Convention/Travel Report - USA 2001

Dates: May 3, 2001- May 20, 2001

May 3, 2001 - Day 1 of many.

I began my holidays at 11 AM that morning, with a quick lunch and then drive to Pearson Airport (YYZ), 
thinking that check in at 12 PM for a 2PM flight couldn't be too early ?. Unfortunately, in my haste, I 
forgot to check times, and the flight was really leaving at 2.30PM. The counter agent told me to come back 
at 1PM, so I had about another three quarter hours to kill while my sister and mother kept asking me for the 
phone numbers of the people that I'd be staying with. Wait, didn't I leave a complete itinerary on the 
kitchen refrigerator? Yes. All the numbers were there (not to mention another copy in my back pocket.) 
<G>

[Toronto to Newark flight time. 2.30PM - 4.10PM]

I flew from Toronto to Newark, New Jersey (EWR) with an arrival time of 4.10PM. Why would I fly East 
to go West? To meet another pup and fly out with said Merpup. Miss Ellie of New Jersey repute. We 
were seated at the bulwark of the plane, so trying to watch Miss Congeniality became a sore-neck exercise. 
? Dinner was chicken and some vegetables. I knew that I should have stuck with the lasagna. ? I saw a 
spectacular sunset while still over Wyoming(?)

[Newark to Los Angeles flight time. 6.00PM (EST) - 9.15PM (PST)]

Our arrival in the Cty of Angels was punctuated by the meeting of several Pups - Harley, Scoop, and Deb. 
They picked up the rental minivan, and we were on for a wild and wooly ride to Pasadena and PupCentral.
Checked into the hotel . certainly not under my name. the credit card company still won't issue a card to 
Paddington T. Bear :-D I met some more pups on the second floor - Sandie Keene of New Mexico and 
other pups wandering the halls of the hotel. I also managed to have a brief telephone conversation with 
Debra Butler via the lobby telephone. enough to confirm her room number, and the time we would be 
meeting to go for brunch on the Friday morning.

Sleep is a precious commodity, and something that I don't think I achieved too much of during the 
weekend - I thank my roommates for their unending patience upon looking to the edges of the bed only to 
see me sitting there blanking staring at the wall, or writing,. ?

May 4, 2001 - Day 2 of many.

First official day of the Convention. I was up to watch the sunrise. then again, I don't think I got anything 
more than three/fours of shut eye. ;) Up and toddling about at 6AM, I had breakfast buffet with Harley, 
and later, Mel joined us at the Soleil restaurant. ? By the time we finished breakfast, there was a lineup out 
by the Pool Patio - for both Bard Brunch tags (they couldn't find mine, so I got a blank one.) and 
Merwolfpack Pup tags ? In fact, I did find Tracy Bricker on the first try (Hi Mom!) <G> I met Alias and 
Meleager - they were both sunning themselves in the bright Californian light ?

I met lots of other pups in that little lineup for pup tags. certain remember seeing Mary Priddy handle the 
Bard Brunch tickets, as well as a variety of DC pups and . many many others ? As well, I decided to stay 
and help the Tag team (that is. Tracy Bricker and Ms Jill Lewis) pass out tags and pup dinner tickets :D I 
cut lots of string during that morning. ? 

A pup with scissors is always a dangerous thing. but me with scissors is even more interesting - we ran 
out of string ? A brief hullo to Debra Butler and Pat Smith confirmed that the brunch was at 10 and 
hopefully, we'd get there on time. ?

Tracy Bricker and I did NOT leave the patio area until 10.15 ? So we were fashionably late to the 
SX_Addicts brunch (organized by Debra Butler, SX Meagher and Carrie Norman for the 
SX_Meagher@yahoogroups.com fan group ?) It was at Shakers Arroyo in a separate room from the main 
dining area. ? I was seated at a table with Karen Speers, Michele Diaz, Terry Roy (Troubleshooter), Tracy 
Bricker, Dee Robinson, and Ms Ruth (of which I still DON'T have a lastname to.) <G> I discovered that 
a Leatherman tool is always a good toy to have around. That cameras need to have good batteries to run, 
and that a Leatherman and a camera can be fun to play with together. ? 

There was the brunch, then an impromptu quiz about facts and features of I Found My Heart in San 
Francisco by SX. Our table didn't win any prizes, although we were very skilled at the peanut gallery 
comments ?

