YAY.

[cherry]

So: Anyone still looking for a roommate for VividCon?

Oh my goodness, I was offered a scholarship to VVC. This is absolutely, fantastically amazing -- not to mention entirely unexpected and completely confounding. I'm so tickled that I think my purple prose is about to go ultraviolet.

This is a) exciting, b) exciting, because vidding and meeting people and c) frightening (because these are Real Vidders we are talking about here). It might be a situation where my natural extroversion has to battle it out with my neurotic insecurities. It'll be a caged death match, and hopefully my gregariousness will wipe my insecurities' smug little faces all over the floor. I could sell tickets.

In all seriousness though: thank you to whomever nominated me. You're amazing.

If anyone knows someone who might still be looking for a roommate, I'd greatly appreciate a heads-up. Right now, I'm looking at coming in on the Friday (EDIT: Thursday), and leaving on the Monday. The Monday bit is negotiable, though. If I leave on Sunday, I'd have to take off before the shows were over to make it through the international terminal. That, and this way I can go to a museum on Monday!

It would be such a shame to be in Chicago for the first time (and my second time in the states) and not spend a bit of time out and about. I mean -- the Shedd Aquarium! The Field Museum of Natural History! Tell me I'm not the only one interested? We don't have these things hereabouts.

Oh my goodness: VVC YAY.

Also: Anyone want to meet up with me at some point, if they're not all ready booked up? Or do people run on a more zen sort of philosophy?

Comments

[hollywoodgrrl.livejournal.com]

SUPER CONGRATS!!!!!

Srsly, you're so deserving of this award and I'm thrilled you're going. :) I can't really offer any VVC tips as it's my first year as well, so I have no idea what's going on either.

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Oh my goodness, I am so excited.

It is good to know that I will not be the only person with a fresh-faced, dewy-eyed, deer-in-the-headlights look. This will be my first (non-academic) convention, so it's all new to me.

I look forward to meeting you!

[hollywoodgrrl.livejournal.com]

Yay! :D Are you planning any vids then?!

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

I have one (older) vid in a themed show, and I was thinking of submitting my Morgana vid for Nearly New. There's a possible premieres vid at beta, but I'm feeling more and more nebulous about it, and I have a strong idea for a vid I've wanted to make for a while, but I'm not sure if 1) my thesis is valid, or 2) it would be penetrable to people who don't follow the show.

For some reason, I fear I'm going to freeze up under pressure. This would be entirely embarrassing. *wibble*

[hollywoodgrrl.livejournal.com]

Well...I say go for it anyway! Don't be so hard on yourself. :)

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

I am working on that, really. Even I am sick of my neurotic insecurities. I just wish I had a couple fewer deadlines in mid-June.

[settiai]

Congratulations! =)

You definitely deserve it. And, trust me, you're going to love VVC.

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

This is going to be my first convention, and it just sounds like a blast.

[tellitslant]

OMG WIN! That is awesome! :D

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

YAY! *dances with you!*

My second time out of the country!

[prettyarbitrary.livejournal.com]

That's amazing!

Also: was just in Chicago! Awesome things of awesomeness to do include: See the Rookery (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=185630) (amazing example of old Chicago architecture...and the lobby was renovated by Frank Lloyd Wright; HOMG, gorgeous!).
Take a boat ride around the harbor (http://www.shorelinesightseeing.com/) (Shorelines offers the Skyline tour out at the Navy Pier for $15).
Eat at Giordano's Pizza (http://www.giordanos.com/) (holy crap that was SO GOOD, it's like crack in pizza-form).
Visit the Lincoln Park Zoo (http://www.lpzoo.org/) (one of the country's best zoos, and it's FREE!).
Check out the Art Institute of Chicago (http://www.artic.edu/aic/) (the Thorne Rooms inspired Orson Welles).
Ride the L (great way to get an overlook of downtown)!

Buy a visitor's transit pass (http://faremedia.chicago-card.com/store/main.aspx?DepartmentId=34) to the city transit system (that's CTA, not Metra--Metra's the commuter rail system, and is both evil and obnoxious; CTA is the bus and subway). It gives you unlimited rides on the CTA system for the duration of the pass. I highly advise buying it online and having it mailed to you before you go to Chicago. They're a bitch to find when you're actually in the city. Chicago's blocks are small enough that you can walk around the downtown, but while the skyline is stunning no matter where you turn, it does save you some foot-ache and time to use the transit system.

Incidentally, if you do anything at the Navy Pier, it's good to know about the free trolley that runs between there and downtown. You can tell this trolley because it's blue and labeled as the Navy Pier trolley. Its furthest downtown stop is the corner of State St. and...I think Illinois St. You can ask the locals. They'll know about it.

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

Too many things! Ahhhh!

I am thinking I may actually have to go a day early, as well as staying a day late. That way, I can do the museums on the day after, and the zoo/boats/what have you on the day before. Oooh, it looks like the art museum is free on Thursday nights and everything.

Maybe another day would be self-indulgent and unnecessary, but when will I get another opportunity like this?

[prettyarbitrary.livejournal.com]

Speaking as someone who just got back from vacation, sometimes self-indulgence is very necessary.

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

I don't indulge myself very often. I think I have to go on Thursday, and just think of it as my reward for myself for my double convocation and getting into grad school.

(Wheeeeee!)

[talitha78.livejournal.com]

Hi. Sorry to just randomly barge in here--I found you via the vividcon community. Congratulations on the scholarship! I felt compelled (LOL!) to respond since you expressed an interest in the Field Museum. I actually work there, and am organizing a couple of expeditions for Vividcon folks. I posted about it at my journal: http://talitha78.livejournal.com/197244.html.

P.S. I friended you so you could read it. :)

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Absolutely no problem with your barging in -- I quite appreciate it, actually.

I am so incredibly excited about the museums in Chicago. Thank you for friending me so I could see that post!

[anoel.livejournal.com]

OMG YAY!! So happy you're coming :D It's absolutely amazing insecurities at all (you're so not the only one) and I definitely recommend staying as long as you can. Wish I could offer a room spot but we're ull, hope you find someone though. I'd love to meet up with you at some point :)

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

I am so excited! Terrified, but also excited! I think I'm going to come in on Thursday, and leave on Monday, if only because I can do the zoo and the art museum on Thursday, and the other museums on Monday. Or whatever comes up and is open. (Have I mentioned I'm a dork? Because I am also super excited about the museums.)

I was hoping I might know someone looking for a roommate? But it doesn't look good. I think I shall have to make a post to the main community (when I work out the courage), and hope noone is too creeped out by me.

I would love to meet up with you! You are so far the first person to actually make a statement of interest, so I am wide open.

[anoel.livejournal.com]

That's when I'm coming in as well, I've found it works out best unless you have lots of city plans. And I totally get the museums love :) Definitely post to the main com, there should hopefully still be people in need of an extra roommate to cut costs. And don't worry, I'm sure there will be tons of people wanting to meet you at VVC! Just flash your nametag and there' sure to be someone to talk to :)

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

I definitely want to try to hit the Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium on Monday (given time before my flight), and some combination of touristy things on Thursday afternoon/evening. Aparently, the art gallery is free on Thursday evenings, and the Lincoln Zoo is always free.

(Thinking about this is slightly less nerve-wracking than OMG VVC. VIDDERS.)

I'm sure there will be tons of people wanting to meet you at VVC! Just flash your nametag and there' sure to be someone to talk to :)

I can see it now: "Hey, aren't you that scholarship winner I'd never heard of? Huh, right, okay." *G*