Preview Night

Photo by Bruce Guthrie

The drive here to San Diego was fine until the last twelve miles felt like twelve hours. I had the same experience back in February when we came down here for the San Diego Comic Fest. Note to Self: Time these things so you don't do the last dozen miles during Rush Hour. Further Note to Self: Rush Hour is anything between about 3 PM and Midnight.

Doing 2 on the 5 (two miles per hour on the 5 Freeway), I reminded myself of how good it always feels to pull into the valet area at the hotel and experience the dual rush of "It's over!" and "Home again!" They're always faintly tempered by the nagging suspicion that I still have to drive home someday but that can wait. The rest of the evening was decompressing, unpacking and going on a grand hunt for where guests pick up their badges and swag bag this year. We finally located ours at 8:55, five minutes before the Convention Hall — into which they'd admit us — closed. Then we went to dinner.

Hey, if you're not attending the con this year, try to get hold of a copy of the souvenir book. It's wonderful. Gary Sassaman assembled and designed a fine, fine book full of tributes and articles about Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, Reed Crandall, Carl Barks, John Stanley and others. (Full Disclosure: I wrote several pieces for the book.) I don't know how non-attendees get a copy of this thing but I'll find out and report back.

Okay, so this is a boring first report. It'll get better today if only because we have our badges and I don't have to drive anywhere today. One thing I do have to remember is to keep moving. Down here, if you stand in one spot for more than about three minutes, someone will plaster an ad for Conan O'Brien on you.