After the brunch, there was a scenic mad dash through Pasadena to get to the Cheesecake Factory for the 
Texaspups Lunch. ? We got there just close to the end, so I watched a pup eat Chocolate Mississippi Mud 
Pie write about it. A short drive back to the Sheraton, and then back out to city centre as we/I forgot to buy 
string ? First try: Target - small rolls of frilly girly string. Nope, Office Max didn't have any, other than 
butcher's string. I had quite a time trying to explain to the salesgirl that . "You don't understand. this 
stuff would have to go around the necks of a lot of people - mostly women. It's hot here, sweaty even, I 
don't want some angry, hot, and sweaty women chasing after me because of some rash!" I finally got some 
plastic string at Micheals - two rolls of 500 yards ?? 

I got back to the hotel just in time to drop my string off with Ms Tracy, and run off to the Convention 
centre. ? I got to see Hudson Leick scream, roll on the stage, throw kisses, hug people, and answer 
questions. ? She's a great performer. and probably a security nightmare, but I had a blast watching her. 
?

Later on, I wandered back to the hotel, and had sat in the lobby for a wee while. By then, the Barbarians (of 
Merwolfvoices) had gathered in the same lobby. I got to meet Barb (Patsbard), Pat, Miss Stacy, Miss 
Shannon and Kennedy (again) <G> Frankie, Newman, Chiclet (Shana Watson) and many more pups had 
gathered in the lobby by that time.. . my pictures attest to the presence of . Vicki Sandeen, Cinthie (Cie), 
Susan Klenke, Sarah Blakeman, Helem Simmins-McMillan (mmm/morgaine). ?

Dinner was at Soleil's, and the post dinner events centred mainly in the lobby and the pool. Miss Stacy 
demonstrated hulahooping skills unparalleled in the lobby, as we moved out into the pool area, the 
noisiness that is Pupdom increased. I seem to recall gathering inside Charlie's Bar for a wee bit, as the 
Barbarians received loot bags from M.President Stacy - including of a water gun, bits of leather, 
bubblewrap, and what I shall forever call: Barbarian Kissing Beads (of Mardi Gras origin). I seem to recall 
another gathering of the CherryHill con pups occuring at the bar itself - their. cheers are most unique. :P

Barbarians with waterguns became. a watergun fight around the pool area. It occurred mainly between 
Miss Shannon and Kennedy, although I think that my shirt became an early victim as one of them shot 
around my back, and another shot in front of me. :P I got to play enforcer Bear, taking away one water 
gun away from each of them (they originally had two each).

There was also a little girl in the pool that could sing the X:WP theme song in the original Bulgarian(?) 
which was pretty cool. She was dubbed: Little Fish for that weekend. ?

Eventually I made an early retreat to get cleaned up and by the time I came back downstairs, the Barbarians 
had dispersed, and I made my way back to the bar.

Debra, Mary-Ellen and Sarah had gathered in one of the corners of the bar. and I managed to capture a 
few pictures before joining them. Later on, we were lucky enough to have Terry (TS) and Fanatic join us 
by the corner. ? By then, TS had a new toy in hand - a digital camera. I think that she's got the first picture 
of me sitting relatively still and (maybe) smiling. We sat around, chatted a bit, and I made my way back 
upstairs around 1-ish?

Since I had received instructions that Iactually had to be asleep horizontally, as opposed to my bizarre 
vertical seated sleeping mode, I was "asleep" from 1-4. At which time I had truly discovered the error of 
my ways, the blanket really does server as an insulating material :D

May 5, 2001 - Day 3 of many.

I'm awake this time by 4.30 and not making noise until 6. That was my idiosyncrasy. I could be up for 
hours before I felt I could run the shower or dig around for film, or whatever it was that occupied my time 
in between the hours. Harley, again took sympathy at the other members in the room, and went with me to 
have a really early breakfast. We saw Frankie in the lobby area. ? Today's brunch would be the Bard's 
Brunch. ? Breakfast (just coffee for me at Soleil), then a retreat back to the room to pick up the stuff that I 
had brought over from the Great Cold North. Even though Ms Karen had a room at Pupcentral, by the 
time I had awoken Spiritquest at 7.30, she'd already left. all I could discern was that a cat was needing to 
be fed. ?

