Meet-A-Gater

[nataliejc]

Hi folks, I'm Natalie.  I've never been to a Stargate con of any kind.  This one just happens to fall just around my birthday and when one of my best friends in the world is visiting me from England, so we've decided to fold the con into our vacation.  We'll be coming up from around San Francisco.

You won't miss us, we're the pair of folks on crutches or cane (she's crutches, I'm cane) clinging to each other because we won't likely know anyone else.  I'm also doing this con, in spite of my agoraphobia and am slightly terrified (read that as absolutely petrified).  It looks like this will be bigger than any of them I've ever done, and for most of those I knew enough folks to blunt the edges a bit.

So...sorry from the get go if I get quiet and unresponsive (start of a panic attack) or overly talkative and blithering (really anxious and trying to stave off panic)....and that's probably more than you wanted to know about me anyway.

[Richard]

Hi Natalie,
That's really inspiring to hear of your determination to come in spite of the agoraphobia, but don't worry, after a year here at Gategoers you will have a great many friends waiting to welcome you in Vancouver.

Are you driving up from San Fran or flying? I've done the drive southwards and what a fantastic scenic route it is. Loved every mile of it.

[sugarshaker]

I'm Julie and this will be my second Gatecon.    I went in 2008 and it was fabulous!  RDA, Amanda, Colin, Corin, and about 10 other Stargate regulars were there.  I think that was RDA's first con, and, while he was kind of shy, he came out and ran the auction and the crowd went wild.  I'm really excited to see Gatecon come back after all these years and am looking forward to all the con activities and meeting new fans.

I'm a librarian from Philadelphia.  See you next year!

[Richard]

Oh no, does that mean you will be going "ssshhhhh" every time we get too rowdy? hehe

[shoequeen]

Hi!  I don't use my real name online, because it's unique, to say the least.  Yahanna knows me though! I've never been to a Gatecon, because we were living in Europe during every single one.  My hubs is military, and we are currently stationed just south of Seattle.  I will be there come hell or high water.  My husband, 13yo son, and I are all huge SG fans (the 4yo is a fan in the making), but I'm the only one who will attend Gatecon.  I'm taking a 'momcation,' along with a bunch of my friends from Ireland, and England.  I've been to several cons (2 with RDA as a guest), including SGCHI twice, but I cannot wait for this one. 

[PamK1950]

Hi, I'm Pam

This will be my first Gatecon.  I really didn't get into Stargatefandom until 2010 when I attended RDA's Meet the Man in Vancouver.  That is also when I fell in love with Vancouver and the people I met, even though the majority of them were Canucks fans. (I'm from Chicago - need I say anymore?)

I've been a volunteer at the last four Chicago Stargate cons.  Through that, I've learned Stargate fans are not really the crazy people I had once perceived them to be.  They are wonderful, passionate fans of one of the best, if not the best, SciFy show ever.  And I'm proud to say I'm one of them.

[Marta_227]

Hi all!!!

My name as you can guess is Marta, I'm italian (so I'l come all the way from Italy for this event!), I tried to attend Gatecon in 2010, had the ticket and all, but a bit of 'appendix' problem caused me to stay put and grounded on italian soil, needless to say I was kinda pissed/depressed...

I'm soooooooo looking forward to attend next year because it's gonna be huge, and it's gonna be a blast!
I hope to have the chance to meet you there!!! 

[Fryn]

Hi Natalie,
That's really inspiring to hear of your determination to come in spite of the agoraphobia, but don't worry, after a year here at Gategoers you will have a great many friends waiting to welcome you in Vancouver.

Are you driving up from San Fran or flying? I've done the drive southwards and what a fantastic scenic route it is. Loved every mile of it.

I don't often agree with my brother but in this instance I do! Can't wait to meet you at Gatecon!

[Richard]

Hi Natalie,
That's really inspiring to hear of your determination to come in spite of the agoraphobia, but don't worry, after a year here at Gategoers you will have a great many friends waiting to welcome you in Vancouver.

Are you driving up from San Fran or flying? I've done the drive southwards and what a fantastic scenic route it is. Loved every mile of it.

I don't often agree with my brother but in this instance I do! Can't wait to meet you at Gatecon!

(she agrees with me more than she realises...I just let her think it was her idea to begin with...works every time)

[Richard]

Buon giorno Marta
Glad you have got the second chance to come to Gatecon. See you next year!

[Fryn]

Can I swear on here? Probably not but you get the picture!

[nataliejc]

Hi Natalie,
That's really inspiring to hear of your determination to come in spite of the agoraphobia, but don't worry, after a year here at Gategoers you will have a great many friends waiting to welcome you in Vancouver.

Are you driving up from San Fran or flying? I've done the drive southwards and what a fantastic scenic route it is. Loved every mile of it.

We're probably going to fly, since my roommate for the con is coming from England and we're putting the con in the middle of her 2 week visit, we want to maximize our time in each location. 

I do my best not to let my agoraphobia keep me away from things I love. I've only attended small cons, mostly in England, but I do a lot of live music gigs as a photographer.  I've learned some techniques that help me function, but most of those aren't really do-able with a con (they involve getting to a venue early, before the crowds, usually standing at the front where I can't *see* the crowd, and stuff like that.  With assigned seating....it's always terrifying and a battle to control what is in my field of vision).

[Highlander II]

Can I swear on here? Probably not but you get the picture!

Now kids.....

=)

[Marta_227]

Buon giorno Marta
Glad you have got the second chance to come to Gatecon. See you next year!

Buongiorno Richard! you speak Italian? 

Let's hope so! I'll move heaven and earth to be there!!!

[Richard]

Buon giorno Marta
Glad you have got the second chance to come to Gatecon. See you next year!

Buongiorno Richard! you speak Italian? 

Let's hope so! I'll move heaven and earth to be there!!!

I started learning it but really need to get back to it more seriously. Only learned the usual things like directions to the train station hehe