Lucky!
Still hotter than a griddle here and humid!
We are home from Dragon*Con, and still recovering from "con crud", a nasty bronchitis-like heavy-lung cough and stuffy head. We get it every year from traveling to Atl and the attendant big-city pollution and dry hotel air. Not to mention having to yell over crowds and the stress of making the con work as it should, unexpected changes to scheduling and all. They put us up in the Marriott this year, and while the luxury accommodations are nice, *I* could have done without all the feathers! (Featherbed, down comforter, feather pillows) They offered to "de-feather" the room, but the dander would still be there, so why bother? It was a great convention this year, and will be even better next year! All our staff want to work for us again (no defectors!), and we should have an even more efficient system in place for next year's con!
Oh, and I bought a new sword! It's mostly a crap thing, but the balance is right, and the weight is perfect! I can re-temper the blade, and plan to rework the hilt a bit to my taste. Yes, it is full-tang, and double-edged.
I also ran into one of my best con friends again this year! I only see her at the con, and she is terrific! She brought me two pashmina shawls from india this year, and didn't even want a thing in return! Later, she found me to give me a set of metal bracelets she cannot wear anymore due to metal allergies, so I really racked up this year! She and I both wore beautiful saris, and I did get all my jewelry in time to wear at the con---glass bracelets, bindis, and traditional wedding jewelry in 22k gold plate; tikka, earrings with hair chains, bridal necklace, and nath. D did my henna, and I got tons of compliments! I wore the whole enchilada to the awards banquet, a formal affair, with a gorgeous dark green sari with glittery peacocks on it, including a giant peacock on the pallu about 2 1/2 feet tall! I think I made the convention's second-in-command jealous, as she kept asking me to sit down instead of waiting for D, who was taking tickets at the door for the event! LOL
I even had folks asking me to take my picture! Anyone who has been to Dragon*Con, or knows about it, knows that only the most strikingly costumed folk get stopped on the street and asked for pictures, so I was totally thrilled, of course!
Now I need to get dressed back up sometime soon so WE can get a pic! We were so tight on time we didn't get a chance to take pics for posterity. I did steal a bunch of pics from one of my staffers, so I should have some to post here, if they aren't all mostly-naked girls! LOL
This year the con rented some fantastic vans! Grand caravans with dvd players, dual a/c, and great on gas! Fun to drive too! I know, a minor detail, but I liked them much better than the church-bus-style vans we have had in previous years!
I will post more if I think of it, or if anyone has questions, but I need to go cough a lung again!
LOL
Black Rose