la_marquise: (Iskander)
la_marquise ([personal profile] la_marquise) wrote2011-11-02 05:42 pm

That was the week that was

We're back from World Fantasy. We got back on Monday, in fact, and I spent yesterday doing laundry, working my way through the email pile and being descended on by assorted cats. ('You left us! What kind of service do you call that! I need brushing! I need more food! I need cuddles! I need your lap/dinner/pillow!' They had [livejournal.com profile] groliffe to look after them, but they remain convinced that they were, in fact, starved, ignored and abused for the whole nine days.)

I had a lovely time. We got into San Diego late on the Sunday before WFC and stayed overnight in an airport hotel, then on Monday, the marquis set off to L.A. to work, while I took a plane on to Portland, where [livejournal.com profile] calendula_witch very kindly let me infest her spare room and eat her bagels and read her books -- and drove me all over and let me meet her friends. Her house is gorgeous, and Portland may well have replaced Chicago as my favourite US city. So many trees! Such a friendly atmosphere! People walking and cycling and using buses! I had lunch with the fabulous [livejournal.com profile] jaylake, who took me to a very nice bar which looked to have excellent beer, had I only been not jet-lagged. Tuesday afternoon S and I inspected Chinatown, which is small and neat and has some interesting restaurants, and then she took me to Powells, which left me stunned and overwhelmed. So good to know that there are still such fine bookshops in the world. They had my book, even though it's two years old. On Wednesday, we had lunch with my fellow Dawuthor [livejournal.com profile] ramblin_phyl, who showed us the Multnomah Falls. (Did I mention how beautiful Portland and its environs are? And that it has normal weather? If I ever have to live in the US, I want to live there.) And in the evening we cooked and ate with the legendary La Enigma and her husband, who were delightful.

Thursday, S and I flew down to Portland, where [livejournal.com profile] markferrari collected us at the airport, having, as he pointed out, manfully driven all the way from Seattle just to do this. He's a true gentleman. And I reunited with the marquis at the con.
After that, it's a bit of a blur. We hung out with [livejournal.com profile] msagara and [livejournal.com profile] kateelliott and [livejournal.com profile] suricattus and [livejournal.com profile] jemck and I did a podcast for Locus with [livejournal.com profile] swan_tower, which was huge fun (I will post the details later on, when it goes live), and was on a scary-but-good panel on class, where I learnt a lot about the US, and failed to see enough of [livejournal.com profile] stina_leicht, and got to meet [livejournal.com profile] shweta_narayan in person (she rocks); and was given a puppet ferret by [livejournal.com profile] fireun, which was very badly behaved at the mass signing (she's posted photographs. She's a very bad woman, which is why we love her). and waved to and chatted with lots of other people, including [livejournal.com profile] matociquala in a very, very fine red dress, and the beautiful [livejournal.com profile] leahbobet. I also had a long and very productive meeting with nice editor, about which more anon.

And I got to catch up with [livejournal.com profile] zaan, who I haven't seen since she moved. That may well have been the best of all: we miss her, and it was lovely to see her and hear her news and to get to spend time with her.

The site has garnered mixed reviews. I found it comfortable enough, but it was very disabled unfriendly, which is unnecessary and unforgivable, and many people had room issues to do with faulty appliances, blankets and noise. The marquis and I were lucky in that respect. I did find it hard to navigate, though, and the food places were not reliably open or accessible, which was difficult. On the other hand, most of the staff were very helpful and kind to us. And I enjoyed the convention programme.

There were a series of very disturbing incidents of sexual harassment, too: this was not the site's fault, but in 2011 is not acceptable, and the women who were subjected to it have my full support. I've been there myself. Fandom and sff culture in general needs to shape up and step up and ensure that this kind of thing does not go on happening or being connived at.

And then we came home. This was the most settled I've felt at a WFC: at the previous two, I've been very aware of how few people I know, but this time we always seemed to find people who didn't mind hanging out with us. I probably talked too much. And I did stand on a chair in a short skirt. (I blame [livejournal.com profile] suricattus. And the ferret.) But I did have a lovely time: thank you all, for making us so welcome.


Skirts that went with me: long green and gold, long grey with black hem; blue wedgewood; new green cord mini.
Skirt of the day: long blue cotton.

[identity profile] blitheringpooks.livejournal.com 2011-11-02 07:01 pm (UTC)(link)
You took the grand tour. I envy you your time in Portland. It's quickly turning into the American city I'd most like to visit because everything I hear about it is so wonderful.

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/ 2011-11-02 07:07 pm (UTC)(link)
It's really beautiful.

[identity profile] lil-shepherd.livejournal.com 2011-11-02 07:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Welcome home!

[identity profile] glass-mountain.livejournal.com 2011-11-02 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
It sounds great fun! Especially the puppet ferret. I'd love to visit Portland too, especially as it's not far from my friend in Astoria.

