First Comic Con: Anxiety Based Freakouts, Discovering How Much Felicia Day Gets Me, Falling For Manu Bennett and Seeing Inspector Spacetime (oh and Alan Tudyk)

**Warning! This will be a heavy GIF/PICTURE/RANTY post**

So this post will not necessarily be about library/book related materials (though it will mention Felicia Day's new book so technically it counts!!)

This past weekend was my first trip to a comic convention. I've wanted to go to one ever since, well ever since I realized that so many people that I admired go to them. To, then, learn that events such as these allowed people with my same likes to congregate without fear or shame, well I was sold on them!!

It was about a month ago that I decided to make the trip from Idaho down to the Salt Lake City Comic Con . My aunt and my sister tagged along. Originally I had plans to take photos with both Emma Caulfield, John Barrowman (a pic shared with my sister) and Felicia Day.

Sadly Emma Caulfield ended up canceling

 While I was, extremely, disappointed, I understood. (Hey $50 refund!!)

On our day of the convention we ended up getting there at about 7:30 am.

Earlier that morning (like an hour, if that, before) we saw an email that said we had won the lottery to enter the Chris Evans panel.

My sister is a HUGE Chris Evans fan. Honestly he's the reason she wanted to come. So we waited in an incredibly unorganized line.

Seriously the most helpful people were fellow attendees, not the actual staff/volunteers. That early experience should have warned us about the day.

The initial crowd of people got me prepped, somewhat, for what I would be in for.

It wasn't until my aunt and I entered hours later (my sister was the only one who got to see Chris) that I realized how terrified I was.

Now, let's get this out to the way; I have severe anxiety disorder and self esteem that's somewhere lower than rock bottom. So walking into a convention hall with thousands of people (something that, honestly, I should have been prepared for) took my breath away.

I was, almost, always an inch away from someone.

There was never really a moment when I felt comfortable or relaxed in any way.

It wasn't until (while waiting for Robbie Amell's panel) my aunt and I stumbled upon the Shannara panel that I felt any moment of relief.

That, in almost all parts, is thanks to the FANTASTIC Manu Bennett!! He was probably the highlight of my con experience and I can't wait to see him in Shannara!!

Watching his panel (which I guess he shared with Terry Brooks) took me away from the worries and anxieties that had been plaguing me throughout the day. So thank you Manu!!

I mean those ARMS!! (He did flex for the crowd) And the way he talked about New Zealand and his childhood!! (Excuse me while I fangirl for a moment or two....)

During this and for a while after, my sister received her autograph from Chris Evans. Her line waiting time equaled about two hours!!

Immediately following that she went to wait in line for John Barrowman. (I ended up backing out because I was freaking out about the crowds)

After dragging my aunt outside for air during which I'm sure I looked like a crazy person with a mission

(and running into both Christopher Gorham and the only person cosplaying as Inspector Spacetime) I realized something; I wasn't going to take my picture with Felicia Day.

Throughout the day, whenever we were in the car or on the train or I was overwhelmed, I took to reading her book. And I LOVED it!

Go read/buy it now!!

I was a fan of hers before, but now I saw (or read) that she was so much like me (well in certain ways) that I couldn't put it down!

But after seeing the crowds, how long my sister waited (she ended up waiting almost another hour + for Barrowman) I realized that I wouldn't be able to do it.

And that sucked.

It killed me to be such a slave to my anxiety that I was literally willing to bite the $50 I spent on the Felicia photo op just to get out of there ASAP.

I know that I probably overreacted. And that I should have just grinned and bore it (beared it?) until I got my money's worth. But I just couldn't. It wasn't something I was able to do.

And let's just say that that realization had lead to a LOT of soul searching this weekend.

Ultimately I know that I would have died, or had multiple panic attacks, waiting in the 200+ people line. 

And, fortunately, on our way out I did run into someone else that I loved...

Alan Tudyk!!!!

We were almost to our car when we saw him walking up. (Granted I might have had my aunt ask for the picture).

While it wasn't the weekend, or first con experience, that I was hoping for; I was glad to have had it.

I realized how much I am a slave to my anxiety and self esteem issues. And, if anything, this was the wakeup call that I needed to take steps to learn to control it or, in the very least, not let it control me.

So here I am, finally, back in my own room. I have a glass of wine at my side and Felicia Day's book in my hands (well not right now, but after I finish this).

If anything my, not so good, experience this weekend has made me that much more determined to go to another con. SLCC wasn't the greatest in terms of organization and it sent my anxiety through the roof. But, while I can learn ways to control anxiety, the only way for me to be comfortable in places like this is to push myself outside of my comfort zone (which this convention definitely was)

So here's to wine, looking up therapists, the god-in-human form that is Manu Bennett and my future, successful, photo op with Felicia Day!!

