BLOGAVERSARY!!!!!!

Can you believe it … Aug. 2, 2014  … 11 years ago …. we posted our “test post” which frankly didn’t have much on it but it was a start. It was the push that propelled everything else that followed. It was the “first post” and yeah we could have stopped there but we didn’t we just kept pushing through. On August 3^rd we did an introduction post about what the blog was going to be and more importantly what it wasn’t going to be and then we did some introductions to each of us … myself .. and my partner in crime Golden.

 This blog started out as a way to take two people being crushed by the world and help them remember that they have it in them to be creative. Golden did this for me and I know that but having her along the way gave me … I don’t know a sense that if I didn’t see it through I’d be letting her down as much as letting myself down. So I’m grateful she came on this ride with me. Truth is she’s better at this than I ever wanted to be. The way she uses words like a paint brush to tell a story fills me with an envy that I can’t fully express.

 That August was a good month for us with 27 posts but then again it was new, exciting and we went to Dragon Con which always helps with content. Here I sit … again looking our 10 year anniversary of Dragon Con (it really feels like we’ve been going longer but my calculations say 10 years so 10 it is – math is hard yall) and I can’t wait for that 4 day break with my bestie. I need it and more important she needs it. We might just veg the entire time playing video games but we’ll at least be doing it in the same room.

 A lot has changed for Golden and I over these 11 years. She’s changed jobs for one. Sometimes I think it’s for the better but other times I’m not so sure. I’ve gotten a few promotions at work and am now leading a team of people which is very daunting and I’m not sure I like it at all. She’s been through a few fur babies, which were really tough to watch her go through cause as you know dear reader I’m too far away to just go over and make sure she’s ok.  We have both lost family members along the way, and we have both also gained family members, which has been more fun than the losing. We’ve gone on a few more trips, most recently to Atlanta to see the StayKids which I admit was far more fun than I anticipated.  Sickness we have both dealt with our fair shar of sickness over the years mine mostly watching others be sick and Golden being my Medical Marvel. Neither of us really use Twitter (I refuse to call it anything else) as much as we used too but have migrated to other platforms. Social Media has always been a cesspool and now it’s somehow worse.

 I admit finding content to post here without a lot of feedback wasn’t always easy so I started little challenges for myself. The thankfulness challenge in 2014 was particular a highlight for me as it was a post a day for the month of November and I succeeded. Is every post worth a read … not really but there are 30 posts in the month of November and for that I am proud. I tried it again in 2019 and it was equally successful. Maybe I bring it back this year?

When we started this blog we said we’d not “teach you anything” but like the former journalist that I wanted to be I added but we might … which helped open the door for my Blog with a Purpose posts that focused on a few charities that Golden and I have supported over the years. I hope those were interesting cause I really enjoyed writing them.

Oh and the greatest challenge of all is that this blog got me writing again. Here of late I’ve been doing my Writing prompt challenge, which has been interesting. However, over the years I used this to share some of my original  fiction which was both fun and scary at the same time.

Several reoccurring themes have popped up too including music, books, tv, the aforementioned drama with fur babies, etc., which has also helped in keeping this thing going. Oh and I’ve wasted a post or two a year on my silly TV movie calendars for Halloween and Christmas and while that is slowing down I don’t see it stopping soon. Tho Microsoft doing away with publisher I might have to come up with another plan for those in the very near future. My gripes at Microsoft have also  made a few appearances too over the years. Year end posts or new year blogs helped kick off the year or end it and made for some good content as well. Random Thoughts/Grind my Gears were also fun ways to get topics bouncing around in my head out of my head and onto the screen so I could move on.

So the point is if you have been with us this long than you, if you are new here enjoy going through the archives to the right, and if you are a casual reader it’s been fun seeing you around too. This blog isn’t dead yet and while I know sometimes it looks and feels that way that’s just what we do. We don’t post for the sake of posting we post when there is something worth saying and in my opinion that is more fun. It’s about quality not quantity but know there will be typos.

So thanks again Golden for the push and let’s keep it going a few more years at least!

Marcy

Time for a catch up

I’ve been typing this for a few weeks now in my head … so below is fraction of the stuff I’ve written in those hours between sleeping and being awake, or in the car on my way to or from work, or just sitting and starring at nothing (literally) on TV thinking I should be writing on this blog. So .. um… Enjoy!

Dragon Con was in short …. Awesome. As always. Granted there was a lot of great Cosplay and even more amazing food, panels, parties but the best part was spending 6 days uninterrupted with my favorite person on this planet. Golden. In short there was over 65K people for this year’s con and they raised over $95K for their charity (Open Hand ATL) – every year they pick a charity and throughout the Con raise money then Dragon Con matches it so that means they raised over $190K for Open Hand ATL! That my friends is beyond awesome! There was a blood drive and in my sleep deprived state I’m sure I saw the final total of donors but I can’t find it. Needless to say Dragon Con is about more than a big party, cos play, vendors, games and yes alcohol. That being said I enjoyed those things as well. We also did a few things we have never done before like hearing the Georgia Philharmonic which let me tell you was a lot of fun. Apparently a very popular event. It was a very chill vacay and much much needed.

