Anthrocon Part 2 (Electric Boogaloo)
Jul. 17th, 2004 06:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
quentincoyote[Part 1 may be found here.]
Well, it's been a week now, and my flow is somewhat lost, but I'll just try to jump right into it here.
One of the biggest defining moments of the con for me, started with a simple phonecall from Boomer (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
mightyomnivore). And in this, the words were uttered: "Quentin! They have Animalympics cells in the dealers room!"
The words following this were probably something along the lines of, "Quentin? Hello... Hello?" But, I really don't know, cause from that instant on, the singular point of my consciousness was to get down to that room as fast as the laws of physics would allow.
You see, those of you who know me well know that this movie, more so than perhaps anything else, save for The Lion King, and The Fox and the Hound, have made me who I am today. I saw it during its first, and for many years, only, television run, back when I was seven years old. And, I never forgot it. It stayed in my mind constantly. Every day. From that moment on, it was the world where the child that I was lived and played, and where he has remained, even to this day. Even now, just the first few bars from some of the wonderful, wonderful songs, will get my blood to sing. This is why I am Furry. This is why I am here.
I almost don't even have the words to describe what it was like to stand before that table, and actually be holding in my hands this treasure. It was like, being able to reach into the ether, and draw forth from the Platonic Forms, a living physical piece of Me.
I kept flipping through them, knowing that given every thing as of late, I just really really couldn't spend any more money. But... you can't, you know? You just fucking can't... leave something there like this. I would never forgive myself if I did. Grab on, and hold on tight.
By the time I was done, I'd picked out, well... all of them, really. Long ago ceasing to keep tallying whatever many hundreds of dollars I was about to rack up. Not important. Immaterial. This is bigger than that.
When all was said and done, I'd amassed 250 dollars worth. Looking in my wallet, I was quite a bit shorter than that, and suddenly I heard the P.A. announce 10 minutes until the dealers room closes! Nooooooooooooooooo! Begging and imploring and promising my (likely nonexistant) firstborn, I convinced the dealer to hold them aside for me, so I could race upstairs to the ATM.
Which of course, when I got there, was broken.
This all does have a happy ending, though. I managed to get back in the room in time, and the dealer was kind enough (and probably frightened enough, by my effusiveness about the matter), to hold onto them for me until the next morning, by which time I'd have found another machine to pull from.
Later that evening, I went accross to the Holiday Inn's ATM, got the money (which I had to do in three segments, due to it's withdrawl limit, and pay a 2 dollar service fee each time), and very first thing the next morning, they were mine.
It will be quite expensive to frame these, but unlike some prints, that absolutely must be done here. So, it will take some time before I have them all out and ready to show. But, beyond my wildest imaginings, I have them.
And I love them so.
***
In an odd way, the whole ATM mess up itself actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise, for it ended up precipitating another moment of significance at the con.
For on my way back from the Holiday Inn's ATM, I bumbed into Furlop (volkl). I'd met him previously playing Settlers of Catan, and also as part of the previous evening's room party hedony. He asked me my plans for the evening, and I told him about my Animalympics cell quest, and that I was going to attend the screening of it, which they were in fact having this day, later on that night.
He told me that oh, he'd been planning to do that too, and so we agreed to meet up. He gave me a hug, put his head briefly on my shoulder, and suddenly I thought back to the other times I'd seen him that weekend. At those times, he'd only kind of been on the periphery of my consciousness, what with so much other stuff going on. But in that moment, I... really looked at him, I guess. And I remembered how nice he'd seemed, and that we had actually kinda started to get friendly the evening before... And man... is he cute. Hmm... this could be interesting.
To make a long story short... I'm not exactly sure how or why, but, evidently Furlop did find me charming enough, or something, to wish to spend time with me. Watching the movie turned into nuzzling. The room party later that night turned into... well, into a lot of things. (apologies to my roomates who were woken up in the middle of the night).
We spent most of the next morning together, just walking around and talking. Heh... recovering from *much* much drunkenness, and just kind of being together and holding on to each other. At one point, he told me something to the effect of, that he'd come to the con, not even expecting to do anything like this, and that, I was the only guy there with whom he would have wanted to.
*chuckles* Again, I'm not quite sure how I was lucky enough to deserve that. But, I'm glad that I did. Thank you Furlop. You were an absolute sweetheart, and you made my AC that much more special.
