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Comic-Con International 2009 - San Diego, CA
Someone has to start this thread; may as well be me. ;)
This thread is the same as the Con thread we had last year; those of us attending will be posting about what we see and do, the people we meet, and all that other good stuff, and everyone else is invited to comment on whatever we report. As I said, same as last year, so expect a few restaurant reviews along with everything else. I plan on being thirty pounds heavier when I get home. :bloocross: At present I'm finishing up my packing and will soon be calling a cab to the airport. There hasn't been much on my end to tell you about, really; I made arrangements, I packed, and I lugged a gallon jar filled with a year's worth of spare change to the bank. By the stars that thing was heavy. The bank's coin return machine was broken so I ended up having to travel several miles in search of another branch with a machine that worked. That was the extent of my day. For those interested, I'm bringing my copy of Destination Imagination, in case anyone wants to watch the next Emmy winner again, and of course my Frankie plushie is coming along, too. Can't go to the Con without her. :frankiesmile: My flight leaves in three hours so I'll be logging off shortly; I should be back in around ten hours or so. See you then. :frankiesmile: |
I was thinking about starting it, but felt kind of weird doing so since I've never actually been there before.
I'm not going to be there for the whole week, just for the weekend. I arrive Saturday around 1, and leave early Monday afternoon. For those interested, the TV station G4 will be airing five hours of live coverage of the Con on Saturday starting at 2pm. Included in this will be the entire Star Wars Spectacular panel. I'm sure some will be grateful to see that. :bloogrin: CN isn't even having a booth this year, which is a real bummer. But there are a few panels and signings. Panels-
And signings-
And as we know, Lauren and Craig will be there at the Galaxy Girl's booth, and on Saturday (time yet to be determined) they will also be giving autographs and doing sketches of the GGs, Foster's, PPGs and Wander over Yonder for their fans. And this is only the CN related stuff, there's a LOT more going on that's not related to CN, so just to give you guys an idea of what kind of stuff goes down there, here's a bit of a taste, if you will. :) For those leaving now or soon, have a safe trip down there. I'll see you guys in five days. ;) |
Have a great trip everyone, take plenty of snapshots people. (Like I need to remind you, Cass ;) )
Oh and take care if anyone makes to the Futurama panel especially if this rumor turns out to be true... http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...f140dbc42e7419 (Short version to anyone who doesn't have time to read it, 20'th Century Fox might be replacing the entire voice cast when the show returns to TV. :wiltshock: ) If it is, there might be a full scale riot on their hands. And nothing ruins a good time like "Nerd Rage", unless it happens to be on a youtube video then it's funny. :D |
Safe travels, everyone! And have fun! I'll be checking this thread like crazy.:P
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I arrived about a half-hour ago. There were a few delays due to weather conditions but otherwise the journey went remarkably well. I even got a bonus in the seating, that being that whoever was supposed to have the seat next to me never showed up. Elbow room is a precious commodity on a plane. ;D It's 12:15 PM Pacific time here but my stomach thinks it's 3:00 PM so I'll be seeking lunch pretty soon. :bloogrin:
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I arrived in San Diego just a little more than an hour ago. I'm in my hotel room right now, and I'm staying at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. The only problem I had was accessing the wrong elevator. 8D They're a bit tricky here. One set of elevators take you to specific floors, and another will have the other floors. I chose the one that didn't have the 28th floor. Go, me! :P Anyway, things are good. I'm going to be stepping out and do a bit of shopping and maybe bowling, and I look forward to seeing the others soon. ;)
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We got here a little while ago after a 9-hour drive (we beat our time last year by about an hour by leaving earlier). The room's already better at this Howard Johnson than those at the Marriott. :jk: By the way, best thing we saw on the way down from Sacramento to San Diego was a rest home with a big sign on it facing the freeway that said "Visit us and try our home-baked cookies!"
...has anyone seen Grandma? :wiltshock: |
I've done nothing so far other than buy a sandwich at a nearby deli and take a badly needed nap. By the time I fell asleep I'd been awake for around 32 hours or so. :herrsleep:
Seems that Exy, my favorite restaurant from last year, didn't survive the bad economy. Disappointing, but not too unexpected; they were a new place and didn't have time to build up much of a customer base. Eh, I'll find other places to dine; stars know there are plenty to choose from. |
You guys just got there and I'm already excited about the pictures. :bloogrin:
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I'm.....
