I Love Everybody (well, almost) And You're Next!
This JournalCon 2002 summed up in one sentence: The JournalCon of LOOOOOVVVE.
Everyone really had a good time (except a select few), most everybody loved everybody and if they were anymore supportive, they'd be underwire.
Lucy was going to pick me up along with a few others that were getting in slightly earlier than I did but Michael W. offered to come pick me up and I took him up on it.
I had some stuff I wanted to talk to him about and just to check in emotionally with him. If you've never read before, Michael made a special trip down to the town I work in to meet me for the first time and to hang out during my lunch hour and to eat lunch together. There are some people that bring out the side of me that WORRIES about them like I'm the Mom. Michael is one of those people. Knowing how hectic and overwhelming a JournalCon can be I sort of knew we probably wouldn't get any other chance to talk privately. And I was pretty much right.
It turned out to be a good thing Lucy didn't have to worry about picking me up because of my 2 hour flight delay. With everything else that she had to do, finishing up last minute details and getting us our most coolest name tags, I would have wanted to throw myself under a moving cable car if I had caused her any more angst. I knew she didn't feel good but she still forged through the evening and I can't help but admire that. When I'm feeling physically BAD, it tends to shine through and set fire to anything that pisses me off and happens to be in nearby vicinity.
- I was sort of afraid to meet Lucy. Maybe not afraid but intimidated! Lucy is one of those journalers that started WAY back in the day and I've been reading her for years and years now. She's one of my Journal Supah-STAH's.
I must say it's a good thing Michael drove. There's no way in hell I could have driven though that traffic. I'd have been turned into a sobbing mass of immovable goo on the side of the road before even getting out of the airport.
Got downtown, parked, walked to the hotel, signed in and that was the beginning of one of the best weekends I've had.
It was so good to walk into the hotel room and Amanda already be there.
- A personal highlight: I finally, finally got to meet Trish. She and I basically started our online journals at about the same time and I've been reading her since then. She's my Music Maven.
-"Why, yes, I AM stupid!" moment: Introducing myself to Sarah and mumbling something like: "Yes I read you! It's a column, not a journal." Oh my God. I'm an idiot. Really. I sort of just shut the hell up after that. She ended up having her bag stolen by some asspipe Friday night I think. That has got to be the epitome of SUCK on a weekend away. Which has nothing to do with me being lame but that would have ruined my entire weekend.
The trek through a small part of Chinatown to get to Friday night's buffet dinner thing.
Chinatown at the Golden Phoenix (Eat It Like A Taco) and it is mostly a tired blur from the soup forward at that point.
My fortune from the Golden Phoenix
My dinner companions for Friday Night: Kymm, Amanda, myself, Shelly Guest of Lucy, KarenD and Mr. KarenD.
- I do remember that Shelly, Guest Of Lucy, is great and I've read about her in Lucy's journal and we have a lot of the same taste in music and I encouraged her to start a travel journal because she's been so many places and I think she'd be a great storyteller. The poor girl is allergic to shellfish though and since almost all of the dishes had some form of shellfish ingredients, she was one hungry Guest of Lucy by the time the Broccoli Beef rolled out.
- Sharing the table also were KarenD and Mr. KarenD who I didn't know but had a wonderful time talking to them both. KarenD seemed so quiet but after just a short time I can tell she's got a sharp sense of humor. I like that. And Mr. KarenD has a nickname in my head: The Intrepid Traveler. If I were on Survivor, I'd want KarenD and Mr. KarenD on my team.
It's The Impression That I Get
- Bitter Hag and I decided that you just really can't efficiently kill bugs when you're naked. Especially the poisonous types. On one of the walks somewhere, I heard her talking to someone behind me about biking these hills and I'm dying walking up this thing and I turned to her and asked her how the hell she does it and she showed me the weaving thing. How cool. It takes guts to ride these hills I think. Not counting the unexpected appearance of people and traffic that could get in your way.
- Bev had offered to give me and a few others the grand tour of SF but by the time that rolled around to do, I was so tired and give out that I just couldn't face putting myself in another moving vehicle. Every time I looked down I felt that I was still on that moving ferry. Ugh. I get motion sick pretty easily and stayed on motion sickness pills the whole weekend just because I didn't want to chance throwing up on a bus or a cable car or just at ALL. She looks so good though! She's becoming the regular California Jockette from what I've seen and read! Great job Bev. :)
- I spent a fair amount of time on Saturday with Jill because I sort of just stalked her (around Alcatraz). I mean it in a good way. I first saw her on Friday talking with Jen Fu in the stairwell of the hotel and I sort of said a quiet hi to both of them and skittered up the steps. I was so struck. Plus they looked to be having a conversation and I didn't want to just barge in. Jill has a great sense of humor and God does the woman have some POISE and bearing or what? AND she likes to share food. Be still my heart!