Work was great while I was gone. I didn’t really check in like I normally do. I let the guys handle it and they did. We had one or two hick ups but nothing major and nothing that’s going to set the house on fire really. It was nice to know that when I’m not there they can handle it and often don’t just cause I’m there to do so. Now that I know they can I’m going to push for them to do it more often. I usually rush back to work as soon as I return home from Dragon Con. This year I went up a day early (which frankly threw me and Golden way off all freaking week but was nice) and when I came home it was late on Tuesday. Wednesday I was a zonked out mess and Friday we were going out of town for my nephew’s engagement party (that’s right people the oldest nephew popped the question, she said yes and I’ve bought three dresses for the big day (March 2023)). So I didn’t want to come home exhausted, go back to work exhausted, and go to the engagement party exhausted and then come back for a work week like quadruple exhausted (assuming that’s a thing). So for the first time I took 8 days off work. 8 whole work days (granted you’d think I was gone a month the way my co-workers reacted upon my return). I admit … it was nice. My boss told me upon my return he fully thought I’d start working from home and I was like you know I almost did then was like nah. He said he was proud of me for doing it cause he knew I needed it. I said yes yes I did.

While I was gone I celebrated my 19^th anniversary at work. In 2 years, my career can legally drink. I can’t believe it’s been 19 years. That’s just nuts to me. When I think back over the years I never dreamed I’d make it to 10 then I thought ok maybe 15 and now I’m knocking on the door of 20. It’s been a long time of ups, downs, horrible bosses, good bosses and a great boss. I’ve come around the block a few times on hating and loving what I do, being frustrated beyond belief about it and also caring so much I made myself sick. In the last year or so I’ve risen to manager of my department with several employees “under” me, lost 2, (one I’m not sure I ever had and another to a growing family), gained one, almost lost another but fought really hard for her cause she’s more amazing than I think she knows. My current goal is to make her see what I see in herself and try to overcome the horrible crap she’s been through over the years and to get the other to understand she’s here to stay and get over the hump of constantly being in fear that she’s not doing enough or will be let go at the drop of a hat. That’s not how we do things at least in my department.  It’s been very interesting being the boss. I’ve never been in that position before and I’m trying to emulate the ones that showed me what to do, taught me my role and pushed me to be the person I am today, as opposed to that Asshat who can well fuck off, she knows who she is. Ha! 19 is something I’m going to be very proud of and here’s to many more. If most people work say 40 years I’m half way there … kind of.

Golden also got a promotion recently at her job and I’m super proud of both of us. We are finally starting to see the results of decades of hard work and dedication and it’s about damn time!

Tomorrow I’m getting up at the crack of dawn, getting ready for work, and then sitting down with my mom to watch the Queen’s funeral. Mom’s been a huge royal family watcher for years I find them fascinating, but mom knows the names and titles and dates for important things. I figure if it starts at 5 my time it will be over in time for me to get to work on time, plus I don’t really want mom watching it alone. I got up with her to watch Diana but as a teen who really didn’t care fell asleep pretty quickly and woke up to mom crying. I couldn’t understand at the time why I mean she didn’t know that lady or her family, but she was connected to the fact that her two boys were now alone in a sea of well … whatever that is. She said it made me think of my brother and I. She appreciated me watching with her even if I did fall asleep.

With the kids back in school, football season getting underway, and fall weather kind of in the air it’s time to turn my attention to pumpkins and calendars and socks ……. Speaking of which I need to finish my laundry. Until next time….. GOD SAVE THE QUEEN and prayers for King as he steps into his new role.

Marcy

Long time no talk ….. sorry about that

Good lord, is it really August already? It has been a while since I posted something on here. That’s a bad Marcy. I typically strive for a post a month, or every other month, and frankly it sometimes stretches to “oh crap I forgot the blog” post times but that’s typically when life has frankly …. Gotten in the way. That and my lack of having anything useful to post which then leads me to not wanting to waste yall’s time so … I just…. Don’t…post. Then I feel a little bad about it.

                                      

Golden knows this ….. so for my Birthday/Crimmus gift she gave me a book …..  “A 5 Year Question a Day Memory Journal” cause she loves journaling. I guess I consider this blog my journal and I have started several journals over the years but never kept one going, not really anyway. I think of things to write about all damn day until I sit still long enough to actually write then it all flies out of my brain. Sadly however I leafed through this book and like some of the questions are … well like who wrote this thing?!

For clarity here are a few sample questions ….

• Do you think people really can change?
• Morning person or night owl?
• Describe your worst overreaction.
• My biggest source of stress comes from …..
• How quickly do you get back up when life knocks you down?
• Who was the last person you hurt?
• What is something you would never compromise on?
• What was the last question you asked someone?

