Yep, it sure tired me out, but I had a nice trip down to Portland, OR, this past weekend. The primary reason I went was to attend the Stumptown Comics Festival, which is an indy-centric event -- something there aren't enough of, especially around here, it seems.

I left on Friday after class. Class got out at 3 p.m. Called a cab at 3:30 to pick me up at 4:30. At five to 5, the cab still hadn't arrived, so called them back ... put me on hold for 10 minutes. Panicking now, as I'm worried about missing my train. Called a different cab company, and it worked out. Still, I am not sure why it seems I have a "cab curse." This wasn't nearly the first time something like that happened.

After a four-hour train ride, I got into Portland at almost 10 p.m., then got settled in my hotel room. Got up the next morning and got myself over to the con, which was about 4 blocks away. It was a blast! I picked up probably 50 or so minicomics, which are small press (to the point some people are simply making these things in their rooms with pens, markers, and other stuff) works, the idea being that I could see what was out there and get inspired. Haven't read more than a couple of them, but I think it's gonna work. I also attended a "making minicomics" panel, which also helped with ideas. I went to a hilarious panel on the Too Much Coffee Man opera ... if that makes much sense to you, you probably need some more coffee!

After that, I met up with LJ friend, chris_walsh, for dinner (he paid -- thanks!), conversation, and to attend an "after party" at the Cosmic Monkey Comics store. They had an art battle (sort of like "Win, Lose, or Draw," but for cartoonists -- one "challenge" had teams of cartoonists drawing characters from Lord of the Rings warring with the Smurfs) that lasted well into the night and was a blast.

Sunday, I decided not to go back to the con -- not that it wasn't fun, but I felt that, while in Portland, I needed to visit Powell's Books, which is, I think, the largest new and used bookstore in the world. I did so, and then caught my 3:30 train back to Seattle.

School has been awesome so far, though the schedule is still kicking my ass a little. Six hours of class, starting at 8 a.m., and then six hours of work, and then other stuff? But I think I'm getting closer to being okay with it. Still, I'm planning on staying around here this weekend and getting things done.

Anyhow, that's a snapshot of my life at the moment. Definitely feeling a lot better than I was a few months back. I might even {{{ghasp!}}} revamp my LJ soon to look more positive again soon.

But not tonight ... got to read, and then bed. 8 a.m. will come waaay too soon again tomorrow.