Jill shared her Garlic Fries with the table when we ate lunch after the Alcatraz trip. Lunch companions: Beth & Vic, Amanda, Meg, KarenD and Mr. KarenD, Jared, Kymm and Jill. GOOD!!!!! Stuff!!!! A wonderful group to have lunch with. I think it was one of my favorite things. (We did have Bitter, Bev and Hez in our group but the cooked crabs were calling to their group and we were following the call of chocolate and ended up splitting up.)
- And thank GOD for Belgian fries. Because going in search of a Ghirardelli's chocolate sundae ( in Ghirardelli's Square) for Kymm just about KILLED me. And did she even get a damn sundae after the 50 mile trek from Fisherman's Wharf to Ghirardelli's Square? No. Her poor excuse: the line was too long. It's a good thing she's Kymm!
I've seen Kymm twice this year which is more than I see of some of my family members! AND THEN she had the gall to read a magazine on the way back to the hotel. KarenD and I agreed it was very very bad of her to do that just because we weren't standing up doing the can can or something equally entertaining for her.
- I got to meet Jared on the Alcatraz tour and he also ate lunch with us. He totally championed for me to sing at the karaoke and bought me a drink and encouraged me and told me I didn't stink at karaoke. Great guy and it was a pleasure to meet him. He reminded me of my brother.
-I also got to finally meet Thursday Beth and Vic. She walked right up to me and introduced herself to me and of course, I knew her right away. It's hard to believe that I've been reading her journal for probably over 4-5 years now. Amazing. It was good to meet her finally, face to face.
- Anna Beth was also on Pamie's panel in the capacity of The Questioner. It was great, they worked very well together and both of them have excellent comedic timing. The panel was fun and I wouldn't have missed it. Anna Beth was so sweet to come up and say hi to me at the Laser Karaoke place. She won my heart for that. I was feeling very shy and in awe at everyone singing and just watching everyone interact.
- Mopie was exactly like I thought she'd be. I didn't spend much time with her unfortunately. She did read me after karaoke though...just like on Angel and just like I asked her to. What a fun girl! I loved meeting her.
-A person I totally liked but wasn't sure (only because of what I knew about him was what he had posted in his journal. which isn't a whole lot) about pre-Con: Josh/Pete. I promised him (and Karen and Jen Fu too!) that I would protect him from all the scary people in North Carolina if he ever came to visit. I think he'd be able to handle himself quite well though. Love the tattoos. He also has a great smile. I know his name is Pete but I'm so used to calling him Josh in my head because of the TUS board that I sort of got confused. I just knew he was thinking I was a total ass because I was calling him Josh and thinking of him as Josh instead of Pete. Ah well. I hope he can forgive the error!
-Best thing said to me at the 'Con: That I would totally win Survivor. Best compliment EVER Jen. Thank you.
- Got to meet Michael R. as well. (MichaelCon 2002) has the (short) conversation in his JournalCon entry here that we had in the lobby of the hotel. It's sort of odd...I've known about Michael for so long and I do check in now and then but so much sports...makes my eyes cross as I'm sure my journal topics affect him in the same way. It's one of the facts of journaling life: you can't read everyone's stuff and expect to like it. Especially if you live very different lives. Life is just like that. I'm glad I did get to meet him even if it was briefly.
-I only spoke with Terry just a few times but I was so impressed with her level of organization and the JournalCon swag that she brought with her. LOVED the stuff. The little fluffy pink dude is hanging out on the corner of my monitor where Erica can't get to it.
I'd like to take part in the IF... collab that she cooked up 'specially for JournalCon. I've got the placard staring me in the face here: "If you have five minutes to make an impression on someone you are meeting for the first time, what will they see? How closely does the image you project reflect the inner you?" Excellent question!
On Sunday, after the panels were over and lunch was over and there was a small group getting smaller by the hour in the lobby of the hotel, I walked in and sat on the fringes of the group. Talking to Thursday Beth and Kymm as she wandered here and there, I was just sort of watching the main group in the room by the fireplace and watching the interactions between everyone.
- Karen was sitting in that group made up of Wendy, Mo, Jen, Hez, a sleeping Jake, Miss E., Meg, Ian, JenWade, Stephanie and some others. I'd seen her on and off throughout the weekend but didn't quite know how to just walk up and start a conversation like normal people. Karen came over and asked me if I was sitting where I was because of (i think she said being tired or something) or shyness. Lying to her occurred but of course I'm a dork enough that the "shyness" answer fell out. I think I embarrassed myself by telling her how beautiful she was in person and then we went on to talk for a bit and it was one of the best conversations I had that weekend.
