I had the great pleasure of traveling out to Chicago for Star Wars Celebration 2019. This is my second celebration and I somehow had even more fun than in Orlando. There is just something heartwarming about finding one of your tribes. A group of people you have a kinship with. And these Star Wars fans are welcoming and wonderful.
I’m excited for the new branches of the galaxy far, far away. The Mandalorian seems to be right in the vein of the Star Wars novels, games, and comics I grew up on back in the mid-90s.
My soul got such a charge out of the whole five days. I met some fantastic people. Hung out all weekend with a great friend and co-pilot. And had once in a life time opportunities that will have a lasting effect on my life.
Glad to be part of this family, and veey excited to do all again in Anaheim in 2020!
So the real reason I upgraded my camera was to document this crazy great celestial convergence. I got the phot Gear I needed. I booked a flight to the closest major airport that would be under the total eclipse. And in one day was there and back again through Nashville. And boy what an awe struck moment, to see the sun disappear and hundreds of people around be stare up and see nature breaking its own rules.
Ups: Overwhelming beauty
Downs: So much air congestion as to shut down an entire ATC system and cause a almost four delay to getting home.
At the end of the Star Wars Celebration my friends and I ran around catching some other sights. We had a fun trip through Medieval Times’s feast and tournament. Also a whirlwind one day trip through Universal Studios. And on our last day we relaxed out at Disney Springs.
Ups: Harry Potter was so immersive, Hulk is an amazing coaster, Glad I got to see Disney Quest before it’s removed
Downs: Those 3D movie ride hybrids are not my cup of tea, Hit almost everything in Universal just missing Transformers, I only got to see Disney Quest as the ghost town it is right before it closes
I had a great time hanging out my annual pilgrimage to Boston. This year there was a highlight of CosPlaying as McCree from Overwatch in his American costume. My buddy was dudded up as RoadHog, and we walked the floor for the better part of an hour with a whole crew. Also when not taking in PAX playing with my shiny new Nintendo Switch. Zelda Breath of the Wild and 1-2 Switch sword fighting ruled the day.
Pros: Great show every time, Breath of the Wild
Cons: COLD very cold, my costume did not survive much more than 2 hours of con time
My first trip adventure of the year was to the golden land of Orlando. So I haven’t been to a Disney park since I was 6. I was surprised how many memories of the magic kingdom had stuck when I saw things through an adult’s eyes. It was also amazing to see all things I never saw. When I was there as a child it was the month MGM Studios opened (my mom cleverly seeing the opportunity to avoid crowds in the magic kingdom.) So I have never experienced Epcot (though I loved it from afar,) Hollywood Studios, not the Animal Kingdom. And I had my Best friend along the journey the whole time and his lovely wife on Magic Kingdom day. It was a blast and a treasured cache of memories.
Pros: Wow Disney is amazing, Disney Springs is so pleasant, Everest is a great coaster, Epcot and all the Worlds Fair vibes made me feel great, finally getting to ride Star Tours
Cons: Animal Kingdom was over a bit to soon maybe Avatar will expand it to a full day park, heavy rain drenched us on Magic Kingdom day, Star Wars Land wasn’t opened yet
Wow, what an amazing trip. For those who have never had the chance to attend a Penny Aracade Expo I cannot recommend it enough. They have been, in my experience, some of the nicest and most enjoyable conventions I have attended. Attendees are polite and cool folk. Panels are engaging. The sellers are great. And it is one of the few places you get the opportunity to mingle with video game creators outside of trade shows.
Thanks to a robust and friendly community, even tried my hand at the wacky world of costuming this year. Cosplay has always been well represented at PAX and while I'm not sure my StarLord costume knocked it out of the park I had a blast! But seriously my good friend's Cobra Commander is just awesome.
A fun way to get a way for a while. Enjoy a bit of geek culture and community.
Cobra runs on Dunkin'
Meeting up with some of my favorite people
Star-Lord and Gamora
It's a huge show, there is only about third of it behind me
Talk about an amazing journey. A group of my talented friends and I made a film for the 48 Hour Film Project. And you know what we won the Pittsburgh City Project. That meant we were entered to show our film in Hollywood at the international level competition Filmapalooza, with a chance to win a showing at Cannes. Half a year later I was on a plane to California. And what an amazing time. We didn't get to Cannes but the experiences and people I met with are priceless. And I could not have asked to be in Hillywood with a better group of filmmaking buddies. It will stand as a milestone in my life.
I had yet another opportunity to travel to the Big Apple. Mostly took time to hit tourist stuff I did have time for on more strictly business trips. It was a blast and I always fall more in love with the city every time I visit.
