post-con blues

So I'm going through some major post-con blues. It always hits me the day or two after I come home from a convention I've enjoyed, sometimes worse than others.

I know some of you who read my Blatherings have never been to a filk convention, so probably don't understand what I'm talking about...or perhaps you have your own equivalent. I used to go to conventions purely for the musical aspect: to listen to music, to participate in jam sessions. I love making music with people, especially the improvisational aspect, noodling along on my flute to noodleable songs.

Now I go partly for the music, but also for the friendship aspect. Over the years, I've made some good friends at these filk conventions. The only problem is that almost all of them live outside of Toronto. Some in the U.S., some overseas.

As far as I'm concerned, they all live too far away.





It would be nice to go visit each of them outside of conventions to get more one-on-one time, but this is impractical from both a financial and time aspect. So I end up picking conventions where I will see as many of these out-of-town friends as possible. We share a lot of music, laughter, sometimes tears, and then we say good-bye.

I always find it tough after each of these conventions, though, knowing that I may not be seeing some of my friends for months or even years. That knowledge can hurt a great deal, but it also makes the time we do have together than much more significant. Then in addition to missing these friends, I also keep running into people at filk conventions I'd like to get know better, people that make me think, Hey, you're pretty cool. It would be fun visiting a chocolate factory with you...

Anyway, I've wracked my brains for a solution and I think I've come up with one: you all have to move to Toronto!

Okay, so that may not be the most practical. I'm not really expecting any of you to have an answer to this dilemma, of course, but please feel free to share how you cope with this (post-con blues as well as missing friends in other places) in Blatherchat.





Links/News:

NaNoWriMo update: Written 5667 words, 44,333 to go!
(See my NaNoWriMo journal for details and silly cartoons)

Allison's journal: Why did you start your first online journal?

One year ago, I was excited about going grocery shopping with Andrea.

Four years ago, I babysat Annie and Sara.

Five years ago, I posted an e-mail from Joel Polowin about Starship Troopers.

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Today's Blatherpics:

From OVFF...

	Bill Sutton in a chicken hat.
	Tom, Andrea and Nicholas.
	Nye and Melissa.

post-ovff

Wandered down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast yesterday morning, and ended up sitting with a bunch of filkers including Rob Wynne, Larissa March, David Rood, Mary Ellen & Ed & Corwin & Rowan, Erica Neely, Gwen Knighton, Melissa and Daniel Glasser, Stephen Joel Zeve, and others. I had accidentally given away my Monday breakfast coupon, so Ed Stauff kindly gave me an extra that he had.

Daniel and Melissa Glasser were kind enough to shuttle some of us to the airport (THANK YOU, DANIEL AND MELISSA!) in several trips. I went with Melissa, Rob & Larissa, and Erica. Since Erica's and my boarding gates were close together, we decided to hang out in a restaurant. It was the first chance that Erica and I had had to exchange more than a few words during the weekend. Great conversation; we were both disappointed when she had to leave to catch her flight.

Sunday night, Rand and Bob Kanefsky and I were going to meet some other filkers (including Stevemac, Katy, Ju, Steve Simmons) at an Indian restaurant for dinner. Sadly, we got a bit lost and couldn't find it, ended up eating at Appleby's instead. Found out later from Stevemac that they had trouble finding the restaurant as well, when they did find it was closed, and they ended up eating at a nearby Thai restaurant.





Like most fun filk cons I've attended in the past, I didn't get nearly as much time to hang out with all the people I wanted to. Unlike most other conventions, however, I got more of a chance for one-on-one conversations than I usually did (such as with Graham Leathers and Diana Huey), which was great. I missed a lot of the late afternoon programming on Saturday because I was braindead and decided that it would be better for me to nap for a couple hours rather than embarrass myself during someone's concert by falling out of my chair.

I really enjoyed hearing some performers new to me, like Boogie Knights and The Fibs. And thanks largely to the efforts of Rob Wynne, also got to hear a Three Weird Sisters concert not scheduled in the programming. More highlights/photos in upcoming Blatherings.





Hey, here's a Guest Blathering from Rob Wynne:

Guest Blather from Rob Wynne

So Debbie says to me, "Hey, wanna do a guest blather?"

On Monday morning. As if I can still string together a coherent thought. But since I adore Debbie beyond all reason, here goes.

Wow. OVFF was a blast, from start to finish. Larissa and I had a marvelous time seeing all our friends, listening to all the wonderful music, and celebrating our first anniversary. (We got together at OVFF last year, so this was an extra-special occasion).

Biggest highlight of the con: The interfilk auction. The final item up for bid was a private concert from Three Weird Sisters. The bidding started high and went up from there, so I formed a coalition: "Support my bid, and I'll make it a public concert". In the end, it came down to my group vs. a group headed by Harold Feld, and we agreed to combine our bids and throw the room open. The final combined bid on the concert was $800.

