My impressions of the AX 96 FFML Dinner

Basically, this is Foxtrot, as you know, and on Friday,
June 28, 1996, fourteen people from the mailing list
(myself included) supposed to meet at a pre-designated
location at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim,
CA.  Note that I said supposed to.  Before the dinner
started, we were expecting to have sixteen (plus
my boyfriend) and when the dust cleared, we were
down to twelve.  Heres the first part of the tale:

5:00pm
	I leave my house in a nervous state.  The freeways
are packed and the car Im driving is tiny compared to the 
behemoths that are flanking me.  MY Damon comforts
me and reassures me that everything is going to be fine.
I dont believe him.  Basically what Im worried about
is whether or not everyone will find the meeting
place, if theyre gonna like me, if Im gonna like them,
will they like the restaurant I picked....  Then Damon 
reminds me of something Ive known for a while:
Im the Taskmistress.  Everything *will* be fine.
I calm down a little.

5:30pm
	Im walking towards the meeting place,
cursing myself because Ive forgotten the
camera, Ive forgotten the maps and I can see only
two people at the place I designated.  Calm down,
girl, theyre not going to bite.  I take a deep breath.
Waiting for me are two guys, both wearing glasses, 
both are tall.  One of them has blond hair and is
wearing a pair of DP pins on his lapels.
The other has shoulder length black hair and
is carrying a program guide.  I advance, 
stick out my hand, put a smile on my face and say,
Hi, Im Foxtrot.
	The guy with the blond hair offers his
hand and says, Hi, Erin Mills, 2.5.
	Peter Ward, offers the other,
with a smile on his face.
	I smile again, glad that the hard part is over.

5:31pm
	Who was I kidding, the hard part is just
beginning.  Both Erin and Peter tell me that 
the Fanfic Panel for the AX is at 6:15, and that
the program had just got sent out today and that
most everyone I invited is probably going to the
panel.  Second, Robin Page told Erin that she
wasnt going to be able to make it tonight.
Scratch one, I think, as I nervously look for the rest
of the party.  From behind the gigantic jumbotron
sigh, an older man with long red hair emerges.
This is Ed Sharpe, and who knows how long
hes been waiting there.  Then they tell me that
the place I picked, which is easily visible from the 
street, is very, *very* far away from where all the
action is.  I sweat some more.  We decide to 
get as many people together as possible before
deciding what to do.

5:50ishpm
	By this time, Saf and Damon have 
both arrived.  The big camera in his hand
reminds me of my blunder.  Saf lets me know that
both her sister and Misa are still at the convention
lobby and that *that* is where they thought I told
them to meet.  Doh!  As we walk back to my car, I
tell them that the dinner will be postponed until
after the Fanfic panel and that to tell as many people
as we are looking for about the postponement.
Those that have not shown up are: Wing Wong,
his brother, Charles Liu, and one Brian Geringer
(otherwise known as Sage and Tribble-sama).
I introduce my fiance Damon (which causes
the other Damon no amusement) and we agree
to meet in the main lobby of the Marriot at
7:15.  As I get into the car, my nerves begin doing
their fandango again.  What will happen at 7:15?


TO BE CONTINUED........



Foxtrot the Furryous, BTFH on vacation