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Convergence 2003, running over the 4th of July weekend, and held at the Bloomington Radisson Hotel, started off with a bang. Party bang, that is.
After getting checked into the hotel and gear moved into my room, I sought out my comrade in arms of the IKV Rakehell (KAG) and IKV Warhammer (IKF), and checked out the Cabana area, where the party scene would be. A quick description of the Cabana party zone. It's two levels of rooms that encircle an indoor pool and Jacuzzi (hey, this is the Mid-West, we get real Winters, you know) on three sides, with the parties spilling out into a large carpeted area where tables were set up for additional carousing.
After getting hooked up and dropping off some banners for the IKF party room, I hooked up with some of the Rakehell crew and headed to the restaurant for some fuel.
One carouses at parties, and I somehow missed opening ceremony...oh, wait, I was getting Klin-ed up for party night!
The Rakehell's party theme for this convergence was Konquistador, and the ship's bar had added Margarita's, Montezuma's Revenge (A Warrior's Drink) and several variations to the classic Hot S@x, including vir-gin H.S. and Alien H.S. The crew had spent Thursday night prepping the party room, an event I (gleefully?) missed out on due to having to work late at the shop.
127k JPEG Sqotty, with two Klingons up from Iowa.
116k JPEG Laura, Captain of the Rakehell
103k JPEG Mary of the Rakehell
Next door on one side was the IKF party room, which was doing a beach party theme and where one could imbibe in the finest Bloodwine, provided by Bloodmead MacDude. On the other side was Ming the Merciful running the entire (or nearly entire) Time Tunnel series from the mid-60's.
On the other side of the Cabana was the House of Toast, one of my favorite party rooms, not just because they serve sushi, well, okay, because they serve sushi.
106k JPEG House of Toast (and Sushi)
Down line from there was the Prancing Pony where one could tank up on root beer and shortbread (best I've had since I left CA where Angus of Clan Donald was a master maker of shortbread). The two Shield Maidens of Rohan below were tasked at making normal people feel like hobbits, and at well over 6' tall, they were succeeding.
115k JPEG Shield Maidens at Prancing Pony
Friday night is the night I typically pull duty in the Rakehell party room, and once relieved, I headed out for some more partying. Before I knew it, I was running out of steam at 2am, and headed for the crash zone. Okay, before I get harangued for being a whimp and going to bed so early, I had been up since 5:30 Friday morning, as that's when the dual alarm (Katya and Tasha, the wonder dogs) woke me up for morning walkies. At least I would be able to sleep in 'til 7:30.
Saturday was the big day at the con. The IKF was hosting a Batleth Tournament to raise money for the American Diabetes Association, and was also (unfortunately?) the attraction of the people behind the film "Trekkies 2". The Tournament was once again a rousing success, and fun was had by all involved.
111k JPEG Bat'leth Tourney
Meanwhile, one of the hottest spots throughout the con, Krushenko's, there was a panel on MN writer's groups, and it looks like a couple of new ones are forming, and hopefully I will be involved with one of them.
After that, I managed to miss the Masquerade in favor of fueling up the body and getting Klin-ed up for the evening's revelries. I decided to not wear my new Liene as it was drenched from Friday. Hey, with all of that gear on, it was no wonder I was sweating like a tribble. I opted for a more casual look for Saturday, and headed down to the Cabana in time for the parties to open up.
Ran into JP, one of the Klingons from Iowa, who had also opted for the more casual look. Dug his PETA T-Shirt so I had to take a pic and post it. "People for the Eating of Tasty Animals". Pass the steak sauce, please.
100k JPEG KPLA Pirate Radio
IKF ran it's Pirate Radio, KPLA, and had guest visitors sitting in with them for interviews and other fun stuff.
108k JPEG KPLA Pirate Radio
117k JPEG KPLA Pirate Radio
The evening's highlight (and possibly Convergence's) was the Jar-Jar Piñata hosted by the Rakehell. Although not exactly a real piñata, it got the point across, and got pretty badly shredded after awhile.
141k JPEG Jar-Jar Piñata
84k JPEG Jar-Jar Piñata
After the parties wound down, we broke down most of the Rakehell party room before calling it a night and stumbling off to rooms.
All in all, one heckuva good con.
A few last pics.
101k JPEG Medusa
67k JPEG Wonder Woman
97k JPEG Science Room
additional photos at Convergence
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