It was no joke when I drove up to San Francisco on April 1.
Since there was a possibility of rain throughout the middle of California that day, I decided to drive US 101 instead of I-5. I didn’t want to be stuck on the long boring drive of the I-5 in a downpour. As it happened, the drive on the 101 was lovely. A fine driving day. But, it was 8 hours on the road for me, so I arrived at the hotel in San Francisco pretty much as a road-zombie.
WonderCon is primarily a comics convention, although smaller than the San Diego Comic Con International that I go to each year. This was my first excursion to the Bay Area convention, although I’d considered going the last couple of years. One thing that prompted me this year was that two friends (Colleen Doran and Gail Simone) were to be Special Guests of the con. So between that and the opportunity for more conversation with editors, I headed to San Francisco Easter weekend.
Colleen is always delightful, and she was expecially charming for her Spotlight panel. I had spent some time chatting with her at her table in Artist’s Alley beforehand and had discovered one of her techniques for surviving conventions — bunny slippers.
A closer look
Bunny slippers
She ended up wearing them to her panels, which was amusing to see in the corridors of the convention center. Her Spotlight panel with Derek McCullough was filled with laughter - starting with his declaration that he had prepared for the interview by doing the obvious thing: reading the Wikipedia entry about her.
That had been on Friday. On Saturday, she was also the heart of a panel on Creator’s Rights - an issue she is very passionate about. She shared this panel with Mark Evanier and Mike Lovitz, and the three of them conveyed a lot of useful information to the filled room.
Gail Simone was on a few panels, but her Spotlight panel was just her, and it was very enjoyable.
I’m afraid I was a bit shaky hand taking this picture, which is unfortunate, since Gail was looking so terrific.
On Friday evening Hero Initiative had a benefit function at the Comic Arts Museum, two block from the hotel. The exhibit was interesting, and everyone milling around was enjoying themselves. Gail and her husband Scott were there and I got to chat with them a bit, but as Guest of the convention, Gail went off to give an interview.
I had a pleasant time chatting with various folks - particularly Bob Schreck at the IDW booth. Bob’s career has been in editing, but he recently tackled writing an arc of the Jurassic Park franchise that IDW recently picked up. He was pleased and excited about it.
There was a delightful panel with Sergio Aragones and Mark Evanier. I had been in the room for the previous panel, so I hadn’t realized the line of people outside waiting to get in. The previous one ran a bit long (it was the Creator’s Rights panel), and Sergio was concerned about those waiting. He wouldn’t start until everyone who had been waiting got in the room and had a seat. Now, that’s how to nurture your fans. Mark and Sergio then went off on stories of how they worked together and some of their fun encounters. Utterly delightful (and how can it not be, with Sergio in the mix?).
All the trudging around in chilly, moist air (outside) and chill air (inside) made my knees stiff, so late Saturday afternoon, I needed to sit down. I took a seat in a lounge area, and ended up sharing my table with a couple of guys in costume who were seeking the same relief. They were amusing and pleasant to chat with. But I did have to ask one of them about his costume. I mean, seriously? Big Boy? He said that Big Boy had had a comic for a brief time back in the past, so he felt that worked. The idea behind their costumes was “What if this character wanted to be a Jedi?” So, I present to you: Big Boy Jedi and Vegas Elvis Jedi!
Sunday was much lighter in programming that I wanted to attend. But it still had it’s moments, especially at the DC Comics Sunday Conversation. Ian Sattler played ring leader to the exchanges (taking over from Dan DiDio). Of the other three at the panel table, I only knew Jimmy Palmiotti. But the exchanges between the panelists and the fans in the audience were fun and lively. It was a great way to wind down the con experience.
After the Conversation panel was over, I wandered down to the exhibit hall, but it was already getting thin of company. There didn’t seem to be anyone around to chat with. So I turned toward the door, to head out, and there was Ian Sattler and one of the writers from the Conversation panel. They graciously let me interrupt them, and I thanked Ian for a fun panel discussion (I had been throwing my two cents in rather freely). We chatted a bit about the new state of affairs at DC — although for the writer working at getting in with them, it doesn’t really involve that much change. Ian recommended that I continue to talk with the editors I do know, because persistence is the way in. Since they did have their own business to talk about, I didn’t linger long with them.
By this time it was a bit before 4 p.m. I had a long drive ahead of me, and as I stepped outside, it had started to rain. I got back to the hotel, collected by bags and car and got on the road. By that time the rain was really coming down! It had been three days since I last drove, and my Mustang does have a very smooth ride, but … there was something about the feel of the car on the freeway that made me suspect some hydroplaning was going on. It felt more like a boat as it traveled with the freeway pack, a faint swish at the rear. I focused very intently on the driving for the first hour (from downtown San Francisco to San Jose).
Once I got past San Jose, I stopped to fill up with gas. I had decided to return by way of the 101, because of the rain (which was spread across a wide portion of the state), and the approaching dark of night. Yet, as I left the convenience store at the stop (more caffeine!), one woman was asking how to get over to the I-5. She too was heading toward LA. I was appalled at the idea of someone choosing to drive the I-5 in driving rain with night coming on — if ever there was a road that would put you to sleep in the best of circumstances, the I-5 is it. And there are far fewer places to stop on it. I don’t know if I persuaded her. I got back on the road (it was still raining), and drove on.
I’d been driving about three hours and realized I was beginning to get groggy. There was no sign that the rain would let up at all anywhere in the distance to LA. I thought about the last parts of the drive that I would be likely to be traveling at 1 a.m. if I tried getting all the way home. It was not a happy thought. And then I went, “I don’t have to be back in LA in the morning!” (Sometimes there is a benefit to being without a job!) So I made the decision to stop at King City, get a motel room and get some rest.
I stayed at the Quality Inn and it was pleasant after trudging around all weekend. I got a good night’s sleep and was ready to hit the road in the morning. After I checked out, I drove over to the Denny’s and noticed the sign of the Day’s Inn that I had bypassed in favor of the Quality Inn — the Day’s Inn had jacuzzis in the rooms! Oh! What might have been! Heh. I had a good breakfast and hit the road.
Some rain, much lighter than the previous night’s, fell through the early part of the drive. But it went away, the sun came out, and the rest of the drive was pleasant. A morning call from my sister had delayed my starting out, so it was 5 when I got home, but I didn’t mind. Sore feet and stiff knees aside, I’d had a good weekend.
But I am thinking that next time I go to San Francisco for a convention, I might enjoy it more if I took the train. (There is no romance in flying LA to SF.)
