GAFilk 2009, Days 2 & 3

[thatcrazycajun]

Had to blow off pretty much all of today's programming due to having a Songbird to help finish packing, run last-minute errands and haul to the airport with her considerable luggage for her return to deepest, darkest Africa (not to mention our having slept half the morning due to a late night at the con...but more about that anon). Which meant we missed osewalrus' Interfilk Guest concert, the Sunday-morning Ecumeni-Filk and the Closing Ceremonies ("Badges OFF!"). Sigh. Ah, well, at least we had two days' worth...and cool stuff happened:

• Barry Childs-Helton performed his Pegasus Award-winning song "Lightsailor" for the two of us late into the open filking, at my request. This is one of SB's and my favorites to duet with harmonies on, and I figured we ought to hear it the way its author meant it to be sung whilst we had the chance. Thanks, Barry.
• BCH also told SB how much he enjoyed her performance of her own song, "Hobie," based on a James Tiptree Jr. story. Praise from such a one is surely high praise indeed, and for this he gets double thanks.
• I got to sing a few songs myself, including my own "Ivanova Blasphemy Song," at open filk, and to hear many others sing good songs...the highlight of the evening being the surprise new mini-filk opera composed especially for our stunned and delighted Toastmaster ("I'm speechless!"). Think War of the Worlds with Marvin the Martian and his Looney Tunes pals involved...
• We got to have a delicious dinner and lots of delightful dancing at the banquet (even with having to run around changing clothes and stashing them in the car on a rainy cold night).
• We got to hear Barry and his wife Sally perform their concert, and toastmaster Larry Kirby do his as well. (Sadly, we missed Emma Bull's set; but I'm hopinghms42 will be kind enough to supply audio of it to us—hint, hint..) Thanks to all the guests for coming and being so very entertaining.
• We got to watch bedlamhouse and billroper conduct the Interfilk auction, and the sublimely hilarious spectacle of seeing kbeader bid on an item and be industriously wenched to up her bid, then dash over to her bidding opponent and help wench him to up his. (By the way, Mr. Chairman autographedcat, how much did we raise this time?)
• More cash in the Kenya relief donation jar than I had expected; a count and donation transfer will happen by this coming Sunday. (Thanks, folks, on behalf of myself and SB.)

Comments

[autographedcat.livejournal.com]

Counting the Interfilk Quilt, the auction came to nearly $3000.

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

W00t! Thanks, Rob.

[hms42]

(Sadly, we missed Emma Bull's set; but I'm hoping[info]hms42 will be kind enough to supply audio of it to us—hint, hint..) Let me ask Emma first for the OK.

[sffilk.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you enjoyed the con. You actually got to see and hear more than I did. I'm also glad your SB enjoyed herself.

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

Last I checked, the donation jar had a 20 and several 5s, as well as some unknown amount of other money, so I'm hoping the final haul was good. I put in the bit I had on me.

[auntybinary.livejournal.com]

"...the highlight of the evening being the surprise new mini-filk opera composed especially for our stunned and delighted Toastmaster ("I'm speechless!"). Think War of the Worlds with Marvin the Martian and his Looney Tunes pals involved..."

I'm so glad you enjoyed my Mock Opera "Martian Through Georgia"--I wrote and arranged that travesty--but I couldn't have pulled it off without the amazing talents of my co-Conspirators Barb Bowen and Teri Wachowiak (aka Aunty Social and Aunty Quated)and our special guests Frank Parker as Marvin and Big Rick as Foghorn Leghorn. It was all done out of our love and admiration for Larry (Ante Bellum)and all the Mission-Impossible-type sneakin' around to get this pulled into shape behind his back was worth it just to pay him back for making us wet our pants with those damned Martian songs of his.
Next year's Mock Opera will be either "Along Came (Indiana) Jones" or "Sailor Galifrey and the Dalek Patronus"...we'll remember to keep the engine running in the getaway car...