Arisia

I want to do a real write-up, but there's just too much going on, brain overfull, and bullet points are better than not posting. Perhaps there will be time for more later. (OK, who'm I kidding?)

• I went to fewer actual panels than any previous year; there was less that called my name (I seem to be in a minority on this, though, reading other people's con reports). However, this meant I fit in more event-type things, from dances to parties to stair climbing, plus the aforementioned stop by the Mystery Hunt, and there was lots of time to be social, which was all good.
  
• Lots and lots of people time, which felt particularly good because I'd been feeling a bit undersocialized. Yay for hugs and skritches, compliments and kisses. And while there were too many people to list, I have to do a special shout-out to the college roomie types, partly because having friends for that long is special, and partly because it's David's fault I figured out a costume for Sunday ;-P
  
• And while I wore fun clothes for much of the con (though not actual costumes), I got a Hall Award ribbon for the Sunday get-up! (Which didn't feel deserved, given that it was all pulled together from things I had around the house at 2 A.M., but felt great nevertheless.) Plus lots of compliments, both verbal and non ;-). Huzzah for the pink'n'purple'n'black tutu I made at Firefly!
  
• Commuting meant not hosting people for meals, but I did end up giving out spicy chocolate and hard candies, so my inner "feed people" person was satisfied. Perhaps next year I'll make something yummy yet portable to gift.
  
• Commuting also meant fewer outfit changes, and more thought of winter gear. Getting outside was good for me, especially since there weren't early morning yoga sessions (I know I'd likely have missed them had they been scheduled, not being in the hotel, but the days flowed slightly differently without them.)
  
• As always, there are some awesome costumes out there. Some of them worn by my friends.
  
• It was marvelous having Shabbat dinner plans, though the timing turned out to be such that I mostly missed ENSMB. Tradeoffs, always.
  
• Ziggurat Labs throws truly awesome parties. I spent far too much time in the pumpkin room, lounging on pumpkin pillows, and occasionally sticking one arm at a time out the window to cool off. It seemed like everyone meandered through at one point or another, so I got to talk with lots of folks.
  
• The live radio shows rocked. I need to find me some Breakfast of Humanoids!
  
• There was a Bdeis party; I was rather surprised that the three of us who graduated together were the old fogeys of the group.
  
• Why can I never manage to sleep enough the week before the con? Really, it makes such a difference.

Which is to say, in short, that it was a fabulous con, as usual, though in slightly different ways than years past. And I have awesome friends.