Today marks my 1-year anniversary on Enchanted Folk -- and I truly do appreciate all the friends I've made this past year. It's also my Natal Anniversary, marking 56 years on this planet. (Though I think I'll start telling everyone I'm only 28 for the second time...)

FaerieCon International has come and gone, and so I sit here, blogging away to try to describe the experience.

First, my most profound thanks to Ailinari, who drove all the way from Indiana to give me a ride to and from the convention. She is such a sweet and loving Ladyfae, and her company only enhanced my convention experience.

We left Friday morning, intending to first find the hotel in New Jersey where we were staying (Much lower cost, y’know…) then head on to the Philadelphia Convention Center and FaerieCon after changing into proper Fae attire. Let me be the first to say that Yahoo Maps is NOT the ‘go-to’ choice for finding ones way around new areas -- between the inaccuracies of the directions, my inability to decipher the strange and arcane usage of non-traditional mapping technique, and a general sense of ‘Were we supposed to take that exit?” as we zipped past, it took us a bit longer than anticipated. But find the hotel, we did (by zooming past it and noticing the sign on the FAR side of the building, then backtracking to where we could get to it). We checked in, dropped off suitcases, changed attire, and headed off to the convention…

Or at least tried to. Allow me to elucidate -- it is absolutely free to leave Pennsylvania through Philadelphia to enter New Jersey -- but they charge a fairly hefty toll to get back in! Add that to my lack of navigational skills and poor memory, and we definitely saw more of both New Jersey and Philadelphia than we anticipated. Then, when we found the proper street, it turns out that the Convention Center sits smack-dab in the midst of Philadelphia’s Chinatown district, and street signs are so poorly placed or uninformative that we wound up parking nearly four blocks from the convention center. So there we were, strolling along Arch Street, dressed as a lovely Fae and an Elven Noble, carrying a sign that said “Enchanted Folk Merry Meet -- Here!!!”, searching for the entrance to the convention center. People are stopping in their tracks to stare, drivers passing by are doing double-takes (I’m surprised there weren’t any wrecks!), and more than a few small children are screaming to their parents, “Look at the Faeries!! Look at the Faeries!!” Sometimes, ‘freaking the mundane’ can be a LOT of fun!

We did find the proper entrance eventually, got checked into the Convention, picked up our Convention Passports and goodie bags, and entered the exhibit hall…

Ever get the feeling that you’re in the place you’re supposed to be, even though it’s somewhat new and different? That’s the feeling I got as we stepped through the doors. The first booth to catch our eye was the Faerie Magazine Booth, all lit up with Fairy lights, and the staff working feverishly to finish the set-up. We stopped to enjoy the posters of past covers, ooh and ahh over the latest issue, peruse the wonderful stuffed Faelings on display (and the sewing patterns to make them!), then introduced ourselves to Kim, the publisher. She is a wonderful lady, all smiles and huggy greetings! I asked about some of the other staff members with whom I had corresponded, only to find out they would not be there until later. I also introduced myself as the only male to volunteer to be ‘made over’ as a Fae, as Kim had requested on the Faerie Magazine Forums. Kim said she would try to get everything together, and to be sure to check back later… It was at this point that I realized I had forgotten my camera back at the hotel, and made a mental note not to forget it again for the Ball that night or the rest of the convention!

Then we stepped around the corner to find Linda Ravenscroft sitting framed by a display of her beautiful artwork. Again, I stopped to introduce myself, and to request that she write up a small blurb about the painting “Small Miracles”, which will adorn the cover of “The Enchanted Folk Book of Faerie”. She agreed immediately (I’m sure I smiled hugely at that!),  and we proceeded to converse about all things art and fae for the next 20 minutes…

Saying goodbye for the nonce, We turned to head down the aisle to peruse the various booths -- and were immediately stopped by Joseph Corsentino and his lovely friend/costume designer/? Donny (I do hope I got that right -- please forgive me if I’m mistaken, and blame it on the swiss cheese that is my brain, with far too many holes in my memory!) It was wonderful to meet them both, and more chatting about photography , Fae, and costumery went on…

