(Re)Generation Who Convention 2018

I'm way late getting around to writing this post, but alas, here it is....

(Re)Generation Who Con-Year 3. I love this convention. I really do. It is one weekend a year that we frivolously drop Jonas off with a family member and we head down to Baltimore with some of our best friends in the world. The ride down is always energetic, fun, and full of anticipation. I love checking into our rooms, dropping off our stuff, and heading down to see the earliest happenings at the convention. I have a lot of interests that inspire great Fandoms, but Doctor Who fans are some of the most inclusive and kind human beings there are. Attending (Re)Generation Who takes me out of my own head about the things that fuel my depression and anxiety and reminds me that solidarity exists and I can be myself. Sometimes my best self.

Here are some highlights from Who Con 2018:

• Rachel Talalay! I attended all of her panels and just love her. I became a fan of hers years ago when I saw the movie she directed, 'Tank Girl'. Since then she's done a lot of amazing work on shows I love, i.e. Sherlock, Doctor Who. During one of my favorite panels, Rachel showed a directors cut scene of Peter Capaldi's regeneration (God, I love his monologues) into the first female Doctor of the series, Jodie Whitaker. Her insight on women, equality, and the rise of the #MeToo movement was inspiring and thought provoking. In addition to that, Rachel was also advocating for gun reform and was raising money for that cause. I was thrilled that I got the opportunity to meet her, shake her hand, and tell her how much I admired her work. She was very kind.  
  
• Peter Capaldi and Michelle Gomez-I was really surprised that Peter Capaldi came to the convention so soon after his run on the show but was thrilled with the opportunity to see him in person. Our budget couldn't justify the cost for a photo-op but I still got  to see him up close and attend his panel. Later on after the meet and greet area was closed, I went and sat in Peter's chair and may have accidentally sniffed his chair...don't ask.  Michelle Gomez is fun, hysterical, and NUTS! I probably had the most fun listening to her tell stories on her panel so I was quite excited to hear her spoil that she would be working with Big Finish in the near future.
  
• The Classic representation-I enjoy the Classic Who panels very much. Over the last year Jer and I have been doing decades worth of binge watching with no dent in episodes in sight. Many times I like a companion or a particular Doctor much more after enjoying their panels at the Who Con. I was disappointed that Sylvester McCoy wasn't at the Con this year...while (so far that I've seen) he isn't necessarily my favorite Classic Doctor, I find his energy, humor, and panel conversations, to be wildly entertaining. 
  
• Standing with Whos Against Gun Violence. Sadly this convention was dampened by a school shooting that killed 17 human beings in Florida in February 2018. Gun violence is an epidemic in America with mass shootings being common news these days. The ease of gaining weapons designed for war and not personal protection, is alarming. AR-15s really have no business in our society. It is a complex debate with strong points on either side of the argument. With that being said I stood with the protesters (along with my friend in Weeping Angel Cosplay) as a representative of their message...Gun violence needs to end. We deserve to feel safe when sending our children to school, attending concerts, going to a museums, etc without the concern of being shot to death in the back of our minds. 
  
• Karaoke-We ran into a guy that lived a couple of streets away from me in my hometown. We went to the same high school though he was older than me and I didn't know him. Talk about coincidence! Anyway, he played the game Heads Up with us for a while before letting us know he had a portable karaoke machine in this tiny bag he was carrying around. We had a blast. Jer still melts my heart with his rendition of Frank Sinatra's New York, New York. 
• The usual stuff-Who Dance Party, having drinks and conversation in our hotel rooms, going to sample the Baltimore food choices, walking around the vendor rooms, checking out the panels, and spending time with Jeremiah and our like-minded friends.

  

  Me and Jeremiah (as Matt Smith) causing trouble at Who Con

 I'm already looking forward to next year and everything (Re)Generation Who has to offer.

Black Panther: A Very Spoilery Review

Black Panther is the superhero movie I have been waiting for. It isn't perfect but don't get me wrong, I loved it. The animated sequence in the beginning sets us up with the cultural traditions of the Wakanda people, the rise of the Black Panther as protector of his people, and how a meteor filled with the alien element Vibranium, led to Wakanda becoming one of the most secretly advanced technology hubs in the world.

