Phoenix Comic Con: Day 1 - Beauty and the Bat'leth

I did it. I survived my first Comic Con. And, it's definitely NOT my last! It really was the funnest fun I've ever had.

3of8 and I got to Phoenix around 3ish on the first day of the convention, which started that night. My friend Data* had arrived earlier, and had already picked up his pass. "I was in line behind two ghostbusters," he texted. It was then that I knew this would be everything I'd hoped and dreamed.

I gathered my nerds, and 3of8, Riker, Data and I came up with a plan. First pass of of the exhibit hall, and then to the first session. My first purchase was a fuzzy pink monster back pack, from the Framptastic booth. Later, I told 3of8 to put something "in my furry pink monster," which obviously led to an ongoing joke.

One of the goals of the whole event was to get a bat'leth. We were shocked to discover that very few of the booths had any. We finally found the one place that had one, and the moment I held it, I knew it was meant to be. It was awesome, and it was to be mine. I'm pretty sure this is what happened the first time King Arthur held Excalibur. "I look fierce!" I said, earning my first <facepalm> of the weekend from 3of8.

Riker and 3of8 went to "Quark's Bar" to learn how to mix sci fi drinks. I insisted that my husband attend this, because at the "Star Trek Experience" in Vegas, he totally humiliated me by ordering a "blue beer." (It was a Cardassian Ale.) While I don't expect him to become an expert, I do expect he not embarrass me when we hang with the geeks. That's not asking too much, is it?

Data and I went to "How to Survive Comic Con" presented by Martin and Jose. I found it helpful, but was a little disturbed by how much they emphasized hygiene. They have the 5-2-1 rule: 5 hours sleep, 2 good meals, and 1 shower a day. They really focused on the showering, and went so far as to say "Deodorant is important." They even gave a demonstration as to how to put on Axe body spray. (I'm happy to report that 3of8 does apply his AXE correctly.) Later in the week, when surrounded by geeks on the third day of wearing their costume, I understood where this was coming from.

So, we went back to the exhibit hall, got my bat'leh, and headed back to the hotel for our very important minimum 5 hours of sleep and a shower. Apparently, a blond woman (who kinda looks "soccer mom-ish") carrying a bat'leth does draw some attention. Probably because I was carrying it blade out, until 3of8 developed some "safety procedures" for me. (Surprisingly, bat'leths do not come with a manual.) I did scare some flight attendants on the elevator up to the room, but no one was injured. The real irony is that 3of8 was the first to be injured on my bat'leth, when he burnt himself removing it from the NTRPRZE after it had been sitting in the hot Arizona sun all day. He is the worst Klingon ever.

Day one was a good warm up, for the main event. I was feeling good, and had accomplished one of my comic con goals. Game on.

*Like Data, he always has perfectly coiffed hair.


Day 1:
     Geek shirts worn: Planet Express, Slurm, Meh
     Nerdlacquer: All of time and Space
     Best Quote:
           Me: I want to get a picture of each of my geek shirts.
           3of8: I knew we should have brought a documentary crew.
     Favorite costume seen: Q