The Bard's Brunch was again held at Justine's this year. originally, my seat was to be in the Piazza room 
(all that much closer to the food), but, a second attempt to find my name tag revealed that I did indeed 
exist. ? and would be sitting in main room ? Pretty cool ? This time, I found a seat with Karen, Michele, 
Pitipup, Tara Kerry (Judith's groupie?), and several others whose names I've lost between then and now ?

Vantage points. I had a great view of SX and Carrie - halfway across the room, and to my great fortune, 
the congo line of attendees waiting to get to the buffet wend its way around by my table ? I got great shots 
of many, many bards. now if only I could remember all their names. a shot or a two of Advocate, Verda 
and Vada Fosters, Linda Crist. ?

In fact, I spent so much time snapping pictures that I think I missed most of the food. snagged what 
would be: an egg benedict, some runny scrambled eggs, and umm. some croissants? The brunch switched 
into an introduction of the bards that were there. and boy, were there lots and lots ? A lot of the bards 
had written in the early years of XWP and some of them were writing in the uber genres, but it was an 
impressive sight to see so many bards gathered at one place. There had been a silent auction running 
throughout the brunch and the time slipped away with the emcee Joseph McConnell reading out the 
winners. I did get to meet Archaeobard and a small group of bards briefly.

The afternoon was consumed with another Barbarian gathering by the pool - lots of pale knees were seen, 
? running out to the Convention to see Aphrodite, I picked up a poster to be signed by Missy for another 
pup, saw Aphrodite briefly, and went back to the hotel. Saturday was also the running of the Kentucky 
Derby. There was a small group of pups (including Missy Good) in the Bar. I know that I saw Sue Galati, 
Erin (Rodeo Pup) and a host of others, as they waited for the race to begin. 

It's pretty interesting to see the two hour pre-race show, the two minute race, and then the two-hour post-
race show about these horse races. all I can remember is that Invisible Ink came in second, and 
Monarchos finished first. ? This was also the afternoon of the Toronto Maple Leafs-New Jersey Devils 
hockey game. I found Pat already commandeering the couch/chesterfield/sofa and chairs around the big 
screen TV in the bar. Later on, we were joined by Mary Ellen.

At some point in time, Karl Urban had come into the hotel. and between the urgings of one person and 
another ;) I found myself standing outside of the bar, in the lobby, looking for someone with a red hat. I 
didn't find Karl, but I did find Missy Good looking at me in a slightly amused manner. ? I don't recall 
going back into the Bar for more hockey, and instead sat in the lobby with Newman and . NoloElmo ? 
(Rene) waiting for Barbarians to show up. ?

I had originally travelled to Pasadena with 50 diskettes containing all of my poetry. I spent some time 
between 5.30-8 distributing some of them. ? The Barbarians decided to go to Ruby's for dinner. a 
decision that took some time to arrive. ? Before we left the hotel for the diner, there was another public 
pledging of the Barbarians adoration of Barb. ?

Dinner at Ruby's on Cinqo de Mayo. the streets of Pasadena grew progressively busier as the night 
deepened. There was a demonstration at dinner of lingual dexterity on the part of some of the Barbarians 
present - cherry coke was suddenly the drink of the day. ?

By the time we got back to the Sheraton, it was already approaching 11PM, and a long day of little water 
and too much caffeine had finally caught up with me with a vengeance as I was suddenly kneeling to all 
sorts of Pups coming into the hotel - my knees were giving out on me. ? Icebags and silent corners later, I 
spent the greater part of the time within the lobby and then the bar giving out Pup Tags and the Dinner 
invites. ;-)

May 6, 2001 - Day 4 of many.

Again, the morning began at 5AM for me. up, dressed and ready to help with the Exposure brunch in any 
way, shape or form. ? It started with a  trip to Kinko's (open 24 hours a day) at 6AM for posterboard, 
rulers, and black sharpies. We found the posterboard and markers, but for some reason (innocent looks 
abound) the black pens were all sold out. <eg>

7AM - Digging around, three black sharpies were found in time at Justines so that the large boards for 
"Kingsley bingo" would be done in time :D The waitstaff seemed to ignore our requests for water until 
later when Fanatic came in. ? I seem to remember the time passed very quickly with the drawing of the 
boards, the laying of Mardi Gras beads, and the gradual gathering of Exposure fans outside in the hallways 
?.

