With the cut-off date for early-bird registration rapidly approaching (January 31st!), I thought I'd start a thread wherein us "veterans" could "sell" the convention to those that may be on the fence. I thought this might also be a nice way for "curious lurkers" to read why we keep going back after 4 years!
I'm asking past attendees to think about it ... perhaps go back to old threads immediately following past conventions ... and try to put in writing your favorite convention memories, personal experiences, why you go back every year and what it's like to be with "kindred spirits." What were some of year "fears"? What surprised you most? Post what you would say to someone "thinking about" going to Vegas!
I'll go first! Ahem...
Let me just say that we're all a little nervous the first time out. I remember the look on my husband's face, back in 2006, when I said, "I'm going to Vegas, BY MYSELF, from June 8th to the 11th -- you'll need to take care of the kids." As my hubby travels a LOT on business and I'm often stuck home "single parenting," so he knew better than to protest!
I couldn't believe that I found myself 40 and flying to spend a weekend in Vegas with people I'd never met except for *gasp and horrors* on the internet of all places!!! What the heck was I doing?! I didn't want to "chance" spending the weekend with someone I didn't like, so I made sure I had a room all to myself. My approach was that in the event I did, in fact, meet up with a bunch of loonies, my worst case scenario was that I'd spend the weekend, BY MYSELF, sleeping and reading and watching movies in a nice hotel room -- which sounded pretty good!
Turns out, I barely spent time in that room as we all seemed to band together in what was one big, moving pajama party! (There is simply NOTHING LIKE spending two days with 150 women (and a few supportive hubbys/boyfriends) that KNOW what it is to UNAPOLOGETICALLY gush, ogle and lust over Gerard Butler -- no answering that horrible question: "Gerry who?" ... no justifying your time online when you should be doing laundry ... no strange looks from family members ... no misunderstandings when you try to convey how that one certain picture/scene/phrase makes your girly bits tingle. We GET THE GERRY JUICE, man! It's extremely liberating in an odd way.
Imagine yourself conversing casually over dinner, with images of Gerry (6ft tall and in every "flavor" available) projected, in a continuous loop, on a screen in the background. NOW, imagine yourself giggling because you get tickled at how the WHOLE room will literally gasp at certain images. Then, after we catch our collective breath, it starts all over again - until we start dancing. And EVERYBODY dances! We have wheelchaired gals dancing. We have gals on oxygen dancing. We have "fluffy" gals that "haven't danced since they were kids" dancing, even if it's just to sway from foot to foot, and swear they're having the time of their lives! Then we all STOP dancing to gawk at yet another image of Gerry, squeal in unparalleled delight, and start dancing again. We sing; we tell jokes; we raffle Gerrydise for charity; we have FUN and fellowship! We laugh until we pee! And that's just Friday night!!
Since that glorious 1st Annual Convention in 06, my hubby (Big Mike) has taken to joining me. I guess he's figured that after 3 years, this isn't a "passing phase" and he'd rather be in on the fun! (Plus, he wears his kilt and digs being the fox in the CHICKEN coop! :rotlfmao:) Each year we get a few more hubbies joining us and we really stroke their ... egos, making sure they know we're all so impressed with their support, understanding and patience when it comes to our obsession. Many of us use the opportunity to show "skeptical spouses" that most of us truly do come from "normal" backgrounds.
Vegas is what I do for ME! It's my one time to meet with all the people I've been chatting with online during the course of the year. Each convention seems to have that one magical moment that distinguishes itself from the rest -- from the first convention where Gerry looked Bethy in the eyes as she FINALLY got to say "thank you," to 07's heart-wrenching rendition of "I Did It Anyway" by Songbird, to 08's special guest appearance by Martin Delaney and the presentation of the first "Rising Phoenix Award" to Libby, to 09's experience with The Shade Tree. I've NEVER regretted my first convention and I've yet to meet anyone else able to say differently.
Now it's your turn, Veterans! Tell me what

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heISmyGspot needs to up her meds...
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