I met so many people that I really didn't get to spend any time with. It's something I expected though because the first 'Con was the same way. There's always a few groups that you seem to pass like ships in the night and not get to spend any time with.
- I got glittered by Krystyn. Very apt as I spent much of the weekend wondering where the HELL all the glitter kept coming from and didn't find out until Sunday. A day late and a lot of dollars short. I also have a few pictures of her and her very cool bag that I'll have to post when I get stuff scanned. I hate that she had to leave on Sunday night. It would have been cool to hang out with her a little bit longer. She was in the Garden group on Sunday evening.
People That I've Met Before....
It will go without saying that seeing the people I already knew/know was better than I could put into words.
- Jen Wade is totally my crush. I would follow her around and just carry her bags for her. ForEVER. I love Jen Wade! I could continue on but I think I've embarrassed myself enough for now.
- Having met MichaelH for the first time at Pittsburgh JournalCon, I knew more of what I could expect and wasn't unsure about why he was so quiet. Michael is such a presence that, to me, he really doesn't have to say very much. He radiates such a solid, good togetherness that is calming to me. I don't know. I'm just so immediately comfortable with him even though I've only met him twice now.
- MollyZero looks SO damn good! (no sidebars!) The inner Molly is really shining through. She was one of my co-panelists along with Lunesse. God. (Speaking of Lunesse. I was completely intimidated when I first saw her in her purple shiny pants and motorcycle jacket. What a gorgeous woman. Oh yeah! Who turned out to be Slavegirl. The anonymous cooking journaler. AND somehow I missed out on the cookies which I am very, very sad about.)
- If I had to dedicate a song to Pamie it would be "Wreck Me" by Tom Petty. I've watched the girl speak and just love listening and watching her so much and think she's got so much talent but I get so SAD when it's time for her to leave. Maybe it's because she seems to have the last panel I see each time I've been to JournalCon.
- Lynda and I discussed, among other secret things, health issues that each of us deal with. She is also still not smoking and I am SO proud of her for that. I'm hoping her work travel stuff will bring her down this way.
- It was wonderful to see Jen Fu again...I didn't get to see her much though at least I got to talk a little bit on the Sunday evening stroll to the billiards hall. (We're walking...we're walking....we're RUNNING for our lives) heh. She seemed more quiet though from what I saw at JournalCon a few years ago. Not quiet exactly but more self-possessed? I don't think that's exactly what I'm trying to say but it'll have to do.
- I got to see Emily again, even if for a short time, she got the "girls and boys" song stuck in my head for WEEKS after the damn 'Con, and she sang with me.
My Panel
The morning before my panel, I got to eat breakfast with Lynda, Michael Hardy, Amanda, Steve, Lisa and joining us a bit after we got started Michael W.
Lucy had asked me to speak on a panel entitled "Thematic Journals" (Thematic Journals because I keep so many different types of journals including the regular one and the garden journal) and a few months ago, it seemed no big deal. "Sure!" said I, thinking I'd knock it out easily without breaking a sweat. I seem to forget that it's not the actual talking that bothers me but the anticipation and trepidation leading UP TO the talking part. I hate that.
I spoke, had fun, said everything I wanted to say and I thought it went just fine. It helped that we had such a kickass moderator in Lucy. I had fun with it. And then my hard part was over and I floated into the panels that interested me.
I floated between the next two panels which were the "How To Have A Popular Journal" and the "Full Disclosure: How much is too much?" and I sat in for the Moveable Type panel.
There were Journal readings, two of them, and I managed to miss both. Maybe next year.
On Sunday: "Life After Journaling", the "Online Personas" panel and then the grand finale of Pamie's panel.
All the speakers were great and did a fabulous job. I wish I could have attended all of them just to watch the speakers.
Sunday after the panels, a group of us went out to eat lunch: Vietnamese noodle lunch at The Citrus Club. It was: me, Jen Wade, Bitter, Javina, Jill, Amanda, Michael W., Stephanie, Steve and Bob. God. I think I'm forgetting someone. Dammit. It was a great lunch and we all had a good time and that was some most excellent food! That's the only time I spent with Bob. He shared his Vietnamese snack peas with me. A nice guy who takes excellent photos.
- Between Steve, Kymm and Bob there should be some very, very good pictures recorded of the various events.
