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The Vampire Masquerade Ball was everything I'd hoped for, everything I'd missed over the past few years. There's a reason it's my favorite big event, even over Bats Day at Disneyland. Here, have a random list of things:
- My friends Gwen & James agreed to be my minions for the weekend in exchange for hotel space and entry to the event, and they were FANTASTIC. They kept checking in with me about my energy levels, and at the event made sure I sat down frequently, had snacks, and drank water. (Things I am historically bad at when I am working an event.)
- They also fulfilled a very important duty of keeping me away from a friend's ex-husband, because he is a terrible awful person who I would have punched in the face if I had to talk to him. That is not hyperbole - he's that much of a scummy late-middle-aged white Libertarian/Conservative dude, who managed to hide his personal politics and philosophy well enough that none of us had any idea.
- The performers were amazing. Arialists of multiple types, a belly dancer, and a couple who did pole acrobatics of a type I'd never seen before: the muscular young man held the metal pole while his partner performed her routine. The muscular young man held the metal pole by balancing it on his head, what the fuck omg NO. I was very impressed, and my neck kept twinging in sympathy.
- My very sparkly outfit was fantastic under the lights!
- I managed to successfully shout down the Body Image Demons when they reared up. I looked around me for the fabulous people who were my size, and they were all beautiful gorgeous creatures who looked amazing. So I tried to apply that gaze to myself, and mostly succeeded. This ... is a big deal for me.
- As is traditional for a trip to Portland, I went to Powell's and bought some new-to-me vampire books (yes, I needed more, ignore those to-be-read stacks, hush), and to The Meadow.
The Meadow is the most pretentious store I have ever been in. Not because the staff are jerks - no, a very lovely young woman was enthusiastically working there - but because of what the store stocks: fancy salt, fancy chocolates, and fancy bitters. Nothing else. I love this store, and spent a lot of money on floral chocolates and infused salts.
The one downside to the whole thing is that I had the beginning of what I could tell were allergies turning into a sinus infection. I messaged my dr. on Friday during the trip down, never heard back (and indeed, it looked like the message never sent), and messaged her again yesterday, because I know I need antibiotics. If she hesitates or says she wants to see me before prescribing, I will tell her that I know my body, I know what this is, and oh by the way I have been coughing so hard that I bruised the outer corner of one of my eyelids.
And dammit, I don't want to be coughing my head off during THE CURE CONCERT ON THURSDAY.
(No, this isn't COVID. I tested myself yesterday, and I'm going to test again tomorrow.)
So all in all, a fabulous weekend!
- My friends Gwen & James agreed to be my minions for the weekend in exchange for hotel space and entry to the event, and they were FANTASTIC. They kept checking in with me about my energy levels, and at the event made sure I sat down frequently, had snacks, and drank water. (Things I am historically bad at when I am working an event.)
- They also fulfilled a very important duty of keeping me away from a friend's ex-husband, because he is a terrible awful person who I would have punched in the face if I had to talk to him. That is not hyperbole - he's that much of a scummy late-middle-aged white Libertarian/Conservative dude, who managed to hide his personal politics and philosophy well enough that none of us had any idea.
- The performers were amazing. Arialists of multiple types, a belly dancer, and a couple who did pole acrobatics of a type I'd never seen before: the muscular young man held the metal pole while his partner performed her routine. The muscular young man held the metal pole by balancing it on his head, what the fuck omg NO. I was very impressed, and my neck kept twinging in sympathy.
- My very sparkly outfit was fantastic under the lights!
- I managed to successfully shout down the Body Image Demons when they reared up. I looked around me for the fabulous people who were my size, and they were all beautiful gorgeous creatures who looked amazing. So I tried to apply that gaze to myself, and mostly succeeded. This ... is a big deal for me.
- As is traditional for a trip to Portland, I went to Powell's and bought some new-to-me vampire books (yes, I needed more, ignore those to-be-read stacks, hush), and to The Meadow.
The Meadow is the most pretentious store I have ever been in. Not because the staff are jerks - no, a very lovely young woman was enthusiastically working there - but because of what the store stocks: fancy salt, fancy chocolates, and fancy bitters. Nothing else. I love this store, and spent a lot of money on floral chocolates and infused salts.
The one downside to the whole thing is that I had the beginning of what I could tell were allergies turning into a sinus infection. I messaged my dr. on Friday during the trip down, never heard back (and indeed, it looked like the message never sent), and messaged her again yesterday, because I know I need antibiotics. If she hesitates or says she wants to see me before prescribing, I will tell her that I know my body, I know what this is, and oh by the way I have been coughing so hard that I bruised the outer corner of one of my eyelids.
And dammit, I don't want to be coughing my head off during THE CURE CONCERT ON THURSDAY.
(No, this isn't COVID. I tested myself yesterday, and I'm going to test again tomorrow.)
So all in all, a fabulous weekend!