Now these are random like I opened a page and wrote down what I saw. Now I’m not saying all the pages are … bad I’m just saying nothing jumped out at me as something to write about or worthy of wasting your eye time with. Then again that’s the point I guess. To get back into the habit of taking a subject, any subject and making it interesting. I’m frankly struggling to find the interesting in anything at the moment. I can’t even call it the can’t help it’s ….. I just have zero desire to do literally a damn thing. I have thought several times about seeking some help and it might come to that but for now I’m trying to get to Dragon Con and hope after a week or so of “chilling” if you can call Dragon Con chilling, that my battery will recharge enough that I reenter society for lack of a better word. Granted I’m not, nor have I ever been, a social butterfly but the idea that someone somewhere might want to do something sends me almost into a blind panic somedays.

A few weeks ago, a coworker said something about not waking up and thus something not getting taken care of and it fell out of my mouth before I even thought it, “I dream about that every night” She was shocked and now “prays” for me and checks on me throughout the day. I really don’t know where that came from but I also realized in that moment I wasn’t wrong. Part of me would love to lay down go to sleep and just call it a day. Hence why I’m thinking I might need to go talk with someone professional.

                                       

It also hasn’t helped that work has just about killed me. I’ve been maxed out on PTO since the first of June but have been unable to take any cause we have had wave after wave of submittals hit us, and you can’t work OT and charge Vacation so on the rare occasions I have taken a long lunch or left early it wasn’t even considered PTO time, plus training a new employee (whose doing an amazing job), it’s just been an onslaught of BS since I’ll say March, and I could likely trace it back further than that if I tried. As a matter of fact when I looked up and realized I missed the “summer” break I was shook. Yet…here we are. August 14^th, just weeks for Dragon Con and yet all of me fears something is going to screw that trip up. Honestly guys at this point I’m not sure that’s something I could handle. That could quite possibly send me right over the edge of this cliff I’m standing on. My boss made a comment about me being gone 2 weeks (it’s just under but who is counting) and when I didn’t respond I think he realized how bad it really is. 

                                            

I’m leaving on a Tuesday to go to Birmingham, then Wed we travel to Dragon Con and I will be coming home from Dragon Con the following Tuesday. However I am taking all that next week off as well cause well damnit I want to. My nephew’s engagement party is that Saturday and I didn’t want to come home exhausted, go back to work exhausted, and jump back in a car to drive up for the party…exhausted. So I’m gonna take a few “me days” to recover from Dragon Con and go back to work that following Monday. It will be by far the longest time I’ve been away from the office and when I tell you I plan to be away from the office I mean it. This is the first weekend in 2 months I haven’t opened my laptop to “get ahead” and all of me both feels guilty about it and also very proud of me. I need this … and damit I’m going to take it. It’s been about 2 years since I had a proper vacation and it’s about damn time!

                                           

So here’s to getting through the next two weeks so that I can enjoy the weeks to follow!

Stay tuned for Dragon Con shenanigans lord knows I need em. 

Marcy

Paralympics … and DRAGON CON Anxiety

   

So we are now on I think day 5 of the Paralympic Games (nearly at the half way point) and while I haven’t posted a blog about it I’ve definitely been watching it. It hasn’t gotten the love that the Olympics get but the coverage I have been able to watch in my opinion has been BETTER. Instead of the never-ending tape delayed wall to wall coverage …… NBCSN and the Olympic channel are breaking out blocks of LIVE events which has been awesome to watch. Granted most of it takes place after I go to bed (time zones are hard :D) but I have been able to watch some Wheelchair Rugby, Wheelchair Basketball, Triathlon, track and field, swimming events and even some ping pong what has however eluded me is Sitting Volleyball. I love everything about watching that sport. The sportsman ship between the teams, the power that these athletes hit the ball without ever leaving the ground, and just volleyball in general. I had the pleasure of playing this in high school at a fundraising event and let me tell you all …. It’s hard. As an Abled Bodied person you want to jump up, you want to get the lift you need to hit that spike but you… well can’t. That’s against the rules. What I’ve been doing is recording the coverage so I’m not missing anything, but I have yet to catch this but that’s my goal for the next few days. Watching these games has made me really really miss Invictus Games ... but they will be back next year. It's been fun seeing some familiar faces representing their country.  

Why the next few days when there are several days left in the games?! Cause this Wed I pack up the car and head north to Golden’s for our yearly Nerdcation. Dragon Con is gonna be super different this year but I also think way more awesome. For one the crowds will be down with limited attendees which is always a good thing. I remember when Golden and I first started going the crowds were nothing like they were in 2019 which it was just too much. Too many people, too many cosplayers, too many idiots destroying things (sorry Fed Ex display), too much drinking, it was all just too much. We still had fun and enjoyed ourselves but it felt very suffocating at times and the idea of a “smaller” con makes my soul very happy.

For two everyone that comes to the Con this year has to either be vaccinated or show a negative test before they can pick up their badge. After watching people lose their minds over this “rule” I’m glad it is in place. So many who were planning to come have dropped out, but what it really means is that the people that are at Dragon Con really really wanted to be there. That means that everyone there will be in good moods and great spirits even if they are drinking all the spirits. Ha! Photo from above is from several years ago. 