Review: Alice by Christina Henry

First review of the blog whoo!!

And this is something that I plan to do relatively consistently. Whether recent/new reviews...or older reviews I've taken from my Goodreads.

Summary:

A mind-bending new novel inspired by the twisted and wondrous works of Lewis Carroll...

In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls which echo the screams of the poor souls inside.

In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blond, hangs in tangles down her back. She doesn’t remember why she’s in such a terrible place. Just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood…

Then, one night, a fire at the hospital gives the woman a chance to escape, tumbling out of the hole that imprisoned her, leaving her free to uncover the truth about what happened to her all those years ago.

Only something else has escaped with her. Something dark. Something powerful.

And to find the truth, she will have to track this beast to the very heart of the Old City, where the rabbit waits for his Alice.

  

Before I get to the review I just want to say that I first heard of this book from a reviewer I follow on Goodreads. Usually any book that she gives 5 stars to is a quality read. And from the moment that I read her review I knew that I needed to read this book.

So what do I, a rational person, do since my library doesn't carry a copy? I drive to Barnes and Noble to pick up my own!

And let me say I am glad I did. Alice was well worth the money I spent and definitely a keeper!!  

On to the....

Review: 

 I really don't know what to say about this one.

This book was dark. And, most certainly, twisted.

Yet full of hope.

Henry created a world where the sun never rose. A world where men were more than monsters. Where men, women and children could never even wish to leave. She infused this world with the characters of Wonderland. Deconstructed a happy little tea party. And subverted the character's, and reader's, expectations.

In the end blood has been shed, with gruesome detail, lives have been ruined and forgiveness isn't even an option.

To read main characters that are understandable, most certainly unapologetic, and full of flaws and violence made this journey memorable.

We want for them and we fear for them. And we see ourselves in them.

And now we simply pass the time until Henry gives us the next chance to follow Alice, and her Hatcher, down the new rabbit hole. 

Do yourself a favor and read this book!

And to close it out, one last gratuitous Community gif!

 

Who Attacked Ron Weasley

*First let me say that I do not own any of the rights to The Harry Potter series, either books or movies.**

At work I am in charge of changing the foyer display case that we have.

The theme for March was "Once Upon a Crime"

Now I have been in charge of the display case for a little over a year at this point. And while it was great fun picking out different themes to use and books to put out (thank you pinterest), I really wanted to get a little more interactive with it.

So, since the theme was crime, I decided to put together a little Clue game for patrons to get involved in.

Eventually I settled on a Harry Potter theme and so "Who Attacked Ron Weasley" was born.

There was a sign with the story put out:

 
















Then the list of suspects, places and possible weapons:

Finally a chance for the patrons to join "Dumbledore's Army" and help solve the crime:

Each week a different clue would be presented that would lead people to determine: location, weapon and finally suspects.

The suspects clue was done a little differently. I set up a little scavenger hunt for the patrons to follow. First I gave them a set of riddles (please don't judge me on the riddles)

 Then I went and hid copies of the clues at certain locations throughout the library. To give them a little extra help I put a picture of who the particular riddle was about next to the clue location (i.e. a picture of Neville was placed near our programs room).

While I set out the clue(s) I also had the patrons involved turn in a slip of paper with their guess for that particular question. This way I was able to predict how many winners I would be dealing with.

It was a slow start getting signups; I even had a few coworkers put down their names to start padding the list. 

Eventually, though, we ended up with about 20 patrons getting involved. While, of course, not all of the sign ups came in each week and returned their guesses to me, more than half did. And I consider that a win.

Since this was the first time I had ever tried something like this I also included a survey at the end to get some feedback 

We had a great turnout of patrons who kept with it for the 4 weeks. And so, in order to reward everyone for putting up with me and being my guinea pigs, everyone got a prize. 

We had 5 "big" prize winners who received replicas of: a time turner, Ravenclaw's diadem, Deathly Hallow bracelets and necklace. Everyone else who participated received a little gift bag with an assortment of candy and snacks. 

All in all it was great fun. We had a good response on the surveys with many patrons saying that they couldn't wait for the next game!!

Damn Book Jockeys

Yay a new blog!!

So first off I want to say that this blog is no way affiliated with the library at which I work. 

This is simply a place for me to share some of the game/programs that I have done or helped to do. Mostly for the fact that when I embarked on certain game planning, there wasn't much on the interwebs to help me out. 

Therefore I will share what I have come up with in order to help the next person out!!

There may be posts about funny/stupid stories that took place at work. 

There may be ranting about patrons. 

What I can say is that there will be gifs. 

Lots and lots of gifs!

Enjoy!!!