Heh... and oh, so very, very... murrrr :) *hugs you*
***
Sunday, last day of the con. Well, for me, anyway, as I had to leave that evening, so that I could start the first of my two classes the next day.
Had one last, huge, dinner bash with most of the folks from back home, and various and sundry far-flung friends.
It's hard to describe the feelings of this, all my emotions were just swirling around inside me. But there was just so much excitement, and laughter, and just... good times. Wonderful times. Moments that I will remember for the rest of my life, with people that I love. I wished that I could be there forever.
As my ride home came to collect Boomer and me, I had a moment where... I was just so happy... and the pain of having to leave was just so great... that I just broke down crying, right there in the Zoo, for about five seconds.
And everyone, everyone, everyone... just came over to me, surrounded me, and gave me this huge 50-fur hug.
You know... I was planning to use more words to describe that... But, I'm tearing up here a little bit, just remembering it again, trying to type it. And that just says more than words ever could.
I love you guys.
***
As we got outside into the parking lot,quentinor was there, and I could see by the look in his eyes, that he was just right where I was. And so that got the two of us to hugging and crying on each other's shoulders for about five minutes, all over again. Finally, I was just like, okay we have to leave now, before I lose my nerve.
Mae and Cubbi drove us home, and for the first hour or more, me and Boomer were still crying a little bit, off and on again, and holding each others hands.
And Boomer is a straight guy.
We recovered from all of that, more or less, an hour or two later, and mid-way through the trip, decided to turn into a rest stop for dinner. I still had on my hat, collar, and tail, and the other three were similarly still decked out. Got a lot of people, of course, staring at us, going WTF?
This one lady though, came up to me, kinda nervous-giggly, and asked if she could touch my tail. I said sure, and when she did, I jumped a little bit, to her delighted startled squeels and giggles. This one other really nice lady, who worked there, came over and talked with us for quite a while. We explained who we were, and furry, and Anthrocon, and all of that, and she thought it all fascinating and very cool.
Right before we left, as the others were finishing up inside, I went outside for a cigarette. This one guy came out, and was walking towards the parking lot, with his ~five-something year old son in his arms, the kid looking back at me over his shoulder.
When he saw my tail, his eyes lit up, he took a sharp inhale, and he was all like, "Mister! Mister!" as he outstretched his arms to me.
I smiled at him, gave him a wink, and did my hat-flippy thing onto my head, which I'd been practicing.
I did it perfectly. His cry of, "Ooohhhh!" and his look of joy, are burned into my mind forever.
And that, kids, is how the Magic happens.
***
On one of the earlier nights, during one of the room parties,catmandux made someone fetch me into his room. He was all totally drunk and stuff, but he had something he wanted to say to me. He was just all like, "Q. I just wanna thank you!!! If not for you, I wouldn't know anybody, and I wouldn't be here, and I wouldn't have any of this!! *grahslobberslobberhugsluv <3*
And yeah, that was funny, and stuff. But, the fact of the matter is, that I feel that way myself, about all of you. Every single day. You are all the most truly wonderful, talented, creative, and careing people I have ever known in my entire life. I can't even imagine how my life was before anymore, and without you, I would have nothing.
Thank you. For being who you are, for being there for me, for being a part of my life. More so than any other group I know in this life, we have taken our dreams, and made them a reality.
I love you. And I always will.
unclekage, in his Story Hours, has a certain bit which he has taken to doing recently, which I very much relate to, and agree with. My own (badly paraphrased) version would be something like... I'm nobody special, in particular. I don't always know how, where, or why, a lot of this stuff comes from. I'm just a clown. And if anything I have ever said, or done, or the time that I have spent with you... has made you laugh, brought a smile to your face, or made you feel beauty in something in this life... Then I am happy, and my job is complete. It is all I have ever wanted.
***
And with that, I'm gonna bust out with tha Xanadu now. Cause baby, we were all up in it! We are all up in it! Every single day of our lives! :)
A place, where nobody dared to go!
The love that we came to know,
They call it Xanadu!
And now, open your eyes and see!
WHAT WE HAVE MADE IS REAL!!! <---- :) :) :)
We are in Xanadu!
A million lights are dancing and there you are,
A shooting star!
An everlasting world and you're here with me,
Eternally!
Xanadu!
Xanadu!
(Now we are here)
In Xanadu!
Xanadu!
Xanadu!
(Now we are here)
in Xanadu!
Xanadu, your neon lights will shine...
For you, Xanadu!
The love!
