Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Sharpie and Sausage


This is totally amazing. The guy took some black Sharpies to his creme color walls and just started drawing. It's history from there. Read the article and see a 360-degree picture of his basement. It's really amazing. Notice that he sometimes took it beyond his wall and did his furniture, too. Plus, I think he converted a trash can into an R2D2 unit :)


"Masterpieces from Russia, made from sausage - according to the description anyone can just walk up and eat the artwork." I wonder if anyone has.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Beware of Flashing Boobs

Really, there are flashing boobs in this video.

Thanks to Pointy for another funny.





Of course, three are other videos out there for Rodney Carrington. He curses, is not PC and talks about body parts. *LOL*

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Lightening the Load

I love the peeps that come up with great solutions.

The first set of wires are for my PDA. The second set of wires are for my phone. Both are used to recharge my gadgets and to synch it up with data on my laptop.

I just recently replaced all those wires with this set of gadgets. I can even get away with not carrying the AC plug. The USB cable and the two doohickeys will allow me to recharge my PDA and phone and also synch up with stuff from my laptop. What's not shown is also an attachment for a car charger. I'll have to remember to bring that with me when I head to Los Angeles.

Just like that. I carry the AC plug in case I don't want to pull out my laptop to recharge my phone.

Love GADGETS!!! I have a lighter load to carry and room to carry something else now

Thursday, September 11, 2008

I Remember

I remember when I typed the date yesterday and noted that I'm flying on this day.

I remember when the 5:30am news showed lived the moment of silence taking place in Washington, D.C. I could have done without the clicking of all those cameras. You know... silence means to stop what you're doing and remember.

I remember when the client posted remembrance notices by the entrances.

I remember when I stepped up to the TSA agent to have my ticket and id checked. They showed they remembered by wearing new uniforms. Instead of white shirts, they were brand new nice blue shirts with new patches, new shields and new id badges. I don't know if the lines were especially long today because people intentionally meant to fly today or the TSA screeners decided to take a little extra care in examing the stuff.

I remember when I looked across the aisle to the right side window as we're landing, caught a glimpse of the Empire State Building in its red, white and blue colors, never knew that it was that far to get to downtown Manhattan, and then finally caught the light glimpses of the shining two lights up to the sky that represented the Twin Towers.

I remember when the Captain came on, after getting us to our jetway, to thank us for flying today in memory of those that flew on this day. The cabin applaused.

I remember.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Dragon*Con 2008 Reflections

Yes, I'm still thinking about it. Can't stop as everyone is posting their pics and blogging about it.

My favorite airline, Continental, made sure I made my connections so I can arrive in time to catch the next to last Marta to my hotel. Boy, that was one long Marta escalator ride up to street level. Was I afraid to walk the streets late at night? Not this raised-New York gal. Plus there were signs that the streets were on 24-hour surveillance.

I did get a little peeved with the hotel. You would think the address was the main entrance. Nope, you can only use that entrance if you have the hotel room key. The hotel was on a triangular block. I had to drag my luggage around the pointy part of the block to access the entrance used for valet parking. Plus it had four steps. You know -- traveling from west coast 2pm to east coast 12 midnight -- did not need this. No problem, just wanted my room. Plus I get my freebie breakfast each morning before I headed to the DC hotels.

The next morning I headed to the Hyatt to get my badge for the weekend. Signage was not very good as I had to go out of the hotel to find street entrance to the registration area. You would think with my last name being at the end of the alphabet I would breeze through the pickup of my badge. Nope, everyone from Wood to Z was lumped together. I think this was one of the longest line. I think it took me a little over an hour to get my badge. I'm glad I went early as I'm sure the line got longer later in the day when everything opened at 1pm.

The hotels were swarming with people in costume already. There was still room to move around early afternoon. Different story after that. Everything under the sun came out. Of the areas I checked out, the only crowd free area was the International Tower of the Hyatt. This was where the Writer's Track was being held -- not many in costume there.

Atlanta police was in force to ensure people movement could happen between Hyatt and Marriott. You would not have been able to make the masses walk to the corner to cross *LOL*. Though I felt for the handicap as they had to take the long route around at the Hyatt as you had to do stairs in order to get to the Marriott -- shortest route.

Unlike the NY Comic Con, and I'm sure San Diego Comic Con, freebies are in short supply. Exhibitors and dealers are out to make a buck. You can find many booths that sell stuff that can make a costume if you did not bring one with you.

Of the two panels I attended, I had no problem with the first one. Lots of available seating. I got to see some of the famous vampire writers: Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Suzy McKee Charnas, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Laurell K. Hamitlon and Kelly Lockhart. I've always wanted to check out Ms. Yarbro's vamp and now I want to also check out Ms. Charnas', too.

