Portus, Terminus, or Both?

[mijan]

So, once again, there's moe than one HP convention in a summer. Normally, my reaction would be, "YAY! DOUBLE THE FUN!" However, there are a few reasons why doing two conventions might be a bit of overkill next summer. [Poll #1053028][Poll #1053028]

Comments

[scarlet-malfoy.livejournal.com]

Yay for married! :D:D:D

And totally off-topic, mostly, but I saw that you plan on going to the Pagan festival and I thought I would comment to say that I've been looking into the Pagan/Wiccan lifestyle/ideals and finding that more and more I seem to relate to it, or at least many bits and pieces of it in an eclectic kind of way, and seeing as there aren't many RL people who I want to tell about that at the moment, I thought I'd mention it! I'd love to talk more about it with you and Fi at Wrockstock and hear some real life perspectives rather than, say, wikipedia's perspective.

[stitchesandlace.livejournal.com]

Scarlett, have I mentioned that I previously considered myself Pagan and still kind of do (I'm just not practicing at the moment)?

You scare me with our similarities more and more every day.


AND YAY FOR WEDDING (CONGRATS!) AND YAY FOR TERMINUS!!!!!

[sunsets-shadows.livejournal.com]

Scarlett, I know we haven't seen each other much lately, but... :( when did this happen?

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Scarlett, you can ask me anything you want. I'll even bring two of my favourite Pagan books for you to peruse. :)

[scarlet-malfoy.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'd appreciate that! *is a bit late on the uptake of answering everyone back, obviously*

[x-shabutie-x.livejournal.com]

Sounds like an action packed year! Just the way ya like it ;) It all looks very exciting! :D

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Very exciting! So much to do! I think my brain might explode. (Get a tarp.)

[alaana-fair.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! I'm so happy for you! *squishes you both*

I'd love to hear more about this Heartland Pagan Fest at Wrockstock. It sounds fascinating! AndI really hope you guys decide to go to Terminus. You would be sorely missed if you didn't.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Oh honey, we're DEFINITELY going to Terminus. We're trying to decide if we *need* to go to both in order to see our friends, or if most of our friends are going to Terminus, too.

And I'll tell you all about HPF when we get to Wrockstock. Simply put, it's amazing. Think: "Happy naked Pagans in the woods! With bonfires and mead!"

[annulvapore.livejournal.com]

I might go to Terminus. Who knows. Depends on cash.

[pinkfinity.livejournal.com]

I am planning on going to both but spending only two days and one night at each.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... that's an idea. That way, I wouldn't kill all my vacation time at either one. Except all the unofficial meetups often take place before or just after... *sigh*

I hate making decisions. I just want to see everyone.

*sends hugs*

[georgeodowd.livejournal.com]

Eeeh, your icon!! <333
But... what's the context o_o
Or does it need one?

[padys.livejournal.com]

Can I say yay Canada and wedding?

And Lawrence, KS!! *Supernatural moment*

[mijan.livejournal.com]

LOL... I don't even watch Supernatural. Although if Fi had anything to do with it, I would.

Lawrence, KS just happens to be about 20 minutes from here, and is possibly the only really cool town/city in the entire region. Kansas City is cool, but not in the same way.

[acromantular.livejournal.com]

Yay Terminus! I have tickets.
*smiles happily*

Vanishingly-small-but-not-quite-zero chance of Portus. But probably not.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Well then, I will most DEFINITELY see you at Terminus! *squees happily*

[dramedy.livejournal.com]

So I was totally set on going to Terminus, like, marshaling friends into going with me and everything. But I have just gotten a rec on an internship in Colorado, so I might be there for the summer. I might still go, but now I'm not so sure... :/ also, I hope to be in Scotland fall term, so I don't know when I'd leave for that.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Awww... well, I hope you can come to Terminus, but Scotland sounds amazingly cool. So... wherever you end up, make the most of it! But if you can do both... *grins*

[multiclassgeek.livejournal.com]

Personally, I suggest you settle for one 'Con this year, in order to save money for Sectus 2009 ;)

[mijan.livejournal.com]

LOL... oh, my dear... that's ALREADY part of the plan! I miss everyone from the other side of the pond!!!

