Hotel Bar, New York City, October 10

Despite the best efforts of those who went back for another day of crowd-dodging and slow, grinding terror, I opted to spend this Sunday in New York fairly quietly, spending time with some of my favorite human beings: Deb Aoki and the Horns: Paul and Darlene. Brunch at The Spotted Pig (note-perfect, across the board) and leisurely consumerism that grew to a fever pitch once Paul and Darlene went off to the convention and Deb and myself were left to our own devices with a fantastic chocolatier and Jack Spade store within easy walking distance. I’m pretty sure that my banker will give me a look with no small amount of askance once the charges roll in.

Yesterday was, despite the overbearing crush of humanity, a very nice time at the convention and afterwards. Pal Robin (who ably takes on the role of Filthy Assistant in a bit I’m swiping wholesale from Saint Ellis of Blighty and no I don’t care if he sends Suicide Girls to trim my bits,) and myself made our way onto the floor and got to spend a decent amount of time with a nice swath of friends, collaborators and creators whose work we enjoy. If I try to name them all, I’ll leave someone out and I’ll hear no end to it, but there were several Agreeable Comics types, a Korean rapper, more than a few writers, a teenager that should know better than to hang out with us, and Chris Sims involved in the shenanigans and I had an absolute blast.

The best part of these shows is spending time with people I genuinely like. Without a table or product to sell, there’s only so much for me to do. I attended the (very funny and smart) Comics Alliance panel because it really is the best comics site out there, but I can’t imagine sitting in a room full of people who think that Stephanie Brown is real and hearing them complain about how Grant Morrison changed Jason Todd’s hair color and not wanting to look into a way to make an aerosol version of Chinese Syphilis to unleash on the populace.

Another vodka tonic (Grey Goose because mother raised me right) and a cab ride to the train to Boston and then back to real world. I had a terrific time, New York City, and my only wish is that I could have spent additional time with more of you.