The main event of Subrealicon 2001 was the horseback riding, hence the name, "A Horse Odyssey". There was a mix of beginners and experts and JB made sure that the right kind of people were riding with the right kind of people. We rode in shifts at three times during the day. I was in the second group with KP, Melodist, Kymscrazy, Icewing, Alestar, Pebblin, Sparks, Ashlan and Diamonde. The first group was a bit late getting back, so folks either played a game called "Egyptian Rug-something" or hung out. I'd never seen horses before so up close, and I petted the ponies until the other group got back. We saddled up, and after some cursory instructions, we set off along the trail for an hour. I was towards the middle of the pack behind Icewing who was behind Diamonde, so I had front horse seats for the small drama that occurred when Dia's horse got spooked and went off the trail for just a bit. We reached the summit where we got out some water, I took some pictures, and we set off again, except by some accident in planning, my horse was right behind Kym's and Ashlan had moved back farther in the line. We made jokes about her being demoted, and then I think the horses started getting antsy, because Kym's wanted to outpace the lead horse, mine jogged me down inclines, and Alestar and Melodist were fighting for third place behind me. <grins> I didn't let them get in front of me, though. When we got back, we slid off our horses, and I decided to take my group back to the hotel because Icewing's allergies were acting up and my hangover decided to make an appearance.
- Alestar, Pebbs, Sparks and Ashlan play cards, while Dia and bum watch.
- Our trail guide, David (or Danny) who kept telling us about the wonderful changes they were going to make to the resort and suggesting places to visit in the area. He was a pretty good salesman.
- Melodist, Kymscrazy and Ashlan
- Again, when we reached the summit, we'd learned that the horses were mostly on a trial basis, but that some of them did belong to the ranch. Of course, once we found out that Icewing's horse was named Cher, we couldn't stop teasing him about it for the rest of the ride. Here's Sparks, Alestar, Icewing and Cher.
- TrishaLynn, on horseback. Do I look scared to you?
There was a bit of confusing regarding Saturday which I will take responsibilty for, but according to my spies, folks hung out at JB's house for food grilled by Dex, a pool, a trampoline and other fun events. I was asleep, but was roused by a phone call from David (who was lost) and then a knock on the door from Kymscrazy who said JB was wondering where we were. I dressed quickly, got the others, and headed for JB's. Here are some various shots of folks at the JB House on Saturday that I got:
- JB's big sister, Marste
- One of the conditions of us holding Subrealicon at JB's house was that we sing "Happy Birthday" to Marste, very loudly, and very off-key. So we waited until the perfect time, which was right when she was relaxing on the trampoline and we let loose. She got real embarassed, but it was quite funny. Here's Marste just after the singing.
- Here's a shot I like to call "Babes on Trampolines". We all know who the babe in the sarong is, and the one behind her is Sparks. I also think that the one lying on the trampoline itself is Kymscrazy. It was hard to tell at this point.
- All this time, we've had a ficcer in our midst and we never knew about her. daroos lives in Glendale, which really isn't all that far from us. Her parents brought her to JB's house and I hope that she can make future Subrealicons as well as maybe become a part of the Subrealicore. Here's daroos and Dex.
- Here it is, finally there's no excuse... pictoral proof that Diamonde and Dyce are two different people. Note that they have the same nose and smile, BUT THAT'S IT!
- Danny's been a long time friend of the McDonald's, having lived next door to them. I think he was peripherally involved in fanfic for a while; I definitely remember hearing stories about a friend of hers who was being internet stalked at the first Subrealicon (I wonder if it was him). Here's a nice shot of Danny and JB...
- ...and an even better one of Danny and Chelsea, playing horsie.
- KP (Karolina Phillips) and the trampoline
- You have to love the utter look of helplessness on Falstaff's face.
- JB and Dex
- Lise is a happy ray of sunshine.
