Hello from a city which already seems to be a much nicer city than years of Pittsburgh jokes might make one expect. I often think that some unfair comments aren't so much inaccurate as they are out of date. You can almost sense that this was once a grimy, grey town but that that's in the past and the snide remarks simply haven't caught up with reality.
But then it's been a journey of surprises so far. Last week, Northwest Airlines was cancelling flights the way certain network execs I could name cancel programs…with reckless, panicked abandon. One day alone, 25% of all Northwest flights didn't take flight due to some sort of pilot "sick-out" and labor dispute that I won't pretend I fully understand. What I did understand was that Carolyn and I were booked to take not one but two Northwest flights on July 4 to get here…so the odds suggested a good chance of trouble.
Didn't happen. Not for us, not for anyone flying Northwest yesterday, as far as I could tell. Every time I looked at the departure board in three different airports, it showed every Northwest flight as "on time," meaning either they've solved the problem for now or those monitors were lying to all. Both our flights took off exactly as advertised and landed a bit ahead of schedule. It remains to be seen if the return trip will be as flawless.
We're here for the Anthrocon, which as I've explained is a convention of "furry" fans — folks with a passion for human-like animals or animal-like humans or blurring the line of demarcation between them. This fandom has endured a fair amount of mocking in the past, often from folks who oughta know better, given how their own interests have prompted ridicule from others. I come to it with my belief that, first of all, every group — up to and including those in which I am a willing participant — has its overzealous, embarrassing faction. It's not only wrong but a cheap, disingenuous trick to characterize an entire movement by its atypical element. It's kind of like those political arguments that try to tar every Republican/Conservative with the low moral standing of Ann Coulter or every Democrat/Liberal as being guilty of the sins of Lewis Farrakhan. Secondly, I figure that anything that makes people happy without making others unhappy is worthy of great respect.
Things are just getting started here but already you can walk into the lobby of the Westin Hotel and find yourself in a mob scene of people with tails and animal ears…or even ornate, full-body costumes. And boy, are they all happy to be here with one another. That's pleasant to be around and so is the unleashed creativity. I'll write more about it later in the con when I may have more to say about it and maybe post some photos.
A not-dissimilar joy was witnessed last night at a local mall/shopping area called Station Square. Carolyn wanted to see fireworks so the convention organizers, who are as nice as any convention organizers I've encountered in 36 years of con-going, sent us in a limo to dine and watch pyrotechnics over the Monongahela River. The show was fine, the restaurant was fine but the best part was just to be out among all those merry folks having a good time…although I always feel odd getting out of a limousine. I always spot someone who sees the car pull up and watches eagerly to see what beautiful celebrity is about to emerge…and it's me. You can smell the look of disappointment. It's like, "Oh. I was hoping it would be somebody." I wonder if they'd feel better if I started yelling, "No pictures, please!"
I'll have more to report tomorrow. It's three hours later here than the time stamp on this posting will indicate and we have a busy day ahead of us. G'night.