Wedding?
While I'm not terribly concerned about ever getting married, I was raised as a suburban upper middle class female in the United States, so I already had everything planned at the age of...
er...
9.
However, in 1997, in the space of a few months, I:
- hung out with a wonderful "Tribe" on the Internet at NinCon
- went to a wedding with my gaming "Tribe" from Vassar (often known as "The Second Ottoman Empire", but, the whole Tribe really includes more folks than those who willingly identify themselves as "Ottomans"... well... anyway... )
- celebrated a decade of a Fandom/Fen Sub-Tribe known as Baitcon
- Partied at Pennsic with a "tribe" from The Society For Creative Anachronism
- And all sorts of smaller Tribes, including (gasp!) Blood Relatives I'm only now finally getting to know.
I decided I had to find a way to bring them all together.
The usual way to do this would be to have a wedding, so...
As far as it matters, I'm "getting married" September 9, 1999.
I expect you to be there.
Who's the groom?
uh... Paul Lukas, who writes "Beer Frame" and "Inconspicuous Consumption"?
Well...
We've never met.
So?
I KNOW we're perfect for each other.
Ok, ok... I'm hoping he'll at least help recommend wedding favors and food. He REALLY knows how to shop and shares my appreciation for the bizarre.
I don't have anyone lined up to be the groom. I'm not seriously dating anyone right now. There are some cool prospects lately, but, in the event that we're still "together" on any level ground by September 9, 1999, they are under NO OBLIGATION to be my groom. If I met someone, I'd feel horribly unfairly pressured if he announced he had the date set. Unless I knew it was merely a desire to have a Wedding Reception and I wouldn't have to make the commitment, but just help him get all his different groups of friends together, for once. Because, well... I'd understand. But, I have to explain this so that if they find this before I've explained it, they won't flip out and run screaming from my life.
If, by some unusual turn of events, I've actually found "a special someone" in time (assuming I can narrow it down) well, but... Having an actual wedding at the wedding would be so... predictable. Guests might feel obligated to bring gifts. It'd just be a needless amount of pressure on everyone (especially me), you know?
The Rest of the Wedding Party?
Everyone. Have a bridesmaids' dress you'd like to wear, dare I say it, twice? How about a wedding dress? Especially for the boys? (Men in skirts is a Good Thing). You're a girl who's always wanted to rent a tux? Or, wear the tacky tux printed T-shirt the turbo-geek wore in those John Hughes rip-offs we loved in high school? Or, whatever, you know?
Well, then, Can I have a Wedding?
@9999?
Go ahead. It'll be total chaos, but, you're more than welcome.
I can even do the ceremony. I'm ordained.
So, no gifts?
I'm hoping I get afford to get/make y'all party favors of some kind.
O, for me?
Good luck finding something I'll like.
When it comes to material possessions, I want less of them, really. And, of the usual wedding gifts, china, silver, etc. well, I'm probably NOT really getting married, AND, my experience with antique shows and flea markets show that reasonably priced, attractive, if quirky, versions of all the necessary stuff has already been made to excess.
There are neat things I'd like, but not necessarily as wedding gifts.
If you can only afford to get yourself there, great. Go.
If you can afford to help me afford all my grandiose plans, fantastic, but totally optional. I don't choose friends by the thickness of their wallets.
And, if you want to volunteer your time...
When?
Duh.
Why 9999?
Because it's cool.
Because I like the number 9. [insert Beatles link... eventually].
Because, of all the parties planned for 1999, September 9th was still open.
Because when people proposed, I used to say, "um, I really like the date 9/9/99, so, if you're still interested by then, ask again" to get them off my back.
I eventually realized I meant it...
Also, it turns out, the date 9/9/99:
With creative use of time zones and datelines, theoretically, everything could start at 9 o'clock. For 47 hours straight. Not 48, a mathematician checked it for me. I'll send you the email if you'd like.
September 9th begins in New Zealand at 7 AM ET, September 8th, and ends in Nome, AK at 6 AM ET, September 10th.
It will be first be 9 o'clock September 9th at 4 PM ET, (Wednesday?) September 8th.
The last 9 o'clock September 9th will be 3 AM ET, (Friday?) September 10th.
Where?
