The very last Moonridge report!
August 22nd, 2007 12:40 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shiredancerHmmmm, Moonridge was almost two months ago, huh? And I did promise a little bit of a report. But truth to tell, there were so many good ones, with so many lovely pictures, that I don't have much to add.
BUT, a promise is a promise, so
First, sharing the adventure with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
june_b was just a wonderful experience. I got to show her around my town, and she was a superb navigator for my less-than-experienced driving in the Los Angeles vicinity and up the mountain. We hit it off right away and were terrific roomies! And it was so fun watching her get more and more excited the closer we got to Big Bear.
Then meeting -- really meeting! -- the other fans was such a delight. I met several last year, but only for a very fleeting time at the zoo. Staying at the same hotel this year for two nights and meeting up with everybody for meals and drinks and lots of talking and laughing was light-years beyond what I'd experienced before.
On Friday night I did my belly dance for the ones who could stick around -- many were tired and jet-lagged and had to trundle off to bed, but a nice group stayed to watch. They have said many kind things about the dance, which shows just how nice they were. Only *I* know exactly what the weak points were (well, besides the obvious issues of being quite a bit out of practice and that little tiny thing about being somewhat older and out of breath...). Er, at least I hope I'm the only one who knows.
And by the way, how much do I love thatluna61 made such an effort to get everybody to show up for an evening at the hotel bar/patio, largely due to my disappointment last year when nobody was there?? *Huge hugs* and thanks, Luna!
Another change from last year was how the auction was run on Saturday at the zoo. Last year, the bidding skyrocketed for each animal and frankly, I couldn't afford to "win" any of them. This year, Becky stopped the bidding at a more reasonable price and then offered everybody a chance to take that price and get their picture taken -- so I "won" three animals and got to meet Garett! Somewhat, anyway. My first win was Speedy the tortoise. When I went to get my picture taken for the first time, I was a little nervous (I'm not terribly celebrity-oriented and heck, what do you say to them??). Garett's first words were "Hello... (pause while he looks at my nametag) Sally" in a sort of deep, pseudo-serious tone. So I just matched his tone and demeanor with my "Hello... Garett" back. Dorky, huh? Then the photographer had some fun with him while he was holding the tortoise up -- he said the tortoise was peeing on him, which caused Garett to jump back real quick and me to laugh, and made for a pretty funny picture. It was just a joke, of course (until later, anyway). Then I bid on the hedgehog and came up for my next picture. While Garett was holding it and we were waiting for the photographer, I reminded Garett that this might be the same hedgehog that bit him last year. He looked a little taken aback and said "Oh yeah" and then, yep, that's when it bit him! So I feel just a teensy bit bad that maybe I jinxed it for him...
Later at the lunch break I was the first one to get one of the quiches being sold, and had a nice little chat with the vendor who lived in my town for a while. I went back to the benches to eat it and next thing I knew, Garett was standing next to me and asking how the quiche was. I assured him it was delicious and he wandered over to get one (andmaaaaa and snycock had more nerve than I did, and joined him!). I did buy some pictures and got them autographed -- another first for me.
The Chinese auction has already been described very well, so I don't have anything to add there -- Garett really was quite the clown for that. Oh, there is one thing -- a lot of people were greatly interested in the DVD I won there, the CPAC one with the behind-the-scenes footage. Unfortunately, the disc seems to be corrupted -- I was only able to watch about the first 10 minutes of it, and then nothing. My husband the techno-guru couldn't do anything with it, so I'm afraid it's a lost cause. C'est la vie!
I bid on an owl in the afternoon auction, and then things wound down. I lingered quite a while withjune_b, maaaaa, and snycock, chatting about fan fiction and the show and all, and then we decided to join the others back at the hotel for dinner nearby and more talking on the patio. The four of us ended up in our room, talking and reading stories aloud until 2 a.m. It was perfect.
June and I had to leave after breakfast -- the first of the hotel group to go, I think, so it was a sad farewell. We've decided we're both staying at least until Monday next time! And there *will* be a next time, whenever they next hold the Moonridge auction... it's just too much fun to miss.
BUT, a promise is a promise, so
First, sharing the adventure with
june_b was just a wonderful experience. I got to show her around my town, and she was a superb navigator for my less-than-experienced driving in the Los Angeles vicinity and up the mountain. We hit it off right away and were terrific roomies! And it was so fun watching her get more and more excited the closer we got to Big Bear.Then meeting -- really meeting! -- the other fans was such a delight. I met several last year, but only for a very fleeting time at the zoo. Staying at the same hotel this year for two nights and meeting up with everybody for meals and drinks and lots of talking and laughing was light-years beyond what I'd experienced before.
On Friday night I did my belly dance for the ones who could stick around -- many were tired and jet-lagged and had to trundle off to bed, but a nice group stayed to watch. They have said many kind things about the dance, which shows just how nice they were. Only *I* know exactly what the weak points were (well, besides the obvious issues of being quite a bit out of practice and that little tiny thing about being somewhat older and out of breath...). Er, at least I hope I'm the only one who knows.
