From Baltimore with Love!

For the past three years we have made the trek down to Baltimore for Baltimore Comic Con. This started when Lex was 9 months and nothing has stopped us, not even taking both kid. Its something we look forward to each year and I think in some way we think about it as our one true vacation.

To not put miles on our cars (more than we already do), we rent a car from Enterprise and drive down. It's only a 6 1/2 hour drive, but with the kids and stops it's more like 8. This year we got a white Kia Rondo, it was cute and the trunk space was a blessing, since we had to take: a double stroller, pack-n-play, a cooler, books for signing, 2 suitcases and case of bottled water. We also packed our trusty DVD player, which poor Loki couldn't watch since she is still facing backwards, but Lex loved. After picking up the car and packing it we started on our way. I am very proud to say that we did manage to leave before 9AM, without a trip to the T-Mobile store like we has last year. We picked up some Dunkin Donuts, making everyone happy and hit the road.

The drive wasn't that bad and I did all of it, though Mad Dog asked a thousand times if I wanted him to take over. I like driving, plus I can't keep doing the turn around thing with the kids, because I get carsick, so to drive is the lesser of two evils for me. Loki slept much to the trip and Lex slept NONE of the trip going down.  We try to set little goals for ourselves, we'll drive this far and stop, etc. We find that we usually stop in the same exact places each year. We made our first stop in New Jersey on the NJ Turnpike as usual, to eat a bit of lunch, change diapers and let them out of the car for a bit. The NJ Turnpike rest stops are crazy, and I always forget how much I hate their food courts until were in them. Mad Dog and I had slices of pizza, and Lex had Burger King, which he actually ate most of. Diaper changes were a hand off process. Mad Dog taking them, while I watched the other. Then we were back on the road.

The rest of the drive was easy enough with only a little traffic as we left NJ and entered Baltimore. When we arrived at the Hotel (Days Inn), I checked in and took Loki up the the room. Lex "helped" Mad Dog bring the stuff in on the luggage cart. This trip to Baltimore is always planned as a cheap trip. We stay outside Baltimore and we try to rent as cheap a car as possible. Also, this year we brought some food, since we were dieting and plus it can get expensive eating out all the time. Now anyone who selects a hotel online, doesn't know where it is and the area it is placed in. It was recently pointed out to us, by a new friend from the area that where we are staying isn't the best area. It's something we might take into consideration next year, if the trip takes place or it's something we might just leave alone. After getting settled, we ordered some Chinese food from a local place and ate. Lex and Loki explored the room, played and watched TV before bedtime. Lex slept with me in a double and Loki was going to sleep in her pack-n-play, however for the first time ever we had trouble with her to the point where Mad Dog took her for a drive to put her to sleep.

The next morning we were up bright and early, which worked out since the city of Baltimore were nice enough to schedule their Running Festival the same day as Baltimore Comic Con, which meant streets would be closing around 8AM. We drove into the city and managed to find a parking garage right before the streets started to shut down. Walking to the Convention Center we watched the runners and all the craziness of set-up. We detoured ourselves down to Camden Yard where we believe the runners were checking in or they had some kids stuff going on. Once we got to the Convention Center Lex, Loki and I got in line with the true die-hards and Mad Dog went to wait for tickets. Lex mad friends with everyone around us, managing to get the nice gentlemen next to us to play him Batman Theme on his phone, and even asked him if we could take his picture. When the line started to move at 10AM, Alanna (Mike's Assistant Manager) and her boyfriend Jeff joined us in line.

Our game plan was to hit the big names first. This year that was George Perez (see photo), to start with. We tag team lines and the kids, moving from table to table getting books signed. We mainly bring graphic novels with us now, leaving the single issue comics at home, with one real exception. We Lex and Loki were born Mad Dog went out an bought the comics that came out the week they were born. When we can, we get their "Birthday Comics" signed, asking the artist or writer to sign them "Happy Birthday" When the kids are older we plan on giving them this very special gift. The Birthday Comic Idea always gets a comment from the signer. Along withe the Birthday Comics and Graphic Novels we bring around The Artist Within by George Preston. The book always brings a story from the artist about the photo, or experience.