Comparisons between The First JournalCon and the Third JournalCon
How can you compare something that is the
same yet so different in so many
ways? Honesty though, I felt that there was a lot less ego involved on
every level. No big gossipfests. No weird vibes...well, no more weirder
than normal weird vibes. Plus, I think that so many attendees sort of
knew what to expect this time around either for the third or second and
many of them/us have met before.
San Francisco Thoughts That Have Not Much To Do With Journalers
-That hotel worker, Kevin? What a major
flirt.
-The spitting man on the bus. What a psycho.
-Ghirardelli's Chocolates: free samples = life long addiction.
-Belgian Fries: flavored ketchups (I chickened out and asked for "just
plain ketchup please". I had the Botero: cheddar and ham on baguette.
$5.95 and regular fries.)
-Sea Lions at Fisherman's Wharf!
-The serious hills. That whole Rice-A-Roni commercial doesn't prepare
one very well for the reality of the hills.
-For the record: you people that drive there in the city are in-fucking-sane.
Going across the pedestrian crossings and hoping like hell that nobody's
brakes failed at that crucial moment. It's not even like driving as I
know it. It's more like crossing your fingers and flinging yourself into
traffic and just being aggressive and GOING. Jen managed to not only park
in a spot as big as a small shoe box but parallel parked. Driving skillz
are definitely a must.
-Turk Street = BADBADBAD after dark. Not so sure about the daytime but
I don't think I'd chance it. Holy SHIT was that not good.
-Jamaican Ginger ale is some good stuff.
My Firsts For This Trip
-First time in a real pool hall. You have
to pay an hourly deposit. Played three games, won two, lost the last.
Started playing with Jen Fu but she had to go so Amanda and I finished
up. Josh/Pete and Karen played one table and Michael H. and Lynda played
another. It was a mellow time but was a fitting end to the weekend for
me.
-First time in a taxi cab.
-First time eating Vietnamese. I think the restaurant we ate at was called
The
Citrus Club. Someone correct me if I'm wrong please.
-First time for karaoke: seeing it and singing it. I sang with Jen Wade
and Emily for the first song: Paint It Black and John
Scalzi won my undying devotion by singing Minority by Green
Day with me. In Japantown.
-First time speaking at a JournalCon.
-Riding on a public bus. And having it be so packed that I had to stand
up at first. Which was really cool. I wouldn't think
it so cool if I had to carry groceries or a baby though. That would suck.
-Riding on an electric cable car from Ghirardelli's Square back to the
Hotel. Very cool.
-Being in other time zones beside my native Eastern Standard Time.
-Being west of the Mississippi.
-Flying in and out of St. Louis Lambert Airport in Missouri
-Seeing the Rocky Mountains for the first time ever in my life as I flew
out west. They had snow on the uppermost part of the peaks.
-Flying over Bryce Canyon and Lake
Tahoe on the way to Dallas Fort Worth Texas airport for a quick stopover
on the way home.
Just Between Us...
Me, Trish: Chinatown and the happy runaway balls. And the very quick Chinese woman.
Me, Michael: In the Crocker Galleria: "Big, cheap pen." Oh my God. I thought I was going to die laughing in that shop.
Me, Selila: Japantown Karaoke: The shared "Holy SHIT I can't BELIEVE I'm HERE and look who's here with me" looks. Even though I've met lots of journalers before, it still really amazes me when I find myself in a room full of them. Glad to know I wasn't alone in this! (A quote from her JournalCon entry which cracked me up: "Because journalers are taller than you think.")
Me, Amanda: "You're FIRED!" and "You are the boss of me." My roomie for JournalCon 2002.
Last Thoughts
Meeting Steve was so important to me. I am so in awe of what he does every single day and the life he lives and how talented he is. It was one of my own personal highlights and I know it's been said a million times already but I wish I could have spent more time with him.
I'm so sad that I didn't get to talk to Beth.
I didn't get to spend much time with so many people.
It's the only downfall of a weekend 'Con. It all seems to go by so fast and there are so many interesting people and only one of yourself.
I hope I didn't leave anything vital out! My brain is bogging down and life is continuing apace and I have to finish this up. I finally got two rolls of my trip film developed but not scanned in yet. I'm also missing a whole roll which I'm bummed about. I can't find it anywhere. I have all ideas that the missing roll decided to stay behind in the lovely hotel room #405.
If I actually wait to scan my photos in for this entry, it may not ever be read, so it's going live now. Only 3 weeks or so AFTER JournalCon.
I know this JournalCon was different than the first one I attended but I really, really missed Columbine, Athena, Amy, Shelley and everyone that attended the first ever JournalCon.
Finally: To the organizers, Thank You. You guys did an outstanding job with everything!