I had an absolute blast as the Interfilk guest to OVFF. Thanks to Interfilk for asking me to come, and to the OVFF concom for being so wonderful and supportive, and everyone who was just absolutely great the whole weekend, which was everyone, really.

Oh, and since there's no point in getting a guest shot in Debbie's page without abusing the privilege: Happy anniversary to my sweetie, Larissa. I love you!

See everyone next year.





Links/News:

For NaNoWriMo updates, see my Livejournal. Words written so far: 3,225, 46,745 to go. I did most of my writing in airports this past weekend.

Last year, I got e-mail from Shane(the Weta Digital guy)'s girlfriend. Photos: me & Luisa, Scott, geeky Scott & me.

Two years ago, I didn't post much during November because I didn't want to bring you all down. I was pretty unhappy.

Three years ago, I loved my Inkspot new office even though I hadn't yet moved in.

Four years ago, my favourite season was autumn. It still is.

Five years ago, I watched an X-files season finale.

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Today's Blatherpics:

Were all taken at OVFF.

ovff monday

No time to Blather. Must check my Market Watch column, get some breakfast then do some writing before I go to the airport; Melissa and Daniel Glasser kindly offered to do a shuttle run to the airport.

Today's pics: Andrea, Rand and I all had digital cameras this past weekend. In the past, I've always been able to take pics with fear of retribution.

No longer:





:-)

Links/Updates:

One year ago, Graham Leathers found out he was going ot be on CBC radio. Saw Monsters Inc. Cute pic of Bryan.

Four years ago, Jeff cut most of his hair off.

Five years ago, Jodi got a new job.

ovff pics

Some quick pics from OVFF. Above: Dave and Ellen Weingart. Dave seems to be getting around pretty well in his cast.

Below: Rand and Adam perform "Columbia" in their one-shot concert:





I talked to Rob Wynne (Interfilk guest) for about ten minutes before his t-shirt was pointed out to me...duh, I never noticed! The photo was originally taken by Reid, scooped Andrea with permission from Reid at his and Luisa's watergun party for use on a t-shirt, bought by Rob at an Interfilk auction earlier this year:





The Fibs perform "Two-Headed Woman" in their one-shot concert:





Nice guys, super-talented. Hope we see them at more filk conventions.

Andrea and Graham in concert:





Dead tired but having fun. Only got a few hours sleep last night, so ended up missing half the programming this afternoon to nap for a couple hours.

The Interfilk auction raised US$3559, with the top item being a Weird Sisters concert for $800 (!).

Links/Updates:

Last year, I cooked Greek stew and talked about hating Home Ec. Cute photos of Casey & Riley in Hallowe'en gear at the top of the page, Andrea & Nicholas at the bottom. Cute photo of Jodi and Rand in the middle. :-)

Two years ago, I saw Jeff for the first time in three weeks. Had to laugh at my "I'm finding adjustment to the corporate world a challenge". I was deliberately understating the situation to avoid freaking out my friends and family.

Three years ago, the Mahir site was all the rage ("Welcome to my website"). Unbelieveably, the page is still there.

Four years ago, Sara asked where the ham in her ham sandwich came from, Rand gave me a food toy, and I hoovered Andrea's & Tom's chocolate truffles.

Five years ago, I just came back from OVFF.

ovff saturday

Short blathering from OVFF today. I've enjoyed catching up with people I haven't seen for a while, though I always find it weird going to conventions without Allison and Jodi. (To A&J: Miss you guys! :-( Everyone keeps asking where you are.) I performed with Daniel and Melissa Glasser in the Pegasus Nominee concert. D&M did a great job performing Jodi's The Lady (nominated for best song) and Paul Kwinn's The Dark Man (nominated for scariest song). Katy helped do harmonies on the latter.

Surprise of the con: Dave and Ellen Weingart are here! I originally thought they weren't coming. Dropped by several theme filks last night, but ended up in a rockin' jam in the hallway. Performers included Cacie Sears, Rand & Adam (who have a bunch of new songs), Joe G., Bill Sutton, Randy Hoffman, Pete Grubbs, and a group called The Fibs (friends of Rand's and Adam's from Buffalo, very nice guys and super-talented).

Other news: Ju is getting a harp! Apparently I was a major influence, or at least my harp was, in her decision. I'm very pleased, of course.

I have my recording session with Bill Sutton for Andrea's CD late this morning, and am performing with Graham and Andrea this afternoon on a song in their concert. Graham and Andrea and I haven't had a chance to actually sit down and practise yet; hopefully this will happen before the concert. (!)

Going back to doing some more NaNoWriMo writing now before breakfast...

Links/Updates:

One year ago, I talked about cooking, health clubs, and complained about the commercials before movies.

Three year ago, I Blathered about food songs.

Four years ago, I reminisced about school crushes.