Dragon*Con was an affair to remember, without a doubt. Four days of non-stop partying and shaking hands with gods… It was like Mardi Gras for nerds.

It didn’t turn out to be the religious experience that I’d hoped, BUT it was a much-needed vacation. I don’t think I’ve had a true vacation in many, many years. My trip to Dragon*Con may not have inspired me with purpose, but has it rejuvenated me. It’s given me a joie de vivre that I’ve been missing and a hunger to seek out similar excitement in life. I suppose that may be the same as inspiration; even if I’m just chasing that dragon.

I’d love to go again next year, but that’s not 100% certain yet. I’d still like to attend Otakon, since there are people there that I’d really like the chance to meet. The key to both cons would be lodging, so if I can arrange to stay with some fellow podcasters in Baltimore, I may attempt to arrange something. Even though more and more of my friends are dropping away from Animazement, I’ll still go because it’s close, cheap, and a fun chance to promote our podcasts.

I learned many lessons through this weekend. First, I brought way too much with me. It’s always been my rule of thumb that it’s better to have and not need than to need and not have…but I really wasted resources on this trip. I’ll have to find some other way to get a return on the investment in a handheld voice recorder. The entire con was in a state of constant motion, so if I was going to sit down and talk with anyone, I’ll have to make some kind of prior arrangement.

Working out for the past month, however, paid off gloriously. I may not have slimmed down much, but I needed every drop of my new-found stamina to survive the physical endurance test of this unresting convention. Stuffing my backpack with Clif Bars and energy shots may have seemed like a joke before, but that also turned out to be a wise idea. Now that I’m home and had a couple days of rest, it’s time I hopped back on the workout wagon. This afternoon, I begin jumping rope again.

I’m also praying especially hard that I haven’t contracted some kind of con plague. If I have and it does take hold, I hope it passes through me before the weekend or doesn’t tighten its grip until afterward. I have an afternoon rendezvous with a lovely lady this Sunday and I’ll need to be at my peak health!