🚀 go-pugleaf

Alex asked if some vets would post about their NetCon experiences to the list
-- here is a prime example.


May 30, 1990
Reminiscences of NetCon '90, San Antonio, Texas.
by Laurie Fordham, aka Kook

pre-NetCon.
This being my second NetCon, I had a better idea of what I might need
to prepare for.  Nonetheless, packing is always a major battle for me.
Should I bring the slinky evening dress or the simple chemise?  How
many pairs of shoes can I fit into the suitcase?  Decisions, decisions.
Then there's the transportation problem.  Who's riding with whom and
when are they leaving?  Who's rooming with whom?  And so on.

Friday.
I picked up Stinkfoot and we left Dallas about 6 am.  He brought his
weird tapes and I brought mine, so we listened to music as we drove
to San Antonio.  The sun rise across the east Texas prairie was lovely.
Princess had e-mailed good directions to the hotel, so we only had to
backtrack once.  Rather than being fashionably late, we were the first
NetConners to arrive.  Menolly was waiting for a delayed flight at the
airport, JackShade was sleeping, Snoopy was still at work, and Stinkfoot
couldn't recall Terror's phone number.  So we hemmed and we hawed.  We
looked at the ceiling and we looked at the luxe carpet.  I hate waiting.
Eventually people starting arriving.  Jedi had been burgled in New York,
so he didn't have any clothes.  The Mexican delegation had gotten lost,
as is customary.  Princess got a TV with remote control in her room.
Dr.Dark had a terrific hat, and an excellent story about his nick.  A
few of us were shocked by Taxman's conservative haircut.  Introductions
were made at the Reception.  Some of the tortilla chips were bright orange.
Since Menolly and I were sharing a room with Jedi and Snoopy, I craftily
staked out the larger bathroom for the females before the guys arrived.
Fortunately they didn't notice until Sunday.  The scheduled activity for
the evening was a trip out to the Bluebonnet Palace, a combination
honkytonk/disco/rodeo that must be seen to be believed.  Since the
honkytonk section was nearest the entrance, several NetConners decided
that the whole place was UGH! honkytonk, and wouldn't be persuaded to
come inside and look around.  My favorite part of the evening was the
live bull-riding in the rodeo arena.  The air had that unmistakable aroma
of livestock and sweat.  The bull-riders were brave, the bulls were
romping and stomping, the rodeo  clowns took incredible risks.  Dirt flew
into the bleachers and the bulls crashed into the fence a few feet from us.
Quite a few people left during the event, looking pale.  I wanted it to
go on and on, yet I felt appalled at my passion.  It was great!

