ultranos: kino standing, staring ahead (always read the warning labels)
So, on Wednesday, I took the train down from Milwaukee to Chicago and met up with [livejournal.com profile] abyssinia4077 and [livejournal.com profile] holdouttrout. The next day, we trekked over to the Museum of Science and Industry, where I acted like a five-year-old engineer and played with LEGOs for half an hour while we waited for [livejournal.com profile] annienau08. Then I proceeded to grow up to ten-years-old and practically bounced around like I was hyped up on sugar in the space exhibit. (LEM! MERCURY CAPSULE! MARS ROVER! EEEE!)

Trout and Annie left Abyssis and I to our own devices until Friday afternoon. On our way to meet them, Abyssis took me on a driving tour of Fermilab! There were BISON. And SCIENCE.

Oh, I suppose you're all interested in this little con I went to, huh?


So, to be honest, this is just things I remember, because I don't take notes during cons because that's the part of my brain I turn off during cons. Otherwise, it'd never get a break.

-The Big Finish guys from the UK who do the audiobooks: kind of adorably hilarious. I always like it when I can banter back and forth with a dealer in the dealer room. Yeah, they were trying to sell their product, but they were excellent sports about it. To the point where I kind of wanted to just shovel money at them. Damn you, Creation, for your overpriced-everything-else for foiling this plot!

--In any case, I apparently bought 3 audiobooks on CD. Afterwards, I realized that a) I don't have a CD player except for my laptop, and b) Moros the iPod is keyed to Bahamut...the desktop 1600 miles away. Well done, Big Finish guys. *slow clap*

-Gary Jones has funny stories.

-Colin Trinneer looks better without the Wraith makeup and is easier to understand without the fake teeth. He also thinks that the first Michael episode was the best, and he's totally right. "Michael" was a good stand-alone story, and they drew it out too long with the "you made me this way!" thing.

-Michael Shanks is surprisingly entertaining. I didn't realize that he was laugh-out-loud funny. And well-spoken.

--He also gave shout-outs to Lexa, as he knew everything he said was going to end up on the internet. Smart man.

--He also laid an amusing smackdown on this con's That Fan. Stupid stick-boy. I was perpetually THIS CLOSE to telling him that the LARP was in the next town over.

-Phone call to my mother revealed that my great-aunt is a big Stargate fan and was ALMOST at this con with my second-cousin. Also revealed that my mom loved MacGuyver and thought RDA was hot and watched the show only for him.

--This explains SO MUCH of why I don't find Jack O'Neill that attractive. BIOLOGICAL IMPERATIVE NOT TO DO SO.

--Surreal level: VERY FUCKING HIGH.

-Amanda Tapping lives up to her reputation of being amazingly gracious and down-to-earth. It's uncanny. And where Shanks had you on the edge of your seat and laughing aloud and verbally poking the audience, Tapping somehow made a jam-packed room feel at-ease. Twas weird. But in a good way.

--Not so fun: waiting 3 hours for MS and AT's autograph for the tabletop book. Both looked exhausted by the time I got there, considering they were personalizing everything. Oy.

---Although it still doesn't beat the waiting in line for 8 hours to register for Anime Boston 2008 after a full day of classes. Oh, that was fun. Not.

---Despite feeling like an utter dork and fighting the "why on earth would you even care?" feeling, I did actually manage to tell Tapping "thank you" for giving me Sam Carter when I needed the metaphorical boot to the head. That I came to Stargate after having to withdraw from college and was at a low point, and how Sam Carter gave me the kick in the pants I needed to go back. To MIT. And that I'm graduating this year.

----She asked to shake my hand. Surreal level: REALLY HIGH.

----[livejournal.com profile] holdouttrout, who was apparently somewhere behind me, claims I made her teary-eyed. Oops?

-Rachel Lutrell and Paul McGillion are actually kind of adorable dorks together onstage. Although his teasing of her was getting a little excessive. I just wish her play-kick at him actually connected. :P She smacked him pretty good a couple of times though.

