Must remember to buy new sunscreen.
I’ll be in sunny California for several days and my Melbourne winterised skin will probably get burnt to a crisp without it. And to be honest, American sunscreens just don’t cut it when compared to the ones made here.
I am travelling 14 hours, about 20,000 kilometres to a country where I don’t know anyone. I will be on my own for nine days, relying on the kindness of people I’ve never meet before. My thought this morning before dragging my sorry arse out of bed was I’m going to be staying with people who I’ve never spoken to or seen in real life – I must be crazy.
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!!
But really, isn’t that what all overseas travel is about? You’re in a country where you essentially have none of the usual supports. I’ll really be on my own and that is a little freaky.
But all this still can’t overwhelm the excitement I feel. I’m going overseas! I’m going to meet some people who I spend more time communicating with then my friends who live two blocks away from me. It’s going to be brilliant, fantastic.
Oohh… QANTAS lets you check out what the inflight entertainment might be and I can watch Iron Man again. My god, I’m nerdy! I get distracted from freaking out by the fact I’ll be able to watch Iron Man.
The mini-moo cards came out brilliantly and I didn’t mess up the text on the back. Booyah! Man of steel is my favourite I think, followed by Haunted Knight and The Long Halloween. Now all I have to do is make myself give them out when I’m in Baltimore. I’m going to keep a few for myself as well.
Also, there’s a suitcase in my bedroom that’s just waiting to be filled.
I finally got my travel insurance. Yay me. Now people can stop asking me about it.
And seeing I’ve decided I’m taking my laptop, I have a sexy new Crumpler laptop bag. I checked out sleeves and they cost around $60. So I decided to spent an extra $20 and got a “Reginald Transfer” with handles and a shoulder strap. It fits my laptop perfectly and I went the green even though I have a red backpack and suitcase. Going to clash horribly!
Only one month and two weeks until I get to use it for the purpose it was bought for. Hoorah!
Oh… and I got some more mini-moo cards featuring five of my Long Halloween action figure photos and five of my Trinity action figure photos. Fingers crossed they come out okay and I got everything on the back of the card right.
1. Travel insurance.
2. Power plug adaptor.
3. Sleeve for laptop. I’ve decided I am going to take it with me.
4. A few packets of TimTams. Those yanks are going to learn how to suck milk/coffee/alcohol of choice through a timtam!
5. Vegemite. If I’m having toast, I’m going to want vegemite.
6. A variety of lollies, chocolates and sweet things to give away.
7. Chocolate coated macadamia nuts.
8. Some new moo mini-cards featuring my action figure photos. Might actually drum up some sales.
9. Sketchpad.
10. Presents for my generous hosts (still working on exactly what they’ll be).
11. Bigger memory card for camera.
I know so many people who have themed sketchbooks or a particular character they request from comic book artists when they’re at a con. Well, I’m having a totally crazy theme idea for a sketchbook for my trip to Baltimore (and any other future cons I get to): Doctor Who. Specifically, David Tennant’s Doctor. I’d obviously have to get some reference pictures because most of the artists aren’t going to know who he is but I think it could be a brilliant idea. And it combines two of my loves – Doctor Who and comic books.
I was watching the news last night and they had a story about the abolition of the law that prohibits hand gun ownership in Columbia. The reporter was standing out the front of what I think was the Supreme Court in Washington DC and it dawned on me that in a few months I’ll be seeing that for real.
Ta-dah!
Upgrading did the trick and now I’ve got a spiffy new theme that I’ve tweaked within an inch of its life as is my way. If you’re curious about the photo (which of a Batman action figure from Matt Wagner’s Trinity comic), it’s one I took and looks like this in its usual form.
Haunted Knight
Anyhoo, I’m still ironing out the kinks with this blog and figuring out how it all works. But I’m sure it’ll be fun and I’ll acquire some new skills.
I’ve set this blog up so I can share my holiday experiences in a fashion that I want to. I could’ve done the easy thing and set up one on the many blogging sites that are around these days but no, I had to do it myself. My hosting plan isn’t supposed to include a database but they were nice enough to let me have one. The perks of being a long-time customer I suppose.
My trip is short, only nine days and I wish it was as longer but I’m just glad to be going at all. I leave Australia’s fair shores for America on September 21 and come back on September 29. It’s my first time overseas and I’m just a little excited. America was never my first choice for a overseas trip but the whole comic book obsession intervened and I’m heading there for the Baltimore Comic Con. Apart from Baltimore, I’ll be spending a few days in California before heading to Washington DC then onto Baltimore. Lets see how much I can squeeze in – plenty I hope. I’m going to be meeting a bunch of people from the Tim Sale forum I frequent, including the man himself and Matt Wagner. I’m hoping to come back with a few commissions from a few of my favourite comic book artists.