Thursday, 4 July 2013

Week 26: No Amount of Coffee, No Amount of Crying - LeakyCon Portland

As I sit here, still struggling to adapt to eastern time and the distinct lack of Starbucks in my town, writing about LeakyCon 2013 seems like such a daunting task. On one hand, I could go on for ages about what LC and the fandom means to me, my thoughts on the changes and directions they are taking, and the various panels that really made me think. But trying to succinctly describe this magical weekend in one post is going to require a bit more thought - so maybe we'll leave that for a week that was not largely spent in violent emotional withdrawal.

Instead, I am going to chronicle my favourite and not-so-favourite moments from the con. With no real analysis or effort. Just a list of Things That Happened Which I Do Not Want to Forget.

1. We arrived on Wednesday, and bummed around the convention centre until they let us register (therby avoiding LineCon 1.0)

2.I twisted my ankle on the convention centre steps. Trying to take them two at a time. Yep.

3. On our way to get food, we passed two prominent members of Team StarKid. I giggled. And then I remembered I don't really care.

Thursday

4. At the last second, I decided that I was going to run the 5K anyways, because GRYFFINDOR. With a little help from my friends Advil, tensor bandages and the hotel ice machine, I managed to not permanently cripple myself. (I think).

5. The Disney sing-a-long was just the best thing. So much passion and pure enjoyment of the songs.

6. Even from seats towards the back, we were blown away by the opening ceremonies. Although my little heart almost couldn't take the references to AVPM!Ron being left all alone. Sad Joey Richter is so gut-wrenching.

7. Alex started out his set by playing King's Cross...and then BAM, SURPRISE REMUS LUPINS REUNION BEFORE OUR VERY EYES. I have more thoughts on this. But for now: ASDDHDGJDJFFL. What a special moment.

8. Everyone thought Christian was gonna play a wrock song but SURPRISE #2, he proposed to his girlfriend instead. The cutest thing.

9. I think Luke tried to crowd-surf? Did that actually happen?

Friday

9. Presentation/lecture by Corey and Julia called Making Shit Happen was really good and made me want to make ALL the things happen.

10. The Cover Up panel needed to be so much longer and more in-depth. Heck, they could have a whole conference about that topic. #ideas

11. HPA workshop totally renewed my motivation to re-start the failed HPA chapter at my school.

12. LOUNGING with Robin and Maureen was the best way to wind down after a day chock-full of panels. So much WEIRDNESS. #itsbetterthisway

13.  Wrock Concert 2.0. Performances of Draco and Harry (They can move to CALIFORNIA!) and The Weapon were things I felt so good about being a part of.

14. I hugged Andrew Slack and almost made him cry when I told him how much he inspires me. That sounds like the cheesiest line ever, but it's true - the guy is actually my Dumbledore.

Saturday

15.  More gratuitous Andrew Slack appreciation: his workshop (and then chilling on the floor outside for another hour just talking with a bunch of like-minded people with really interesting things to say) was not the typical Leaky energy, but really fantastic.

16. Finding Hogwarts was great, and despite making me slightly nostalgic for the early days of fandom that I wasn't around for, it really brought home how important my fandom friends are to me.

17. At some point in here I ate actual, real food. (If Portland was your first Leaky, you know nothing of the usual con starvation).

18. The ball was quite possibly the most fun I've ever had in my life. It actually felt like a dance party, and not just a night of idolizing the BNFs on stage (well, until Total Eclipse. Again, more thoughts later).

19. I Love It was permanently established as the Call Me Maybe of Leaky 2013

20.  I have literally no memories of what happened after we got back to the room that night. That sounds sorta ominous, but realistically I probably fell asleep in my dress.

Sunday

21. Spent an hour lying in bed, trying to persuade myself that the end of Leaky is not the end of thr ACTUAL world.

22. We wandered the vendor room and squandered the last of our monies on wizard rock merch. I got a Save Ginny shirt, which I have been coveting FOREVA.

23. Buffy and Dr. Horrible sing-a-longs were so much fun. On the way out, we narrowly avoided colliding with Anthony Rapp and his plate of salad.

24. Adding to the list of Reasons I Want to be Lauren Bachle When I Grow Up - she helped instigate a flash mob in front of the mainstage before Pottercast/closing.

25. And then Dumbledore married Remus and Sirius and they made out in front of thousands of people. (is a sentence I never thought I'd ever be writing)

26. Moved the party to #RedRobinCon. Plotting for Orlando commenced.

Monday

27. Woke up to a video in my sub box of Meghan Tonjes reading Alex/Jason fanfic. I promise this was a real thing that happened - I was exhausted, but not THAT exhausted. (I hope)

28. Continued #StarbucksCon in the Portland airport.

29. Goodbyes. SO EMOSH.

30. Spent three hours sitting in a stuffy plane on the tarmac in SanFran...and then flew to Winnipeg. Yep. Finally stumbled into Toronto around 5 hours late. Thank god for great playlists.

...and there are many more LeakyThoughts where those came from!

Goodnight, bloglings














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