New York Comic Con 2013: Day One...

Yesterday, as I have every year for the past five years, I attended New York Comic Con with Lenni. Instead of heading to the library we hopped on the LIRR to New York City and made our way to the Javits Center for professional hours.

We attended some panels -- "Bringing Digital Comics Into Schools & Libraries" and "Fandoms In The Library" to be exact. The digital comics one I think was very similar, if not the same as one of the panels Lenni and I attended in previous years, but whatever it killed sometime before the floor opened at 3:00pm.

Once the floor opened I got some good mileage out of the Dr. Scholl's®Active Series® Insoles that Influenster sent me a few weeks back (Which I was totally surprised I'd actually use, only because I rarely wear my sneakers). Lenni and I walked up and down the showroom floor checking out everything everyone had to offer, buying randomness (Or trying not to buy randomness. Damn you vendor selling blow up Daleks!!) and grabbing whatever free swag we could get our hands on (Which wasn't a lot).

I always have fun going into the city for New York Comic Con and this years con was no exception. The only real complaint I have is the lack of swag (With the exception of Broadway Nails, from whom I got a crapton of imPress Press-On nails which happen to be one of my favorite products ever). I understand everyone is cutting back but c'mon, I needs me some random swag!

Anyone else attend or planning to attend one of the other days? Lemme know!

New York Maker Faire....

This past Saturday the library sent myself and Lenni to the New York Hall of Science for the 2013 Maker Faire. We were basically sent to get ideas and see if it was feasible to create a Makerspace within our own library -- Which it isn't, but we knew that before driving into Queens and checking everything out.

Despite knowing that in terms of the library going to the Maker Faire was a waste of time (Due to a of a lack of space within the library and proper funding), we enjoyed ourselves or at least I did.
 
It was neat seeing all of the gizmos and gadgets and all of the wonderful thing one can make with a little imagination and know-how (And the money to buy the prefab kits to do so, which our library doesn't have). 

Birthday Dinners & Possible Broken Toes...

Yesterday was Lenni's birthday so Erin and I took her out shopping to this little boutique that we frequent and then to dinner at this sweet panini place not to far from her house. We spent hours at the restaurant eating, drinking and just bullshitting. We had intended on going to a bar or two after dinner but the three of us noticed that it was snowing outside so we decided to call it a night because it was getting bad.

After dropping Lenni and Erin off and making it all the way back to Justin's after driving in the snow, I walk down the stairs to get into his apartment and the second my foot hits the floor I slip, fall and slam my left foot into the side of his table. I start crying, Justin runs over to me and takes my shoe off. It didn't look terrible but my toe was throbbing and the top of my foot was all scratched up. So I ended up spending the rest of the evening with my foot elevated because it blew up and was swollen.

I'm not sure what exactly I did to my toe but it still is killing me today. I guess I'll just have to continue to ice it, leave it elevated and see what happens.

New York Comic Con 2012: Day Two...

Today I got to spend my second day at New York Comic Con (It was actually day three of the event). Erin met up with me in the AM and the two of us hopped on the LIRR and made our way to the Javits Center.

I was given the amazing opportunity to attend not one, but two press conference while I was at Comic Con (I'm going to write about those in other posts because they need their own individual posts). So I spent the first few hours I was at Comic Con at taking those in. While I was doing so ended up meeting Giselle from the website Mamás Latinas, the two of us clicked so I we ended up hanging out during and after the conferences (She was a Comic Con newbie, so Erin and I showed her around the showroom floor, etc).

After all of the above was said and done I found Erin, who was actually with Lenni and her family.
Once we got done taking some pictures (People were stopping them left and right) we all headed onto the showroom floor to get our geek on. Erin bought a pair of Necomini Brainwave Cat Ears, we all got tied up in corsets, we bought some beautiful leather books, found out about bacon lollipops, costume watched, etc.

We wandered around for hours before Erin and I parted ways with Giselle and tried to attend the Oddities Antique Road Show, which was a panel with Mike & Evan from the Science Channel show Oddities, but we got closed out -- I'm still sad about this. We also went to inquire about the Walking Dead event in the IGN Theater, but that too was full and there was no way in hell we were getting in. So the two of us walked around a bit longer before headed back to Long Island.

It was a great day. I love going to New York Comic Con and it was made that much better by being given the opportunity to go to the press conferences. I'd like to thank Jennifer from H+M Communication for stumbling across my blog and inviting me to cover Beautiful Creatures, as well as Sally and Salomon for The Conjuring invite. You are all awesome.

New York Comic Con 2012: Day One...

It's my favorite time of the year, time for New York Comic Con! Earlier today I met up with Lenni and the two of us hopped on the train and headed into the city to go to nerdy heaven for work.

We attended a handful of panels throughout the course of the professional hours and then we ran to the showroom floor the minute it opened to see everything that they had to offer this year.

