Baltimore Comic Convention

So, I am here at another comicon. The line is huge, extending up three floors, and there is still 15 minutes to go before the doors open. So far, I am already happy. Before I even got my ticket, I ran into Scott Kurtz, one of the people I came here to see. I also looked in the official guide, and saw that he would be in the same booth as Frank Cho, the other person that I came here to see. I brought a few comics to get signed, I hope they don’t have a limit on how many they will do. If they do, there will be a lot of people very upset. I have seen a huge number of people already with long boxes.

I am a bit surprised to see an unusually high proportion of attractive women in line to attend. Seeing hot women at a comicon isn’t unusual, but they usually have exhibitor badges on, meaning they are there to suck in the fanboys to a booth with the promise of getting to talk to an actual girl. There is also your standard number of overweight women in line, who have apparently decided that their fat tits are their most redeeming feature, therefore they should show as much of them as possible. Ew. Tattoo artists have got to be getting wealthy based on the huge canvases I have seen. These women must be eating more so that they will have more skin to put ink on, it is the only explanation I have so far.

There are a lot of people in costume, now that the show is underway.  I have seen several Stormtroopers, including TIE Fighter pilots, Harley Quinn, Jean Grey in comic Phoenix attire, a Robin that actually makes the comic Robin look less gay. A young clone trooper with an adult helmet, it made him look like a life sized bobble head doll. Too funny… A family all in costume, Mom, Dad, little girl and the youngest, a little boy. The little boy is in a Flash costume, and has a leash attached to him. That made me laugh, the Flash on a leash. Kinda defeats the purpose of being able to run super fast. There were a few of the booth babes, if the local strip clubs were smart they would have a bunch of their employees in costume handing out free admittance coupons.  They could come in their work clothes and still be more dressed than some of these cosplayers. There are several news crews here, getting the local color stories. They seem to be walking right past the “normal” looking people and focusing on the freak show. I saw them getting a close up of a guy about 4′ 5″ and 200 pounds, who was almost visibly shaking from nervousness. You know he will be on TV. Even 60 Minutes was there, they were mostly talking to the vendors, asking how they got into the business, how they like it, etc. But they were also interviewing this chick.

I managed to find some of my missing comics, and got Scott Kurtz and Frank Cho’s autographs on some. I went and met with the artist of one of the web comics that I read, and in the course of conversation found out we live about 15 minutes from each other. Based on her comic, I was able to ask if she knew of a decent place to hang out and drink, and she drew me a map and invited me to the one she hangs on. Nice. I thought about asking for a picture, but I already look dorky enough being at a comic convention. I hope to see her again while drinking beer.

All in all, I had a good time. I went around the mall area a few times, picked up a few missing comics, including my She Hulk #1 that I have been searching for for several years. I met a couple of the artists that I read, and got their signatures. I don’t know if it will make the comics worth more, but I don’t really care. They are for my collection, not anyone else. I went home in a nasty rainstorm and got some food, now I have to do the usual weekend chores. Dishes, laundry, etc.

On Tuesday, I get to geek out some more and watch Iron Man on Blu-Ray. Awesome, dude. To the max.

Still Settling In

Memories versus reality is a harsh competition. I remember the last time I was living on my own. I remember how much money I was making, how much my bills were and how much I had left over. I make more now, and on the surface, it seems that I have the same amount of bills. But there doesn’t seem to be more money left over. I think a lot of it has to do with having a state income tax now, as well as higher prices for everything. I am still trying to get the baseline for the budget. I am making all the ends meet, but after I get done with the “have-to’s” I don’t have enough for all of the “want to’s.” Granted, my want-to’s are pretty damn expensive. Plus, I have kids, who occasionally need help. In my mind, that was a have-to. It pisses me off though. I bail the kid out, and I don’t even get a thank you call afterwards. I am becoming very disappointed with my oldest.

