So my annual pilgrimage to the Convention Center has come and went. It was another great year with
many fond memories & new experiences, along with all the fun, frivolity and familiarity you come
to expect - like a pair of comfortable flip flops that you love to wear.
This year was no different.
Wednesday night, aka Preview night, has really become a full-fledged night (I think SDCC should just
add another full day on Wednesday to accommodate the HUGENESS of the Con). Jimmy and myself
got down there early to find the hordes surging. Got our passes and waited for the onslaught onto
the main floor.
Wednesday used to be fun and small. Now it's as much of a cluster-fuck as some of the other days.
It was packed inside by 7:30. We left by 8:45 because I knew the next couple of days were going
to a lot to handle.
Crash came over Thursday morning and we headed down early, which included breakfast a Mission Soma
in the East Village. We didn't do any panels that day and actually had a blast just hanging on the
main floor. Bought a couple things, including an awesome Captain America set by MONDO and artist Eric Tan.
I had parties lined up on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night but ended up being mellow (tired and
little lame) and stayed home.
Friday was an early morning with T-Dub in tow. Being her first Con was excited. Add it the fact we had
panels we wanted to get in at Room 20, I knew we needed to be there early. Lucky we got there by 7:15
because aster 2 1/2 hrs in line to get in, we were probably 200 people before the cut-off for the room
maximum. We sat through panels for Torchwood, The Walking Dead and The Big Bang Theory.
All of them were great, informative and FUN!!! When they showed The Walking Dead trailer is was as
giddy as a schoolgirl!!! Afterwards we wandering the floor a few hours until we were both beat to shit.
We stopped by The Field for bear and irish food. On our way back to the car to the car we ran into 3 "stars" -
Adrianne Curry (Ex Mrs. Peter Brady), Seth Green, and Paul Scheer ("Andre" from the League on FX).
I had arranged for Chuckles to go with me Saturday since it had been forever since he had went and I
like to have someone there with me. We got there as it opened and had a blast. The next day I gave
my passes to Zack and Billy to go wander around as we hit the Track.
Overall another great Con. Looking forward to next year (already), along with the expansion starting
and getting Comic-Con locked in for a long time to come. By the holidays I always start to miss the Con,
the aches and the misery that is the Comic-Con.
So, someone (let's call her Tee-Dub) decided she wanted to take me home to Texas. We booked it many
moons ago, even before her parents came to visit in May. Unknown to us, it was to be the 2nd hottest
summer in 113 years!!!
We took an afternoon flight to Dallas / Ft. Worth, landing around 9:30pm, Texas time. As we waited for
her parents to pick us up, we went outside where the temperature was cooled down to a 97˚. I said to her, "Let's move away from the cars along the curb in the waiting area, because I'm getting a LOT of heat"…
It became the joke of the trip because I didn't know HOW HOT It actually was gonna be.
Now granted, I knew it was to be hot in Texas. And it was unseasonably HOT when we were there…
but F@#K, it was unbearable!!!!
We drove 45 minutes to Weatherford, where T-Dub (her new nickname from the trip) grew up. We were
treated like royalty, with great hospitality, food & drink and lots or air conditioning. Her parents even lent
us a car while we were there. Slept in and actually got a lot of sleep on the vacation overall.
The next day we headed into Dallas and over to Arlington where we took in Jerry's House - aka -
Dallas Cowboys Stadium. It was AMAZING and interesting to see what 1 BILLION dollars buys you.
We took the VIP tour that took us through the whole stadium, including the average-joe seats,
the upgraded ones, the VIP boxes and Jerry's private box and elevator. We toured all the clubs, plazas,
sponsor areas, and ended up in the bowels of the beast. We got to see the training rooms, weight rooms
and both the Players and Cheerleaders locker rooms. The tour ended up with us going out the tunnel
the players take to the field. It is very cool to be standing on the Big D Star at mid field.
That night we were treated to steaks on the grill and good ol' Texas cooking.
The next day we left on our road trip to Austin. Made some stops along the way to do some sight seeing,
snacking and shopping. Things you notice while traversing the landscape of TX. Texas is really flat
and dry (very brown). Every freeway exit has pretty much the same thing - gas station and
4-8 food stops. They LOVE their McDonalds, Subway and Whattaburger. There are definitely
hidden treasures along the way.
Austin was a very, very hip place. Being the music capital of the world we expected to catch a show,
unfortunately the heat kept bands away over the summer. We did end up eating BBQ at Stubbs (famous for
awesome shows) but did not catch a show. We battled the heat every day (and night) any way we could.
Including some time at the hotel pool with a beer in hand. Got to do some shopping on South Congress
and had breakfast at Maria's Taco Xpress.
