So, here's where I'll try to summarize my experience at the pop-culture behemoth that is Comic-Con. This will take me a while, so bear with me...

Wednesday morning, far too early for comfort, I rolled out of bed and remembered to pack everything last minute except my sandals. Not such a big deal but a bit annoying. Wore my contacts and a cute yellow v-neck. Sat on a plane for three hours, watched X2 for two and a bit of them, sort of to my chagrin cause I'd hoped to be able to sleep. Got to LA and was amazed by the palm trees. You don't see those in StL. Also don't see movie billboards on ever corner. Don't see them at all, really. Nor on buses or bus stop posters...We drove around, had lunch (at California Pizza Kitchen, natch) and then we were on our way to San Diego. Bright bright sun. My contacts were really bugging me so thankfully I had some sunglasses...but apparently there was something really wrong with my eyes cause I could barely keep them open the next day. sigh. you heard about that, I believe...Anyway, preview night was cool. we got to see everything before the rush of crowds. A good thing, that...cause it got really crowded. Got some free stuff and bought some postcards...so hopefully my friends in far off places will be able to get a little giftie...

Thursday was a bit crappy as I couldn't see most of the day. Spent the morning at the con and then came back. (Or did we? I can't remember what we did in the morning.) I was a bit worried cause I realized I hadn't contacted my partner-in-masquerading as to how we were going to get together at the con...thank goodness that worked out, thank goodness for the LotR_Costume group at Yahoo and thank goodness for Tammy. I slept quite a bit, didn't have lunch, and woke up in time to go to *a* mall in San Diego, which shows you how big the city is. I mean, we have a downtown, but there aren't nearly as many malls here...we were going to see Pirates that night but it was sold out. So we just had Pizzeria Uno's for dinner, which is grand. Funny how I didn't go to any place for food that they don't have here, save the Pacific Fish Co on the ground floor of our hotel...went swimming that night (never managed to get into my new suit though, was saving that for the beach, and well...read on)

Friday was better. Found out how to get in touch with my masq partner. Spent the morning at Coronado Island. Didn't see the famous hotel cause it was on the other side of the island and we didn't want to walk, lol. Did find some souvenirs and had some really great ice cream. I stood on the shore of the Pacific, finally. If it had been a little nicer weather we might have tried to make time to swim, but it was even a little chilly if you can believe it. Went back to the con and bought a Legolas doll, lol. It was the TTT version with Rohan armour...he looks pissed off. Maybe he's annoyed at the orcs. We met Jan again (person who took us to the mall) and went to see Pirates. Still good. Very happy. Will see it again...wonder if I'll end up seeing Pirates or Seabiscuit first with my parents...one way or another I'm going to get them to see Pirates. Came back, without eating more than ice cream for lunch and chips for dinner to work with Cathy on the masquerade skit. We thought it was pretty funny. We did end up getting laughs, but more about that later...up far too late and stayed up later looking at the complete FotR and TTT movie card decks I bought. Yes, I'm just in it for the Lord of the Rings.

And now we come to Saturday. Sigh. I missed Angelina Jolie and Halle Berry cause they were in the morning while Cathy and I were at Masquerade Orientation. Saw Dominic Monaghan as I was leaving the orientation. At first I didn't realize his bodyguard was a bodyguard; just thought it was someone dressing like Agent Smith. But then I realized he was actually protecting someone. I saw the clothes first and Dom was just wearing a grey tee and jeans, and by the time I actually processed his face (he had a cute little grin going) I was walking past him. Did a double take, I can assure you. If I'd have been quicker on the draw I might have run back to him and asked for an autograph or picture or something, but I'm not that fast nor am I that bold. So I at least breathed the same air as a celebrity for a while...

Met up with Lammy and Ire (her sister) and Banica (her friend) in the Kevin Smith talk. Sorry Alex, no autographs. He was pretty damn funny. And after his talk it was the New Line panel, and that was exciting. We had to sit through a 'Freddy vs Jason' spiel (not gonna see that movie) but then Richard Taylor came out and started talking about LotR yay! Andy Serkis talked a little as well. They had a great costume/prop demostration, there was a Galadrim elf, a Rohan warrior, Lurtz (the big-bad Uruk-hai, in full gear) and a hobbit lass. One of the armourers started making a sword. Some lucky person with the right ticket got to take it home. The hobbit lass had to be checked over by someone who really knew their hobbits...the aforementioned Dom. Later Elijah Wood and Sean Astin showed up, and they all talked a bit. We saw some behind the scenes stuff, Andy Serkis' audition tape, and what we were all waiting for, the preview to RotK. It was only three minutes of the 12 that will be on the dvd in August (should I pre-order or wait to see if they have another giveaway like they did last year? Let me know!) but it still looked neat. I can't believe the change Frodo goes through. And everyone says this is the best movie of the three, and the battle of Pelennor Fields makes Helm's Deep look like a minor scuffle. We'll see. Can't wait!

Unfortunately I didn't get to see anything else that day, really, cause by the time I'd eaten a (very) late lunch (about 4 pm) it was time to meet up with Cathy do practice the skit. But she'd gone to try and get Lij's autograph. Don't know if she ever even got it, but needless to say she was gone a pretty long time. Went to check in for the Masq and started getting dressed...put the ears on, did the side braids...had to wait a while for someone who knew how to do a fishtail braid so they could do the one in the back. No wig for me, too much trouble. Just me and my black hair, eh. At least the clothing was right! We had a pretty funny skit about the Lothlorien Beauty Care line, but I'll spare you the details. The bad thing was that there were no mikes so dialogue had to be taped. And the tech people started the music before the mc (who happened to be Robert Englund of Freddy Kruger fame) stopped introducing us. So we lost the timing, but there were laughs at the end, so I guess we were either actually funny or they were laughing at the problems we were having. My quiver almost slipped off cause one of the buckles wasn't in all the way...ah well. There was even a little Pirates tribute. The masq lasted most of the night, so I was very happy to get back to the hotel and sleep. Had to pack though...and there was the *sniff* moment when I remembered I had to go back to StL the next day.

So sunday comes, and we headed off to the con for one last time. Just walking around, trying to see some of what we hadn't before, but still didn't get to see everything. Lammy did manage to find a Pirates bag which she'd been looking for all evening. I wish I could have gotten some more free stuff. Alas. I'd just have to find someplace to put it anyway. I was sorely tempted to buy the deluxe gift set from FotR with all the character dolls in it...$60 which wasn't too bad and I even had the money, but how was I to get it home on the plane? So I settled on the FotR Legolas doll. They're so cute. This one doesn't look so pissed off. I'll keep them forever. Had to open them last night to see how all the little pieces fit together...too bad I didn't have them when I was trying to make the costume!

We made the drive back to LA, and I felt bad that we couldn't spend more time there. But I got the absolute last flight back into StL that you could get and it still be sunday night. The flight was a little bumpy but uneventful...there wasn't even a movie, just CBS's Eye on American which was a bunch of shorts from CBS shows. Didn't watch too much of it, wrote some Moonstone instead. So the story is advanced it's sort of coming together.

I think that's all of it. If you managed to read this far, congratulations. I don't have anything for you. If you ever have a chance to go to CC, I recommend it, but just dress up for the con, don't do the masq, unless you've got a big group. Bring lots of money and be prepared for your feet to hurt; mine still do. And try to stay longer than the con. I wish I could have. On the whole, I'm happy, I got to do a little theater, and sort of felt like an elf. If nothing else I'll have a great halloween costume

guess I should get back to work now.