It's ACen Thursday...
...and we won't be there. It was decided quite some time ago that we would not attend ACen 2009; probably sometime around ACen 2008, even. We knew when our wedding date was, we knew it would cost us a lot of money, and we knew we always spent a lot of money at ACen. We also knew it would still be around in 2010, so we will more than likely attend then.
That doesn't change the fact that it's weird we're not going. This used to be my vacation time. We'd get to see quite a few people we hadn't in a year (or more), we'd get to goof off and listen to good music and have a good time. I should have a suitcase packed with various types of clothes sitting in my car (or Lowell's car), and should be eagerly anticipating heading to the hotel after work tonight. I should be excited to see all the interesting cosplay, and already irritated by the thought of the more extreme people running around. But I won't get to experience it this year. It's somewhat saddening. I will live vicariously through the many friends that are indeed going, and will try not to lament missing the Three Panel Soul crowd, along with the many events the Spoony Bards are participating in this year. And hopefully, I'll appreciate next year even more after not attending this year.
A small part of me is relieved. There was always some form of drama there, whether it be with our crowd, or elsewhere. The con keeps growing exponentially, so the chance for jackassery amongst the other congoers and random onsets of claustrophobia grows with it. I'm glad I'm missing stuff like that. But that sort of thing didn't always necessarily overshadow the good times, which is why (barring me getting immediately knocked up or something) we will almost certainly attend in 2010.
So today, instead of being anxious to hie my ass out to Rosemont, I will finish a mailing, get ahead of myself on payroll, and try to get out of work early to attend a wake. Tomorrow, instead of waking up early to steal the shower and head out to the vendor's room, I will work out, be domestic, set up an appointment time with my florist, and email the beautician I'd like to use for the wedding. Saturday, instead of wandering aimlessly and listening to music, I'll be playing catch up and preparing for the rest of the busy, busy month. Sunday won't change; rest will be had, and hopefully I'll get my yearly "keep me awake while I drive home" phone call from Jer.
It works.
That doesn't change the fact that it's weird we're not going. This used to be my vacation time. We'd get to see quite a few people we hadn't in a year (or more), we'd get to goof off and listen to good music and have a good time. I should have a suitcase packed with various types of clothes sitting in my car (or Lowell's car), and should be eagerly anticipating heading to the hotel after work tonight. I should be excited to see all the interesting cosplay, and already irritated by the thought of the more extreme people running around. But I won't get to experience it this year. It's somewhat saddening. I will live vicariously through the many friends that are indeed going, and will try not to lament missing the Three Panel Soul crowd, along with the many events the Spoony Bards are participating in this year. And hopefully, I'll appreciate next year even more after not attending this year.
A small part of me is relieved. There was always some form of drama there, whether it be with our crowd, or elsewhere. The con keeps growing exponentially, so the chance for jackassery amongst the other congoers and random onsets of claustrophobia grows with it. I'm glad I'm missing stuff like that. But that sort of thing didn't always necessarily overshadow the good times, which is why (barring me getting immediately knocked up or something) we will almost certainly attend in 2010.
So today, instead of being anxious to hie my ass out to Rosemont, I will finish a mailing, get ahead of myself on payroll, and try to get out of work early to attend a wake. Tomorrow, instead of waking up early to steal the shower and head out to the vendor's room, I will work out, be domestic, set up an appointment time with my florist, and email the beautician I'd like to use for the wedding. Saturday, instead of wandering aimlessly and listening to music, I'll be playing catch up and preparing for the rest of the busy, busy month. Sunday won't change; rest will be had, and hopefully I'll get my yearly "keep me awake while I drive home" phone call from Jer.
It works.