Looking Back to Make it Better

So here I am trying to come up with a game plan for SDCC

I love to have a plan, and we all know that you will need a plan - and a back up plan -and then yet another plan, when everything goes out the window the first day. There is so much to do and see during Comic Con that there is just no way to get to do everything you want. That means I better have my MUST HAVE list up and ready to go.

But first I need to consider what I wish I had done differently last year. As a first timer, I think I did a good job of seeing and doing a large part of what the con has to offer. However, there is always room to improve and I think I definitely learned somethings from my first visit.

1. Only wait in a line that means something to you. 

No I'm not talking about the bathroom or even the Starbucks lines ( those are just a must have sort of thing); I'm talking about waiting in a line for over an hour to get a button for a movie that I will not even want to see. I'm talking about waiting in a line at 5 in the morning to see a panel that is going on at 4 in the afternoon. I really feel like I wasted my entire day away just holding a spot to see a panel that I sort of liked.

So close, yet so far away from Orphan Black cast

Now don't get me wrong, there are things at Comic Con that are WORTH the wait. I don't regret waiting in line to meet the cast of Orphan Black, even though they had to leave before I got to meet them. I met some great people waiting in that line and I managed to get a small look at the cast while I waited. It was a gamble that I would be able to get in and the fact I got so close was pretty cool. *lesson learned to line up well before the hour before the scheduled time.
Believe it or not, I also really enjoyed the overnight wait to get into Hall H on Sunday. It was an experience that I think is a big part of Comic Con. It was so neat to be in the trenches with thousands of other fanatics and there was nothing cooler than talking Doctor Who to other people that loved it as much as I do.

2. Get your shirts as soon as possible.

We thought we could just swing by and pick up the shirts whenever during the Con. The first day we went to go pick them up and were scared off by the long line. We kept checking back to see when the line would be a little less intimidating and didn't end up getting them until Friday. By the time we got there they had sold out of my size in my shirt of choice. I am glad we pre-ordered a few shirts that they had saved for us, but I foolishly thought I'd be able to pick up more when we got there. So I am going to either pre-order all the shirts or make sure I get there early enough to get them while they are still in stock.

3. Experience more outside of the Convention.

You and I have a date this year Gas Lamp District

I loved being a part of the convention and the exhibit hall alone has enough to keep me entertained for days, but I don't feel like I got to experience much outside of that bubble. I never went to any of the parties ( just too tired!) I never went to see Nerd HQ, I wish I would have been able to participate in some of the fan events as well. It's so hard to juggle everything, but I would like to free up more of my time to actually participate in events, rather than waiting around all day for one thing.

4. Bring more money

Or maybe I should say, spend my money wiser. I wasted SO MUCH money on random crap that I no longer need or use. I mean I really didn't NEED to buy the Comic Con exclusive Transformer toy for my son - who uses them as bath toys now- He can't appreciate the exclusivity or the time invested in picking them up for him. I could have saved the money and purchased something for him at Toys R Us and he would have been just as happy. I think I will be investing more in buying tickets to events during my stay this year. This will no doubt cost more, but I think it will be totally worth every penny spent.  so basically less STUFF and more EXPERIENCE. ~please remind me of this when I'm standing in line to buy that Jedi bathrobe and matching Wookie slippers for well over $100~

Although, let face it, this robe would be pretty awesome to own.

How do I go on now?

Comic Con is all done, NOW WHAT?

I had such an amazing time at Comic Con that I am still living off my Nerd high. Sadly it is starting to wear off, but I have plenty of things to keep me busy until next year.

Did you hear that? NEXT YEAR. I have been invited back to help work at Artists Alley!!!! I am beyond excited that I have the opportunity to not only go to Comic Con again, but the chance to work with such amazing people! I am looking forward to learning from my experience and making next year even better. 

Things I loved about SDCC

Here is what I absolutely loved the most about Comic Con. I loved loved loved the feeling of community that you get the instant you set foot into the Gas Lamp district. You are surrounded by things you love and people who love them as much (or more) as you do. My favorite moment from the whole trip was waiting for the Doctor Who panel in hall H. The sea of Sonic Screwdrivers lighting up that huge hall was electric and overwhelming for me to see just how many people were fans of the show. That was a moment for me because I really only know a handful of people who watch the show ( even though I have been TRYING to get everyone I know to watch Doctor Who). To be in a room with so many people who loved it, was just SPECIAL. 

