Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Secret Journey

This week is spring break for Kate and Zach. I told them last week that I was going to take them somewhere, but I wouldn't tell them where until we were on our way. The only hints I gave them at the time were:

1) It isn't Disney
2) It isn't Whistler

So now we are only about 12 hours from leaving and they know a few more hints. We are flying there and as of dinner tonight I gave them the hint that we need to be careful because there will be sharks. They said that it could be an aquarium so that didn't really help them figure out where we're going. I guess they could get a few other hints from the packing list that included bathing suits, shorts, sweatshirts and a miner's hat. OK... one of those may have been a red herring but I'm not saying which one.

Their guesses currently include Sarasota, Idaho, Hawaii, Detroit, Michigan, New York, Colorado, Santa Barbara, San Jose (sharks!).

They'll find out in the morning! I wonder how long I can wait before they figure it out. I guess they'll be able to see it on their boarding passes so it will be pretty obvious. Too bad we took a direct flight -- that would be even cooler!

Sunday, April 10, 2005

Geekstravaganza 2005

My kids wanted to go to Sakura-Con this weekend. We went last year and they had a great time so this time Kate brought some friends. Sakura-Con is the premier Pacific Northwest Anime Convention devoted to east Asian Culture, with a particular focus on Japanese animation (anime), Japanese Comics (manga), and gaming.

It is also a turbo geek fest.

Thousands of people waiting in line to watch anime videos, buy postersl, eat Pocky and most of all, cosplay. More than half of the people there are dressed up as their favorite anime charcter from manga, video games or videos. Some people spend a lot of time and money on their costumes. Others... well, they color a paper bag and stick it over their head. People of all ages roaming around a couple of hotels near the airport with the largest swords you've ever seen. I'm pretty sure I saw Comic Book Guy there.

I, of course, rose above all of this geekdom. While Zach and Kate and her friends wandered the halls, buying posters and autographed tee shirts I sat in the lobby of the hotel.... and played World of Warcraft. While they chased white mages with huge hammers around to take their pictures, my character (Foton - a Level 45 Paladin) was running through Zul'Farrak trying to get the Divino-matic Rod in a group with a priest, a warrior, two.... um...

oh crap.

I fit right in.

In fact, about every 10 minutes, someone would come up and ask what server I was playing on and start talking about their adventures in Stranglethorn Vale or some other distant land.

Keeping the geek in duffergeek.