Current mood:	nostalgic
Current music:	American Goldfinch singing outside my window

FilKONtario for 2005 / Birthdays
I set off for Toronto, Ontario on Friday morning, about 8:30am. I picked up peteralway in Ann Arbor (after leaving a birthday present to him at his residence, a combined gift from my sister Martha, brother Bob and myself). Peter almost didn't go; but it was a choice of him coming with me with a head cold, or both of us staying home and Peter feeling miserable. So we pressed on regardless.

Thence we went through the tunnel to Windsor with only a minor irritant from Canadian customs (an unjustified lecture on obeying stop signs that another customs official had overridden with a hand signal; I kept my mouth shut as much as possible, while doing a slow burn — and people wonder why I dislike customs). The root problem was that we had arrived at a slack time of day.

We had a lunch at the Harvey's across from the Wal-Mart mall (same place qnvhrtz, Peter & I ate last year), and proceeded up the 401 to Missisauga and the Delta Hotel. We arrived at about 4:30 in the afternoon, checked in, and immediately saw friends.


This year, I had decided to ante up for a couple of banquet tickets. As many folks know, I've been having a lot of fun with the "Duchy of Filkhaven" badges. Being All Fool's Day on Friday, I decided to appear at the convention as the Duchy's:

... which is a parody of the English title "Herald King At Arms." I presented to the con-committee members of FKO a specially-made version of the Duchy's Institute of Explorers and Scientists badge. All in all, the badges seemed to be very much enjoyed. I made special ones for the guests, some recent Interfilk guests (including Blind Lemming Chiffon and Heather Dale), and also, past Filk Hall of Fame inductees who attended. Michelle (the Special Guest) really liked her "Sinister Leonine Protagonist" button.

Oh, and I had such a good time at FilKONtario this year that I almost forgot to take any pictures at all, particularly on Saturday. I didn't get pictures of the Frogs ... but then, I was afraid ... very afraid. And I didn't get pictures of the lovely elfin-tall catsittingstill nor of the wonderful allisona or jodimuse the other two-thirds of Urban Tapestry, nor of the personable Heather Dale or zencuppa although all of them were quite in evidence.

But here's a picture I took at opening cermonies on Friday:


And two pictures I took of the Irish Session after the session moved into the main filk room. ohiblather and braider, two main instigators of the Irish Session:


And here are their backup band members, including Ju Honisch, Dave Clement, and Tom Jeffers:


Saturday

The dance of the mad photographer (ohiblather) in the hotel restaurant at breakfast time: "Cups and Cameras". This picture has a fascinating dynamism that just — happened:


Outside the main filkroom with Lissa Allcock on left, and spiritdance:


Saturday night after the Induction Banquet and the combined Interfilk and FKO auction, I settled down in the Poker-Chip Bardic circle room. It was very enjoyable, with Cat, Graham Leathers, Dave Clement, Urban Tapestry and several others participating. I particularly enjoyed catsittingstill performing "I Meant To Do That" and a song that Ingrid Da Buda sang — a parody of "Firestarter" that was dead-on. I laughed at it because I dared not cry.

Sunday
filker0 and spiritdance in the consuite:


folkmew plays(!) peteralway's Lego® dulcimer:

Peter mentioned that this was the first time he's actually heard someone else play an actual tune on his plastic dulcimer.

Confab in the Consuite:


persis with Wee Talis and golden haired hamster. Such a doll!


braider with the luthier in one of the dealer's rooms:



We had to leave early, due to peteralway's need to get back home and rest for his teaching class early Monday afternoon. We reached the US late in the afternoon, and found that the direct connection to the interstate from the tunnel was closed and under construction, so we wandered down Michigan Avenue (US-12) until we reached I-94. We got to Pete's home at sunset, and I got home around 10pm.