PROFESSIONAL LIBRARY PANELS

(THAT WE ATTENDED)

Library As Mythic Oracle
Speculative fiction, which includes comic-book literature, as well as science fiction and fantasy, had always been an overlooked genre. It was condemned to the very fringes of “serious” literary research, and considered to be the province of geeks, nerds, and social outcasts. In recent years however, that has all changed. Geek culture has assumed its place among scholarly pursuits in many colleges and universities. Films based upon comic book characters are made into sweeping motion picture epics with genuine cinematic and literary merit. The heroes, villains, and settings of these stories have woven themselves into a kind of “modern mythology” for the information age. But how are our contemporary heroes different from the legends of old? In the ancient world, the strong and valiant hero was assisted by a sage, or mentor. In our modern mythologies, the hero often fulfills both roles. The intellectual hero is at least as capable, if not more so, than the brawny warrior. This panel will the many different ways that our 21st-century, Information-savvy culture has influenced the re-telling of the hero’s journey, and created a new mythology for a geek-centered culture. 

The Possibilities Of A Cape & Mask: How To Incorporate Superheroes Into Public Library Programming
Superheroes in libraries can go well beyond the graphic novel collections and the occasional superhero storytime. Right now, superheroes are more popular than ever and enjoy almost universal appeal regardless of age or gender. The prevailing themes surrounding superheroes (costumes, capes, secret identities, arch villains, etc) make them an instantly recognized thing. This program will talk about how public libraries can use the concept of the superhero as a universal icon to create fun and cost effective library programs.

Foolproof Graphic Novel Collection Development
Building and maintaining a graphic novel collection in a library can be difficult for some librarians. But it doesn't have to be. Two New Jersey librarians will show you how to get the releases that your customers want and insure that you continue to get their favorites. They will also impart tips on getting essential selections for all age groups, networking with your local comics retailers to help the CE process, creating excitement about your library's graphic novel collections, and convincing administrators that comics are popular with all types of library users.

We spent hours wander up and down the aisles, buying randomness (I bought myself a copy of Sailor Moon 7, a wind up Dalek and two pairs of Batman socks), collection all the swag we could and people watching.

Honestly, going to New York Comic Con is the highlight of my year in terms of things I do for work. I just love that as a librarian I am considered a professional and I get to attend!

NYCC New Professional Pass Protocol...

I'm excited and annoyed all at the same time because I just registered to attend New York Comic Con 2012 and they changed the procedure as to how they give out professional passes this year. Unlike Comic Cons past I had to fill out a form with all of this information about where I work and what exactly I do and now I have to wait twenty-one days to find out if my application to attend has been approved. I hope it is. I love going to New York Comic Con for work. It's one of the highlights of my job.

I wonder what exactly happened for them to change their professional pass procedure. I'm guessing they were getting screwed over by fake professionals. I hope a real professional like myself and Lenni that looks forward to going get passes. I'll keep you up-to-date on what happens.

If You're Hurt At Work...

I wish you could see me right now, I'm sitting at my desk with my legs up on one of the extra chairs that we having floating around the office because around 9:40am my right patella decided to pop out on me. Unfortunately when this all happened I was alone with "Julia" who asked me only once if I was okay and she did it between me crying out in pain and screaming fuck (Which apparently "Mini Page" heard from the stacks). Obviously she wasn't getting an answer out of me while I had my head on my desk and I was clutching my knee.

About ten minutes go by, with me still in the same position, before she says anything else to me. She tell me that she needs to leave the building to do a program and asks if I'll be okay to cover the desk. I really had to try hard not to start screaming and cursing at her. I said no, she needs to call adult for coverage because there was no way in hell that I was moving from where I was. Did she call? I didn't see her. All I saw her do was wander away. Thankfully this all happened at the comfort of my desk and my cell phone was right next to me. I text Lenni and called Head Clerk's cell to see if she could help me. When she answered she was outside of the building but she was right in front talking to "Amy" so she sent her straight up.

So, for the past four hours I've been in the same spot. Why haven't I gone home you ask? The elevator is still out of commission from the freak fire alarm situation yesterday and there is no way I'm gonna tackle those stairs right now with all of the bags that I have with me. For now I'll just sit her at my desk, pretending to do work until it's time to go home.

I'll keep you up-to-date if anything else fun happens.

To Vlog Or Not To Vlog...

The other night I went out to dinner with Lenni, "Leslie" and Lenni's husband. While we were out Lenni mentioned that she thinks that I should put up vlog posts. This raised a bunch of questions in my mind... What would I vlog about? Does anyone actually wanna hear my voice? Etc, etc, etc... What do you guys think? Is there anything you'd actually want to hear about? Lemme know.

Seven Questions...

