Back from the Stokers and vacation
Well, Colleen and I have arrived home from our west coast trip after having an amazing time. Alas, I did not need to make room in my luggage for a haunted house trophy, but I didn't let that get me down one bit. I mean, at the banquet I was seated right behind Richard Matheson -- how could I be upset?
There were so many highlights that I'm having a hard time processing them all, but the best part of the convention was meeting many friends, both old and new. I was also pretty happy to learn that Nate Kenyon isn't a serial killer, since we split a room one night and I hadn't met him in person before. Big relief.
After the convention we took a driving/walking tour, seeing all the major L.A. sights, and went to Warner Bros. Studios, where we got to sit on the Central Perk couch from Friends and walk around the Gilmore Girls town. I'd like to pretend that it was only Colleen that was excited about that, but that would be an unfair representation. We also drove past Merlotte's Bar from True Blood, saw a bunch of Harry Potter props, and walked along Manhattan streets (in Burbank!). I was the only person on the tour who had heard of (and seen) Monster Squad. Make of that what you will.
Vegas was a weird, weird place. I'm happy to have seen it, but have little desire to go back. I have to admit that walking around the casinos, hotels and shopping areas was really cool, and Paris was our favourite. I'm just not a gambler (I fed $2 into a slot machine, which lasted for about five minutes). One night we walked into a casino that had an open mic session for Rock Band, so I quickly signed up only to choke while playing Blue Oyster Cult's Don't Fear the Reaper. I blame the desert heat.
It was a great trip, and the contest I'm about to announce is an ideal way to conclude it. I hope some of you enter -- the grand prize in particular is pretty sweet!
There were so many highlights that I'm having a hard time processing them all, but the best part of the convention was meeting many friends, both old and new. I was also pretty happy to learn that Nate Kenyon isn't a serial killer, since we split a room one night and I hadn't met him in person before. Big relief.
After the convention we took a driving/walking tour, seeing all the major L.A. sights, and went to Warner Bros. Studios, where we got to sit on the Central Perk couch from Friends and walk around the Gilmore Girls town. I'd like to pretend that it was only Colleen that was excited about that, but that would be an unfair representation. We also drove past Merlotte's Bar from True Blood, saw a bunch of Harry Potter props, and walked along Manhattan streets (in Burbank!). I was the only person on the tour who had heard of (and seen) Monster Squad. Make of that what you will.
Vegas was a weird, weird place. I'm happy to have seen it, but have little desire to go back. I have to admit that walking around the casinos, hotels and shopping areas was really cool, and Paris was our favourite. I'm just not a gambler (I fed $2 into a slot machine, which lasted for about five minutes). One night we walked into a casino that had an open mic session for Rock Band, so I quickly signed up only to choke while playing Blue Oyster Cult's Don't Fear the Reaper. I blame the desert heat.
It was a great trip, and the contest I'm about to announce is an ideal way to conclude it. I hope some of you enter -- the grand prize in particular is pretty sweet!