What I loved:
1. The Afrofuturism. While still maintaining the ancient rituals and tribal vibe, Wakanda is an advanced civilization with the technology and resources to change the world. (see bottom of post for reading recs)
2. The beautiful, powerful, Black WOMEN! Dunai Gurira as Okoye is amazing and I already love her as Michonne on Walking Dead. Her character in Black Panther is strong, conflicted, and tested. Shuri, T'Challa's sister played by Letitia Wright, is brilliant, savvy, tough, and just adorably delivers the best one liners of the movie. Pepper in actors such as Angela Bassett as the Queen Mother (who can forget her incredible portrayal of Tina Turner?) and Lupita Nyong'o as Nakia (won an Oscar for "12 Years a Slave", watch at your own risk, it's HARD) and you have a pretty formidable cast of remarkable female actors!
3. Wakanda. The one thing I liked about Thor (and I mean the one thing because Thor is an asshole), was the representation of Asgard. Wakanda is beautifully represented but also has a great story. It is steeped with mythology, is rich with culture, and is visually stunning on the big screen. Send the vibranium train...I want to go to Wakanda!
4. Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) as the sympathetic and simultaneously reprehensible villain. George R.R. Martin loves to write these kinds of villains too and they are my favorite kind to engage with. 

What I didn't love:
1. W'Kabi (Daniel Kaluuya). His acting was good. He's a great actor and I loved him in the Black Mirror episode "15 Million Credits". His character in Black Panther just fell really short for me. He was underdeveloped and too easily influenced. I was more moved by his lover Okoye's, resolve to kill him if it meant saving Wakanda. He does surrender to her with his best line, "You would kill me, my love?" To which Okoye replies, "For Wakanda? Without question."
2. The waaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy extended, over the top action sequences that always involve gratuitous collateral damage and too much car surfing at impossible speeds. (YAWN)
3. The conflicted characters were brilliant. The political message was strong and important. Yet it felt like there were only two choices in philosophy offered: over-idealism and over-radicalism. Granted, while these choices sometimes seemed trite, it also brought me back into the reality of the Marvel Universe. It resolved itself with T'Challa's decision to engage in arming youths with diplomacy and education as a means of empowerment so perhaps this minor complaint is due to my impatience.

Wasn't this just the best line?

Extended Plot Summary: 
Disguised as a Third World Country, Wakanda boasts it's isolationism has kept them from being infiltrated by foreign invaders...until recently. We are set up for T'Challa's (Chadwick Boseman) reign in Wakunda in Captain America: Civil War when his father T'Chaka is killed in an explosion meant to frame Bucky Barnes (Bucky, Captain America's best bud, was brainwashed to become the lethal Winter Soldier and now being treated secretly in Wakanda by Shuri. She is working to heal his wounds and reverse the affects of his brainwashing).

We have enough backstory to bring us to Oakland California 1992 (side fact: also where the activist party, the Black Panthers rose up). King T'Chaka makes a special trip there to confront his brother, Prince N'Jobo for his betrayal of Wakanda and it's people. N'Jobo had begun to question his King brother's decision to keep Wakanda and vibranium a secret when it could help liberate others. This conflict begins the debate over two different philosophies, both wielding incredibly heavy consequences no matter what side you choose (insert Professor X vs. Magneto).

The end result is a radicalized N'Jobo betrays Wakanda because he feels that his people have a duty to do more to help people of African descent who are still living in a reality full of racial tension, crimes against humanity, and social injustices. He wants to arm the oppressed with Wakandan-style weapons so they can defend themselves against their oppressors. On the surface it is difficult NOT to enlist in his revolution...after all, history often candy-coats the hard-to-swallow pill of white America's starring role in slavery and segregation. Couple that with the fact that we are not even remotely far enough away from the continued impact of  racial disparity and segregation to deny that racism is systematically perpetuated. Even now. As a white girl who has done a lot of soul searching to find and obliterate my own societal prejudices in exchange for understanding, I might've read N'Jobo's recruitment brochure and found his cause attractive and justified (as long I didn't read the fine print).

But alas, in the superhero world of good guys and bad guys, it is not in the "why" but in the "how". Why N'Jobo betrayed his country becomes irrelevant because how he did it was despicable. He sent a black market arms dealer, Klaue, into Wakanda to steal Vibranium which resulted in many lives lost and a very valuable and dangerous element in the hands of the a real bad guy. King T'Chaka kills his brother to protect his informant after N'Jobo attacks him. They cover up their part in N'Jobo's death by agreeing to not speak of it. They leave N'Jobo's young son behind to live in the aftermath of discovering his father's body and cope with his death.

