September 7, 2010

To start us off, the hiatus for the main story continues, but we’re still posting Clockwork Cavatinas multiple times a week. Today is “The Mouse War” pt. 3, and the storyline will conclude on Friday.

Marlon and I decided some time ago that we would have one convention a year that is not for work, and we chose DragonCon in Atlanta. This con is unreal, if you’ve never been there. With an estimated 40,000 nerds, writers, comic creators, and fans in general attending, it’s larger than my friend’s home town! (Of course, it’s not hard to be larger than Ebits’ home town, but that’s hardly the point.)

We got into Atlanta around seven on Thursday, but ended up looping around the downtown area multiple times in search of our hotel. Turns out our hotel was a rather terrifying place (seriously, there was a vacant lot nearby full of homeless people with hungry eyes, and three of the four of us are female and highly stab-able), so we ended up back at Marlon’s family’s house. They were thrilled, but I was none too thrilled with the driving (which the purchasing of a hotel room was supposed to omit!), but we managed just fine.

While Ebits and Dahlia circled the bigger panels through much of the weekend, Marlon and I went to a few on costume creation, and I had some of my best fun doing nothing at all. A few hours over the length of the con I camped out in crowded places and offered caricatures for tips and a bit of conversation. The extra practice was great, and I passed out some Cliffside and Ever Tomorrow flyers. I loved this the most, considering I got to have some great talks with folks, and give them souvenirs that no one else could get. I was even tipped a steampunk medal by Captain Innah of Rapture Designs.

Of course, there was shopping and milling to be done, and now I am a proud owner of a top hat, and Marlon of a pair of goggles! His costume is finally getting further along, and I’m thrilled about his enthusiasm on the matter. I also take full credit in helping convince Dahlia to buy a waist cincher from Timeless Trends. I seriously cannot recommend them enough! And I am saving up for corset #2 from them. = w =

I got to see Tessa of Hanna is Not a Boy’s Name again (and bought original art!); finally saw the Extraordinary Contraptions perform (very jazzy, very punky, and all in all fantastic—I bought both of their albums); convinced Marlon to impulse buy the Gypsy Nomad’s album (which turned out to be my favorite); and spoke with Bob, the “Charlie” of the Sugar Ninjas. The Sugar Ninjas, vol. 2 Sweet book turned out quite lovely, and I’m pleased with how my contribution looks. Soon I’ll post the artwork that wasn’t used in the book here.

Also, one of those scooters totally backed into my foot. My own fault for wearing open shoes, I guess.