Oh, to Bonafide, I found a way to make a geekier post. I will tell you about my weekend. I have not been feeling well for over a week. Fuzzy head, cough, and a weird kind of upset stomach. I have been belching so much I keep peeking out the blinds expecting Al Gore to show up pissed about my methane emissions contributing to Global Warming. Like he isn’t doing enough already to try and make me feel like its all my fault. So, after a week of suffering through work feeling like shit, I decided to do the sick kid at home. I wasn’t going to go anywhere, I wasn’t going to do anything. I was going sit home, watch movies, play video games and read comic books. I even had chicken noodle soup. I kept thinking that Peter Falk would show up to pinch my cheeks and tell me a story about princesses and dread pirates and true love. I was going to have him elaborate on the kissing bits, preferably with Internet clips. So, geek factor calculations: Video Games +1; Comic Books +5; Movies included Anime +10. Now we get to the part where my geek cred skyrockets. There is a Comic Convention in Baltimore next week that I am planning on going to, (+15) so I reviewed the guest list and recognized at least three artists, two of whom I have been following and have their complete comic runs. (+20) I made sure that my comic database was up to date (+10) and generated a list of the ones I missing, mostly the alternate covers. (+10) Then, I did some digging on the computer and found the location where the database software stores the cover scans and copied them to my iPhone so I could compare them at the convention and not buy ones I don’t need. (+ 5,000) Then, just to wrap up the geek weekend, I finished the Lego Star Wars II and Lego Indiana Jones video games. Completed, 100%.

I spent the week thinking about the things that I have posted about before. I knew that even before I left X2B, I had been fairly lonely. That is a sad comment on where our relationship had ended up, that you could be with someone, every day, and feel lonely. But now, in a new area where I really only know one person outside of work, the loneliness takes on a different aspect. Now, there isn’t even anyone to talk to, even though they didn’t really listen in the first place. I think I will find a mannequin and set it up somewhere to talk to, a la Will Smith in I Am Legend. Or I could keep talking back to the TV and yelling at the damn cheating video games.

I set up a FaceBook account. I knew a few people on it, it was free, and what the hell. Maybe I could see who else is in the area and meet a few people to at least hang out with so I dont drink beer alone. FaceBook is very depressing when you first set it up. What a affirmation it is to have a computer look you right in the eye and tell you “You have no friends.” Well, duh. Thats why I am here, stupid website. I added a few friends, I need to take a closer look at the site, because from what I have seen it is pretty damn pointless. I added my son, and entered the high school I graduated from. FaceBook keeps telling me that I might know people that I went to high school with. They are all my sons friends. he has like 150 friends, and FaceBook wants me to talk to them. Mostly the girls. Facebook is creepy. CraigsList would be less creepy, at least there you have a pretty good idea that things arent quite on the up-and-up.

I know that it takes time to settle into a new life, especially in a new area. I suffer from no delusions that there are going to be people knocking on my door wanting to hang out without offering me a new religion. But, I do still feel restless occasionally. But I have also learned a few things in my ever increasing years, and hopefully wont make the same mistakes I did in the past. Hopefully I have gained a bit of wisdom, and wont allow a brief respite from loneliness turn into a long term period of suffering.

Things will look up, they always do.

Sitting in a bar

So, I decided to check out the local night life, and I sit in the longest lasting bar in the area watching people. So far I have seen a Wilford Brimley look alike, a Stevie Ray Vaughn clone, a guy in red flannel with mutton chops, the crew of young guys with their hats twisted almost backwards, and one honest to God popped collar. Oh, look. There is another guy in red flannel. The one recognizable barfly that was eyeing me earlier was snatched up about fifteen minutes after I walked in, and now she is trying to get with the guy on her right without alienating the guy on her left, just in case. On top of all of this, it is Latina booty shaking contest night, so I am being inundated with rap that I can’t understand. One of the bartenders should be the subject of study funded by grants, as her dress and breasts are in obvious violation of the laws of physics. Over by the door, there is a. Six foot, 220 pound white girl with cornrows putting the moves on a four foot ten, eighty-five pound Hispanic guy.
I’m bored, I’m going home to watch my new TV, like I should have done in the first place. All I’m doing here is wasting money on beer I dont need, and time. I’ll post this tomorrow after I have had time to check for alcohol induced iPhone typos.

Finally!

So I finally got my money. I was able to go pick up my motorcycle. I had forgotten how much fun it is to ride. It will be more fun when the weather straightens up and isn’t raining on me. I made an appointment to get the brakes done on the car this afternoon, and as long as they get it done tonight, I think I am finally going to go get my TV. I have been watching my DVD’s on my computer monitor, a 19″ wide-screen that was really starting to get old. I have picked out my TV and the entertainment center to put it in. I cant wait to get it set up. The entertainment center will have to wait at least a week, maybe longer.

So, on to other things. Out of all the things that I had to consider when I was contemplating leaving X2B, how the leave would impact my life negatively was the one that I shunted off to the side. I knew about the things that I would be giving up, but the bullshit to worth ratio made the sacrifice worth it. After being on my own for about a month now, one of the negatives is starting to rise to the forefront of my mind. The relationship with X2B had been dead a long time, so it was only the physical separation that needed to take place. That has now happened, and I am looking towards my future, and whether or not there will be another person in it.