And now all of the nuts and bolts are in place for the rise of a patient villain who will devote his whole life to becoming a warrior, intelligent enough to challenge and overthrow the Royal family he hated. Enter Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger, an MIT graduate and currently a black-ops soldier, his body is branded in a tribal-style, each scar representing a person he killed. He is sympathetic but while his plight is understandable, it is again, not the "why" but the "how".  Killing has become far too easy for Erik and in his hate-driven desire for vengeance, he has lost his ability to fully embrace the humanity in fulfilling his father's legacy to liberate people. It becomes clear that this he is too far gone. It's personal.

T'Challa is having a rough first week as the new King. He fails to capture/kill Klaue (despite his promise to W'Kabi) in favor of saving his CIA friend, Agent Ross (Martin Freeman) and he finds that some of his old Wakandan friends are a bit fickle in their allegiances. I'm talking to you, W'Kabi! Erik Killmonger dumps a dead Klaue (after rescuing him to kill him and killing his own girlfriend when Klaue used her as a shield) at Wakanda's doorstep and challenges T'Challa's throne in an ancient fighting ritual. T'Challa is a bit distracted in the fight after learning his father was responsible for murdering his own brother (Erik's father) and struggling with his ideals of his father vs. his father's dark secret that brought Killmonger knocking.

Of all the advanced vibranium-infused action scenes throughout the movie, the fighting ritual to claim the throne was my favorite. It was beautiful, taking place at the edge of a waterfall. It was primitive and stripped down. The drums beat for momentum, and the speared warrior women refereeing the battle were pretty bad-ass. T'Challa is thrown over the waterfall by Killmonger and a new, short reign of terror begins. T'Challa is found and saved by a nearby tribe chief and he rises again to take down Killmonger. In a finite and tragic reconciliation that was filled with regret and understanding (T'Challa) but still lacked remorse (Erik), Killmonger chooses death over being saved when T'Challa offers him the choice.  His final monologue about enslavement and dying a free man is vulnerable and raw. T'Challa carries the dying man, his cousin, to the perfect place to watch a Wakandan sunset and I'm a bit unhinged.



T'Challa rejects the old way of Wakandan rule and chooses diplomacy and transparency over secrecy and isolation. He is balanced out by his awesome sister Shuri (who is just fantastic) and by his love interest Nakia, a humanitarian who always believed Wakandan rulers should do more to protect the outside world and oppressed people living around them. The conclusion  of the movie with T'Challa buying the building where his father killed his Uncle, in order to turn it into a place to educate others and promote science and diplomacy, was a perfect set up for a sequel, a refreshing new start for Wakanda's position in the world, and a touching homage to his fallen cousin, Erik.

LONG LIVE KING T'CHALLA! WAKANDA FOREVER!!

Recommended Watching: Black Mirror-both Daniel Kaluuya ("15 Million Credits") and Letitia Wright ("Black Museum") have great episodes (side fact: both have also appeared in Doctor Who), Captain America: Civil War
(If you like or want to know more about Afrofuturism) Recommended reading: "Black to the Future" essay by Mark Dery and "Binti" Hugo-winning novella by Nnedi Okorafor, (For an alternative to the rave reviews and an insightful, well-written race perspective) Recommended article: "Black Panther is Not the Movie We Deserve". Christopher Lebron offers a rebuttal to the critical acclaim the movie has received and calls the movie out on a variety issues.  

The Struggle of a Sometimes-Extroverted-Introvert: My 40th Birthday

I'm in the process of mentally preparing myself for the 40th birthday party my husband is planning for me. It has my stomach in knots. I can be outgoing, talkative, and witty when I'm comfortable but it is typically on my own terms.  The idea of a party in my honor that excludes me from my terms is like slow torture in which I have no choice in the end but to thank my sweet, well-meaning husband for his torments, er, I mean efforts.