Saturday.
As is often the case, I was probably the first one up and about.  I left
the St.Antony at about 8 am to walk around downtown while it was still
cool.  I stopped at Sulema's Mexican Cafe for a breafast taco containing
scrambled eggs and fried potatoes, and a cup of coffee.  Then I checked
the trolley schedule at the corner.  Deciding not to wait for fifteen
minutes until the next trolley, I moseyed on down towards the famous
River Walk.  No  boats, no people, and all the cafe chairs were still
stacked on top of the tables.  But the narrow river was green and quiet,
so I stood on the bridge awhile looking down into the water.  I was a
couple of blocks from the Circus Museum so I decided to go take a look.
There were photos of famous clowns, memorabilia of Tom Thumb, an elaborate
miniature model of a 3-ring circus, and running videos of circuses and
their celebrities.  I bought a mug with a picture of the fierce leaping
tiger from Barnum and Bailey's old posters.  Then I headed back to the
hotel hoping that people would be waking up.  I found that some were,
others most definitely were not.   At 10, those of us that were conscious
gathered to hear Andy Robinson's seminar on the BITNET/CSNET merger and
on BITNET II.  It was very good with lots of show and tell and there
were free cookies.  I'd include more details, but I'm still waiting for
his promised  handouts to arrive.  Afterwards, JackShade and I took off
to browse through the San Antonio used bookstores, an activity that we
both spend too much time at.  He navigated while I drove, which is funny
because neither of us are good at distinguishing left from right, so
there was a lot of pointing and laughing.  We went to a shop that was so
crammed with old books that you had to squeeze through the stacks of books
stacked from the floor to the ceiling.  Another was divided into a maze
of small rooms and hallways.  JackShade kept saying, have you read this
yet?  you must!  and I kept adding them to my armload.  He's really a
dangerous man in a bookstore.  The last place we stopped at was called
The Dungeon and specialized in science fiction and comics.  I bought a
collection of Fat Freddy's Cat, and was awed by the owner's acquaintance
with my elusive comic idol, Honkytonk Sue.  Unfortunately, he didn't have
an issue in stock, but promised he'd tell JackShade when one turned up.
With all the driving through a strange city, browsing through queer
little shops, and yakking with JackShade, I was plumb wore out.  I needed
a serious nap.  My companion knew where a dozen odd bookstores were hidden
around San Antonio, but he was uncertain where downtown was located.
Somehow, we made it back, and I dragged my old body up to my room.  Snoopy
was there and informed me that everyone was meeting for dinner at El Mercado
in an hour or so.  I asked him to wake me up in fifteen minutes and fell
asleep.  We arrived at the Mexican Market with time to spare.  Snoopy and
I strolled past the shops, stopping to sniff the empanadas at the bakery,
and listen to the live bands.  We visited the Pepper Shop where anything
that was related to hot peppers was sold, including a string of red pepper
lights for your Christmas tree.  We waited for the rest of the NetConners
in front of La Margarita where we had reservations for dinner.  People
arrived haphazardly, but eventually there were enough of us to go in and
sit down.  Sadly, the Mexicans had trouble finding a place to park, and
came in late.  But they certainly improved on the strolling mariachi band
when it came our way.  While the band serenaded a table nearby, the
NetConners from Mexico accompanied them at the top of their voices.  My
favorite part of the dinner was dessert, a puffy sweet pastry that I can't
recall the name of.  Back at the hotel, we gathered for the annual and
infamous all-night NetCon moving party.  It started in Princess' room with
most everybody participating.  TedyRuxpin brought his adorable handmade
teddy bears.  Many others brought things of a more alcoholic nature to share.
I decided to call it a night with the first appearance of the hotel's
security officer.  I heard that he made several appearances during the night,
and that Princess, following tradition, kicked the party out of her room
so it could resume in another room for awhile.  What all happened that night,
I'm reluctant to report.  But you know how those things go.  Folks were wild
and silly and impetuous.  Some had regrets and hangovers in the morning.
A few wished they could recall that instant of genius that may have occurred.
Rumors were served for breakfast.

Sunday.
I slept until noon.  Imagine that.  When I finally made it downstairs, I
joined up with a group of the Mexicans on their way to breakfast.  Oh boy,
I thought to myself.  They'll know where the REAL Mexican food is.  We ended
up at Burger King.  Mike said they were going to the shopping malls for
the afternoon.  I decided to tag along, persuading Snoopy, Jedi, and
JackShade to also go.  All in my lil ole Toyota Corolla.  It was a tight fit.
And my dress straps kept slipping down, much to the guys amusement.  At the
mall, I was sucked helplessly  into a bookstore.  When I finally extricated
myself, I discovered I'd only bought one book.  There was still hope for my
lost soul, I guess.  Everyone but Snoopy had disappeared.  In my opinion,
which you've been getting plenty of recently, all malls are alike.  The
purpose of NetCon was to meet people.  I was a tad discouraged, therefore
by the sudden dissipation of the group.  Snoopy was good company though.
He accompanied me to the chocolate shop, the negligee shop, the fancy soap
shop, and so forth.  He teased me about the peach I bought and delayed
eating so that I could continue to savor its intoxicating smell.  Then he
got sucked into a jellybean shop.  He emerged with a large bag and grin.
On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at Taco Cabana so I could get a
few yummy fajita tacos.  Jedi and JackShade took off towards the Alamo.
I went upstairs, ate my tacos, and crashed.  I woke up later, sort of,
and ended up in a room with Stealth, Taxman, JackShade, Jedi, and Snoopy,
playing a little poker.  Not having any chips, we used a small supply of
matches  I dimly recall participating in a covert beer run.  Soon after
that, I went back to bed.

Monday.
I hate leaving places and saying good byes.  I was tired and grumpy, and
may have been rude without meaning to be.  I hope people will forgive me.
Anyway, I had breakfast in the hotel because I couldn't drag myself to
Sulema's.  Then I tried to pack all the stuff I'd brought and the stuff
I'd accumulated into my bags.  It wasn't easy.  I didn't want to leave
the beautiful rose that Dr.Dark had given me, so I packed that too.  I
checked out of the hotel, and had breakfast with Princess, Menolly, Groo,
Jedi, and Snoopy.  Yes, again.  Then I made the five hour drive back to
Dallas, without Stinkfoot, and getting lost in Waxahachie for an hour.
When I got home, I slept.

Tuesday.
I slept some more.