[onlysayitonce.livejournal.com]

So much congratulations on getting married, love. :) That's really awesome, and I'm really happy for you.

Also, obviously Canada is awesome and you should spend as much time as possible up here.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Yes, I should definitely spend as much time in Canada as possible! Of course, you should come check out Kansas City. I have a great guest room. *hint-hint*

*huggles* I still am so excited that I got to meet you! SQUEEEEEEE!!!
*flails a bit*

[georgeodowd.livejournal.com]

You have a dog and you're getting married... ohhh I'm dying of cute-attack over here! XD
Congrats!! I hope your year is wonderful no matter where you end up. (Sadly, I can't go to any conventions :~( )

[mijan.livejournal.com]

:p

Fi has had the dog for a couple of years, and I've just adopted the pooch as my own, too.

And yeah, we're getting married... but none of this stupid standarized family with 2.3 kids, 70% of a dog, and a cat, with a white picket fence, and church on Sundays. We're having a Pagan handfasting, and our "children" are a dog and a snake. :D

A little less cookie-cutter for you? *wink*

And... *cries* Why can't you do any conventions? *sniffle*

[georgeodowd.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear it's not a cookie-cutter setup :D
I don't know much about Pagan rituals, but I like the general ideology behind them (except for maybe polyamory, but I'm not sure how closely that is tied to actual Pagan philosophy).

No conventions because I am with at workaholics anonymous, and I am too anal to leave my animal-children in anyone else's care :(
Maybe when my family finally buys a farm, I will get a real vacation. Y'all better still be having HP conventions then!

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Polyamory has less to do with Pagan philosophy than Judeo-Christian philosophy. Traditional Pagan philosophy doesn't dictate the family structure, but most people see the concept of a couple going through life together as a good model for it, as the God and Goddess travel through the cycle of the year together. (Also, because Pagans feel that all people, both men and women, have both the God and Goddess within them, this philosophy does not disclude homosexual relationships.)

However, there are a lot of Pagan people who happen to be polyamorous because many pagans, by nature, are not possessive or jealous people. They feel that family is just a collection of people who love each other, and that love doesn't have to be limited. It's not for everyone, but if it makes a group of people happy (and it DOES work for some people), then I'm happy for them. Polyamory is found in tribal cultures throughout the world, so it's not a new invention by any means. Many cultures consider it the best way to create a strong family and raise children. I remember learning about one tribe in which the woman keeps multiple husbands, and they consider it to be unhealthy for a woman to have more than two children with one man, so once a husband is "used up", his job is to simply help the family at large. And it's funny, but that's the best way to keep up genetic diversity.

And... I shouldn't be allowed to think before coffee. But... I hope some of that made sense.

Need coffee now. :D

[georgeodowd.livejournal.com]

Yes, it did! Thanks for edumacating me :)

I don't think I could deal with polygamy, personally, but I can respect the attitude and benefits behind it. I guess I'm just an old-fashioned romantic, and I like the idea of two people being each other's world. (especially when they're both men or both women *guilty*)

[lunalovegoddess.livejournal.com]

There is a slim possibility that we will visit Chicago next summer. At some point, we want to visit the following places as a family:

Wrigley Field
Billy Goat Tavern
Field Museum of Natural History
Shedd Aquarium

The Amtrak Lakeshore Line runs from Boston through Buffalo to Chicago, so there is an option other than O'Hare. Whatever we can afford. (Since, well, we're both unemployed at present.)

The wrinkle is that we are renewing our vows at the end of August in Niagara Falls. We were handfasted nine years ago, without our families present. (It had been postponed due to our daughter's health.) The only way that I could attend Terminus is if we bumped our wedding up and honeymooned in Chicago.

If you two end up in the Niagara area next summer, we could meet up. The Falls are 20 mins. from us.

Also, what kind of dog do you have?

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Oooh, Niagara Falls... must consider it!

