BBW Bash

The Bash, which we attended, overlapped a bit with the Lifestyles con, which we didn't. They were both at The Stardust.

Difference between a bash and con? A bash has more parties. Cons have more programming. :)

Various impressions....

• Vegas is Vegas: hot, dry, smokey. Lots going on, lots to see, lots you can do. Don't forget your preferred headache remedies.
• Oh, and don't walk all day in loose-fitting sandals. My blisters are finally healing...after two days of sitting in a car.
• Lots of big women, but then, there were over 1300 attendees. There were plenty of women bigger than I & also plenty that were smaller.*
• There were quite a few men attending the event as well. Most of them were not large, which I found a bit surprising. Not that I'm unacquainted with fat admirers, but it was interesting how few BBM there were.
• People were really into the event. The costume party had quite a few different outfits, and Saturday night had a LOT of people in formals.
• I understand why the pool parties went from midnight to four AM...I also understand why I didn't bother...
• I heard several women talking about how they met their best friends through the BBWNetwork and the Bashes.
• I can understand that meeting fat accepting folk, fat admirers, and other people of size can be a huge revelation. So can seeing a fashion show, or a dance full of happy fat chicks.** And that's cool.
• A few of the men at the bash chatted me up - or tried to. I was polite & friendly, but I got the impression they expecting me to be a lot more pleased at male attention than I was. Hm. Do I look desperate?
• jw1776 & I helped out at cyberangel_'s booth in the vendor fair. Some people asked if cyberangel_ "thought she was bigger than she is". The impression I got was that cyberangel_ wasn't seen as being "fat enough". I'd joked about lending the booth "street cred" but this didn't exactly make me happy.
• There was a certain amount of jockeying between the plus-size and supersize, the singles and the partnered, the apples and the pears.
• There was also an interesting mix of let's-be-racy-but-stay-tame. The bash aims at being PG-13, but I don't just mean the bash. All the push on the topless shows or the "gentleman's clubs", showgirls...but it's all done with a wink, a tease, a let's-go-only-so-far limit. Mass marketing requires certain limits.
• I also got some funny looks while dancing, both alone and with jw1776. I've had people express surprise at how we dance before, so that may be it.***
• Yes, I got clothes at the vendor fair - mostly from Big on Batik. I'm glad I was able to try things on and not go by catalog. Yummy natural-fiber clothes that look good on me, yay.
• I also enjoyed hanging out with friends and catching up. The Seattle-area contingent included jw1776, sirenscry, & cyberangel_. I also got to see scubachik & divaprime again, meet lenniersd in person, and a few other folks :)

Overall, I'm glad I went. I'm also glad my new Celtic Butterfly dress from Holy Clothing showed up before we left!

*If you don't know me in real life, my proportions are: 59"-57"-67" around, 5'9" tall. This puts me in the "supersize" category of bigger-than-plus-size-departments in department stores.
**I first encountered fat acceptance in the 80s through the original BBW Magazine, published by Carole Shaw, who came up with the term "BBW" for "Big Beautiful Woman". With usenet came camaraderie (hi firecat!) and more information. The first BBW fashion show I went to was at the Seattle Bon Marche (now Macy's) in 90 or 91, hosted by Carole Shaw.
***It is apparently surprising that jw1776 & I are large, limber and not afraid to move. Or to spin. :)

Symptoms of Inner Peace

from daily_gems:

1. A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.
   
   
2. An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
   
   
3. A loss of interest in judging other people.
   
   
4. A loss of interest in judging self.
   
   
5. A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
   
   
6. A loss of interest in conflict.
   
   
7. A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom.)
   
   
8. Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
   
   
9. Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.
   
   
10. Frequent attacks of smiling.
    
    
11. An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
    
    
12. An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

;)