--Her explanation of where the inspiration for how to play Teyla was really fascinating and kind of echoing for me. Maybe it's the "being a child of immigrants" thing.

-I did not get to see Joe Flannigan, as my parents came down to the hotel to pick me up, thus saving me extra time and $22 dollars, and having them come after 5pm would be rather inconsiderate of that generosity.

--I made them dinner today. POINTS FOR ME!

-All the LJ people I met up with were very cool people: [livejournal.com profile] annienau08, [livejournal.com profile] holdouttrout, [livejournal.com profile] gabolange, [livejournal.com profile] abyssinia4077, [livejournal.com profile] havocthecat, and others whom I'm blanking on because I'm tired and suck at names. They're about half the reason I could swallow Creation's overpriced shenanigans, considering I usually choke on blatant commercialism. You guys are the bestest.



Oddly, now I'm torn between poking at various fic WiPs and Persona 4. MY LIFE IS HARD.
Date/Time: 2009-08-25 05:11 (UTC)Posted by: [identity profile] rodlox.livejournal.com
no, not really; I'd rather hear about you and the space equipment.

but okay...my hunch is that A.Tapping was thrilled that, through her character, she was able to help you through a tough time - vindication, in a way.
Date/Time: 2009-08-25 05:31 (UTC)Posted by: [identity profile] ultranos-fic.livejournal.com
Heh. The space equipment was extremely awesome. I can't believe that was the first time I ever went to that museum, considering I've been to the Shedd aquarium and Field Museum. And practically lived at a smaller science museum in Milwaukee as a kid.

They had some of the original space suits, and models of all the various rockets used by NASA to send people into space. And a mockup of Sputnik. They even had a mockup model and fairly detailed in layman's terms explanation of the concept of the space elevator. I swear, I could spend days in that museum and not see everything.

There was also a really awesome exhibit on the U-505 submarine, the only U-boat captured in WWII, now housed there. I didn't go on a tour of the inside, since that cost extra, but there was a lot about how WWII-era submarines worked. There was another exhibit on modern subs, but we were running out of time, unfortunately. It would have been kind of cool to see what they had on nuclear submarines, since I'm kind of familiar with some of the technology on them.
Date/Time: 2009-08-25 13:12 (UTC)Posted by: [identity profile] beanpot.livejournal.com
Ahh - you made AT cry in a good way!!

Date/Time: 2009-08-25 13:29 (UTC)Posted by: [identity profile] ultranos-fic.livejournal.com
I'm still kinda "wait, really?" about that. Because my default assumption on that sort of thing really is "why would you care about some random person", and spitting it out felt weird. I'd heard that AT's the kind of person who appreciates getting told things like that, and she practically said as much onstage, but I didn't actually believe it until then.
Date/Time: 2009-08-25 13:45 (UTC)Posted by: [personal profile] havocthecat
havocthecat: the lady of shalott (Default)
He also laid an amusing smackdown on this con's That Fan. Stupid stick-boy. I was perpetually THIS CLOSE to telling him that the LARP was in the next town over.

Oh. My. God. I'm so glad I was the only person in the office at that point in time. I laughed. A lot. So what did That Fan do this time?

I had SO MUCH FUN hanging out. *glomps* Let me know the next time you're going to be around visiting your parents? Hopefully I'll also have some time free, and we can get together.
Date/Time: 2009-08-25 13:59 (UTC)Posted by: [identity profile] ultranos-fic.livejournal.com
So what did That Fan do this time?

Really, he was just an irritating idiot. Every time he went up to ask a question (which was Every. Damn. Panel.), he just sounded like a self-important pompous windbag who went on and on about his costume. In a really whiny, slightly high-pitched voice. He also carried this gnarled wizard's staff and would freaking brandish it all the damn time. It pissed me off because a) do not brandish weaponry at actors, and b) if you can't respect that the weapon is NOT A TOY, you shouldn't be holding it.

It's possible that I get really weird about weaponry. If it didn't mean talking to him, I wanted to rip the staff out of his hands and tell him off for that. I HATE it when people disrespect weaponry.


