And my WisCon write-up
May. 27th, 2013 08:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
catherineldfAt least the initial exhausted version. :-)
Friday: we got to the Concourse in time for me to run upstairs to The Gathering (a WisCon event featuring numerous activities, including a clothing swap), clutching a bag of clothes. After a few minutes, a very nice volunteer who looked familiar came over to help me sort and was rewarded with my old black leather skirt and a steampunk jacket I wasn't wearing anymore as I have another one that I like better. She is happy, I am happy, all is good. Then I ran back downstairs and got us checked in and said hi to various folks on the way to our room. We unpacked and headed back downstairs to The Gathering, where we said hi to more people, got tea at The Interstitial Arts table and I put in a bid on the 1977 Analog Women's Issue, featuring the original publication of Raccoona Sheldon's "The Screwfly Solution," and stories by Joan Vinge, Jaygee Carr and...George R.R. Martin, well-known "honorary woman," among other authors. Because, you know, how could I not? We also checked in with jeweler Laurie Edison and ordered a replacement wedding ring for me. Then it was off to dinner with our pal and roommate, S. N. Arly, and our friend Lynn at one of the Himalayan restaurants on State Street. Wacky hijinx ensue and dinner is a long time coming so we get in lots of conversation, but miss opening ceremonies.
Which is reasonably okay since I had a Mind Meld post due for SF Signal by Monday and had work to do. I compose for awhile, then we were off to the parties. There was yummy cake at Betsy and Matt's reception, catching up with friends at Queers Dig Time Lords and assorted other fun. Then sleep, in a yay for sleeping pills sort of way.
Saturday dawned late, in a waking up from sleeping pills sort of way, and it was off to the Madison Farmer's Market. We bought breakfast and interesting sheep and goat cheeses and tiny yummy fruit breads and jam. I dutifully trotted back to work my shift at the Broad Universe table, where I got to consume my pasty from Teddywedgers (delivered by the Book Artiste of the Year on her way to look at binding magazines at the U. of W. library) and hang out with author/playwright/performer Andrea Hairston. And all the people drawn to the table, because, well, Andrea Hairston. :-) Books and memberships were purchased, and then I hied my way to "Burd Janet, Lady Isabel, the Famous Flower of Serving Men and The Female Smuggler - Strong women of traditional ballads." This was one of my spur of the moment panel ideas and I think it went over reasonably well. We talked about ballads as history, embellished history, unique stories, women's resistance to oppression and related topics. Some favorites included "Yellow Rose of Texas," "The Cruel Sister," " Tam Lin," "Famous Flower of Serving Men," "Lord Baker," "15 Finns" and various versions of "Lady Isabel and Elf Knight." Catherine Crowe, who also makes lovely jewelry, sang some hedge-ballads from Ireland. All in all, a good time: lots of participation and I think we all learned about a few new songs.
From there, I did a tour of the Dealer's Room, where I bought earrings from Catherine Crowe and...a lot of books. The haul included: We Wuz Pushed by Brit Mandelo, a biography of Naomi Mitcheson, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, Beyond Gender Binaries, Sofia Samatar's A Stranger in Olondria and Amanda Downum's The Drowning City. Then I went to tea on State Street with friends new and old, before going back to my Mind Meld post. Then we headed out to dinner with writer Kim Long-Ewing and extended family members to the fabulous fusion restaurant 43 North. Oh the deliciousness! I want to eat here forever. After an excellent meal, which caused us to miss the auction, we headed back to hotel and eventually wound up at the parties.
And then it was Sunday (there was some sleep that happened in there too :-). Our breakfast plans fell through, but we had an amazing breakfast of crepes and coffee at Bradbury's Coffee, so all was well. My first panel of the day was the joint Carl Brandon/Broad Universe/Outer Alliance panel, where we talked to a small audience about our organizations and what we're doing. I think this could have been tighter, but it was the first time we've tried it, and I think we'll get better with practice. In any case, people seemed interested and we all signed up several new members, so I think it counts as a win. Julia Rios and I went off to lunch after that and got caught up, more or less, before the Outer Alliance reading.
I thought the reading went quite well and enjoyed everyone's pieces, which is always lovely when attending or participating in group readings. I look forward to hearing lots more QUILTBAG work at future cons. When we wrapped up, I wended my way off to the Strange Horizons tea party, which was delightful and featured chats and tea and sugar and a wall of noise, that I rode down to my panel on Female Monsters/Monstrous Females. This was, alas, the weak link in my programming schedule. We never quite jelled and we rambled more than I liked, failing ultimately to reach much in the way of a point. Not the worst panel I've ever moderated, but far from the best. I may try a different version of it at a different con and see if I can get it in line with more complicated and coherent version in my head.
After this, I was off to dinner with friends, which quest proved surprisingly difficult. A lot of restaurants were closed or had massive waits, but we did eventually find one with vegetarian options and no wait after substantial amounts of wandering. Dinner was lovely once we found it and a fine time was had. And then it was back to finishing up my Mind Meld post and sending it, just in time for the Sunday night parties and Genderfloomp. We did not do anything interesting by way of gender bending, but we did hit the Nasfic Detroit party and the Steampunk Speakeasy before turning up at Genderfloomp before it quite got going. We did stick around and did some enthusiastic dancing before wearing ourselves and heading out for water, chatting and eventually, bed. Monday featured a birthday breakfast for Julia in lively company, followed by a 5 hourish drive home. I must needs unpack to face another work day.