I just finished reading a blog post called, 'The Introvert's Hate/Hate Relationship with Spontaneity' and it spoke to my very soul. Particularly this:  
"I wanted to tell them the truth, but can you imagine what they’d have said? “Oh, thanks for the invite guys, but I’m an introvert and I can’t stand being spontaneous. Maybe another time, assuming you give me seven days notice in writing.”I didn’t avoid nights out entirely; I can be quite a social character when I want to be. I just made sure that I was mentally prepared beforehand. I’d agree (with myself in advance) that I was going out on a particular night, and I made sure I spent plenty of time alone in the afternoon or early evening to recharge my batteries ready for the oncoming festivities."

Some of my friends and family might be surprised to learn that truth about me. And with good reason...a couple of drinks and being with people I love and respect tends to bring out the most in me. I CAN be a ton of fun when I have time to prepare for it and as long as I'm balanced out by the downtime I  need after a big night out.

There is a party in my honor that is happening. I can't bow out and I can't be the behind-the-scenes event coordinator that hides in the kitchen and prepares food while the merriment thrives around me. I have to be to be gracious and prepare myself (which may surprise people) for being the center of attention. It feels difficult for me right now. Overwhelming. I have time though and when the day arrives, everyone will get the best of me. Even if I have to 'fake it till I make it'.

Musikfest 2017 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: 13 Years of Festing and Counting

I went to Musikfest in Bethlehem, Pa for the first time in 2005. My husband Jeremiah and his family had been going for many years and he invited me to go with him which was a big deal for me since this meant I was going to be meeting his family and friends for the first time. We had only been together a few months and my nerves were a bit on edge as I fumbled to put together a gift basket to thank his parent's for hosting me in their home for the entire weekend.  I had no idea what to expect but 13 Musikfest's later, here I am...still sharing the experience with our now combined families and friends...still sharing it with Jeremiah...and for the past 9 Musikfests, sharing it with our son, Jonas too.

So what is Musikfest? It is a free outdoor festival with tons of music (over 500 shows on 14 stages over 10 days), giveaways, street performers (pterodactyls on stilts, anyone?) and fun tents where you can buy one-of-a-kind wares or try the latest video games or virtual reality. While you can do 90% of everything Musikfest for free, save up some money and your appetite because the food selection is very unique, diverse, and delicious.

The Musikfest grounds are extensive and there is a North Side and a South Side with shuttles available to take you from one end to the other. While both sides have fun and music to offer, my family and I are die hard South Siders. Fun fact: Stages are called “platzes,” an homage to the city’s Germanic heritage (platz being German for “place”)

Musikfest 2017  was as fun as it was exhausting! We went 7 out of the 10 days of the festival and hosted various guests (mostly my family) throughout the week. I put together some photos that capture my favorite moments of Musikfest, so enjoy!

Parenting Musikfest-style (notice our mugs, we pick one up every year and have quite the collection)

Spending time with our parents, families, and friends is the heart of the fun

Come hungry! This isn't your typical festival food.

Eat your way through Musikfest!

Meeting an ostrich and zip lining are part of a typical Tuesday night at Musikfest

Street performers-pterodactyls on stilts are one of many attractions roaming the extensive festival grounds

Music and dancing

 

 

Jonas loved playing outside, trying new things, and living his own adventures

A giant game of Jenga and this pic of Jer were the perfect start to a week of festing

Game of Thrones Season 7: Episode 1 "Dragonstone" (SPOILERS)

*SPOILERS* The first episode of Season 7 was a great set up and didn't disappoint with the amount of character coverage. There is not a lot of time for filler with two shorter seasons left, so the bar is set high for the quality of writing we should expect from this season. This episode wasn't groundbreaking but it was a fast paced, well written, and a perfect ending to the long drought between season 6 and 7.

Riverlands: We begin with Walder Frey-Arya. Somewhere between baking Walder's sons into pies and slitting ol' Walder's throat, Arya decides she will hang out for a few weeks with Lord Frey's face on in order to slay the rest of the Frey's who were instrumental in the orchestrated murder of her mother and brother at the Red Wedding. After delivering a speech to the dinner attendees about the danger to the sheep if you leave one wolf alive, she reminds them of their crimes to her family as the men start to feel the effects of the poisoned wine and begin dying around her. At this point Arya takes off Walder Frey's face and leaves Walder Frey's young wife and two serving girls to survive ordering them to tell everyone that the "North Remembers" and "Winter has come for the Freys". The Freys suck so much that we applaud Arya's vengeance and let her psychopathic behavior slide.

