(no subject)
Ok, had fun at the con. Unfortunately, was not able to get Charlaine Harris' autograph as it conflicted with photo ops I was doing, and it was only on Friday. Sorry! I did, however, get the other autographs I was asked to get.
I woke up earlier on Thursday than I had originally planned, and ended up leaving around 8 am. I went by myself, so I brought the Hobbit audiobook to listen in the car. I bought a GPS for the trip, but it honestly wasn't that difficult to get there, and the weather was good. I drove to the hotel and then went looking for decently price parking area that allowed overnight parking. I stopped at one near the Sheraton. I went to see if my room was ready and got my room key. I had some difficulty finding my room as it was in a separate set of elevators, so I ended up riding the elevators a few times before I finally found where I was supposed to go. I made two trips to my car to get my stuff, and then I drank a ton of water. I eventually got registered (I somehow beat Eric and the people I used to work with at the theatre, even though they beat me to Atlanta). It took about an hour and a half to get through the line, which is half the time of last year, and I was farther back in line this year. You flew through the line once you got inside. Kudos to whoever figured out the barcode thing and the staff to practicing to make it work well. I went to eat and walked around the hotels a bit (boy was it easy to get around on Thursday) and then went back to my room to unpack. I had a tiny corner room (I gave away the double room I had reserved), but the elevator isn't connected to the convention space, so it was pretty easy to get to my room if I wanted. They also have special Dragoncon keys for the rooms, which was cool. I plotted out the panels I wanted to go to for the weekend.
Friday, I went early for the photo ops and got in the first long line for the day. I decided to knock out most of the photo ops on the first day and then have the rest of the weekend free for panels and so on. Made some 'line friends' (I saw them a few times throughout the weekend) and one took my picture as being her first 'line friend' of the convention. I got pictures with Michael Rosenbaum, Wil Wheaten, Felicia Day, James Marsters, Gareth David Lloyd, Eliza Dushku, and Joe Manganiello. I did go to the Stars of Buffy panel, which was a lot of fun. I was up in the balcony, but I could see pretty well. One of the nice things about having a con hotel is that you can get your food and take it back to room to eat, instead of fighting to find a place to eat in the food court. I did most of the photo ops Friday. I then went to the Doctor Who panel (Ben was apparently there too, but I didn't see him) and later to the Gay Themes in Doctor Who panel.
Saturday, I didn't really care for going to the parade (it's not like I could see anything anyway) so I watched the Guild panel rebroadcast before leaving the room. I went to the Walk of Fame to get autographs (the right side was really busy, but the line on the left side wasn't bad). Some of the actors had added doodled on the pictures behind them. Micheal Rosenbaum added hair and square glasses to the Lex Luthor picture because he has them now, and Gareth David Lloyd added fangs and glasses and colored in the shirts on the Torchwood pic behind him. I went to the Welcome to the Dollhouse panel (I ended up on the balcony again), which was fun. I actually had a seat this time, so that was a nice change. I went to the Doctor Who Experience with Gareth David Lloyd and Mark Sheppard after getting something to eat. I waited about an hour for the panel, but still wasn't close enough to be able for my camera to take a good picture (my zoom sucks), although I could see pretty well. This was honestly one of my favorite panels of the con, they're both really funny. Hopefully someone got good video of the panel, I'd like to see it again. I left with the intention of trying to catch a bit of the hobbit panel, but ran into Ben and Eric walking to get in line for the special screening of Doctor Who, and got in line with them. A girl had bought a giant TARDIS cookie and was sharing with everyone in line. TARDIS cookie is good. We waited in line for about two hours and got seats. They had initially told us that is we got up to go to the bathroom, we would lose our seat. I really had to go and had to get up just as it was starting. I told the guy that I had to use the restroom, but they told us we would lose our seat. He went and and talked to the door guy so I could come back in. I didn't miss much before I got back and we had a good time watching the new Doctor Who episode. And honestly, there were a ton of Doctor Who costumes this year. We went back to the food court and got dinner then walked around looking at costumes. This is honestly the one of only times I took any pictures of costumes, the novelty has worn off a bit, although there were lots of good costumes.
