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RTBTCKI Post ChattaCon 2008 Edition
Jan. 29th, 2008 09:59 amHard to believe that is going to be February in a couple of days. I did a lot in January on various projects. I am going to have to re-examine my 101 list by the end of the month which is one of the things I said I was going to do.
Caroline slept in today. I think she was catching up on her sleep from the drive back. I did the same thing. I was out by midnight and didn't stir until 8:15 this morning. However I did wake up with a headache so bad that my teeth hurt. Maybe a lack of caffeine yesterday since I didn't have my usual cup of coffee. I have a pot brewing now to sip on. I also took some allergy medication trying to finish sorting out what happened at ChattaCon.
The committee for ChattaCon did a great job. If you are ever invited as a guest, they will do right by you. The whole convention is hospitable and friendly and relaxed. Chatta is a literary relaxa-con. Some see it as a party con and for them it may be but once you get past the drinking, there is a lot to do. It is still as much fun as it was when I went to it oh so many years ago.
One thing that I heard rumblings of in various corners (usually the corners of the con suite after much beer and other adult beverages had been consumed) was the us vs. them mentality which can break down to Fans vs. Mundanes or even further within fandom itself. Now I have been an eclectic fan over the years. I love books but I also love media, gaming, comic books, anime, and other sub genres of fandom. I don't pigeonhole myself and won't let others pigeonhole me as much as they want to. Look at the number of tracks you can find me on at a DragonCon for example.
There were rumblings again the people who don't understand fandom (or this form of fandom). There were rumblings again fans who keep (fill in your sub genre here) down and don't think their fandom is worth anything and it is doggonit. Then there is looking down the nose at a group that is "beneath" another group. The old school fans looking at the younger fans. The serious costumers looking at the cos-play groups. The readers looking at the media fans with distain. Peter talked about this in his opening remarks as Toastmaster at the Convention and I wish more people had heard him (it was the badge problem not that people didn't want to attended the opening ceremonies).
The most fun I have had in fandom is when it is one big dysfunctional family that tolerates each other's ticks and strangeness as long as no one else is getting hurt (unless they are into that). I enjoy the comradely I have found in fandom along with all I have learned from fans over the years. I have found life long friends through fandom. I have discovered forms of fandom that I never knew existed. Fans, overall, are good folk and have good hearts. I just wish that this us vs. them would go away. There is no us or them there is just we with our various talents and interests to give to the group.
I did learn some stuff about myself this ChattaCon because I am a much different person than last time I was there. For one thing I was not married or a mother. Most people there who knew me before I became Peter David's Wife, knew me as one of the O'Sheas which is not a bad thing. Our rep in fandom is pretty good and Sean's party rep is impeccable.
A couple of people I have known for years in fandom who would not give me the time of day if I asked before I got together with Peter were awfully chummy this round. I was polite to everyone but I found that a bit annoying. It was nice to be able to sit and talk to friends without the kids around even though I missed them a lot the whole weekend. Some of my friends really have me stuck back where I was over 5 years ago when they last saw me and I had to yank them back up to speed. A couple were uncomfortable with who I have become and I think we are going to nodding acquaintances from now on.
I also have lost the capacity to party all night which is not a bad thing. Keeps me out of trouble. I have to face that I have become a morning person after having been a night owl for so many years. Part of that has to do with being a Mom and part of that had to do with my job which had me on the train before 7 AM. I don't adjust back for a weekends anymore. My party days are past me and as much fun as I had with them, I really don't miss them. Of course it could all be due to that doggone allergy attack too.
I am grateful for all the experiences I had at ChattaCon.
Caroline slept in today. I think she was catching up on her sleep from the drive back. I did the same thing. I was out by midnight and didn't stir until 8:15 this morning. However I did wake up with a headache so bad that my teeth hurt. Maybe a lack of caffeine yesterday since I didn't have my usual cup of coffee. I have a pot brewing now to sip on. I also took some allergy medication trying to finish sorting out what happened at ChattaCon.
The committee for ChattaCon did a great job. If you are ever invited as a guest, they will do right by you. The whole convention is hospitable and friendly and relaxed. Chatta is a literary relaxa-con. Some see it as a party con and for them it may be but once you get past the drinking, there is a lot to do. It is still as much fun as it was when I went to it oh so many years ago.
One thing that I heard rumblings of in various corners (usually the corners of the con suite after much beer and other adult beverages had been consumed) was the us vs. them mentality which can break down to Fans vs. Mundanes or even further within fandom itself. Now I have been an eclectic fan over the years. I love books but I also love media, gaming, comic books, anime, and other sub genres of fandom. I don't pigeonhole myself and won't let others pigeonhole me as much as they want to. Look at the number of tracks you can find me on at a DragonCon for example.
There were rumblings again the people who don't understand fandom (or this form of fandom). There were rumblings again fans who keep (fill in your sub genre here) down and don't think their fandom is worth anything and it is doggonit. Then there is looking down the nose at a group that is "beneath" another group. The old school fans looking at the younger fans. The serious costumers looking at the cos-play groups. The readers looking at the media fans with distain. Peter talked about this in his opening remarks as Toastmaster at the Convention and I wish more people had heard him (it was the badge problem not that people didn't want to attended the opening ceremonies).
The most fun I have had in fandom is when it is one big dysfunctional family that tolerates each other's ticks and strangeness as long as no one else is getting hurt (unless they are into that). I enjoy the comradely I have found in fandom along with all I have learned from fans over the years. I have found life long friends through fandom. I have discovered forms of fandom that I never knew existed. Fans, overall, are good folk and have good hearts. I just wish that this us vs. them would go away. There is no us or them there is just we with our various talents and interests to give to the group.
I did learn some stuff about myself this ChattaCon because I am a much different person than last time I was there. For one thing I was not married or a mother. Most people there who knew me before I became Peter David's Wife, knew me as one of the O'Sheas which is not a bad thing. Our rep in fandom is pretty good and Sean's party rep is impeccable.
A couple of people I have known for years in fandom who would not give me the time of day if I asked before I got together with Peter were awfully chummy this round. I was polite to everyone but I found that a bit annoying. It was nice to be able to sit and talk to friends without the kids around even though I missed them a lot the whole weekend. Some of my friends really have me stuck back where I was over 5 years ago when they last saw me and I had to yank them back up to speed. A couple were uncomfortable with who I have become and I think we are going to nodding acquaintances from now on.
I also have lost the capacity to party all night which is not a bad thing. Keeps me out of trouble. I have to face that I have become a morning person after having been a night owl for so many years. Part of that has to do with being a Mom and part of that had to do with my job which had me on the train before 7 AM. I don't adjust back for a weekends anymore. My party days are past me and as much fun as I had with them, I really don't miss them. Of course it could all be due to that doggone allergy attack too.
I am grateful for all the experiences I had at ChattaCon.