Every booth was filled with lovelies, and staffed with friendly talkative people, so rather than a booth by booth description, let me just mention a few names who managed to stick in my memory: Wendy Froud, Holly Black, Kinuko Craft, Ari Berk, Wendy Pini (A quick aside -- this was my second introduction to Ms Pini -- the first was at the Elfquest Tenth Anniversary celebration In Indianapolis some twenty years ago, where she complimented me on my ears… and when I related that story to her, she remembered me! Wheeeeee!!!!), Jessica Galbreth, Jasmine Beckett-Griffith,  Billy Scudder, Mark Lewis, The Iron Faeries (Sorry I don’t remember all your names -- more of that swiss cheese at work…), Alexa Galtman, Tracy Cornett, Alba Garcia, Rae Winters, Scott and Samantha of The Gypsy Nomads (They put on some spectacular performances on the main stage of the con center, and at the upstairs stage at the Trocadero during the Good Faeries Ball), Ben, Christine, and Jarrod of Trillian Green, Giovanna Adams, Sarah/Enchanted (My EF neighbour in Wilkes-Barre who I had to travel to Philadelphia to meet in person -- grin!), Priscilla Hernandez (I enjoyed her performances at both the Good and Bad Faeries Balls, but was particularly moved by her renditions of songs from both “Labyrinth” and ”The Dark Crystal”, dedicated to Brian Froud.), The Odom Family (Mask-makers Extraordinaire!), and the several dozen attendees whose names my swiss cheese memory promptly lost but who still stopped me to say hello! All together, I would say that there were close to eighty Enchanted Folk attending the convention who stopped to say hi or identified themselves to me.

Oh, and I must relate a smile-making moment -- I was mistakenly recognized by a young lady as Alan Lee, and asked to autograph one of his prints. I’ll admit to a superficial resemblance, at least according to the black and white photo in the convention program, but I hated to disappoint her with the truth -- I am, at heart, a “Good” Faerie…

So closing time for the exhibit hall came, and we wended back down Arch street to where we had parked the car, so as to go back to the hotel. Let me just say that we decided after doing so, that we would NOT go back to the hotel the next day to change for the Ball -- the parking fees were astronomical! Ouch!!!

Now then, about the Good Faerie Ball on Friday -- one word comes to mind… no, make that two words -- Wonderful and LOUD!!! The performances by Priscilla Hernandez as the Fairy, Trillian Green, and Woodland really stirred up the Faerie Energy -- and the costumes of the attendees were, in many cases, Spectacular! Mark Lewis and Billy Scudder as Emcees were great, though we never did come to a consensus as to the difference between a good faerie and a bad faerie. I still contend that the difference is the taste, because everyone knows that if it tastes good, it’s bad for you! (Grin!)

Saturday Morning came Wa-a-a-a-y too soon, but we did make it back to the convention center on time (and parked much closer, too!), to spend the day perusing the goods offered for sale, talking to friends old and new, taking pictures (I remembered the camera!!!) and videos, enough to fill two discs and drain the battery! (Some of those pics are already up on my EF page, in the photos section…) We also spent time listening to the great musical performances, enjoying some of the lectures and presentations, and just schmoozing about with the Faeries!

Rather than pay for the outrageously-priced Convention Center supplied snacks, we meandered across the street to the Reading Market, a conglomeration of many different shops and restaurants, where we purchased a substantial pasta salad and cottage cheese dinner for  the same price as two bottles of Convention Snack-Bar water! (Note to the organizers of FaerieCon -- I know that it’s probably the ConCenter policy not to have outside food vendors, but please try to get something cheaper and more substantial available for next year!)

The Bad Faeries Ball was even more hyped up than the Good Faeries Ball. Priscilla Hernandez performed as the Ghost, and really did a spectacular job of it in spite of some minor sound equipment gremlins sneaking in. Trillian Green raised the energy level, bringing almost the entire crowd to their feet, and QNTAL practically caused the theater to collapse -- in fact, I was watching a crack in the wall get larger as the audience stomped their feet for an encore!

