Back from FilKONtario

Got home from FilKONtario last night...dead tired but happy. What a wonderful weekend!



Allison, Jodi and I had a fantastic time at FilKONtario, where we were the Toastmasters (a.k.a. "Filk Waifs"). It was our first time in this role, so we were a bit nervous but we got helpful coaching from experienced Toastmasters like Tanya Huff ("Hey, once you have the microphone, you have THE POWER!") as well as concom encouragement.



Sadly, I forgot my camera for the first part of the convention. When I told Allison, she thought I was kidding ... I'm NEVER without my camera, after all. Things were crazier than usual right before the convention, however, plus I was distracted trying to prepare more props than usual for our concert and Toastmaster duties.

Below: Walter prepares a box for some of our Neurotic Love Song props. HUGE thanks to Walter for helping out on that song, by the way. You'll find out more in Allison's con report soon.



As you can see from the photo, between the rollaway cot, suitcases, craft stuff, our instruments, music and props, our hotel room usually looked cyclone-hit and navigation was sometimes a challenge. Happily, however, we always managed to find what we needed for each event.



(Above: Phil Mills fends off an overly avid fan.)

Walter, by the way, was kind enough to pick up my camera as well as a prop I had forgotten at my house. He also gave me a ride to and from the convention, along with all my gear (and there was a LOT more of it this year than for other conventions). These kindnesses, however, are not going to be enough to exempt him from Urban Tapestry's revenge from what he (and others) inflicted on us later in the convention. Again, you'll find out more in Allison's con report soon.



Many thanks to the concom for all their hard work. Whenever Urban Tapestry is invited as a guest, we get more of a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes work. I am deeply grateful to the volunteers who help run FilKONtario...without them, the event would simply not be possible.



(Above: A Squirrel Voodoo Kit from Carolyn Brown)

I'll write more about the convention later, but I have a ton of work and e-mail to catch up on first, plus I still haven't finished completely unpacking from our California trip (!). With FKO over, I'm going to be spending the next couple of weeks FINALLY CATCHING UP with everything I've been letting slide.



Meanwhile, please do keep an eye on Allison's Livejournal and Flickr photos.

Feel free to browse my small set of FKO photos; thanks to Walter for going back to my house and bringing my camera to the hotel for me. I also took far fewer pics than I usually do because I figured I needed to focus more on my Filk Waif duties. If you've posted FKO photos online and don't mind me using them in my future FKO posts, please do let me know! I'll include a credit and link, of course.



Below: one of the personal highlights of the convention for me was seeing some of my German friends again, and meeting baby Talea (pronounced "Ta-LAY-ah", I believe).

Allison, Jodi and I would wander down to seek breakfast companions each morning, and we were delighted to find Ju, Eva, Rafael and Talea doing the same.

FilKONtario prep plus a movie trailer

TMS The Trailer! - watch more funny videos

Above: trailer for a movie that Allison's husband (yes, the fellow with whom I did my one and only karoke stint last year) has been working on. Can't wait to see the full feature. :-)

Allison, Jodi & I weren't able to get together in person last night for our Urban Tapestry practice so we got together in Gmail Chat instead. Our virtual meeting was surprisingly productive as we exchanged music files, worked on a couple of new songs together, did more prep for our Toastmaster/Filk Waif duties at FilKONtario this spring. It's going to be sooo fun!

You ARE all going to FKO, aren't you?