CON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am not upset that I'm not at Comic-Con. Nope. Not at all. I am not scouring the Internet to find out all the exclusives I'm missing out on, all the celebrities I won't get to meet (BRUCE!!!!), and which movies are going to be heavily promoted. Nope. Not at all.

I am a big fat liar. I am DYING to go to Comic-Con!!!! Thomas and I went last year, and it was one of the coolest experiences I've ever had. Neither of us had ever gone before, so we had no Earthly idea what we were in for. Oh. Good. Lord.

Somehow, through a total fluke (okay, through me bouncing up and down like an idiot, waving my arms for attention, wearing a practically day-glo t-shirt, and, honestly, being a girl--and one who happens to know too much trivia on Galaxy Quest), we ended up getting into the Wrath of Con party at the Hard Rock Hotel. That is, apparently, THE party to get into. Joss Whedon got turned away. That's right. We got in, but Joss didn't. Daughtry was the entertainment. I had a drink at the same bar as Robert Englund. Thomas waited in line behind Brandon Routh to play X-box. The TNA Wrestling Ring was set up in the middle of the party. Zack Snyder accepted an award. Harry Knowles rode around mingling. Stan Lee made a walk-through appearance. Kevin Freaking Sorbo was there. The cake was good. We were horribly underdressed. I'm still mad that I didn't get my gift bag. It was a magical, magical evening. Personally, I would have loved it if Mr. Whedon had been let in.

Throughout the weekend, we saw panels for Burn Notice (with Bruce!!!), Family Guy, Doctor Who (and I still have a massive crush on David Tennant--sorry, Thomas), and about a million other things. I got to meet John Barrowman and totally embarrass myself. We saw Leonard Nimoy from a distance. Lou Ferigno was in a booth selling t-shirts.

Outside the convention center, we had lunch in the SyFy cafe, went to a Heroes carnival, and tooled around gorgeous San Diego. I can't wait until next year when we can actually go back. We would have gone this year, but scheduling conflicts didn't allow for it, hence the mini-break to Atlanta.



Photo by Converse



However, if I could go, I've learned from last year, and there are a few things I would have to have in my convention-going arsenal:

1) Really comfortable shoes. With insoles. And a team of hunky men to carry me around like Cleopatra. And a pony. Seriously, though, the convention floor is massive, and you will cross it several times a day. Plus, the transit system decided it didn't like running when it was supposed to, so we got to walk the two miles from our hotel to the center and back a few times. These are my pick. They're Converse, so they're good, and the Dr. Seuss design screams Comic-Con. Converse.com, $55.



Photo by Target



2) A big, roomy bag. I've had a Mossimo bag for years, and it's still in fantastic shape. My only problem with it is that it's black, and tends to get mixed up with other people's bags rather easily. The gray color and fuscia stripe on this one makes it a little more distinctive. Oh--and it mostly matches the cute Converse shoes! Target.com, $19.99



Photo by The Body Shop

3)Foot Relief. Because no matter how fabulous your shoes, your feet are going to hurt like the Dickens by day's end. By week's end, you'll be grateful the airports have those little conveyor belt walkways to ride on. While sitting down. And possibly sleeping. This Peppermint Purifying Foot Mask is some of the best stuff I've ever used. It relaxes, soothes, detoxes, and even clears your sinuses. No kidding. The Body Shop, $17

Okay, 2011, you'd better be worth the wait.