Loscon 50 Day Two and Three

Day Two of Loscon was the Blood Drive, and that pretty much was what we did all day.  We met the Red Cross nurses at 8:30 am to start setting the room up.  While in the planning stage, the hotel may have acted like they didn’t know what a blood drive was, on site the managers were very helpful.  They lowered the air conditioning for us, got us power and kept checking in on us to see that everything was running smoothly. 

New hotel and we were the farthest room in the back of the convention space.  People had some trouble navigating the hallways to find us, so we put up extra signage to help with that.

I’m thinking of calling next year’s event, “The Blood Drive at the End of the Corridor”.  In years past, we did have the “Big Bang Burger Blood Drive” (which is also a Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy reference), so it would be in theme with the convention’s sci-fi promotion mission.

In case you’ve never been to a blood drive, here’s Mad Woman With A Box to demonstrate.  First, you make an appointment online or just walk up.  New Red Cross reps always get nervous that we don’t have that many appointments before the con.  I always have to explain that people show up at the con, look at the programming and then decide when they want to donate.  This is still true even now that the programming schedule is put up on the website weeks before the con.

After you check in – and have used RAPID PASS – you will be taken for your interview and health check.  The interview goes a lot faster if you use the RAPID PASS system before you show up.

Then the blood-letting begins!  The more hydrated you are and the more relaxed you are, the faster you donation will go.  When I started, it would take me about 15 minutes.  Now it takes me about six.

At Loscon, we have the tradition of the “blood drive salute”.  That’s when they pull the needle out of your arm and you hold your arm up until they get the band-aid on it.

Then you head over to the cantina where you get some water and a snack.  The nurses like to keep you there for 15 minutes to make sure you feel okay after your donation.  I’ve felt a little light-headed after a couple of donations early on.  They just have you lie down until you feel better.

The Red Cross was giving away socks, and we had a donation of books and t-shirts and of course, the traditional balloon fish.

Being the golden anniversary of Loscon, they were all gold fish.

Day Three was the last day of the con.  Having worked hard on the blood drive, we slept in and got there later.  I just went to one panel about space colonization and hung out with friends.  Then at closing ceremonies, we did the blood drive raffle for two free memberships to next year’s Loscon.

Our next convention:  Gallifrey One in 35 Millimeters.

Dennis

247th blog completed.

First Steampunk novel:  77,493 words.  ß Moving up again.  Past 76,000.  Goal:  80,000.

Second Steampunk novel: 783 words. 

Second Steampunk screenplay:  157 pages.

First Steampunk screenplay:  Need to update with notes from the novelization.

Third Steampunk screenplay:  38 pages.

The Hilton does decorate nicely for the holidays.