It hardly seems possible that I have been working here in Orange for five years. Yeah, okay sometimes it seems forever, but the point is that the past five years have certainly been interesting. Of course, it was also a surprise to realize that I was with Brooklyn Public for over fourteen years and at the University of New Haven for four. You find yourself in a routine and just keep going through whatever changes are happening around you.

It is equally shocking to recall that in August, Donna and I will have been in California for six years. As with OPL, it seems like longer some days, while on others I have to remind myself that I don't need a return ticket to NYC. We're here for keeps!

Got nothing to add or report, but I did want to get that out of my system. The City of Orange actually gave me a certificate and I got to shake hands with the Mayor and City Council yesterday. Certainly something I never got to do back in Brooklyn.

Ya know, I kind of like it here. :-)

This might fit more into Shot's Shack, but thought I'd post here since more of you read this.

Went to Wonder Con yesterday, being held in Anaheim this year. Not sure what it is like in its usual San Francisco home, but it was a nice change from SDCC which can be pretty overwhelming. The Anaheim Comic Con, that was held last year, was barely half this size, but with more one-time movie & TV stars and "B" listers. Stan Lee and others are scheduled to appear today (Saturday), but for me the biggest (pardon the expression) celeb I saw was Cassandra Peterson (aka Elvira, for those who didn't have 8x10s of her on their walls). She had a small group around her and as I was getting ready to leave I failed to get a snap-shot or autograph.

A couple of the LA TV stations had crews there during the day, but I only caught a report on the NBC affiliate this morning. As usual, the focus is on the folks who appear in costume, giving the impression that 80% of the folks are running around in ill-fitting costumes. The reporter did about ten seconds standing behind a dealer table saying something to the effect that 'this is what the attendees are really here for' and pulling out some random Marvel X-title. Immediately the video went back to showing a Scarlet Witch and a couple of the folks you see above. (Before you ask, it was explained to me by my co-worker David, that these are villains from Cartoon Network's The Venture Bros. animated series.)

David, along with his brother, Jeff, and I had a pretty good time, not taking in any of the panels, but just walking about the convention picking up some freebies and other things. As I said, unlike SDCC, the place is really set up for folks who want to buy collectibles and artists wanting to sell their books and sketches. The movie stars, 'big name' creators and huge publisher/movie company displayes are not in evidence. Wonder Con still has the feel of the San Diego cons I attended thirty years ago and smaller cons you can still find around the country.

In an odd bit of scheduling the Convention center was also hosting the "SCVA Junior National Qualifier Volleyball Tournament". Not sure who was more curious about the other group. Hundreds of teenage girls in shorts & tee shirts and dozens of older teens and adults dressed up in tights and articial armor taking photos of each other. There seemed to be a lot of staring and good natured posing going on in both groups.

I'd do it again, if Wonder Con returns, but I doubt they will. What I do hope is that the folks behind SDCC & Wonder Con realize that there is room for another convention, perhaps scheduled between the two or later in the year.

More changes at the Library, but I guess that's to be expected. Usual rumors and concerns, which does nobody any good. Time to update that resume?

Been strange not having Donna home the past week. I don't know that I am cut out for a bachelor lifestyle anymore. How did I get by when I was living on my own? I do want to give two thumbs up to Marie Callender's for making some really tasty frozen dinners. I recommend their various pasta microwavable entrees. I've paid a lot more in restaurants for fettucini with chicken & broccoli that wasn't as good as this. A perfect size for one meal and great for when I get home at night from work. (This was not a paid endorsement!)

On the other hand, I can't recommend the flavorless Farmer John's Franks. Even homemade chili and mustard couldn't save these. Shouldn't have gone cheap,as Donna told me I was, but I thought I would give them a try. I'll stick to Hebrew National or Nathan's from now on.

Got to see JOHN CARTER last Saturday and recommend it. I'll be posting my YouTube review over on Shot's Shack later today. Also, borrowed a couple of DVDs from the Library (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo {original from Denmark w/ English subtitles} and the Coen Bros.' True Grit). I'll try to give a quick review over on the other site when I get a chance. Although, I must say right here (not having seen the new American version of Girl with...) that the two scenes involving Salendar with her guardian were extremely disturbing.

With that warning I'm going to wrap things up for now. Hope to be a more frequent poster and see you soon.

All the changes being made to Facebook,Twitter and MySpace are making things even more difficult than easier, IMHO. I'm not crazy about the Timeline thing on Facebook and, unless I'm just dense, they have made changing your Profile picture a royal pain. I might start to find it easier to start posting more here and at Shot's Shack.

It's going to be strange being on my own next week with Donna going back East. Guess I have to stock up on frozen TV dinners, Moxie and some beer. Also, might be a good time to catch up on some movies on DVD and spend a day at the movies. I'm curious about the new John Carter movie coming out next Friday and I could sneak in to some other films while I'm there. Haven't done the multiple movie thing since back in New York.

That's it for now!