We’re back from Shore Leave, which was my first lengthy outing since the surgery. My stamina isn’t up to par yet; when Kath tried to wake me from a nap Saturday afternoon to tell me I had a panel in ten minutes, I just growled at her and went back to sleep. So apologies to those who missed my presence at the “Magic, Myth and Merlin” panel.
Fans were particularly solicitous and overall we had a good time, as we always do at Shore Leave. Both the Mike Friedman roast and Mystery Trekkie Theater went reasonably well, I thought. It was great seeing any number of you folks there, and now it’s just a matter of resting up from the Shore Leave sprint for the San Diego marathon. Watch Kathleen’s website as, in the next day or so, she’ll be putting up pictures of Caroline and Ariel in their prize-winning costumes from the masquerade.
The one downside of the weekend was on the drive home as we learned that Harvey Pekar had passed away. We had the opportunity to spend a little time with Harvey and Joyce some years back, and it remains a highlight of my convention memories. There is a little less splendor in America tonight.
PAD
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I know what you mean about stamina after surgery. It took several months for I resembled anything normal.
If you need any help on Friday, Saturday or Sunday of SD Con, let me know.
Until later
John
Well, I appreciate the offer, John, but unless you look just like me and can do my signature, I’m not sure how anyone can help. At least my hotel is right nearby.
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PAD
Always great seeing you, too, PAD.
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And I trust that your wallet remained secure all weekend?
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J.
Dang straight.
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PAD
Glad to read you are progressing positively, and I’ll sure miss Mr. Pekars work.
Always a pleasure to see you and your clan, sir, and I was happy to see you doing so well, given the circumstances. I even got to chat with Mrs. David, itself a rarity due to crazy and conflicting schedules throughout the weekend. Rest up, and hopefully our paths will cross in San Diego.
PAD, just remember to pace yourself. Not everyday a person goes through what you went through and recuperation is gonna take the time it takes.
It may take some getting used to (operating at a different speed than you are accustomed) but it doesn’t do anybody – especially you and your family – any good if you overtax your body.
That said: Have a great time at San Diego.
It was good seeing you at the convention. If you want to see some (not entirely in focus) photos of yourself in action at the convention [both at the roast and as Hurley in the Mystery Trekkie Theater 3000 skit](as well as others including Kathleen at the Doctor Who panel), I uploaded those to Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27046&id=1826431160&l=ac2ae88c8d
Nice photos! What was the puppet that Kath is holding in the bottom right photo? Looks like a monkey. Any significance?
It’s a puppet of The Doctor!
thejohnwilson’s offer appeared to be sincere, and it takes little imagination to come up with ways other than character impersonation in which a post-op patient could be assisted (carrying books or papers, inquiring as to timing or location, making telephone calls, etc.). The bright side of this (from PAD’s perspective) is that surgery seems to have had no effect on his personality, temper or general manner. Some people become more ignorant, short-tempered and irritable, but I see no change.
I actually winced a little on your behalf when you picked up your bag of books and when you hauled off that table for Mystery Trekkie Theatre 3000, but I see it was for nothing. Hooray!
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And I kept my mouth shut at one point when I really, really wanted to contribute: when Trip was at the bottom of the decompression tube, looking up, “It puts the lotion on its skin or it gets the hose!”
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J.
The fortunate thing about San Diego is that I have nothing to carry around. I don’t sell books there. At most I’ll be picking up some souvenirs, which I can store until the day ends, at which point I can then ship them home. The big challenge of SDCC is the sheer act of getting around. Short of renting a Segway, there isn’t anything to be done for it.
PAD
I see on Google that one can rent a Segway in San Diego for a week for $500.
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I’m willing to donate $5. Are there 99 other people here who will as well? Consider it a combination “Get Well Soon” and “Thanks For Going The Extra Mile For Your Fans” gift.
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Theno
A Segway would be pretty useful in getting to and from the hotels to the convention center itself.