Realistically, I doubt it. I am sure that I will crave another relationship, but the harsh light of reality shines upon the ugly truth. I am too old and too picky. I doubt that I have the drawing power to gain the favor of someone that I would be interested in being with. I know it is too soon to be thinking about these things, I still have a long time to wait before I am legally able end the marriage. I have a catch 22 of residency. I cant file for divorce where I was, because you have to have been a resident the previous six months, and I cant file where I am now, because they have a one year residency requirement. I highly doubt that I will be comfortable getting involved with anyone until the Big D (and I don’t mean Dallas) is finalized. I have never cheated, and I never will. But, the devious part of my mind has realized that getting involved with someone could be a shortcut. Start up with someone new and make sure X2B knows about it, and maybe she will do the paperwork and get it over with sooner. But, I still have to live with myself, and I doubt that I would be able to if I went down that road.

A long time ago, I got really close to a girl while I was going through my first divorce. We hung out a lot, we shared a lot of interests, and she was beautiful. The funny thing was, she initiated the friendship. She taught me some life lessons, the biggest is that I should never settle. Find what I want, and don’t settle for less. I immediately broke that rule, with her. I grew to love her, and she loved me. Like a brother. Yeah, I got that one. She was never able to see me in any other way. And I settled for that relationship. Until she met someone. She told me about it, since she claimed I was her best friend. I had already told her how I felt about her, and the conversation did not go well. She wanted to know why I wasn’t happy for her, I wanted to know why she couldn’t be happy with me. We stopped talking to each other, and a few months after that, I moved out of the state. I never told her I was leaving. I regret that. We were close for almost a year and a half, and I just up and left without even saying goodbye. So Riy, if you ever stumble across this, I am sorry. I am sorry that our relationship wasn’t what either of us wanted it to be, and I am sorry that I left without saying goodbye. I still think about you often, and with regret. I know that you have done well for yourself, and I am proud of you. I doubt that you could have accomplished as much as you did if you were tethered to me, so I kind of understand. But, I do still miss you sometimes.

Again, kind of off track, but it shows how I got to the “Don’t Settle” mentality. I failed to follow that and wound up marrying someone that wasn’t right just to be with someone. I have re-learned that lesson, and wont settle again. Which brings me to the actual problem. If I am able to find someone that would be my version of perfect, I doubt that I will be theirs. I am old, I shaved my head because I was going bald, I am not Tall, Dark and Handsome. I am pretty much the opposite of that. So, one of the things I have had to accept is the fact that I will probably be alone for the rest of my life. I doubt I will ever get laid again, either.

And that pretty much sucks.

Good Weekend, Bad Weekend

So the weekend, and by weekend, I include Thursday, since that is when it started was good and bad. My blog, I can fudge if I want to. So Thursday started out bad, just like every other day this week. See, I was supposed to get some travel money from when I was just visiting this new job. Unfortunately, things have not proceeded as they should. I closed the joint bank account, and changed my information for payroll to reflect the new account number. I erroneously assumed that this change would be reflected across the board. It did not. After waiting the two weeks that I was told it would take to get the money, I made a phone call and was told that it was actually two weeks for the paperwork to be processed, then another two weeks to actually get the money after that. I waited those two weeks, and still hadn’t seen the money. I sent several emails, requesting status and after finding out that my buddy who made the same trip had been paid three days prior, I found out that I was scheduled to be paid that very day. The next day, still no money. Made a phone call and found out that changing payroll does not change travel payments. I made more urgent phone calls and filled out paperwork and hand delivered it to the manager over the department that makes those payments. He assured me that he would take care of it, since payment was scheduled that very day. I waited two more days, then it was the holiday weekend and waited the three more days. Still no money.

Now I am having a problem. I was counting on that money to pay for the repairs on my motorcycle, and they will probably start charging me a storage fee if I don’t pick it up soon. So, I call and talk to a lady that works for the guy I gave the paper to, and she told me that it was being paid that day, Tuesday. I asked to verify the account info. It was wrong. He had mis-entered it into the computer and missed one digit. She corrected it and hoped that we caught it in time. I waited until Thursday, which if you remember is where we started this post, and still no money. I called again, and the lady that I had been working with was out until Monday. Made about 4 phone calls to the help line before finally talking to a lady who told me that it showed as having been paid. I told her I didn’t have the money. She gave me a phone number for the Treasury that I could call to check the status. Call them, sure enough, it had been paid. To the wrong account number.

