Leakycon 2011: Opening and OATC

So where I last left off I believe we were just walking in to the opening ceremony thingy like 20 minutes late maybe. Thankfully Leakycon almost seemed to always wait for me so it wasn't quite started. We saw the Earls on our way to the rest of Catitude and then waited for it to begin. I was between Destiny and Katie at first I believe. So a few people had mentioned that they didn't expect much of this and they might leave early and go to the park. I wasn't sure what to expect. Maybe just a really good video?

Before it had started Melissa announced that an attendee needed to come to the stage to recieve a prize or something. And I was thinking wow, they're giving away free random stuff already, how cool. Then a guy walked on stage and melissa was like I think you know who this is. And then the breath of 1000s of people was collectively held, because we knew this guy was about to get on one knee and propose. And that's what he did. And my eyes were watering because I have allergies, I wasn't crying or anything. No, not me. But then the actual ceremonies started.

So it started with like a history of the fandom and interviewing people about conferences or something. And then the video screwed up. I was so excited I applauded because the atmosphere was still like incredibly incredible, I couldn't help but even appreciate the mistakes. I think when the video crashed they tried to show the pulsating Leakycon thing that is hard to explain but was on the screen a lot during the next few days. But it just ended up looking like blue pulsating with a noise like it was trying to pop or something. Needless to say, I loved it.

Then after a few mistakes, Lena, the creator and composer of The Final Battle and the Hairy Heart thing came out and played a few familiar Harry Potter tunes on the keyboard. I wasn't sure whether it was planned or she was trying to salvage the ceremony after the video broke a few times. But she played Hedwig's theme and whatever else and it was beautiful and then they played a little more video.

Then I think Neil Ciciiiwqeidadaga was next, they brought up the little stage and it was obvious that these little performances were planned. They did a little skit that I guess wasn't really that memorable I mean honestly I'm not the biggest PPP fan. Whoops. They played a little more video that I laughed at.

I think next hank Green came out on stage, which was really unexpected because even though Hank owed like everything he had to the Harry Potter community and I knew he would be playing at the con, I never really connected Hank to the Harry Potter fandom. So anyway Hank went out and badassed Accio Deathly Hallows. Badassed is a verb, trust me. All of Catityde stood up to sing along. And we'll just pretend there weren't people behind us yelling at us to sit down. But it was really good and I didn't know Hank could seem so talented I guess. Then I think they played more video.

Then woah what, all of Starkid came out on stage and I guess that was kinda amazing. They sung Granger Danger which is one of my personal favorites I guess and sorta made the room explode. We all stood again, but the short girls behind us managed to convince everyone but me to sit so I kinda felt embarrassed being the only one standing. So I grudgingly sat down and enjoyed the show.

Then harry and the Potters came out and I don't think I wanted to sit at all after that. Katie had eventually moved down so I grabbed the hand of the person on each side of me, Destiny and Julian, as HATP played The Weapon and that was like where I knew I was probably where I should have been. With my friends at a Harry Potter Conference or Convention or whatever the hell you would call it.

Then we went over to the park for the private park event. I was sad to see some of my friends not go with us. And for some reason I temporarily developed a fear of rides for that night, so I feel like I really wasted a lot that night. Well, the whole way over we sung songs from AVPM and some people even joined in. I suck at lyrics so I kinda muttered it all but it was still a way cool sing a long thing.

We got in the park and I figured maybe I'd brave the rides, so I walked into the Dragon line and I got really nervous and turned around and found Paul and he said he had lost Katie. So we figured we'd just stay outside of the line and wait for everyone else to get off it and then John Green came walking by unsure of whether to ride it and I tried to convince him not to and Erica ended up sneaking him on. But Paul was too nervous to follow them so we didn't end up getting sneaked on too. Jeez Paul.

Then after that I think we checked out Honeydukes or something. I was really nervous and anxious so I sat on the ground and waited for Katie to come back. And then I started pacing and all of Starkid walked by me in like a single file line and it was sorta weird. Then I walked in the Three Broomsticks to check it out and I might have accidentally overheard the talks about how they were gonna sneak Evanna into the park without her getting mobbed.

Then Katie came back and the rest of the HPA that was with her. Andrew eventually found us or something and I asked if I could hug him and he said he had to poop. But I could hug him anyway. So I hugged him and then he left. So we sat at the table and waited for him and then I guess we made our way towards the lights and eventually Andrew introduced Katie to Evanna. I wasn't sure what was happening either and it didn't seem like Katie knew. But Katie just grabbed Evanna and hugged her and then there was the realization that she had just not only met Evanna Lynch, but she hugged her. So i texted 2 people that. Only 2 because I had already been criticized for mass texting...

Anyhow, Evanna was there to do some podcast. I don't know much about harry potter podcasts, don't judge me. But then the frog choir thing did their thing and i guess i liked it. Then some of us went to find food and I already forgot once who it was with me. Lindsay definitely I think and a third person I'm so sorry I forget who. And we sat down beside these kids. And they said they liked, was it katy's nerdfighterlike shirt. and she mentioned that ehr friend designed it and then they asked what her friend's name is and they said morgan and then they realized morgan is also their friend.

They mentioned how they had a youtube group and they thought they were Catitude's rivals but we talked them out of that I hope I think. then we got butterbeer or something and generally just hung out i guess. met some cool people from the internet, drank some pumpkin juice. you know?

We went back to the motel to find everybody from other places was back i think and I guess we stayed up for a bit just hanging out or something but then we slept.