And so here I am again, coming to you live from sunny San Diego! Andit really is gorgeous out here – I mean, I’m wearing shorts to day for the first time all year. I made it out here yesterday morning. Would you believe my plane ticket was for a seat in the very last row? Not that I fly that often, but that’s a definite first. Fortunately, the stewardesses were kind enough to let me move up a row or three as far as Milwaukee and then Kansas City. By the time we got to KC, though, the plane was packed and I hadda go back to my original seat, but by that point it wasn’t so bad.

I’m writing this from a hostel in Point Loma which has (cheap) Internet access. Because of a slight misunderstanding, Ron booked me at the hotel beginning Thursday (don’t ask me why). I was able to find a good hostel that would let me stay Monday night through Thursday morning (although, obviously, I didn’t arrive Monday night), and I paid for it myself. It’s far and away the best hostel I’ve ever stayed in, although my bunk bed is scrunched up right near the ceiling, which leaves me with very little room (I’m constantly bumping my head).

Yesterday I went along the seaside area and prowled around the boats they have there. For $12 you can go on five really old, really cool ships, including one from 1863 that they still use today, and a Russian submarine. That one was scary as hell on account of how small the space inside is. I could not begin to imagine working in one of those things, much less living in it. I’ll never look at The Hunt for Red October the same way again!

Plus, I also hung around the Seaport Village and I got my first look at the Convention Center, and yes, it is every bit as big as you’ve read. For dinner I ate in the historic Gaslamp Quarter, which, to be honest, does not look very historic. Quite the opposite, in fact. I was a bit disappointed. I also got a closer look at the Convention Center.

This town really gets up for Comic-Con. There are lamppost banners and bus ads everywhere advertising the Con, lots of the shops and restaurants have “Welcome Comic-Con” banners, and it feels quite a bit like everyone – or almost everyone – is in on the excitement. People recognize the fact that this is way more than just some geek fest, which is great.

Will try to post again either tonight or early tomorrow.