IBR in 500 words

Overall, IBR weekend was pleasant and low-key, except for my possibly coming down with qbear’s low-grade cold, and what with my recovering leg, being unable to do any of the big dances or walk for any great distance.

Thursday night we took our visiting houseguest Rob to pharmbear’s party, meeting chasbearphoenix but missing She-L-O (featuring keanubear) at the Eagle because Jack was fatigued from his recent cold, and I had to work the next day anyway. Friday evening we ordered in some Chinese food, then Rob and I stopped by the Holiday Inn (the host hotel), where we ran into toonbear briefly and then decided to do the Bear Ba Da Bingo. Saw a bunch of local and visiting Live Journallers, and sat with mindplay and trckrfckr, who, it turned out, knew Rob back in Toronto. I won a bingo raffle prize of a bear T-shirt and four VHS tapes of hairless man-porn, plus a signed copy of the South of Market Bare Chest calendar. (Anyone want those things? But I’m keeping the T-shirt.) The bingo was fun but went on for three hours, although I did get a chance to mingle and briefly meet a few people, such as the handsome rexbear and urbear.

Saturday I went to the hotel for the bear squaredancing, and was even able to do the beginner’s tip, because it was slow enough not to stress my leg. Danced with the also-injured double_ohsteven, so that we wouldn’t be twirling one another or knocking each other over. Later, at the vendor hall, picked up a light-up beer mug for Jack, who, magpie-like, is fascinated by sparkly things. Also picked up some free swag in the club room, including belly-button LED lights (I frightened Jack with them later), and was able to meet and thank Carl from Santa Cruz, who bought our Avenue Q tickets last fall when we weren’t able to go to Las Vegas to see the show, due to my broken leg. After that, I headed over to the Thirstybear brewpub for lunch and a beer, and saw a heap more LJers, and met cute daved010 for the first time. Left somewhat early because, you know, you have to leave them wanting more, plus I was feeling fatigued, like I was possibly coming down with Jack’s cold. After a quick stop at the Fancy Food Sale at Under One Roof, where I bought too many gourmet cookies and Valhrona chocolates, I was pretty much home resting for the remainder of the weekend.

I judge these kind of bear events by whether I get to see and spend some time with friends, so overall this wasn’t a bad weekend. Didn’t get to see/meet/run across out-of-towners like arthole, digibob, johnbundy, callingzero, danlmarmot, benjiej and gapathfinder, etc., but it’s a big event with many overlapping activities, and between my injured leg and the possible cold, I really didn’t get out that much. I hope that most everyone who wanted to spend some time with me got to at least see me, even if briefly. I was very glad to see all the friends that I did.