This was the view from the balcony this weekend. I’ll blog about it in a day or so. I need to upload more pictures, and my phone is being stubborn.
Balcony view….I spent time out there with coffee and a smoke.
I was (and still am) tired, but this weekend was awesome!
Marge as Marge!
Julie from Kansas City
Leslie
Frank said his kilt was tactical and practical. I’m still laughing about that!
It seems like every time I read the news, there’s another headline about a flight attendant kicking an innocent kid and/or family off of an airplane. It really makes me angry on behalf of the families. I think today’s flight attendants are missing the point of their job—it is to provide service to customers who have paid a high price for that service. If a customer is drunk and/or menacing, please have that person escorted off of the flight! If a kid is crying and needs warm milk or an Aspie child needs a snack to provide comfort and a bit of joy, provide some heated milk or a snack! It’s your JOB! That’s part of the service you are on board to provide.
If you are unhappy with your life choices and feel powerless, go find another job. Don’t go on a power trip by berating an already embarrassed parent of a crying toddler. Stop bullying children who can’t help their actions. You are making the situation worse and making yourself look like the small person you are.
It reminds me of the time my (older) daughter and I were on a Greyhound bus from Virginia to Georgia to visit a friend. It was about nine at night, and she was sitting on my lap giggling. She was tired and trying to stay awake. Others on the bus were quiet and napping or thinking profound thoughts. I tried to shush her, but it made her laugh anyway.
The bus driver gave us a couple of stink eyes before he motioned me forward to say, “Would you keep your kid quiet? People are trying to sleep.” I didn’t miss a beat and replied, “I have a great idea! Why don’t you keep her quiet, and I’ll drive the bus!” I marched back to my seat, and we made it to our destination with no further issues.
Suffice it to say that I believe most flight attendants love their job and are good at it. It’s the bad ones getting the press coverage that makes them all look bad. That’s a real shame.
The cosplayers who wanted to walk to red carpet were (finally) lined up. I was in a hurry to get a spot for pictures, but it was a bit crowded. I squeezed in anyway!
The line went around the building to the front of the building for the grand entrance.
My celebrity was getting interviewed.
These Dragon Ball Z guys were interesting.
After the red carpet, contestants went into the main room for the catwalk and final judging. There were some awesome costumes. The judges looked for workmanship and how much time was devoted to making the costumes.
Bela said this guy made the whole C3PO outfit.
This gal won the top prize. She made the whole thing!
This fine fellow had a few handlers to help him navigate, dress and undress.
Day 2 of Comic Con was even better than Day 1! Lots more people showed up Saturday, and it was amazing to see so many people in character. Bela dressed as Black Butler’s Undertaker and was psyched for the costume contest and the red carpet event. That was the main event for me as well. I had to make sure I got tons of pictures of her walking the red carpet. Bela said she was a bit nervous about it, but she did it anyway.
It finally was time to check in for the costume contest, so Bela had her number (42) in her pocket. I was surprised to discover that I also had a number—42H. The H was for “handler.” Interesting notion. Since Bela is a minor, I had to be there for the judging. Some cosplayers had two or more people leading them around and helping them with their props.
In between judging and the red carpet line up, I was roaming around taking all kinds of pictures. In fact, I took 503 photos Saturday! I had on my red volunteer shirt, but I didn’t have to cover a booth like I did Friday. I spent a little over an hour Friday covering Alexa Hunt’s booth. She was awesome. I managed to sell $60 in merch for her! I was so proud.
People hung out while the judges talked to each contestant.
Anyone recognize the one on the right? I DID!
The judges asked if any of the cards on her dress were rare ones. She said they were all very common cards.
On one of my rounds, I met a fellow named James. His handler told me James is deaf, so I got to introduce myself in ASL. I was so proud to be able to communicate with James. His handler even stepped away after he saw us signing. 🙂 James gave me one of his cards and showed me the booth he was working.
James posing with Bela
Kim helped Bela put on her wig.
