Comicon 2014

This past weekend, the Washington State Convention Center in downtown Seattle hosted the Emerald City Comicon Convention. We've never been there but we've heard A LOT about it (Re: The Big Bang Theory), so we decided to go.

OK, it's Seattle…and it was the wettest recorded month of March ever. So, yeah, it was wet and windy. And cold. Good Golly, it was cold!! 

We could feel the excitement building as we neared the Convention Center.

We knew we couldn't go into any of the exhibits or sessions…All the three-day passes had been sold out for months and there were some one-day passes available but they were a bit too pricey for this ol' Miser to consider. 

Still, there was a lively trade going on outside…people were buying and selling passes. Yeah, one guy is yelling about, "Anyone done with your pass for today?" while another was asking, "Anyone want to buy a pass?"

Here's the actual pass for that day, Saturday, March 29th. You had to have one of these proudly displayed about your person in order to get into the exhibits, etc.

We didn't have one so this is where our little journey ended.

I mean, this Comicon thing is Big Business.

But we weren't expecting to go in so there was no big loss there. Actually, we got exactly what we were looking for…The Great Show that is the people attending the Emerald City Comicon Convention (EPCC)

And what a show it was…

The lobby...

"What are you doin' later?"

"Dudes, lookin' good!!"

Taking a break...

Near the shops on the ground floor...

Escalators leading to upper levels…

Looking down at the long lines to get up...

Everyone was ready to pose for pictures. I had asked the two Butterfiles (?) for a picture and Andy Warhol there in the back joined in for the picture.

No words…just a nod and a meaningful stare...

Look!! It's Glenda and the Wicked Witch of the West...

We were riding down on parallel escalators and I asked if I could get a picture and, BAM!! I got 'the' pose. All these guys struck a pose as soon as a camera looked in their direction. They were all great sports and were there, obviously, to have their pictures taken.

These fun folks were set up and you could have your picture taken with them. Which one of these is different than the others?

Yeah, it's Bender. he was posing with these villains…

Yeah, craziness…I know!!

Some pooped out…warriors and princesses ???

Kato was there. Boom!! The pose!! 

After I took the picture, I showed it to him and he exclaimed, in a disappointed voice, "Ah, damn, I should have bent my knees!!"

Dedication, man, dedication.

Bam!! The pose!!

I asked for a pic and she immediately put her stuff into the bag on the bench, whipped out her, uh, whip, and struck this pose for me.

Lots of people were getting their pictures taken with, OK, I don't know WHAT this guy is…

Nor do I know what this is all about…

Don't think I really do want to know, after all.

Saw this guy several times. He was having a great time. 

He'd raise that mallet (hammer?) and snarl in a REALLY loud voice. Even saw him chasing some small kids around. He had fun...

OK, this is some guy from a video game, right!?!?!

Don't know what she was, but she was having a good time posing.

And the fun, apparently, never ends...

In addition to the fun 'People Watching" you could go to other 'Activities'…

like, "30 Years of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and a panel on, "Aren't You a Little Old for This?" 

(Ouch, that one had to hurt!!)

And now I'm wondering just what "The Experiment" was all about. Hmmmm!?!?!

Look at the lines waiting for the escalator to come up...

Comicon entrepreneurs were there…making some money. She was putting on Body Art...

OK, I know which one I'd be going to…

"3:00 PM, Makeup for Geeks"

Who wouldn't!?!  Eh!?!  Who wouldn't!?!

And, for the socially awkward (I wouldn't expect that to apply to anyone at Comicon), there was this,

Sci-Fi Speed Dating!!

They actually had a room set aside for this…

Honest!!

Saw this young lady busily sketching out a dragon's (?) skull. 

Fun stuff!!

And we got a picture of one of the Starlets from a Zombie Series…

Don't know which one, but we got the picture!!

It was crowded, busy and fun. Everyone was pleasant…well, almost everyone.

The Convention Nazis were a little brusque in controlling the lines and, "Moving people along!!"

Bacon…it's Universal!!

And the Pocket Tins are collectibles!! 

My gosh!! Win, win!!

We had a good time. Lots to see there. Who knows, next year I may even go IN!!

 But the fun didn't stop when we left the ECCC!! The streets, once the rain let up, were just as exciting as the inside of the Convention Center.

There's something about folks in Seattle…they love their home-made microbrews and they love eating al fresco…the rain lets up just a bit and, BAM, they're outside eatin' it up.

