We started out about 640. Tiarra and I dropped off Samantha at my dad’s place and then picked up Lawrence. Off we were to the Metrolink station. I wanted to start off early so we don’t miss the last morning train. If we did miss it, it was a 6-hour wait for the next train to LA. We made it. Off to LA.

It went way smooth–no longer wait than 5 minutes to the bus or anything. Once we arrived around the hotel, we chilled for a bit and had drinks and coffee at the Starbucks. After that, we checked in at the Bonaventure. This time, we got the blue tower.



After settling down, we went off to Little Tokyo. From the stop where we caught the next best shuttle, we got off in front of City Hall. Unknowingly, I jay-walked across a pedestrian crossing when it wasn’t good to go. At Weller Plaza, we had lunch at Orochon Ramen. We decided to eat out because it was already hot. Even though it was hot inside, we ate outside where it was as hoot but had a breeze. After lunch we bought some supplies at Marukai Market and headed back to the hotel.

We rested for a few. On the way, we decided to get haircuts. We found the place after some time. Apparently, this particular barber need an appointment. We didn’t make one since we didn’t know our chedule. Now it was off to get our food supplies at the local Ralph’s on 9th St. Awesome as the Ralph’s is, we only bought food we could actually eat in out rooms. On a tangent, on the way there, on the shuttle, there was a couple arguing about manners. Anyway, we bought our supplies and headed back to the hotel. When we got back, we realized we bought the wrong ramen pack. Instead of the cupped ramen, we got the “to-cook” ramen packs. We called for back-up.

We’re off to pre-registration. When we got there, we got off the wrong stop. This year registration is at South Hall, unlike last year when it was at West Hall. Upon arriving, the line snaked around the parking structure closest to the 10 freeway. By the looks of it, there was double or triple the amount of pre-registrants. We arrived in line about 4. We believe we were at the half way point by 5:30. For the first 30 minutes, we did not move…if you consider moving 20 feet, moving. For the last hour, the line moved regularly…for another hour. So by the time we got our badges, it was about 6:30. Our original plan was to catch the last DASH. Nope. It didn’t happen. By luck we caught a random bus back to the hotel. We did not plan to walk back…for today.



We took a side trip to the barber close by to make an appointment, but he was already close. So we ate dinner at Carl’s. I didn’t know Carl’s served beer. There were a number of people drinking pitchers of beer in the dining area. So we called it the day. We’re tired from this Day 0.

Going to comicon was a last minute thing again. Actually Friday night. I texted Lawrence that night that we’re good to go. Again we started out early. It was Lawrence, Samantha and I that went. Good thing on a Saturday morning there was no traffic so we got there in good time.

As soon as we got to the convention, there was already nine o’clock and a somewhat long line awaited us. But it wasn’t a long wait. Soon after, the line started moving. It was good to meet and talk to some people in line. One guy we met was from 501st Garrison (Stormtroopers) that goes to various cons around the country. Registration was a breeze. No wait what-so-ever. Just enter your info and pay. Then we got these wristbands. What awaited us was another line. A much larger line to get into the actual convention area. Samantha and I were hungry because we didn’t eat before we left, so went to Tiffy’s to eat. Lawrence stayed behind to enjoy the con first.

After lunch, we met up with Lawrence, sat down to a minute to get the lowdown, and walked around the dealer’s hall. There was a lot of the usual; comic book, toys and apparel vendors on half of the exhibit hall. The other half was the autograph signing of actors and actresses. We did that for a short time because the Futurama panel was about to begin at noon. And after that was the Empire Strikes Back panel.

The Futurama panel was excellent. I finally to see the voice actors to Philip J. Fry and Hermes Conrad. Or should I say, put the voice to the face...in a way. Billy west did the voice to Fry, as well as Zoidberg and others. Philip LaMarr did the voice to Hermes. The panel was actually very funny…almost totally comedic.

The Empire Strikes Back was was right after the Futurama pane. Irvin Kershner, the director for ESB, had to cancel his appearance because of poor health. But Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) was there. To me, just seeing a star from Star Wars was a be deal because it was apart of my childhood. The only other star from Star Wars I saw was Mark Hamill, a long time ago. Billy’s panel was every interesting because I felt he was down-to-earth and answered questions to that effect.



After both panels, it was back to exhibit hall. Let me say one thing. Some of you who read this know how the Anaheim Convention Center is like, right? On one end is the “A” section. On the other end is the “E” section. Well, the exhibit hall was at the “E” section and the panels were in the “A” section. On top of that, there was coffee convention in-between, which was closed off the comicon people. So no short cuts through the center. We had to go outside, walk all the way to the other side of the convention center, back inside and up the escalators. It’s one long-ass walk each way. So at the exhibit hall, we bought stuff we wanted and waited to get. But it was almost three o’clock. Time for the William Shatner panel.

So we took the “star trek” back to the other side of the convention center to see William Shatner. Okay, this is the first time I’ve ever seen a cast member of the original Star Trek series. 18 years ago, I did go to a Trek-con, but the only person I saw was Marina Sartis (Deanna Troi) and nobody else. Man, Shatner was talker. Interesting, but he talked too much. At least I got see one of my childhood heroes.

When the panel was over, we put our stuff away in the car and went to eat an early dinner. Damn, for some reason some restaurants closed at three and some open at five for dinner. So we walked a bit and ate at IHOP. Yeah, we walked a lot more.

After dinner, we went to costume show. It was interesting and fun. The room was too small for such an event. Wall-to-wall people...literally. So when the costume show ended, we thought there was another at seven, but wasn’t. We did some last minute shopping and called it the day. Yes, walking a lot, a lot more.

Oh yeah, got to see Gil Gerard and Erin Gray, hot as ever. There was Adam West and Virginia Hey (Farscape), too. And I was kind of upset that we missed Nichelle Nichols panel which I overlooked.