Hall H full of love for Doctor Who

I also LOVED the opportunity to see soooooo many geeky things all under one roof. While I enjoyed the panels, I thoroughly enjoyed the exhibit hall. After 5 days of walking that floor, I never did see all the exhibits. Some of the booths were so crowded that I had to just keep going, but I DID get to see so many amazing things. From toys, to comics, video games, to art work; there is something for everyone on the floor. Next year I would like to devote more time enjoying this and less time in line for the panels.

The exhibit hall stretched on forever

Things I liked at SDCC

I liked how many off site events there were in San Diego. It was absolutely overwhelming to take in all sights and sounds INSIDE the convention, then you've got a plethora of exciting things outside the convention that just makes your mind spin. I didn't get to participate in many of the outside events, but the ones I did get to take part in were so much fun. The Walking Dead Experience was worth every penny and left me with some great memories. 

I WISH I would have made it to the Godzilla Experience ( I actually did have tickets, but didn't get there in time) and I am kicking myself for not making it over to Nerd HQ. We did attempt to get to Nerd HQ on Thursday night but the line to get into the "Party in the Park" was extremely long so we passed. There was a big Geek and Sundry thing going on at one of the restaurants that I missed, there was a Dracula thing set up across from the convention, and a Bates Motel thing too, the Disney Infinity store, the Game of Thrones promotions as well as countless parties that I missed out on. 

I don't regret missing out on things though. It seems like whatever you commit to doing, you will have to miss something else that is going on at the same time. You must choose wisely. I'm happy with the choices I made and I think that I actually got to see and do a whole lot more than most first timers would have. 

Things I didn't really like about Comic Con

While it was pretty neat to see so many people dressed up in Cosplay, I was overwhelmed by the crowd most of the time. I KNEW it was going to be crazy busy and to just expect to wait in lines for EVERYTHING and I had a good attitude about it, BUT I really didn't like being pushed, prodded and slammed into by everyone every single time I went anywhere. One of the most scary moments for me was when I got shoved into the crowed as they were handing out freebies at the Marvel booth. Talk about the wrong place at the wrong time. 
The crowds at the booths were also scary during signing events. It could be easily avoided by paying better attention to your surroundings and just steering clear of that area during a signing. I really didn't like how the security people were shouting, and pushing the crowds though. I understand that they needed to get people to move along and not clog up the isles, but screaming at me to do it just isn't a good way. 
I wish there was a better way to be able to see the panels without having to camp on the sidewalk. While I DID have a good time with the camp out, it left me completely exhausted and it made Sunday much harder to for me. I am thinking I might try to gt tickets for the Nerd HQ panels instead of having to wear myself out on waiting in line. 

No big deal, just camping here for a few days to see my favorite panel

And the last gripe I have was the religious zealots who were picketing the Con. This just really made me sad/angry every time I saw these KIDS out on the sidewalk condemning others for liking Superman. They would stand on the sidewalk with their picket signs and mindlessly drone scripture to people who were waiting in line to get into the hall or trying to cross the street.  It's not only a ludicrous thing to do,  but it also makes me sad for the little kids who were there, excited to see their favorite superhero,  being sent the message that it was bad. One of the BEST things about Comic Con is that people who are made fun of for their Nerdy ways back at home, can feel like they belong. They can meet others who enjoy something as much as they do. They can talk to each other with amazing detail about the plot of their favorite Sci-Fi show or movie.

Why those people felt that something that special needed to be protested is just beyond me. I'm pretty sure that Jesus loves Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, so I don't know who they got the memo from that it was bad. 

So those are my overall thoughts from my trip

I am so glad I got to go and CAN'T WAIT to go back and do it again! 

Next up all about GISHWES the scavenger hunt that changed the world...

SDCC Friday

And it just keeps getting better!

