All the best stories seem to happen on smoke breaks; it's enough to make me consider the Dread Weed.

it's enough to make me consider the Dread Weed.

Shrift was smoking a joint with Robin Sachs? How scandalous!

Also, if I was on the fence about doing the Serenity release party, I mean, this thing kills it altogether.

Can't compete.

I don't think it's competition at all, Allyson. At first, I was considering the Angel Booster Bash, but the money was a big turnoff. Then, D:LA only solidified my feelings that I'd rather spend (lesser) money and go to a relaxed fan gathering like that and meet up with other fans and celebrate the show.

Why should I spend oodles of money to go to an event where I have to feel like my money should "entitle" me to an autograph or photo that potentially involves a process akin to herding cattle through a line? No thanks.

Give me an event like D:LA or W&HAR where I can make new friends or renew acquaintances while sharing in the fandom love for a good cause, and then enjoy the icing on the cake if any VIPs happen to appear.

I don't think it's a matter of exclusivity because different events will draw a different audience, with some overlap.

Reasonably priced events like Dragon*Con do sound appealing. If I could find a good plane fare from Philly and hotel deal, I'd seriously consider it. I'm in the same boat as Beej, hoping that Wizard World Philly works out since that's only about 20-30 minutes away from me. (BTW, I know someone who had a bad experience waiting in line for an Eliza Dushku autograph last year at WW, but I'm not going to let that dissuade me.)

All the best stories seem to happen on smoke breaks

I've met so many people this way. I bummed cloves from Voltaire's roadie! Which isn't impressive at all, but there you go.

Shrift was smoking a joint with Robin Sachs?

Hush, you. This is how rumors get started.

Just forwarded to me by a non-Buffista Mutant Enemy fanatic:

[link]

I've met so many people this way. I bummed cloves from Voltaire's roadie! Which isn't impressive at all, but there you go.

Bwah-ha-ha-ha!

Okay, I'm probably one of three people around here who finds that funny, but still.

Okay, I'm probably one of three people around here who finds that funny, but still.

You, me, and who else makes three?

You, me, and who else makes three?

Gandalfe. Four people if StuntHusband is around.

Er, not that I'm trying to discourage you from coming, but you know that Dragon*Con is, like, massive? Around 50,000 attendees. It can get cramped.

But two things: 1. I'm going to have paid, in total, about $400 for the whole thing, gas, tix, hotel and all. I don't mind lines at that price. 2. From all you said, Dragon*Con sounds way better than my only other con experience. Perhaps I should've said "Cons that aren't very established aren't my thing."

Also, I'll be totally okay at a cramped thing as long as I have my people, and in an evil doom way I plan to make my friend Lauren stand with me non-stop. (She always has some T3, which comes in handy when you've got a migraine at a major event, like PBP.)

All the best stories seem to happen on smoke breaks

I'm one of those people who takes non-smoking breaks, where I go hang out with the smoking people. Comes from wanting friends when I did theatre, I think. My fabulous smoking story is that I told Tim that when I was making up lots of parodies of Strindberg and Helium, in which the little balloon says "I'm dead, too," that when I got to Minear and Helium, nothing changed.

I think he said something like, "Fuck you."

It was so cool. (It occurs to me that this story is not such a great story. Oops.)

I keep thinking, for $600, I could have a full spa day at Burke Williams.

That's it. I'm buying a lottery ticket. Ima go and get a mani and a pedi and a massage and a facial and maybe get all wrapped up in some seaweed and mud.

I promise to hum the Firefly theme at least once.