Trekfest! (finally)
OHAY SO VERY BELATED REPORT but that's okay because tons of people had them before >> I don't even have visual aids, go and read mijan 's post, it's better. >>
ANYWAY Trekfest was awesme, the drive there was full of epic times. We sang along to many CDs and I introduced people to Voltaire! Always a good thing. N fell asleep and started sleep talking again... good times were had there, man.
We almost accidentally picked up a guy from the Subway we stopped at. He really wanted to come, but we decided nooo. The Captain did, however, buy him an ice cream and give him advice on life, 'cause the Captain's cool like that.
Then we drove some more, and eventually branched out from the caravan because we stayed in Iowa City, not Riverside itself like the grown-ups. This was a blessing in disguise, because we got free internet and free breakfast, and they..well...did not. We didn't have a shower with a glass wall, though. (I'm not sure that's entirely a perk)
We got dressed and headed over to join the rest of the crew at the Riverside Casino, where we subsequently talked the Captain into getting into costume with us. (Trekfest hadn't officially started yet, but we were excited, and we all know me-- I can't go anywhere fannish out of costume, man)
On our way out of their hotel, we literally walked right by Walter Koenig. I just. Only the Captain even SAW him the first walk by, because...people were talking to each other and well I tend to walk around staring at my shoes. Clearly a habit I need to break.
Anyway, we all stood in a huddle of ohmygodthat'sChekov for a few minutes, debating going to say hi, but he got on the elevator before we could do so. (Probably better to just let the poor man settle in, though!)
After that heart attack, we went and sort of meandered around the festival grounds. We also learned never to say "I think we're supposed to turn here." unless we are, in fact, making a turn off of our current road. >> Because My automatic reaction is "We are? *TURNS CAR*".
Directions. I follow them too well?
Anyway, we wandered the fairgrounds,dazi_li rode a mechanical bull in costume, it was awesome. Some guy interviewed us possibly for youtube, I still haven't looked it up.
And then we went home!
And, well, since it was the four of us, stayed up talking inanely for awhile. WE DID EVENTUALLY GO TO SLEEP. I set us off on getting up at like..7:30/8, so we could eat, get dressed, and go. Yeah, that so worked. MAKE UP TOOK FOREVERRR. */blames the girls* But really, we just moved slowly. We didn't get over to the parade until the Trek part ended. Finding a spot to part was murder, but driving around slowly screaming along to "Mr. Spock" made up for it, almost.
Well, except that we missed the awesome parade. But there's always next year? NEXT YEAR WE'RE WAKING UP AT 6:30. See if we don't, muahaha.
Anyway, we sort of prowled the shops along the main row, which was fun too. We caught up with another friend, and just walked through the various places selling things. It was fun, lots of people took our pictures. N got to hold a parrot! I have a pic of that, but it's on my phone and I have technology fail.
We did the standard picture by the big "future birthplace of James T. Kirk" monument, and then set off to find the crew (and the main fiarground).
It was disgustingly hot, so I was dying. N, of course, was not, but she wasn't exactly wearing much clothing, which was her problem. She was also in heels, and heels and mud do not mix. We took pictures with the Stormtroopers, wandered a bit more, lost people, found the whole crew finally, and then wandered to the side and got pictures taken of us/interviewed again. Slightly terrified of where all this information went.
And then V and the Captain went into the costume competition, and those of us with stage fright (and not wanting to showcase costumes made overnight) found an nice, shaded place to sit down and watch. It was rather fantastic. We found out that the Captain can do the Chekov dance, and that one of those Kirks cannot sing.
We went and signed up for the costume count, and were then ushered over to chill under some trees until they could pen us all up in the tennis court. (I also got a free tribble. Tribble was bequeathed to hawkelf when I got back.)
We were penned up in there for a..very long while, it seems like. It was hot, there was a fence, it felt like being kept in a gerbil cage on someone's dashboard.
We chilled with one of the Klingons.
Eventually we got all settled in and pictures were taken, and we beat the record for most people in Trek costume in one place for a set amount of time! Iiiii don't remember what the number was. >> OH WELL.
Then we headed back to Riverside so that people could go to the Q and A (I had no money, I did not go) and dazi_li forgot her ID so back to Iowa City with the two of us! We got her ID and I drove her back again, zoom zoom. (The Brigadier got plenty of exercise that weekend.)
While she and the Captain and V went to the Q and A, I rejoined the others in their hotel room for some epic napping. Napping is always epic. Apparently I was upside down? I'm not surprised...I do that a lot. Unfortunately, sleeping upside down causes me to snore. Go figure.
Anyway, people came back, we flopped around a little bit, the Captain shared more amazing stories about talking to Walter Koenig, we were jealous, we went for food. (If you want full details of those events, mijan is the one to go to. It happened to him, after all!) The bar we ate at was awesome. (They have a plaque under the pool table because it's apparently where Jim will be concieved.)
We went to the rodeo because the Captain was going to ride an ostrich. (I also got promised in on the ostrich thing, somehow.) Anyway, we were totally gonna do it, and then they were not actual ostriches but ostrich costumes and we decided against it after a while. Still enjoyed watching the rodeo, until annoying announcer lady spoiled everything enough that we just had to get out of there.
Not that that was easy. I have no idea who was directing parking for that event, but we got totally and completely boxed in. No way oooout! Someone had parked behind us, and there was a truck blocking the main exit. We sat around panicking and sent V to figure out if the truck's owner would move it. When she came back, she wandered around a bit and VOILA. Someone had left and we could pull through where they had been parked. Sweet freedom!
We returned to the bar, briefly, and had the most embarrassing run in with a celebrity i think I will ever have in my life. (Or at least I hope that's as embarrassing as it gets.) Walter was right outside the bar, and at first we just did the cool and quiet "Hellos" and "Hi, sir" and such. And then one of us mentioned the rodeo...someone else mentioned ostriches...there was flailing to correct... He looked so confused. There was an abrupt "ohmigod, sorry, um. Bye, sir! Have a good night!" and into the safety of the bar we dove. We are all so smooooth.
We only stayed at the bar for a little bit, because N was tired and we all wanted out of those godforsaken costumes. So we returned to our hotel to get comfy clothes on for the fireworks display, and headed back.
The display was awesome, and set to TOS sound bytes, which was in equal parts awesome and kind of awkward at times. Regardless, it rounded off a pretty epic day, and the Brigadier crew returned to the hotel to..well... stay up half the night discussing Donkeysh, and Cyrus the Great. Yeeeeah.
In the morning we packed up and headed out, learned why I don't lead a pack of cars, and listened to YET ANOTHER amazing encounter the Captain had. He truly had the most epic time that weekend.
We drove home and..continued to sing along loudly in the car the whole way back.
It was amazing, and fantastic, and I'd love to go again next year. I couldn't be part of a better crew. I love all of you guys so much, and had so much fun with all of you.