....Still in Seattle!!! :P As I already said, I'm arriving on Saturday. I'll be the last one to arrive, but at least I catch the grand finales of Sat night and Sunday I suppose. I hope there's some good pictures uploaded for you guys before the event is over. I learned a few days ago that the device used to transfer pictures from a media card to the computer I'm taking doesn't take the size of card my camera takes. So I'll not be uploading any pics until I get back home on Monday night or Tuesday. Hopefully I'll have some decent shots taken with my camera phone, though. I'm really hoping to be able to share something right away with my family and friends. |
Here's a photo to get y'all started. We always stop at "Pea Soup Andersen's" in Santa Nella on the way to San Diego and back. This time, we were lucky to get this photo before having to escape with our lives as one of the chefs chased us down the street with a mallet. Seems Terrence poured split peas down all the toilets in both the mens' and womens' restrooms. That boy...
http://www.fosters-home.com/terrence...randersens.jpg |
8D Oh, dear. Can't take him anywhere. 8D
So far I've taken mostly night shots of the area around the hotel and a couple of the hotel aquarium. Gus, the big yellow fish from last year, is still here. ;D |
8D 8D 8D
Yay, you brought him. I'm bringing Mac. We should try to have their picture taken together before you leave Sat night. |
Right near 1 am: I picked up stuff from the nearest Ralphs, and I ran into Cass. What a pleasant surprise that was. We kinda talked about our first day and stuff, and that was pretty much it. So, yay! :bloogrin:
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Glad that it's all going so well for you guys. I'll look forward to hearing more as the week unfolds. :smed:
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Even though I am not attending the Con, myself, I am still thrilled to hear all the news!! Especially about Tom Kenny (duh, fangirl much)!
As some of you might know, my friend is going to give him the Shakes the Clown comic I've made :p SO if anyone sees Tom, ask him if he's seen Shakes yet XD |
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I haven't been awake long enough to do much of anyting yet today, other than get an exciting pic of a UPS delivery truck. :bloocross: I'm planning on meeting with Sparky around 2:00 PM and later we'll all be off to register. No one gets into the Convention Center without registering so it's kind of critical. First, however, I need to find a computer with a printer so I can print out the registration form; I think I can do that at the Marriott but not here. Comfort Inn Gaslamp is a good hotel but it does lack a few things. The air conditioner works very well, thankfully; thus far it's been hotter and more humid than last year. :P |
Try ORD's hotel maybe, or email it to me and I'll try to print it on the printer here?
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I emailed it to you a moment ago; let me know if it gets through. :)
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Well, let's see...
I got together with Sparky and Government Man for lunch around 2:00 PM at the Edgewater Grill, a very nice restaurant that we had our farewell dinner at back in 2007. Also present was Iceberg210, whom I hadn't met before and didn't know he'd be at the Con; very nice to meet you, dude. ORD arrived soon thereafter. Sparky and I got the seafood crepes; I don't recall what everyone else got but we all ate well. After lunch we poked around a couple of the Seaport Village shops, bought nothing, and then it was off to the Convention Center for registration. That part never seems to take very long for some reason. After we got our badges, ORD took off to do ORD stuff, and the rest of us unceremoniously left Sparky on a bench at the Center and went to hang around the pool at the Marriott, where none of us are guests. In short, we were hotel crashers. 8D Eventually we went back to the Convention Center and, after a long tour around the building, we caught up with Sparky and ORD and waited patiently in a long line in a not-air-conditioned area for the Con itself to open. Eventually it did, and we went down to the Exhibition Hall and headed straight for Lauren's booth. The place was already packed; as I understand it, it's going to get a lot worse as the week wears on. That, plus the high heat, makes me want to stay in my hotel room and visit nothing but nice quiet restaurants, but you know I won't. I'll be there everyday until the Con is over or I pass out, whichever comes first, gathering pics all along the way. Anyway, we stayed at Lauren's booth for some time, and we did learn what her upcoming announcement will be; I'm not posting it because I'm honestly not sure if I should. But it will be officially announced sometime tommorrow; I think y'all will be excited about it. Sparky's Terrence plushie was a big hit; expect a pic of him at the booth very soon. After awhile we left and wandered off to do