Instant replay...
Ok, vacation recap for any and all who like hijinks.
Thursday:
Set out at 9ish for the mythic city of San Diego! Got lost only once in Maracopa because I gave my dad's direction giving abilities a little too much credit. Made good time, saw some mediocre sites, got sun-burnt on my drivers side arm and leg. Stupid sun. Due to my petite car's wonderful fuel efficiency we could have made it all the way to SD on one tank of gas...could have, if someone wasn't a heat baby who had to turn on the AC when it got above 100 degrees.
But we made it to El Cajon with a minimum of fuss and effort, checked into the hotel and immediately identified some other con-goers. We took some time too enjoy a more horizontal position, but I was too antsy and insisted that we suck up all the available fun that San Diego had to offer. So I made the mistake of thinking that I could drive within a mile of the convention center...Didn't work so well. We sat in traffic and I fumed for about 30 minutes, then I yelled at Ben for another 20, then I decided that I was going to go back to the hotel room and get drunk in the bathtub. And I did!
And that was Thursday night. No con, but booze and reading Pratchett in the bathtub.
Friday:
So Friday morning we get up bright and early to take advantage of FREE continental breakfast. While there we find out about this "public transportation" thing they have there and get directions to El Cajon's trolley station. There were some jerky Germans tieing up the waffle maker and generally being European buttholes. Didn't like that. But after a healthy breakfast Ben drives us to the trolley station (I had vowed not to drive again for the rest of the weekend) and we have ourselves a crazy trolley adventure and get to the convention. I'll skip the parts where I wait in lines and clumps for an hour and a half and get right to the fun!
I met a really awesome Manga artist and bought some of her arts, later Ben bought her manga for me. She was really sweet and graciously offered to sign the print for me. Ben and I got separated because my time is too valuable for computer games! I walked around 'lost little girl' style and almost had a freakout because 17,000 people touched me in less than 2 hours. We met back up, met some artist that Ben really likes and got autograph on a book that I got for Ben. He was a right nice gent.
The highlite of the trip was going to see Neil Gaiman. He was witty and funny and ever so kidnappable and was everything I was hoping he would be, it was magical. Then Ben was tired and complainy so we left for the day. After a full day at a con you know what it's like to sleep the sleep of kings.
Saturday:
I wore a pretty costume and got my picture taken and complemented all day. I don't think people understood that I was just dressed up for the sake of wearing silly clothes and that I wasn't a cosplayer, but attention's attention and I'm not one to argue with a good thing.
Went and saw a cartoon voices panel and a lecture by the local costumer's guild. Informative and entertaining. Met British internet crush John Alison, said something asinine, he was understanding, I walked away blushing. It was a blur with sweet accents and petite comics.
That night we went to the Masquerade. It was fantastic, other than having to wait for over an hour for it. Highlites include 7 year old Ghost Rider who couldn't put the kick stand down on his motor cycle, Grease/Harry Potter parody, some thing with cats (featuring Cheetara!), and a very skinny Pyramid-head. There was a "party" afterward. And by party I mean a bunch of nerds ate nachos in a dark room and watch ethnic nerds dance. Many, many lightsabers.
Sunday:
Went on a crazy drive, miraculously ended up where we intended. Spent a bit of time at Comicon trying to find presents for people and not coming up with anything good. Saw some people I knew, but had other pressing things to get to. We bid adu to Comicon and made our was across the bridge to Coronado and on to Imperial beach! Took forever to find a parking spot, but it gave me a chance to enjoy that enchanted little island. Ate a filling lunch, that included smuggled fruit, then BEACHED. I swam in the ocean and touched seaweed and made a big hole in the sand and had simply the best time ever. It was over too quickly, but it would have been no matter how long we stayed there. Coming back was as uneventful as going, only I didn't have to drive this time, and we made it back Sunday night still in one piece.
Monday:
Slept, cleaned, emailed, slept again.
And that was my vactation! It didn't feel quite as rambly as it sounds (and it does sound rambly). I'm sure I'm omitting some crucial part of the weekend, but it's early still and I'm only on my second cup of coffee.
And I just can't freaking wait to do it again.
-V-