For three ….. for the first time in forever …. We are staying in a HOST hotel. We were scheduled to be in a host hotel back in 2019 when the Sheraton had to close for the Legionnaires Disease outbreak … and we got kicked out of the hotel (I’ll never believe that it wasn’t cause of that but whatever). We scrambled at the last minute and found a room at another hotel we’ve stayed at before and it was fine but we were bummed. Then in 2020 I scrambled and made it happen again and a pandemic threw us to the floor. However the hotel moved our room to this year and I have been checking it daily in fear that it may happen again. I have called them several times to make sure that we are good. I’m sure when we check in they will give me that look like oh it’s her. I don’t care how they look at me as long as they give me a room. Ha!

 And most important Golden and I really really really really need 4 days of laughter, fun, doing nothing unless we wanna, and food. It’s 4 days of doing literally whatever we want, when we want, and how we want. Being in a host hotel will cut down on travel back to the hotel so I’m hoping it will also allow us to do more. We usually head out in the morning walk to the hotels or get on the bus and frolic until late in the afternoon. Sometimes we go back to the room to rest up for night activities but sometimes that kills us for the day. We end up taking naps and getting settled and often talk ourselves of going back out. This also allows Golden to head our at night when I’m snoring away and her Medical Marvel Team No Sleep member can’t sleep. We will have to come up with a system for that tho so I’ll know she’s ok. I’m also hoping that by being where we are we can run up to the room and chill then come back out when things start to become too much.

I am planning to attempt to give blood again. Mostly cause I know that blood is super important right now but also cause the T-shirt they are giving away is worth possibly passing out again. See several years ago I gave blood then I don’t know what happened. We were waiting on the buss to take us back to the room and I was kind of our of it. I stood up thinking the buss was coming and looked around …. I guess I stood up to fast and …. I passed out. I woke up a few minutes later with full on road rash all over my face, my glasses somewhere on the sidewalk and Golden telling me to stay down. See we were at the top of a really steep hill and her fear was that if I started rolling she wasn’t going to be able to stop me and I’d Indian Jones the City of Atlanta.

The best part of that story is that Golden, Maribel, and I kept tweeting each other about the incident. Earlier in the day Maribel had falling and hurt herself and Golden had just taken her injection so we were all complaining about our ailments. When I got back into town I immediately went to the eye glass place cause my glasses were really jacked up and scratched beyond use. I was hoping to get new glasses before I had to go back to work. However, it didn’t work out for me. So I went back to the office and the road rash was still on my face but my lip was not as swollen. My boss sits down in my office and he is just smiling and said so…did you have fun. I said of course. he said …really ? and he has this cat ate the canary grin on his face. I said well there was one thing and I started telling him about the BP thing … at the time he was super concerned about my BP cause our office used to do blood drives every quarter and the quarter before they wouldn’t do mine cause it was far too high. The whole time I’m telling the story he’s just sitting there smiling. I finished the story knowing it would only make him worry more and he said “you forgot I followed you on Twitter huh?!” so he already knew what had happened he just wanted to see if I’d tell him or not. Well played sir.

I’m hoping giving blood this year won’t be quite as interesting. I’m schedule to give it on Friday morning so I can get up get some breakfast head over and give blood then if I start feeling weird head to the room for a bit before going back down. I have a plan :D

I’m a little geeked out about going to the Con during a pandemic but I really feel like the organizers are making every effort to keep everyone safe. Vaccinations/Negative tests, masks mandatory for all, and they are having multiple “cleaning” events during the day and night. Granted the risk is still there but I feel like this is going to be the cleanest con I’ve ever attended. I feel like I did back when I went to my nephew’s state championship … if I’m going to go I’m going to make the best of it. 

I have a hotel reserved for if I get anything I can stay there and mom and dad will stay safe. I have also learned over the last year or so that you can justify in your head anything that you really want to do. I also bought 2 over the counter tests that I can take so I’ll know if I have it or not. I’m packing hand sanitizer like it’s free and doing all the precautions that I have been told will “keep me safe” and I’m just going to pray that it does. I’ve been very lucky during this pandemic …. And I’d like to keep that streak going. That being said if I make it though it without catching anything … I’m totes going to start licking doorknobs. Just kidding that’s a horrible idea …. Almost as bad as this milk crate thing and also where are you all getting so many milk crates!?

Marcy (who is procrastinating packing by writing this up)

Sigh.......

Sigh ……. that is all I have for a title.  

So …… it’s Sunday …. before the Wed that I should be leaving for Dragon Con, which is going virtual this year incase you didn’t know. Honestly I could care less about that. Granted I’ll watch the virtual parade, I might check in on some of the panels they are preparing and I will look at all the cosplay that should have been seen in person but what I really miss is …. Well …. Golden. Since 2014 I’ve packed my car with all the things … driven to Golden’s house and packed the car with all her things and then headed to Atlanta for a 5 day festival of all things Geek but in all honesty the Geek festival was just the destination. For 4 days it was nothing but laughter, pizza, buss trips,  exhaustion, “can I take your picture?” talking to new people while waiting on the buss, eating, shopping, posting our various finds online, walking, waiting on the buss, drinking, standing, pizza, uber rides, talking to new people in lines, sitting, Waffle House, talking to new people while on the buss, and one really great meal at the Hard Rock usually on Saturday or Sunday after the vendor hall.

