Comicpalooza (or, It's Kind of a Funny Story)

The golden idol, or holy grail, of just about any fandom is going to Comic Con in San Diego.  ("Throw me the idol, I throw you the tickets!")

However, sometimes you have to make do with what you got. I had heard about Comicpalooza around 2 years ago, but hadn't really had much of a desire to go- until this year. 

In April I found out that Norman Reedus was going to be at Comicpalooza. (Yes, I'm a Walking Dead fan) To make a long story short, I was able to go in the end. And meet Norman Reedus. And did I mention Lennie James? 

Someone went with me on Sunday, the 19th. This Someone didn't want to be in my picture with said actors, but the staff would let her have a quick fly-by in the photography area.  

After checking in, I looked around for a little bit then we headed over to the photo op section. We got in a good place in line. Good enough, in fact, to see the actors arrive.  I believe Michael Rooker arrived first, Lennie arrived shortly after. They said hi to everyone as they came. Norman came last; I think he was at an autograph session. He made up for it though. He stuck his head out of the curtained area a couple of times. And his foot. Everyone screamed.  

Then the staff started letting people in. We were arranged in lines according to photo types: Norman only, Lennie only, Michael and Norman, etc. You get the idea. I was trying not to freak out too much at this point. 

Finally it was my turn. I knew beforehand that I wouldn't have a lot of time in there. I went in the area. I may have passed by Michael; I think he was in the corner. Lennie was the first one I saw. My conscious thought was: "He's so tall." I said, "Hi, Lennie, it's nice to meet you." I shook his hand. He said, "It's nice to meet you." 

I saw Norman next (he's also tall). I shook his hand. Again, "Hi, Norman, it's nice to meet you." They were both really nice.

Then it was time for the photo. It was about this time, in front of that camera, that my brain ceased to function. 

I forgot to take off my glasses. The studio recommends you do.

I forgot to smile.  

In front of that camera, my brain goes, "Oh, wait--"  

But it was already done. The photographer must have checked to see if someone blinked, and nodded. Keep in mind, all of this took about thirty seconds.  I must have said thank you, and went out to collect the picture.  

I looked... Stunned. It wasn't quite my ideal picture. I just ended up, with some prodding from the Someone, just chalking it up to experience. And it was kind of funny. 

I went to explore for the rest of the day. It was shortly after the photo op and looking around the floor that I looked at my watch. "Shoot!" It was after one. I'd had a panel I'd wanted to go to.  So I went as fast as I could to the next floor, and got to see most of it. 

I also dropped in on the Boondock Saints panel, only because I thought Norman would be there. After a few minutes I left, only to learn later that he did stop by for a few minutes.  

Charlie Hunnam was there signing autographs, but I didn't see him. I did pass by Peter Mayhew's (Chewbacca) table. 

It was neat looking at all the vendors' booths. The big thing to buy there is fan art, and there is a lot of it. I stopped by one artist's booth; she had designed the art that went on the 3-day passes: Captain America and Iron Man. The larger prints were sold out, but she had smaller ones available and autographed one for me.  There was also a booth that sold photographs from TV and movies; they might have been reprints but it was okay.  We found some from Gotham (Someone's favorite), Homeland, and even Twilight.  We purchased a Walking Dead cast picture that had been taken last season with everyone in it. (On a related note: maybe next year, I'll go for an autograph instead of a picture.)  Someone also enjoyed the NASA booth. 

What not to buy: food.  Seriously, the food there is so overpriced.  You're better off going upstairs and eating at the Starbucks.  There was a good pretzel, though, if a bit overpriced. 

All in all, I had a great time. It was a good introduction to Comicpalooza, and I'd like to go again next year. 

When Bad Guys... Stay Bad

This blog post comes somewhat close to the conclusion of the Breaking Bad marathon. And that got me thinking ...did 2 of TV's most recent bad guys try to redeem themselves? And at what cost?

I'm talking about Walter White and Nicholas Brody.

White:
He, a chemistry teacher, did what he did to support his family. He's dying of cancer, and he's worried about what will happen after his death.  But he uses his skills in a bad way: he makes meth. He's untruthful to his family, and when he finally does come clean, his wife Skylar gets involved as well. Walt continues in the process, and he's responsible for more than one death, to say the least.

If you watch the series, there's a sort of an interesting "opposite" parallel concerning White and Jesse, his "assistant." While Walt goes deeper into this problem, Jesse, because of circumstances, grows tired of this lifestyle and tries to come clean at one point. He doesn't want to do it anymore.  Things go from bad to worse for Walt. And, his family isn't doing good either.  Also for Jesse, while we're at it.

Lastly, in the final episode, Walt is at a pretty low point.  He's sick again, and alienated from his family.  His one act for a last chance of redemption is saving Jesse, who's being held prisoner by worse "bad guys." And he succeeds.  Jesse and Walt part on *somewhat* (by that I mean "barely") good terms.  Walt accomplishes this at the cost of his life.

Nicholas Brody.  One must concede, that he does have a harder time on his show than Walt. Captured by terrorists, held for eight years, and "turned" into a terrorist, for all intents and purposes.  Brody has to keep this secret from his family, alienating himself from them.  Long story short.

Carrie Matheson tries to see the good in him, with mixed results. But her plans for him don't go so great. She ends up having him work for the CIA. It's that or go to prison.  Brody picks option A.  At the end of season 2, he will need to prove to basically all of America that he didn't do... a certain thing. Carrie tries to do it for him, as he's MIA.

I remembered Brody saying to Carrie near the end of season 2, "I just want to be a good person again." We see this with Jesse, but not with Walt.

Finally he does this one thing. And it ends badly for him. Brody's family doesn't know.  At least not yet.

Walt's image is tarnished, too.  So, neither of their families know.

So... Just because you do something for a good reason, doesn't mean it's good itself.


Sent from my iPad 2

ER

I remember when I got interested in the show "ER."  It wasn't always that way.  My mom first started watching it, then told me about it.  But it took me a while.  I was just in high school, give or take, when it first came out, and it seemed boring at first.

Mom kept telling me about this episode involving a sunflower.  And this guy named George Clooney.

So I started watching it.  I was hooked.

The most harrowing episode... the one where the ER's in quarantine, and somewhere along the way, Dr. Romano gets his arm chopped off by a helicopter.  Yeah, you remember that one.  You can interject here, going, "But there's also that episode where ____."  There were a lot of those. 

The saddest... at first I was going to say when Dr. Greene dies, but then I saw the one where Dr. Pratt dies.  Yeesh, 
 
The funniest episode: "ER Confidential," where said sunflower is involved.  

I might have said this in a previous entry, but I was able to pick up the last season for $10.  Yeah, I was feeling pretty great that day.  There was a bunch of great episodes, with exception to one.  I liked the one where Dr. Morris goes to the camp for pediatric heart patients.  It was neat how they brought back just about all of the previous stars.  And, the last episode was good, too.