door of the MGM Grand. We nearly missed the bus home, but [livejournal.com profile] gilded_kage determinedly flagged it down in the street. And [livejournal.com profile] jamoche? That was a true Twilight Zone moment, because I thought you were right behind me when I got on the bus, but when I finally turned around you had disappeared—and I never saw you again after that! If you tell me now that you never went to the Strip at all, I will be forever freaked out.

Waah, had to leave on Sunday, but we hung around the lobby and had a great final henfest. Well, except for [livejournal.com profile] pauraque who was our token dude and a delightful one at that.


Feel free to post pictures of me with my username if you like. My own camera uses film, so it'll be a bit for me to develop and scan them in, by which time you'll all be bored with Lumos talk.

[identity profile] emmagrant01.livejournal.com 2006-08-01 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
*hugs* It was so great to see you again!

Thanks again for your awesome contribution to the crack panel! It went so well, better than I had even imagined. I will do a proper post about that at some point this week. And hey, what other panel has its own icons? ;-)

[identity profile] geoviki.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 03:41 am (UTC)(link)
I thought it was all great fun! [livejournal.com profile] furiosity and I should do a movie review show on TV, don't you think? And with live art!

I've never been an icon before.

[identity profile] gmth.livejournal.com 2006-08-01 08:17 pm (UTC)(link)
non-con resort guests

No need to tell you where my mind went with that!
ext_1059: (Aubrey UFO by Katie8787)

[identity profile] shezan.livejournal.com 2006-08-01 08:19 pm (UTC)(link)
*iz ded*
ext_1611: Isis statue (squid etching)

[identity profile] isiscolo.livejournal.com 2006-08-01 08:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, hee, you *would* read it that way.
And now I am, too!
cordelia_v: my default icon (BDSM)

[personal profile] cordelia_v 2006-08-01 08:32 pm (UTC)(link)
The non-con was all happening out at the hot tub orgy.

I'm so glad I packed a swimsuit.

[identity profile] gmth.livejournal.com 2006-08-01 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, much MUCH icon love!

[identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com 2006-08-01 11:24 pm (UTC)(link)
That's how I read it. And didn't even blink.

Icarus

[identity profile] geoviki.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 03:42 am (UTC)(link)
They were all sub to the slot machines!
ext_1611: Isis statue (hands)

[identity profile] isiscolo.livejournal.com 2006-08-01 08:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw, I missed you (all) too. And I was tickled to see that you were on the Snape/Draco panel - but of course, you've written Snape/Draco. Er, Draco/Snape, anyway.

[identity profile] geoviki.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 03:43 am (UTC)(link)
Not only did I write it, I wrote it for you!

[identity profile] ellid.livejournal.com 2006-08-01 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
WHAT hot tub orgy? And why the !#!$@#!$#! didn't anyone tell me?

[identity profile] geoviki.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
I only heard about the gory details on the bus a day too late. There were boobies and kissing is what I heard. Maybe I should make up a lot more stuff, what do you think?
cordelia_v: my default icon (Default)

[personal profile] cordelia_v 2006-08-01 08:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Damn. I missed that orgy. And I was even at the hot tub, every evening!

But I was glad to hang out again with you, Viki. You must come to Prophecy, if you possibly can!

[identity profile] ellid.livejournal.com 2006-08-01 08:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Are you going? I'm considering it...I'll need at least two roommates to make it economically possible, but I'd sure love to attend. Phoenix Rising is out of the question, alas....
cordelia_v: my default icon (Default)

[personal profile] cordelia_v 2006-08-01 08:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, I'll almost certainly be there (unless a family crisis or some such happens). I have a friend in Toronto I can stay with.

[identity profile] geoviki.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 03:47 am (UTC)(link)
I'm already working on the psychological acceptance aspect of those around me!

I had a wonderful time. And this time, I didn't find myself the next day in an empty Maine resort town in the rain all alone, like at TWH.

(Note how I did not use one of my 60-some Draco icons for this comment. This is the incomparable Jake Shears, my new love.)
cordelia_v: my default icon (be still my heart)

[personal profile] cordelia_v 2006-08-02 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
Note how I did not use one of my 60-some Draco icons for this comment

Yet another example of why I have come to rely on your taste and discretion, my dear, and why I delight in your company.


