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Portland Comic Con 2014

Tuesday, January 28th, 2014 No comments

This past weekend was the 2nd annual Wizard World Portland Comic Con. It was bigger and better than the first one.

My biggest problem with this con was lack of organization. The lines were badly managed. The volunteers didn’t know information that needed to be known. They didn’t have information on the website that would have been helpful to attendees. I kept hearing about panels, but they weren’t listed on the website. I didn’t go to any panels because I didn’t know about them until after the fact. Maybe they were in the pamphlet that I saw a few people with, but I never got a pamphlet. The website said some people would appear on certain days, but not what time they would be doing what. I’ll do a better job of seeking this information out next year. Next year I’ll be getting a VIP pass.

I didn’t go on Friday even though I had a 3-day pass. None of the celebrities I wanted to see were scheduled to be there that day as far as I knew. Now I know that CM Punk had a panel that night. I would have loved to have seen that.

On Saturday, I got there about an hour before it opened. I had on a red and blue striped shirt that people said made me look like Freddy Kreuger. It wasn’t intentional. Robert Englund was one of the guests that weekend and I saw him signing autographs. The first thing I wanted to do was get Summer Glau’s autograph for my friend John and get a picture with her. It was hard to figure out what to do with the voucher I purchased in advance. I got sent to one place and then got sent back to where I started. When I got to meet her, she was super sweet. If you wanted a picture with her, it had to be taken with your own camera. Her fiancee took the picture. After he snapped the photo, he had this weird look on his face. My immediate thought was that the picture was going to be blurry and that I would be forever disappointed. Then he said, “I don’t know if it’s the camera or me, but this is a really good picture.” I glanced at it quickly and closed the viewer so I could get out of the way, but Summer said that she wanted to see it. I showed it to her and she also thought it was a good picture. I am pleased with it. I walked around the floor for a couple of hours after that.
Summer Glau

Later that day I got to get Bruce Campbell’s autograph. I had planned out what I wanted to say to him, including asking him to record a bumper for Intro to Brisco. He was moving everyone through the line quickly. Before I could say anything, he started asking me questions about me and before I knew it, he was handing my autographed photo back to me. Before I left, I did mention the podcast though.
Bruce Campbell's autograph

On Sunday, I got there early as well. I was really only there to get a photograph with William Shatner. I found out what time it was going to be and after looking around the floor I hung out around the area where I knew the line was going to be. I was one of the first people in line after the VIPs, so it didn’t take long. My time with Shatner was even shorter than my time with Bruce Campbell, but at least I got to speak to him.
William Shatner

I had a great time. I think the main reason I like going to cons is take pictures of people in their costumes. There were some good ones. Some people showed up in their underwear or in tights that didn’t leave much to the imagination. There was a Leeloo that I tried to get a pic with, but the person who took the pic didn’t know how to use my camera and I didn’t want to ask for another. Anyway, my first con of the year down. Who knows how many more to go.
Martian Manhunter

cosplayers at Portland Comic Con 2014

A Visitor

Saturday, March 2nd, 2013 No comments

John was here in Portland for 10 days.  He arrived on Thursday the 14th and left on Sunday the 24th.  He told me he wanted to come here for his 30th birthday (the 21st) about 5 or 6 months ago and we’ve both been looking forward to it since.  We had a blast!  I wanted to write as much down as I could recall to help remember the trip.

Thursday – John’s flight was scheduled to arrive late Thursday night, shortly before midnight.  I saw online that it would be arriving a little late.  At some point, I stopped my car while I waited.  Some security lady told me that I couldn’t stay there and I had to circle around.  When I tried to start my car, it wouldn’t start.  I waited for John to arrive and then went to get help.  The airport sent someone to jump my car and we were on our way.  It was a great way to start John’s trip.

Friday – John went out and explored the city while I was at work.  My company had a party celebrating the opening of our new office here in Portland.  After John and I went to get my battery replaced, we chilled at my apartment that night.

Saturday – We got up and drove to Vancouver, British Columbia.  It was my first time leaving the country and John’s first time in Canada.  The hotel was pretty cool.  We went out to some clubs that night.

Sunday- We went to Granville Island and had lunch with my married friends Michaela and Dave.  After that John and I drove to Cleveland Damn and went on a short hike before it started to get too dark. We decided to go ziplining the next day in Whistler. We were exhausted after that, so we went to bed early.

Monday – We drove up to the mountains to Whistler.  I believe they had some winter Olympic events there in 2010.  The zipline tour on Cougar Mountain was so much fun. We got quite a bit of snow. We spent the night at Michaela and Dave’s in Richmond.  We had a steak dinner and some great beer.

Cougar Mountain, Whistler

Tuesday – We made our way back to Portland.  We stopped in Steveston Village, which is where they film Once Upon a Time.  It was cool seeing some of places where they film the show.  When we got back to my apartment we watched the latest 2 episodes.

Steveston/Storybrooke

Wednesday – I went to work and John did some more exploring.  Later John went to dinner with Breck and Mickey, two people that we knew back in Mississippi but have recently moved to Portland, unbeknownst to me.  After that John and I went shopping at Powell’s and Buffalo Exchange before heading home.

Thursday – This was John’s 30th birthday.  I got him a cake and an hour-long massage.  That night we went out to dinner at a pub and we went out to a club.

Friday – We had lunch at Little Big Burger.  They have delicious fries.  We drove to Tillamook near the coast for a wine and cheese tasting.  I discovered some great wines we both brought back something with us.  I don’t remember what we did that night.

Blue Heron French Cheese Company

Saturday – We went to the first ever Portland Comic Con.  We had 3-day passes, but I think we did everything we needed to in that one day.  We got to get Morena Baccarin’s autograph and see a bunch of stars.  That night we went to see Skyfall ant Baghdad Theater with Breck and Mikey.

Portland Comic Con 2013 crowd

Portland Comic Con 2013 - Morena Baccarin's autograph

Sunday – That morning it was time for John to go back to Mississippi.  I always hate parting from friends after having a good time. After he left, I cleaned a little, took a long nap, did some grocery shopping, and watched the Oscars.

I was glad that John got to visit.  I was worn out after being on the go for 10 days straight, but it was worth it.  I hope he’ll be here again soon.  I think he liked Portland and the Northwest enough that he wouldn’t mind living here.