Gathering 2000 Report:
Let me say right now, I have forgotten a ton of peoples name and I am really sorry! Really, I am. So, if I ran into you there and you know who I am and where your name should be, E-Mail me so I can fix it. I have a habit of remembering peoples nicknames easily versus any real names, so I'll be using peoples nicks whenever I can think of them (sorry if it offends anyone).
Aug. 3 -
I got up at around 4:45 a.m. Pacific time, since my flight took off at at 7 a.m. I proceeded to do a last minute check of all the stuff I packed and made sure to have printed out all the stuff I needed to. Mainly, the confirmation for signing up for G2K, the hotels address, who the shuttle service people were called and yes, being the smart-ass that I am, I even printed a copy of the schedule of events for G2K (even though most of the schedule ended up getting messed up).
My flight took off on time from Sacramento, CA and I was on my way to Houston, TX. Once in Houston, I was only supposed to wait an hour before my connecting flight to Orlando took off. About 5 minutes before what was supposed to be boarding time, they announce that their doing a pressure check on the aircraft. So, my connecting flight ended up being delayed about 30 to 40 minutes. I finally got off the ground on my way to Orlando. After we got airborne, the captain explain the reason for the pressure check. It turns out on one of the front doors, the seal was whistling (I shuddered in my seat when I heard that).
I ended up getting into Orlando about 30 minutes late. I got my luggage without a hitch and then went to find the shuttle service. After waiting about 20 minutes, I got on a van that was headed out to same section of International Drive. While leaving the airport, it started rain, so I just managed to beat the rain storm. The ride to the hotel was pretty straight forward and boring, since it was rush hour. After dropping off about 5 other people, the van pulled up to the hotel and then I proceeded with the check in. Once I got to my room, I proceeded to watch some TV and wait for the check-in for that evening. I wandered on over to do the check-in and that was about it for that day.
Aug. 4 -
I got up at about 8 a.m., too early for anything to be happening yet. So, I sat in the hotel room watching TV until about 9:30, when I decided to walk down to the McDonald's to get some breakfast. Yet another example of me being a bit on the wise side, I had printed up directions for the food places that were around the hotel. After eating, I came back and decided to head over to the where the con was being held. Once, there I sat on one of the sofas and watched the confusion (I've seen worse....it's called my workplace). I ended up walking around for a bit, finding out were everything was and took a look at the schedule that was up. Of course, I pull out the one I printed and start to notice a few changes. Someone noticed that and called me a "Smart-ass."
I took a look at was being sold at the registration desk. I ended up buying one of the posters (the big one) and the official Gargoyles shirt by Disney. I wanted to get a G2K hat, but the last one was sold before I could get it.
At around 1 p.m. I got to work the registration desk and meet High Wing. He showed me the price list and told me the basics and he took off for the ice cream social (how nice, it happens and I have to work). Of course during that whole hour I was working, not much of anything happened. I basically sold a few shirts and some other things, plus got a few people checked in. I also got to meet Jubilee for the first time. After I was done with that, I headed over to the art room.
When I walked in the art room, I was impressed by the art in there. I wandered around in there for about an hour. One of the pieces that really caught my eye was "Time Dancer Yard Sell" by Christi Smith Hayden. I managed to find one of the people working the room and bought it before someone else could beat me to it. I later found out there was quite a few other people who wanted to buy it, but I got it before they did (guilty as charged).
After that, I headed back to my room to rest a little, after all, I was trying to get used to a 3 hour time zone change. I stayed in the room and watched some TV for a little bit. After about a hour, I decided I needed to get some food. I ended up joining High Wing, Demona May, and 2 others as we headed out to find a place to eat. We ended eating up at some Chinese restaurant. After we finished, we headed back towards the hotel in the insane rush hour (believe it or not, I've been in worse). After a bit, we finally got back and I headed over to see what was left of the opening ceremony, which was pretty much about the last 10 - 15 minutes of it (oops).
