Over Scheduled...Again

Every year....every damn year....major over schedule.

There aren't really that many actors this year. Some of my problem stems from actors from older shows I missed before coming around again. And because of the level of draw they all seem to be having individual panels all at the same time. Thppppppppp of course part of the over schedule is to list every panel someone is in so if you miss one you can try and catch another. The really funny ( ironic ) part is that even though we will both have 5 things scheduled for a particular slot we may still go see something completely off script, just 'cause.

Across twitter the big draws seem to be Falling Skies and Lost Girl. Funny that Falling Skies has never been in attendance at Dragon Con before and this was the summer I just started watching it. I feel like they are here just for me.

Here's some of the major draws I decided to list out. Most are on my Guests of Dragon Con twitter list.

• Patrick Stewart Star Trek "John Luc Picard"
• Walter Koenig Star Trek "Checkov"
• Gates McFadden Star Trek "Doctor Beverly"
• Karl Urban Star Trek Reboot "Bones", Almost Human "Detective John Kennex"
• Colin Cunningham Jpod "Young Steven" Falling Skies "John Pope"
• Scarlett Byrne Falling Skies
• Drew Roy Falling Skies "Hal Mason"
• Lani John Tupu Farscape "Crais"
• Gigi Edgley Farscape "Chiana"
• Ron Glass Firefly "Preacher"
• Adam Baldwin Firefly "Jane" Chuck "Casey"
• Grant Bowler Defiance "Joshua Nolan"
• Tony Curran Defiance "Datak Tarr"
• Mpho Koaho Defiance "Tommy"
• Jesse Rath Defiance "Alak Tarron"
• Julie Benz Angel "Darla" Defiance "Mayor Amanda Rosewater"
• Amy Acker Angel "Fred"
• J. August Richards Angel "Gunn"
• Katie Cassidy Arrow
• Katrina Law Arrow ""Nyssa Al Ghul"
• Caity Lotz Arrow "Sara Lance/Black Canary"
• Paul Blackthorne Arrow "Detective Quentin Lance" Dresden Files "Harry Dresden"
• Dresden Files - Jim Butcher (Author of the Novels)

Two of my fav nostalgia stars:

• Princess Bride - Cary Elwes
• Buckaroo Banzai/Robo Cop - Peter Weller

There's actually more Star Trek people, the main cast from Warehouse 13, Stargate, BattleStar Galactica, Lord of the Rings/Hobbit.....I guess maybe it was a good turnout.

So here's the deal. I'm thinking Goals are to hit one Falling Skies panel, one Defiance Panel and one Farscape panel. Nice to hit would be Patrick Stewart, Firefly and Angel. The problem with those is their respective tracks are in hotels a block off the main three. So those tend to come down to how full they are and how tired I am.

*sigh* Dragon Con chaos is fast approaching....

Where is Dawn Now? Year 4

Well, I'm running down the road 

tryin' to loosen my load 

I've got seven women on 

my mind, 

Four that wanna own me, 

Two that wanna stone me, 

One says she's a friend of mine 

Take It easy, take it easy 

Sorry....that's my traveling music. You think you download enough music for a road trip and then two years into boring space and you realize you're now sick of everything you brought. Thank god for stray radio signals (except Rush Limbaugh, I could do without those).

Here I am into year four....boooring.  Still another 8 months from my destination. Ground control keeps messing with my stuff man. I guess they're bored too. So I screwed with them.....I sent back the following bogus telemetry data last month:

• an open circuit in one of the pressurized cells of the nickel-hydrogen battery, a portion of the reaction control system that was so cold that its hydrazine propellant was in danger of freezing,
•  temperatures elsewhere on the spacecraft so low that the delicate cameras were at risk of being damaged, and a sun sensor with degraded vision.
• the waveguide transfer switch #5, used to direct the radio signal from the transmitter inside the spacecraft to one of its antennas for beaming to Earth, was stuck and so would not move when software instructed it to.
• computer memory was compromised by space radiation
• one of the two star trackers, devices that recognize patterns of stars just as you might recognize constellations to determine your orientation at night without a compass or other aids, was no longer functional.
• an antenna at the Deep Space Network that needed to be taken out of service for emergency repairs 

Muuuuaaaaaaahhhhhhhh...I'm so evil, bored, whatever.

Dawn Mission Status

Welcome 2014

Dragon Con August 31st - September 1st

Since it appears that everyone says they want to know what's going on at Dragon Con but no one ever bothers to read the site I have decided to take it off line unless someone expressly asks to be added. I'm unclear what that says about me...am I not funny or interesting enough or do I just need new friends. I vote to blame it on friends and family since I know I'm hilarious.

It's two weeks to Dragon Con so I guess greetings and salutations are in order. I'm trying to get excited but I just can't seem to get into the mood. Even the social media sites are waaaay more quiet than usual. Twitter is just peeping and even the Google+ Dragon Con group isn't posting much. My guests have also bailed on me this year so my house is silent too (well except for the cats but they don't get Dragon Con).

