It’s been a week since I got back, but I’ve been way too busy to write about my mini-vacation to San Diego (7/16-7/20). The publicity work for the new book has sorta taken over my life. Now, all the review copies are sent out, and we’re starting to get some advance blurbs (including one that came in just an hour ago from Booklist). Next week, I’ll be making a ton of flyers to send out to independent bookstores all over the country. This weekend, to “relax,” I painted the walls of the “Voyant Nerve Center,” a room that was previously the bedroom of the daughter of the last tenant; the walls were pink. It’s taken me two months to find the time, but at last the walls are painted (poorly, but painted) a dark green. Pix to follow.
So I went on vacation. Now, one thing to know about me is that only once in my life have I taken a flight that didn’t involve work or my family. So I was looking forward to this jaunt to see my buddy Ian out in San Diego, recently returned from the war. He was aboard the USS Valley Forge (which I did get to tour, but did not get to take any pictures of, since I would’ve been beaten into a pulp for doing such a thing), a cruiser upon which he helped coordinate the Aegis weapons system.
I wanted the opportunity to catch up with my friend, but I also wanted to hedge my bets. If some “situation” came up, I figured Ian might have to put in extra time on the ship, so I timed the trip to coincide with the San Diego Comic-Con, geekfest extraordinaire. Another good friend of mine, Tom Spurgeon, was coming into San Diego for the Con, so I figured I could spend some time with him, too.
Over-planning complete, I dumped about 3 gigs of music into the iPod and headed to San Diego. I was stuck in a window seat for the flight, next to some middle-aged white people who wore name tags that read, “Give God Glory.” Sitting right behind them was cartoonist John McCrea (on the left in this picture, with the dyed devil-horns). We chatted a little after landing. I remembered reading some of his UK comics back when I was in college, which made him feel a little old.
At the airport, Ian and I met up, and headed out for a late dinner (subjective time was around midnight; 9pm locally) at the Turf Club. Here, you order cuts and the staff brings it to you raw. There’s a big grill in the middle of dining area, and you put your steaks on it and cook it as you like. Which was fun, especially after 6 hours on a plane, and a couple of G&Ts in you.
The next day, Ian worked from 6am-3pm, while I geeked out over at the Con with Tom, his brother Whit. I saw plenty of people dressed (you don’t know how disappointed I am that this link doesn’t have any pictures) as Klingons, Stormtroopers, Jedi Knights, Elves (replete with pointy ears), Wolverine, and a couple of guys dressed up like Neo from that bullshit new Matrix movie. There was also a hot girl who had no top, but painted a pair of suspenders on herself. I have no pictures of that, unfortunately.
I’m tired, and will write more tomorrow. I think the paint fumes are getting to me, a little.