Last weekend, Dan and I attended Game X Con at the Greater Philadelphia Expo center. Dan was covering the con for Geekadelphia, and due to other things going on - we only attended on Friday. Dan got in on a press pass, and I was his guest.

I have to say the con staff treated us very nicely, taking time out to ask us if we were having fun, and making sure I had a badge. And I had fun during the day. We had been to GameCoreCon a couple of weeks before, so I knew what to expect for a gaming con - though I this one was much larger, and much more industry-based.

There were celebrities, - three of the Guild cast were there, and were they friendly - at their panel, they actually had us go around and introduce ourselves - and that was where I got the nickname MA for 'mature audiences'. We also saw the Escapist panel, and I now have a ton of video content that I need to look up and subscribe to. Dan was able to interview Yahtzee - a video blogger who does game reviews that make us both cry with laughter on a regular basis.

The game booths were interesting - they had one for Dante's Inferno - which looked amazing, and I can neither confirm nor deny that I know anything about the time a couple of the monitors went off with no warning. There was one for a new game called Bayonetta - which looks to be right up Dan's alley. It features a girl that fights in a suit made of her own hair - which of course comes off while she's fighting. The booth I was really interested in was Warhammer Online - every since Ace of Cakes did a cake for them, I've been intrigued by the game. And I found out it comes out for Mac tomorrow - I'll definitely have to check it out. And there was one for another MMO called Global Agenda, that advertised that there were no elves in the game. There were some other industry booths - and one for Bawls - that featured an SnoBawls - the blue flavor in icee form. Truly epic.

The swag was pretty good too. I came home for with three tshirts, two reusable shopping bags, and tons of coupons for Dave and Busters. And codes for goodies in some of the MMO's. The one thing that seemed a bit lacking was the shopping. There were a couple of booths with art, and some with used games, but I guess I expected a bit more - given that was what most of GameCoreCon was about. Some of the vendors were also at GameX, but surprisingly, I didn't spend any money - except on the funnel cake that called me. Called me I say. But I had been hoping to find some good deals on used games, but didn't. There was a vintage section, and a t-shirt vendor with some truly epic t-shirts, but nothing that made me want to part with my money.

We also got to hang out with the PA Jedi, a group that Dan covered for Geekadelphia a couple months back. They were doing demonstrations and we spent a good deal of time chatting with them. I think we are going to have to take the kid to one of their practice sessions.

But it was a great day, though we didn't feel like we needed to come back the next day. But getting to meet the Guild cast members, and getting to play the new games was awesome, and I'm glad that took the day to attend.

For those of you that have been following us on Twitter and Facebook - yes our basement flooded yesterday. No - insurance won't cover it at all. I've done the estimated work ups of stuff that was lost, and it totals up to over $1,300 in stuff, though most of it is collectible stuff that Dan got that you really can't put a value on.

On the positive side - cleaning up allowed me to go through stuff - and repackage stuff that should have been packed properly. Right now I have two boxes of books to donate, six bags of clothes and bedding to donate, and we got rid of probably about 100 pounds of cardboard. And our basement is now organized, and the stored stuff is all in Rubbermaid tubs. Which should make moving easier when we do.

All in all there are about 6 garbage bags to be disposed of - and that doesn't include the stuff we are letting dry before we bag it up.

Now we are just waiting for the plumber to come, because our tub is broken. Oh joy. I hope we can afford to move soon. I used to love this place, but after this weekend - I'm done.

Just got back from my second day at Wizard World Philly. My first Wizard World, but I think I'm going to go next year. For the most part - I was pleased with how the whole thing went. I got to see a bunch of stars - but not talk to any. Sat in on a bunch of panels, and wandered the dealers room without spending too much cash.

Yesterday - the Kid and I were able to take in Lou Ferrigno's panel, which was a bit sad - very few people, and hardly any questions. This is what happens when you take steroids, kids. Though I have to say - he looks a lot younger than he is - probably due to botox. He was walking with a cane because he just had a hip replaced.

Then we stayed around for Tom Kane's Voice Acting panel. He voices Yoda in Clone Wars, and does a whole lot of other voices as well, including all the Pixar stuff for the ads, and he's been in every Lucasfilm game ever made. He was really interesting.

Other than that - we wandered the dealers room, where I walked by the interview tables a bunch. Edward James Olmos and Michael Hogan were side by side, and they seemed very approachable. I didn't have enough cash for an autograph, nor Dan's kick ass camera, so I didn't feel right approaching. Emma Caufield was there as well, as well as Nicki Clyne and Luciana so and so from BSG. But the really person I got all fangirly about - Ted Raimi. And I didn't think I would - but there you go. If I go back tomorrow - I just might bring one of my Xena box sets to be signed. I know BIG nerd. Marina Sirts was there today, and what impressed me is that she stayed around to the fan's side of the table every time I saw her.