The guest list this year is a bit lack luster as well. Each year I say I'm not doing any celebrity panels and each year when the list comes out I fill up my schedule. This year not so much. I think part of it is that there really isn't much science fiction out anymore and all the stars from shows past are busy doing other things. I'm going to look at this as an opportunity to see some of the other tracks.

Not that we didn't know Dragon Con was getting bigger each year but last year even small out of the way tracks were filling up. I think the tickets sales have doubled from 5 years ago.  This year I'm going to try and strategize a way not to go insane( more insane? ).

Here's hoping this years Dragon Con turns out to be the best one ever....

Mistress Dawn
  The ever lovely, eloquent and charming Lady of the House
Master Johnathan
  Man of miscellaneous knowledge and Lord of the House

All Hail the Dragon Con Cast of 2014

Ohhh Myyyy

Defiance
Q&A with stars of one of Syfy’s newest shows! G. Bowler, J. Murray, S. Leonidas; Fri 10:00 am; P’tree Ballroom [W]
Defiance is new this year. For a new twist the series is linked to an online MMO that Kevin plays. So this is where the three of us decided to start. It's amazing how a new series can already have such a fan following. There were many people dressed as characters from the show which the stars appreciated and asked for photo ops after the panel. One girl spoke of an outfit to wear in the hot tubs at night that was so *beep* she made the stars blush while talking about it. There weren't any kids in the audience were there?

So now we're off to try and get in line for George Takei. If twitter is any indication he's a bigger draw than Shatner at Con this year. Damned if, among the thousands of revelers, we don't run into the owner of The Highlander and his wife on their way in the opposite direction.  Entropy never ceases to amaze me.

He Says, She Says

So you know what we're saying but what do the Guest Stars of Dragon Con say?

As we get closer to Dragon Con the #dragoncon twitter search starts to go nova so I have to shut it off. I just realized it might be nice to replace it with a list of the some of the biggest guests twitter feeds.  As soon as one feed is too unruly the Guests start to tweet Dragon Con. I think it works out. I'm guessing by sometime Wednesday I'll flip the feed on the website.

My list currently includes:

• Doctor Who- Noel Clarke
• Doctor Who - Peter Davison
• Doctor Who/Torchwood - John Barrowman
• Torchwood Burn Gorman
• Torchwood Gareth David Lloyd
• Torchwood Eve Myles
• Torchwood/Buffy/Angel James Marsters
• Buffy - Nicholas Brendon
• Buffy/Angel Eliza Dushku
• Angel - Amy Acker
• Star Trek Marina Sirtis
• Star Trek Brent Spiner
• Star Trek George Takei*
• Star Trek John de Lancie
• Star Trek Michael Dorn
• Star Trek William Shatner*
• SG-1 - Richard Dean Anderson
• SG1 Christopher Judge
• Defiance - Grant Bowler
• Highlander/GoT - James Cosmo
• Highlander Adrian Paul
• Farscape Anthony Simcoe
• Farscape Gigi Edgley
• The Incredible Hulk Lou Ferrigno
• BSG Richard Hatch
• Xena Lucy Lawless
• Warehouse 13 Eddie McClintock*
• Grimm Silas Weir Mitchell
• X-Files/Supernatural Mitch Pileggi
• Author Jim Butcher
• OUaT Raphael Sbarge*

* Some of our more favorite tweeters.

It's All In the Preparation

Keven arrives today. He sent ahead a list of recipes that we should be able to make and either take with us to the convention or have waiting for us when we get home at night. Of course more importantly he sent ahead a box of alcohol. Anything from our local grocery store I bought before he arrived but I waited until he got here to take him to the piece de resistance....our new found German butcher Patak's.

After dropping off luggage we got PRESENTS!!! We got a game and his/her aprons for the kitchen and a cookbook and a fun garlic mincer on wheels....but the coolest was the chainmail stuff. I got a necklace in bronze that I double wrap and also use as a bracelet and John got this cool tie.

Next, Kevin and I headed out to finish out the shopping before Con. As we step into Patak's a golden light enfolded the room and angels started to sing. Nothing like taking a person who holds Meatacide each year into a German butcher shop. I'm tell'n ya, kid in candy store. I swear he tried to buy at least one of everything. I think he forgot that Milrath and "The Boy" were not joining us. Pounds of bacon, mega pounds of sausages fresh and smoked. It appears food will not be an issue this year. I'm also figuring that, when he's not looking, I'm packing half of it into the freezer.

So home again home again jiggity jig...time to cook. We fry up all the bacon for ease of use in breakfasts to come. We make macaroni salad, pasta salad and potato salad. And, for a finally, Kevin grilled up a storm of Brats and pork chops.