Along with getting books sign we check out the Artists Alley, where we have purchased art in the past for the kids, or as gifts. This year we played it low-key. The only purchase we made this year was for Loki. We purchased her very own piece of art from Franco, of Raven. He also did her a quick sketch of Kid Devil. we managed to get more everything we had signed, with a few exception. The highlight for me was J. Scott Campbell. It was my longest wait of the Con, and completely worth it. He wasn't doing sketches, but when I presented him with our Artist Within book, he did a sketch of Abbey Chase from Danger Girl, making very Fan Boy in line completely jealous! Mr. J. Scott Campbell was our last stop before leaving the Con at about 2ish. We were done. The kids were done and it was time to have some quiet time.

Hotel time as free time for the kids. Running/crawling all over the room for a few hours before got dressed again and went to visit a fellow Lego Manger friend of Mad Dog's Tony and his family. They were kind enough to invite us over for a little adult chat and play time with their kids, Noah and Cloe (who is 2 like Lex). The kids had fun and some cake before we headed back to the hotel for bedtime, which came very easy for everyone tonight. The next morning we were up and on the road early after Mad Dog organized everything for our field trip up to PA to the Crayola Factory. Lex of course had to help with packing and play on the cart, which might have been the highlight of his trip.

The Crayola Factory was nice. Nice if you lived within an hour of it, it would make a great CHEAP, activity with the kids. Having said that it was not worth the 2 hour detour we took to go, also I think Lex is still a little young though he did enjoy painting and cutting with their supplies. From their we got lost making our way home with the help of my two brothers directions. We ended up in Manhattan for 2 hours, and finally worked our way home to New England. We got home just about 7 PM. Everyone in the house and in bed not long after. It was nice to be home and in our own beds.

Fan Girl

Okay - Mad Dog will totally rag on me when (and if) he reads this, but I'm excited. I'm sure this will sound stupid, but... See I have a MySpace page. I got it to keep in touch with my brothers, but I have added to it over the past few months. If you know about MySpace, just about everyone has a page and anyone for the most part can join anyones page as a friend. I have joined a few big named authors/comic artists, etc. I happen to be friends with Dan Didio, the VP of DC Comics. So after the Con the other day when I came back I posted a comment on his page saying "Thank you for bring DC to Baltimore and making it a great weekend for everyone." I didn't expect anything at all, but I got a comment back! It's not much, but still..."the pleasure of going to the Baltimore con is always mine. Great show, great fans! And DAMN, Camden Yards is one beautiful stadium." Mad Dog has been making fun of me ever since. I just think it's cool that he replied. Mad Dog thinks part of it is my picture on MySpace right now. You be the judge:

Baltimore or bust!

This past Friday Mad Dog, Little Man and myself headed off for Baltimore for Baltimore Comic-Con 2007. We drove down Friday and settled into our hotel room before driving into Baltimore to find crab cakes or some kind of seafood to satisfy Mad Dog.

Let me say before continuing Little Man was a saint! We couldn't be been blessed with a better child and we love him for it. He was good all the way down, and through out all the events of the weekend - which would be rough for anyone even an adult.

Saturday morning after a slightly rough night with the Baptists that we staying on our floor - keeping all of us up at one point or another, we had breakfast at the hotel and headed into Baltimore for the Con. Little Man dressed in his Robin oneies and brought along Jimmy Olsen and Bats for the day. This was our first official Comic-Con, and we really didn't know what to expect. We were blessed with extra passes from our friend Benn, which allowed us to sell our Saturday tickets which we had previously purchased for a little extra cash. Since we had the baby stroller with all the books we were looking to get signed we were able to forgo the long line to get in once we got our wristbands, and take the elevator down to the convention floor. On Saturday we were lucky enough to slip in 20 minutes early (again thank you Little Man), and just get to get a lay of the land, before the show officially opened. Mad Dog, managed to get Frank Cho's autograph early due to this. Little Man was very good and he flirted with ever artist we met.

