Phoenix Comicon was a lot of fun. I went to every panel that John Scalzi was on, because he’s funny and clever and I like his writing (what can I say? I’m a writer and other writers I like are my rock stars). I was also surprised how funny Wil Wheaton was, but then I didn’t really read his blog before…now I may. Felicia Day was, as expected, funny and sweet. Seth Shostak proved to be a very funny individual, and I really enjoyed attending the panels he was on, as well. I added Confessions of an Alien Hunter
onto my “To Read” list (it keeps growing like The Blob 
). There were so many exhibitors, too, but I hope that next time the comicon people rent an extra bit of room from the convention hall because most of the time I was snail-crawling my way through crowds. In situations like that, I always think “I need a cattle prod like Mr. Burns from the Simpsons: ‘Excuse me – ZAP! – Excuse me – ZAP!’”
The Star Trek panel was really entertaining and made my inner-Geek go “SQUEE!” I have a lot of fond memories regarding Star Trek: TNG. It was one of the few shows my family could watch together (that and Poirot). I remember us all piling together on the sofa with my younger brother constantly answering questions like “What’s that? What’s happening?” until he’d finally fall asleep halfway through the episode (he was a bit young). And maybe I was odd because I didn’t have a crush on Westley like many of my female Geeky friends admit; I totally thought Riker was the awesome — well, second to Data. Showing my already developing love of reading, all I wanted was the ability to flip through a book and say, “Done.” LeVar Burton, Jonathan Frakes, and Wil Wheaton were entertaining. I think the highlight for me was when LeVar Burton sung the Reading Rainbow theme (ah, childhood memories 
) and the audience joined in. 
I didn’t have the tenacity to stand in line to meet Felicia Day, Wil Wheaton, LeVar Burton, or Jonathan Frakes. I’m just not a line person and I didn’t have the financial fortitude to pay for autographs. I know, I know, but I had a very limited amount of funds I took to the convention…and I had already spent $10 that day on parking* (I remember when parking was $3 there *sigh*). However the author tables were always so blissfully free of lines and they would sign my books and my program guide, so I spent a few minutes talking to Scalzi where we agreed that Red Matter was a weak plot device (as was midi-chlorians**), although I said my major “WTF?” moment from that movie was when Kirk just happened to get shot onto a planet and just happened to be chased by a monster that led to him just happen to find the cave where Original Spock was who could, conveniently, explain everything to him. Scalzi agreed and then we lamented how we have been banned by our significant others from mentioning any more plot point weaknesses (J.’s exact words to me are “No more comments from the peanut gallery — or else”).
However, by Sunday, I was glad to be heading back home. I suppose that sums up the Con nicely: lots of fun and by the end I was satisfied enough that I wanted to be back in my own home.
* I planned a little better the second and third day by going to the Park-and-Ride and getting on the Light Rail. Love Phoenix’s Light Rail, I think it’s an awesome idea, and I think something similar should be implemented here because there’s one major east-west road that basically spans most of the city.
** Granted, I’ve never been a fan of Star Wars (*ducks the things thrown at her*). I could go into why, and I feel if I wasn’t a writer — if I was more easily able to shut off certain parts of that Inner Critic of mine — I’d like it better. Or maybe I just saw it too late to truly appreciate it and if I had been introduced to it younger I’d've liked it more? I don’t know.
