2010 OFFICIAL XENA CONVENTION
Los Angeles, California, USA

5 - 7 February 2010

Main Con Page

Convention Report
by
Virginia and Lourdes
twinxenas2@yahoo.com

A month ago, we attended our 11th Xena Convention to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the show, Xena: Warrior Princess.  We only planned on attending the Saturday event, but things worked out and we were able to attend both the Friday and Saturday's events.  We were glad we did.  We bought our tickets on the day of the convention because we refuse to pay the exorbitant fees added to online orders.  We checked in at the Renaissance Hotel, a sister hotel and a very short drive to Los Angeles Marriott at LAX where the convention was held.

Since it's a new year, a new convention and an anniversary at that, we wanted to do something different, something we have never tried to do - ask the stars some questions.  If you knew us personally, you'd know that we are both very, very shy and we are more of listeners than talkers, so asking a question without being laughed at would be a challenge.  So many what ifs - What if our voices won't sound well over the microphone or not loud enough that we needed to repeat our questions?  What if we mispronounced the words?  What if we forgot what to ask?, etc.  What were we thinking?  What were we putting ourselves into?  Doubts aside, we thought about some good and meaningful questions.

Arrived early on the first day of the convention to get good general admission seats, attended a Xena meet-up (Ausxip Talking Xena Board) and received awesome con badges and goodies and met fellow fans including MaryD, Bonni & Michelle, texaspups Bev & Mesh and so many others.  We were filled with excitement in seeing our dear friends, Deborah Abbott, Zeta, and CorXy again.  After the welcome announcement from Creation, the first guest stepped up on the stage, our hearts then started racing.  We thought we were going to have a heart attack right there and then.  Calm down.  Relax.  Breathe.  When fans were invited to step up and ask questions, we stood up and got in line.  This was it.  The moment of truth.  Our turns to ask our questions.  We did it.  Able to ask our questions amidst our nervousness.  Got back to our seats where friends said, "Good job!"  Later that day, we were confident enough to ask Lucy Lawless (Xena) and Renee O'Connor (Gabrielle) some questions.

Question for both Lucy and Renee:  If you can describe your life as a song, what would it be?  Renee quickly replied, "Wind Beneath My Wings" which drew laughter from the audience.  Guess Renee's answer was based on her character, Gabrielle, and the classic video clip that was always shown before she steps out on stage.  Lucy replied, "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life".

Question for both Lucy and Renee:  If you can give the world an advice, what would it be?  Lucy quickly replied, "Be good to your children" while Renee's response was "Realize how beautiful you are inside" and she thanked us for coming.  Renee moved us.  She seemed so genuinely kind, sincere and caring.  She looked at us when she answered our questions and that look that she gave us was so touching.  Our admiration and respect for Renee has gone one notch higher.

Ever since we met our dear friend, Deborah Abbott in 1999, we have been inspired to join the costume contest.  This year, we were dressed up as Xena and Princess Diana from the episode, "Warrior... Princess" while Deborah Abbott was dressed up as Miss Amphipolis from the episode, "Here She Comes Miss Amphipolis."  We were amazed with the number of fans who dressed up this year and how creatively done were their costumes.  There were veterans to the contest while newbies spiced it up.  To name a few:  Tammy Wallace was dressed up as Xena from "Purity", Twink as Hope from "Sacrifice 2", Aussie Penny and her gang of Bacchaes from "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", Jillayne Xena Marie as "Bitter Suite Callisto", a fan dressed up as Wealthea/Xena from "The Return of the Valkyrie", another as Ilainus from "Amphipolis Under Siege", Aurora Goddess dressed up as Season 1 Gabrielle and other fans dressed up as Gabrielle from "The Way" and "Fin 2".  Aussie Penny and her gang of Bacchaes won 1st Place, the fan dressed up as Wealthea/Xena won 2nd place, and Jillayne Xena Marie as Bitter Suite Callisto won 3rd place.

We were so delighted to reunite with our dear friends and seeing the stars was the cherry on a sundae.  We realized the reason that we have been coming back time and again was because of the friends we made.  Hearing updates on the stars' current projects and lives though interesting was secondary to us.

This was the second convention that the Super Bowl was scheduled on the same day (on a Sunday).  Since there was so much buzz about the Super Bowl, we have finally watched a football game in its entirety for the first time.  We do not know anything about the game since we are more into basketball (Go Lakers!).  We rooted for the Saints, who were considered the underdog and also because of their fleur-de-lis logo which was our beloved school's (St. Paul College of Pasig) insignia.

We wish to thank our dear friend, Zeta, for paying for our Saturday's admission and for treating us to lunch.  We wish to thank our dear friend, Deborah Abbott, for dressing in her Xena leathers on Friday (made us happy to see her in it at long last).  We wish to thank our dear friend, CorXy, for being the wonderful photographer.  We wish to thank our fellow Xena fan, Wladimir (Prof. X/Oldcharam) for being our photographer during the costume contest.  Thank you all for making the convention a fun and memorable one for us.  Until we meet again.
 

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