Friday was the most laid back day of the convention for us. We didn't have anything that we HAD to do that day and took our time getting up. I wanted to try and snag an opportunity to go to the Game of Thrones autograph session because I had to work during the panel, but they were all gone before I even woke up. In hindsight, I'm glad I got to sleep past 6 am at least one day during this week!

We spent the morning checking out the exhibit hall and collecting more swag. We still didn't get to see everything that there was to see, but we sure tried. Man we ended up with SO MUCH stuff by the end of the day, it was hard to carry! 

All the swag that we collected!

We went out side the convention center for lunch and the streets were so jam packed it took FOREVER to get around. 

 This is just a picture of the crowded sidewalk, but you get the idea.

We headed back after a short rest and hit the exhibit hall again. I managed to get to the WB booth during the time that the Game of Thrones was doing the autograph session. The crowd was intense and it was really hard to snag a picture of any of the stars, but I did manage to sneak a few...

John Bradley who plays Sam and Michelle Fairley who plays Catelyn Stark ( maybe she's wearing that collar to hide her freshly slit throat) 

Rose Leslie who plays Ygritte and if I was a little taller and more limber I could have gotten Richard Madden ( Rob Stark) who was sitting next to her

I actually love this picture because I got it through a sea of people and here is Kit Harrington ( John Snow) smack in the middle.

I mean really look at all the people fighting to get a picture. Security was going to have a stroke over it.

And of course Peter Dinkladge, but this is actually a picture of the screen above him -couldn't get him any other way.

So that sort of made my day, but also made me a little sad I missed the panel and the chance for the signing. That seems to be the nature of Comic Con though, there is always something awesome going on and you can't be there for all of it. You must choose wisely. 

The rest of the evening was spent working at Artists Alley, then we had tickets for THE WALKING DEAD ESCAPE! Oh man I was on pins and needles about that. Just looking at the website gave me anxiety!  Here is a video someone took with their GoPro during a different time:

 Keep in mind that we went through this when it was twilight dark out side so it was even creepier. We were registered for the 9:00 wave, but we got there a little early and were able to go with the 8:40 wave. My stomach was full of butterflies while we waited at the gate for it to start. We were right up front and I was so nervous to be one of the first people to go through.   They let us into the arena and I purposefully let a few people in front of me because, you know, I didn't want to get attacked by zombies fresh out of the gate. Then when the whole thing started, they pulled a fast one on us and we all had to turn around and run the opposite direction. Talk about adrenaline rush! We ran up flights of stairs being chased by zombies, over huge obstacles, over and under road blocks fences and other stuff. I even barrel rolled over a car to escape one. It was an intense work out. I was seriously in no shape for that crap, yet I still kept going. *disclaimer* My brother may have had to save me a few times by distracting a zombie or two and helping me down in a few places. Thank God he didn't leave me to the zombies. I'm proud to say, I MADE IT OUT ALIVE. 

One of the obstacles We had to go over with zombies waiting for us

The last stop was quarantine where they would scan you with a black light to see if you had been "infected" by a zombie or not. Andrew and I were both clear and free to go. Afterwards we had some pictures taken and tried to stop sweating. ( Oh man I was literally dripping with sweat by the end of it)

They did take pictures during the event, but I guess we don't get to see them till next week. 

So that was my Friday. By the end of the day I was EXHAUSTED but full of adrenaline. Not a good combo, considering I was planning on getting up at 4:30 am the next day! 

Looking good for SDCC

So many outfits, so little time!

Now that I'm OFFICIALLY GOING TO COMIC CON, I'm going to need something to wear. The first thing people have asked me when I tell them that I'm going is "Are you going to dress up?" While it WOULD be fun to dress up, I don't think I could handle staying in costume all day. So no, I'm not. But that doesn't mean I can"t wear some fun clothes inspired by my favorite shows!

I have been building my collection of nerdy tees, but I want something more for the Con. I  started my search on ESTY and holy cow talk about options! I cannot even handle how many awesome things that are out there. I've found everything from an adorable Doctor Who Skirt to some scary Star Trek Pasties ( which I will not be wearing). 

