Surived the Con

So the 08 SDCC is in the books. There were some improvements over last year, but also a lot of the same mistakes. Such as, just because a bunch of unwashed 20 something masses camp out all night for a panel, does not mean that those of us who don't should have no shot at seeing that panel. That is until we get back and watch it on YouTube. In terms of swag, we kept it simple this year, and I have only spotted a few things on Ebay that I feel the need to procure.

All in all not a bad trip, but need to re-evaluate again next year. The crowd may have been relatively the same size as last year, but it always feels bigger.

SDCC Final Day

Would you dare to sit next to us?

Take Two

Enter next victims... boring couple are seatmates number two.

But it's all good because our buddy Mark is here so we are happy. And our new boy Colin and he now understands that "the hammer is my penis".

Life is good but they need to get us more interesting tablemates.

Ohhh My... Now you've gone to far

"Hey I remember you guys and I have been fired and hired again since."

anonymous waiter @ dick's

You know you are in trouble when they remember you. Also when your table mate starts wiping up salad dressing with cloth napkins.

Table Report

So first report, we have table mates. A browncoat, a bleeding fat man, the quiet one and the hand washer who thinks we are both cool and not @ the con.

At least two of them are drinking so that is a plus, they are moderately amusing and annoying at the same time.

More to come...

The Return

Dick's Last Resort, where else we would finish the weekend. Just settling in to people watch and have some frosty beverages.

Hopefully many pictures and blog entries to follow.

Sat Post Op

So Saturday night we kept it pretty mellow because we were all pretty wiped out. We had a few beverages on the veranda, shot some photos and just chilled.

It's Sunday morning now and we are all packed up and getting ready to head out for todays adventures.

First stop Seaport Village.

Stalking Happens

One of the more interesting, or boring, depending on your perspective, things that happens at cons, is running into the same people.

Someone catches your eye and you notice them time and time again. It happens.

So upon trying to leave Coronado Island (actually a peninsula), we were once again assaulted by the Plastic Wine Glass Witch tm and her evil league of evil golden girls, as they followed us to dinner.

BALLS

But dinner was tasty.

Around San Diego Update

Much water today not so much sun but that did not keep me from getting sun burnt. Bay tour, back to the hotel, ferry to Coronado and sipping over priced cocktails.

People watching the mundanes, they are every bit as freaky as the con geeks.

Especially Plastic Wine Glass Witch tm, watch out for her and her pack of followers.

FIX IT

Sooooo, I have a lot of problems with the organization at this year's Comic Con. We had some pretty bitter disapointments on Friday due to poor planning... and putting a warning on the web site that you need to get in line early for a panel does not constitue fair warning.

Case 1: Red Sonja on Thursday - We arrived for the panel to find it full and rather large line of people still waiting to get inside. We quickly scratched that off our list and bemoaned why it was in the very small 6cdef block of rooms.

Case 2: WOW Panel on Friday - Again in the dreaded 6cdef rooms, we arrived early to find the room filled to capacity and the line already capped. The line was longer than the amount of space in the room, and as they have been so gleefully rubbing in our faces all year, they are not clearing rooms in between panels.

Here is a free clue from me to SDCC, 10 million people play the game, perhaps a room with a seating capacity of greater than 1000 would have been more appropriate.

Case 3: Dr Horrible Sing Along - 6b even smaller than the others, 2000 people in line 3 hours before it begins. WTF, for a convention that is supposed to celebrate the pop arts, they know jack about what is popular and what is not.

When I have to miss three panels, because I didn't want to sleep overnight in a line to see one of them, it is time to make some drastic changes. Either stop selling so many damn memberships or move to Las Vegas. It's really simple, the con has outgrown San Diego.

Don't get me wrong, I relish coming to SD every year, I love it here. But this is the second year in a row where the event has been marred by poor planning, horribly long lines and throngs for rude smelly fan boys (and girls).

