Comic Con 2008

Yesterday, Peter and I took the train up to New York City to attend Comic Con. It was definitely not my idea to go because I've only read one or two comic books in my entire life. Truthfully, I wasn't looking forward to spending the day looking at people dressed up in odd costumes. HOWEVER, we had a really good time. There was definitely some people (ok, a lot), dressed up in odd costumes, but we got to see some cool new games.

One of the most interesting things for me was the chance to meet and talk to Sid Meier. This is a pic that Peter caught and I edited a bit.

He has created a ton of different computer games over the past twenty years and seemed to be really cool guy. I realized later that while I was playing the newest game Civilization Revolution, that he was even watching people play! I think that was pretty cool although I'm sure he must have thought that I was terrible. I plan on getting it though. I think it comes out for Xbox in June.  I even got an e-mail address from someone in his company so my students could e-mail him questions. I think it would be really cool for them to be able to develop a list of questions like "What's it like to be a game designer" and so forth. Here are some of my favorite pictures from yesterday.

In the car, leaving for the train station...

Inside the convention center...

Me and Yoda...No he is NOT taller than me, I'm on the floor!

The UglyDolls had a really cool booth

We also had a chance to view some unreleased video footage for the new Batman and Hulk movies coming out this summer - both look like they will be really good. And we even had a celebrity spotting - Eva Mendez was on the panel for a new movie coming out in '09 - Spirit. Very Sim City-ish looking.

Oh, and one final picture. Peter was interviewed by MTV for a Total Request Live segment - hopefully airing on May 1st - and although I know he was embarrassed, I thought he looked so cute!

While it was a long day, we also discussed that we should take day trips like this more often to New York because even though it's a long day, it's MUCH cheaper than staying overnight and it's really not that far from home - only two hours by Amtrak.

Love this spring weather

I'm so happy that spring finally seems to be here. I'm up so early on a Sunday because Peter and I have two important things to do on our schedule this morning:

1. Go to the Bagel shop - gross bagel with fish spread for him - yummy energy bagel with Peanut Butter for me; read the newspaper
2. Workout at the gym - our first time back since before Prague when we were both sick!

Yesterday we went to Dover and had lunch with my parents. It was nice to stop by and visit - we need to do that more. Afterwards, we hit up some of our favorite stores that we haven't visited since our spring break: Target, AC Moore, Costco, and Borders. Later, we had a really neat dinner. Applebees just opened up near us, or rather has been getting ready to open up. We stopped by for dinner, thinking they were open, and discovered they were doing a training exercise where people could make reservations, donate $5 a piece to the fire company and get dinner for free! So we did. It was decently good, and the service was fine (something that has been going down with many restaurants in our area), but we weren't all that impressed with the menu. We haven't been to an Applebees in 3-4 years, and only a handful of items were new. It's still nice to have a late night option open in the area though.

Here's us outside. I thought it was cool that I was able to capture the sign in the reflection of the window:

After the gym, we're headed back home so I can do something extremely important - take my practice LSAT. Peter is timing me. Yes, that's in reference to my news from yesterday. Wish me luck!

I'm back and Daily Dissertation Update #5

Ok, so my daily updates didn't work out so well. Let's see, what has gone on since I last posted, almost a month ago on March 14?

1. We went to Prague and did some touring

Peter with his Dad checking looking off of Charles Bridge

Us on Charles Bridge

Peter with his Mom and Dad

2. Peter's dog, Ramu, passed away shortly after we returned home from Prague. I'm so sad for Peter and his family - I know his parents miss him a lot. They've had Ramu for 16 years and that's such a long time. I am glad we had a chance to see him on our trip. Here's Peter and Ramu:

3. My Podcasting workshop ended - I had the same number of participants take the beginning Pre and Post Surveys and beginning data analysis reflects that my participants' knowledge and/or skills have increased - hopefully this means my methods work!!

4. Four of my students were accepted to attend a special Microsoft camp - crossing my fingers that all important people in my school district approve so we can go and I can chaperone - that will be decided by the end of this month, hopefully.

5. The HRS Committee finally approved my study today. Thank goodness. This weekend I am entering my final data into my paper and sending it my Mom to review before e-mailing it to my advisor on Monday. I'm still crossing my fingers that I can defend by the end of May.

6. I decided what I want to do next year academically speaking because I'll be done my doctorate program. More on that in June because I don't want to speculate until I have the official word. Let's just say it's huge for me and I definitely hope it works out.