Arya is on the road again and I have given up on trying to figure out the travel timelines in the show since it isn't cohesive at all.  Trying to puzzle it out creates more gaps than it does answers so let's just assume there are major time lapses that occur between story lines and we are being spared the tedious details of getting from point A to point B. Arya runs into Lannister soldiers. Ed Sheeren's cameo is revealed as he sings a song from the books about Tyrion's relationship with Shae. Arya stops to listen saying she hasn't heard that song before (Ed's cameo didn't take me out of the fantasy world as some watchers complained about) They offer Arya food and a place by their fire and she accepts. The soldiers end up being decent guys who are just doing their job to keep the peace in the region. I half expected Arya to kill the soldiers simply because they serve the Lannisters but to my relief, she didn't.  Our favorite assassin does glance over at their weapons but seems to understand that these men were just pawns of a war that was not theirs and they wanted what most soldiers want; an end to the war so they can get back to their families.

The  Hound is traveling with the Brotherhood Without Banners. They end up at a farmhouse where  he and Arya had stayed at years ago when they were traveling to the Vale in order to ransom Arya off to her Aunt Lysa. The Hound, to Arya's horror, robbed the father and daughter who opened their home to them. When he and the Brotherhood enter the home, they find the skeletons of the man and his daughter. This troubles the Hound as he realizes the man killed his girl and himself to prevent them from starving to death. The Hound realizes his own actions essentially killed them as he had robbed them of what little provisions they had prepared for Winter.

After insulting Thoros of Myr's man bun and telling Beric Dondarrion he was a huge bore, he wonders out loud what made them so special that the Lord of Light has chosen to give Thoros the power to resurrect Beric as many times as he has. He claims that if any justice existed, they would all be dead and the father and his daughter would still be alive. They have no idea why they were chosen but they convince the Hound that whatever the reason, their lives were given a new purpose, one much bigger than themselves. Thoros asks Sandor to look in the flames and the Hound sees the Wall and the threats in the North. In a nod to the Gravedigger Theory familiar to book enthusiasts, they showed the Hound in an act of atonement as he buries the Father and Daughter and holds an awkward vigil over their graves.

The North: Bran sees the White Walker army in a vision and the threat is ominously massive. Meera and Bran make it to the Wall and are heading South to warn of the coming dangers.

Jon is struggling with his new role as King in the North. He and Sansa have been differing in politics and she publicly disagrees with Jon for allowing the Karstarks and Umbers to keep their homes after they betrayed the Starks to fight with the Boltons. Jon explains the traitors of those houses have paid for their treason by dying on the battlefield. He said historically the Karstarks and Umbers have been loyal to House Stark and wants to keep faith with the remaining members of those Houses and unite in the wars to come. Alys Karstark and Ned Umber swear their fealty to House Stark. Littlefinger is lurking in the shadows waiting for his chance to try and manipulate Sansa. Jon talks  privately with Sansa about undermining his decisions but he hears her council.  He explains his position on uniting the North when a raven arrives from Cersei demanding fealty. Sansa warns Jon not to underestimate the Queen and what she is capable of. Jon notes that it sounds like Sansa admires Cersei and Sansa admits she learned a lot from her. Littlefinger is snubbed by Sansa who is getting tired of listening to his schemes and planting doubts in her head.

In the Winterfell yard Tormund flirts with Brienne as she is training Podrick and she takes her frustration out on Pod. Tormund remarks that Pod is a lucky man and it's kind of hilarious.

Kings Landing: Cersei and Jamie are in the Red Keep standing on a freshly painted floor map of Westeros as she plots out plans to take down her enemies. She talks about creating a dynasty with Jamie and he reminds her that all of their children are dead. He wants to talk about them and Cersei shuts him down, explaining how Tommen betrayed them and that while she loved her children there was no point in discussing them. Jamie tries to explain to her they lack allies and that the Dragon Queen is heading to Dragonstone with three grown dragons. Cersei insists they will crush their enemies because they are Lannisters and seems unconcerned.

Euron Greyjoy sails his Greyjoy fleet to make an alliance with Cersei and propose marriage. He has a Jack Sparrow kind of pirate swagger as he mocks Jamie and boasts he is the best captain in the world. Cersei declines his proposal but Euron swears he will bring Cersei a gift that will prove he is worthy of her trust and he won't return to Kings Landing until he has it (at this point I am reasonably certain things won't be ending well for Ellaria Sand,  who murdered Cersei's only daughter, Myrcella).