Cleaver + A Hot Pink Wig = My 24th Birthday Party

1. You're given the choice between a life with love & trials or loneliness & ease. Pick one.
Love with trials. I would never want to be lonely.

2. Would you rather live in Narnia, Hogwarts, Middle Earth, or Neverland?
Hogwarts... Why would anyone wanna live anywhere else?!

3. Think of your dream home... What style is it?
Victorian all the way. It is my absolute favorite style for a house.

4. What's currently your favorite song or album?
"Starships" by Nicki Minaj. It makes me want to car dance every time I hear it.


5. Who was the last person you hugged?
Lenni's husband as I was leaving their house last night.

6. You have a ticket in your hand, where is it going to take you?
On an all inclusive month long European extravaganza! I want to go back to Europe... ::Sigh::

7. Who is one blogger you KNOW you'd be BFF's with in real life?
Hmm... I think that Lou from Foxy Whiskers and I would have a blast together. We're actually pen pals, so I don't know if she counts (I think she should).

There are a lot of blogs that I follow that the people who run them have no idea who I am, but I think I'd get along with so well if we met.

Career Day 2012: High School Edition...

Today Lenni and I went to the High School for their Career Day. We were just thrown into the gym at a table and if the kids wanted to ask us something they could, it they didn't they could just walk past us. Because we knew this going into it we decided to bring maracas so that the teens would stop by our table, and so that they would annoy the shit out of their teachers for the rest of the day with them.

Number of Teen Who Came Over JUST for a Maraca: 38

Number of Teens With Actual Questions About Being Librarians: 6

Number of Teen Who Asked About Jobs: 4

We stuck around for two periods. After the first one the school's principle came up to us and told us that we weren't allowed to give out maracas because the teens were shaking them and annoying everyone. This was fine with us, but him standing near us for thirty minutes after he spoke to us wasn't cool. Because he found the need to babysit us we decided that we will not be attending next years Career Day.

Career Day 2012: Middle School Edition...

It's that time of year again... Career Day time!

Today our Director sent Lenni and I to the local Middle School to talk to the kiddies about becoming librarians. We had the pleasure of speaking to two groups of about twenty middle schoolers for about forty-five minute each about ourselves, how we decided to become librarians and librarianship.

It wasn't as bad as we thought it was going to be. Especially since we were placed in our own room and weren't grouped with the educators like last year -- Here is last years entry.

I mean, none of the kids that we had actually picked listening to the librarians speak (I know this is true because it was the first question I asked each group as they settled down) but Lenni and I made the best of it and got them laughing. They might not wanna be librarians when they grow up but we defiantly changed their minds about what librarians do and that we all aren't old scary ladies.

Contest Announcement...

Hey guys, Lenni is having a contest over on her blog to win a copy of her book (Yup, Lenni wrote a book and it's awesome) First Brood: Dreamhunter and you should go check it out!

Here's what to do a la Lenni's blog...

To enter, send Lenni some fanart or fanfiction from the First Brood series. You don’t have to buy the book to know the characters. The first nine chapters are here for you to read. Pick a character (or two) or a fun situation and create away!

Here’s what you can win:

Grand Prize (1 person for art, 1 person for fan-fiction) is a free print copy of Dreamhunter.

All participants receive a Vampire Cupcake button for participating.

Rules:

• ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE ELECTRONIC: The point is to get something for free. I’m not gonna make anyone pay for postage. Fan-fiction should be in the body of your email. I would prefer not to get attachments but it’s ok. Just use RTF format. Pictures should be JPEG so I can see them.
• Keep it to an R rating. I’ll have a different contest for naughty bits. See next rule for why:
• ALL ART AND FAN-FICTION RECEIVED WILL BE POSTED ON THE SITE WITH CREDIT: On my site there is a Gifts page. I would like to be able to display the entries without having to post warnings all over the place. Artsy nudity is ok. Parts touching other parts is a no-no. Unless expressly told NOT to post it, I will. Right now there is no separate section for NC-17 work. When there is, I will hold a contest for that.
• All entries must include your name, title of work, which character(s) it is, and what link you’d like the credit to go to.
• This contest is limited to First Brood characters. With other characters is fine (ex: Auris vs Batman or something) but not anyone from my other stories.
• Send all entries to lenni@atthequillsmercy.com.
• One entry per person please. One person should not submit art AND a story. One or the other.
• Fan-Fiction entries need to be under 10,000 words. I want to have time to read them all.
• Final date for entries is March 31, 2012. Results will be posted by April 15, 2012 (barring injury or illness of course)

Behave Or Else!...

Lenni e-mailed me this this morning and I enjoyed it because I love the movie Labyrinth (1986), so I'm posting it -- Sorry, I know I'm a dork.

I would love to have a sign like this in the library, but God knows people don't have a sense of humor so it wouldn't fly.

Beginning Of A Bucket List...

