Hey! So this week was a bit different for me because I left on Wednesday to head to Dragon Con in Atlanta. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning were my usual work days, but in the evenings, we were all about packing and trying to get things ready. We had done a lot of packing in advance, but my ankle is still not great, so I couldn’t help load the van or carry anything up and down the stairs. Holly had to get creative – she would half-unpack the tubs, move them downstairs, then pack them back up. It was quite a process! We ended up calling some friends for help, and it was pretty funny because Holly called her friend, and he said, “I’m not at home, but my wife is, and she’s tough. She works out.” So, she came over, and the two of them loaded the van while I just sat there feeling a bit useless. But they did an awesome job, and we were all set by Tuesday night.
Wednesday, after my morning manager meetings, we headed to Atlanta. Even though the con doesn’t officially start until Thursday, in the past, we’ve noticed that people start getting into costume and doing stuff on Wednesday night. Thursday morning is usually check-in, but it’s kind of chaotic because there are so many people. We decided to go up a day early to see if it would make it easier to get our rooms, especially since we prefer them next to each other. Last year, we struggled a bit with that, but we managed. This year, everything went super smooth, and we avoided that mad rush!
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We got there Wednesday night, and there were already some unofficial events happening. It was fun to see people already getting into the con spirit. Thursday was when things officially kicked off. Holly is always excited to collect and trade the special Dragon Con hotel key cards. Each hotel has its own design, and it’s a bit of a tradition for us to try and get a full set. We also went to this thing called “Swag and Seek,” where people swap all kinds of knickknacks. Some are silly, like little desk toys, and others are pretty cool, like handmade stuffed animals, thumbtack eggs, or unique stickers. It’s kind of quirky, but she really enjoys it! 
I was a bit stressed about my ankle since it’s still not 100%, so we brought my scooter. I had my boot with me, but I mostly stuck with my brace and used the scooter to get around. Thursday was pretty packed with activities, and I even got a spray tan for the 300 Spartan thing I was doing on Friday. Friday morning is always a big day for us at the con. The vendor hall opens at 10:00, and the art show opens around noon. Holly loves both, so we usually hit the vendor hall first thing and then head to the art show. This year, Holly was especially excited because we were picking up a Viking painting of Odin and his ravens for our house. We had been looking forward to it for a while!
At 2:00, I had practice with the group I do the 300 Spartans with. We usually get together a couple of times to practice, so everything looks sharp during the parade or when we’re doing photo reveals. My nutritionist had me “carb up” for the big event. He doubled my carbs on Thursday and then had me eat all my day’s carbs by 4:00 PM on Friday. It’s a thing bodybuilders do to make their muscles look fuller before a big event, so I tried it out, and it seemed to work great! I was really happy with how the reveal went on Friday night.
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For the reveal, I mostly used my brace and avoided the scooter for about two or three hours. My ankle felt tight, but it held up okay, and I was just glad to still be able to participate. This is something I’ve been looking forward to for a while, and it was nice to see it all come together. Holly and I also tried something new this year: we bought a photography package from one of the photographers there. He’s got this great lighting setup and takes professional photos of you in your costumes. You just pop in, get your picture taken, and move on. It was a lot of fun, and we got some really great shots. I was dressed as a Spartan, and Holly was dressed as a Viking. That was our big thing for Friday night.
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Saturday, Holly went as Harley Quinn, and I was a nameless henchman most of the time when I was helping out. Saturday is also parade day, but we haven’t gone to watch it since the last time I marched. Instead, we usually go to the vendor hall early before it gets too crowded. It worked out because, with my scooter, I can handle about two hours, but by noon, it starts getting really packed, and it’s not as much fun to navigate. So, we made our way out before it got too busy.
We didn’t stay up late any night we were there. We were both pretty tired by 10:00 or 11:00 most nights. Holly always likes to go to a Crux Shadows concert on Sunday night, but it doesn’t start until 1:30 or 2:00 in the morning. We thought about going, but we were too tired and decided to skip it this year. Instead, we just bought a hoodie, and Holly will probably download their new CD this week.
Overall, we had an awesome time at Dragon Con this year. Got home late Monday afternoon, and Holly called our friend again to help with the unpacking. Now, everything is in my foyer while Holly figures out where to put it all. It was a great weekend, but now I’m diving back into work to make sure everything’s still moving smoothly!
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