8:48 A.M. found me on the Gold Wing, zipping along I-70, somewhere between Columbia and Concordia, MO, the Brian Setzer Orchestra is a gonna "Rock This Town" and they are blaring their intentions out of the speakers as I was heading to Kansas City to go to the MoKan Comics Conspiracy (which is about the dumbest name for a convention I've every heard in all my born days...). The black-eyed susans littered the side of the highway scenery, combined with a few smaller trees with leaves turning red, made for some pleasant visuals down the road. The lack of rain, and bountiful sunshine also contirbuted.
Besides the funny book show, I was also going to see friend Eric, meet his friend Matt, and also be able to see Eric's charming and long suffering wife, Sarah and their two little boys. I wheeled into Eric's driveway, stowed my motorcycle stuff, changed shoes, and away we went. I learned from last year that engineer boots on conrete for several hours can be wearisome on my feet. I started throwing money at dealers almost immediately upon arrival, using my handy-dandy nerdy checklist to fill holes in my collection. Very quickly, I filled one of the reusable grocery sacks I brought from home. So, I felt the need to empty it out in Eric's car, and go back in to refill it. Which I did, thank you.
In between bargain hunting, I spent some time being a geek and hanging around the comics creators (writers and artists).
Sergio Aragones and the entire Groo Crew were there. I've never read any Groo. It just never appealed to me. But I have read some other stuff that Aragones wrote, so I stopped by to tell him how much I enjoyed the recent
Bat Lash series, and his work on
The Spirit. Since the Spirit is something of a sacred cow of mine, comics wise, he had to be doing a good job. I even had my picture taken with Sergio! (
click here...then come back!)
I have to admit that going through long boxes of comics, or digging through bargain bins, sort of makes me feel like a bit of a dumpster diver. Especially in a Convention setting. But, with all the nifty bargains I picked up, I shouldn't complain. Eric found some things he was looking for, including a small ton of comics for his not quite 2 year old son. The little guy sits there and lets you read the whole darn comic book to him. Apparently, he's riveted to them. Which is a good thing. Should help him learn to read on his own and appreciate the beauty of sequential art as a medium for telling stories.
Meeting Matt and his family was a real treat. Matt is a friend of Eric's from Eric's Karate Club, and both are members of the KirbyKomics
Group of Yahoo's, I mean Yahoo Group that I belong to, so that made for an interesting and fun get together. My only regret is that Matt and family couldn't join us for dinner at this nifty German place in Independence. A place called the Rheinland Restaurant and you know what? I TRIED THE VEAL!!!
That's right! I wasn't there all week, I did tip the waitress, and I tried the Veal!
Jagerschnitzel, to be exact. Und it vas gutt! (Comic book German for ya, right there). It was served with a side of
Spatzle, and the whole thing was great. Had I not been looking at a 120 mile ride home, I would've had some yummy dark German beer in a bucket big enough to dive in. Alas, keeping what few wits about me whilst piloting the Gold Wing home won out, so I had Apple Cider instead.
Visiting with Eric and Sarah and getting a little caught up with them, in between paying attention to the kids was lots of fun. I always enjoy seeing them and spending time with them. I have got to get Elaine to go with me to the Rheinland. She won't try the veal, but they have plenty of other stuff I believe she'd like.
The ride home was uneventful, which is a good thing. I did realize that I had conflicted perspectives, often at the same moment. Or so it seemed...I would look at the odomter, and marvel at how much ground I covered in what I thought was a short time. I was going to get home so much sooner than I had originally thought. Yay me! Then again, I'd immediatley think, I've still got so far to go! I'll never get home! WAUGH!
I made it home in good time, hugged Elaine mightily (because I missed her) and pretty well collapsed in a tired puddle on the floor. I'm getting too old for this sort of stuff. :-)