That’s what a virtual con can’t give me but God love Dragon Con for trying.

To be honest Golden offered to let me come up there anyway spend 4 days farting around her house watching movies and just chilling something we both desperately need but while it sounds like HEAVEN I’m sacred to do it. I show no signs of the virus but who the hell knows what I’m walking around with without my knowledge. My Medical Marvel isn’t going to be taken down by me, no that’s for the lady at Walmart standing to close while in line for prescription to handle. Not me. PS lady at Walmart BACK THE FUCK UP MAN, that goes for you to dude side eyeing me from the band aid display she don’t need you in her air either.

So I sit here with the most exciting part of my day so far being that our drive in Church was cancelled due to bad weather and electronics not liking rain. HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK if I’m being honest. I have a submittal due Wed but there are also two hurricanes coming that could potentially screw that up, but we aren’t going to get this job anyway. I also have two more coming up the following week that we actually DO have a shot at so that is my next focus. Since I’ve been working from home since March for it will be business as usual at least until I lose power, assuming that I will. So I am kind of glad to not be leaving the family behind to deal with the hurricane mess, tho at the moment we don’t seem to be in the eye of the cone but we are on the wrong side of it so it could get interesting.

My parents are getting ready to celebrate their 50^th anniversary which is pretty cool so I’m also kind of glad to be around to see that but I wish they would stop snipping at one another. I don’t know if it’s the combination of the pandemic stress, or the inability to go out in the world and get away from one another for a few minutes but my mom is the angriest that she’s ever been in life (I think she’s stopped taking her depression pill) and my dad dosen’t know when to back off which makes him the brunt of her wrath at the moment. I don’t know how to help them cause I totally get where my mom is coming from with my dad. However I also think mom is letting the little shit get to her (again due to lack of taking her medicine correctly) which is making it worse. I personally feel like the only “downtime” I get is when I’m laying in bed at night. I know from the second my feet hit the floor if it’s not work stuff to deal with it’s going to be dealing with mom and dad and trying to keep that bomb from exploding, or at least detonating so that it does little damage. Sometimes I feel like nothing I do is enough, or right, or correct and honestly wonder sometimes why I even try.

So …. in all reality this isn’t a great time for me mentally and I could have used the time with my bestie but I’m gonna be ok.

Stay safe out there guys ……. It’s crazy stupid.

Marcy

Dragon Con Love Note

You guys know that on Holiday’s I tend to Blog more. Not really sure why if it’s the unscheduled time that I have on my hands, if it’s the ability to think about something other than work, or if it’s just cause I’m reminded that the blog while neglected still exists and a holiday is a good time to post cause people are on their devices. It might also be that subconsciously knowing that if I blog on holidays that will give me some decent content on this thing scattered throughout the year if nothing else. 

However today is more than just a holiday post, I know you guys know it’s Independence Day which is way more than just a movie starring Will Smith and some Aliens. I know fireworks and BBQs are in the air literally and so I’m not going to bore you with that since everyone else will be. I will say if you go out, if you are in a group, please be careful, wear a mask even if others are not. Be vigilant. But nope today’s not about that. Today is a post to Dragon Con specifically, I mean the rest of you feel free to read on. 

Dragon Con incase you don’t know is a Geeky little convention, founded in 1987, that features science fiction, fantasy, gaming, comics, TV/Movies, literature, Cosplay, art, music, and for some weird reason wrestling that starts the Thursday (Wed for some) before Labor Day every year in Atlanta, Georgia. Loyal readersof this blog know that Golden and I have been attending Dragon Con with various crew members in tow since 2014. Dragon Con brings in over 80 thousand people to an already packed Atlanta on a holiday weekend and takes over 5 “host” hotels as well as other “overflow” hotels throughout downtown Atlanta. It’s owned and operated by a private for profit corporation and wouldn’t be able to do any of it without a huge staff of volunteers who deserve way more credit than they get. Also … it’s in trouble. Damn Covid-19 and damn people not doing what they should have done back in March/April/May and now July/August/September are in jeopardy. 

This year’s guest list so far features voice actors from Steven Universe, actors from Resident Evil and Star Trek Enterprise, as well as a host of comic book artist, writers, animators, and vendors from all over the US and sometimes across the pond as well. With I’m sure more to come as we get closer to the convention. Much like the ap the guest list isn’t fully announced until about a week or two out from the convention. I’ve always been fascinated by the people that Dragon Con can bring to the table since most of the actors/actresses/writers etc., are back at work on their various projects by that time of the year. However the convention being in ATL which is a stones throw from one of the busiest airports in the country might help with that. 