The Exposure brunch began with a short welcome by Fanatic and T. Novan, was "interrupted" by everyone 
going out to the food buffets, and we then played "Things that sound Dirty but are not." My table 
comprised of Barbarians fumbled miserably, mainly because we weren't at our computers, and more 
importantly, I think that we were tired. ;-) There was a pome composed for the occasion - origin from 
DysfunctionalGirl, and subject: French Apple Crepes ?

As well, we played Kingsley Bingo. again, we didn't win. ? Although, we (as a table) were very 
successful in misleading the tables around us ;-) The brunch was followed by the official event for the new 
Jane Doe Press publishing company. The company will be lead by T. Roy (Troubleshooter aka Jude Ryan) 
and Francine E. Love (Fanatic aka Ryan Daly). The first published book was: Madam President by 
T.Novan and Blayne Cooper (Advocate), with a fabulous lineup ahead. Also at the unveiling were the 
writers: SX Meagher (I Found My Heart in San Francisco), RS Corliss (Conspiracy of Shadows), Linda 
Crist (The Bluest Eyes of Texas), and others ?. For those that had pre-ordered Madam President, it would 
be distributed and then you could get it signed by the two authors ?

During the same morning hours, there was an "official" Addicts picture taken outside on the patio - trees 
and shrubs were all caught by the wee photo lens. By the time I was finished getting autographs and 
signings, it was almost time for the Q&A with Missy Good. So a quick run upstairs to drop off the books, 
and pick up the camera and film to run off to see Missy. ? The convention schedule was very packed for 
this day - Missy Good (along with Steve Sears), the outtakes from various episodes, Ebonie Smith (M'lila) 
was a wonderful speaker, Tsianina Joelson (Veria) - had the crowd up and cheering as she demonstrated 
various upper body muscled poses. ;). I missed Darien Tackle to go wander the photos and scripts that 
were being sold - I bought two photos to send away to other pups, and a copy of the Legacy script for 
myself.

I came back in time for the highlights of the weekend - Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor. I truly 
believe that there are few things more exciting than to see a room full (4000+) of people cheering and 
applauding their favorite actresses. ? It certainly marks a memory that I will not forget - the fact that ROC 
sang the opening bars of Last Dance, then joined by LL for a wonderful reprisal ? The time passed by so 
quickly that two hours seemed by a heartbeat when you could see the obvious happiness both leading ladies 
shared with each other.

By the time LL and ROC had left the stage and the costume contest came around, I think I was floating on 
the euphoria of the room. So I went back over to the Sheraton to prepare for the Pup dinner that evening ? 
Coming through the poolside, I met 1.largo and ehaba. (eeeeeeeeeeeeeee!) and we had a wonderful chat 
about all things fan-fiction and pups. By the time I went back into the lobby, there was a long lineup of 
Pups. ? I dropped off more things at my room, and came back downstairs in a blazer.

The dinner was a rousing success ? with more opportunities for pictures and laughter. The post dinner 
events - Pup auction, signed photos, Erin (Rodeo-pup) singing, Llachlan's reading from Glass Houses, the 
auction of the Pup-shirt (combined with a .. disrobing enabled by Llach), and Missy talking about Tropical 
Storm and her writings. ? I shall always remember Judith (meshuggepup) as the one thousand pup - she 
bid (and won) two large poster-boards of ROC pictures signed at one thousand dollars each. Other pictures 
- including the Lucia poster of Dar and Kerrry on the motorcycle, went for varying amounts of from several 
hundred dollars to over twenty-three hundred dollars.

The dinner was ended on the note of further drawing for pup prizes - waiting deep into the evening, I 
managed to snag a copy of the first volume of the Xena: Warrior Princess soundtracks. During the wee 
hours of the morning, I sat with Scoop on the third floor, and watched cute Pups wander through the 
hallways, including Ms Denise - the organizer of the Pup Dinner holding lots of bubblewrap. ? We 
"liberated" the bubblewrap on the third time that she passed us sitting in the hallway. Apparently, this was 
the bubblewrap that had held the large ROC posters that had traversed around the world and then some. 
??

May 7, 2001 - Day 5 of many.

Today was the visit to the House of Mouse ? Everything I had was packed away into the luggage again, in 
anticipation of leaving from Disneyland to go with Tracy Bricker on a wee trip up the coast to San 
Francisco. However, due to an emergency, these plans were changed, but I still got to go to Disneyland ?

