Comic Con 2009...Wow

Comic Con is my favorite time of the year, and this year rocked. I've been so geeked out about it for the last couple of months and it didn't disappoint. Ok, maybe it wasn't as perfect as last year, but I had twice as much time to enjoy it and that made up for it in a huge way.


I geek out over the movie premieres and think if you like big, fun movies than there is no place to be other than Comic Con. Unfortunately, due to the "Twilight issue" we were unable to see any really great screenings like Avatar, Tron 2, New Moon, Alice in Wonderland, etc. We missed all of the really great stuff on day 1 but we did catch a cool panel with Sigorney Weaver, Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost), Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse), and Zoe Saldana (Star Trek). That was the highlight for day 1.

Day 2 offered much better fare. I saw the following:

• The Book of Eli: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman
• Nightmare on Elm Street: the dude who is going to play freddy.
• Where the Wild Things Are: saw the little dude who's the main character in the show, and got my picture taken with him.
• The Box: Cameron Diaz,
• Jonah Hex: Megan Fox, Josh Brolin
• Sherlock Holmes: Robert Downey, Rachel McAdams
• Pixar, Disney Animation Studios: lot's of great previews and updates, including 3D versions of Toy Story 1, 2, and Beauty and the Beast. Heard from John Lassater and Hayao Mizayaki.

The toys, prints, artists...all of it was really amazing this year.

My week in New Orleans...

So I've been in New Orleans all week. This place is an absolute den of iniquity...I've never really seen anyplace like it. The style and architecture of the place is really pretty, but at the root it's really about drinking, partying, and totall sleezy stuff (I will spare the details, but it's been totally over the top in the worst way - worst than Vegas to me).

Anyway, these events always mean the following has happened a lot: I go to parties to network and socialize because that's what we do in business. And of course, since I don't drink, I always look a little out of place. Happened again tonight when we went to a really interesting, yummy local place for dinner and of course everyone was ordering shots, beers, etc and asking me what I wanted. Then, I went to a "casino night" where booze was flowing like the River Jordan (they even had booze flavored Icee's). When I mentioned at the bar that I wanted a Diet Coke, the two guys I was with said in unison "what, are you LDS?" To which I always say "absolutely I am". I think people are always a little surprised but respectful. And I am always proud for who and what I am.

It's also nice to be in places like this because it reinforces my beliefs and commitments. I mean, if I wanted to I could go and do anything and no one would ever know. My friends even asked if I wanted to go to a strip club the other night. But it's so easy to say no and I'm glad that I have no desire whatsoever in these things. And when I'm surrounded by people whose idea of the perfect party is an open bar, I'm happy that the only place I want to be is at home with my beautiful girls doing nothing at all. Right now I think my head is in a good place - not perfect, but I have some parts of the puzzle in line.

The one thing I really hate about travelling is of course being away from the girls. I'm busy, and their life goes on whether I'm there or not. So we end up having brief little chats on the phone - but nothing meaningful. It's always a little "how's your day", "whatcha doing", etc. It's not like being home, which I really hate.

It made me think a little bit about prayer. I think a lot of times my prayers are light conversations...not the really good, deep, meaningful relationships type stuff that Heavenly Father wants. It made me think that he probably really wants these chats to be more personal, and that's something I need to work on.

Witch, Witch, Wizard

On Friday night when I came home from work there was an invitation from Abby to join her in her room at 6:30 that night for a Wizard party. It said to come dressed up.

When we entered, she had planned a really elaborate party agenda. Some of the highlights:

• Witch, Witch, Wizard - the Wizard version of Duck, Duck, Goose. Maddie and Abby could have played all night...Mel and I were good for a couple of rounds before we go very dizzy and tired from running in very small circles.
• Pin the bristles on the broom - Abby had drawn a very cute witch on a stick, and had cut out the bristles and we had to do our best to pin them on the broom. Whoever was closet won (Maddie, good job).
• Treasure hunt - Abby had drawn and hid different things from the world of wizards and hid them throughout her room for us to find.

It was the best party that I can remember, and I loved that she took the initiative and had the creativity to pull it off. I was really, really proud of her and thought in general how very lucky I am to have such amazing girls. I'm the luckiest Dad in the world.