Just Plain Wrong

apologies in advance. I don't have a picture, I didn't take my camera.

That said, it is just plain WRONG to wear your renaissance faire costume to the World Con Sci Fi convention. WRONG. Luckily there weren't a lot of people wearing Star Trek outfits, because most people at the Sci Fi convention were spherically challenged, and those outfits don't like an ounce of blubber, but still, at least a few pointy ears would be in keeping with the theme of the conference you spent money to attend. I hate to say this, but good old Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of York ain't in outerspace.

So I went to visit my cousin, who has been going to the sci fi convention since 1955, since it was in So Cal, this year and we had lunch and strolled the convention site.

There are many things that you don't really get to do as a grown-up, wear capes, make loud noises for no apparent reason, dress in costumes. Being a grown up is rather boring, so I'm all for a little fantasy dress up. In fact, speaking of loud noises I started tap dancing at one point because it's fun to make loud noises with your feet. Put me in a top hat and noisy shoes and I'm happy as a clam. But I do think ye merrye ye olde englunde is not sci-fi. Give me a Klingon, an Alien, Sigourney Weaver; but don't give me stale ale. If you know what I mean.

Anyway, there is a heavy duty component of FANTASY lumped into the fantasy - Sci-Fi world and so many people wear wizard costumes and purple velvet capes. You can buy handmade cape clasps in the shape of dragons and feather masks and such, lots of leather boots of all sorts - black shiny stiff storm trooper boots, soft brown leather elf boots. A rather popular, but to me totally bewildering, accessory was the tail. The first time I saw someone wearing a tail I thought, "Very few people's asses can take that kind of scrutiny. Yours for example. I wouldn't draw attention to it." Then I noticed it was a common trait, as it were. But wouldn't you think that people would be using something other than raccoon tails? First we have Elizabeth in Space, and now she's joined by DANIEL BOONE! Metaphors are getting mixed with a cement truck at the sci fi con! If I was going to wear a tail I think I would pick a dragon tail. Yet I did not see a single dragon tail being sported as I walked about. And did you notice? There was nary a tail at the Emmys last night. Someone better contact some Hollywood sylist types, I want to see Angelina in a tail. She's probably half dragon anyway.

So after lunch, we went up to the break out session on Restoration Dance. This is not THE EMPIRE being restored, but rather the secret Jane Austen sci-fi sect, who had gathered to do a little promenading around the conference room at the Hilton. Mr Bennett, Lizzie Bennett, Mrs. Bennett, Wharf, random Elizabethans, a few hobbits and some wizards were all there. I was reminded of going to the gay two stepping bar in Austin and watching the texan cowboy queers dance the two step together. Very fun to watch two guys in cowboy boots and hats waltz clog about the dance floor. Similarly, vary fun to watch a Klingon reach out a hand to touch the gloved fingers of Lizzie Bennett, who is wondering "Where the hell is DARCY?"

Well, I can never actually go attend the conference, since I obviously don't have the wardrobe, but it was grand fun and if you're in Japan next year, you can stop in.