The second panel I arrived about 1 1/2 hour before start. The staffer said I need to go in a get a seat in the current session as they will not be clearing the room for the next panel. Got in, still plenty of seats in the back. I made my move as soon as the panel was over and found a seat upfront. The panel consisted of Raven Hart, Elizabeth Donald, Carol Nelson Douglas, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Mike Lee and Laurell K. Hamilton. Two more authors I want to check out -- Mike Lee and Carol Nelson Douglas.

Peachtree Centre Mall is generally closed as downtown is dead -- it's mainly a very large food court with several stores that serves the office workers during the work week. Well, Dragon*Con gave these foodies a reason to open. They were open early for breakfast and stay open late, like 11pm. Good luck in finding a spot to sit and eat your lunch. If you don't mind fresh air, go upstairs to the courtyard.

Cell phone service -- at least at the Marriott -- stink in the Exhibitor Hall areas. The people who needed to use it could not. How are you suppose to call someone about this great find? Not that I think you could hear anyone except yourself talk. As I did not use my cell at all, I wonder if my network was behind me.

Everything they say about the elevators are true. You can wait forever. Learn to get them at the very first floor or the highest floor.

Kudoos to Marriott staff in trying to move people along at the escalators. Very dangerous as they were always packed. Lots could get hurt if people did not move on. There was little room to stop and think which way you want to go once you got off.

I was leary about the weather as I thought it would be hot and humid. I took care of that. Walked early and late between my hotel and DC hotels. I did not participate in the parade. I kept majority of what I wanted to check out in one hotel ;)

Love the Marta. Great and cheap --just $4.00 roundtrip-- to move between airport and event hotels :) Remember, you need to use your ticket to get out.

The best part was meeting some great people. It's always great to put a face to someone you've talked to many times on the internet. And all those costumed people, more than willing to have their photos taken.

I'm not a Dragon*Con virgin anymore :) I need to experience it at least one more time to decide if it will be an annual ritual.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

August in Pictures

Here's my August in review through pictures...

August 2-3 - Nashville, TN -- The Parthenon, The Hermitage, Visiting the Trees
August 4 - Nashville, TN -- Acheron Book Launch
August 15 - New York City, NY -- Acheron Book Signing
August 16 - Foxwoods, CT -- Acheron Mini Launch
August 21 - Orlando, FL -- Acheron Book Signing
August 22-24 - Orlando, FL -- Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom, Afternoon Tea, Animal Kingdom
August 29-September 1 - Atlanta, GA -- 2008 Dragon*Con

You may need to be patient with the links loading as they are all pictures in my Photobucket account. I use it so I can share pictures across all websites. MySpace requires people to have accounts in order to view the pictures. I also don't want to load the pictures in multiple places, like Facebook.

Yes, the pictures have a central theme -- Sherrilyn Kenyon. I don't know how Sherri does it day after day for three weeks. I was tired just doing what I did in the month. When I got to Phoenix after Orlando, I wound up going to bed early three nights in a row. I generally stay up until 12-1am and get up at 5:30am during the away work week.

Nothing exciting in September. I'm back to my regular travel of Phoenix and home.

Fun travel will pick up in October -- Disneyland and K*Con 2008.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Two Different Stars

Mucho costumed people and occasional star sightings at Dragon*Con this past weekend -- okay I only saw one. I had dinner at the same restaurant as George Tekei (sp? Sulu in Star Trek) -- he was in the booth to our left. Yes, Ed confirmed it was him. I would have to stand still and really look and recognize the person out of role. I'm bad like that.

I attended a panel on Friday night and saw Laurell K. Hamilton live and in person for the very first time. I've read about Laurell traveling with her husband and her bodyguard. Looked around and her two guys, dressed in kilts, were close by. Another panel another day and Laurell ran in late. She got to her seat and her two guys went off to the side.

Sherrilyn Kenyon was also at both panels. I happened to have walked over with her to her first panel and noticed the entourage she gains and leaves with. Sherri is like honey. I think Sherri is generally accompanied by a close friend and maybe Ed who clears the a path through the crowd when heading to where she needs to be.

Oh what's the point of this blog....

Well, Sherri did not appear in her booth during public times because she causes a Fire Marshalls nightmare. But she did stop by Sunday after closing, incognito. I guess I could not tell her we're closed :D. She had to wear a mask to go shopping with her friend *LOL* Can't have an entourage.

I don't have to wonder how Laurell gets around as I saw it with my own eyes on Monday as she was quickly whisked right by Sherri's booth. It was like a line dance. With a guy on each arm chained locked, one literally dragged her away and the other followed. It was funny. Either she was late again or there was a possilbe sighting and she had to be whisked away before a mob gathered.

I have to say after hearing Laurell speak at the two panels she has some very strong viewpoints. Laurell is not as personable as Sherri and several of the other authors. Some fanactics must have traumatized Laurell.

Oh, one more thing.... Sherri has a page on her website that asks you who is who -- Sherri or Laurell. In the early years, they did look somewhat a like. Okay, to the point. They were both limping this weekend when the day got too much for the sprains they had. Plus, they both caused mike problems. *LOL*