our own things, mostly shopping-related; there's a lot of goodies to be had at the Con, although I never seem to buy much. I looked around briefly and was about to head for the nearest exit when I spotted a booth with Doctor Who toys. Good ones, too, imported from England (made in China :bloocross:), and, well, I've been wanting a remote-controlled Dalek for longer than I care to remember. Now I have one. Oh, but there's more to this part of the story. You see, Doctor Who has always been one of my favorite shows; in fact, I enjoyed it so much that it became one of only two shows that I ever wrote fanfics about (the other is Foster's). I watched every episode that the local PBS stations aired, forgoing such things as family outings and sometimes putting off meals until the show was over. Stars, I loved that show. So you can imagine what an honor it was for me to meet and shake the hand of Colin Baker, the sixth actor to play the role of the Doctor. Much older now than when his episodes first aired but still recognizable, still with his original wit and slightly wry sense of humor, still the 6th Doctor that I remember. And I'll be remembering this meeting for a very long time. :) Looks like Comic-Con 2009 is off to a great start. ;D |
Here you go:
http://www.fosters-home.com/terrence...ncraigterr.jpg I also videotaped Lauren giving her great news about the Galaxy Girls but will hold off in posting it so she can break the news herself on her blog. And now for my adventure... I planned to buy a film replica from Full Moon Features' booth, so I went there. I asked if they had it, yes they did, I stupidly blurted out I WANT ONE so I started preparing to buy it, they were boxing it up, and then I got cold feet because it's kind of expensive and I remembered that I wanted to wait until I guy I know from a Full Moon forum came by and I could ask him his expert opinion on if it was worth that much money, so I asked them to wait and I'd come back the next day. I felt like a heel doing that to them. :P So I slunk off and came to the decision to buy it anyways, but they had said they'd prefer cash so I thought it would make it up to them to bring cash this time. I went to the convention center atms and took out one amount because it was the max they allowed, and then just tried to do a separate transaction for the rest. But no, it wouldn't go through. Checking my account showed I had enough but three separate tries yielded nothing. So I went back to the booth and - there was that guy I know, like magic. He agreed we should each buy one. The booth took the cash I had and did the rest on my credit card. Then I get back here and check my email and there's a message from my bank about unauthorised access on my card and I have to call them which I did and cleared everything up and now my card is unlocked again. :P And that was my adventure. :jk: |
Congrats on getting the film replica. Sounds like it was sure a pain up until that point though. I bet that's a relief. :P
Terrence looks very happy to be in the presence of his creator! :terrsmile: |
It was definitely an excellent start to the 2009 Comic-Con International. I got up at 8:45am from my bed (though I kinda woke up many times, as early as a bit after 6am). I went to Starbucks. I had the cafe vanilla frappuccino. I then went to Westfield Horton Plaza, went to Ritz Camera, picked up a second camcorder battery. Paid less than $80 for it. I needed it, because I'm going to be using my one battery quickly. I picked up a belt from Macy's. Then I took the trolley all the way to San Diego State University at the Aztec Center and bowled three games. I didn't do as well at my max this year. I only got 85 or something like that, compared to around 140 this year. Then, I went to Mission Valley to find a charger for my digital camera battery. I did get it. I hurried all the way back to Downtown to Seaport Village, and I met up with the NF gang, and got to meet Iceberg210. We went to some hat place to look at hats, and that was all for SV. I had to take a short break and get my confirmation for Comic-Con before going to the Convention Center. Before going up, someone said something stupid about the escalator, and then all of a sudden, it stopped (did we get jinxed? :P). We had to walk up with the escalator not moving. Picked up badge fairly quickly, waited in line for over an hour, got in the Exhibit Hall. I met up with Lauren and Craig, and I also got to see Khaki Jones and met her husband. We talked for a bit, and then we separated for the rest of the evening. I got to meet one friend (who's in the Artist Gallery/Table area)...which I haven't seen in over three years, got to meet one artist that I watch on deviantART, and finally got to meet a friend from Las Vegas (befriended her on MySpace 3 years ago). After that, I went to eat pizza somewhere in the Gaslamp Quarter area. Then, I came back to my place. Fantastic start to this con. :smed:
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SO, how's the con today, guys and gals?!