Mmmm Foooood

Snacks bought, alcohol bought, mixers bought, refrigerator full, arteries preparing to clog....bring on DragonCon.

What to Bring, What to Bring...

So are you looking for something unique to bring to Dragon Con? Have I got some suggestions for you.

Are you one of those people who has enough T-shirts so that you don't have to do laundry for a month? Do you want to combine your love of football with your love of Doctor Who? Maybe you're just a fan of anything Will Wheaton does. Then do I have the shirt for you

*For those of you who don't know, this is modeled after the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. And if that still doesn't help I'm envious of you.

Maybe you're looking for something a little more feminine (Be you guy or girl. Hey I don't judge.). Are you looking for something to combine your love of fashion with your love of a good buzz? Enter the wine purse.

*Brought to you by Darchild. Again, I don't judge.

And finally, maybe you're more of a Rave type person. You want to combine your love of Dragon Con with your love of glow in the dark objects and lollipops (those of you who rave YOU know what I mean). Then I have the perfect thing for you: a Light Saber lollipop that, when you push a button, glows in the dark.

 *I actually have this one courtesy of Mistress Niki. It's not that I'm saying she's into phallic symbols. Make whatever inferences you will.

Where is Dawn Now? Year 3

Just to catch everyone up....last year I was breaking orbit from Vesta on my way to Ceres. I must be slacking cause I'M STILL NOT THERE YET. Of course looking at the image you would think I could just skip over to Ceres right now since I seem to be so close. But you know, space being all weird and all, looks like I have to take the long way round. They are telling me I'll make it by 2015. OMG I don't know if I can wait that long. It's the journey and not the destination right? RIGHT?

Dawn Mission Status

As an FYI you can follow progress through twitter: @NASA_Dawn

The Eleven Doctors and His Companions

There is a contest for Dragon Con called Fandom Music Video Awards. Every year fans string together their favorite movies/shows to music or what have you. Some are good and some are bad, about what you would expect. If you're interested you can peruse to your hearts content.

This one I liked enough to share. Partly because it's the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, partly because I like the song and partly because I'm all about showing off the girl power in Doctor Who which tends to get overlooked. Other similar tributes on YouTube are waaay sappy or mostly focus on the current Doctors (or worse yet just focus on Rose). I think this one found a good balance between all the Doctors and his companions.

-Enjoy

Preliminarily Scheduled

So the first official schedules are out. And so begins the dilemma of..."So much time, so little to see. Oh wait reverse that."
2013 Dragon Con Pocket Guide

With the addition of the AmericasMart building everything has kinda shuffled around (including the parade route).  Vendors have moved from two floors in the Marriott to take up two floors in AmericasMart. One of those freed areas is now being taken up by the Walk of Fame which was in the Hilton. So basically where you spent most of Con Darkchild has now changed. I guess we'll have to scope you out new spot for next time. The Puppetry track moved to a different floor other side of the same hotel. The Space track moved up a floor to no man's land but hopefully it's a bigger space (ha ha, get it? Space?). I have a feeling this will be a bit chaotic for us.

Also, several tracks have merged but have made way for new tracks. I never understood how there was an entire track just for Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time so no big loss there.

Here are some of some highlights of shows/actors that will be represent'n.

Richard Dean Anderson, John Barrowman, George Takei, William Shatner

BSG (Battle Star Galactica)
    Tom Zarek,Anastasia "Dee" Dualla, Admiral Adama, Karl "Helo" Agathon
Arrow
    Oliver Queen, Malcom Merlyn, Slade Wilson, "The Count", China White, Detective McKenna Hall
Farscape 
    Chiana, Dargo, Stark
Defiance
    Joshua Nolan, Irisa, Stahma Tarr
Torchwood
    Captain Jack, Gwen, Owen, Ianto
True Blood
    Pam, Holly, Ginger, Luna, Hoyt, Tara
SG-1
    Jack O'Neal, Teal'c, Dr. Janet Fraiser
Star Trek
    James T. Kirk, Sulu, "Q", Lt. Worf, Deana Troi, Data, Ensign Harry Kim, Benjamin Sisko, Jadzia Dax, Jake Sisko
Grimm
    Adalind Schade, Hank Griffin, Monroe
Warehouse 13
    Peter Lattimer, Helena G. Wells, Mrs. Irene Frederic, Leena

These aren't necessarily all panels I see and doesn't mean that's it for all the big shows or stars in attendance it's just the ones I decided to list. No Babylon 5 or Firefly for the first time in forever.

This is the 50th anniversary of Dr. Who so there will be a room dedicated throughout Con to playing episodes from every season. And as always, there are several Dr. Who's in attendance for panels.
50th Anniversary of Dr. Who Marathon

And how's this for esoteric? There is even a panel with Lee Majors and Lindsay Wagner. Yep you read that right, the Bionic Man and the Bionic Woman.