Sunday, went for my last photo op and then got in line for the last True Blood panel. I had seats in the first row of the second section, so I could see pretty good. It was freezing in the room though and it was overcast outside. A little later I got in line for the Hobbit panel and saw someone cosplaying as someone from the Nerd Herd on Chuck behind me. Not much new information, a lot of speculation about the films. I didn't know that the guy that plays Gregor Clegane in Game of Thrones would be playing Beorn though. Got some lunch and wandered down to get in line for the Supernatural panel. I ended up on the top section in line outside, and luckily got to sit under the roof as it was slightly drizzling. Somehow, I ended up on the second section front row, but I could see pretty well. I'm not sure how I ended up at the same place I was for the true blood panel when I was closer in line, but whatever. I taped part of the panel with my camera, but only one section is working of what I filmed. I think I might get an actual video camera next year, it would work better. I got some dinner, watched True Blood and then watched the first season of the Guild during the Guild marathon. Robin Thorne and Amy Okuda came at the start of the panel, which was pretty cool. Then I went to the Sherlock panel. It was actually pretty packed for an 11:30pm panel. After I met up with some people from one of the livejournal communities (I won't name it since it was unofficial) we had a costume photo shoot and discussed fandom. I stayed until about 2 am and then decided to head back since I was driving back the next day.
Monday, I took my suitcase out to the car in a light drizzle. I grabbed my umbrella and then didn't have to use it. I checked out by 9am and the hotel was really desserted. I asked about lining up for the Supernatural panel and they said that we were allowed to sit in on this panel and they wouldn't clear the room. So I got to go to the Warehouse 13 panel as well (I had a good seat too). Eddie McClintok is really funny. Then I moved to the third row center section (more like the second row as the disability seating wasn't full) and the lady told us we had to clear the panel. No one budged. She went to talk to the door person and then came back and told us we could stay. I actually preferred this panel to Sunday's, it was much funnier with the addition of Mark Sheppard. One of my videos works and it's the last 20 minutes of the panel. I got some good pictures too. I had intended to go to the final Battlestar Galactica panel, but changed my mind and went to the Sylvester McCoy (the Seventh Doctor) panel. I confess I haven't seen any of his episodes, but I might look him up. It was a really good panel, I look forward to seeing him play Radagast the Brown in the Hobbit. He was also up for the role of Bilbo and was one of the last considered, along with Ian Holm. I can totally see him as Bilbo. He walked around the audience answering questions and answered one for someone two people away from me, so I got a good picture.
Here's a clip of the origin of his name from the panel. It's really funny.
I think that this guy was on the same row as me, the angle is right and he had a tripod. I made another circuit around the dealers rooms and decided to leave before the rain got worse. It rained on and off when I was driving, but I missed the tornadoes in South Carolina at least. I somehow beat Eric back even though they left just before I did. I think an old lady hyjacked the van. I was going the speed limit or less for quite a bit of the way home due to the weather. I got back home and crashed. Overall, I had a good time, but it would have been more fun with some people going with me. It was nice having my own room though, you don't have to worry about being woken up or waking someone up. I'm already planning on next year.
I woke up earlier on Thursday than I had originally planned, and ended up leaving around 8 am. I went by myself, so I brought the Hobbit audiobook to listen in the car. I bought a GPS for the trip, but it honestly wasn't that difficult to get there, and the weather was good. I drove to the hotel and then went looking for decently price parking area that allowed overnight parking. I stopped at one near the Sheraton. I went to see if my room was ready and got my room key. I had some difficulty finding my room as it was in a separate set of elevators, so I ended up riding the elevators a few times before I finally found where I was supposed to go. I made two trips to my car to get my stuff, and then I drank a ton of water. I eventually got registered (I somehow beat Eric and the people I used to work with at the theatre, even though they beat me to Atlanta). It took about an hour and a half to get through the line, which is half the time of last year, and I was farther back in line this year. You flew through the line once you got inside. Kudos to whoever figured out the barcode thing and the staff to practicing to make it work well. I went to eat and walked around the hotels a bit (boy was it easy to get around on Thursday) and then went back to my room to unpack. I had a tiny corner room (I gave away the double room I had reserved), but the elevator isn't connected to the convention space, so it was pretty easy to get to my room if I wanted. They also have special Dragoncon keys for the rooms, which was cool. I plotted out the panels I wanted to go to for the weekend.
Friday, I went early for the photo ops and got in the first long line for the day. I decided to knock out most of the photo ops on the first day and then have the rest of the weekend free for panels and so on. Made some 'line friends' (I saw them a few times throughout the weekend) and one took my picture as being her first 'line friend' of the convention. I got pictures with Michael Rosenbaum, Wil Wheaten, Felicia Day, James Marsters, Gareth David Lloyd, Eliza Dushku, and Joe Manganiello. I did go to the Stars of Buffy panel, which was a lot of fun. I was up in the balcony, but I could see pretty well. One of the nice things about having a con hotel is that you can get your food and take it back to room to eat, instead of fighting to find a place to eat in the food court. I did most of the photo ops Friday. I then went to the Doctor Who panel (Ben was apparently there too, but I didn't see him) and later to the Gay Themes in Doctor Who panel.