With ESTY as my inspiration, I've decided to go home made! Well, I'm going to have a friend make them in HER home. I think I'd like to make up a few skirts and add some appliques to a shirt/tank top to match. 

Next step was to go search out my fabric. I went to several places to try and find that perfect print and stumbled onto Spoonflower. I found so many awesome fabric choices that I really had to restrain myself when placing my order.

I love the flower! 

Little Darth Vader polka dots! 

Tardis Print!

I settled on a Tardis print, a Darth Vader print and a Storm Trooper print. I CAN'T WAIT to see these all made up! 

I might just order some custom painted shoes to match each dress, or maybe I will get crafty and DIY them. 

I am wondering if I should order some accessories online or if I will see lots of cute things at SDCC? Maybe I will get a few hair bows and maybe a bracelet first, then see what I can snag when I get there.

My Journey to SDCC

Guess what I'll be doing on July 17th?

Going to the San Diego Comic Con THAT's WHAT!

After deciding to go to the convention this year, I found out how hard it is to actually get a ticket ( badge). They sold out way before I could even get online to register. 

I was planning on going to the convention even if I couldn't get a badge and just enjoy the off site events. All hope wasn't lost because they do open up a limited number of returned  badges to sell. 

BUT then....I get a call from my Aunt. She asked if I was still planning on going and if I had tickets. I told her about my plan to go no matter what. She tells me that she has a friend who has a booth and she would give us a few volunteer spots if we wanted them. HECK YES I WANT THEM! I had to fill out an application by a certain date and that was that. I've been told that I am in and set. I guess I will be getting more details next week. I am so excited I could pee!

Now the real fun begins. I have never been to a Comic Con before, let alone one this big. My head is swimming with all the things I will get to do and see. Naturally I go to twitter and start reading blogs on how to survive Comic Con. It seems that I need food and a good back pack. It also sounds like I will be in lines for days. Other than that I am really clueless.

Questions I have so far: 

Do they show full movies there? I keep hearing about this hot movie or another that will be at the Con. I'm not sure if it's just trailers to watch or if they pre-view the whole movie. 

I'm wondering about the panels. Some of those rooms look like they can hold thousands of people. If you got to see a panel and there are thousands of people there, how do you even know what's going on. I mean, is it worth it to wait and sit forever just to be in the same room as some of those celebrities? hmmmm depends on the celebrity I think.

Speaking of famous people. I wonder how easy it will be to get a picture with someone from my favorite  Sci-Fi show?  I would probably crap my pants if I got to meet a few special people. Probably not the best first impression, but I bet it would be memorable.

Now I'm off to figure out my wardrobe...

Never enough T-Shirts

Today's latest obsession: T-Shirts

Not just any T-shirt but my nerdy shirts. I have recently been on a shopping spree, and even though most of the shirts are completely awesome- it is lost on nearly all my friends. I do have some beef with the stupid t-shirt industry as a whole. I hate the cut for the women's t-shirts. WHY for the love of all things holy, do they need to be so fitted? Why do they run so damn small? WHY! I'm not a 16 year old, I am a woman -a women who has given birth at that. I'm not obese or even really considered overweight, but here I am buying Men's shirt sizes because I hate the kiddie sizing of women's t-shirts....whew glad I got that out. 

Here are some of my favorite scores and where I got them from: 

Doctor Who at it's finest!

Where the Wild Realms Are

I picked these up at teefury.com for a steal! The sad thing is they are only for sale for one day, so if you are wanting some you are out of luck.

But here are a few more of my favorites that I picked up at bustedtees.com and they are always for sale. 

Love the Star Wars shirts

Nice throw back to the Oregon Trail

Plus I think that their shirts are way more comfy and soft than the Teefury ones.  I could spend my entire paycheck on the tee's here, but I have to save SOME money for food and what not.

and here is a new T-Shirt website that I found a few weeks ago teepublic. I like the concept that ANYONE can make a shirt and the public will decided to fund it or not. They have some really great shirts there. I still haven't bought one yet, so I can't comment on the sizing or feel. I am having a HARD time choosing just one to get, but here are a few of contenders:

Know of any good t-shirt sites I must visit? lemme know