Call the bank, they verify that the number that the deposit had been sent to was not a valid account, so I didnt need to worry about someone else having my money. But they informed me that the process goes like this: They find out the account number is invalid. This takes a day. Then, for some reason, they notify the Federal Reserve Board, who takes another 3 days to notify the company that sent the deposit that it was a bad account. This would be the treasury, who will then notify the department that started this whole process that the account number was wrong. Then, that department would find the right account info and start over. So, going into my mini-vacation to see my son graduate his advanced training after basic, I have about two thousand dollars less than I thought I would. Luckily, I still had enough money left over to make the trip. So there is the bad part of Thursday.

The good part of Thursday is the trip itself. I snuck out a little early and went straight from work on the four hour road trip. The drive was great. The weather was wonderful, traffic was light. The car was getting great mileage and every gas station I saw had prices below $3.50 a gallon. I got to the base where my son was, and got right on and checked into the lodge on base. We went and ate, then we went bowling. There was a couple there bowling that I tried to get a surreptitious picture of, but the iPhone camera didn’t do too well with moving targets. The guy had the exact same haircut as Bob Ross. Every time I looked over, I started cracking up. The damn kid beat me two out of three games. I blame the house shoes and ball. And the really oily lanes. I will think some more up by the time we get together again and he starts talking about how he beat me at bowling. Dropped him off at the barracks before curfew and went to the lodge. This was the nicest room I have ever been in for $57 a night. Queen size bed, couch, chair with ottoman, kitchen, the works. The bed was probably the most comfortable I have been in for quite some time. I thought about asking who manufactured the mattress and what one it was so I could replace my bed with one of those, but didn’t.

Woke up early the next morning and watched the Boy graduate. It wasnt a huge ceremony, there was me and the wife of another trainee there to watch. But I was very proud of him. He stood rock still at attention, he was still focused at ease, and was all “yes, sir” and “thank you, sir.” Took a few pictures and then he went back to the barracks to pack. I waited almost two hours for him to get ready. I was hoping to take him with for a little sight seeing, but there wasnt time. I took him to the airport and got him checked in and on his way.

I decided to do some sight seeing, I still had to see the Atlantic. Seeing that meant that I have seen the Pacific, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and now the Atlantic. All the major seas and oceans bordering the US. I was happy to get that done. Walked along the beach at First Landing State Park, where the historians believe the settlers that eventually made Jamestown Colony first landed. It was a bit awe inspiring to think about the fact that four hundred years ago, this was where it all began. It was also awe inspiring to see the freaky shit that was on the beach. I also decided that although I had been taking a lot of pictures of things and places recently, I was in none of them. So I started doing the MySpace “hold the camera at arms length and hope that you actually getting yourself framed in the shot” method of self photography.

After walking around the various beaches, I wanted to see the U.S.S. Wisconsin, which is permanently docked and has free tours. I went and looked, and thought that tickets were needed since I couldn’t see any way to get on board, except through a building that had a ticket window. As I was looking for prices, the lady behind the glass tells me that the tour of the Wisconsin is free, but they also have a tour boat that goes past the Naval Station at Norfolk. It was leaving in about 20 minutes. I eagerly paid for the ticket and got on board.

This was amazing. They had two aircraft carriers, the Roosevelt and the Eisenhower docked, and I also saw a Los Angeles class Attack Submarine. It started raining, and most of my pictures were taken by hiding behind the cabin of the boat and getting the camera ready before popping out like the paparazzi to snap a shot before rain got on the lens. But it was absolutely amazing. I hope to go back on a better day and see more. I could spend a weekend in Virginia Beach and Norfolk. I didn’t get to stop by Jamestown, which I really wanted to see, because the rain got worse. This is where the bad part of the weekend started.

First off, there is a bridge tunnel that I went on/in to get there. That was cool to me. Driving underwater. This became a bottleneck on the way out. It took me an hour and a half to go twelve miles. The trip that took three hours on the way down took six on the way back. The next morning, I woke up to check my bank account. I had been paid, so there was that pressure off of me, but they had screwed up AGAIN and not paid me at my new, higher rate. So now I had all weekend to be pissed off about that before I could go into work and start finding out what the hell went wrong and why it wasn’t fixed like I was assured it had been.

But I did some grocery shopping and bought some cheap pots and pans, so now I can cook my own meals instead of going out all the time.

Anyway… this has gone on long enough. But to let those of you that care know, there is a new chapter of the Book up. Click the link in the sidebar to read up.