Fandom: Respect.

Sometimes you can easily forget about how many differing opinions there are within fandom. No opinions are wrong. Remember to respect your fellow fans opinions. You don't have to agree with them, but at least respect the journey.

Yay Tracey!

I haven't written on my blog for a little while because there hasn't really been much going on of late. Until this week. I've been counting down for what seems like an eternity, to get the opportunity to catch up with one of my AXF girls who has come over from New Zealand.

Showed the lovely Tracey around my city... taking in some of the sights around the river including South Bank (dinner at the Plough, and much fangirl conversation!) and then we went for a lovely walk down along Kangaroo Point. We even caught a ferry back up the River to North Quay, which was FREE?!

I didn't realise that there was a free ferry on the river. Must remember this for when other tourists wanna come visit!

Thank you so much for such a fun evening Tracey! Really hoping we get another opportunity to hang out before you head home.

Taken on the boardwalk at South Bank - wish I had my Canon Camera

AXF Project 'For Your Consideration'

My X-Files Fandom group, Aussie X-Files Fans (@ Facebook) are about to commence a fandom campaign that has been coming for quite some time.

It's not your usual X-Files 3 campaign, but instead a 'Convention' Campaign.



Inspired by the fact that the lovely Ms Gillian Anderson is going to be appearing at several conventions in the Northern Hemisphere this year (UK/Canada/USA), us fans in the Southern Hemisphere are feeling a little lost right now. 

So, the 'For Your Consideration' project has been born.

If you are an Australian/New Zealand fan who would like to help campaign to see Gillian appear at an Australian/New Zealand Convention, please join our Facebook Group.

The Eager wait for Postal Delivery

Don't you hate it when you have a truckload of mail coming from all corners of the globe... and it takes weeks and months to arrive. You check your mailbox every single day hoping that today is the day.

The guys at Australia Post always laugh at my excited face as I stand there with the awaiting collection notice that gets put into our PO Box. I can look at them before I go to the mail box and they always give me a knowing smile.

Love it.

So just what have I got coming exactly?

Well.... I was recently naughty with the GillianAnderson.ws auctions. Naughty, but some of the things I won went for a REALLY good price. And at least I know what I have purchased is pretty much a 'One of' - that's why I bought them. And because of charity. Always charity.

Some of that money goes to help the Neurofibromatosis Network.

I also helped a couple of friends out by buying some of their collectables off them as they needed some money. I figured I'd buy them and keep them in a safe place - and if the time came when they wanted to buy them back off me - they could definitely do that.

I have a friend who is sending me a surprise from London Film and Comic Con - although that was sent in July (it is now September, why isn't it here?!).

I had the lovely Roileigh get me an autograph at Toronto Fan eXpo.

And of course there is the evil website that is eBay. I should be banned from eBay.

It's been a very 'mixed up' week so far.

After attending an amazing Buddhist meditation course on Saturday about the difference between Love and Attachment - and for the first time ever, doing a concentrated meditation - I have had a lot on my mind. Especially at a time when ideally I would like nothing more than to have NOTHING on my mind. We had to focus our thoughts on someone that we wanted to 'love' - imagine my disgust at myself when I failed to complete the meditation because my mind was just too busy.

I have allocated time later this week, when my work is done, to concentrate on this meditation again and to attempt to complete it. Kelsang Tsalden did say that it was one of the hardest meditations so I guess I shouldn't be too hard on myself since I am really a newbie at this meditation stuff.

And of course... Fan Expo (Toronto) happened over the weekend. I spent half the weekend chiding myself for feeling so down that I wasn't actually there. (Remember back when I was in Top Geek all those months ago, that was my ultimate goal?) --- Turns out, upon reflection, that all I'm feeling is attachment. Attachment to the fans, the guests, and a little bit of jealousy that I wasn't there myself.

I go through this with every single convention that happens.

Every. Single. Time. 

So yes, I have to go through this stupid cycle of emotions again this coming weekend. Because Dragon*Con is happening in Atlanta.

However, I'm thankful that I've busied myself this weekend with plenty of activity so that I can at least try and focus on things that are really more important. Yes, I'd like to be at the convention seeing friends etc, but the reality is that I live in a country that is just too far away to make these things possible (and do not have a disposable income that can allow traveling around the world for these events) - and right now, I have to concentrate on saving money for the most important event of my life (our wedding).

So yes, onto this weekend. Friday evening we have Haydn and Kaylie's Engagement Party. Yay! A time to come together to celebrate two gorgeous young people getting engaged - and to spend some time with C's family.  On Saturday morning I'm taking my gorgeous grandmother out to do some errands and have morning tea with her. Saturday afternoon I welcome Team AXF to AXFHQ for a bit of a gathering as we prepare to walk 10km for SA-YES on Sunday in this years Bridge To Brisbane.  Post walk, I don't have much time to go home, get changed, and head to The Gabba to watch the Brisbane Lions play their final game for season 2012 --- and somewhere in between all of that... I have to hand deliver some Wedding Save The Dates.

Also, if there is time I wouldn't mind taking some photos. Somewhere. 

So hopefully, I won't have time to feel sorry for myself that I'm not going to yet another convention.

Do you know what would help this though? Better guests at the upcoming Australian Conventions. Just saying. 

[ Sponsor AXF as they walk 10km for SA-YES in this weekends Bridge To Brisbane ]

'How come you're not here!?!'

My amazing friend Roileigh is badassed. Sending her on my behalf to get this was one of the best decisions I ever made.

[ Fandom ] Video on iiNet YouTube

I know I'm asking a lot. 

Can you please go and watch it on the iiNet Youtube page, and if you like it, say so!

[ Fandom ] TopGeek 2.0 - Top 50

I haven't blogged since I joined the quest to become Australia's TopGeek.

I am super excited to share that I made it through to Top 50 (Round Two) and now have the following task to implement.

TopGeek 2.0 gets a fandom following

Use your knowledge of fandom to create a concept that is capable of having its own fandom following.

The concept must be communicated in a video entry. Your video will need to show that you’ve put some thought into your concept (i.e by featuring a re-enactment, costumes or storyboards etc.) Entrants will be judged on the originality of the concept, entertainment value of the video submission and likelihood of your concept developing a fandom following.

This is going to be one of the biggest challenges of my life.

I have had an idea, and am in the process of putting it together. I am going to go with what I know best, and see how it turns out. This is challenging. This is stressful. I am not a creative person by nature... it's one of my biggest fallbacks. But as Dana Scully says, 'What can be imagined, can be achieved.'

No spoilers. I don't want to let the cat out of the bag. However I am thankful to the Philes around the world who have given me their support, who have voted for me, and who are determined to help me try and win this thing. 

If I Quit Now. They Win. 

 

[ Fandom ] Hit the 'Vote' Button

 

iiNet has just launched a competition to crown the 'Top Geek'. 

Naturally being a huge geek when it comes to my favourite fandom (The X-Files, duh!) - I had to be in the running. What I am asking everyone to do is vote for me, so that I win a trip for two to the convention of my choice (London Film and Comic Con, or Toronto Fan eXpo) - so CLICK ON THIS LINK and vote for me please. And if you have some nerdy friends that would like to help me out on this as well - feel free to share it around the place. I am up against some fierce competition, but you have to be in it to win it.

What can be imagined... can be achieved.

Just received a little square package of win from CC. That's Col Crosbie not Chris Carter (lol) - Ground Zero (read by the delightful Gillian Anderson) and three other discs entitled '10 to 1 you can't dance to it' - Something only X-Philes would appreciate. ; ) 

'Do not ask me about being mobbed in Australia...' ♥