…rather a spicy story, that
Critter Con 15
Trip Day 5, Con Day Zero: In which arrive at Critter City, shed some tears, see many friends, are ensconced in swanky rooms, get phat swag, eat well, and go to a party.
This being the Wednesday before the con starts, AND we were only a touch over an hour from Critter City, AND a rather emotionally charged day for most of us, we all slept in until 10. As we were getting up, Sweetie started heading down the road. We all got cleaned up and then most of us had a good breakfast. I did not, because my appetite just wasn’t there. I just drank a protein shake and my usual mug of tea.
(Blue: Yeah, I just had an English muffin and coffee.)
When we got to the entrance to the Critter City dome, we saw what we’ve expected for months. Unlike memorials to past family members and other beloved NHT con goers, Sasha’s memorial was a simple sign with her picture and the words
Sasha Jane Cross, PhD.
2009 – 2022
She will be missed
All memberships, rooms, food & drink are courtesy of the estate of Dr. Cross
“The party’s on me this year, gang. Raise hell!”
(Cakes: Mom never did anything unless she did it to excess.)
(Duke: I gave everyone hugs because they were sad.)
(Tuck: That was really nice of you, Dukie)
We shed a lot of tears for a few minutes, then went ahead into the dome. As always, there were several thousand attendees here already. As we pulled up to our hotel, we were greeted by a group of old friends, one of whom was Lori Curley. She was there with her dogs and cats. It was her late husband, Brian, that we got Yoyo’s middle name from. I introduced him to her and he paid his respects like a proper gentledog. She gave him a big hug.
(Yoyo: She’s a very nice lady.)
Other friends included Peter & Holly Hildreth, Brian Misiaszek and his wife Caroline King, Gabriel Gentile & Angel Marie, Pauline Lauren & Laura-Ann Charlot from my home gaming group, Mark & Cathy Ford, and a bunch of other folks. We spent about 15 minutes greeting each other and introducing The Boyz.
After that, we got to our rooms, which were very very nice, full suites on the top floor and the penthouse suite & gardens for our NHT contingent.
(Yoyo: I could get used to this.)
(Leon: You and me both.)
The video screen in our room is one entire wall. We had a fruit basket, a chocolate basket, and bottles of single malt (for me) and Mountain Dew (for Grace).
Once we got settled in our rooms, we were all going to go get our badges and swag, but then Room Service delivered them to us. How fucking cool is that?
The swag bags were bigger than usual, which is saying something. This one had…
The con book, which was laid out like a collection of newspaper and magazine articles from the 1920s and 30s.
Three t-shirts, including 15th anniversary shirts with our names on them
4 card games
2 board games
A CritterCon 15 hat for humans/hat wearing NHT or collar for those NHT who wear them
4 complete hardback RPG books
A bag of candy or NHT treats
A small bag holding a dozen commemorative dice
And a hardback 150 page book with full color photos and lots of text covering the last 14 years of the con. I did not open mine. Too many memories.
(Yoyo: Just allow me to say, DAMN! I mean, that is major swag.)
By now, those of us who skipped breakfast were getting hungry, so we went off to Ed’s Big Weenie for hot dogs, then Mink’s Cold Drinks for drinks.
(Duke: THOSE WERE GREAT HOT DOGS!)
(Leon: Who knew you could get a salmon hot dog?)
The rest of the daylight hours were spent hanging out with friends and then eating dinner at Thai One On. We are all just now getting ready to go to the “Bourbon and Ice Cream” welcome party. I’ll report on that tomorrow.
Starting Destination Sign: Onward!
Ending Destination Sign: The MCU
Radio Station: KHIP, music from the Summer of Love
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