The echoes of long ago!
You needed the world to know,
They are in Xanadu!
The dream!
That came through a million years!
That lived on through all the tears!
It came to Xanadu!
A million lights are dancing and there you are,
A shooting star!
An everlasting world and you're here with me,
Eternally!
Xanadu!
Xanadu!
(Now we are here)
In Xanadu!
Xanadu!
Xanadu!
(Now we are here)
In Xanadu! (Xanadu, Xanaduuu!)
Now that I'm here,
Now that you're near...
In Xanadu!
Now that I'm here,
now that you're near...
In Xaaaaaaannnnaaaaaaaaaaaaaduuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
Xaaaaaaaannnaaaaaaaaduuuuuuhoooooooohooooooooooo!!!
-----
Come take my hand,
You should know me.
I've always been in your mind.
You know that I'll be kind,
I'll be guiding you.
Building your dream,
Has to start now.
There's no other road to take.
You won't make a mistake!
I'll be guiding you.
You have to believe we are magic,
Nothin' can stand in our way!
You have to believe we are magic,
Don't let your aim ever stray!
And if all your hopes survive,
Your destiny will arrive.
I'll bring all your dreams alive,
For you.
I'll bring all your dreams alive,
For you.
From where I stand,
You are home free.
The planets align so rare!
There's promise in the air!
And I'm guiding you.
Through every turn I'll be near you.
I'll come anytime you call,
I'll catch you when you fall,
I'll be guiding you.
You have to believe we are magic,
Nothin' can stand in our way!
You have to believe we are magic,
Don't let your aim ever stray!
And if all your hopes survive,
Your destiny will arrive!
I'll bring all your dreams alive
For you!
I'll bring all your dreams alive,
for you.
Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey!
You have to believe we are magic,
Nothin' can stand in our way!
You have to believe we are magic,
Don't let your aim ever stray!
And if all your hopes survive,
Your destiny will arrive!
I'll bring all your dreams alive
For you!
I'll bring all your dreams alive...
For you.
Q.
Well, it's been a week now, and my flow is somewhat lost, but I'll just try to jump right into it here.
One of the biggest defining moments of the con for me, started with a simple phonecall from Boomer (
mightyomnivore). And in this, the words were uttered: "Quentin! They have Animalympics cells in the dealers room!"The words following this were probably something along the lines of, "Quentin? Hello... Hello?" But, I really don't know, cause from that instant on, the singular point of my consciousness was to get down to that room as fast as the laws of physics would allow.
You see, those of you who know me well know that this movie, more so than perhaps anything else, save for The Lion King, and The Fox and the Hound, have made me who I am today. I saw it during its first, and for many years, only, television run, back when I was seven years old. And, I never forgot it. It stayed in my mind constantly. Every day. From that moment on, it was the world where the child that I was lived and played, and where he has remained, even to this day. Even now, just the first few bars from some of the wonderful, wonderful songs, will get my blood to sing. This is why I am Furry. This is why I am here.
I almost don't even have the words to describe what it was like to stand before that table, and actually be holding in my hands this treasure. It was like, being able to reach into the ether, and draw forth from the Platonic Forms, a living physical piece of Me.
I kept flipping through them, knowing that given every thing as of late, I just really really couldn't spend any more money. But... you can't, you know? You just fucking can't... leave something there like this. I would never forgive myself if I did. Grab on, and hold on tight.
By the time I was done, I'd picked out, well... all of them, really. Long ago ceasing to keep tallying whatever many hundreds of dollars I was about to rack up. Not important. Immaterial. This is bigger than that.
When all was said and done, I'd amassed 250 dollars worth. Looking in my wallet, I was quite a bit shorter than that, and suddenly I heard the P.A. announce 10 minutes until the dealers room closes! Nooooooooooooooooo! Begging and imploring and promising my (likely nonexistant) firstborn, I convinced the dealer to hold them aside for me, so I could race upstairs to the ATM.
Which of course, when I got there, was broken.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
This all does have a happy ending, though. I managed to get back in the room in time, and the dealer was kind enough (and probably frightened enough, by my effusiveness about the matter), to hold onto them for me until the next morning, by which time I'd have found another machine to pull from.
Later that evening, I went accross to the Holiday Inn's ATM, got the money (which I had to do in three segments, due to it's withdrawl limit, and pay a 2 dollar service fee each time), and very first thing the next morning, they were mine.