*skips using Snape icon*

[identity profile] coffeejunkii.livejournal.com 2006-08-01 08:32 pm (UTC)(link)
hee, your cut-tag!! that's the most important part, huh? i thought the hotel was arctic, too!! whenever i didn't have my sweater with me, i was really cold. and it was a good idea to arrive a day early indeed. *makes note for next time*

i'd been to vegas once in 1995, and i thought it was completely different this time around as well.

three cheers for the crack!fic panel :D.

[identity profile] geoviki.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 03:48 am (UTC)(link)
It was very nice to meet you at last! Yeah, I think I liked the 1993 incarnation of Vegas better. This experience was too overwhelming. I can't imagine the folks who come often. Maybe they've all had lobotomies.

[identity profile] aubrem.livejournal.com 2006-08-01 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
It was great to meet you! This was my first con and I know what you mean about being all O.o

I'll be at Prophesy I hope - any chance you'll be there too?

[identity profile] geoviki.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
I would like to go to Prophecy. I haven't been to Toronto in over 30 years. And it was great to meet you, too. I think it's on the LJs of [livejournal.com profile] painless_j and [livejournal.com profile] parthenia14 where I see you most. And now mine, I hope!

(Anonymous) 2006-08-01 09:04 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm seriusly tempted to come to the next con, even though my staus within fandom is more as a reader than a contributor. I'd bump up the male percentage, any way... You sound like you had a whale of a time, so I'm glad.

I await your pictures of the hot-tub orgy with anticipation.

[identity profile] jonem.livejournal.com 2006-08-01 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Whoops, that was me - bad typing and all!

How on earth did I get logged out? Hmm...

[identity profile] geoviki.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 03:57 am (UTC)(link)
You would have the best time, you really would. Let me tempt you: you can prepare by making spreadsheets like I did of which talks and panels you want to go to, color coding them based on things like if you know the person and such. Then you can make another spreadsheet of all the LJ friends you finally get to meet in person and list all the little details you learn about them like whether or not they want you to buy them mojitos.

And when you are finally on the same continent, I can get you in my clutches meet up with you and play matchmaker for you introduce you to people. Won't that be scary fun?

[identity profile] jonem.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 01:14 pm (UTC)(link)
I would adore meeting you in the flesh even though you put Jewish matchmakers to shame. These mojitos you mention sound delightful!

My knowledge of which con is when is a bit sparse - I know Prophecy is in early August 2007, but apart from that I'm clueless. What are you planning to go to?

[identity profile] geoviki.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 04:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, you know I'm really all hat and no cattle although you and Pauraque would make a cute couple, him all blond and you all dark.

There's Phoenix Rising in New Orleans in May.

Sectus is in London in July, which is kind of your neck of the woods, but it's planned to be smaller - about 200 fen. It is being organized by slashers, though, unlike Accio. I met one of them at Lumos, [livejournal.com profile] elanor_isolda.

Prophecy is in August in Toronto, which is practically England, right? I mean, they drink tea and all. You'd fit right in. That's the con I'm aiming for.
(deleted comment)

[identity profile] geoviki.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 03:58 am (UTC)(link)
I wish I were more digitally gifted - then there'd be pictures, too.

[identity profile] meri-oddities.livejournal.com 2006-08-01 09:22 pm (UTC)(link)
I never heard you snore, not once. I was sure I'd keep *you* up with my snoring! *g* You're always welcome to be my roommate again! Escapade? Connexions? Prophesy?

[identity profile] geoviki.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 03:59 am (UTC)(link)
I need to do some serious online research about these and try to guess some kind of schedule. But I'd love to! And yes, roommates again!
jamoche: Prisoner's pennyfarthing bicycle: I am NaN (Default)

[personal profile] jamoche 2006-08-01 09:56 pm (UTC)(link)
I grabbed the empty seat in the front row because the bus was starting to move, and then had to get up at 6AM (there should only be one 6:00 in a day, and AM is not it) for the flight back. And my feet were killing me. But it was fun!

[identity profile] geoviki.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 04:01 am (UTC)(link)
Mystery solved then! I know about the feet - I was sure I was going to have big blisters, but luckily that didn't happen. Good ol' Karen can really burn up the pavement, can't she? I could only trail in her wake in wonder and amazement.