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/ 2011-11-02 09:59 pm (UTC)(link)
It really is a lovely place: it felt much more relaxed than many of the other US cities I've visited.

[identity profile] history-monk.livejournal.com 2011-11-02 11:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Hear, hear. I didn't get to see as much as I wanted when I visited years ago (working) but it is a really nice place. And Powell's is brilliant.

[identity profile] difrancis.livejournal.com 2011-11-02 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Sexual harrassment? Oh no. I'd like to hear what happened if you wouldn't mind letting me know. You can shoot me an email: dpf AT dianapfrancis.com

I'm glad it was a good time though. I do love WFC.

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/ 2011-11-02 09:58 pm (UTC)(link)
I heard about it from others, but there a public account here: http://jaymgates.com/misc/wfc-2011-creeper/

[identity profile] anna-wing.livejournal.com 2011-11-03 02:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Did not the hotel have security officers? Surely this person's actions were criminal and arrestable?

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/ 2011-11-03 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)
It was a private party, so no-one was sure of the exact rules. But you're quite right.

[identity profile] anna-wing.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 06:31 am (UTC)(link)
Cons should have a Standard Operating Procedure made known to all, perhaps someone designated as liaison to the local civil security authorities. They should be of appropriate manner and bearing for the locality to maximise the likelihood that said security services will automatically consider them credible interlocutors (the Designated Suit, if you will). Then if this sort of thing happens, the victim knows to complain to liaison, liaison knows to summon police, perpetrator is at the very least, severely embarrassed, if not, as would be ideal, prosecuted. Rather like the shops that announce that all shoplifters will automatically be handed over to the police.

This would also reduce embarrassment for the con, since otherwise,as will inevitably happen, some future victim will take the initiative and call the police directly without bothering to go through either con or hotel.

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/ 2011-11-04 12:26 pm (UTC)(link)
You'd think, wouldn't you? But they don't, and it's proving very difficult to set up any kind of initiative to do so, too. Le sigh.

[identity profile] klwilliams.livejournal.com 2011-11-02 08:57 pm (UTC)(link)
It was great to see you and the marquis again. And your skirts were marvelous.

(Anonymous) 2011-11-02 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)
It was so very good to see you both! Thank you again for the books :)

[identity profile] shelly-rae.livejournal.com 2011-11-03 01:44 am (UTC)(link)

Was good to finally meet you!
Anon

[identity profile] calendula-witch.livejournal.com 2011-11-03 05:22 am (UTC)(link)
It was so great to spend time with you! And to meet the Marquis. :)

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/ 2011-11-03 04:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Ditto, ditto -- and to meet Mark!

[identity profile] zaan.livejournal.com 2011-11-03 07:19 am (UTC)(link)
It was utterly wonderful to see you and Phil again, and spend quality time with you both. You both look just the same as when I last saw you!
When I finally get settled with a job and stuff, you must come out and see more of not only San D, but up where I live in the hills. Having also been to Portland, and visited my guys out in Scappoose when they lived there (not far from Portland) I much prefer it down south here - no winter, very little rain and not too hot with our lovely balmy breezes.
Miss you already. :( /le sighs.. and loved your skirts - did you mention the lovely frock of Salmon color you wore at the dinner?

[identity profile] zaan.livejournal.com 2011-11-03 07:31 am (UTC)(link)
Just read about the Creeper. I'm studying Forensics here, with ex law enforcement officers. Their take on this type of activity is report him to the police. It's what happens here at the college because courses like mine also attract those who are weird and like violence, and anything happens, it gets reported to our local police force.
Do not bother with Hotel security, con security, go straight to the police. In California we have very good laws to prevent Stalkers and folk going round an event systematically physically/sexually harassing and abusing women, or men.

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/ 2011-11-03 04:07 pm (UTC)(link)
I think it was the usual thing where everyone is afraid of making trouble, causing the con trouble etc etc. Too many of us have been raised to be 'nice' about this. You are quite right, of course: this kind of thing is not acceptable and illegal.
Ah, the pink dress! I'm never quite sure about it -- it's so very bright. But it does go well with that necklace, and I do love that necklace!
You looked fantastic.

[identity profile] zaan.livejournal.com 2011-11-03 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you. :) And so me dear, did you. You showed off all your jewelry to its best, and it was super jewelry!

[identity profile] anna-wing.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 06:33 am (UTC)(link)
Too many of us have been raised to be 'nice' about this.

One can always call the police in a civil and agreeable tone of voice.

[identity profile] woolymonkey.livejournal.com 2011-11-03 09:30 am (UTC)(link)
Welcome back! I hope the ferret crossed the Atlantic with you and we'll be able to meet him/her/it soon.

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/ 2011-11-03 04:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Definitely. I have a new monkey for you, too.

[identity profile] woolymonkey.livejournal.com 2011-11-03 04:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Ooook! Or do I mean Eeeek?