Trip Report, Part One

[Gail Simone]

Just the highlights, nothing too fascinating, but BOY we had a good time.

The first part was Free Comic Book Day.

A nightmare of mine came true...I get asked to do about three times more events and appearances than I can handle. And they come in from Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Email, and through DC. It gets overwhelming to keep track of.

A while back, a comic store in central Florida asked me if I was available for FCBD. I checked with the hubby, and said yes. A DAY LATER, I got the email again, and replied the same way, yes, let's do it.

I kept getting occasional emails, no worries, all excited, about forty minutes from Disneyworld, check.

Then I got two such emails together, and the names were different. A lot of you Yabsers know I am terrible, truly AWFUL, with names.

They were from different stores, both in central Florida. Both of which I had agreed to appear at. On the same day. I somehow became a Brady Bunch plot.
I freaked out. I felt HORRIBLE. I wrote and explained the situation, I offered a bunch of possible choices, any possible solution. I felt like the world's biggest creep.


It turned out okay. The guys from YANCY ST. COMICS in Port Richey and HEROES LANDING in Clermont, turned out to be INCREDIBLY nice, and we ended up splitting
the day. It was absolutely lovely. We stayed the first night next to a mini-golf course that advertised live gators. Yes.

AMAZING cosplayers...Alice showed up as an astounding Outlaw, there was a Batgirl, a Black Alice, a fantastic Lady Blackhawk. Tons of female readers, lots of wonderful
lgbtq readers, a great diverse crowd the entire time.

Wonderful, had the best time. And got to sit next to my faves, Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner.

That was the first day!

[Gail Simone]

Also, I finally got to meet Raistlyne's lovely family!

[Cam63]

I love the coz players... Way mucho talente and they bring the right attitude along.

Good job catching up with the mob and don't worry too much re the names.

As long as they aint wankers or trolls, most will be OK with it.

[Erica J Heflin]

You should've checked out the mini golf. I'm guessing it was Congo River by the description. Those courses are actually pretty darned cool, and the live gators are small. They have (or at least used to have) plastic fishing pole rigs that you could use to feed the gators. They are always well fed, but the staff seems to stay on top of their weight so that they don't gain too much. They're of a size where you could hold them under one arm. Not babies, but not the big chompers either.

For those, you go to the parks. Boyd Hill in St Pete has an island where the gators like to gather. The area isn't fenced off or anything, so you just need to use caution. It's incredible to see them out with their young and hear the "gulp" noise that they use to collect their babies.

The kids had a great time on FCBD. They got some books, got to ride some rides, and spent an eternity in the play area. That's their kind of heaven!