Pax was always one of those adventures that I read about or watched online. It was never one of those things that I knew I could go to just because of time or funds so I never really thought about it too much. The media that came out was always entertaining and the stories my friends would share were always fun but I always tucked the thought away as one of those trips I wanted to take but would never be able to.
Don't get me wrong. In hopes I've always checked and tried to figure out a way just like all the other trips I have in my bucket list but some things just never work out.
Don't get me wrong. In hopes I've always checked and tried to figure out a way just like all the other trips I have in my bucket list but some things just never work out.
When last October rolled around Shantz mentioned that they tweeted Pax tickets would be on sale the next day. Pax? I was looking at Magfest and other conventions at the time but didn't think of Pax. We started having a bit more spending money so had started rolling into more conventions and for some reason I just didn't think of it. So I went to the site and looked up Pax East and there was a sign. Angels started singing to me (probably lack of sleep between starting kickboxing and working 12 hour days) and a lightbulb popped up.
Pax this year.. was on my birthday.
Pax this year.. was on my birthday.
Not just any birthday but my 30th birthday.
What better way to celebrate ones birthday but on a trip you suddenly could afford, with close friends who love to go yearly and at a party with several thousand other people who love the same stuff you do? Shit yea.
I hunkered down and waited knowing from past experiences with popular concerts and such that this may or may not happen anyways.
I hunkered down and waited knowing from past experiences with popular concerts and such that this may or may not happen anyways.
That morning Shantz was counting down the hours in our little group chat. We knew they were going to go live at noon so we all had the browsers up and ready. I was told to hold off on hotels because Pax blocks some out on discount. This was after I noticed that they were $500 a night at some places (URK).
Noon hit.. annnnndddd... everything crashed. Everyones raging on chat about 404 errors and timing out. Poor OnPeak can't take the mass of people refreshing. The Pax site is dead. Someone gets a different url that works off of twitter and we somehow get into queues. 12:15 we all have our badges and are working on hotels.
I get through all my hotel stuff and at the end - end up getting stuck on "Your country requires you to have a state" which somehow magically works after several attempts and typing in the same exact thing over and over. Not sure why Virginia wasn't a state for a couple attempts but I guess we failed at seceding (is that a word? can I use that?) from the country.
Anyways...
Hotel and Badge acquired!
We somehow all get into the same hotel as well which sounds like can be rare.
Hotel and Badge acquired!
We somehow all get into the same hotel as well which sounds like can be rare.
12:53 - 3day is sold out.
3:55 all nearby hotels are sold out.
3:55 all nearby hotels are sold out.
We have to fight the hotel site again to confirm that what we put in earlier was correct. I got two confirmation notices so I was scared I got two sets of rooms instead of one.
Greggles is already finding 3day passes being posted on ebay for $500-$1000 a pop. Then starts yelling at us to take Monday off because that's the one newbie mistake everyone makes. I've already decided to do so but Macathu is going to brave it and go to work.
4:13 saturday badges are sold out. It takes a little more time for Friday and Sunday badges to sell out.
Shantz mentions how it wasn't this bad last year. This may be due to the early announcement which didn't happen in the past from what I heard.
4:13 saturday badges are sold out. It takes a little more time for Friday and Sunday badges to sell out.
Shantz mentions how it wasn't this bad last year. This may be due to the early announcement which didn't happen in the past from what I heard.
Everyones plane tickets are acquired since the prices are extremely low that day as well (Signs! Signs everywhere!). Also discussions start on how to travel from airport to hotel. This is the first time I started researching the T system and how people get around Boston. The debate on using Uber instead becomes heated.
Shantz and Greggles start joking about first time experiences and how overwhelming it can be. All the stimulus going! How I'll be buying all the shiney things. They are not wrong so I can't argue with that. Booths beware! Shiny buyer coming!
Shantz and Greggles start joking about first time experiences and how overwhelming it can be. All the stimulus going! How I'll be buying all the shiney things. They are not wrong so I can't argue with that. Booths beware! Shiny buyer coming!
We got everything that was needed that day...
We did it. We got the tickets that people were now either cheering or complaining about on the boards. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world to get those tickets and be able to get a hotel that was close and a flight that was cheap. It was a sign. It had to be a sign! Im still saying it was a sign. Damnit a sign from the birthday gods! Your 30th birthday shall be the epix and you shall make it so!!!
We did it. We got the tickets that people were now either cheering or complaining about on the boards. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world to get those tickets and be able to get a hotel that was close and a flight that was cheap. It was a sign. It had to be a sign! Im still saying it was a sign. Damnit a sign from the birthday gods! Your 30th birthday shall be the epix and you shall make it so!!!
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