FIX IT

Bones

The Bones panel, was noticibly missing Emily Deschanel, but the rest of the gang was along for the David Boreanaz show. Anyone who saw him a few years back when they brought along the Bones pilot for viewing, knows how crazed the man can be on stage.

I think it would be really interesting to see him and Nathan Fillion on stage at the same time, that could be quite interesting.

They showed some extended sequences from the new season of Bones and discussed some of the hooks ups that will happening this season. Apparently everyone is going to be spending a lot of time in bed with various hook ups. Also Zach will be back.

Among DB's quotable's was the assertion that they should do a Some Like It Hot episode where
Booth needs to dress up in drag, because:

"I would look great in high heels"

Dr. Horrible

"Its actually shaped like a little hammer."

"I love you with my hammer."

The ever so quotable Nathan Fillion reigned over the Dr. Horrible panel. It was great to see the cast and creators. Joss is always a showman at CC panels and he surrounds himself with funny talented people.

Felicia got caught Twittering and apperantly Jed Whedon is the man behind the Dr. Horrible Twitters.

NPH also on hand got to play "straight man" to Nathan's constant barrage of quips. Including a lot of hammer references.

The soundtrack should be available in a couple of weeks. Also The Evil League of Evil is recruiting for the DVD.

Big Bang

Big Bang Theory Panel this morning, good highlight reel, boring panel. The cast was cute and had good chemistry but the moderator questions were a bore along with the usual self indulgent audience fare.



No real spillage on season two, just more of the same. More into Leonard and Sheldons backgrounds, learning more about the gang.



Picture later.



No love on the Joss / Dr. Horrible signing tickets, oh well. Quick bite to eat and off to the Dr. Horrible panel.

Day Two

Friday is on, breakfast at the pub. Then off to convention for day two. Today is Dr. Horrible day and whatever else we can squeeze into the day.

Last night finished out early, tonight we need to having a bit more staying power. Because the Dr. Horrible sing along is tonight at 10:45.

The hammer is my penis

And so it begins... our evening at Dick's Last Resort. The waiter steps into it early, and often. He asks what is with the hammer on my shirt. I Jossfully, faithfully answer...

"The hammer is my penis"

Felicia Sightings

We cut across the sails pavilion to hit the Red Sonja panel in the lower 6 spectrum. It was way over capacity and we were forced to jettison that from our schedule. We did get to see a few shots of Rose Magowan as RS.

Also along the way we passed a very frentic Felicia Day, finally escaped from the awful traffic and at the show. She had been twittering updates of her ordeal.

We grabbed a quick snack and headed down for the signing of the Guild DVD. Where we had our second Felecia sighting of the day. Got the DVD (purchased earlier that day) signed by Felicia and Jeff "Vokk" Lewis.

We chatted for a few minutes about WOW, her drive into SD and Dr Horrible, she was very sweet. Mentioned we would see her tomorrow and parted.

"Anything goes... and it did."

Torchwood panel, pretty freaking hysterical. John Barrowmen is hysterical, they all are pretty funny and engaging.

They just finished a deal to air Series Three on BBC America. They all really are into the show and seem to get along well.

So far no James Marsters questions, thankfully. However there has been way too much over sharing in regards to fan fiction.

It never amazes the length that some fans will go to in order to get a reaction or stand out. Right now the panel is singing tunes from Miss Saigon.

Panel should be wrapping up and off to Red Sonja.

Epic Poster Tube Fail

The idiots at the Fox booth created the traffic jam from hell by constantly shutting down their line and chasing people away.

As expected, the moment you turned your back they would begin letting more people in line. Finally someone as frustrated as I was called security and got the line opened up.

Also as expected they stopped giving out the item as soon as I finally got into the line. This kind of thing is one of the most frustrating aspects of the convention.

Into The Bowels

And so it begins...

Into the line for registration, not quite at Seaport Village, but close enough. Apparently some people were lining up last night, that is a bit insane.