The Group Picture: Standing, left to right: Pebblin, Sparks (behind Pebblin), Melodist, Kitarra, Kielle, David Amaya, Icewing, PollyMel, Dex, Mice, Dande, Dyce, Falstaff, Lise (in front of Falstaff). On the trampoline: Danny, Chelsea. Seated, left to right: bum, Diamonde, TrishaLynn, Kael (behind TrishaLynn), Farli, Kymscrazy (behind Farli), daroos (behind Kymscrazy), GirlySkin (in front of daroos), Zil (in front of GirlySkin), Chandri, Ashlan (behind Chandri), Hex, KayJay (behihd Hex), KP. Sprawled out in front of us: JB.
The Informal Group Picture
After we took the group pictures, David had a few announcements he wanted to make. First, he thanked JB and her parents for hosting the main events. Then, he announced the "winners" of the OTL T-Shirts for this year for the furthest travelers, which would be the three Australians, Diamonde, Dyce and Polly Mel. He had something else for the rest of us, pens decorated like flowers, which represented the genres of fanfic and what fanfic stood for. We all got at least one, and it really isn't David's fault at all that none of the pens work.
THEN... it started with an innocent massage. KayJay was slowly getting her harem back (they were working on her hands, legs, feet, arms, back) and at one point, Kitarra had nearly scalp scritched her into unconsciousness. Then, as she was being massaged, someone had snuck into the house and grabbed some markers and... well... let's say that it wasn't a pretty sight.
- Ashlan and Lise started in on KayJay's back, and she was melting. At that time, we were joking about massaging fic out of her.
- We did such a good job massaging KayJay that I think we killed her. Lise is our witness, alibi and co-conspirator.
- Here's some of the work. At one point, and I think it was when Dande was signing (or was it Dia?) Dex said, "And we're already down to the underwear..." That's where many people had signed "I will write Draco." You can't see too much detail on this pic, but my favorite touch is the epitaph: "Property of J. Todd".
So after we relented and let KayJay up, someone got the bright idea that it was our turn to sign JB. I thought it was a wonderful idea myself (even though I was desperately trying to get my aching muscles back to the hotel and into the hot tub at the same time) and went out to where someone had cunningly laid out a towel and before she knew it, JB was lying on her stomach, with ravening fanfic authors slavering over her with pens. Dex took point, grabbing her arms and most of us at one point had a hold of her legs, because as she proved to us time and time again, she was very ticklish on her feet and the backs of her legs. Of course, that's where a lot of people signed. ^_^ Later on, they tried to sign Dex, too. Note that I said, "tried".
- JB was feigning displeasure, but you know she didn't mind. See the happy smile on her face?
- Action shot of the signing
- Steve and Marilyle declined to sign their daughter (but I did see him taking video of it from the balcony). However, Chelsea and Marste pounced on the opportunity. The picture of Marste's contribution came out too blurry to read, but you can clearly see what Chelsea wrote on the inside of JB's thigh. They say it's an inside joke... get it? Inside joke? I slay me sometimes...
Hot tub and the hotel beckoned. It had to, because several of us had never ridden horses before and our muscles were aching. So in little trickles, folks showed up to the hot tub. We played Marco Polo again (non-comics version) and sat, and sat, and sat... oh, I'll just let the pictures do their own talking:
The trail guide had suggested kareoke as something we could do (could having me sing during the trail ride have something to do with it?), but a more economical solution provided itself: pizza. Dinner was had in the hotel rooms, with all five rooms with their doors thrown wide open (or at least unlatched) and folks in various kinds of conversations. At one point, there was a lesson in tarot reading, the Egyptian Rug-Something game was being played, and we actually started talking about fanfic in "The Evil Den of Lust". It was then that another announcement was made: Falstaff asked Dyce to marry her and she said yes. I wasn't there when Dyce told Dia, but I was told she had a very stunned expression on her face.
Oh, and if anyone tells you there was a Truth or Dare game after midnight in Kielle's room, I'd have to say they were lying. Utterly and completely. Uh-huh... yep, lying through their teeth. No doubt about it.
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