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Category Archives: Other Thoughts


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Rules for Comicon

Ok, Comicon 2016 is in the books, and it wasn’t without a few hiccups, but overall I still say it’s an extremely well run operation, especially considering its size and scope. While I was there I made a few notes on how people could help Comicon be even BETTER than it already is. These were released last Thursday, via Twitter. Here they are all in one spot for your viewing pleasure.

Do you have any to add? Please leave them in the comments.

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Rules for Comicon: If you’re going to send out tweets with a hashtag, use the correct one! Hanging my head in shame. #PHXCC

Rules for Comicon: Don’t just stop, step aside first.

Rules for Comicon: Don’t intentionally terrorize small children.

Rules for Comicon: Stare all you want, but ask before you take a picture.

Rules for Comicon: Quit trying to figure out what everyone is supposed to be. This includes gender.

Rules for Comicon: Like something you see? Pay a sincere compliment.

Rules for Comicon: Appreciate how clean the restrooms are.

Rules for Comicon: Avoid bringing the double stroller if you can.

Rules for Comicon: Lighten up and be friendly. People are here to have fun.

Rules for Comicon: Don’t walk and text (or tweet). You’re not as good at it as you think you are.

Rules for Comicon: Prepare to be seen. Yes, I just saw you cute girl with the faded blue hair who graduated with my son.

 

Come to think of it, these aren’t just good rules for Comicon, they’re good rules for life! Well, except for the staring one. You should probably try to avoid staring in real life. It makes people uncomfortable, just in case you weren’t sure.


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Avoid Melting – Eight Ways to Keep Cool and Avoid Premature Meltdown

Friends, it’s 138 degrees outside and I’m slowing turning into a large puddle of goo.

Okay, so the above sentence is an example of hyperbole (don’t you just love that word?), which is a literary device that ten year olds are supposed to know and use correctly, but I digress.

It’s hot out there. Yes, I live in the desert Southwest, and it’s June. Yes, I knew this was coming, and Yes, I’m more or less okay with it.

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Here are a few ways to melt less:

  1. Wear the right clothing. In my case that means a knit cotton sundress or a loose t-shirt and elastic-waist shorts. Nothing is tight, nothing chafes, and the fabric breathes. Yes! Sexy? Debatable. Practical? You bet!
  2. Baby powder is your friend. I know, I know…if you use it in parts unknown you might have bad things happen to your bits and pieces. Well, my suggestion is DON’T do that. Use it where your parts rub together. Yes, that means along the bra line, ladies. Trust me, it helps.
  3. Wet washcloths. This one is from my childhood. No matter how sticky and warm I feel at night, a rub down with a wet washcloth always seems to help. Not drying thoroughly helps too. Evaporation cools you off, at least a little, and you won’t feel so grubby either.
  4. Fans, fans, fans. We’ve been keeping our air conditioning set to a higher temperature to save a little money, so we’ve been especially enjoying the fans. Ceiling fans are great for circulating the air, but floor fans are good too. Especially if you’ve just used tip number 3.
  5. Water. Water in the body, water on the body, water surrounding the body. Drink it, bathe in it, swim in it, use it! Water is your friend.
  6. Shade. If you must go outside seek shade. If you must leave your car in a parking lot, seek shade. Shade is so important that if you don’t have it you might need to create your own. Shade tents, long-sleeved shirts, and even umbrellas can save you from the sun’s wrath.
  7. Relax. This is not the weather for marathon training, at least not outside. The less energy you expend, the cooler you’ll stay.
  8. Take a cue from the kids. Eat a popsicle. Jump in a swimming pool. Run through the sprinkler. Munch on some watermelon, if you like that sort of thing (I do not). Relax and watch a movie. In other words, have a great time without over-doing it.

And don’t forget about your pets. DO NOT leave them out in extreme heat, even with shade and water they can meet a terrible fate. That goes double for the car. No living thing should be left in a car when the temperatures are well above one hundred degrees. I know you’ve heard it before, but it bears repeating…LEAVE NOBODY IN THE CAR in this heat.

If you take my advice you should be able to survive the explosion of your outdoor thermometer with no problem. Good luck, and keep cool!


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Shake That Introvert Up

images.jpegThat’s my message to myself today. You see, it’s Comicon time again, and my sweetheart has purchased the full event pass for me. Why? Because there are authors at Comicon who generously offer their insights on writing and frankly, it’s really fun.

Now Comicon wouldn’t have been my first thought if someone had asked me where to go for writing support and instruction, but a few years back the sweetheart found out that there are real live authors there, and some of them are authors I’ve met through my various writing projects around town. Cool. So we went.

I was blown away! Not just by the author events, which were terrific, but by the whole thing. Costumes, people of all sorts (yes, ALL sorts, it was glorious!), and an energy that is infectious. I loved it. I still love it. But…

I have to confess, Comicon wears me out. And no, I don’t stay all day, or sleep in a hotel next to the Convention Center, or participate in CosPlay, or any of that. I just show up, go to my sessions, wander the vendors (miles of vendors), and go home again. But MAN, it drains me.

I’m self-aware enough to know that it’s because deep down I’m an introvert. Being anywhere with a lot of people for an extended period of time wears me out. It doesn’t mean I don’t like going places. I do. I just need to recharge after I’ve been there for a while. Some of my favorite memories have occurred at large family gatherings, quilting retreats, and scrapbooking conventions. Each of them, though, takes a toll.

It may sound silly if you’re not an introvert, but I have to psych myself up for these types of events. Yes, I’m looking forward to it, but really, I love being at home in the peace and quiet. Still, I’m going to check my parking map (he arranged that too, what a great guy), grab my lanyard, and head downtown. I’ve got this! Comicon, here I come!