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Post-FC story of Pre-FC
18 years ago
General
The con was very good. I had a lot of fun. For once, I think I may have managed a sufficient amount of hangin' out with just about everyone I wanted to. And to Ponygirl... numnumnumnumnumnumnumnum. :)
FWIW, the best story is that of my trip TO FC, instead of anything else from FC itself, due to the number of ups and downs.. First off, thanks to a tip from Todd Starr (AKA Xzadfor to some) I scored a kickass price on air tickets well in advance. However, the result was I had to drive to Columbus at 3AM (it's never cheapest to leave from your own hometown, it seems) during a snowstorm. The low traffic at the wee hours help balance out the bad visibility and poor traction, however. There was no problem making the flight on time, though Homeland Security got some of my stuff - the multitool I keep on my keychain (my fault for not thinking and putting it in my carryon) and a pencil sharpener (because it's possible to remove that 3/4-inch blade and use it as a weapon presumably). Both items were worth way less than it would cost to send them back to me, so I just let them go, figuring I can get a new multitool to replace my old dull, dinged one after I got back. The first leg of the flight, from Columbus to Houston, was delayed significantly to hose the plane down with de-icing liquid. The flight itself was uneventful, but ended up coming in close to an hour late, right about the time the second leg of the flight would be taking off. I asked the agent at the gate about it, and was told to go ahead to the next gate, as that flight was delayed as well. After a lot of hoofing (the Houston airport is big enough that you take a train between concourses) I reach the gate to find that the flight was not delayed at all, and was already long gone (same with friends I expected to see on that flight). Here's where the luck part comes it, along with airlines making good when there's a problem. After looking around for someone, I was able to get booked on another flight to San Jose, leaving about 2 hours later. The upside?- the only seat available was a first-class seat. Let me just say now that first class is hella-nice, with such perks as the actual food which has been slowly disappearing from the lower classes. I definitely need to look into the option when I've got some extra travel money to spend. Now the dowside rears its ugly head again. As often happens when flights don't go 100% as planned (and even sometimes when they do), not all of my luggage followed me to San Jose. One bag was waiting for me at the carousel, and the other took a trip to Tampa. Luckily, the bag with most of my clothes and such was the one that made it. The other bag (containing the majority of the stuff I was to sell in the dealers' room) eventually found its way back to me late Friday, so my first day as a dealer was a little limited, though it gave me the opportunity to do more in sketchbooks and such.
And that's my story of what is both one of the worst and best air travel experiences I've had all rolled together. That, and SkyMall catalogs are a fun read.
FWIW, the best story is that of my trip TO FC, instead of anything else from FC itself, due to the number of ups and downs.. First off, thanks to a tip from Todd Starr (AKA Xzadfor to some) I scored a kickass price on air tickets well in advance. However, the result was I had to drive to Columbus at 3AM (it's never cheapest to leave from your own hometown, it seems) during a snowstorm. The low traffic at the wee hours help balance out the bad visibility and poor traction, however. There was no problem making the flight on time, though Homeland Security got some of my stuff - the multitool I keep on my keychain (my fault for not thinking and putting it in my carryon) and a pencil sharpener (because it's possible to remove that 3/4-inch blade and use it as a weapon presumably). Both items were worth way less than it would cost to send them back to me, so I just let them go, figuring I can get a new multitool to replace my old dull, dinged one after I got back. The first leg of the flight, from Columbus to Houston, was delayed significantly to hose the plane down with de-icing liquid. The flight itself was uneventful, but ended up coming in close to an hour late, right about the time the second leg of the flight would be taking off. I asked the agent at the gate about it, and was told to go ahead to the next gate, as that flight was delayed as well. After a lot of hoofing (the Houston airport is big enough that you take a train between concourses) I reach the gate to find that the flight was not delayed at all, and was already long gone (same with friends I expected to see on that flight). Here's where the luck part comes it, along with airlines making good when there's a problem. After looking around for someone, I was able to get booked on another flight to San Jose, leaving about 2 hours later. The upside?- the only seat available was a first-class seat. Let me just say now that first class is hella-nice, with such perks as the actual food which has been slowly disappearing from the lower classes. I definitely need to look into the option when I've got some extra travel money to spend. Now the dowside rears its ugly head again. As often happens when flights don't go 100% as planned (and even sometimes when they do), not all of my luggage followed me to San Jose. One bag was waiting for me at the carousel, and the other took a trip to Tampa. Luckily, the bag with most of my clothes and such was the one that made it. The other bag (containing the majority of the stuff I was to sell in the dealers' room) eventually found its way back to me late Friday, so my first day as a dealer was a little limited, though it gave me the opportunity to do more in sketchbooks and such.
And that's my story of what is both one of the worst and best air travel experiences I've had all rolled together. That, and SkyMall catalogs are a fun read.
I noticed my new Leatherman multitool had "Patent Pending" etched into it, and realized I had my old one for about a decade, meaning it's been manufactured with no changes for at least ten years. How long does it take to get a freakin' patent? :)
my leatherman (i need to replace it couple things have broken)
they have a lifetime warranty dont they?
At any rate, I do remember you, and I really appreciate the fact that you took the time to come out and be part of the con experience. I'm glad you had a good time there, and I hope to see you again at future cons.
-Teric