This year is already a bit different than last. It’s less about the guests and more about the friends.

On the official Day One (that’s Friday), programming doesn’t actually start until noon, unless you’re a first-timer going to the “Gallifrey 101” panel or a brand new panelist at the “Panelist Primer” one. Being on Central time still, though, I was up and dressed in my costume for the day (my femme Third Doctor) quite early. Most of my morning was thus spent meeting up with new-in-real-life/year-long-online friends, wandering the con, and getting photos with other cosplayers. I loved, for instance, getting pictures with a Brigadier cosplayer and another with a Sarah Jane Smith from The Time Warrior, while she was infiltrating the kitchens.

Among the wonderfully strange things about Gally is that the “talent” mingles with the fans. I sat at a table in the lobby drinking my coffee directly across from writer Richard Dinnick, who was himself between Ian McNeice (who played Churchill) and comedian Charlie Ross. It was beautifully surreal.

I’d wanted to go to the Radio Free Skaro podcast, but somehow that fell by the wayside. Instead, my first actual programming ended up being the Who Crack Video Track, run by ladies I know through The Corsair’s Closet podcast. Although they had some technical difficulties getting things started, the videos were well worth it.

Despite having a list of several panels I’d considered attending, the next chunk of afternoon ended up being taken up autograph hunting. A couple I was able just to walk up to (and I was pleasantly surprised that 1970s producer Philip Hinchcliffe wasn’t even charging), and to a one, they were wonderfully personable. I have yet to find someone associated with Who who wasn’t (actually, that’s not quite true; Eric Roberts was a bit full of himself).

I particularly enjoyed speaking to Neve McIntosh, who plays Mdme. Vastra (and all the rest of the female Silurians). I told her how much I enjoy the subtle things she does, like a delicate snort of the nose (e.g., in A Good Man Goes to War when Vastra is trying to be delicate with the Doctor’s sensibilities, in asking about Amy & Rory’s sex life on the TARDIS). She seemed genuinely touched at the gushing. I’d gladly spend more time in her company, if that were possible.

Sadly, I somehow didn’t make it to a couple of the interview panels I’d wanted to see in the later afternoon, but caught the end of Mark Strickson’s just before Opening Ceremonies. I look forward to more from him and all the guests.

I wasn’t sure we would, but my friends and I found seats for Opening Ceremonies as the Strickson crowd thinned. I am so glad we did, too, because after the official stuff was finished, and all the guests had been introduced and greeted, we got quite a treat (in my opinion). We were witness to the North American premiere viewing of the recently recovered and restored episode of Galaxy 4, “Air Lock.” I might have enjoyed it more in the privacy of my own home, where others weren’t laughing at some of the aspects of a First Doctor story that are par for the course. But I feel incredibly privileged to have been part of that screening.

To end my day, I not only got to meet more online friends over drinks and snacks at the Champions sports bar, but I got to see the aforementioned Charlie Ross in action doing his standup act. I loved it last year, and I loved it this year. It was a lovely way to cap off a great day. I can hardly wait for Day Two to get rolling!