Letting it/us all hang out
In my own really rather surprisingly daring gesture of inner exhibitionism, I went commando to the Fremont Fair today. (I just learned this meaning of "commando" in the past couple of weeks and have been dying for a chance to use it. The things I'll do to exercise my vocabulary!) In that context, it was pretty funny to hear the guys hawking utilikilts claim that it's just like goldfish, if you put them in a bigger bowl, they grow bigger. "C'mon, fellas! Set yourself free. Give yourself some more room. It's just like goldfish!"
My two goals for the day were to eat a Ballard Bros. Cajun salmon burger and to spend some quality time with Art Widner, who was up here with his aboriginal art car to participate in the Art Car Blow-Out. I accomplished both goals, and Art told me a couple of great stories about Francis Towner Laney and Charles Burbee and Elmer Perdue and about the infamous '64 Baycon and the Breendoggle, when Walter Breen was banned from the convention after accusations of pedophilia, and all fandom was plunged into war, and about teh gays in LASFS in the '40s (which I asked about in the midst of talking about Laney's homophobia and sexual insecurity). On top of all that -- the icing on the cake, as it were -- I also saw holyoutlaw and juliebata, Elinor Busby, Marci M., and, right at the end, Art's granddaugther, Magenta, and great grandson, Gus. It always amazes me that I rarely run into people I work with at the fair, although I did spot one from afar today. Good thing she didn't see me letting everything hang out!
The fair actually seemed relatively depopulated today. Even the beer gardens were pretty empty. Quite the contrast from yesterday, I was told, when everybody came for the parade and stayed for the fair. It was pretty danged nice to hang out with friends on a sunny Sunday afternoon at the fair.
My two goals for the day were to eat a Ballard Bros. Cajun salmon burger and to spend some quality time with Art Widner, who was up here with his aboriginal art car to participate in the Art Car Blow-Out. I accomplished both goals, and Art told me a couple of great stories about Francis Towner Laney and Charles Burbee and Elmer Perdue and about the infamous '64 Baycon and the Breendoggle, when Walter Breen was banned from the convention after accusations of pedophilia, and all fandom was plunged into war, and about teh gays in LASFS in the '40s (which I asked about in the midst of talking about Laney's homophobia and sexual insecurity). On top of all that -- the icing on the cake, as it were -- I also saw holyoutlaw and juliebata, Elinor Busby, Marci M., and, right at the end, Art's granddaugther, Magenta, and great grandson, Gus. It always amazes me that I rarely run into people I work with at the fair, although I did spot one from afar today. Good thing she didn't see me letting everything hang out!
The fair actually seemed relatively depopulated today. Even the beer gardens were pretty empty. Quite the contrast from yesterday, I was told, when everybody came for the parade and stayed for the fair. It was pretty danged nice to hang out with friends on a sunny Sunday afternoon at the fair.