If you follow Dragon Con on Facebook or any of their other social media, Twitter, Instagram etc., they have recently announced the ability to roll over your 2020 membership (that’s right it’s not a ticket it’s a membership) to 2021 if you are concerned about your health and safety. There has been an increase of people saying they are taking Dragon Con up on that. Several of the hotels are also offering this as an option, tho I’m not sure I trust that cause the Dragon Con Hunger Games to get a hotel are fascinating and a huge money maker for these establishments. Then again everything is different this year, so why not this too. I want Dragon Con to know that many are also holding out hope that this years convention will move forward as anticipated. Not to mention that all of this fun is surrounded by a lot of good, there's a Dragon Con Blood Drive and they choose a charity that each panel takes up money for and at the end of the convention give money to that charity. My fear is that the people not going are louder than those that are and Dragon Con might see that and think no one is willing to show up. those of being quiet and waiting for the decision by the powers that be before making decisions are silently saying we aren't coming. That's not the case at least for me and my crew. 

I really want Dragon Con to happen this year. I NEED it to happen this year. I travel with an already comprised partner in crime Golden who has an auto immune disorder so I better than anyone else on the planet know in my brain the struggle a convention like this, right now, has to be for the powers that be at Dragon Con to make. I know what’s at stake likely more than most. That said we are both still willing to jump into the fire. If they hold the convention we’ll wear masks take the extra precautions and show up with our geek flag waving high. 

The truth is if they decide to go forward they make a lot of people angry should everyone get sick on the back end of this thing. As if we weren’t all going to get the Dragon Con Crud anyway. If they decide to bail on it they make a lot of people mad who will see it as another thing the “establishment” is taking from them during this insane year. They can’t postpone it and say try again in January. That’s now how it will work. It’s either do it this year or wait until next year. They are in a literal lose lose situation. I pray for them daily as I know the decision, they are going to have to make, will not be an easy one. 

However with all that said I repeat that I still really really really really want to go to Dragon Con this year. I’m also not saying all of this cause for the first time Golden and I are gonna be in a host hotel, and not any host hotel the mega hotel that houses 90% of the fun … the Marriott. I’m a little devastated that trumpets and angels didn’t ascend when I typed that.  It’s the holy grail of Dragon Con staying. It’s the ability to Con all night and get in bed sleep and get back out there without waiting on a buss or getting an uber. It’s the ability to attend more panels and possibly find the all elusive members only room with snacks and fun stuff in it …. We will find you one day and we will partake in your goodness. It’s the ability to be all in on the convention while also providing Golden with the ability to relax and recover when she needs to. We’ve often stayed at Overflow hotels in the past and they were awesome and the shuttles were great (when they run) but guys A HOST HOTEL with Dragon Con TV and just being in the thick of the 24-7 party come on! That’s the dream! I’m also kind of excited about the idea of a pared down con, with fewer members, fewer drunks, awesome Cosplay and to be surrounded by people who really really want to be there. 

The truth is that the convention is second to me. I cherish those 4-5 days hanging out with Golden. There’s no obligations like family dinners, no gotta rush home to let the dog out and pee, no work responsibilities (ok an occasional phone call or text but for the most part no work responsibilities) it’s 4-5 days of her, me, food, laughter, and walking … lots and lots of walking.  We always show up ready to roll and by about day 3 start dwindling down. By the time I’m back in my car heading home I’m exhausted but also elated to have spent 4-5 days with the person whom I love most in this world. That’s what it is all about for me. Sure that time we got to meet and talk with Nathan Fillion was really cool, watching Alton Brown walk by cause for some reason he chose Dragon Con to announce that Good Eats was coming by was fun, and that time we got to party with the cast of Wynona Earp and all their fans was pretty bad ass, oh and giving freaking Big Bird a hug as he walked to his car as grand marshall of the parade was something I’ll always cherish (RIP Caroll Spinney). 

So I hope the convention holds steady but I’m also preparing for it to not. I hope the organizers do what they know is right for the members, the various hotel staff members, the City and for all those that still want this event to happen. I also hope that should it not the disappointed be just that disappointed, but shift focus to 2021. I know this decision won’t be an easy one to make, matters of the wallet rarely are but I know that no matter what decision is made I’ll be back in 2021 lord willing. 


Marcy 

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!!!!!!!

As you are all aware this weekend marks Mother’s Day here in the US. Mother’s day is special unlike any other cause let’s face it, other than the doctor who slapped us on the arse our Mom is the first one to really get a chance to hold us. That loving embrace right after birth is one that none of us remember but we always remember that lady who embraced us.

 

It’s funny to me that this all started cause a daughter wanted to honor her Mother. Did you know that Mother’s Day was first celebrated in 1908 when a woman named Anna Jarvis, pictured, held a memorial for her mom at church. In 1905 Ms. Jarvis started her campaign to turn Mother’s Day into a holiday because she believed a Mother was “the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world.” She’s not wrong.

