Heroes Con and RUSH...

I am at a loss for words as to this past weekend. Let me just say it as best as possible and let you imagine the intense emotions that must be letting me say...

It was awesome!

Thursday I helped out at the Heroes convention by picking up artists and getting them to the hotel. It started by meeting Derec Donovan ( http://www.derecdonovan.com/ ) who after I got him to the convention went to lunch with at a pizza pad across the street. This guy is super friendly and deserves a kudos! Check out his stuff and say " Cool!"

Then I picked up Barry Kitson ( http://www.barrykitson.com/ ) who had to sleep overnight at Washington Airport and lost his luggage. This guy, who hails from England, also was awesome. Then before we could get him to the hotel we had to return to the airport and pick up Tim Seeley ( http://timseeley.com/ ), who, you guessed it, was also super cool. So the two artists, my driving partners Lisa and Talia, and I went to Wally's World to get Barry some clothes to have for the next day or so. Then after getting the clothes (which will lead to another story) the whole group of us went to the airport again to pick up the legend Jerry Robinson. This man set the bar for all artists to follow! We all were in awe and need I say very impressed with Jerry and his wife as she passed out cherries to the group of us.

We continued to pick up more artists for the rest of the day (Nick Cardy , Michael Golden to throw a couple names out) and finally around 8:30 pm called it a night. Nick is another legend and everyone should take a moment to check out his stuff if you ever get the chance.

The next day was to the next step of the excitement ladder...My wife had a biopsy ( which I found out today was a big negative!!!) and while I waited for the procedure to finish my cell was getting messages from Barry and Tim (Previous day). Barry was wondering if I could assist him in going back to Wally's World and get some clothes. Well...hell yes! Donna (slightly sore), and myself went over to the hotel at 7:30pm and picked up Barry, Matt Fraction, and Mark. These three make up the comic book The Order by Marvel which should be coming out this July. The group of us went to get clothes and then I took them to The Cantina for some Mexican Dinner. I was in heaven! These guys talked shop as well as general conversational knowledge which I can say has all been put into my memory as one of the best ( top 10 ) moments I've ever had.

The next day Donna and I went to the comic con and found out the whole taking Barry to the airport story has made it's way out to other artists and I got a thank you from several of them while attending the con. I can say I have the ultimate con story now! I also got to meet Robin Mitchell who is another awesome and talented Artist ( http://robinmitchell1972.blogspot.com/ )

So the weekend is over...NO I say! Last night two of my best friends and I (Links on this page for Bill Foronjy and Joe Dorn) went and saw RUSH! Yes that awesome trio of Canadians whom I am listening to at this very moment. The show was awesome, and more awesome was just being able to see Bill. The third time in ten years! These two guys are brothers to me and hail back to meeting them at Oneonta State back in (dare I say it?) 92!

So now it's a cool down day. A day to get my energy back from drinking 1 to many beers. A day to take it all in and live in this moment as they don't happen often and when they do grab onto them and savor them. It was to quote RUSH, "A moment to pass an evening with a drink and a friend."

So there you have it...The best weekend to have in a long time. My wife is healthy, I saw RUSH, I saw Bill, I had a great treat at the Con. Thank you to the gods that watch over me for giving me this. Merci! Cheers! And to top it off... Love, Peace, and as a Running Partner would say... Monkey Grease!

I do promise some sketches and such coming... I really do... Thought the story would be good to pass along first!