Well the convention is over.  Once again, I’m lacking the will to trudge through the day to day bullshit evaporating my energy and desire for the human race to continue.  The mere act of waking up again a herculean task that inspires no songs or poems.  Anywise, the show was as great as usual.  I picked up a couple handfuls of Lego pieces.  Some Darth Vader figures, in assorted colors, and some Lego Dragon Balls.  Then I grabbed a Tron Light Cycle toy from Tron Legacy and an action figure of Hal Jordan(Parallax) modeled on the design from Zero Hour by Dan Jurgens, which is a beautifully sculpted action figure.  And then I went to the booth of a local nerd company, Friar’s Dice.  They offered a deal where you pay to play a quick 3-4 minute D&D game.  I paid for the $50 option which let you choose two sets of dice randomly through the course of the game.  My first set turned out to be a standard acrylic set, a pearlescent base with red stylized pips, and the higher end set is hollow metal with dragons roiled about the corners and the pips, and painted with gradations of purple throughout.  Pictures below.

     I managed to get to celebrity row long enough to shake hands with Lou Diamond Phillips, and we lamented Stargate Universe not going longer.  I chatted with Fred Tatasciore for a bit about how much I’ve always loved cartoons and such.  Otherwise, I spend the most of my time in panels.  Of course I went to the Twisted Toonz panel on Saturday.  This time the lineup included; Phil Lamarr, Jess Harnell, Fred Tatasciore, Jim Cummings, Khary Payton, and the host Jeff Zannini.  They performed scenes from Toy Story.  I make it to this panel every year but this time I got there a little late.  I showed up to the line a few minutes before the panel was scheduled to start and they were still filing in the crowd.  And they had already started the show.  The programming schedule for these couple blocks was pretty tight.  The following panel was Brandon Sanderson.  You know I’m not a high fantasy type but I was recommended his panel because he tends to put on a good show and it turns out that he does.  More than that, he announced some interesting actions coming for his company.  Dragon Steel is expanding and they’ve grown to the point already of needing a full on facility.  To that point they’re working on getting or have a warehouse now and working on filling a warehouse with their staff and work spaces and such.  Again, I’m not a fan of the genre, myself, but this is inspiring to me.  What with my working to build this thing into something successful, or at least self sustaining.

     For eleven years now this show has been my regular annual vacation.  It’s always been fun, informative, and inspiring.  And who knows, maybe I’ll finally get off my ass and move forward with any of my lifetime long goals that I couldn’t even admit out loud I had that whole time.  I can’t wait until next year.

The first day of FanX came and went.  It was a solid day, though.  First thing, there was a panel on resin casting for cosplay.  Unfortunately the panelists never showed up and it was cancelled but less unfortunately there were seasoned artists in the room who took the opportunity to share their individual experiences working with resin and crafting their cosplays.  They had some good tips.  All in all, a good panel.  Especially with the impromptu organization.

     Then, per usual, I go to all the voice acting panels I can.  There was a panel with more famous performers like, Jess Harnell and Phil Lamar which is primarily fun Q&A conversations.  Which are indeed fun and I enjoy.  However, I tend to prefer more the technical and getting-into-it myself type panels.  To that point, Voice Acting Year One is a regularly occurring panel, this being my second time going to it.  The performers regularly hosting this panel, Stephan Watson, Jenna Caine, and Zack Cipriano are working to expand the reach of this panel and getting it into more conventions.  So, if you see anything about this panel showing up in your local conventions, you can only benefit from these folks coming by and showing you which ropes are worthwhile.

     As I finally write this, I’m about halfway through day two.  I sat through a panel about Twitch streaming, I asked and while the more experienced Twitch streamers had some good tips, we couldn’t figure out conclusively the issue we’ve been having with all that in the Quiet Treats Studio.  Rest assured, I’ll solve this shit…eventually.

     I’m getting ready to head over to the Thelma and Louise panel and I’ll probably stick around there for the Jason Isaacs panel.  I’ve seen his panels once or twice over the years and he’s solidly fun to watch in his spotlight panels.  And looking at my schedule I just realized that Andy Serkis’ panel is later this afternoon.  I’ll most likely wind up going to that one too.  After that just a couple more panels I’m interested in but today has been considerable fun so far and is looking to get even better going forward.

     I guess the last thing to talk about today is that I tried again to make #whereisitpyramid a thing.  I made a new pyramid and wrote the hashtag on the bottom of it, and then last night on my way out of the convention for the night, I stashed it in the edge of a planter just outside the doors.  I haven’t looked yet to see if anyone has caught on yet.  I’m distracting myself until a little later to see if it’s moved.  But knowing how things tend to work out for me, I’ll just end up moving it myself in a little while.  Eh, we’ll see what happens.  EXCELSIOR!

It’s finally time for FanX again!  I’ve been waiting most impatiently for this week since, well, last September.  Unfortunately, though, looks like Dick Van Dyke isn’t making it up here for the convention this time.  I haven’t been able to find anything from FanX announcing that he cancelled but I picked up an article in the New York Post about it.  I’ve been a huge fan of his since before I can remember.  And I mean anything.  My appreciation of Dick Van Dyke predates my sentient cognizance.  It turns out that his sitcom, The Dick Van Dyke Show, particularly influenced my life immensely especially in my youngest years.  I would watch this show everyday while I was busy not sleeping.  Apart from initiating my overwhelming crush on Mary Tyler Moore this show demonstrated the professional and practical application of writing comedy.  Being drawn to stand up as early as age four, and possibly younger, The Dick Van Dyke Show demonstrated the fun and roundabout professionalism of a writers’ room.  An environment and lifestyle I’ve been looking to incorporate in my life ever since.  Sure, it hasn’t worked out well so far but hey, eventually I’ll get to die.  So, if I don’t get to thank him in person for this, at least I’ve got it down here.  