The highlight of yesterday was Dan going up to Max Brooks to get a copy of World War Z signed, and then getting an interview with him. It was great to watch him put his press creditionals to good use.

Today was mostly panels. You know - hearing stories from this con - people were telling me the panels weren't worth it - that everyone just goes for the dealer room, but those people must not have sat in on the panels. We saw the 501st, Ray Park, Emma Caufield, and the BSG Q&A's. We had kick ass seats for Emma's panel and BSG's. But I thought they more than were worth the price of admission.

The BSG panel was awesome - and surprise surprise - Nicky Clyne - who played Callie - was surprisingly articulate. Olmos at the end did one of his Adama rants at the end, and Michael Hogan kept cracking me up. We recorded it - so you can bet that will be making it's way up on one of our sites.

The dealers room today was populated with more costumes - some good, some scary. Dan got an awesome stormtrooper decal for his EEEPC, and I got three prints of colored pencil sketches of Muppets. We kept the spending to a minimum, but I'm so pleased with my art.

Tomorrow I'll only be there for like an hour to run through the dealers room again - I may actually spring for a picture with someone tomorrow.

So - long time since I posted, I've been writing some other stuff for a podcast project I'm starting.

Yes - today at 3:30pm Eastern time, Dan and I are going to be getting married. Through the wonder of the internet, and one of our groomsmen, we are going to be streaming the wedding live through Justin.TV

The link for the feed will be : http://www.justin.tv/otakugeneration

You will need to register for Justin.tv, but will be able to chat before the feed goes up.

Off to the hotel to go get ready!

Love,
MA

I feel like my job is sucking my soul today. But if you haven't purchased Mur's Playing For Keeps, you will feel the same way.

It's been quite the weekend - we got 'new to us' furniture, and with that, we had to move my old stuff out - it was quite an undertaking. And then we hosted a dinner with our wedding party, and I have to say - we have an awesome group of people standing up with us for the wedding. But of course, doing all of this in one day left me tired. Very tired.

And with a new, comfy couch, I found that taking a nap (or two or three), during the course of the day has left me up at this hour, which I realize for some podcasters is not late, but for little old me, it's the dead middle of the night.

( Cut for length to preserve your friends page )

Poking my head up after taking a bit of a break from online interactions. Not sure if I was burned out or what, but I miss the Tribe.

If anyone has been keeping track, on Wednesday, it will be five weeks since I've posted a podcast. The reasons are a couple - one - the media review that I was using for the next episode has really crappy audio quality because of a recording glitch, and I really don't feel good about putting it out.

But it's also because I don't know what to say when I get behind the mike for my opener and closer. It's not that I don't have things to say - I usually have a list of topics that I could prattle on about, and there are wedding preparations, etc. But then I don't feel like it's current enough, or relavent enough.

I also have really had the chance to do different things with different people out in the real room - and when given the choice of doing something and working on the podcast - I'll choose doing something every time. Even when I'm supposed to have a show out that night.

What struck me this week as I made up the umpteenth page of notes for recording the podcast - I started doing BL8TN on my own last year as a way to get out of my shell - to get out of my room and out into the world. I've done that - with greater success than I ever could have imagined. My life has changed so much in the past year - it's amazing. So - to stay in and do the podcast seems counterintuitive.

I think I also need to market myself differently. I'm not the geeky single mom anymore - I'm not single anymore, and I know there have been some listeners that don't like that - and they've let me know. (and creeped me out in the process)

So I need to change. Something about the podcast - maybe the format - I know I want to dump the music, and get something of better quailty and different. I think I want to change the format as well - the media review format of the old BL8TN seems tired to me now - and it's frustrating to have meetings scheduled with people, and have something turn it upside down - that's caused more delays. Or to have crappy quality ruin it. And I've discovering that I HATE editing. And I'm very bad at directing how the reviews will go. Sigh.

So I'm thinking of a change - I still want to chronicle what's going on in my life - but I need a theme of some sort. As for reviews - I almost want to keep them solo for the time being - and having a theme to them - like picking one of my series on DVDs and talking about each episode in order. Or maybe reviving my minute movie review idea that I had a couple of years ago. Though a reviewer on my favorite movie review podcast is doing that.

But I find myself without direction. Do I want to put the show on hiatus (though I think Dan will not be happy with that - he wants me to keep doing something that's all mine)? Or at least change the release schedule for the time being until things calm down with the wedding? Sigh - I don't know.

Current Mood: pensive

The Quicksilver Kid and I are heading to the Pittsburgh area this weekend. If anyone wants to meet up - let me know.

Is it lunchtime yet?