Kimonos & Combat Boots

CONvergence 2005, Episode III

Some people never outgrow their love of playing dress-up. They're the ones who make cons so much fun for the squares like me. Heck, I looked so conservative in my plain T-shirt and jeans that a couple different hotel employees started explaining the oddballs to me until I flashed my con badge to prove that I was one of them. I saw, in no particular order:

• T-shirts showing affinity for clubs, TV shows, movies, role-playing games, comics, computer code, and general smartassery
  
• numerous Star Wars storm troopers
  
• numerous wizards of varying ages and elaborateness
  
• numerous Jedi knights of varying ages and elaborateness
  
• a handful of little girls in their dance recital costumes ? because hey, it's a costume! Rock on!
  
• a full-on Swamp Thing, possibly the most impressive get-up of all
  
• tons of Renaissance festival garb, with face paint or fairy wings added to drag it into the realm of fantasy
  
• Klingons, Klingons, Klingons: Klingons in full battle dress, Klingons in ceremonial dress, Klingons in vacation wear, but no Klingon Elvis impersonator this year. (And let me just take an editorial moment to say that suburban Klingons can't fight worth crap!! The annual batleth tournament is a joke, man. Somebody get these yobos some fighting skills, stat.)
  
• assorted Starfleet officers
  
• several brave souls dressed in little more than their tattoos
  
• a coven of Goth kids
  
• a convincingly tall Hagrid, complete with umbrella
  
• a few samurai, apparently crossing over from anime
  
• at least one pirate dandy
  
• a classic, campy Batman, complete with middle-age paunch
  
• an obese, transsexual, alternate-universe Uhura
  
• a mowhawked young man in a kimono and combat boots
  
• dozens of ladies in skirts and corsets, some with glowsticks tucked in their ample cleavage
  
• belly dancers. Can't have a con without belly dancers.
  
• Santa Claus. Some guy walked around half the weekend in a beautifully rendered Santa suit. I guess that falls into the fantasy category?
  
• a couple guys in leather harnesses and buttless chaps. Again, fantasy. Please don't show me your sword.

For all their creativity, none of the above entered the Masquerade, or costume contest, with the exception of Santa Claus. They just dressed up for kicks and giggles, and I thank them for it.

Today around the world: July 7 is the Running of the Bulls in Spain. Bad place to wear your "GORE" campaign button, eh?