     And don’t forget that if you didn’t make the ‘mail out’ deadline for your passes, pre-registration is on Wednesday from 10a-6p and registration at the event opens at 11a on Thursday and 8a on Friday and Saturday.  See you at the show!

     We’re still having some trouble moving forward with the podcast right now.  I’m getting back into the habit of recording by myself to keep the curtain up.  My plan is post an episode today.  I do have one episode to post but I’m also thinking I should wait until I have more character creation episodes and I’ll be getting at least one more next week.  I’m just about to the point of abducting my friends and chaining them to the table.  Good news is that I won’t need much length for the chains and I’m pretty sure I can use just one chain and get them all at once…not that I’ve given it much thought.

     I’m looking to challenge myself with the character creation in this new game, Marvel Multiverse Roleplaying Game.  If anyone has recommendations of characters from anything other than Marvel Comics; The Distinguished Competition, TV shows, movies, whatever.  Just e-mail me the name of the character and I’ll work it out to make a character sheet for them.  I’ve always had my go-to in The X-Files and Stargate franchises for inspiration but I’m could always use other sources for interesting analogues for these games.  

     It’s time for me to start getting ready for the week.  I can’t wait to get to the convention, see you all there!

I know, I’m disappointed in me too.  I’m making a schedule for get done everything.  This week for example, we’re going to start recording new episodes of Redstone Diaries.  For the next little while we’re going to play the new Marvel Multiverse Role Playing Game.  I’ve been following their development of this game for the last couple years and I’m excited to see how it really plays.  We’re going to have regular episodes again!  

I’ve been working on some writing projects lately and I haven’t made this a priority like I should so, I’m going to start updating this weekly again.  I’m not sure what all I’m going to write about here each week but we’ll see what happens.

     I made a little more progress on the book I’m writing.  I have a chapter two this I think I really like.  The idea is that it’s a modern noir.  I haven’t studied the noir genre as much as I’d like to, or even at all.  The most exposure I’ve had to the style is the old Dragnet series.  Jack Webb, Harry Morgan, old timey L.A.  Good stuff.  The thought of it makes me homesick.  Anywise, it’s been fun actually writing these things instead of just hallucinating everything and doing nothing with it.  More importantly, I’ve figured out the throughline for my first stand-up hour.  I’ve been arranging my material and working out the script for it.  I just need to get off my ass and get back out to open mics for some fine tuning and then I have plans for recording it.  I’m sure everything will work out fine…

     I’ve been trying to figure out how to use Discord better and was thinking about starting a server for our Comedy Shed Radio stuff.  I’m just not sure what all to do with that.  I’m open to any suggestions to that point.  I’m thinking there would channels for our podcasts, a channel for basic communication, but what else is fun to do on Discord?  Like most modern technologies, I use it mostly for porn so, I’m not real clear on practical applications for it.  

     The only other thing to touch base with is FanX.  I finally looked at the guest list recently and SWEET DAMN, THAT’S A LINEUP!  Among others, the current cast of Rick and Morty will be here, of course many of the regular voice actors that we always love seeing at the con, and holy shit, they got Susan Sarandon!!!  Yeah, I wouldn’t have expected her to do conventions but here we are.  Sooo, yeah, I’m pretty well excited for this show.  Not much else to say on that right now but rest assured, I don’t shut up about this shit and there will be more.

OK, there are a few things.  First, last week was pretty good.  I made it out to a couple comedy shows that were outright fantastic!  Anna Akana is touring her show, It Gets Darker, which was particularly enjoyable for me.  As you know, my existence hasn’t exactly been “fun” as it were.  So, I relate very well to much of her material.  Take the time to see her show!  It’s a good choice and you owe it to yourself.  Then I saw Chris Hardwick.  Another solid performance.  Sharing his experience being married and a new father.  With a handful of musical numbers the show is tight and entertaining from start to finish.  I’ve really missed going out to shows, it’s been too long and this last week was inspiring and motivating for me to get off my ass and seriously get back into things.  Starting with this post.  I sat down and outlined the projects I’m working on.  I’m going to start having some fun with these again.

     Redstone Diaries is going to start up again this week.  Yeah, it’s pretty much just going to be me babbling into the void until I straighten out the player situation and we get back into the game.  I’m writing a new podcast, I have a bunch of unopened Loot Crates I’m going to flaunt in videos that will be up on Twitch, or Youtube, or whatever, I don’t know yet.  I’m still working out our live-streaming stuff.  We’ll get there.  One thing I’m really excited about, I’ve just about perfected my technique and processes with my resin work.  I can make a full set of dice in about a day now and that includes dice for the new Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game.  Which is also a game we’ll be playing for the podcast.  I’ll be posting photos of the resin pieces I’ve made so far on here when I work out the best way to go about that.  In the meantime, you can find those photos on my instagram, I think you can find it either under Tim Flood or Scruffy.  And I’m always taking commissions.  There are plenty of color options for dice and I’m learning how to sculpt so I can do more by way of custom pieces.  Just send your commissions to me at timflood@comedyshedradio.com and we’ll see what I can do.  

     That’s all I have for now.  I need a nap, and then that pesky day job, after that I’ll be recording a podcast and then starting on dice.  I have a new art piece I’ve been planning for a friend’s restaurant.  I can’t wait until I finish it, I’m trying something new with this one and I’m excited to see how it turns out.  Until next time.