WisCon and related adventures
May. 28th, 2022 09:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
catherineldfWe got in on Thursday without too much stress and grabbed dinner at the hotel restaurant (the hotel check-in staff was wowed by just how long we've been coming to this con, which was charming). I got to see my always delightful pal, Caroline Stevermer, and we got unpacked and watched "Midsomer Murders" and I worked on things. Friday morning was all about setting up for the Dealer's Room and the Art Show. I didn't get to go to The Gathering because I was on the Killjoys squee panel, which was delightful. One of the other panelists had left her laptop at home and the panel was online, so she came to our room and we broadcast from there, seeing as everyone was double-boosted and had tested negative within 24hours. We had a blast talking about our favorite elements of the show and now I need to finish my epic rewatch, which is currently in the 2nd season.
Saw bunches of friends and colleagues and sold some books when I got back to the table. It turned out that I got a spot next to Shawna Brown of Dragon Abbey Jewelry, and we get on splendidly. Queen of Swords Press author Heather Rose Jones is also in attendance and we had fun reconnecting and plotting (and did more of it on Saturday). We also made Friday dinner plans, so I went to go find Jana after we closed up shop for the day. Turns out that she had gone to a nearby art store to shop.
And things got...fun. So she wasn't responding to texts or email and by this point, I was down in the lobby running into friends and chatting and hugging people as well as intermittently trying to reach her. Finally, she responded to a call and informed me that she was on a bus. Then hung up. The art store is 5 blocks or so from the hotel, so this was concerning news. 4 or 5 phone calls later, it was clear that wherever the bus was going, it was not toward the hotel. More phone calls, more check-in. I give up on dinner with Heather and she went off to meet someone else and I started walking toward Jana's last known location, the bus stop where she got off the bus. This began as a 15 minute walk. Which turned into 17 phone calls and an hour and half long walk because she kept moving around. I had had no dinner and am hypoglycemic and she is sundowning so good times! Finally, I track her down at a gas station and call a cab. I picked up snacks and water because everyone is dehydrated (and they had let her use the bathroom, which was employee only, so I thought I owed them one) and we got back to the hotel around 8:30 (the adventures began at 6). Everyone was very tired, grumpy, hungry and in her case, sunburned.
This morning dawned with the unpleasant news that one of the friends I had seen in the lobby the night before had tested positive for COVID. I tested negative for this round, but get to look forward to a couple of days of testing ahead. Otherwise, I was smarter this time and walked Jana around the Farmer's Market until she was worn out, before going back to the con to work the Queen of Swords Press table. We had a splendid day and I had a good panel on the topic "Where are the Grandmothers?" Also got some lovely fan squee from people about my work and the press, which was a balm to the soul and bought cool art and books, including a first edition Joanna Russ. But I am, unsurprisingly, completely wiped out. Jana has been out cold since 6PM. Tomorrow is her birthday and I'm hoping for an expedition to breakfast as well as a side trip to Period Garden Park before I open back up again. Wish me luck and negative test results?
Saw bunches of friends and colleagues and sold some books when I got back to the table. It turned out that I got a spot next to Shawna Brown of Dragon Abbey Jewelry, and we get on splendidly. Queen of Swords Press author Heather Rose Jones is also in attendance and we had fun reconnecting and plotting (and did more of it on Saturday). We also made Friday dinner plans, so I went to go find Jana after we closed up shop for the day. Turns out that she had gone to a nearby art store to shop.
And things got...fun. So she wasn't responding to texts or email and by this point, I was down in the lobby running into friends and chatting and hugging people as well as intermittently trying to reach her. Finally, she responded to a call and informed me that she was on a bus. Then hung up. The art store is 5 blocks or so from the hotel, so this was concerning news. 4 or 5 phone calls later, it was clear that wherever the bus was going, it was not toward the hotel. More phone calls, more check-in. I give up on dinner with Heather and she went off to meet someone else and I started walking toward Jana's last known location, the bus stop where she got off the bus. This began as a 15 minute walk. Which turned into 17 phone calls and an hour and half long walk because she kept moving around. I had had no dinner and am hypoglycemic and she is sundowning so good times! Finally, I track her down at a gas station and call a cab. I picked up snacks and water because everyone is dehydrated (and they had let her use the bathroom, which was employee only, so I thought I owed them one) and we got back to the hotel around 8:30 (the adventures began at 6). Everyone was very tired, grumpy, hungry and in her case, sunburned.
This morning dawned with the unpleasant news that one of the friends I had seen in the lobby the night before had tested positive for COVID. I tested negative for this round, but get to look forward to a couple of days of testing ahead. Otherwise, I was smarter this time and walked Jana around the Farmer's Market until she was worn out, before going back to the con to work the Queen of Swords Press table. We had a splendid day and I had a good panel on the topic "Where are the Grandmothers?" Also got some lovely fan squee from people about my work and the press, which was a balm to the soul and bought cool art and books, including a first edition Joanna Russ. But I am, unsurprisingly, completely wiped out. Jana has been out cold since 6PM. Tomorrow is her birthday and I'm hoping for an expedition to breakfast as well as a side trip to Period Garden Park before I open back up again. Wish me luck and negative test results?