It will be quite expensive to frame these, but unlike some prints, that absolutely must be done here. So, it will take some time before I have them all out and ready to show. But, beyond my wildest imaginings, I have them.
And I love them so.
***
In an odd way, the whole ATM mess up itself actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise, for it ended up precipitating another moment of significance at the con.
For on my way back from the Holiday Inn's ATM, I bumbed into Furlop (
volkl). I'd met him previously playing Settlers of Catan, and also as part of the previous evening's room party hedony. He asked me my plans for the evening, and I told him about my Animalympics cell quest, and that I was going to attend the screening of it, which they were in fact having this day, later on that night.He told me that oh, he'd been planning to do that too, and so we agreed to meet up. He gave me a hug, put his head briefly on my shoulder, and suddenly I thought back to the other times I'd seen him that weekend. At those times, he'd only kind of been on the periphery of my consciousness, what with so much other stuff going on. But in that moment, I... really looked at him, I guess. And I remembered how nice he'd seemed, and that we had actually kinda started to get friendly the evening before... And man... is he cute. Hmm... this could be interesting.
To make a long story short... I'm not exactly sure how or why, but, evidently Furlop did find me charming enough, or something, to wish to spend time with me. Watching the movie turned into nuzzling. The room party later that night turned into... well, into a lot of things. (apologies to my roomates who were woken up in the middle of the night).
We spent most of the next morning together, just walking around and talking. Heh... recovering from *much* much drunkenness, and just kind of being together and holding on to each other. At one point, he told me something to the effect of, that he'd come to the con, not even expecting to do anything like this, and that, I was the only guy there with whom he would have wanted to.
*chuckles* Again, I'm not quite sure how I was lucky enough to deserve that. But, I'm glad that I did. Thank you Furlop. You were an absolute sweetheart, and you made my AC that much more special.
Heh... and oh, so very, very... murrrr :) *hugs you*
***
Sunday, last day of the con. Well, for me, anyway, as I had to leave that evening, so that I could start the first of my two classes the next day.
Had one last, huge, dinner bash with most of the folks from back home, and various and sundry far-flung friends.
It's hard to describe the feelings of this, all my emotions were just swirling around inside me. But there was just so much excitement, and laughter, and just... good times. Wonderful times. Moments that I will remember for the rest of my life, with people that I love. I wished that I could be there forever.
As my ride home came to collect Boomer and me, I had a moment where... I was just so happy... and the pain of having to leave was just so great... that I just broke down crying, right there in the Zoo, for about five seconds.
And everyone, everyone, everyone... just came over to me, surrounded me, and gave me this huge 50-fur hug.
You know... I was planning to use more words to describe that... But, I'm tearing up here a little bit, just remembering it again, trying to type it. And that just says more than words ever could.
I love you guys.
***
As we got outside into the parking lot,
quentinor was there, and I could see by the look in his eyes, that he was just right where I was. And so that got the two of us to hugging and crying on each other's shoulders for about five minutes, all over again. Finally, I was just like, okay we have to leave now, before I lose my nerve.Mae and Cubbi drove us home, and for the first hour or more, me and Boomer were still crying a little bit, off and on again, and holding each others hands.
And Boomer is a straight guy.
We recovered from all of that, more or less, an hour or two later, and mid-way through the trip, decided to turn into a rest stop for dinner. I still had on my hat, collar, and tail, and the other three were similarly still decked out. Got a lot of people, of course, staring at us, going WTF?
This one lady though, came up to me, kinda nervous-giggly, and asked if she could touch my tail. I said sure, and when she did, I jumped a little bit, to her delighted startled squeels and giggles. This one other really nice lady, who worked there, came over and talked with us for quite a while. We explained who we were, and furry, and Anthrocon, and all of that, and she thought it all fascinating and very cool.
Right before we left, as the others were finishing up inside, I went outside for a cigarette. This one guy came out, and was walking towards the parking lot, with his ~five-something year old son in his arms, the kid looking back at me over his shoulder.
When he saw my tail, his eyes lit up, he took a sharp inhale, and he was all like, "Mister! Mister!" as he outstretched his arms to me.
I smiled at him, gave him a wink, and did my hat-flippy thing onto my head, which I'd been practicing.
I did it perfectly. His cry of, "Ooohhhh!" and his look of joy, are burned into my mind forever.
And that, kids, is how the Magic happens.
