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ConClave 31 Report and Pictures
This year's ConClave was an absolute blast! However, it did not initially start off that way...
Friday afternoon I trained down to the airport to catch a 5:30 flight with Uncle Kage. After getting past security, I noticed that the terminal was rather packed. Kage and I opted to buy daypasses for the US Airways Club and we're glad we did. Apparently a noreaster blew through the area and disrupted flights all over the region. With 1 or 2 exceptions, every flight was affected. About half of them were canceled and the other half had delays of an hour or more. Our flight was delayed for 2 hours, so we spent time chatting, drinking wine, and I got to provide tech support for an executive type person, which was kinda fun.
Getting on the plane was another adventure entirely. The first plane could not be used because of "maintenance issues". So, we were directed 2 gates down to get another plane. While the co-pilot was doing the "walk around", he found another "maintenance issue" which they had to fix. Then, when they finally let us down the jetway, the damn jetway was broken! So we had to go down onto the tarmac and then up into the plane. Once everyone got on the plane, THEN US Airways informed us that we were over our weight limit and one individual had to be bumped. Out of all the people on the plane, WHO do they bump? A member of the United States Army in full dress uniform. US Airways: You. Cheeky. Bastards.
So, some 3 hours late, we finally got in the air and had an uneventful flight to Detroit. Once arriving there, we waited a little for the hotel shuttle, got to the hotel, and got checked in around 11 PM. Kage was tired and went to sleep, while I went to say high to the Dorsai. Somewhere in there I saw General Talon, Furp, and GreenReaper, among many DI and other furs. I also had a little alcohol. 6 cups of greenish punch later, and I started feeling better. I turned in around 2:15 AM.
Saturday morning I got up and hit the breakfast buffet. Breakfast was quick, cheap, and fast. I also went to registration to get my badge. In addition to my badge, I was given a refund check for $40 from the convention. I had NO idea why they gave me money, but I have zero intention of cashing that check. I think ConClave deserves the money. I then hit 3 panels in a row, all of which just happened to be in the same room.
The first panel was "Diabetes in Fandom", which was led by some medical professionals who explained in great detail some of the medical issues that relate to diabetes and more about condition in general. I remember the remark was made, "I like speaking to this kind of audience, because I don't have to tell you what DNA is". I was also told that the Mission Statement for human beings is "cat food".
Next panel up was "Real life vs science fiction", or similar. Rene, Carol, and a few other panelists talked about how real life really IS stranger than fiction. There was an author-type guy there from one of the southern states who gave some great examples of how fiction must be "believable" by the reader in order to do well. Speaking of which, does anybody remember his name? I'd like to check his books out.
Next panel after that was Uncle Kage's story hour. Many laughs were had. Obviously, a large furry contingent was present. In fact, there were at least a dozen or so local furs at the con, which was more than attended last year. I'm glad the turnout was good.
Steve Simmons showed us some modifications he made to his Anthrocon Security t-shirt:
Some time after that, I attended 2 Gryphon's show. It was done with a closed door, so the rating was much higher, and much more fun. I learned some really sick things during that show. Of course, I was also responsible for some of the really sick things mentioned, which was fun too.
Afterward, I was getting hungry, so I tracked down Furp and we drove up and down the road a few miles looking for places to eat, only to go to the Bob's Big Boy right next to the hotel. Shortly after sitting down, Uncle Kage proceeded to walk up to me, sprayed whipped cream all over my head, and start singing Happy Birthday, to which the restaurant joined in. He seemed to have forgotten that my Birthday is really not until Halloween, a good 3 weeks away. Gah!
However, us leopards have a few tricks of our own. When I returned to the hotel, I quietly cast Summon Dorsai, and 2d4 Dorsai showed up within 5 rounds. At the time, Kage was doing the charity auction, so the DI made their way there, while I hid behind a column with the bottle of whipped cream which Kage had foolishly left on the table at Big Boy. Right after he finished auctioning off the last piece, the DI ran up, grabbed him, and I exacted revenge:
Somewhere in there, Gir Tygrin presented me with a very nice leopard tail I could wear around the con, complete with airbrushed rosettes. (Each worth around 7 cheetah spots, too!) Gir also takes commissions for tails. You should buy his tails. They rock.
Also at some point during the con, I was given a pack of Dorsai Trading Cards. I have no clue who is behind them, but the amount of work they've put into the cards is significant, both in terms of how nice they look, and the attention to detail on the cards.
Two words: Happy Goths. I have never seen this before. I have no idea what to think.
On Saturday night, I dropped by the dance and saw a group of Goths dancing to Sir Mix-a-lot's "Baby Got Back". Again, I was utterly confused.
Strangely enough, I could not find the beer keg in the consuite while sober. After having a few drinks elsewhere, I returned to the consuite and had no difficulty in locating the keg. Spiderman has a "spidey sense", I apparently have an "alcohol sense". I wandered around some more, watched "Look Around You" in the video room, and finally went to bed around 3:30 AM.
Sunday morning, I checked out of my hotel room and visited the Dealers' Room. I picked up two books: "How to Lose a Battle", which is a rather sarcastic account of battles over the last 2,500 years that have been lost mostly through incompetence of those in command. It's a rather funny read. I also picked up, "The Science of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy". I haven't yet started on this one but look forward to it.
At 1 PM, GreenReaper and I were scheduled to host the "What's a Wiki?" panel. Unfortunately, there was a typo in the schedule which caused the room it was hosted in to not be listed. That, combined with the timing (very few people stay very long on Sundays at ConClave) caused no one to show up. I made good use of the time by catching up on my sleep. :-)
Closing ceremonies was kinda cool. A large part of the group that showed up consisted of furs. I'm not sure what the underlying reason for that was. Either furs tend to stay later at conventions than other fandoms, or we tend to go to closing ceremonies more often. Who knows?
After the con, a few of us hit a Japanese restaurant with absolutely amazing sushi. I must go back there again next year. Much fun was had by all. Then we returned to the hotel and Kage and I went to the airport to catch our flight home. We had the mandatory trip to Jose Cuervo's Tequileria at the airport, I had 2 shots of tequila, and we watched some Family Guy. Then we went through security, which was fun. The flight home was uneventful.
All things considered, ConClave kicked a whole lot of ass. Next year, I plan on arriving there on Thursday so that I can volunteer some time to help for set up at the con. Also, ConClave did some advertising to the Goth community this year we had a fair amount of Goths there. Overall, they seemed a pretty well behaved and respectable bunch. I wish I had some time to visit the goth panels, because I did want to learn more about that sub culture. Oh well, maybe next year.
Finally, if you made it this far, my ConClave 31 pictures can be found at: http://www.claws-and-paws.com/pictures/furry/conventions/conclave31