All events will likely be within an hour drive from Utica, NY. Autumn is the most beautiful time of the year for us. Even if I do actually move by then (just kill me if I don't), I still have more connections here than I'll be able to get within 1.5 years any one place else. (I'm already trying to arrange a family reunion here). And, I rather doubt anywhere I'd move to will be as affordable as here that will be as convenient for most. Unless someone wants to host it for me...
Ok then, it's near Utica. deal.
Unless, of course, it's somewhere else.
Like, for example, some place where there's a 9th (or better yet, a 99th) floor.
Ok, so, what do you have planned for your "wedding"?
at least a ceremony (with a pipe organ recital) and a reception (with live band and folks to DJ).
officially, nothing yet, but, I have too many ideas.
I don't particularly care to be the center of attention ... ok, I would like it, but I think it would bore y'all to tears. My friends are all talented, I'd love to showcase them somehow.
Ideas:
Art Exhibit:
I'd really like to do an art exhibit of SCA scrolls. But, in a second gallery, just an exhibit of the really good art produced by friends and family.
I may actually be able to get one of the local galleries to offer the space affordably...
if I get my friend who took the grant writing course to help me get the funding for the exhibit, and/or - I curate it, do all the work, write/print the programs myself.
If my friends' art is unsufficient, I could try to organize a 9999 art contest...
Realistically:
Considering it's in the family business, I should definitely be able to print a soft-cover partially color book - so, submit your slides and short written work (I like prose/essays over poetry).
If you want a 9999 zine to come out before then - let me know. (I am thinking of doing a 9898 or 8998 test run).
Of course, all the pages will be numbered... 9. So, if you are no more motivated you may draw your own special page number.
And, if you can't go, but would like the book, I'd love to have sufficient demand to print 9999 of them...
Laser Show/Club Nights
rent a club, and let my DJ friends go nuts. Have a separate ambient room showing off my lighting and laser fanatics' handiworks.
Realistically:
Club: If 50 people promise to go to a local club and buy at least 2 drinks each, to the point where you'd be willing to pay a cover and get 2 drink passes/tokens, I might be able to cajole a local club into this. But, since the club scene changes too quickly, I can't even begin to beg.
Lasers: plug in the lava lamp, get a new bulb for my older brother's vintage disco lamp, buy a laser penlight and rent a cat (to chase the laser).
Fireworks:
Realistically:
bonfire and whatever folks happen to throw in it, most likely... (already a Christmas Tradition for me)
Film Festival:
To showcase my film making friends. And, because I love animation, an animation festival.
Realistically:
Whoever arrives, and whatever tapes they bring.
I can suggest a local show to the animation festival people, and make recommendations to the local alternative film venues.
get my friend who took the grant writing course to help me get the funding for it....
if she hasn't feigned her death to avoid precisely this.
The Pipe Organ concert:
"Tocatta En Fugue in D Minor". Everyone should hear this piece, live, on a pipe organ, at least once. And, this way, it'll feel like a wedding cuz you'll have been in a chapel.
Also, a selection of whatever classical pieces Eric Brenner feels like singing, assuming he doesn't make himself scarce before then.
Realistically,
This and one reception would be close to a real wedding cost, right?
The Music festival:
The loud stage:
Aaron's Band.
Reptile's Band. (He offered, everyone else among the ninnies is welcome too).
Cisco's Band.
Trevor's Band.
Rain's Band. If he really has one.
You?
The folksy/village green stage:
Jim Infantino/Jim's Big Ego (Jim has been informed he WILL be available 9/9/99)
Poppagoth's Celtic Band
Anyone play steel drums?
Otherwise?
Realistically:
in lieu of the proper wedding reception, a private party/concert with Jim, etc. and any of my other musical friends motivated enough to perform, and then the collective CD collection when they all want to relax.
if your band wants to do a public show, I'll help as much as I can, which probably isn't a whole lot...
a mix tape, even CD, of attending musicians, if they ok it.
9999's 9K Road race:
to benefit 9 charities.
Hey, I do know the Boilermaker Race Chairman...
Realistically:
If I join the local "RoadRunners" I probably could at least convince a sufficient number of them to join the lot of us for the run, as a special variation on their weekly practice nites.
more later...
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