ANACON MARCH 16th!

I’m tabling with my sorry ol’ comics and my sorry ol’ ass and some sorry ol’ art prints at “AnaCon,” a totally FREE comics & science fiction event at the Anaheim Public Library. It’s happening this Saturday, March 16th, 11am-4pm. I am also moderating a panel on how comics & sci-fi can help engage reluctant readers. Featured panelists: Kelly Powers (AUHSD classified librarian), Emily Otis (APL), and Brianna Meli (APL). I have no idea how to moderate, having never done that before. At least, I don’t think I’ve done that before. At this point, I’ve done a lot of conventions and it all begins to blur. Will I do an okay job? Who knows? I hope so.

I’ve been to AnaCon before, and it’s a nice local event with plenty to see. People in costumes, if you’re into that. Sci-fi author Tim Powers will be there, and he’s great. One of my favorite sci-fi authors, in fact!

SUMMER VACATION : Bookstore

     On our road trip we stopped for the night in Tucson on the way to Carlsbad Caverns. I found a nearby used book store that sounded promising, and it turned out to be really cool. Bookmans has tons of used books arranged carefully by genre and author, with little reading nooks with comfy chairs. They also have CDs, DVDs, video games, board games, puzzles, and a weird "gallery" that is really more of a crazy gift shop full of consignment items.
     Their magazine section was huge, and included racks and racks of comic books! And they also had a graphic novel section. I've never seen a used book store with that many comic books/graphic novels.
     Here's what I got:
DEADFALL HOTEL novel by Steve Rasnic Tem
EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT DREAMS... (Sandman comic)
FOUR DEVILS, ONE HELL (Grendel graphic novel)
     Plus I picked up one of their genre reading lists, which are very much like the ones I make for the library I work in!
     As if I weren't already sold on Bookmans' quirkiness and broad range, there were also lots of people there with their DOGS! Really cute. I don't think I've ever been in a dog-friendly book store before.
(NOTE: Anthony and I discussed the missing apostrophe and the ensuing irritation, but I still loved this book store.)

     When we left, this weird, giraffy vehicle had appeared in the parking lot near our car:

     We stayed one night at "The Lodge On the Desert," and it was really nice and affordable. Would totally stay there again if we had a real good reason to be in Tucson, Arizona.

GLOSSARY
Giraffy : Adjective used to describe something that resembles a giraffe.