But the line is moving and that is all that matters. We hope to have most of the moning to spend in the exhibit hall, gathering swag.

Lots of fun updates once this begins in earnest.

Day ZERO in the books

The Wonder Twins are already in bed and half asleep. So I suppose it is time to put the wraps on SDCC day zero.

At any rate, we have a long day ahead of us at the con tomorrow, so off to bed I go.

Dick's Last Resort

Our usual hang out, we stopped by for a night cap. Tamer than usual, but still pretty crazy, especially Red Satin Jacket Man tm.

Some geeks are cool, but some just need to be left in their cages.

Rockin' Baja Lobster

Having a few cocktails and dinner at the Rockin' Baja Lobster. Another great place to eat and sit outside enjoy the weather.

@The convention center

Just landed at the convention center, hopped the shuttle over and now walking downtown for dinner.

Already pretty crowded but not nearly as bad as it will be tomorrow...

the train just broke down in front of us, wonderbar.

Nap time is over...

Just finished up a power nap and time for a few drinks and make a decision on dinner. Fish, we are thinking... plenty of choices. Think we are leaning towards Rockin Baja Lobster for some buckets of grub.

Elephant & Castle

Settled into the hotel, stopping for a meal at the pub attached to the hotel. After that it's anyone's guess as to what we will get ourselves into.

Just chilling for the moment, having a pint.

Touchdown San Diego

The breeze, the mild temp, we must be in San Diego. Ahead of schedule and in one piece, now fingers crossed for an early hotel ceck in.

Fabulous Barstow

No not really, expensive gas, expensive fast food, we are definetly in California now. Pictured is the Barstow train station McDonald's thingy where we grabbed a quick snack after gassing up the vehicle and Storm getting her nicotine break.

Not much exciting there just some homeless bumming smokes from Storm... and a lot of bees. Did not even buy any scratchers from the convience store, maybe on the way home.

We are hoping to land at the hotel noonish, we are just getting started.

Zzyxx

The first of many fabulous sights to see on the drive from Nevada to California... the famous Zzyxx road.

My travelling companions and I are just chatting about past road trips as we close in on Barstow. My companions being my girlfriend Storm and our good friend Rainee.

We are currently being visually assaulted by a slew of Ron Paul for president signs amongst all the tumbleweeds.

Next update from Barstow.

On the road

Quick stop at the ole Starbucks and hit the ole road and leave the desert behind. We are on the road for the next sixish hours, the trek from Vegas to San Diego.

We just crossed the border into California, woot.

Last bit of packing...

While they certainly have grocery stores in San Diego, it is sometimes easier to bring the neccessities along for the ride.

That is why all the important packing comes right before we hit the road.

Dr. Horrible Swag

A couple hours before I found out the California Browncoats would have shirts for sale, I had placed an order with Jinx.com.

Just means I get to show off my spiffy new shirt at dinner tonight, gotta love the self portrait...

Also picked up another shirt for the con on Friday, and one for Storm. Friday is pretty much Dr. Horrible day @ the con. Joss and the cast will be there, Neil, Nathan and Felecia.

Check it out on Itunes if you missed it last week.

The clowns have arrived...

Apparently the clowns are my two travelling companions... the vacation is officially on.

We aren't in Cali yet...text n drivin

Faster than a speeding bullet, racing home to finish up packing. Beer run, cat food run, then chilling for the rest of the evening.

Last hour of work - SDCC Countdown

This is about the only thing to carry me over and into vacation... I about lost it when my boss was singing to "Send in the Clowns" in his office.

The last two hours of work before vacation truly are hellish. *-(

Countdown...

Here we go, I have set this up to kick off my mobile blogging starting with San Diego Comic Con this week. At the moment I sit at work waiting to get the HELL out of here and home to finish packing and prepping for the trip.

Going to start mobile posting from my phone, as I try desperately to survive until 5pm PST without losing my mind.