Thanks for another fun WisCon!
Friday: we got to the Concourse in time for me to run upstairs to The Gathering (a WisCon event featuring numerous activities, including a clothing swap), clutching a bag of clothes. After a few minutes, a very nice volunteer who looked familiar came over to help me sort and was rewarded with my old black leather skirt and a steampunk jacket I wasn't wearing anymore as I have another one that I like better. She is happy, I am happy, all is good. Then I ran back downstairs and got us checked in and said hi to various folks on the way to our room. We unpacked and headed back downstairs to The Gathering, where we said hi to more people, got tea at The Interstitial Arts table and I put in a bid on the 1977 Analog Women's Issue, featuring the original publication of Raccoona Sheldon's "The Screwfly Solution," and stories by Joan Vinge, Jaygee Carr and...George R.R. Martin, well-known "honorary woman," among other authors. Because, you know, how could I not? We also checked in with jeweler Laurie Edison and ordered a replacement wedding ring for me. Then it was off to dinner with our pal and roommate, S. N. Arly, and our friend Lynn at one of the Himalayan restaurants on State Street. Wacky hijinx ensue and dinner is a long time coming so we get in lots of conversation, but miss opening ceremonies.
Which is reasonably okay since I had a Mind Meld post due for SF Signal by Monday and had work to do. I compose for awhile, then we were off to the parties. There was yummy cake at Betsy and Matt's reception, catching up with friends at Queers Dig Time Lords and assorted other fun. Then sleep, in a yay for sleeping pills sort of way.
Saturday dawned late, in a waking up from sleeping pills sort of way, and it was off to the Madison Farmer's Market. We bought breakfast and interesting sheep and goat cheeses and tiny yummy fruit breads and jam. I dutifully trotted back to work my shift at the Broad Universe table, where I got to consume my pasty from Teddywedgers (delivered by the Book Artiste of the Year on her way to look at binding magazines at the U. of W. library) and hang out with author/playwright/performer Andrea Hairston. And all the people drawn to the table, because, well, Andrea Hairston. :-) Books and memberships were purchased, and then I hied my way to "Burd Janet, Lady Isabel, the Famous Flower of Serving Men and The Female Smuggler - Strong women of traditional ballads." This was one of my spur of the moment panel ideas and I think it went over reasonably well. We talked about ballads as history, embellished history, unique stories, women's resistance to oppression and related topics. Some favorites included "Yellow Rose of Texas," "The Cruel Sister," " Tam Lin," "Famous Flower of Serving Men," "Lord Baker," "15 Finns" and various versions of "Lady Isabel and Elf Knight." Catherine Crowe, who also makes lovely jewelry, sang some hedge-ballads from Ireland. All in all, a good time: lots of participation and I think we all learned about a few new songs.
From there, I did a tour of the Dealer's Room, where I bought earrings from Catherine Crowe and...a lot of books. The haul included: We Wuz Pushed by Brit Mandelo, a biography of Naomi Mitcheson, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, Beyond Gender Binaries, Sofia Samatar's A Stranger in Olondria and Amanda Downum's The Drowning City. Then I went to tea on State Street with friends new and old, before going back to my Mind Meld post. Then we headed out to dinner with writer Kim Long-Ewing and extended family members to the fabulous fusion restaurant 43 North. Oh the deliciousness! I want to eat here forever. After an excellent meal, which caused us to miss the auction, we headed back to hotel and eventually wound up at the parties.
And then it was Sunday (there was some sleep that happened in there too :-). Our breakfast plans fell through, but we had an amazing breakfast of crepes and coffee at Bradbury's Coffee, so all was well. My first panel of the day was the joint Carl Brandon/Broad Universe/Outer Alliance panel, where we talked to a small audience about our organizations and what we're doing. I think this could have been tighter, but it was the first time we've tried it, and I think we'll get better with practice. In any case, people seemed interested and we all signed up several new members, so I think it counts as a win. Julia Rios and I went off to lunch after that and got caught up, more or less, before the Outer Alliance reading.
I thought the reading went quite well and enjoyed everyone's pieces, which is always lovely when attending or participating in group readings. I look forward to hearing lots more QUILTBAG work at future cons. When we wrapped up, I wended my way off to the Strange Horizons tea party, which was delightful and featured chats and tea and sugar and a wall of noise, that I rode down to my panel on Female Monsters/Monstrous Females. This was, alas, the weak link in my programming schedule. We never quite jelled and we rambled more than I liked, failing ultimately to reach much in the way of a point. Not the worst panel I've ever moderated, but far from the best. I may try a different version of it at a different con and see if I can get it in line with more complicated and coherent version in my head.
After this, I was off to dinner with friends, which quest proved surprisingly difficult. A lot of restaurants were closed or had massive waits, but we did eventually find one with vegetarian options and no wait after substantial amounts of wandering. Dinner was lovely once we found it and a fine time was had. And then it was back to finishing up my Mind Meld post and sending it, just in time for the Sunday night parties and Genderfloomp. We did not do anything interesting by way of gender bending, but we did hit the Nasfic Detroit party and the Steampunk Speakeasy before turning up at Genderfloomp before it quite got going. We did stick around and did some enthusiastic dancing before wearing ourselves and heading out for water, chatting and eventually, bed. Monday featured a birthday breakfast for Julia in lively company, followed by a 5 hourish drive home. I must needs unpack to face another work day.
Thanks for another fun WisCon!