I am equally as stressed as I am excited about going to this year’s Dragon*Con. It’s already adding up to be much more expensive than I’d anticipated, but that may be because I’d only recently decided to attend. For transportation, I booked a flight to and from Atlanta. That option succeeded to be the most time- and cost-saving, though marginally.

Since I’m sharing a hotel room with Kevin, Geneva, and possibly others, syncing plans with them is a challenge. As long as we’re able to maintain communication and are able to each easily access the room, things should be smooth. I should probably keep my phone’s charger cable on hand because I know I’ll be calling/texting a lot over the weekend.

However, I believe that the experience will be worth every cent. I know very little about D*C; most coming from the stories I’ve heard from others who have been. All the stories that fill my ears could, of course, never compare to taking the trip myself. If this is the only time I can go, I know it will be something to supply stories of my own for quite some time.

It may sound silly, but I’m expecting a religious experience from Dragon*Con. The last time I had one was when I met Adam Carolla earlier this year. As I described in the podcast, that night helped me realize that I can overcome my lack of self-esteem and can allow myself nice things. Since Dragon*Con is a microcosm of all the things I enjoy, I hope that it will inspire me in finding passion and purpose.

I’m worried that I won’t sleep much over that weekend, though. As I’ve also described in my reports on Animazement, I’m very empathic and can feel like an antenna for psychic vibes around others. During Animazement, I soak up the high spirits and energy, making me feel invincible. Given the difference in D*C’s scale, I may ignite like a flare or phase through the fabric of time.

I’m packing light; mostly clothes and hygienic effects to last me 4-5 days. I’ll also be bringing my laptop and recording equipment, just in case. I’m not planning any interviews, but should opportunity rise, it’s better to have and not need than need and not have. Beyond that, I think I can survive the area on my canteen, a knapsack full of Clif Bars, and a bandolier of Purell and Red Bulls.

Kevin has hopes that I’ll find a date at this convention. I’m assuming his mantle this year as the lonely-heart bachelor for the trip, though I think there will be at least one other in our group. I think I’ll pass on looking love during this trip. If I did meet someone there that I clicked with, it couldn’t go anywhere, since what are the chances that the person would be from anywhere near where I live? And even if I managed to score a one-night stand, I doubt we’d find any place that’s private. For me to have any kind of romantic–or even just carnal–success at Dragon*Con, The Lord would have to really smile upon me with luck.

If I have any strategy, it’s the opposite. I intend on having such a grand personal adventure at this convention that I’ll have a treasure trove of stories to impress the local ladies back home. We’ll see how clever that turns out to be.