I had a blast hanging out too! Really, it was most of the reason I knew I could swallow Creation, because hanging out with cool people I like is without a price tag. :) And sure, I'll let you know next time I'm in the area. Probably not going to be until winter break, though.
Date/Time: 2009-08-25 15:45 (UTC)Posted by: [identity profile] abyssinia4077.livejournal.com
ext_2207: (Default)
OMG AMANDA WAS AWESOME!
(I am kinda proud we both worked up the courage to specifically thank her)

Also! You forgot! The Apollo 8 module! IT FREAKING WENT AROUND THE MOON AND IT WAS SITTING RIGHT IN FRONT OF US!

*ahem*

LEGOS
Date/Time: 2009-08-25 19:06 (UTC)Posted by: [identity profile] ultranos-fic.livejournal.com
SHE WAS!
(I am too. Especially since it really was necessary to work up the courage to do so.)

I did forget! AUGH. THE MOON. IT WENT AROUND THE MOON AND CAME BACK IN ONE PIECE!

LEGOS.
Date/Time: 2009-08-27 03:32 (UTC)Posted by: [identity profile] holdouttrout.livejournal.com
ext_2131: picture of a fish with lots of green (Default)
You did make her a little teary! Hee! :-)
Date/Time: 2009-08-27 04:06 (UTC)Posted by: [identity profile] ultranos-fic.livejournal.com
If I wasn't right there, I so would not believe you. I just really remember her blinking a few times. :)
Date/Time: 2009-08-27 04:08 (UTC)Posted by: [identity profile] holdouttrout.livejournal.com
ext_2131: picture of a fish with lots of green (Default)
Hee! :-)
Date/Time: 2009-08-27 04:14 (UTC)Posted by: [identity profile] ultranos-fic.livejournal.com
Then again, I was really mostly focused on getting it out without sounding like I was babbling too much. :P
Date/Time: 2009-08-31 22:03 (UTC)Posted by: [identity profile] squigglysarah.livejournal.com
I just had to share this with you :)
Amanda shook your hand when she was signing autos right? Right near the end of the line?
If that was you, I was standing right behind you... not only did I get so absolutely happy for you, but to see Amanda after signing for three hours, still get that excited, was amazing!
I had been through the line for some time as I had a front row ticket, and to see her still giving everything was amazing. We even had a couple of second talk about this when she came to our table at the desert party....
Congrats again on your fabulous moment of happiness! (that sounds really silly but meant sincerely)
Date/Time: 2009-08-31 22:04 (UTC)Posted by: [identity profile] squigglysarah.livejournal.com
and agreed. It was like, we get it. move on.
Date/Time: 2009-09-01 02:02 (UTC)Posted by: [identity profile] ultranos-fic.livejournal.com
Yeah, I was near the end of the line (I had bought the autograph tickets separately). And thank you! It was really amazing to see her get excited after three hours of signing. Seriously. I admire her stamina!

Profile

ultranos: kino standing, staring ahead (Default)
ultranos

Memoranda from the Usual Suspects

Media List:

Currently Watching:
-- She-Ra(in theory)

Currently Playing:)
--Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS)
--Astral Chain (Switch)
--itch.io bundle (PC)

Currently Reading:
Fiction
-The Silence of Bones, June Hur

Nonfiction
-none

------------------

"So she's good cop, he's bad cop, you're morally-questionable cop, and I'm set-things-on-fire cop."

"Sounds about right."

--------

"WARNING: When attempting to be clever, make sure you not actually just being stupid."

--------

"Did you remember to sacrifice the goat before burning the ISO to the DVD-R?"

"Crap! Um, I've got a charred piece of meat here."

"That's called a steak. That's dinner. What about the sacrifices?"

--------

"I escape through quantum-tunneling. What do I need to roll for that?"

--------

"Why is it called a 'Monkeylord'?"

"Because it looks like a spider."

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"I have a moral objection to this problem. It implies microwaving a steak."

--------

"Did you eat the crazy cookies this morning?"

--------

"The GPU goes 4 by 4, hurrah, hurrah."

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