I’ll post more soon about the red carpet event. It was pretty neat. We found out that Bela and George (Stoick the Vast) were on Channel 6 Omaha news Friday night.
http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/O-Comic-Con-Attracts-Big-Crowds-305535621.html
Breakfast at the hotel gave me and Bela a chance to send out some good karma. When we got to the breakfast area, there was a lady putting a couple of plates together for family members who did not want to come downstairs. As I fixed my own plate, the lady (Janice) and I started chatting. Janice said her family members wanted waffles, but that was too bad since she wasn’t sure how to run the waffle iron. I showed her, and she got her waffle. By this time, Bela had emerged from our room and was in the process of fixing her own plate.
Bela and Janice started talking—Bela was “schooling” her about Comic Con and her costume. Janice asked if Bela could help her carry plates to her room, and off they went. Before Bela came back, another lady with her grandchild (I’m guessing….) came for food. Oddly enough, she wasn’t sure how to manage making waffles. I smiled because Bela had to show me at another hotel years ago.
Janice wanted to see Bela’s Black Butler Undertaker costume, so they met up in the lobby before we left for the Mid-America Center. Before we actually left, I spoke to one of the housekeepers who was getting ready to clean rooms. I greeted her in English, then said, “Buenos dias?” She answered in Spanish, so I explained in Spanish that we needed more towels and shampoo and the trash taken out. I didn’t want the beds made or anything else done. She said she would pass that along to her fellow housekeeper who was assigned our room. The hotel clerk passed us in the hall while we were chatting and commented, “That is so cool.” I was thrilled to be able to use my language skills.
Imagine my surprise when I was able to use ASL as well on this trip! More about that later.
Black Butler Undertaker and Stiock the Vast (Ysabela and George)
Bela and I decided we made the right decision driving to Council Bluffs last night instead of leaving way early this morning to arrive for a long day weekend of cosplay fun. We rolled out of bed at 7:30, ate breakfast, dressed and arrived at the Mid-America Center down the street from the hotel around 9 this morning. I was signed up to volunteer from 12-4, but (to me) early is better. Bela started out super, uber excited and ready for some cosplay action. Just FYI, Bela found me at 2:30 and said, “I’m done. My feet are killing me!” I had to chuckle, but my feet were feeling rough, too.
Super happy!
People were able to enter close to noon, and I enjoyed watching the “show.” I saw so many costumes that I (still) can’t identify. I was able to figure out a few, but not as many as Bela. You check the pics out and see how well you do.
Stay tuned for more pictures. 🙂 So far, my favorite tables are the LARP people and the Steampunk couple.
A nameless acquaintance told me he got his minister’s license, and it surprised me. I was surprised for a couple of reasons—he didn’t seem the “type” to be interested in the ministry, and the process was super easy. As far as ministers are concerned, I have a mental image of Jesus. In all honesty, not many preachers resemble my idea of Jesus (physically), but rational thought tells me that ministers come in all shapes and sizes. They have different personalities and characteristics that lend themselves to minister to all types of people in any congregation.
As far as the ease with which the license can be acquired, it shocked me because I thought most preachers went to school to learn the Bible and everything that goes along with it and its interpretation. I pictured divinity, theology, seminary and Hebrew as classes that would be required. Not true.
I can’t help but wonder how many churches got started by ministers with no formal training. How many preachers are self taught? Is that a bad thing? I also wonder if an easily obtained license offends preachers who spent years going to school to understand the Bible.
I am now an ordained minister. I can perform marriage ceremonies and funerals. One benefit of having my license is that now I really want to spend more time studying the Bible. I want to learn more about Hebrew, the Torah and how it relates to modern belief systems as well as other religions and how they compare to Christianity. Can that really be a bad thing?
This display was at fire school last weekend, and I had to get a picture or two. Every time I see something like this memorial, I say a prayer for the families who lost a loved one. That shouldn’t be reserved for a special day—it’s an every day kind of prayer.
Bela was a big fan of the motorcycle, so I got that as well.
Wicked little kitty….
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