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2006-08-01 11:14 pm (UTC)(link)
But first, I watched [livejournal.com profile] amanuensis1 play Water Quidditch. We, and some surprised non-con resort guests, were treated to an amazing display of skill.

*dies laughing* Everywhere I go, I bring the non-con!!

[identity profile] geoviki.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 04:02 am (UTC)(link)
Didn't you notice how they were all bound hand and foot in their loungers? I suppose you were too busy drowning members of the other team. Breathplay!
(deleted comment)

[identity profile] geoviki.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 04:03 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, right! I know the next GSA is in Philly, but there'll be one in Denver soon, and I know I'll go then.

*waves lurkingly*

[identity profile] lemonade8.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 01:21 am (UTC)(link)
Ahhh... my lumos envy is now multiplied!! You read Never Mind the Bollocks? I am in awe of your bullshit skills, and would give about 5 mojitos to hear you bs through the Draco/Snape panel. Glad you had a good time, even through your sojurns through the mouth of geriatric gambling hell.

Re: *waves lurkingly*

[identity profile] geoviki.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 04:05 am (UTC)(link)
Your icon! OMG, is that ever gorgeous!

I read up to the grey eyes part, because we only had a bit of time for an intro. What took me 3 minutes in my room took much longer in front of an audience.

I had a wonderful time. I saw my peeps!

Re: *waves lurkingly*

[identity profile] lemonade8.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 05:27 am (UTC)(link)
I like to think of my icon as Harry. See the snake? Parseltongue!!! ;D (he's an Italian actor/model named Gabriel, I believe) Might I compliment your icon as well, that's a mighty fine Draco you've got there! Now I'll picture my icon with your icon whenever I read some fics.

LOL!!! The grey eyes!! The dryer lint... the jeans... *giggle* Must have made for a dramatic reading.

[identity profile] wearethestars.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 04:39 am (UTC)(link)
I'm still all a-squee about the con and that I got to meet you. I have more Lumos things to post in my journal and a few pics with you in the background, so I'll be sure to let you know when I post them. :D

[identity profile] geoviki.livejournal.com 2006-08-08 01:42 am (UTC)(link)
It was great to meet you, even if we didn't get to spend much time together. I'm checking out your posts and enjoying your pictures. Mine are still sitting on the counter waiting for me to get to the store to get them developed.

[identity profile] incroyable.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 05:12 pm (UTC)(link)
You PROBABLY do not remember me, but I seriously fangirled you (I love how that has become a verb) the whole time.

*so much love*

[identity profile] geoviki.livejournal.com 2006-08-08 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
Of course I remember you - I've had your LJ friended for a while now, and I always look for names I know at cons. I remember seeing you in a crowd, so we didn't have a real chance to chat.

*fangirls back*

[identity profile] incroyable.livejournal.com 2006-08-08 04:19 am (UTC)(link)
*dies*

:DD

[identity profile] twigged.livejournal.com 2006-08-02 11:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Sounds like a super fab time was had by all!

[identity profile] geoviki.livejournal.com 2006-08-08 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
I don't know about 'all', but I sure did! I did miss you, though, and walking through the rain to find a decent bar.

[identity profile] kriken.livejournal.com 2006-08-03 01:15 am (UTC)(link)
It was awesome to meet you! The crack panel was one of my favorite things out of the entire weekend :) BNF Death Match, indeed!

And just FYI - my big ass Lumos post (here (http://kriken.livejournal.com/91928.html)) has some pics of you that you're more than welcome to take, if you like. Just wanted to let you know :)

[identity profile] geoviki.livejournal.com 2006-08-08 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you! I'm kind of awe-stricken at how much talk that panel has left behind. And I snagged some pictures, too - thanks!

It was a treat to meet you and to do the slashcast, which I still need to listen to (to check out that I don't sound uber-stupid. I didn't exactly prepare for that!)

[identity profile] kriken.livejournal.com 2006-08-08 02:07 am (UTC)(link)
You're very welcome!

The slashcast chat was fun and very impromptu, I agree. I was pulling more than just slasher percentages out of my ass ;) But you didn't sound stupid, I promise. Me, on the other hand... I transcribed that chat and I apparently like to describe things as "cute" waaay too much. ::facepalm::