We only managed one panel, since Little Man sitting still for that long and being quiet for just as long was a lot to ask, bue we did manage to make that panel, the DC Nation panel. Where Mad Dog got to ask several questions and even gave Dan Didio cause to pause and think before answering his first question: Are there any series currently running that are set on another earth, unbeknownst to readers? Didio finally answered No. Later Didio called on Mad Dog again, and by this time a squirming Little Man had fallen asleep and had been sleeping for about 45 minutes, Didio made Mad Dog hold Little Man up, so that the whole DC Nation could see how cute he looked in his Robin oneies. This prompted Didio to make the "following the Ra’s Al Ghul storyline, Chuck Dixon would be returning to write the series. Look for a conversation with Dixon about his return coming later this afternoon." (Newsarama).
I even worked up the nerve to ask a question of Jann Jones regarding the recent release of the Black Canary Wedding Planner - asking to be funny "With the release of the Wedding planner this week, will we be seeing the release of a line of Women of DC Lingerie line?" It got a good laugh!

After a long day of meeting artists and walking around we went back to the hotel for a short bit for some food and a nap (for all), before going back into the city for a Baseball game at Camden Yard. This was Little Man's First Baseball game /Red Sox Game. Yes, the Sox were in Balitmore. We were nervous about him being okay at the park with all the noise and lights after a long day - we got the the park late, and grabbed food and ate before going to find our seats. Little Man loved it. He was giggling and FLIRTING with anyone who would talk to him, which was everyone. He even wore his Red Sox out fit that Uncle Sean & Aunt Tiffany gave him. We we found our seats way up in Left Field, he loved looking around and was laughing at Jimmy Olsen and I while we clapped our hands with the crowd. He was so silly! We didn't stay long for fear of tempting fate - so we stayed for about an hour (if that) in our seats and then made our way down to leave. Before leaving we stopped at Fan Assistance and they gave us a certificate for Little Man to celebrate his first ball game. He fell asleep on the way home after such a long and exciting day. That night the 3 of us snuggled in our King size bed and sleep dreaming of all tomorrow would bring.

Sunday as even longer than Saturday on call counts. We got up and packed up everything into the car, since we were checking out. Had breakfast and got on the road for the Con. This time we weren't so lucky about sneaking in, however we didn't have to wait in line. We just could get on to the floor early - was sat and talked with one for the security people for 10AM. Once in we picked up a few of the autographs we hadn't picked up the day before, like - Mike Mignola . After that we were free to wander until Jim Lee was signing at 2PM. Having said that At I want to say 11ish if we even made it that far, I was walking by the DC booth and noticed a line - I asked an the Fan's said it was the line for Jim Lee's 2pm signing. I found Mad Dog looking through 50 cent comics and told him I was getting in line with Little Man, he thought I was nuts. " You do know how lone that is? " I did, but this was the point of coming - at least one of them. I got in line and we switched off a bit. We were lucky -they cut the line (we were probably in the middle) and when we left Jim Lee had a panel at 3 PM to get to had he still had about 25 people to get through for where they cut it off (he had 5 minutes). Oh did I say he congratulated us on Little Man - who was so good in line - and if we had the stuff (which we weren't greedy) we could have had 15 pieces signed for the 3 of us (he was signing 5 a piece).

After Mr. Lee we headed out. Which we thought was pretty great since we had a 6 hour trip ahead of us. We grabbed food once out of the city, and took off for home. Sadly we weren't that lucky. We hit traffic on the Washington Bridge - Mad Dog's Dad, who he called since it was getting late and wanted us to call when we got home, jinxed us. We didn't make it home until 1AM. Lucky for us we could sleep Monday once we returned the rental car.

This was our first official Family Road Trip! We loved it and are ready planning next year!