Time well spent.

With me on twitter, I have not been updating this blog that much.

Here are some things that has happened in the last few months.

Emerald City ComicCon 2011
Here are some pictures from the convention and some videos of the panels I went to.
I meet up with Kirsten (@pkmn_trainer) and got to hang out with her.
I helped out Echo Chernik with her set up of her Artist Alley table.

SakuraCon 2011
Here are some pictures from the convention and some videos of the panels I went to.
Carpooled with my friend Rich who had a table in the Artest Alley area.

Epic Game Day 2
Here are some pictures from the Epic Game Day.

The last item of note is that all pieces are in place for San Diego Comic-Con International for me and my nephew. Convention tickets purchased. Flight booked. Hotel reserved. Now all I need to do is wait.

The times of Then, Here and There.

Its a busy year for conventions. Looking at 7 major/large conventions this year. The largest number for for me (so far).

Emerald City ComiCon
- I only went one day this year and with some great panels, I did not get all the time I would have like to look around. I will be doing the full three days next year.

Sakura-Con
- Three days of fun. I even got my tickets for next year.

PaizoCon
- Great SWAG bag. I did not get in on any of the games. Did sit in on a few of the seminars. Saturday was Free RPG Day and had a good game of D&D with a preview of the new Dark Sun setting. I will try it again next year and register early to get into a game or two.

Comic-Con International
- This is 3 days away with w00tstock the night of the first full day of the convention. The schedule has been reviewed and some plans have been put together (in my head) that I hope come to pass. Now I just need to finish packing.

Gen Con Indy
- This will be my first GenCon. Going with two friends for a first time all around. I have done my research on what to expect, but time will tell on how much fun will be had.

Dragonflight
- A local RPG convention with people I have played with in the past. The games they have listed look great, with the full weekend of playing games.

PAX
- I have my full weekend ticket already purchased (this year), with the passes now sold out. Looking forward to the geek bands and such for the conventions. With some good swag from what I picked up from PAX past.

This is one last trip planed this year. It would be to see my brother and his family over on the east coast some time mid-September around my birthday.

It has and will be a busy time. Fun times.

My day at Emerald City ComiCon

The day started with waiting for my car pool pick up. We got there a little before 10am. I had preordered and just walked up to the badge pickup window and got my badge. I spotted the DC booth was near the door with that was starting to get a little long. I got in the line for the freebies. While I was waiting for the line to move I spotted Shannon and Matt from the Seattle Geekly Podcast. After my grab of comics and such, I started to head over to the media guests area when I spotted the Kirby Krackle booth where I picked up heir new album, E for Everyone. I continued on my way to nice sized line for Wil Wheaton, where I waited for a while till it was my turn. He commented on the shirt I was wearing, the How We Roll shirt, which was a highlight of the day. I picked up the Memories of the Future book, which he signed along with a picture I took of him last year. I also got another picture of him with the picture he sign. I had a idea that will take some time to complete. Like this shirt Wil had on Sunday, when Wil is in Seattle again (ether PAX 2010 or Emerald City ComiCon 2011), I will get another picture of Wil holding this year's picture to have a picture of a picture of a picture in it. That the plan anyways. After meeting Wil there was still some time before his panel started, I decided to play it safe and find a good seat for the Wil Wheaton Awesome Hour. The panel was great, I had heard the story before, but it great to hear it live by the person who wrote it. With me staying in my seat, the next panel to begin was Spotlight on Leonard Nimoy. I have not been to a panel with him and it was a great one to start with. I found out a few things about him I did not know of before. With me in the same seat, the next panel to begin was Spotlight on Stan Lee. It was great to hear him again. After these panels I had about three hours to look around the convention floor. I one stop I needed to make was to pick up the 3rd Season of The Guild signed by Sandeep Parikh, Jeff Lewis and Robin Thorsen. I continued to look around, found some item I wanted to but, but held off till I get a good look around. I found for something I was not actively looking for, D&D Miniatures. I sent the last of the cash I brought with me on 22 figures. The price was good, but had a weird way of determining the cost of the figure. It was higher if the figure could be used a playable character. The convention closed their doors at 6pm, but there one last thing to do. Down on the first floor we has a Seattle Geekly Meetup which total of 22 people showing up along with Larry Nemecek and the hosts, Shannon and Matt. Had a great time and won a Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 (Battle Damaged with DIECAST metal with Display stand) by answering what alien had yellow blood. A few wrong answers were given, and gave the only other alien I could come up with. A ferengi. After this I got some food with some friends and then headed home.

This year I only went one day and I did not have the time to hit all the booth I would have like to. Next year they changed from a two day, to a three day convention and I will be doing the full three day. I only had the cash on me to spend. Next year I will bring more money to spend.

It was a great convention with some great panels. This was a great start to the convention season.

See all the pictures I took here at Flickr.

My Swag and Loot from Emerald City Comicon
(Click on the pictures for the labled items.)

My time at Emerald City Comicon

Emerald City Comicon was last weekend. I did not go the full weekend, just Saturday. I car pooled with Rich, a friend from work, that was in the Artest Alley and got my tickets at the door. From last year it seemed bigger and better. I found some items I had been looking for (four Mighty Muggs) and some item I did not know till I spoted them (two art prints: <1> <2>). I spent the day looking around and taking some pictures.
Wil Wheaton was again at Emerald City Comicon. After I got in the door I headed over media guest area. There was a short line of about 6 to 7 people to see, talk, get and have stuff signed. It was my turn. We shaked hands, told him that I did the composite of his Criminal Minds ep that his posted on his blog. I got that picture signed, a picture of him last year, his first book and got a copy of Sunken Treasure (that he signed, as you can see here). He handed them back and good bye. It was not till a few munites later that I relised that I had not paid him for the Sunken Treasure book. I went back from where I exited the line and handed him the money for the book. From Will I got a "Thanks for being honest." from him as I left.
The convention closed and I left. I had fun and I will come back next year.

See my picture set from the convention here.

Next: My weekend at SakuraCon