They were everywhere…

Look!! Two Seattle Sports Fans there on the left!! How weird is that!?!

Where'd they come from?

I mean, c'mon, a typical busy Metropolitan street scene.

Uh, Yeeeeah, OK...

What can I say...

Ah, finally, some normalcy around the Link entrance by Nordstrums.

All in all, it was an interesting day. A lot of fun.

Catch Up!! Part II....

It's been so doggone long and I've been so many places and taken so many pictures that I've given up trying put anything in order....so, here's the deal!! I'm gonna put out the pictures and make some appropriate and witty comments...they'll be in no particular order so don't look for continuity or any sort of sense....there they are...

So, let's get started and you can get an idea of what kind of a Summer I've had!! It's been crazy, long, surprising and fun!! I put over 8,000 miles on the mini and had a flat. Stayed in some of the worse Motel 6's I've ever seen. Visited with family and loved it all. I've found things that I thought were lost and relearned things I had forgotten!! It was a solid kick in the pants!!

OK? OK!! Let's go!!

There she is!! My Little Domino Player!! From the looks of it, I taught her well and I know my Dad taught Michelle....You can get an idea of who is winning by the tote board!! Way to go, Michelle!! Doesn't happen often but on occasions she bests the Old Man!! You hang in there, Alexis!! And stay away from my Cream Sodas!!!

Awww, who wouldn't let her have anything she wanted!?! I mean, What a smile!!!

Yeah, she has everyone wrapped around her finger!!

I made Ice Box Pickles and I'm going to do it again!! Actually Chris and I made them. Wasn't too difficult....It was fun working with Chris!!

Chris and I took off for a swap meet to buy him a knife. We brought along our cameras and stopped by a small lake along the road. Now this was fun, to be out with Chris....

We did make it to the Market...plenty of fresh produce 

And, other things. I almost bought a couple of these....Christmas gifts, eh?

And found some abandoned barns....Chris is now shooting pictures for the Annual...shooting the Girl's Field Hockey Team....Hooah!!

We went to a LOT of baseball games!! A lot!! Still, is there a better way to spend a Summer afternoon? Watching Chris playing ball!!

    

These girls have actually adjusted easily to the baseball routine....get there and then look for something to get into!! Easy enough!!

And then there are these two!! Wbo is cuter? OK, Delaney, just by a bit....

   

Awww, isn't that nice!?!

Awww, isn't this typical!!

Jerk!!

I had a great visit with the Ray's but I bet when they saw my taillights heading off into the distance they all breathed a collective sigh of relief!! Whew, now we don't have to get beat at dominoes anymore and listen to that old man cackle. (Yes, I do cackle!!)

I headed down South....First stop to visit my niece, Jennifer, in Georgia. She was gracious enough to let me drop in and spend a couple nights with her. I got a good night's sleep and the next morning headed out to MCRD, Perris Island.

I've read so much about this place and heard so many stories that I wanted to make a special trip there just to see it. I've already been to MCRD, San Diego and know, very well, what that place is like.

It was fascinating...The Corps of today is far different, far better than the Corps I knew back in the Sixties. More pride and it shows!! I was in the Marines when I think it was at its lowest point in the whole history of the Corps. It is good to see it has rebounded and gotten better than it has ever been.

Bur, before anyone takes a tour of Perris Island, you need a hearty breakfast!! Where better to get one than at any of the hundreds of Waffle Houses around the area! No trouble in finding one and me and Bucky went in for some chow!! Waffle style!!

After a delicious and filling breakfast, we headed out to the Island. 

Here's some Marines, Boots, field marching to the rifle range.

Tradition is everywhere here.

Evidently they do....and they're doing a pretty good job. I got to park and watch two platoons march by. They looked good. 

Perris Island was an island but now has a causeway to connect them to the mainland. What a place. I can understand the pride that Marines who were made here have in their accomplishments.

I couldn't pass up a chance to be Beaufort, SC. It's history is wrapped up into the history of Perris Island.

Beautiful downtown houses.There were so many picture opportunities...a beautiful city.

Back to Fort Stewart and Jennifer. We got to go out to dinner and she took me to a German restaurant. Very authentic atmosphere...

Here she is, my pretty Niece, Jennifer!! She was having a good time, honest.

We were upstairs, very nicely done...and the schnitzel vas wunderbar!!

Then we took a walk to let the food settle.....downtown.

After Jen's, I headed South again....Destination The Blomberg's!

Hooah!!