Disneyland has certainly changed a lot since I had last seen it some fifteen years ago.  ;-) I spent time at the 
Frontierland areas, and then at the Tarzan Jungle attraction. There was also the Indiana Jones Adventures 
ride - where "hold onto your hat" takes on the literal meaning. ? By the end of the afternoon, I had been 
on that ride twice ? I also visited the Haunted House and the Bear Country Jamboree. This all on top of 
seeing troops of Pups all around the park.

I had dinner at a Mexican restaurant - although I opted to split St. Louis Ribs with Scoop instead of 
venturing for Mexican food. ;) We also watched the Main Street Parade at 7PM and I had a chance to 
wander through some of the shops - including the Disney Emporium to pick up some "trinkets" <G>.

We didn't get back to the Sheraton before 11.30PM, packed up the luggage that I did have, and then head 
out to LA for the evening. ?

May 8, 2001 - Day 6 of many.

It's not that often that I can wander into a room, and immediately fall asleep. but in the quietest hours of 
the Pacific Coast, this is >possible< <G> The early morning hours of LA reveal a different side to the city 
that the daylight and even night time hours obscure so easily.

Miss Stacy, Kennedy, Barb and Pat came over to Karen and Michele's house so that we could gather and 
go to an ocean bistro - Schooner or Later, for breakfast. ? Apparently, pork chops for breakfast are 
possible ? Later on, we went down to the beach. even that far away from the city centre of LA, the 
"marine layer" is visible over the Pacific. However, the misty fog gradually burnt away from the waterfront 
as the sun approached it's zenith. We also went down to Huntington beach, all the way down to a very 
nice(?)/posh(?) area of LA county before driving back up to LA proper. ?

May 9, 2001 - Day 7 of many.

Morning - Karen and I went to pick up my rental car. I had decided to continue my plans to go up to San 
Francisco, even though it would have been just as cool to drive up there with someone else ? Next trip. I 
shall do so next trip. ? A trip to PriceClub/Costco to pick up some film and I was good to go. ? Karen 
and Michele had been kind enough to mark up the wee Triple A triptik so that I would >remember< all the 
places along the PCH I could see things with. ?

I had lunch close to Pepperdine University, and kept driving until. Santa Barbara. Trying to find the 
Mission of Santa Barbara in the hills. I drove up and down those hills until I was dizzy. I gave up, got 
back onto the 101. only to realize that the "true" exit to the Mission was three exits later. ooops ;-) The 
Mission was truly beautiful, I even said a prayer for myself - better directional sense. :D I kept travelling 
northwards and eventually reached Solvang - a place where there's a wonderful Hans Christian Anderson 
museum. I also had a danish for mid afternoon/early evening sustenance. ?  By the time I left Solvang, I 
had decided to try to reach the PCH so I took the 101 north, and then saw Pismo Beach. The sun was still at 
mid

May 23, 2001

Each time I travel somewhere, I look forward to learning something. My trip out west was no different. 
One of the fundamental lessons relearnt this time - responsibility. It took a while for the words to sink in, 
but in the end, the message is the same, regardless of medium - Responsibility begins with the self. We are 
all responsible for the decisions that we make. Just as well, we are also responsible for the decisions that we 
do NOT make.


When we expect others to make decisions for ourselves, we are not only abdicating our own personal 
responsibility, but we are adding expectations to those "others" that are around us. How fair are our 
expectations after this? Do those "others" realize that we've given up the choice of making choices?

It is not our own responsibility to make decisions for other people - especially when they are fully 
cognizant and aware of the consequences of any decisions they make.

Sometimes, it is so much *easier* for us to make the "correct" decisions for others because it is an easier 
solution - not necessarily the correct decision, but the fastest/easiest one to make. What first becomes an 
easy "out" gradually shifts to being a ... reliance for external decision-makers.

Just as we are responsible for our own choices and decisions, so too, are we responsible for the promises 
and oaths that we take. A promise is only as good as the intent behind it. What use is it to promise to do 
something (promised, if you will, in a fervor of enthusiasm), only to quickly "forget" afterwards.

Promises once broken cannot really be repaired. You can't undo faith broken. Too many times have I 
heard... "I promise" or "I swear" to do/not do something, only to see/hear that intent being broken almost 
immediately. It makes me question the faith and integrity of the promisee. It makes me question why I 
should so concern myself with the matters of someone else when they cannot even bring themselves
to show a similar level of concern.