And we've got a black labrador. She's a love. Must post pictures. :)

[colloween.livejournal.com]

I'm just grinning ear to ear to read you're getting married... and goin' on tour!!! *ska-wish!!!*

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Hehe... er... yeah. Getting married. Who'd have thunk it? :D

[singingotter.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! Wedding! That's wonderful.

[kawaiililme.livejournal.com]

Come to Massachusetts! Get married in Boston Commons so I can live vicariously through you!

Canada is actually more interesting probably, but still.

What's Heartland pagan fest? Another naked pagan hippy camp?

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, we can't get legally married in MA unless we have set plans to move there almost immediately. I checked it out. I mean, hell, my sister lives in Medford, and I lived in Cambridge until last September, but I'm not an official resident anymore, and I don't want to have my marriage license revoked or challenged. Although it WOULD be really nice to get married in the state where I was born.

And HPF is a really awesome naked-pagans-in-the-woods event. Apparently, it's one of the biggest in the country. I had a blast. :D

[kawaiililme.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I understand *why* MA put that clause in the law but it still sucks.

Hmm I should think about going to that. A couple friends and I have been debating which pagan camp we want to go to and it's a tough choice.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Come to Gaea! It's awesome!

[tsuj.livejournal.com]

Yer gettin' itched? Yay!

MAWWIAGE *uses Peter Cook voice* is a...

...great idea! Come on down to beantown, where it's nice and legal!

[tsuj.livejournal.com]

OMGess - that was supposed to say 'hitched'!

But if getting "itched" means your itchies are being attended to, then it's sort of the same. Teehee. All good.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

*giggles* Yes, it's all good.

Sadly, however, we can't get married in MA unless we have IMMEDIATE plans to move to MA, or we line in CT or AZ. I already checked. Sad, but true. Our ONLY option for a legal marriage right now is Canada. And no, I can't move back to MA quite yet. I will someday. I promise. I miss you guys.

*hugs*

[lilithilien.livejournal.com]

Not going to any conventions, but many congratulations on the getting married part, and if you're near Ottawa for the getting legal part then do let me know. I'll have a bottle of champagne chilled for you!

[mijan.livejournal.com]

AWWWWW, thank you! *feels all warm and fuzzy*

Most likely, if we get married legally in Canada, it'll be in Nova Scotia, because most of my family lives there. But thank you for the sentiment!

I wish you could come to one of the conventions. Are you sure you can't squeak down to Terminus? How far is Chicago from where you live?

[lilithilien.livejournal.com]

Chicago's actually not too terribly far -- maybe an 8-9 hour drive? And I do love that city. It's tempting ...

Although I'm also tempted by a Stargate convention in Vancouver in February -- Vancouver in February is so much better than Ottawa in February. And I have friends who I could stay with out there.

Why am I not independently wealthy so I can go to everything? *stomps foot*

[verdenia.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the marriage!!! How very exciting!!!

And travels and moving and visitings! Big year!

So, um...did Steve VA do something, or is it just that he's been obnoxiously over-promoted and placed on a pedestal by HPEF? Just curious--he seems "adorkable" to me, and I saw him and Elanor hugging at the back of the slash town hall meeting at Prophecy, so it seems at least one slasher approves of him. ;p

[verdenia.livejournal.com]

Thanks for filling me in, dear. I had rather wondered. & I think it is great that you are not impressed by "celebrity"! Goddess knows too many people in this world are!
Best of luck with all the planning!!!

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Hehe... no problem! And I hope you can understand why I screened the post. (I prefer not to create negativity and wank, but I do like people to know the truth.)

And yeah, celebrity itself has never impressed me. I'm impressed by actual skill and talent, and I respect accomplishments brought about by skill and hard work, but I'm not "awed" by people for their "status". Just doesn't work for me. :)

[verdenia.livejournal.com]

Word. We're all humans. ;D
I *totally* understand why you screened, and agree that it is the best way to handle it. There's a touch more I wanted to tell you, if you're interested, verdenia at gmail.
*hugs*

I'm so happy for you and Fi!