San Diego Comic-Con

[Drunk Monk]

Hit up the Den of Geek party and got a new lightsaber that extends and retracts when the button is agreeable (the tech isn’t perfect). 5 of my 6 guests showed and we ate and drank excessively. The dark side cocktails (whiskey based and red) were strong. I had a lot of those. Food was good too. The lamb was nice but the cucumber salmon, cream cheese & roe treats were delish. Had a lot of those too. Met some of my Den cohorts and was caught off guard (should’ve prepped better) because it was a contest about who had the coolest new media and I had nothing. 20/20 hindsight made me come up with a few, but I should’ve reviewed my D00M posts to jog my memory.

Then Patrick talked me into stumbling over to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund party (I was rather drunk). We had a nice chat with Gene Luen Yang and tentatively scheduled an interview tomorrow after his signing.

Took the shuttle bus back to Chop Hall. We were the only passengers after midnight (it goes to 1) so instead of taking the long route (we are the 2nd to last stop) he took us direct. 

Another SDCC that began with an intense drunken stupor. I haven’t been that drunk since last year’s arrival day. Yay DM!

[Drunk Monk]

I’ve got several items on my dancecard today - panels on Godzilla, tnmt, Filipino martial arts, an armored combat demo, mmpr, women’s wrasslin, AtLA, a j-pop concert, another DoG party…
 
Most I’m only mildly attached to. Mostly I want to walk the aisles and see.

Yesterday was 5+ miles. Already did a mile today last night.

[Drunk Monk]

I’m at a panel of WOW (women of wrestling) the granddaughter of GLOW (glorious ladies of wrestling) and I’m remembering one of the many jackpots Greg & I experienced in Vegas so long ago…

[Greg]

Yep. LB was with us.

[Drunk Monk]

I dialed to get in to this panel: 

[Drunk Monk]

Yep. LB was with us.

 So the main force behind WOW is Jeannie Buss, who owns the Lakers. Her story is amazing. They had two wrestlers there and the main promoter and it was very entertaining for unexpected reasons.


Did the crunchyroll concert again and this is now my fav event. There was an opening act that was wild. She was all over the place - candy pop to these brutal transitions to dark metal Punk dub step bass bombs with staccato videos of her in weird poses and anime, pyro and sparkle cannons. A fire erupted from a gas leak at a fish house in the Gaslamp and plumes of dark smoke arose behind the venue. This set against a magnificent San Diego sunset. The opener (who I thought was the headliner because I misread the program) put out this Bjork/Yolandi vibe, and she has a new fan.

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I was deep into the bass worship and thought about bailing on thr Filipino martial arts thing, but then LiSA was standard J-pop. We all got glow bracelets that had synched lights. She made us to a dance with our bracelet arms then ramped up the rhythm until we were all waving our arms frantically - that was fun.

A KFM fan had found me after the WOW panel by chance - he’s been to the last 10 SDCCs. We saw the concert together with some of his rousing and his lion dance classmates. It was fun but I bailed to the Filipino talk.

The closed the rear entrance. I had to walk all the way around to get back in. That’s through the gaming & anime annex, the hotel, out on the street, back in and all the way to the back. Fuck! But I made it just in time. The presentation was great. So informative. I learned a lot. They asked trivia questions for prizes and the first winner was my KF brother Ron. Then Diana Lee Inosanto was there and we reconnected. That was super fun. I congratulated her on all her amazing work of late.

Then Patrick & I walked through the gaslamp which was bumpin hard. We got through several blocks until where the blockades stopped and got a Lyft.

Grand night. Too much fun.

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I’ve covered almost all the floor - just missed a few spots. Stopped by the Den studio to say ‘hi’. Met with some old friends - Natasha the roller derby pro, some immortal artists, the publisher of Giant Robot (I wrote for them a bit back in the day). Had nachos.

There was an evac alarm just as a panel started with Gene Yang. Nobody moved. Then the alarm announced that it was a fire. But then they said it was ok and to carry on. I was nodding out for this talk cuz the chairs were comfy. 

Had Lofty Coffee for breaky. It’s just 3 blocks from the shuttle pick up. I’m doing that tomorrow too.

[Drunk Monk]

12 miles yesterday 

On the shuttle now. Need to pick up some rations then tuck in the Hall H line. I aspire to sit on my arse in Hall H until it’s ST time…

[Drunk Monk]

I’m in Hall H

[Greg]

Kewl.

[Drunk Monk]

At the edge of gaslamp, awaiting pick up by Shi Yantuo, my old coach who’s in town teaching his old students. The last time I saw him was when Tara was a freshman so 7 years ago?

[Drunk Monk]

I’ve reached a new level of overwhelmed. Yesterday went off like clockwork & I achieved all my goals plus more. We got in at 2:30? Gotta get motivated for today. Gotta get up & once more into the breach.

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So Hall H was fun. Got in with my KF brother Keith. Saw the end of Lois & Clarke which meant nothing to me because I haven’t seen it. Caught Keanu pushing BRSKR his comic - he got a lifetime award from sdcc. ST was broken into 4 - SNW, LD, SA & Section 31. Loved it. Totally worth the wait. I came out & got interviewed by StarTrek.com and gushed too much about Tawny.

Then stumbled about and went for the gaslamp. Decided just to walk the mile to little Italy and meet Yantuo for dinner. That was wonderful. Then shot back for the One Piece symphony - solo piano open, then a full symphony. Wound up with Mika, who lent me his chargers because my cord broke. And Ron & Marion. Fireworks, symphony & OP fight scenes mad for a moment.

Caught up to Patrick who was visiting Charlie at the Marriott. Then we went to Bayfront for the bar. Caught some friends on the way. Lots of chat & industry babble. Got in late.

Waiting to get my boarding pass, get a new cable then head to lofty.

[Drunk Monk]

Last day of lofty coffee. Went for the açaí bowl again today. Yum.

Got new charger cable.

---

Bailed on robing up. Just wasn’t sure what my motivation was for it.

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Bailed on robing up. Just wasn’t sure what my motivation was for it.

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Left eye not focusing. Maybe it was the ash speck after the fireworks.

---

And I’m repeating myself.


Ended up in the bar last night talking to a lot of nerds that could barely hold
My attention.

[Drunk Monk]

2nd row for Prodigy bay bee!!!

I got to the end of thr line and the line keeper pushed me into a massive line jump. Leap frogged over 1/3 of the line. Karma.

There were 2 fires of Friday - 1 in the gaslamp & 1 in the main hall somewhere. Did I mention that? Am I repeating myself?

---

Wait 
I disdain prodigy

[Drunk Monk]

In a panel with some podcaster friends. Almost fell over asleep, but caught myself before face planting. 

This is one of the final events of the weekend.

[Greg]

2nd row for Prodigy bay bee!!!

I got to the end of thr line and the line keeper pushed me into a massive line jump. Leap frogged over 1/3 of the line. Karma.

There were 2 fires of Friday - 1 in the gaslamp & 1 in the main hall somewhere. Did I mention that? Am I repeating myself?

---

Wait 
I disdain prodigy

Not a lot of rationality is expected from you at the best of times.