Wiscon Day 2 - Report 3
May. 31st, 2008 07:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
On Friday morning, I woke up earlier than I really needed to. I wandered around a bit, then decided to volunteer to help with the Tiptree auction display setup at The Gathering. I helped move stuff from one room to another, then had to come back as the official Tiptree-auction-display-at-The-Gathering people weren't there yet.
Meanwhile there were writing workshops going on, which seems a great way to start the con off. I was thinking about doing it, but I hadn't gotten something submitted to be workshopped on time. No sense workshopping something either a) workshopped to death already or b) unfinished.
I worked on the display setup for awhile -- probably about 3 hours total. There were things in the auction that I don't think would've occurred to me would be included. Signed copies of books and ARCs (advanced reader copies), naturally, but also jewelry and scarves and other handmade items. There was a pretty awesome tray with an inlaid mosaic. There were also two of James Tiptree's mother's books, which sort of star Alice (James) herself. I had only just started reading Julie Phillips' biography of Tiptree, so at least I knew what they were.
That morning, I believe I saw all four of my Clarion instructors who were at Wiscon, if only from a distance. There was still no sign of any of my classmates!
Once the Gathering started, I bought a Wiscon 22 Tshirt from the Tiptree table, and I got my card stamped. If you collect 10 stamps from the various Gathering booths, you get a prize.
There was this huge crowd around one table, so I went to investigate. ARCs for a buck! Well, you're not supposed to sell ARCs, of course, so it was a dollar donation, get a free ARC. I picked up 6. If I wasn't planning to buy more books later and wasn't worried about room in my luggage, I could've happily picked up a bunch more. I also got my card stamped again.
I ran into a classmate then, yay! Hi's and hugs. We went over to the Clothing Swap table, but I think there would've had to be something pretty awesome there (according to my tastes) for me to have tried on or come away with anything. I'm not generally into clothes, and unused to clothes that aren't new. I only had a little brother growing up. I think I inherited one shirt from him, ever. :)
Of course Ellen and Delia were at that booth, though generally busy. Another classmate showed up there, as well. So, yay again! The two of us investigated the curry table. Mary Anne Mohanraj (Clarion instructor for this year) was manning it. She had various spices available and you scooped them up, put them in a baggy, then ground them up in a mini-blender, et voila, instant curry powder. There was fake chicken curry to taste in addition to real chicken, but I didn't. I've only lately adventured into slightly spicy food.
The only other booth I really visited was the OdysseyCon cow-tipping. Didn't get to tip a cow, but I got a token in a barrel. Got to keep the token, and select a very tiny prize. I got my card stamped here as well.
There were long lines for the Numerology and Tarot Card readings. There was a masseuse, as well. I'm not into any of those things, so I just admired how popular they seemed. There was also a booth where you could learn to turn a towel into an elephant. I didn't stop by that one either. There was a hair braiding booth, but no one manning it. I thought there was supposed to be African Dance, but no sign of that in its designated timeslot either. Oh, and a knitting circle of some sort.
It was different. Sort of a mix of dealer's room and various workshops all rolled into one.
In the end, I only acquired 3 stamps, so I was well short of the 10 I needed for the prize. Alas, as I think one of the prizes was a bag that I could've later used on the trip home.
Meanwhile there were writing workshops going on, which seems a great way to start the con off. I was thinking about doing it, but I hadn't gotten something submitted to be workshopped on time. No sense workshopping something either a) workshopped to death already or b) unfinished.
I worked on the display setup for awhile -- probably about 3 hours total. There were things in the auction that I don't think would've occurred to me would be included. Signed copies of books and ARCs (advanced reader copies), naturally, but also jewelry and scarves and other handmade items. There was a pretty awesome tray with an inlaid mosaic. There were also two of James Tiptree's mother's books, which sort of star Alice (James) herself. I had only just started reading Julie Phillips' biography of Tiptree, so at least I knew what they were.
That morning, I believe I saw all four of my Clarion instructors who were at Wiscon, if only from a distance. There was still no sign of any of my classmates!
Once the Gathering started, I bought a Wiscon 22 Tshirt from the Tiptree table, and I got my card stamped. If you collect 10 stamps from the various Gathering booths, you get a prize.
There was this huge crowd around one table, so I went to investigate. ARCs for a buck! Well, you're not supposed to sell ARCs, of course, so it was a dollar donation, get a free ARC. I picked up 6. If I wasn't planning to buy more books later and wasn't worried about room in my luggage, I could've happily picked up a bunch more. I also got my card stamped again.
I ran into a classmate then, yay! Hi's and hugs. We went over to the Clothing Swap table, but I think there would've had to be something pretty awesome there (according to my tastes) for me to have tried on or come away with anything. I'm not generally into clothes, and unused to clothes that aren't new. I only had a little brother growing up. I think I inherited one shirt from him, ever. :)
Of course Ellen and Delia were at that booth, though generally busy. Another classmate showed up there, as well. So, yay again! The two of us investigated the curry table. Mary Anne Mohanraj (Clarion instructor for this year) was manning it. She had various spices available and you scooped them up, put them in a baggy, then ground them up in a mini-blender, et voila, instant curry powder. There was fake chicken curry to taste in addition to real chicken, but I didn't. I've only lately adventured into slightly spicy food.
The only other booth I really visited was the OdysseyCon cow-tipping. Didn't get to tip a cow, but I got a token in a barrel. Got to keep the token, and select a very tiny prize. I got my card stamped here as well.
There were long lines for the Numerology and Tarot Card readings. There was a masseuse, as well. I'm not into any of those things, so I just admired how popular they seemed. There was also a booth where you could learn to turn a towel into an elephant. I didn't stop by that one either. There was a hair braiding booth, but no one manning it. I thought there was supposed to be African Dance, but no sign of that in its designated timeslot either. Oh, and a knitting circle of some sort.
It was different. Sort of a mix of dealer's room and various workshops all rolled into one.
In the end, I only acquired 3 stamps, so I was well short of the 10 I needed for the prize. Alas, as I think one of the prizes was a bag that I could've later used on the trip home.