So, where do I start?

10am here in Chicago, and I'm on cloud nine. I swear, this is probably one of the best weekends I've ever had. Every year I come here and in some way, every year being here gets better.

And you know, I didn't think it was even possible, actually. Mum warned me not to expect too much, because I've made such great friends last year and it might not be the same, and if it wouldn't be I'd probably crash, but it's even better, really. I've had breakfast yesterday with a couple of friends I met online, and then dinner, and now we ran into each other at Starbucks again, so another breakfast...

But I think I'd better start from the beginning.

So obviously I was so jet lagged Thursday night that I barely managed to change before falling asleep. Caught up with the whole shower thing yesterday morning and then went downstairs to eat with two sisters I met online. It was kinda weird at first - it always is, the first time you meet someone in real life. It's like, 'is that her? she's typing so it's her, right?' - but after we realised we found each other it became really fun. We sat at the Starbucks for two hours or so, and I even met new people :-)

Then I did all the registration thing and exchanged the tickets I no longer needed (since Ben and Amanda had to cancel...), and went to the Vendors' room. Got myself a new Farscape t-shirt, a new Sherlock one and the 2015 Convention one. Also bought a couple of photos for autographs I didn't prepare for... #EpicFail

                 //I did, however, get a signed Don S. Davis photo. I don't like buying signed photos - I prefer meeting the people and getting the autographs myself, but he's the only one I know for sure I'd never get to meet, so... it was worth it. <3

Then I went in for Chuck's panel. It was as hilarious as usual, and included tons of stories from set, but I won't write much about that right now. Full report will be coming when I get back home.

I then went back up to get the stuff I needed for autographs, and ended up sitting here writing that stupid post from yesterday. While I was here Ju (the woman I met online, with whom I've had breakfast) and Je (her sister) ran into me, so we kinda talked a bit and agreed to have dinner together after they get their autographs. That's when my day turned awesome again.

Um, basically afterwards I went downstairs for the photo op with Chuck. He was so funny! He walked towards the room and we went, "We've been waiting!" and he went, "Are you waiting for me?" We were all like, "yes!" and he went, "It's worth the wait!" and walked inside. It was so funny.

And it was really fun. They changed the photo op background this year, which was kinda cool. Definitely cooler than last year's. We walked inside (the volunteer outside was a bit nervous as it was his first time so we kinda assured him we know how things are going XD), and when I came to take the picture he went, "Do you have a specific side you prefer?" <3

We took the photo twice - because, as usual, my glasses decided to annoy the camera - and then I went up to the Yes/No Trivia Game. It was kinda annoying to lose because of an SGU question, but I had a good time anyway. :D

After the trivia game I went to get some autographs. I got Chuck's - once again, he was so sweet! I said I'm really happy to finally be here after the 14 hours flight, and he asked where I'm from and I said Israel. He said he thinks that's the winner (he asked where people are from in the beginning of his panel XD) and I said I think Australia is a bit further XD He said that yes, but that's still pretty far up. He also asked if he could write something silly on the photo and I went "sure", and told him that the last time I met him I brought the SGA box set, so he did an arrow towards the gate and wrote 'I used to work here', and he laughed and said that's a good one.

I waited for David and Rainbow to come back from lunch so I could get their autographs, and as I waited I ran into Ju and Je again. We sat down and talked and everything, and it was literally the best. When David came back, Je and I went to get the autograph.

He was literally one of the sweetest men I've ever met. Really really is. He just talked to a couple of fans about stuff, including series 3 of SGU, and we sort of joined them and asked him to tell us what they told him was supposed to happen. He told us he couldn't, but when we asked if they'd have killed him off, he went, "If they would have, I'd be telling you everything!", so at least we know Eli was supposed to survive. I told him SGU was hard for me to connect to, but I loved Eli from the very first moment (Coz, you know, he's everybody's inner geek! He's so unbelievably clever but is still excited like a five year old XD). He asked if I watched the whole show, and I went, "Ahh..." and he had this look of "tsk tsk tsk" XD I told him I heard it's getting better and I'm already at the point of it beginning to get better, so I'll probably move faster with that soon, and he told me to tweet him when I finish the show :D (He also asked if I'm more of an SGA fan or an SG1, and I said SG1, and he said that's actually less typical. I told him I've been watching SG1 give or take my entire life<3)

Then I went to get Rainbow's autograph. Didn't get to talk to him much, but I did say I think it's a shame we didn't get to see more of Ford, because I think it could've been interesting. He agreed and said, "well, he had a good life", and I started laughing, going, "very optimistic!"

I missed about a half of Gary's panel because of that, which is kind of a bummer, but I at least I've seen him before, so I know what he's like. What I did see, however, was really really funny.

That was bascially it. I went upstairs, rested a bit, and then we went down for dinner in the hotel restaurant. H (whom I met yesterday XD) bought me a drink (mm, Jack Daniels...), and Ju insisted to pay for my dinner (I was like, "oh, I should probably get the check too", and she showed me hers and said, "It's here", and I started getting my money, going, "Oh, let me pay for it" and she went "no! that one's on me" <3)

And I dunno, we sat there for about two hours and around 8-something went back up to our rooms. I went straight to bed (Note to self: Alcohol + Jet lag != good combination (goodness, I've been programming too much)) and kinda woke up at four (yay for jet lag) and then at eight. I only then realised I made breakfast plans with someone for nine, so... it was probably the quickest getting ready session I've ever had.

Of course she didn't see my reply till later, so I ran into Ju and Je (and C) and sat down with them. It was really, really fun.

:D

I was gonna go downtown today for Hershey's, but I think I'll just get some in the Duty Free or something, as I don't have much time left. But you know what, I don't care. Because yesterday night, when I sat down with the girls, I realised this weekend's mission is a simple one: START PUTTING MYSELF FIRST, instead of everybody else. Because sometimes I need to come first, not the ones I love.

So this weekend is about having fun and forgetting everything that's happening in the other side of the world.