Saturday, I didn't really care for going to the parade (it's not like I could see anything anyway) so I watched the Guild panel rebroadcast before leaving the room. I went to the Walk of Fame to get autographs (the right side was really busy, but the line on the left side wasn't bad). Some of the actors had added doodled on the pictures behind them. Micheal Rosenbaum added hair and square glasses to the Lex Luthor picture because he has them now, and Gareth David Lloyd added fangs and glasses and colored in the shirts on the Torchwood pic behind him. I went to the Welcome to the Dollhouse panel (I ended up on the balcony again), which was fun. I actually had a seat this time, so that was a nice change. I went to the Doctor Who Experience with Gareth David Lloyd and Mark Sheppard after getting something to eat. I waited about an hour for the panel, but still wasn't close enough to be able for my camera to take a good picture (my zoom sucks), although I could see pretty well. This was honestly one of my favorite panels of the con, they're both really funny. Hopefully someone got good video of the panel, I'd like to see it again. I left with the intention of trying to catch a bit of the hobbit panel, but ran into Ben and Eric walking to get in line for the special screening of Doctor Who, and got in line with them. A girl had bought a giant TARDIS cookie and was sharing with everyone in line. TARDIS cookie is good. We waited in line for about two hours and got seats. They had initially told us that is we got up to go to the bathroom, we would lose our seat. I really had to go and had to get up just as it was starting. I told the guy that I had to use the restroom, but they told us we would lose our seat. He went and and talked to the door guy so I could come back in. I didn't miss much before I got back and we had a good time watching the new Doctor Who episode. And honestly, there were a ton of Doctor Who costumes this year. We went back to the food court and got dinner then walked around looking at costumes. This is honestly the one of only times I took any pictures of costumes, the novelty has worn off a bit, although there were lots of good costumes.
Sunday, went for my last photo op and then got in line for the last True Blood panel. I had seats in the first row of the second section, so I could see pretty good. It was freezing in the room though and it was overcast outside. A little later I got in line for the Hobbit panel and saw someone cosplaying as someone from the Nerd Herd on Chuck behind me. Not much new information, a lot of speculation about the films. I didn't know that the guy that plays Gregor Clegane in Game of Thrones would be playing Beorn though. Got some lunch and wandered down to get in line for the Supernatural panel. I ended up on the top section in line outside, and luckily got to sit under the roof as it was slightly drizzling. Somehow, I ended up on the second section front row, but I could see pretty well. I'm not sure how I ended up at the same place I was for the true blood panel when I was closer in line, but whatever. I taped part of the panel with my camera, but only one section is working of what I filmed. I think I might get an actual video camera next year, it would work better. I got some dinner, watched True Blood and then watched the first season of the Guild during the Guild marathon. Robin Thorne and Amy Okuda came at the start of the panel, which was pretty cool. Then I went to the Sherlock panel. It was actually pretty packed for an 11:30pm panel. After I met up with some people from one of the livejournal communities (I won't name it since it was unofficial) we had a costume photo shoot and discussed fandom. I stayed until about 2 am and then decided to head back since I was driving back the next day.
Monday, I took my suitcase out to the car in a light drizzle. I grabbed my umbrella and then didn't have to use it. I checked out by 9am and the hotel was really desserted. I asked about lining up for the Supernatural panel and they said that we were allowed to sit in on this panel and they wouldn't clear the room. So I got to go to the Warehouse 13 panel as well (I had a good seat too). Eddie McClintok is really funny. Then I moved to the third row center section (more like the second row as the disability seating wasn't full) and the lady told us we had to clear the panel. No one budged. She went to talk to the door person and then came back and told us we could stay. I actually preferred this panel to Sunday's, it was much funnier with the addition of Mark Sheppard. One of my videos works and it's the last 20 minutes of the panel. I got some good pictures too. I had intended to go to the final Battlestar Galactica panel, but changed my mind and went to the Sylvester McCoy (the Seventh Doctor) panel. I confess I haven't seen any of his episodes, but I might look him up. It was a really good panel, I look forward to seeing him play Radagast the Brown in the Hobbit. He was also up for the role of Bilbo and was one of the last considered, along with Ian Holm. I can totally see him as Bilbo. He walked around the audience answering questions and answered one for someone two people away from me, so I got a good picture.
Here's a clip of the origin of his name from the panel. It's really funny.
I think that this guy was on the same row as me, the angle is right and he had a tripod. I made another circuit around the dealers rooms and decided to leave before the rain got worse. It rained on and off when I was driving, but I missed the tornadoes in South Carolina at least. I somehow beat Eric back even though they left just before I did. I think an old lady hyjacked the van. I was going the speed limit or less for quite a bit of the way home due to the weather. I got back home and crashed. Overall, I had a good time, but it would have been more fun with some people going with me. It was nice having my own room though, you don't have to worry about being woken up or waking someone up. I'm already planning on next year.