North American Discworld Convention
I checked into the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel and Convention Center today around noon and I have to say that it is awesome and NADCON is even awesomer.
I got my raku figures to the Art Gallery, they will be auctioned off tomorrow afternoon, then I ran off to eat a quick lunch at the buffet the hotel had out (which was really excellent, very fresh food with a good variety of choices) even though the 'welcome' meeting was starting... it never occurred to me that Terry Pratchett was making an appearance... But luckily I went in after eating just in time to hear him speak:
he discussed becoming a Knight (Sir Terry now!) and his Altzheimers (he is doing very well, and planning ahead to make sure he keeps doing well).
When that ended I decided to go to my room, unpack for a bit, and then go swimming.... I have to tell you how sweet this hotel is, I've paid a lot more at many conventions, but I have never stayed anywhere nearly this nice. Everything is beautiful, new and works perfectly.... And the swimming pool area is gorgeous and big (and was empty, which is also nice).
After I meditated I wandered to the English Tea to which everyone was invited, and discovered a huge selection of free food and drinks, evidently they are going to keep having all kinds of sodas, chips and cookies there throughout the weekend... it is a great spot to meet people and hang out.
But I decided to find the vendors' room (called the Emporium) and I was blown away: all kinds of books, jewelry, costumes, and pretty much everything you could think of!
I took some photos and I'll try to get them up tomorrow... I think the cord I need is in the car but I don't feel like searching for it now (I'm really wiped out), but basically there were a lot of people to talk to, and lots of gorgeous costumes to look at....
But the high point of the day was the Seamstress' Reception:
an enormous buffet with all kinds of veggies to dip, salmon to eat on crackers, and a huge selection of dips (the guacamole was amazing), and wonderful fruit... They had a cash bar, but the food was free (and it turns out to have been partly paid for by Terry Pratchett himself!).
We ate and talked and laughed, and Terry got up to speak (although he was talking into the beer bottle in his hand as often as into the mike, so we couldn't always hear him... sometimes I think it was on purpose).
Terry told us about how much he admires corsets and bustiers... one lady complained that he appeared to be more interested in her clothes than in herself, and he invited her to remove her clothes so that he could...
here he became inaudible... see what I mean about 'on purpose'?
Tomorrow I get my autographs, and we have the Charity Auction... and the Costume/Masquerade
Sunday is the big banquet
and every day Terry will take some time to speak and join us for the non-stop partying. This really is a fun weekend!
I got my raku figures to the Art Gallery, they will be auctioned off tomorrow afternoon, then I ran off to eat a quick lunch at the buffet the hotel had out (which was really excellent, very fresh food with a good variety of choices) even though the 'welcome' meeting was starting... it never occurred to me that Terry Pratchett was making an appearance... But luckily I went in after eating just in time to hear him speak:
he discussed becoming a Knight (Sir Terry now!) and his Altzheimers (he is doing very well, and planning ahead to make sure he keeps doing well).
When that ended I decided to go to my room, unpack for a bit, and then go swimming.... I have to tell you how sweet this hotel is, I've paid a lot more at many conventions, but I have never stayed anywhere nearly this nice. Everything is beautiful, new and works perfectly.... And the swimming pool area is gorgeous and big (and was empty, which is also nice).
After I meditated I wandered to the English Tea to which everyone was invited, and discovered a huge selection of free food and drinks, evidently they are going to keep having all kinds of sodas, chips and cookies there throughout the weekend... it is a great spot to meet people and hang out.
But I decided to find the vendors' room (called the Emporium) and I was blown away: all kinds of books, jewelry, costumes, and pretty much everything you could think of!
I took some photos and I'll try to get them up tomorrow... I think the cord I need is in the car but I don't feel like searching for it now (I'm really wiped out), but basically there were a lot of people to talk to, and lots of gorgeous costumes to look at....
But the high point of the day was the Seamstress' Reception:
an enormous buffet with all kinds of veggies to dip, salmon to eat on crackers, and a huge selection of dips (the guacamole was amazing), and wonderful fruit... They had a cash bar, but the food was free (and it turns out to have been partly paid for by Terry Pratchett himself!).
We ate and talked and laughed, and Terry got up to speak (although he was talking into the beer bottle in his hand as often as into the mike, so we couldn't always hear him... sometimes I think it was on purpose).
Terry told us about how much he admires corsets and bustiers... one lady complained that he appeared to be more interested in her clothes than in herself, and he invited her to remove her clothes so that he could...
here he became inaudible... see what I mean about 'on purpose'?
Tomorrow I get my autographs, and we have the Charity Auction... and the Costume/Masquerade
Sunday is the big banquet
and every day Terry will take some time to speak and join us for the non-stop partying. This really is a fun weekend!