The Reach: Sam is an acolyte at the Citadel in Oldtown and we are taken through a montage of his disgusting daily work as Sam gags through it each day, etc. Sam asks Archmaester Ebrose about getting access to the restricted book section but is refused. While Ebrose believes Sam about the threat of the White Walkers, he tells a Sam story about the perseverance of the world  and that regardless of times of  war and peace, that everything works out in the end. Sam steals the books he needs and he and Gilly learn that the dragonglass they need to fight the White Walkers is in Dragonstone in abundance. Sam seemingly forgot a conversation he had with Stannis who already told him this but I digress. Jorah Mormont's greyscale rotting arm appears from a quarantined room as we learn he went to the Citadel to fulfill his promise to his Queen to find a cure for his progressive disease.

Dragonstone: Daenerys Targaryen and her army land on Dragonstone, the ancient seat of her family.  We follow her in silence as she takes down the banners Stannis left behind and reclaims what is hers. It is supposed to be a big moment but it lacked in emotion for me. The best part of this scene was getting to see the Painted Table of Westeros again. The episode ends with Dany ready to plot her plans to take back the Seven Kingdoms and she asks her advisors, "Shall we begin?"

I give this episode an B+.

 

Annual Feast of Ice and Fire: A Game of Thrones Season Premiere Tradition

My favorite part of Game of Thrones Season Premiere night is the feast and gathering that preludes it. Waiting until 9pm in the final stretch of the long AGOT drought can be a daunting task so I resolved years ago to eat my way through it and hence, the annual Feast of Ice and Fire was born. Throw in great company, games, food, and tons of tasty drinks, and the countdown to showtime flies by.

We followed the tradition that all guests would bring a Westeros themed dish. As usual our friends and family didn't disappoint. However, my sister Alexandra was the real MVP in helping put the feast together. She is as obsessed with all things ASOIAF  as I am so the feast was bigger (and tastier) than it's been in previous years. She is a fantastic cook and baker. We used some recipes from the Feast of Ice and Fire Cookbook and tried to represent the regions of Westeros and Essos in our dish selections.

Our delicious table

Our menu included (I subjectively categorized the dishes brought by our guests):

The North:

Honeyed Chicken

Lemoncakes  (SO DELICIOUS-My sister outdid herself with these)

The Riverlands:

Miniature Meat Pies (Frey pie, anyone?)

The Reach:

Fresh Fruit 

Buttered carrots

Dorne:

Grape Leaves Salad

Spicy Chicken Dip

Kings Landing:

Cheese and crackers

Heads on Spikes

Spinach and Strawberry Salad

My son rolling heads and my favorite neighbor delivering an awesome pose

The Iron Islands:

Pillaged Sour Ale  

Westerlands: 

Ommegang 'Bend the Knee Honeyed Ale'-Lannister sigil

The Wall:

Lord Commander Mormont inspired Spiced Wine

Dothraki Sea:

Fermented Mare's Milk (White Russian)

Meereen:

Mint Green Tea with Honey

Mint Green Tea, Cheese, Lemoncakes, and Frey Meat Pie made for a fantastic second breakfast the next day

The Feast was a success and ran all the way until showtime. When we finally sat down to watch the show, I couldn't believe the wait was finally over (stay tuned for my review). Next year for the final season, I am going to try making an Iron Throne and the Painted Table of Westeros...Ambitious, I know, but I have the luxury of that ambition at this point. Whether or not my vision will be fully realized, only Bran can tell. One thing I can say for sure, each feast has been more delicious than the last and next year will be no exception.

Awesome Con Review: Washington D.C. June 2017

It has taken me a while to post a review about our time at Washington D.C.'s Awesome Con because of life and summer...and perhaps a little bit of hope that time would lessen the level of frustration the event caused me.

To be fair, I prefer smaller conventions to larger ones. I have gone to PAX East and NYC Comic Con in the past and the crowds were overwhelming; that was my biggest complaint but was to be expected. Awesome Con had a large crowd but my biggest issue was the disorganized organization. I know that sounds contradictory but that's how it was. There were plenty of nice volunteers, there were plenty of lines, but it didn't seem like anyone you asked knew exactly what was going on.

