10 Days in California Part 3: Goodbyes are Hard

Saturday Morning I woke up and realized I had barely seen any of the show room floor. Given the signing schedule ahead of us, I strongly doubt that will change today. I came into the convention center and prepared for the crazy day that was ahead of me. 

Again for the sake of time, I’ll throw some quick highlights:

Dweeb Darlings – There’s nothing I can say that I haven’t said in person to people. Stephanie and Heidi are both awesome people and I’m always excited to hang out with them.

Andre Gower & Ryan Lambert – Monster Squad is top 5 favorite movies for me. It’s crazy that I am now on a first name basis with two of the stars. Andre and Ryan are awesome guys with an awesome podcast (Squadcast). You should 100% check them out if you’re able to.

Mega-Ran – Much like Andre and Ryan it’s awesome that I’m friends with one of my favorite rappers ever. Ran and I hung out, talked wrestling and even recorded and episode of his podcast Mat Mania. Do not miss out on that episode where we get nothing but incorrect Battleground predictions.

The Geek History Lesson – We had a massive turn out for these two. I had met them previous cons but this was the first year I got to really talk to Ashley and Jason. We discussed the struggles of getting a podcast to the next plateau and Ashley really made me feel confident that Horror Movie Night will be okay.

Fanbase Press Presents Quince – After years of friendship I finally got to meet Barbara Dillon and she’s just as awesome, sweet and adorable as you imagine she is. This also had an intense turn out and I’m super happy to know we had a part in the promotion. I definitely look forward to seeing them again next year.

The con ended and we returned to Rockin Baha for Derek’s final chance at Mango Salsa. After this delicious meal Derek, Courtney and I went to the hotel hot tub where I got to rest my feet and meet a few more people (including another Mattel employee). Afterwards we recorded a new episode of Geekscape Games and called it a night.

I woke up the next morning both excited and dreading the final day.

The crowd’s were dying down for the end of the con, We had a nice signing with DangerKatt’s Dan Corey and I met James Cotten. We had a great conversation. Derek left and that was emotional as hell. More emotional than normal (more on that in a minute).

The con wrapped up, we broke down the booth and I said goodbye to some of my convention friends (Lloyd, Marcus and Megan at Troma; Miguel and the Horrible Imaginings crew) and after Jonathan and Gui left I walked back to Lolitas with Courtney before hugging her goodbye and taking a Lyft to my friend Aubree’s house.

I had never met Aubree. We have been friends for years ever since I started a “rivalry with her” since she was a better writer than me, had a cooler life than me and liked dope music. The joke rivalry turned into a real friendship in which we helped each other during bad periods of both of our lives. When I finally saw Aubree and we hugged for the first time my heart melted a bit.

The weird thing about internet friendships is that you build an idealized version of a person. You never get to hear their voice in most cases and only have pictures to go off of. You only know what they tell you about the person that they are. Despite all of that… they also can be the best relationships in your life. I realized it more this year than ever before.

I jokingly said I fly 3,000 miles to stare at a Yo-Gi-Oh store for 5 days … but that’s not the case. I flew 3,000 miles to meet the best friends I never get to see. Derek, Jonathan, Courtney, Aubree, Barbara, Rudy, Marcus, Megan, Gui, Heidi and all of the other countless names of friends I only get to see one week of the year are just as crucial in my life as the people I see every day.

They make me who I am, they shape me into the person that I am. They love me and I love them too.

As I sat in Aubree’s apartment and met her cousins and her finance I felt a ping of sadness that in less than 12 hours I’d be on a plane. Aubree gave me a copy of her incredible painting “Head in the Clouds” and I slept on an insanely comfortable pull out couch with her dog Izzy.

We grabbed a quick breakfast and flew home with a suitcase full of convention swag and mindful of memories. I felt regenerated. Next years only 350-some days away. I can’t wait.