I heard that Greg would be showing some of the Starship Troopers episodes. I decided to hang around to see that, since I don't have cable, this would be a nice treat. Some of the people who started to watch filtered out after a while, but I decided to hang on to the end with some other people. Towards the end, the hotel tried to kick us out because they wanted to lock up. After Greg was done with the videos, he told us what the radio play was going to be about and not to tell anyone else. And should Greg read this, I really did enjoy those.
Aug. 5 -
Got up around 8:30. I decided to head out to get some breakfast to help wake me up. As I was leaving, I ran into one the group that I had eaten dinner with the night before. They decided to hunt me down to see if I wanted to join them for breakfast. So, we ended up walking to the IHOP that was right down the street. After that, we headed back to the hotel. I ended up back in my room watching some more TV (though there wasn't much on).
After a little of the TV, I headed back over to were the con was at. On the way I decided to get a bottled water (that's stuff is more expensive than out here in CA). I decided to take a look at what was being sold at the registration desk. I ended up buying 5 mini-posters, the Gargoyles movie, a Filk book, and something else (not sure what). I decided to return to my room with all the stuff.
I headed back and ended up in the art room again. I decided to browse through it yet again and ended buying another Christi Smith Hayden work. There was another piece I wanted to buy of hers, but someone got it before I did. Doh! After that, I ended up in the video room and sat down to watch some of Star Trek Insurrection. After that was over, I headed to the little mini-mart type thing that the hotel had and grabbed a Mt. Dew and some peanut M&M's (what a lunch).
As I came back to sit down, Hudson tried to get me to audition for the radio play. I had to tell him no, mainly because I have a lack of voice talent. I can do stuff like that around my friends but not in front of a bunch of people. It's just that I also get really nervous doing things like that. So I decided to leave it to the people who had more talent than I do.
Hudson got his revenge on me though. He asked me to start pressing the buttons for Kelli (I'm hoping it's the right spelling) at around 12:30. So, I ended up doing that for about 45 minutes. I was scheduled to work at 1 at the desk, so I got to press buttons and sell stuff at the same time. At around 2, we closed up the registration desk, so we could be ready for the radio play. The start of which ended up being delayed (no big surprise).
While waiting, I manage to run into a another first time Gathering attendee, Sketch and one of her friends. We sat sat down and talked while waiting to get in. After a bit of a wait, we had to fill out a form to get into the radio play. Basically, don't tell any one what you heard, no audio recordings and no video recordings. Don't do that and we won't have to hunt you down you. All I guess I can say was that it was good and the people in it did a good job. After it was done, I headed back to the room to change into a polo shirt for the banquet. While waiting around for it, I went back to the video room to watch a little of Gargoyles. While watching, the power cut out. In case anyone is wondering, I thought it would have power would have went out sooner, considering I lived out there for about 2 years and was used to it. And being the smart-ass that I am, I had my head-light sitting in my backpack along with my umbrella.
After waiting quite some time, the hotel decided to seat us and feed us by candle-light (those who were there knows what I mean). They held a little raffle to who would sit with Greg Weisman & his family, Thom and Victor and the other Greg (all at different tables). Of course, I was thinking that I wouldn't win, knowing my luck. Just after that thought, I ended up being one of the lucky ones who got to sit at Greg Weisman's table. Yes, I was the one who said "Wohoo!" during the drawing. With me was A Fan, Ashlee and Spacebabie. Greg asked each one of us in turn who we were and where we are from. I think they were surprised to meet some one out of Northern CA. He also asked how and when we got into the show. We sat around and talked about several different things (don't remember what). After a good while the lights finally came back and a ton of folks took off to get ready for the Masquerade.
While others were dressing up for it, I took off to my room to ditch the backpack. While there, I quickly grabbed my camera since it was going to be picture time. While people mingled in the lobby, I decided to get some quick photos in and then went inside the main room to find a spot to sit. I ended up sitting next to Damocles. We both joked about entering the contest, me as Innocent Bystander #5 and him as an innocent civilian or something to that effect. During it, I shot about 1 and half rolls of film (I only had 2). After that was finished, the dance started. I ended up standing around talking to Sketch for a while. Around midnight, we both headed to our rooms for the night.