Sunday, the last day of the convention -- again, it started much too early, but we finally figured out the correct route from the hotel to the convention center. (See? I DO learn, eventually!) The day was somewhat bittersweet -- the Faerie Magazine Male Fae Transformation never did get set into motion, but Kim said “Next year for sure!”, tiredness really set in for me (All the walking on concrete floors did a number on my knees, so I had to switch from my staff with the sign back to my regular cane to limp around), but in spite of all the tired feelings, last goodbyes, and (Dare I say it?) relief at it being over, there was still that sense of wanting it to go on for just a little while longer… I guess the Faerie Magic of such an event really does work!

I do want to send out a special hello to the lovely young lady who stopped me as we exited the convention on Sunday to head home -- her name escapes me, but I do remember that she was attending from Florida, is a photographer, and is one of the 600+ friends I have on Enchanted Folk. She recognized me without the sign, only from her memory of my EF avatar. Thank You!!! You put the cap on a very enjoyable experience! Kubiando, everyone!

... inspired by the name of our newest member. A visual pun I just had to share... (Grin!)

Oh look! An Iron Faerie!!!

I've been perusing my own site, doing a survey of the things I've blogged about, made comments to, and all the other 'fun stuff' that's happened since I joined almost a ten and two-thirds months ago, and just realized that I've been on the recieving end of just over 1,500 "Magical Mischiefs" since I joined Enchanted Folk! That's a LOT of trips over the rainbow, Fairy Dust, and magical wishes, so it got me to wondering where all these little goodies came from -- in other words, who supplies Enchanted Folk with the necessaries to enable these things to happen?

As luck would have it, I stumbled onto a hidden cache of magical contracts, and using up one or two of the Magical Wishes, uncovered exactly where each of the "Magical Mischiefs" comes from!

Trips Over the Rainbow

This Magical Mischief is supplied by Oz Travel and Leisure, a wholly owned subsidiary of Munchkin-Winkie Enterprises. One minor drawback in the fine print states that recipients are only entitled to one-way passage, but a return trip can be obtained by contacting either the Glinda Goodwitch North Slipper Emporium and obtaining one pair of Model Baum-Ruby Traveling Slippers, or Flying Monkey Delivery Service, with contacts in Western Oz at 1313 East Yellowbrick Road.

Fairy Dust

Fairy Dust is delivered to Enchanted Folk from Pan-Belle Dustworks Incorporated in Neverland by the J. Hook Shipping and Transport Company. There seem to have been some problems with delivery, some being blamed on Pirates, and others claiming attacks on the transport ship by a gang known as the Lost Boys.

Enchanted Wishes

Enchanted Wishes are supplied to Enchanted Folk by Godmother Industries, the number one supplier of Heart's Desires. Quality overall has been very good, except for a few complaints about specific wishes regarding clothing and transport falling apart at the stroke of midnight. However, each such Enchanted Wish has been backed with a triple guarantee of Handsome Prince, Special Footwear Fitting, and Happily Ever After...

I hope you've enjoyed my little attack of whimsey -- the idea just struck me a few months ago as I made a comment, and it took me a while to allow all the humour to percolate through the gaps in my memory and onto the keyboard... (Grin!)

I quit trying at 10:00 AM -- 24 hours nonstop was just too much for this old man...

I did get some sleep -- I woke up around 9 PM, after hittting both a bottle and bed at noon-- Some Polish Honey Liquer called Zambouka, basically "Mead on Steroids" at 80 proof... so nine hours of sleep have helped...

I went back in and finally did a reboot of my system at 10 tonight, then started a search again... and the computer spit out about 80% of my finished PDFs, so I only have to redo about fifteen pages. Once that is done and all my pre-press work is done, and I've sent individual pages to each contributor, I'll be ready to start production of the book.

However, there's still a snag in the schedule -- I had intended to rent a high volume color photocopier to produce the pages, but the supplier won't be able to get me my special required high-gloss paper until the end of October, so alas, the book will NOT be available by FaerieCon... (Sigh!)