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It’s just too bad that once you’re inside, it’s all about one’s ability to dodge and weave through the crowds.
My hotel is right nearby the center, as I mentioned, so that’s not an issue. And I’m not sure they allow Segways in the center itself.
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PAD
I just found out I’m going to be there through my internship, so I’m psyched! I’ll definitely be checking out one or two or your panels. Will you be hanging out at the Marvel booth at some point?
This is Shana, Peter’s eldest daughter. I’ve got $20 to pony up for the Segway fund.
That’s very sweet of you, honey, but I’ll be fine.
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PAD
Would you be more interested in a rickshaw? Because I think that would be awesome.
Actually they have something very similar to that: guys on bicycles that haul little chariots. They’re all over San Diego.
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PAD
Solution: a SegWay with handicapped tags. Just tell the Con organizers that you need it to get around, and they oughta wave you right through.
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If necessary, cite the Americans With Disabilities Act. I have a condition that qualifies, and while I do all I can at my job, at least twice I’ve been put upon beyond my safe medical limits. Dropping that term has gotten me out of having to decide between my work and my health.
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J.
Actually, knowing me, one of two things will happen: Either I’ll fall off and wind up injuring myself even worse, or else I’ll run over someone’s foot.
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PAD
Perhaps you could “accidentally” run over the foot of Fred Phelps or one of his followers? They’re going to be there on Thursday to protest the “idolatry” that comic books cause.
Of course, since you’re one of the people who gets idolized at ComiCon … sometimes …
PAD is unfamiliar with the Phelps clan of áššhølëš. And in that, he has my profound envy.
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But if PAD could manage to fall off his Segway on to them without re-injuring himself…
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J.
I’ve done some reading up on them and it was kind of, “Oh, THOSE guys.”
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For some reason, I just had this mental picture of a whole bunch of Star Wars storm troopers on Segways riding in an endless circle around Phelps’ people during their protest. Or perhaps, even better, dancing to a bunch of Village People songs being blasted over loudspeakers. Can you imagine the protesters confronting a hundred storm troopers dancing to “YMCA” or “In the Navy?”
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PAD
Peter,
Check with the Con organizers. The Disabled Services group there is first rate! I suspect that they could loan you a wheelchair or scooter, or find you assistance for anything you need.
As I may have mentioned, Pam is visually impaired, and they have been a big help in getting us in to panels and events. For an injured artist, I suspect they will find a way to get you from place to place as needed!
Charlie
You need a litter with 3 or 4 guys in in various Hulk incarnations to carry you around.
It’d be worth just to see all the posts on message boards complaining about your massive ego.
How much do we have to pony up for that?
Because, really, it *has* to happen…
Ever see the movie of “1776?” That’s kind of how Ben Franklin was carried to the Continental Congress: not by Hulks, but on a litter.
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PAD
Yes, but HULKS!
Kim,
How can Fred Phelps’ cult protest comics when it’s obvious they are uneducated people who are full, of hate and can’t read.
Sorry, I like Ann Coulter and will defend to the death Michael Moore and Keith Olbermann to express their opinions, but these people are beyond disgusting. If the First Amendment is ever seriously curtailed, it will be because of people like them.
Irrational hatred, all the way.
Disgusting.
Jerome
If it came down to pulling Fred Phelps or Peter David out of a burning building – PAD has nothing to worry about. Phelps is a cancer, but I suspect PAD would not relax his pro-free speech principles even for that waste of space. He may not be right (although he probably is), but he is true to that principle.
I wasn’t really being sweet. I just want to see you haul ášš on a segway!
So say we all.
And on the subject of the Phelps people, I fully expect to see a hilarious, costumed counter-protest in the various news and photo roundups. Make this happen, fellow nerds.
Tragically, I have a signing scheduled for during their protest; otherwise I’d be there to see what happens. I suspect that whatever transpires will be on youtube.
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PAD
That’s a certainty.