First thing's first, I suppose. A number of you have emailed me, concerned because I had stopped posting on the wowe.com chatboard... apparently taking this as another of the Seven Signs of the WOW Apocalypse.

Anyhow, the only real connection there is that there wasn't much new to talk about from my standpoint. I no longer have anything to do with the former wow-fan.com except the occasional report, and my reports are about either tapings or live appearances in the LA area. Both of which have been sparse of late; so, I've been tooling around with other interests in the meantime. Since UPN dropped WOW for the time being, I couldn't even do show reviews if I wanted to... but since it's basically repackaged re-runs, I don't mind that. Matter of fact, I blasphemously skipped the 3/10 show since I knew ahead of time it was going to be repeats, and it was only a couple days later I found out WOW hadn't aired because of the promotional considerations bit. Lacking my usual live contacts I could only guess at what might or might not be happening. Well, I suppose I could have bugged the newly corporate Mike Sweetser (that's Mr. Sweetser to you, pal!), but I'd rather he kept working on the WOW site than have to take time out answering my silly questions. I also made a promise to myself awhile back that I wouldn't panic until and unless he started asking me about job opportunities in Southern California, and since he has not I'm holdin' steady.

Anyhow, finally 3/18 rolls around and the monthly Comic Book & Science Fiction convention is scheduled. It's been over a month since the California Speedway and about that long since I was really any kind of active in the WOW community; but now, time to dust off the camera, take up the notepad and sally forth for the faithful. Besides, it's Danger, Poison, and Caged Heat, four ladies who I've never really had the chance to talk with at length before. Plus the Pasadena Convention Center is literally all of 15 minutes from my house. And I might find some more deals on trade paperbacks.

All these factors thus conspire to drag my behind out of bed at 10:15am on a Sunday, despite having arrived in said bed about six hours before (those other interests mentioned above). Between shaving, showering, and other such recommended activities when preparing to hang around beautiful women, not to mention a stop at the bank for spending cash, I pull into the lot at 11:15. $7 for parking, which I have to shell out because it's Old Town Pasadena and there will likely be none for blocks. Not to mention I don't feel like driving around looking, or walking forth and back.

Interestingly enough, as I enter the Exhibition Hall I spy a notice saying the Center is undergoing a change of ownership from the Pasadena Convention Center Operating Company to something called the Boston Concession Group, Inc. I suppose it's not surprising considering the nearby Pasadena Plaza recently closed down after years of downward spiral. Inglewood's not the only L.A. community with public venue issues.

$5 at the door, plus a gaggle of people promoting upcoming movies. There's Tomb Raider, Josie and the Pussycats, and also something called 13th Street. I pass on a Tomb Raider poster because I think I would be deeply disturbed by having the deeply disturbed Angelina Jolie staring at me. I also pass on Josie, because I saw the trailer and not ONCE... ONCE, I tell you... did I see anything resembling a Space Station. 13th Street I partook in because they offered a sturdy totebag along with their goodies, the clever folk. The goodies were a mock-up coroner's kit... badge, chalk, latex gloves. Woo hoo!

Turns out 13th Street isn't a movie at all. You can go to 13thstreet.com if you're truly intrigued. Or more likely, just plain bored.

As this is a new venue I manage to wander right by the WOW area, forcing a staffer buddy of mine to come point my sorry, lost self in the proper direction. It's not as bad as it sounds... first off, the pretty WOW banner was apparently lost at the last appearance and so has been replaced by a less pretty cardboard sign. Also, Poison and Danger aren't in costume, although they're sporting new versions of WOW caps and t-shirts. I didn't ask if the sweatpants they wore were also WOW-branded. I am introduced as having written for wow-fan, causing me to be once again mis-identified as "the website guy" and have to explain otherwise. Either Mike has yet to meet the ladies in person (quite possible), or his ego just suffered a major blow as he reads this.

Now to rebuild Mike's ego, the conversation turns to all round praise of his efforts on wowe.com which have actually made it a place to refer to for WOW news and content, not just a chatboard. It's always good to have employees that genuinely care about a product... not to mention I suspect Mike will always be eternally thankful to WOW for having gotten him out of Spokane.

A lady in between Danger and Poison is a new addition to the group. She has a Polaroid and is taking pictures for the wrestlers to sign, for $10. Poison has her promotional photos for $10 as well. Danger still doesn't have any, although she said she expects some to be printed within a few weeks.

Down to some more practical matters: