#njcon2013

1.  I would have left earlier on Friday.  I wanted to at least pretend to be a good mother, so I picked my son up at noon, giving him a reasonable amount of time at school.  Unfortunately, that meant Friday afternoon rush hour traffic in Newark.  (NEWARK!! *shakes fist in rage and despair*)  I have a deep dislike of Newark already entrenched in my soul from my flight attendant days, so driving through the Heart of Darkness at the height of madness, stuck and still on strange roads with the gas tank on E... well, I wasn't in the best of moods by the time we got to the hotel.  We were too late to get our wrist bands for the next day, and too tired to join the karaoke.  I really regret not seeing Rob, Richard, and Matt in their element!  

2.  I would stay at the same hotel as the convention.  (Common sense, yes?)  When I purchased our tickets, the only rooms available were at the hotel across the street.  Which doesn't sound so bad, but in this case "across the street" really means across a highway, three lanes in each direction, with off ramps instead of traffic lights, requiring several u-turns.  So, we could see the convention hotel from our hotel, but it took some planning to get over there.  So much easier to just *be* there...  get your tickets early!

3.  Speaking of doing things sooner rather than later... get in line to ask questions quickly!  I was about tenth in line, on one side, for Misha's panel, but he does love to talk (bless the man!) and took approximately 10 minutes for each question.  I never even got close.   Still, it was a great location to see clearly, if not hear easily, and I should have gotten some great pictures, if my camera hadn't crapped out earlier.  

4.  Charge my electronics!  Again and again!  Bring a charger and set up camp in the lobby!  Grrr...

5.  Don't be shy!  The photo op was quick and crowded and didn't really allow time to get comfortable.  I have a morbid fear of appearing pushy or 'in the way', so by the time we got up to Misha, I only wanted to pose and flee.  I really regret that one.  I thought of a great pose later (of course!) and Misha was gracious and friendly; he would have liked it.  But, there were so many people in line behind us...  oh,well.