Phoenix Comicon 2010

Phoenix Comicon was a lot of fun. I went to every panel that John Scalzi was on, because he's funny and clever and I like his writing (what can I say? I'm a writer and other writers I like are my rock stars). I was also surprised how funny Wil Wheaton was, but then I didn't really read his blog before...now I may. Felicia Day was, as expected, funny and sweet. Seth Shostak proved to be a very funny individual, and I really enjoyed attending the panels he was on, as well. I added Confessions of an Alien Hunter onto my "To Read" list (it keeps growing like The Blob :P ). There were so many exhibitors, too, but I hope that next time the comicon people rent an extra bit of room from the convention hall because most of the time I was snail-crawling my way through crowds. In situations like that, I always think "I need a cattle prod like Mr. Burns from the Simpsons: 'Excuse me - ZAP! - Excuse me - ZAP!'"

The Star Trek panel was really entertaining and made my inner-Geek go "SQUEE!" I have a lot of fond memories regarding Star Trek: TNG. It was one of the few shows my family could watch together (that and Poirot). I remember us all piling together on the sofa with my younger brother constantly answering questions like "What's that? What's happening?" until he'd finally fall asleep halfway through the episode (he was a bit young). And maybe I was odd because I didn't have a crush on Westley like many of my female Geeky friends admit; I totally thought Riker was the awesome -- well, second to Data. Showing my already developing love of reading, all I wanted was the ability to flip through a book and say, "Done." :P LeVar Burton, Jonathan Frakes, and Wil Wheaton were entertaining. I think the highlight for me was when LeVar Burton sung the Reading Rainbow theme (ah, childhood memories :) ) and the audience joined in. :grin:

I didn't have the tenacity to stand in line to meet Felicia Day, Wil Wheaton, LeVar Burton, or Jonathan Frakes. I'm just not a line person and I didn't have the financial fortitude to pay for autographs. I know, I know, but I had a very limited amount of funds I took to the convention...and I had already spent $10 that day on parking* (I remember when parking was $3 there *sigh*). However the author tables were always so blissfully free of lines and they would sign my books and my program guide, so I spent a few minutes talking to Scalzi where we agreed that Red Matter was a weak plot device (as was midi-chlorians**), although I said my major "WTF?" moment from that movie was when Kirk just happened to get shot onto a planet and just happened to be chased by a monster that led to him just happen to find the cave where Original Spock was who could, conveniently, explain everything to him. Scalzi agreed and then we lamented how we have been banned by our significant others from mentioning any more plot point weaknesses (J.'s exact words to me are "No more comments from the peanut gallery -- or else").

However, by Sunday, I was glad to be heading back home. I suppose that sums up the Con nicely: lots of fun and by the end I was satisfied enough that I wanted to be back in my own home. :)

* I planned a little better the second and third day by going to the Park-and-Ride and getting on the Light Rail. Love Phoenix's Light Rail, I think it's an awesome idea, and I think something similar should be implemented here because there's one major east-west road that basically spans most of the city.

** Granted, I've never been a fan of Star Wars (*ducks the things thrown at her*). I could go into why, and I feel if I wasn't a writer -- if I was more easily able to shut off certain parts of that Inner Critic of mine -- I'd like it better. Or maybe I just saw it too late to truly appreciate it and if I had been introduced to it younger I'd've liked it more? I don't know.

I haven't disappeared, just don't have much to say

Man, I'm suffering from a food coma right now...

...but that's not the point. Yes, I did update the layout. I kind of haven't had the energy or inspiration to custom make a layout like I usually do for Wynderlon, so for now I hope this suits. :) I've been busy with job applications, lots and lots of job applications. It's surprising how long each job application takes for my job field, but I average about 2 a day. I haven't heard much back, and I'm beginning to get worried about my murky-looking future. :-((

On the writing front, I've been editing The Blood Queen, my title for "Tayce." I was so happy about the S.O.'s handy job as a graphic designer. Since he works at a print shop, I can print out my manuscript and edit it by hand (printing it out at home would cost an ink cartridge, there's 350-some pages, after all :o ). I tried to edit on the computer for 2 weeks and I didn't get much done. It's so easy to get distracted on the computer...there's Solitaire and the Internet whispering their sweet siren calls to me. Not only that, but I get eye strain and I'm always scrolling hither and thither wondering out loud, "Where did I put that damn section of the story? I know I mentioned it before! Where is it?"

With the manuscript printed out, I can steadily go at it with a nice marker pen (my current favorites* are the Sharpie fine point pens that don't bleed through the paper, in orange or red), highlight things I need to pay attention to (my favorite highlighters being the Sharpie Accent Retractables...hmm, another Sharpie brand. This was not pre-planned by me at all), and put post-it notes to make changes. I can also put labeled post-it flags where important information in the story has been expounded already, so I know where I repeat info and where to flip back to check something.

In today's day and age of ebook readers, iPads, netbooks, and computers, there's something to say about going old school (then again, who knows what the future will hold? I'm already drooling over some of the capabilities Microsoft Courier will supposedly have). And the S.O. was kind enough to plastic spiral bind my manuscript so I can't lose pages as easily. As I was telling my writer friend, "Is it wrong that I find it sitting there, in all its printed-out glory, kinda sexy?" She assured me that it was not. ;)

* I love pens, to the point where I've told myself I will not buy anymore until I finish up some of the ones I have. I love fountain pens and gel ink pens most of all. I've almost completely cut out working with pencils, although that sometimes makes me sad because I have some awesome erasers. A month or two back, I broke my "no more pens!" rule and bought the Sharpie felt tips, which turned out to be a stroke of luck since they don't catch paper fibers and give a nice, clean line. Very easy on the hand for editing, and crisp colors make it easy to see. I wanted to get a few more colors, so I was talking to the S.O. about stopping off at Staples to get my "brand." I've been with the S.O. long enough now that he knows when I mention an office supply store and say I'm picking up my brand, it means pens. He dryly asked me, "What 'brand' is it this time?" "Sharpie felt tips. They're really smooth." When I got off the cell phone, my friend (who I was having coffee with at the time) turned to me and asked, "Do you smoke? I didn't know that." LOL, I guess she only heard part of the conversation, like "brand" and "smooth." :grin: (I explained I was talking about pens, and she laughed then said, "Well, then, my brand is Uni-ball." Yes, I have geeky friends. So? :P )