This time it isn’t me, it’s my friend Robin, who just returned from TwiCon yesterday!  I’m totally jealous, so I took Edward hostage until she agreed to asked her kindly if she would write a little something up to tell the rest of us about it.  Here are some of her thoughts.  Since she’s brilliant, she has a lot of thoughts, so I’m only posting some today.  There will be more tomorrow!

Twilight

I’m guessing you’re not thinking about a romantic image of a darkened sky, are you? Good, neither am I. The book and resulting movie of the same name have created a Harry Potter or even Star Trek-like pop sensation over the last few years. Add the word “convention” and if you’re like me, you’re covering your ears, imagining thousands of screaming teenage girls. Ouch. But when I was invited to attend TwiCon in Dallas, as a fan, I couldn’t say no.

I’d like to think I’m not a “fangirl.” I don’t troll the web every morning looking for the latest scoop on RPattz’s hair or shirtless photos of the cast (okay, I have trolled for that, but I don’t do it EVERY day). I am a mother, after all. I’m too cheap and impatient to get tickets to stand in line to get an autograph, but when I was asked to participate at TwiCon on the fanfiction panel discussions, I eagerly agreed.

I planned to meet up with friends I’d made in the fandom as a fanfiction writer and validator on twilighted.net, and talk about the wonderful things that authors, both new and experienced were doing to extend the world Stephenie Meyer created. My one goal was to get a photo of the cast of The Hillywood Show – they made a hilarious parody music video of the movie that me and my kids LOVE (and I did get the shot). But, if I ran into oh, Kellan Lutz or Peter Facinelli in an elevator, I’d like to think that I’d shake their hand and offer them courteous congratulations on their success and appreciation for their talents as actors. No screaming, no OMG YOU’RE EMMETT!

Kellan Lutz, who plays Emmett Cullen

Alas, we’ll never know. The elevators only held fans when I rode them. And the occasional Klingon – Not sure if he got the dates wrong for the Star Trek convention, but yes, a Klingon attended one of the discussion panels. Who knew that twilight’s reach was interstellar?

A Klingon

So, my first viewing of any celebrity was on Friday night at the 100 Monkeys concert. Jackson Rathbone is one of the lead singers for the band, and I figured that was my one chance to be in the same room with a celeb. I’d post a photo, but he’d be a tiny dot in a blurry black square! Whether you like his music or not (I enjoyed it), I was very impressed by the band. Now, I haven’t been to a concert in years, but these guys did something I’d never seen before. They switched instruments every song (all but the percussionist – he had a ton of instruments all his own). For the first song, Jackson played bass, the next he was on keyboards. He sang, played lead guitar, and even drums! Now that’s talent. Oh yeah, he acts, TOO.

Jackson Rathbone, who plays Jasper Hale

I did scream along with the crowd when he came out (I whistle, actually), and when he took off his hat, but I agree with my friend Marcy that the other lead guitarist (no, I don’t even know his name, sorry!) was the cutest. See, I’m not a total cynic…but I didn’t tweet about it. (that’s a discussion for another time). If you happen upon the 100 Monkeys, though, and like an alternative rock/bluesy kind of music I recommend checking them out. They put on a great show.

100 Monkeys, image courtesy of Starshine Mag

More on TwiCon tomorrow, when we hear about Peter Facinelli!