STORY TIME: Dragon Con 2019

If you've been following along in my Instagram/FB stories then you're probably a little sick of Dragon Con by now, heh, but I want to get all these thoughts and photos here on the blog, just for me.

So first, here's most of those Stories put into a video with fun music, courtesy of John and his editing skills. These aren't polished like our official daily vids, but they're still super fun and have some real gems not in our other videos:

(The FedEx sign from my preview pic had its own hashtag and shrine by the end of the convention, bahaha. Some people are already talking about cosplaying #FedExJohn for next year!)

Now here come some more favorites I didn't have time to post over the weekend.

My friend Alexie LOST HER MIND when she saw this woman in armor, but it wasn't 'til the guy turned around that I recognized them:

Willow! I need to watch this movie again.

A close up of my friend Avera Cosplay in her Maleficent WoW armor:

Avera is also the incredible Ursula bunny in my video up there, the one with the puppet Flotsam & Jetsam. Now lemme blow your mind: Avera is 6 MONTHS PREGNANT. Whaaaaaat. She's out here winning contests and working the floor like a Queen with a baby on board! MAD RESPECT.

This Fast Food group was so clever: 

My favorite is the Dairy Queen with her ice cream swirl hair! You can't tell here, but the giant cherry was covered in sparkles. 

More Fast Food lolz:

SO SALTY.

That moment when you find a flaming sword in the bottom floor of the Marrott:

 No one was around, but I think if I'd tried to touch it, I'd have received some kind of epic quest.

The prettiest use of ThinkGeek's Twinkling Stars skirt I've ever seen:

 Aren't they gorgeous together? I love these two!

Han Solo frozen in...comforter?

 Ha! I've definitely never seen this in pillow form, much less as a cosplay.

I never watched MTV as a kid, but these guys were a hit:

(In case you can't tell, Dragon Con is all about nostalgic throw-backs.)

"Candy-gram!"

 "We're gonna need a bigger balloon."

(Yes, I know I'm mixing up my quotes. It makes me laugh.)

Big Hurricane Dorian vibes from this one:

 (I had to Google this; it's from a fashion show.)

 ... as I sit in a city completely shut down by a hurricane that never showed. (Definitely NOT complaining. It's just weird when stores are cleared out or closed, most folks are off work, and it's not even raining.)

 I fell hard for this take on Mr. & Mrs. Claus:

I've seen several warrior versions of Santa, but I love that this one still looks sweet and kind, like he's about to ask which battle axe you want for Christmas.

Then look! Dapper Ghostbusters!

They're 'bounding as the animated series with their different color suits, plus the two on the left have Ghost Trap ties. And my gosh, LOOK at Gozer's dress! Covered in sparkles and bubbles! 

My other favorite Ghostbusters find is a deep dive from Ghostbusters 2:

These are the Scoleri Brothers ghosts from the opening court room scene, with the Judge in the middle. This cosplay is GENIUS, from the way the fake chairs and legs work, to the inner blue lighting that gives them that ghostly glow. SO GOOD. (There's also a clip of them in motion in our videos.)

Dragon Con has lots of yearly traditions, and the Shatner Action Figures group is one of them:

They update these every year to reflect the most current pop culture trends, and they are SPOT ON. Breaking Shatner has 1 Kilo of Romulan Ale, The Amazing Mrs. Shatner has a Replicator Brisket, and look at the print on Shatner Things' clothes! YASS.

I left some Stories out of that video earlier, because as the weekend went on I got a lot wordier, ha. Many of you requested that I share this particular thread here, though:

 

 

 

 After I posted that I learned there was a tribute to Beverly in Saturday's parade:

I believe Merrill pushed Beverly's empty chair the whole way.

(I'M NOT... Ok, yes, I'm crying.)

Plus many fans wore badge ribbons to honor her: 

What an example, you guys. What a legacy. Beverly inspired people by simply doing something she loved, and doing it joyfully. 

Let's all do that. Let's do what we love, and let other people see us doing it with joy. For ourselves, for Beverly, and for those people watching on the sidelines, just waiting for someone else to go first.

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Today I'm still recovering from the long weekend, still bone-tired, still dogged by a migraine (I think I was dehydrated too long), but happy to be sorting photos and answering messages.

I got a DM this afternoon from someone we ran into at the con on Monday, just an hour or two before we left to drive home. I was completely fried by then, and so had no idea this person was nervous. Had no idea this person had spent the last ten years hoping to find me and John at Dragon Con, or how much anxiety they had to overcome just to approach us and say hi.

I didn't know, so I did the same thing I always try to do with you guys: I stopped, I smiled, chatted a bit, asked for a hug. However I'm feeling; these things always make me feel better - and besides, I know what it's like to be on the other side.

I didn't know what an impact that had at the time - didn't know I would get a thank you message three days later that would make me cry - and that's my point. We never know. So keep your eyes forward, friends, keep chasing those goals and dreams... but remember to do it with joy, and always leave love in your wake.

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Stay tuned for more Dragon Con coverage, since I still have my flash portraits to edit and post, my Bunny Hutch favorites, AND my yearly Punny Cosplay roundup! I'll try to space these out so you don't get too overloaded, though. :)

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