When we first got to the Convention Center early Saturday we took our place in a very long line but it moved rather quickly so I had high hopes for the rest of the day. This feeling quickly changed after we picked up our registration badges. Having arrived early to see a panel discussion with David Tennant (my 8 year old son is a huge fan of the Tenth Doctor and Barty Crouch, Jr.) we were told we needed to wait in the long snaking line that occupied a majority of the registration floor. After noticing the time for the panel was about to start I started getting anxious when the line hadn't moved much. I asked a volunteer if we were in the right line for David Tennant and was told we were and that there were 5000 seats and we should get in no problem. So we waited. As the line snaked around, I began to feel optimistic that we would be seated soon and asked another volunteer to confirm we were in the right place. I was again told we were and that they were sitting VIP patrons first and that once they were seated the rest of us would file in after. So more waiting...

After checking the time again and realizing David Tennant's panel should be halfway through, I asked another volunteer and was told we were NOT in the right line and that there was ANOTHER line for David Tennant's panel against a far wall. At this point I was extremely disappointed that we'd been assured we were in the right line since he was a deciding factor in attending the convention, but I kept my cool. I asked the same volunteer what line we were standing on if it wasn't for David Tennant and was told it was for Stan Lee. I thought, 'Great, that will be a fine alternative and should please my Marvel-loving 8 year old just fine.' So we waited. We were let in to the vendor floor, not a panel room, and chaos seemed to escalate from there. Thinking perhaps the panel room was somewhere on that floor (despite my map contradicting it), we paced the enormous floor to find where Stan Lee's panel might be and we were directed to an autograph area for people who purchased tickets. The autograph and photo-op session was still hours away so I was confused about why 7 different volunteers couldn't direct us to the right line for any panel. We had literally walked close to two miles of convention center to not get to any of our intended destinations. I was frustrated but still determined to have a good time. I decided to buy a ticket for a photo-op with John Barrowman (Doctor Who and Arrow) as a consolation to missing David Tennant's panel discussion. Before getting on line, I asked if I needed cash or a credit card for the photo and was told a card was fine, then was told cash. So my husband waited while I looked for an ATM.

I went to the information booth set up in the middle of the convention floor and asked about the location of an ATM. She pointed me to one that was 30 people deep. I asked if there were any others available and was told she didn't think so. So I got in line and felt my frustrations grow. I then get a text from my husband saying they could take credit cards for photo-ops so I returned to him only to learn that this wasn't the formal photo-op session and that I needed cash after all.

So back to the ATM.This time however, an attendee told us about at least 2 other ATMs nearby and I was able to secure my money quickly and get my photo-op ticket. I was still seething that we had been at Awesome Con for 3 hours and hadn't done anything productive or had any real fun yet. The volunteers were entirely well meaning but unfortunately didn't have a lot of knowledge when asked basic questions about the set up and locations of events.

John Barrowman definitely cheered us up though. He was warm and affectionate during the photo-op and had fantastic energy. Our pic came out awesome too!

Jeremiah, my sister Lexi, John, Jonas, and me

Later, we attended John's panel and it was the BEST. June is Gay Pride Month and John came out wearing white heals and a TARDIS romper. His husband Scott made an appearance too in John's Captain Jack Harkness trench coat and they were great, though a family in front of us with older teenage kids must not have expected John to be openly gay and they decided to leave as his panel was just beginning.  John was forthcoming, vulgar, hysterical, open, honest, and engaging. Much of it went over Jonas' head (Phew!) and he played his Nintendo 3DS but he listened too. We have raised him to know love is love and he has always been very accepting and as supportive as he can be of the gay people in his life. We didn't see any reason to shelter him from John's panel for that reason. John ended his panel with a song, 'You're Too Good to Be True' and it was evident he really loves his fans. He was the best part of the convention for us and afterwards I felt re-energized and continued to have a great time. We took a walk and purchased some posters on the vendor floor, played some games in a vintage and modern video game room, and closed the convention. When we weren't at the convention, we were walking around Washington D.C. taking in the sites and landmarks of our Nation's Capital and getting stamps for our National Parks passport book.

I am glad we went Awesome Con but we will not be returning again. I am going to stick to smaller conventions from now on.