Live Long and Prosper...

The qual is over! Let there be general rejoicing among the masses! Let the bells peal and the fireworks begin! Just don't ask me how it went. I've answered that question several hundred times, mainly with variants of "I don't know," and "Well, I didn't cry during it (much)." Rest assured, my adoring public, that as soon as I know my results (which should be posted at the end of next week), I will relay them immediately. Hmmm, perhaps not immediately, because I will probably first have to drink heavily - either to drown my sorrows or to celebrate wildly.

In the meantime, here is a bit about my trip to Vegas. My friend Tom, my boyfriend Andrew, and I spent four days in the company of 4000 Trekkies. 4000! That's the biggest Star Trek convention to date, according to the organizers. I've included a snap of the masses listening to Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, and George Takei below, just so you can see what it's like to have so many geeks all in one place.

Our days were packed as we sprinted from autograph-signing lines, talks by the stars (where they recount stories from their past or talk about their current work), and buying souvenir upon souvenir. Andrew came away with seven models of the different Enterprises, Tom walked off with about a dozen signed photos, and I loaded up on kitchy Vulcan keychains, a T-shirt, and a six-pack of Romulan Ale. I promise to report on the Ale when we taste it at our next Star Trek viewing Party. It's intriguingly blue, but distressingly brewed in the Midwest.

Also included is a shot of the finalists in the costume contest . I will soon post a foodie addendum to this post, in honor of my cousin Alexis, who always includes a separate entry detailing her eats when she travels.

In conclusion, a little lesson for my non-Trekkie readers. When someone greets you with "Live Long and Prosper," the correct response is, "Peace and Long Life."