***
On one of the earlier nights, during one of the room parties,
catmandux made someone fetch me into his room. He was all totally drunk and stuff, but he had something he wanted to say to me. He was just all like, "Q. I just wanna thank you!!! If not for you, I wouldn't know anybody, and I wouldn't be here, and I wouldn't have any of this!! *grahslobberslobberhugsluv <3*And yeah, that was funny, and stuff. But, the fact of the matter is, that I feel that way myself, about all of you. Every single day. You are all the most truly wonderful, talented, creative, and careing people I have ever known in my entire life. I can't even imagine how my life was before anymore, and without you, I would have nothing.
Thank you. For being who you are, for being there for me, for being a part of my life. More so than any other group I know in this life, we have taken our dreams, and made them a reality.
I love you. And I always will.
unclekage, in his Story Hours, has a certain bit which he has taken to doing recently, which I very much relate to, and agree with. My own (badly paraphrased) version would be something like... I'm nobody special, in particular. I don't always know how, where, or why, a lot of this stuff comes from. I'm just a clown. And if anything I have ever said, or done, or the time that I have spent with you... has made you laugh, brought a smile to your face, or made you feel beauty in something in this life... Then I am happy, and my job is complete. It is all I have ever wanted.***
And with that, I'm gonna bust out with tha Xanadu now. Cause baby, we were all up in it! We are all up in it! Every single day of our lives! :)
A place, where nobody dared to go!
The love that we came to know,
They call it Xanadu!
And now, open your eyes and see!
WHAT WE HAVE MADE IS REAL!!! <---- :) :) :)
We are in Xanadu!
A million lights are dancing and there you are,
A shooting star!
An everlasting world and you're here with me,
Eternally!
Xanadu!
Xanadu!
(Now we are here)
In Xanadu!
Xanadu!
Xanadu!
(Now we are here)
in Xanadu!
Xanadu, your neon lights will shine...
For you, Xanadu!
The love!
The echoes of long ago!
You needed the world to know,
They are in Xanadu!
The dream!
That came through a million years!
That lived on through all the tears!
It came to Xanadu!
A million lights are dancing and there you are,
A shooting star!
An everlasting world and you're here with me,
Eternally!
Xanadu!
Xanadu!
(Now we are here)
In Xanadu!
Xanadu!
Xanadu!
(Now we are here)
In Xanadu! (Xanadu, Xanaduuu!)
Now that I'm here,
Now that you're near...
In Xanadu!
Now that I'm here,
now that you're near...
In Xaaaaaaannnnaaaaaaaaaaaaaduuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
Xaaaaaaaannnaaaaaaaaduuuuuuhoooooooohooooooooooo!!!
-----
Come take my hand,
You should know me.
I've always been in your mind.
You know that I'll be kind,
I'll be guiding you.
Building your dream,
Has to start now.
There's no other road to take.
You won't make a mistake!
I'll be guiding you.
You have to believe we are magic,
Nothin' can stand in our way!
You have to believe we are magic,
Don't let your aim ever stray!
And if all your hopes survive,
Your destiny will arrive.
I'll bring all your dreams alive,
For you.
I'll bring all your dreams alive,
For you.
From where I stand,
You are home free.
The planets align so rare!
There's promise in the air!
And I'm guiding you.
Through every turn I'll be near you.
I'll come anytime you call,
I'll catch you when you fall,
I'll be guiding you.
You have to believe we are magic,
Nothin' can stand in our way!
You have to believe we are magic,
Don't let your aim ever stray!
And if all your hopes survive,
Your destiny will arrive!
I'll bring all your dreams alive
For you!
I'll bring all your dreams alive,
for you.
Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey!
You have to believe we are magic,
Nothin' can stand in our way!
You have to believe we are magic,
Don't let your aim ever stray!
And if all your hopes survive,
Your destiny will arrive!
I'll bring all your dreams alive
For you!
I'll bring all your dreams alive...
For you.
Q.
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no subject
Date: 2004-07-17 09:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-17 09:48 pm (UTC)*hugs*
no subject
Date: 2004-07-17 09:32 pm (UTC)I spent many years trying to forget about that song, only to have you bring it back into my mind.
Why, oh WHY did you have to do that?!?!
*snugs ya!*
no subject
Date: 2004-07-17 09:47 pm (UTC)As you should know wuff, 'tis the place where dreams are made real! ;)
*snugs ya too*
no subject
Date: 2004-07-17 11:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-18 10:35 am (UTC)*shrugs* Your loss.