mijan | Of Hobbits, Beer, Kareoke, and ConQuest.

Spent the weekend at the local sci-fi/fantasy convention known as ConQuest.

I admit, I wasn't sure what to make of it at first. I'm used to arriving at a convention and seeing people in costumes everywhere, and just FEELING the excitement buzzing throughout the hotel. I arrived at the Crown Center Hyatt on Friday and I had to ask myself if I was in the right hotel. I saw maybe a dozen fellow geeks.

No problem, I thought. They would come. But no.

Attendance, including the gamers (who don't have a full registration) was barely over 600. There were about 470 with full registrations. Only a handful of people wore costumes. There was a very limited programming schedule. It was eerily quiet.

BUT. And yes, that's a big BUT...

These people know how to party. There were a couple of really awesome discussion panels I attended, but the real key to this convention is the tight-knit community and the parties. SERIOUSLY. Fi and I had a room on the party floor and... it was an absolute blast. Cool people.

So, I had fun. Lots of fun. It was very different from other conventions I've attended, but I enjoyed it for what it was instead of lamenting what it wasn't. I'm going to go again, for sure.

And FUCK I'M EXHAUSTED.