Current Post On Trae’s Blog:
My grandmother died last night. This wasn't a shock or a surprise. Her health has been on the decline, and she's been in hospice for the last month. She lived a long life, and in her final days she was surrounded by her three adult children.
My grandma was a kind woman. She wasn't perfect, but I always felt loved in her presence. She was a retired kindergarten teacher, and was still working when I was a kid. I have so many happy memories sitting at her kitchen table, and I'm going to carry those with me for the rest of my life. She was also proof that anyone who claims that you get more conservative as you get older is full of shit, because she certainly didn't.
I think it's interesting how the body processes grief sometimes. I don't know that I'll cry, but over the past month, knowing this was coming, I've felt a tension in my gut. Now that she's passed, instead of relief that tension is replaced by a sense of emptiness. That something is missing that should still be there. Something has been taken away, and I feel it.
Of course, as I wrote that, I immediately started crying... so I guess my body processes grief in pretty ordinary ways too.
I wanted to come up with something profound linking this to Beltane, which we sit in the middle of right now, but it just seemed hackneyed. Like I was trying to dig out some greater significance when the truth is death comes whenever it wants. The only predictable thing about it is that it's the end of all of our journeys. I hope that when I pass I'm so lucky to have lived such a long life with people that I love around me in my final days.
For the record, I will be fine. I just needed to get these words out while they were still in my head. I don't have some rousing conclusion or deep insight to tack on here at the end, just that gut feeling that something is missing.
Because it is.
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>_< and since airsoft riffles don' have orange barrel tips someone thought they were real and called the cops
Well, actually, they usually DO come with orange tips. Teeny, tiny orange tips that are hard to see from a distance…
Curious about something with other cons and how their staff handle certain shenanigans (seeing the last panel made me think about it all of the sudden xD) Does anyone ever run into issues with cosplayers that go up to tall as heck parking garages and stand up on ledges for, at least a hour, sometimes 2+ hours for “super awesome” pictures? Not groups most the time, but like only 2 people and no one else. I really hope this comes across right but i’ve seen a lot of people talking about cons they are staff of or used to be of in the comments xD
Ask Dr. Conway about that one. (Anthrocon) The result of which our attendees lost the use of the rooftop terrace of the convention center for the weekend. Plus we then had to pay for round the clock security on the roof for the entire weekend. Mr Conway had a talk with “Mr H”. I’m not sure if they found all the body parts…….
Yeah… if you’re going to do a photoshoot, or a film… have someone with a large sign or something. Not only helps keep people from wandering into your shot, helps keep the police from being called.
On the other hand, how long before some mass killer first hands out flyers about the ‘realistic paintball game’ they’re about to play?
Pretty sure this happened at No Brand one year – kid got walked through the lobby by the cops in the middle of cosplay judging so they could verify if he was part of the con, because someone looked out their window and saw his prop guns in his car.
The one I heard was people were actually roleplaying fights with various weapons in the parking garage and on the ramps.
On the one hand, if they’re outside, they’re technically out of convention jurisdiction (at least depending on the con’s contract with the venue).
On the other hand… this is why my con doesn’t allow airsofts, even if they’ve been permanently disabled.
I keep thinking of our filming for Awesome Rangers 2. The Ghostie-Wosties were a sheet with eye holes, over top a party hat. They looked a lot like KKK members, which was on purpose. Filming at the park… next to a large black family reunion… lots of very quick damage control, that those are COSTUMES worn by ACTORS who are playing VILLAINS.