I had great intentions for updating this space in real time. The feet-on-the-ground reality was - I was too busy!

I learned another valuable lesson while there: never test a new camera at an important event. Most of my photos are worse than Ed Wood's cutting room floor footage. There are a few decent shots, as you'll see below. Plus, I plan to steal good pictures from anyone who will let me. So there will be more!

Let's start with the events I was actually involved in. Nothing like a little first-hand experience ...

My Schedule

Friday  8:00 PM  Trinity 6
What Would Cthulhu Do? (Moderator)

Description: H.P. Lovecraft created a vivid series of stories that have defined a genre. Do you dare to read them - alone - at night? Or have you just heard about them from friends? Discuss the nature of the Elder Gods, and imagine what they think of being made into plush toys.

Participants (besides me): Scott Cupp, Linda Donahue, Chris Fulbright, Thomas Wagner

What actually happened: The plush toy discussion was an afterthought we almost didn't get to. Lots of time discussing the movies - Reanimator, From Beyond, Dreams in the Witch House, the older Dunwich Horror (with Sandra Dee, if you can believe that). Lots of time examining why Lovecraft's work is still popular and valid ('cause it's frickin' creepy, that's why), and some time talking about why some of us - Linda in particular - still write in his dark universe.

Notable factoid: There were more Lovecraft-related t-shirts for sale in the dealer's room than there were Stargate t-shirts. That says it all.

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Saturday  3:00 PM  Pecan Room
Reading

Participants: David Gray, A. Lee Martinez

Description: We read stuff. Duh. What did you think was going to happen?

Seriously, A. Lee read from Too Many Curses, his latest novel from Tor; David Gray read a short story; I read an excerpt from a novel in progress that will probably never be finished because it's just too depressing.

A good time was had by all ... or maybe that's just wishful thinking. Nobody fell asleep, anyway. At least nobody I saw.

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Sunday  11:00 AM  Director's
Rejects Anonymous (Moderator)

Description: Working with editors, and what causes rejections. Join Dave Duggins for a mini-workshop on avoiding that little reject slip.

What actually happened: Four people showed up ... but I don't blame them. The meeting room was not actually named on the map; I heard later that several people wandered around in circles trying to find it, but were, sadly, unable. More's the pity. The whole thing devolved into a really fun B.S. session. Did anybody get any useful information out of it? Doubtful.

Yes, I know. My eyes are closed. I'm concentrating.

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Sunday  1:00 PM  Trinity 6
Monster Mash: Who Is Really King of the Movie Monsters?

Description: Discus the success of Godzilla, King Kong, Cloverfield, etc.
and who would really win in a cage death match?

Participants: Scott Cupp, Chris Fulbright, A. Lee Martinez, Alan Balthrop

What actually happened: Godzilla kicked King Kong's ass. Sorry, Scott - there is no way a giant ape is going to win out against radioactive breath and kung-fu tail-slides! I love Kong, but forget about it!

This was my favorite panel of the weekend - just a room full of grown men and women sharing their passion for guys who dress up in big rubber suits and kick over cardboard buildings. I don't wanna grow up! I'm a Godzilla kid!

The discussion was heated at times. Not when this picture was taken, however.

Rhonda Eudaly, whose really-super-short story appears in this issue, was a busy little FenCon bee all weekend. As guest liason, it was Rhonda's job to get noted guests to and from the airport, provide all the comforts of home and generally make them feel all pampered and comfy. She was also the auction runner. She did her own readings, promoted her work, my work - probably your work, if she knew about it. Below is a picture of Rhonda, midafternoon Saturday:

Wow. Kinda looks like she's just seen one of the Old Ones up close, doesn't it?

Hey, I'm not trying to be mean. The mortgage crisis has sent ripples of influence into the chaos. Even the Old Ones are not immune. The depths to which they must sink to preserve their hellish lifestyle!

You think you've got it bad? Imagine the upkeep on a place like R'lyeh. Sure, dead Cthulhu waits dreaming. Meanwhile, who's keeping up with the yardwork? Those kelp beds don't edge themselves ...