Honestly I didn't really do much today at work. I did whatever random tasks my Department Head asked me to do yesterday and then I was pretty much free for the rest of the day because it was super slow. So, I ended up working on a handwritten bucket list thanks to Lenni and her bucket list that my Department Head and I were looking at yesterday. Yeah, I know what you're thinking... You're thinking that I already have my "No Regrets" list do 26th things by my 27th birthday blah blah blah, but this one is kinda different. This list consists of things that I know are gonna take me more than a year to do and that I'd like to do before I kick it one day. I'm not going to type everything out that I wrote, I will give you a sampling of what is on it though. Plus you all know that if I just so happen to get something on the list done that I'll be posting about it anyways.

A Sampling Of My Ultimate Bucket List

• Own a coffee shop This is actually mine and Phil's dream
• Witness the running of the bulls
• Ride a camel
• Visit the wreckage of the Titanic aboard a submarine
• Attend a Native American sweat lodge ceremony
• Find my doppelganger

Great 11/11/11...

I must say, despite having to deal with "Julia" today I had the best 11/11/11. While I was still at work "Favorite Page #1" showed up with one of her friends from college and surprised me -- She also bought me my favorite drink from Starbucks (Carmel Apple Spice). I had no idea that she was going to be home for the weekend and I was so happy to see her. She and her friend actually hung out with Lenni and I during Drawing Club -- "Favorite Page #2 also showed up and came to hang out with us too. It was amazing to see her because I miss her so much when she is gone.

Something I was happy I missed was having to deal with some teenage boys setting off a stink bomb in front of our reference desk-- I was in Drawing Club when it happened and "Julia" ended up having to deal with the entire thing, as well as clean up the mess. Yay positive energy of 11/11/11 in my favor!

After I left work my sister decided that she was going to take me out to dinner and we ended up going to one of my favorite restaurants on Long Island, Heart of Portugal. While feasting on one of my favorite meals of all time I got the best voicemail from Erin who was pissed off that I went there without her.

Voicemail Transcription:
"So my network of spies (aka Foursquare) tells me that you're at Heart of Portugal So first of all go fuck yourself and your champagne lobster with the saucy saucy sauce situation with the spoon and the pot and the little man that brings it to you and lifts the lid. I hate you right now. There's no forgiving you. And two how did you end up there when we are supposed to be going out to ladies night and what have you and blah blah blah. Please explain how champagne lobster got thrown into the mix and I was not invited. You are a whore, that is all. Thank you very much, have a nice night."

Best voicemail ever -- Aside from the ones I get from Phil singing me random songs. My sister and I were cracking up at our table in the restaurant listening to it.

Once we were done eating we did a little shopping and went home. What a great 11/11/11. I hope you all enjoyed yours.

Drawing Alone...

I just hung out with Lenni during my lunch break and she was telling me that she had kids at Drawing Club last Friday telling her that they missed me and that it isn't the same without me. I felt loved but bad for Lenni. I'm gonna have to make sure that I don't leave her by herself during Drawing Club anymore.

New York Comic Con: Day Two...

I was off from work today so I got to go back to New York Comic Con, but today I went with Erin. Again I was disappointed -- Erin had never been before so she had nothing to compare it to, but she didn't seem to have enough patience for it after a while. I was disappointed because they changed the layout of the showroom floor, there was less swag to be gotten and it just didn't feel the same. I'm really considering e-mailing the event coordinators and complaining about all of the changes (Lenni was saying yesterday that she wanted to do the same about the new Professional Day).

The highlight of the whole thing was that I finally bought myself a copy of the newly reissued Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi (Which is my favorite manga and anime of all time) and I got a free Sailor Moon poster (Which I shall hang up at my desk). Also I got to see Stan Lee and I have a picture of him Aside from that, I had an okay time.

Will I go again next year? Of course because I don't actually pay for my pass to attend or the train fare. I'm hoping that they will learn from this years mistakes and next time around it will be better.

New York Comic Con: Day One...

To be honest with you, I was very disappointed with today and the way that Professional Day is being run now -- I know Lenni agrees with me totally on this. Unlike in years past, this year the powers that be decided that they wanted to make Comic Con longer and in doing that they bumped Professional hours from Friday to Thursday, changed the start time and they made it so that you didn't have the option of going to a panel or walk around the showroom floor whenever you wanted. This year professional hours started at 12:00pm (until 4:00pm) and within that time you could only go to panels. You weren't allowed to enter the showroom floor until 4:00pm (until 7:00pm).

Lenni and I went to the first three panels and split after that because I needed to catch a 4:30pm train back to where Justin lives because we had tickets to see Ghostbusters in theaters this fine evening. So basically I got no swag today, but since I'll be going again tomorrow I'll have to hit the floor hard with Erin and we're gonna have to get swag until we drop.