I got to meet a LOT of T-Dub's friends, including her Brother and Sister-in-Law. Ended up
getting bottle service and part of a room at the W in downtown Austin. Had a drunken BLAST!!!
Finished the night stumbling to the local handful of food trucks camped out after the bars closed
and then back to the hotel for a few hours of sleep.
The next day we headed south towards San Antonio, ending up in New Braunfels, where we floated the river.
Now I expected another hot day but it was blistering and we had almost a 2 hour wait just to get in to
the water. Girls were dropping in line from heat exhaustion, too much booze, and not enough water.
Once we were in and drinking beers, it was sooooo much fun! We had a big group of 9 people and a
beer tube for our coolers. It was along day in the sun and water, but we really wanted to
get back to Weatherford to sleep. Unfortunately it was a looooong drive and Tasia was feeling ill
so I had to drive the whole time (almost 4 hrs…. blah!)
The next day we did a little shopping and a great lunch before getting dropped off at the airport.
I really like Texas and wouldn't mind going back…. but only if it's a reasonable temperature!!!
K-Swiss decided to step it up in the Marketing and Advertising department, enlisting Kenny
Powers (played by Danny McBride) to represent the brand and their line called TUBES. But this
year he’s not just Kenny Fuckin’ Powers, he’s Kenny Powers the Mother Fuckin’ CEO. All I can
say is it is HILARIOUS!!!!. Props to K-Swiss and 72andSunny Ad Agency out of LA. GREAT JOB!!!
Some of the funnest lines in the AD:
"I'm Fucking In, you are Fucking out"
"What's up dog, I killed you"
"Who knew you could bottle the scent of boner"
With us going on a vacation to a "Foreign" place (well, foreign to me), I decided like any ROCKSTAR,
I need to have a Tour Rider to have the comforts of home no matter where I go. Please use this
whenever I come to stay at your house for longer than 3 days. Thank you.
2011 CHEESE Tour Rider: BREAKFAST:
Coffee - Either a Starbucks Grande White Chocolate Mocha OR a fresh pot of Dunkin' Donuts
Assorted Muffins and Pastries
Breakfast Sandwiches from either Einsteins Bagels or McD's
LUNCH:
Open to Sandwiches, Mexican, Salads, or Thai
ABSOLUTELY NO - Creamy dressings, Mayo, Ranch Dressing, Blue Cheese or the like!!!!
DINNER:
Open to Italian, Steak (Kobe beef preferred), Mexican (if not had for lunch),
Sushi (if on a Coast)
Assorted ripe bananas, apples, and fruit & veggies, along with seasonal fruit (grapes, strawberries, watermelon)
3 ripe limes
Case of Coke, Diet Coke and 7-Up
Case of Arrowhead Bottles (23.7 FL OZ)
Bottle of Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives
Bottle of Olive Juice
Bottle of Vermouth
1 Bottle of Tito's Vodka (750 ML)
1 Bottle of Captain Morgans Rum (1.75 LTR)
1 Bottle of Captain Morgans Tatto Rum (750 ML)
6 Pack of Ginger Beer
6 Pack of Bud longnecks
10 LBS of Ice (flakes)
1 Bottle of Malbec, Chardonnay and Tempranillo
SweetTart - 4 Rolls (Rolls ONLY, no bags or any other types)
Spree - 4 Rolls (Rolls ONLY, no bags or any other types)
4 Lg Wine Glasses
4 Martini Glasses
4 Copper Mugs
4 Large Coffe Mug (Ceramic)
IN BEDROOM / BATHROOM:
i-Pod Charger (available)
Phone chargers for i-Phone, Blackberry, Android (available)
2 Plush Robes
4 Lg Terricloth Bath sheets (or Lg Towels)
Queen or King size Bed, with pillow top
1000 Thread count Sheets
Colgate Toothbrush (Medium Full head)
Colgate Toothpaste
Old Spice Deoderant
3 Bars of Irish Spring Soap & a Loofa
Face Scrub (Apricot preferred)
Yoga Mat
40+" HD 1080i TV
DVD player
Assorted Movies / TV Shows on DVD
The 4th of July ???!!!! Man, I cannot believe how time is flying. Especially how THIS month will!
July is jammed full of goodness... We leave for Texas mid month. Come back to Comic-Con
and the opening of Del Mar. My 1-year anniversary with the GF. Add in some work and FINALLY
getting resolve on the freelance web project that has been done for weeks! I'm gonna need a
vacation from my vacation. It truly will be a BUSY FUCKING MONTH.
Tasia and myself hit up the San Diego (Del Mar, whatever) Fair over the
4th of July closing weekend. Had a BLAST since she hasn't been since she
moved here. We ate like champs, had some drinks, petted some animals,
and had a great time.
BUT I'm definitely ready for the Track to start. Countdown to July 20th!!!
