I gotta say that I never know what's coming on a daily basis with this blog. But this time, I know that I have a special week long post on pics and writing based around the 2012 Phoenix Comicon. Everyday I'll take you through our extremely fun journey at the Con. One of the posts is rather personal, but I hope it sheds some light on why I value this event every year in Phoenix. But let's get you ready for some things that you need to know about any SyFy con. It's a bit different from birding and yet it still requires a lot of patience. Why? Come on, I'll tell you everything you need to know:)
The pic above is an example of what you'll see. I don't know what the gas masks are for but I can only imagine. I went with 3 other people....2 were newbies. There was one man going down an escalator sweating! He was a larger man and barely able to walk.....and smelled as if he had never taken a shower. My not-so-savvy brother's friend inappropriately asks a question on this forever moving escalator, "Dude! What's that nasty smell?!" The larger man turns around and smiles. He says, "It's Con Sweat!" Gross. Nasty. I don't know. I plug my nose and keep my mouth shut. My brother and friend have a good laugh with the other guy. Afterall I do bird at the Sweetwater Treatment plant and there are days that I don't always smell the best after that little hike:) It's a little different though....it's not my sweat that makes me smell but the sewage:) But it still smells the same. So perhaps this man wears a gas mask because of the "Con Sweat."
But check out some of these outfits people put together!!! It's called "Cosplay". They act like the character they portray all day long. Thousands of people ask for their pictures and leave satisfied by the excellent costumes. People dress up for attention, but they also do it because it entertains crowds. You should see the little kids faces as Batman takes a pic with them. It makes me smile. Little geeks in the making. I also discovered that you have to create your own outfits for Cosplay or they won't count. So you can't purchase an outfit from a retailer. But I suspect that there are people who do;) Look closely and you'll see that this Iron Man outfit was put together with cardboard. Really well done.
And of course there are the long lines to get into the halls and presentations. Here is a pic of The Big Bang Theory's Wil Wheaton. Rooms are full to the max.....usually pretty warm from all the body heat. Again like waiting for the Lazuli Bunting or Elegant Trogon, this famous bird was worth the wait:)
But there are days that you feel like this "thing" above. Thousands of people who are socially awkward and a little....um....strange can get to you after 4 days. I took this shot from the floor exhausted after the constant walking through the heavy traffic. Bring good walking shoes.
But then you get to meet people like Reading Rainbow's LeVar Burton who inspired many of us to read at an early age. You know that song....."Butterfly in the skyyyyyy! I can fly twice as hiiiigh. Just take a look. It's in a book. On Reading Rainbow....." And it was moving to see what an affect this actor had on so many people. Some were in tears thanking him for such a beautiful childhood memory.
And then there is me....HUGE Star Trek fan. Here are some amazing Romulans from the original series. Incredible outfits. Yeah it's pretty exciting. These Romulans were nice people.
But at the end of the day, especially for newbies like my younger brother, Comicons can be exhausting. We let him sleep and snuck off at 6 AM to get our days going. Schedule schedule schedule.....especially at the San Diego Comicon in July!!! It's not for the weak of heart.
And look at who else I invited to the party.....King Tuzigoot!!! He's walking with his friend Slimer. I have some treats for you all coming up in about a week. But I thought I'd give you a taste of what's to come. I hope I don't disappoint. Don't know the Reading Rainbow song? I have it for you below. More tomorrow.....
Storytime with Wil Wheaton(Big Bang Theory, Stand By Me, ST:TNG)
Actor pics from the Comicon were taken by me. If you want to use my pics anytime from this blog, please drop a note first or source the pic.
In life, we sometimes make imaginary bonds with people that are on screen or from a book. My youth was no different. Even today during life's little trials as an adult, I still have those attachments which act like a security blanket that comforts me when I need escape. I grew up watching Wil Wheaton on TV always wondering what it would be like to be a child actor. During my awkward high school years, I struggled with my identity, like most teenagers, and escaped into the world of science fiction. In my imaginary world, I have always dreamed of leaving the planet Earth for the stars and Star Trek allowed me the chance to escape my reality. Like my Grandpa and Mother, I joined the realm of the exciting and unknown. Each week I followed the voyages of the starship Enterprise as it explored new planets and met strange aliens. I was a freshman in high school when Star Trek: The Next Generation began and Wil Wheaton was part of the cast.
Telling the tale of the Unicorn Pegasus Kitten
Both of us were the same age and both in our teenage years. Everyone made fun of Star Trek(sometimes they still do...but I don't care anymore:), but having someone from the same age group seemed to make it okay to watch TNG. Eventually, we grew both grew up to be 39 years old. He is turning 39 this month and I'll be celebrating my birthday in October. Seeing him in person and hearing his voice made me smile and think about how much time has passed in my own life. During his presentation, he shared with the audience that he really enjoyed writing.....something I also enjoy doing now. Beyond having the "writing bug", I discovered that we had a lot more in common.....a relationship, travel, and a similiar snarky sense of humor. It was great to see someone having fun in their 30's. Sometimes I see a lot of my peers and siblings irritated that they can't always do the things they want to do because of kids, their work, or marriage. Life is, of course, what you make of it. Both of us have blogs and both of us have found writing to be quite exciting. Even better, I think we're both more comfortable in our own skins as adults and people. So while my imaginary friend and I have taken different paths in our lives, we still have taken on similiar interests.......and it brought me a strange comfort. Why should it matter? I think many people sensationalize an actor's life thinking it's awesome. Some parts of it seem cool, but I don't think I'd want that life. But it's comforting to know that the people we enjoy watching on TV have somewhat normal lives just like everybody else. Now if he reads this blog, his response would be, "That sounds &*%^$ %$^!" And I'd laugh because I would probably say the same thing. However, I have students who like to pop in every now and again and read my work so I have to keep it clean:) Anyhow, if you read this Wil, I get it, but I just wanted to thank you for the fun time we had up at the Phoenix Comicon. It was a good escape after the school year ended.
Bazinga!
So this blog sounds as if I am a stalker and that isn't the case at all.....just a huge fan and geek at heart. It's about the respect I felt for this actor as a kid as well as the appreciation for the work he's done and continues to do. Conventions allow us to meet these imaginary and timeless friends in person and connect with them via stories from their real lives, etc. In many ways, it's like visiting an old friend who you haven't seen in awhile. It was great to finally meet this funny and witty blogger. Stay tuned for more personal stories and science info from the Phoenix Comicon. I have a lot of reporting to do....I'm working on my Panama posts right now from our work with the turtle program in Bocas Del Toro as well as our adventure from Coiba Island.....plus some features on the local flora and fauna. So much to write on plus several updates on the garden.....Until tomorrow!
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