Thanks to Astrid Bear, I had an excellent seat for the masquerade. They opened with some news footage shot from TorCon 2 in the seventies. Both amusing and embarassing. My, how things have changed, and...how they haven't. A little sad to see a number of greats being interviewed who are no longer with us.
The MC was very amusing. The costumes...not epic, but not bad. They put all the kids first, which was a smart move. There were some excellent novice and journeyman entries. My personal favorite involved a small knight puppet, a large smoke-breathing dragon, a melted sword, and a roasted marshmallow. There was also an excellent tableau from George R.R. Martin's books, titled "Winter is Coming." I haven't read them and I found it spooky. There was an Amber entry that seemed to be inspired by the excellent Twilight Zone entry from MilPhil, but it didn't measure up, in my opinion, although the clothes were beautiful. Could be that I rather actively dislike Amber however.
The real draw back was the retrospective of Canadian Costuming that got stuck in the middle of the show. NOT in the break for the judging, in the middle of the show. Now, some of the costumes were truly impressive, and it was great to see the skill and workmanship, but it went on, and on, and on, and ON. I swear, it was a half an hour or more in the middle of the show! I do not know why they did this. I really wish they'd cut it short.
I admit, I buggered out early, and bagged on the parties I'd planned on going to, because I was falling asleep. And so sleep I did, until the next morning...
I had mostly packed up Sunday, so there was little to do Monday morning. Alas, the excellent buffet was not open on labor day, and so I had adistinctly second-rate buffet in the back-up restauraunt down on the promenade. Good tea though.
Then it was wait in line at the consierge for 25 minutes to try to get directions about how to get out of the city. NOT a propitious start.
Got directions, headed out. ALMOST got lost again, but spotted the tiny sign for the turn the directions DID NOT mention. But, I got on the highway successfully, and settled in for the drive.
It was rainy on and off, the traffic was heavy but not unbearable. The rest stops, however, were all jammed and there was a line for every rest room, slowing me down enormously.
But not as much as what came next.
First: I am FINE. The car is mostly fine.
To get to the Ambassador Bridge, you get off the 401 at a long, deeply curved exit ramp. I was taking said ramp in the left lane, and came around the curve to see a mini-van, stopped dead in the lane, and a woman and two little girls watching me come at them through their smashed rear window.
I hit the brakes. The tires squealed loudly. I started to skid. I turned the wheel. I hit the guard rail. All stop. Engine stall.
Sit. Listen to heart thunder. Get out. Look at front end. Look at bumper. Look at tire. See trucks skidding and screeching to avoid van. Get in car. Frantically put seatbelt back on. Start car. Get across onto verge. Park. Listen to heart thunder. See family from van standing in rain. Get brain together.
Brain says, "Been in accident. Must stay 'til cops come. &*$%#@!!!!! Go make sure everybody's okay and cops have been called.
BTW, I was fine. The car was fine.
The woman from the van, however, was not fine. She was shaking and crying, and babbling, because her daughters had been in the van with her when they got rear ended. She was also cold as a block of ice. Shock, thinks I. Can't blame her in the least. I ask the oldest daughter (looks about 13) if there's a blanket or something. She goes and get's Mom's jacket. I fetch the remains of my hot tea from the car and we get the woman a little warmer. Call Tim, tell him I'm fine. The cops and the tow truck arrive. Mom won't let the little kids anywhere near the edge of the road so they can't sit in the relatively warm, dry car, so I get out my new umbrella because it's still raining and give it to the girls. Talk to helpful cops. Since I was the last car involved, I'm last on the list for giving statements, and must wait. Get in relatively warm, dry car. Get out Morte d'Arthur and read about somebody having a worse day than me.
The officer who took my statement was polite, professional, helpful and efficient. He gave me a copy of the report, and I was on my way, again.
Stop at Tim Hortons. Use bathroom. Think about getting more tea, but see another line and bag it.
And I got to the bridge to an enormous back up.
AAAAAHHHHHRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!
I had thought I'd be back home around three. I finally dragged myself back in the door around seven. But My gentlemen were very glad to see me, and that made it much better. I did, however, spend a few hours swearing I would never leave the house again.
And so it went.
Monica spune:Telegrama de pe front:Standul Polirom. Lazarescu astepta cunmite la rand cu ghiozdanelul in spate propria-i lansare Zgarcit in cuvinte grabit spre tren sau spre bere cine stie Putina lume daca stiam, din patriotism local, mobilizam. Cu siguranta sunt multi care nu au stiut.Cumparat carte inceput citit frumos, curat! Felicitari!
Posted by: Ngema | February 01, 2013 at 04:32 AM