I think back lovingly on my mom and the years of sacrifice, meals, cleaning, protection, and shoulders to cry on that she gave me. I also think back on my grandmother who helped instill those characteristics into my mom and thus into me. She will and has always been my biggest cheerleader. This is my favorite picture of me and my mom. I don't recall what she was telling me, likely it was let dad take your picture then you can go and play, but she always made me feel like I was one of the most important things in her life. God knows she is that for me. I likely am for her too but then again she does have my brother so she can't say it. My mom has been through hell and back health wise the last few years and I'm so proud of how far she has come. Each day she gets a little stronger and a little more independent and it's been a belssing to witness.  

This year is different as all are aware but not really. My brother and his family will be coming over, his Mother-in-law will be joining us, so at our house we are carrying on as usual. This fills me with more anxiety than I’d like to admit. I’ve created this pretty protective cover around my parents during the COVID-19 mess and while they have ventured out a few times for doctors appointments and such they’ve stuck pretty close to home which is all I asked of them. They have been wearing masks even before wearing a mask was cool, again at my request. I myself have only left the house twice and both times stayed in the car. My brother however is still working daily, my sister in law goes into the office 2 or 3 days a week, my nephew just got back from gathering his stuff in Auburn for the summer and my brother’s MIL just got back from Nashville taking her granddaughter home who had been staying with her a few weeks.

I’ve almost resigned myself to the “either we get it or we don’t at this point” mentality but I’m still trying to remain vigilant. I want to enjoy tomorrow cause frankly I miss my family but I also know if that if my mom or dad or even I get it then it’s my cross to bear not theirs. It’s me that will have to deal wit the aftermath not them. I pray that we don’t get it, I pray that if we do it will not be that bad but frankly that’s all I can do at this point.

Sometime next week I’m going to have to go out into the office cause a client requested a hard copy of a submittal instead of electronic. I hope to be there less than an hour. I’ll wear gloves and my mask the entire time. Again I expect a few panic attacks but I have to start getting used to the idea of leaving this house. Of venturing out into the world again, of being around people and it turning out ok.

My state’s Gov is opening up the state on Monday there’s some limitations on what people can and can’t do for sure but for the most part it’s business as usual. I pray it’s not too early, I pray we aren’t all jumping the gun, and I pray that a round two isn’t around the corner. I also pray hard that Dragon Con will be able to move forward and if it’s not then they will make the call in time for me to cancel my reservation. I just don’t think it’s in the cards for Golden and I to be in a host hotel and that’s a damn shame. 

 

Anyway celebrate your mom, enjoy the time you get to spend with her, call you grandmother if you can too, and to those of you that are mothers ….. have a wonderful day surrounded by love. PS that's Golden's mom above .... she's like a second mother to me and worries and cares about me as much as my own mom and sometimes more so than Golden, who will totally be cool with me including a picture of a little G. HA!

Thank you for all you do and thank you Anna for giving us a day to celebrate them fully the way they deserve. 

Marcy

Happy Palm Sunday in Quarantine

 

At least according to my preacher today is Palm Sunday. I’m still trying to get used to the fact that April is finally here. March can suck it. That was just the worst I mean the worst. Tho I’m side eyeing April real hard cause it isn’t looking any better.

I haven’t left my house since March 15^th when we got home from Church. Our boss made the call that afternoon that our department was to work from home that week. See he didn’t want to risk his family by coming into a busy office building holding some 500 people and if he didn’t want to do it he wasn’t going to ask us to do it. BOSS OF THE YEAR! We had done it before when our building had a plumbing issue and half our floor flooded out. We could do it again. The following week he decided it was working and we would continue as long as it was working. If we needed to run in for something do it. If we wanted to go into the office and work we could do that too. He was leaving that week up to us but he strongly advised we stay the course. On March 27^th the firm CEO decided that all office employees that could work remotely should be working remotely, until further notice. So now all our coworkers are doing the same.

My firm should be really upset by how much I have enjoyed my working from home during this pandemic. I have found it surprisingly easy and I’m getting a lot done without all the daily work-related/non-work-related distractions that occur in the work place. I’m also forgetting to go to lunch. Sometimes I look up and it’s 1:30 so I’ll run downstairs fix me a sandwich and get back to what I was doing. However just about every night, with one really dumb exception, I have logged off at 5 without a care in the world. See I used to work until about 5:30/6 to avoid the majority of drive home traffic. I also used to get to work around 7:30 and now I’m “getting to work” around 7. So I think it’s all about the same.

Most of our clients have accepted digital submissions with the exception of a few whom I won’t name here but there’s a special place in hell for them should my boss get sick. See he didn’t want us out and about. So he went to good ole Amazon and bought himself a puncher and binder machine, some paper, CDs, Ink etc., and he produces the packages as we email them to him and he prints/punches/binds. Then takes them to the Fed Ex place for mailing. Again can I say BOSS OF THE YEAR! So far our group hasn’t missed a deadline. Our group is like a well oiled machine and so I don’t expect us to miss one but you have to include the so far just incase. We have had several “check-in” meetings to see how everyone is doing, to be assigned new submittals etc., so in other words. Business as usual.