Aug. 6 -
The last day of G2K. :-(
I got up too early. So, I sat in the room until about 9:45 before I went to eat some breakfast. I never did figure out were the group was that I had eaten breakfast with the day before went. I think they took off without me. I lounged around in the lobby for a bit. I did something before the auction, but I have no idea what.
Just before the auction began, I was debating if I wanted to take part or not. I decided I might as well. Just before it started, I had both Greg's and Victor Cook sign my Filk book, mainly since was the only thing not really packed away. After that, I sat next to Sketch for most of it. After Thom walked in, I had to head over and get his signature also. CrzyDemona was standing there as well, so I asked her for signature as well. I then headed back to my seat.
I ended up bidding on 2 things. One was the G2K Kitty picture done by Christi Smith Hayden, which I got for $40. Hey it's charity, so I didn't mind paying that much. The other item was the Act 1 storyboard from the episode "The Reckoning." I paid $200 on that one. I still won't forget how much Sketch paid for the storyboard from "Mirror." A huge $805.
The rest of the day I can't really recall. Don't know why. I sat through the closing ceremony. I also hung around to watch the "3 X 3 Eyes" presentation that Greg was doing. He also showed some music videos that were done with clips from "Starship Troopers." Both of which were really cool. Wu. I guess Greg did a voice in there, but I didn't catch it. But then again, it was my first time meeting him. I can't wait for it to come out on DVD. After that, as I was heading back to my room, I ran into the small group I was with for that one dinner and breakfast. We had someone take a group photo for us. And that was the last I saw of them.
Aug. 7 -
I ended getting up at 8. For some odd reason, I forgot to turn the alarm that would have woke me at 7. I was going to head out to Disney with Sketch and someone else. I had to catch a later shuttle. I wandered onto the wrong bus with Wanderer and his mom (oops). We got on the one that was going to Universal....doh! We finally got back to the hotel and got on the 11:45 bus. When it got to Disney, I ended hanging around with Ansalong and Wayne. I need to ask her what that guys name is. We wandered around Epcot for about an hour, decided it sucked and went to Magic Kingdom. We hit up some of the rides and walked around quite a bit. Also, today was the first day I managed to eat a meal were my stomach didn't bother me. I ended up picking up some stuff for a co-worker, a few friends, mom and myself. I also ran into Siryn and got a photo of her in her work uniform. Of course that will only be posted if she allows me to. We took the 9:45 (or close to that time) shuttle back to the hotel were we said our goodbyes. Needless to say, I didn't fall asleep that night. I was too high strung and realized such a great time for me had drawn to a close.
Aug. 8 -
I had all my packing done the night before. I checked out of the hotel at 4:45 a.m. since my flight was at 7 and the shuttle would pick me up at 4:50. One other person from the con was also on the shuttle though her flight was at 8 and a different airline I finally fell asleep on the aircraft while they were doing the safety review. I landed in Houston and about 90 minutes later, I was back in the air to Sacramento. On that flight, I went back to sleep before the plane left the ground. I arrived home safely and my G2K experience was over. :-(
Final Note: Over all, G2K was the most fun I've had in about 4 years. Even though this was the first Gathering I got to go to and I didn't know anyone there. That didn't stop me from having a blast though. I ended spending around $500 on Gargoyles related stuff. Of that, about $300 was on charity items. My mom went nuts hearing how much I spent, but it was well worth. My thanks goes to Greg for creating such a cool show and all the people who helped make Gargoyles. Also, thanks to all the people who ran it and all the other volunteers who worked there. I would also like thank all the people I ran into down there and hope to see you folks again at G2K1. According to Greg, "G2K1 is going to kick ass!!" Of course I will be there to show my support. Thanks for reading.
Legal stuff: Gargoyles is a © of Buena Vista Television and The Walt Disney Company. Epcot and Magic Kingdom are also © of The Walt Disney Company.
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The pictures.
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