And by the way, how much do I love that
luna61 made such an effort to get everybody to show up for an evening at the hotel bar/patio, largely due to my disappointment last year when nobody was there?? *Huge hugs* and thanks, Luna!Another change from last year was how the auction was run on Saturday at the zoo. Last year, the bidding skyrocketed for each animal and frankly, I couldn't afford to "win" any of them. This year, Becky stopped the bidding at a more reasonable price and then offered everybody a chance to take that price and get their picture taken -- so I "won" three animals and got to meet Garett! Somewhat, anyway. My first win was Speedy the tortoise. When I went to get my picture taken for the first time, I was a little nervous (I'm not terribly celebrity-oriented and heck, what do you say to them??). Garett's first words were "Hello... (pause while he looks at my nametag) Sally" in a sort of deep, pseudo-serious tone. So I just matched his tone and demeanor with my "Hello... Garett" back. Dorky, huh? Then the photographer had some fun with him while he was holding the tortoise up -- he said the tortoise was peeing on him, which caused Garett to jump back real quick and me to laugh, and made for a pretty funny picture. It was just a joke, of course (until later, anyway). Then I bid on the hedgehog and came up for my next picture. While Garett was holding it and we were waiting for the photographer, I reminded Garett that this might be the same hedgehog that bit him last year. He looked a little taken aback and said "Oh yeah" and then, yep, that's when it bit him! So I feel just a teensy bit bad that maybe I jinxed it for him...
Later at the lunch break I was the first one to get one of the quiches being sold, and had a nice little chat with the vendor who lived in my town for a while. I went back to the benches to eat it and next thing I knew, Garett was standing next to me and asking how the quiche was. I assured him it was delicious and he wandered over to get one (and
maaaaa and snycock had more nerve than I did, and joined him!). I did buy some pictures and got them autographed -- another first for me. The Chinese auction has already been described very well, so I don't have anything to add there -- Garett really was quite the clown for that. Oh, there is one thing -- a lot of people were greatly interested in the DVD I won there, the CPAC one with the behind-the-scenes footage. Unfortunately, the disc seems to be corrupted -- I was only able to watch about the first 10 minutes of it, and then nothing. My husband the techno-guru couldn't do anything with it, so I'm afraid it's a lost cause. C'est la vie!
I bid on an owl in the afternoon auction, and then things wound down. I lingered quite a while with
june_b, maaaaa, and snycock, chatting about fan fiction and the show and all, and then we decided to join the others back at the hotel for dinner nearby and more talking on the patio. The four of us ended up in our room, talking and reading stories aloud until 2 a.m. It was perfect.June and I had to leave after breakfast -- the first of the hotel group to go, I think, so it was a sad farewell. We've decided we're both staying at least until Monday next time! And there *will* be a next time, whenever they next hold the Moonridge auction... it's just too much fun to miss.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
Better late than never!
Date: August 22nd, 2007 11:30 am (UTC)Thanks for sharing! :)
no subject
Date: August 22nd, 2007 02:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: August 22nd, 2007 04:28 pm (UTC)*nips*
Simply irresistable ; )
no subject
Date: August 22nd, 2007 11:23 pm (UTC)Always fun to read another report - it's never too late.
::roots around in Sentinel box:: I think I have the CPAC thingy. If the original donor can't make it good, I think I can make one for you. Let me know :)
no subject
Date: August 23rd, 2007 01:23 am (UTC)I'm so glad you had a good time this year.
I had no idea such a large group would gather together before the event, that was so totally cool! I'm looking forward to our next gathering!
Thank you.
no subject
Date: August 24th, 2007 04:18 am (UTC)And LOL about the hedgehog! But too bad about the DVD...I hope you can get something that works, maybe from another fan or something...
Re: Better late than never!
Date: September 9th, 2007 04:49 pm (UTC)Glad you liked the little report, and yes, next time you'll have to stay at the hotel and get to meet more people... it was fun.
no subject
Date: September 9th, 2007 04:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: September 9th, 2007 04:55 pm (UTC)Glad you enjoyed the report!
no subject
Date: September 9th, 2007 04:57 pm (UTC)It's up there on my 'one day' list of things I'd love to do... ::sigh:: I may make it yet; but honestly, all the great reports like yours almost make up for not going... doesn't make up for not meeting you though ::pout:: *HG*
no subject
Date: September 9th, 2007 04:58 pm (UTC)Thanks for the offer on the CPAC CD -- but first, I need to make good on the autographed picture I got for you. Mailing things is what I'm slowest at, even slower than journal entries *g*, but I just found your address the other day, got hold of some envelopes, and I'm ready to send it. On its way next week, promise! *Hugs*
no subject
Date: September 9th, 2007 05:06 pm (UTC)That was so great, getting that large group together on Friday night -- so wonderful of you to put the word out on that. Thank you!!!! I can't wait for the next time -- maybe it'll be even bigger.
I felt bad that we didn't get out to hang with you at the condo -- we were so pooped and decided that sticking close to the hotel was about all we could manage. I wish I could stay for a week and have time to hang out with everybody and really get to know them. But it's cool to know that so many groups got together and had such a great time. *Hugs*
no subject
Date: September 9th, 2007 05:11 pm (UTC)I've had a couple of offers about the DVD, so hopefully I can get another copy. Gotta work on that one.
Hmmmm, and I still owe feedback on your wonderful stories, don't I? Well, they *are* wonderful, so I'll have to tend to that little oversight. *Hugs*
no subject
Date: September 14th, 2007 07:38 pm (UTC)I'm already looking forward to our next visit. Oh....and thanks for turning me onto Chai Tea - "I'm addicted!"