Lessons Learned From DragonCon

I'm back from DragonCon... tired and sore in a lot of places. This is thanks in no small part to four days worth of walking and several Buckets O' Rum.

It was great fun, but also an educational experience.  Just in case you're thinking of attending next year, it feels only right that I share some of the many lessons I learned.

1. There is someone for everyone.  Whether you're sexy and buff, short and fat, cool, lame, tall, skinny, geeky or whatever, there is someone out there who is your perfect match.  If you like to go steampunk... be an elf, a zombie, or even be naked... there is somebody out there willing to do it with you.

2. People standing on the side of you can see your junk behind a fan that covers your crotch.

3. If your belly hangs over your pants/ skirt/ speedo... you need to wear more clothing.  One might think this would go without saying.  One would be wrong.

4. Tape, marker, paint and/or band-aids do not qualify as clothing.  This is especially true in conjunction with lesson #3.  But it even applies to you if you are hot. 

5. No matter how hard you work on your costume, someone nerdier than you will find a detail you got wrong.  Sitting in the bus, passing a guy in an awesome elf-warrior costume, the douche next to me turns to his friend and says, "Yeah, he makes a pretty good (whatever the hell he was) --but he got the sword color wrong."

6. Body odor and patchouli do not create a marketable fragrance.  Seriously. Take a bath.

7. Those platform shoes probably seemed like a good idea an hour ago, but my tennis shoes will keep me from needing a wheelchair tomorrow.

8. If you wear lycra pants and you don't wear a cup, everyone can see your dangly bits.  Really, this should have been #1.

9. Yes, everyone can smell your nasty fart. You're not fooling anyone by ignoring it.

10. Have your camera ready at all times. You never know who or what will be around the corner!

*More DragonCon fun to come... including celebrity sightings, my moment with Joe Manganiello and panels with the True Blood cast, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Laurell K Hamilton and others!