 

That’s kind of how I feel about the world these days. My state has issued a “stay at home order” but it really only applies at night from like 5pm to 10am. She also announced that if everyone complied we "might" get to have football this fall. I was like really!? really!? but it did get a lot of attention. Sigh ....from the sounds of the cars driving by football be damned! If you do get caught out and about just be smart enough to say I’m going to the grocery for supplies, or I’m going to the drug store to get some medicine for my fill-in-blank and you are good to go. My family started using SHIPT long ago and continue to use it today. We got a delivery yesterday and while they were out of a lot of things it went well. All the SHIPT people are super nice and really helpful. God love em.  

 

I don’t know if you saw it or not but Golden blogged the other day after she was put on lockdown by her doctor for having a fever for a few days straight. She didn't take the test cause well they didn't have one for her to take. Her doctor said if her symptoms got worse to call immediately. Not gonna lie I think it freaked us both out. We are both a little concerned now that she is getting ready to reenter the world and go back to work on Monday. However unlike her I have been far less productive with my “quarrentine”. This morning I did clean out my car. Something that was necessary as I fished out a Halloween costume so yeah that was long over due to come out. Yesterday I did literally nothing. ALL DAY. I recently bought myself a Nintendo Switch and literally played it all day long. Except for that short time when I took a shower … you know …. To break up the day. I can not tell you the last time I spent an entrie day literally doing nothing. I just have ZERO desire to do anything. Even when I start doing something I want to do I immediately don’t want to do it and either stop or rush through it just to get it over with. 

I think I’m mentally exhausted. My brain is processing so fast I can’t see straight sometimes. I feel like I’m constantly going from the second my feet hit the floor to the point that when I do wake up I lay in my bed for at least an hour before finally dragging myself out of the bed to start the day. This is not a good habit and I need to break it sooner than later. It's like everything i have looked forward to, Invictus Games, NCAA basketball, NCAA gymnastics regionals/championships, Olympics Easter fun (dinner with family/annual Easter Egg hunt) has been canceled so what's the point in everything else continuing. Ok that's dramatic. The Olympics and Invictus will continue next year but yeah that's like a whole year away. I just have for lack of other way to phrase this a Case of the Monday's all damn week. 

On a purely selfish note let me add if this Rona fucks up my Dragon Con Vacay in Sep/Aug I’m gonna be real pissed. I mean Rona has been an irritation, and at times a real annoyance but that’s just crossing the line. On the other hand other Cons are getting cancelled and people are going to want to get their fix so …. Dragon Con might be more crowed than usual but you know what forget that I’m going and I’m going to enjoy myself damit!

Anyway happy Palm Sunday…….. tell the Easter Bunny to skip your house this year cause he might have Rona!

Marcy
@beaslma

Con Coma is Real - Cosplay Confusion

So as I write this it is Saturday afternoon. Thursday night we people watched and made it to the midnight countdown, barely, I mean around 11:45 we were begging for the clock to move faster. Yesterday (Friday) we spent the day in the gaming area, participating in paint and take a fun tradition, and even got to the Art Show this year for the first time. 

Today was spent browsing the vendor hall, and eating and adult beverages at the Hard Rock. Of course there was people watching and photos of some of our favorite costumes throughout each day. Not to mention the walking so... much....walking. 

I just woke up from a nap, some might call it in the Con Coma but I believe that hit yesterday and hit hard. Upon returning to our hotel on Friday afternoon (around 5pm) we got in comfortable clothes and that was all she wrote. By 7 we were snoring up a storm and by 10 we were settling in for the night. At one point I thought about getting dressed and going to the pool but that seemed like a LOT of effort so I continued to lay there. I think I’d still be asleep if my alarm hadn’t gone off this morning.

I rolled into Atlanta with two costume options. A half ass version of Super Grover just cause I thought it would be funny. It was a last minute pull together which is why I say it’s half assed. My boss texted me Wed to say I had left the print out of the Super Grover logo on the printer so well I already messed that one up. I also have a pretty decent Marvin the Martian. That one I put some effort into. It’s really kind of cute. I haven’t worn either. As you know readers I have a love hate relationship with Cosplay. I look around the convention and want to participate but then I see things like this …..

Or this ….

And this ….. 

And think my costume seems sad and pathetic now and so I don’t wear it. I feel like it cheapens everything else that I see. I’m sure it doesn’t cause I’ve seen things that are way worse than anything I’ve tried to put together and there are some who are testing the limits of spandex. So maybe one day I’ll decide to follow through with the Cosplay but there’s also the possibility that I’ll be the one in a dorky T watching all the awesomeness go by.

Even if I don’t use Marvin here at the Con, we are doing a Trunk or Treat at Church so I can wear him there. So he won’t go entirely to waste, at least that’s what I keep telling myself. I really need to make the eye holes bigger so I’ll actually be able to see.

Thanks, 
Marcy
@beaslma