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Dinner last night was at Croce's Restaurant, owned and operated by Ingrid Croce, wife of the late singer Jim Croce. French onion soup, New York sirloin with gouda mashed potatoes and asparagus, topped with a mushroom ragout, and creme brulee for dessert. I left very full and quite happy. Excellent staff there as well, a nice mix of joviality and professionalism. I'd definitely go back but I've got too many other places to try. ;D |
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GM wanted to hit a panel held in the biggest hall so we left early because we have to take a bus and a trolley to get there, and then the line was too long. We separated but I eventually headed back to the hotel. I *might* got to the CN panel (Flapjack, Chowder, and Adventure Time) later this afternoon but I don't know yet, I may skip it. I have no further plans today. Which is good because my feet are in a lot of pain. :P Maybe I'll play Fusionfall, the summer expansion pack has launched.
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Hai, I received a text-message from Tess that she was in the line, and that she was quite bored since Tom K. wouldn't be at the con today :(
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Did you tell him he's more than welcome to join us? :cheesegrin: The random celebrities there is the most exciting part, I love it.
I haven't slept well the last few night. Hardly slept at all last night. All due to nervousness about Saturday. I've had too many disappointments getting to this point, I really hope there aren't more to come. I'm starting to feel a bit sick. :P |
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I'm feeling a little ill as well, although for a different reason entirely. Not because of the heat; I expected that, and I'm tolerating it fairly well. Not because of my diet, either, which I'm enjoying immensely. No, the problem is that the nearby Palace Theater is apparently playing a revival of Twilight later this evening and for the past several hours the area has been crawling with literally thousands of screaming, squeeing Twilight Fangirls. The vacuousness in that line, stretching around two blocks now, is almost palpable. The police have the area cordoned off; there are barracades keeping the little darlings from spilling out into the street; the owner of the deli I frequent would very much like them to stop talking, buy their drinks, and get out. The lady manning the front desk here rolled her eyes when I mentioned the scene outside. All this over a vampire movie?? Iv'e seen worse groups but only barely, and certainly not this large. I weep for the decline and fall of American culture. :P |
Lol this morning I was passing the line for Hall H and saw the "No Twilight Zone" group standing there immediately followed by another group advertising that they're "Not Your Momma's Twilight Community" or somesuch thing. I wonder if there's ever any fights between groups like that. Or even two PRO-Twilight groups.
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Hey, folks. ORD here. The day started off slightly disappointing. I didn't get to see the Disney 3D event, and I also missed the ticket giveaway for the Chowder autographs. Anyway, I got to meet Doug TenNapel (created Earthworm Jim). The dude is definitely tall. :wiltshock: lol Nice person, though. Then, I went to attempt to see the Robot Chicken panel, and I failed easily. I ran into cartman briefly (he's now staying with me), and then I ran into Khaki Jones again, as well as her husband Jeff Adams, some other people that were involved with CN, and Craig himself. We all got in for the Chowder/The Misadventures of Flapjack/Adventure Time with Finn and Jake panel. I got to speak with Carl (C.H.) Greenblatt again. Despite Chowder ending, he had a good attitude about it and enjoyed the series' run. I also got to see Tara Strong. :) I did later on meet Dana Snyder. I also ran into Lori (some of us remember Lori from Cartoon Network Studios in Burbank and worked on the CN booth in 2006 and 2007). The panel was an absolute blast. I liked what I saw of the drawings and storyboards from Adventure Time. After that, I wondered around the Exhibit Hall and I said hello to Lauren. Other than that, that was it. I really enjoyed the first full day of Comic-Con. :)
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Sounds like a good day for you. I cannot wait to be there.:)
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I haven't been to any panels yet. :/ But my feet are really painful and it's hard to make it all the way to the convention center let alone walk to panels/stand in lines. I'm disappointed because I thought I had fixed this problem...oh well. :P
I bought a film replica and will most likely go to Worst Cartoons. Who knows, maybe that will be basically the whole Con for me this year. 8D |
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I was lucky enough to spend a bunch more time with GM again today, and we were able to make the Cartoon Network Comedy panel which was quite fun and interesting. I'm now particularly excited for a new series called Adventure Time I believe, as it seems insane, nutty and just all and all fun.
Afterward I went to the John K panel which was a riot! John K was just very funny and random, and just great, the panel highlight was when John literally pitched a new cartoon storyboard in practice for when he's going to be pitching it next week to Adult Swim. It was hilariously funny and seeing someone so excited about his work was really cool. Overall great day and I"m real excited about tomorrow. |
Since I've been consigned to staying in Atlanta again this year (due to an extended period of unemployment and loss of comic book work on Block Party), do fill me on on what Jerry thrusts on your eyes tonight at the WCE.
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