October is "Where's Waterborn" Month

So I have been getting a ton of emails, texts, PM's and Twitter DM's asking "where the hell have you been lately?" Well the primary answer has been "Working or sick and dying" which pretty much sums up my last two weeks. First, I was assigned to a HUGE project at work creating a corporate training program that will be rolled out to out entire company next week. This is a great opportunity for me with regard to my job and future upward mobility, but as you may have guessed, it is taking up a ton of my time.

Right about the time I started on this new endeavor at work, a little game called Halo Reach was released. I was so freakin' busy at work that I was not able to pick up a copy of the game until the Friday after release, thanks in part to Gamestop. I had pre-order my copy of Reach at GS some time ago, but by the time I was able to swing by the store to pick it up, they had apparently sold my PRE-PAID copy to someone else. So I took my money back, and ended snagging the Best Buy $20 Gift Card deal later in the week. That is the last time I EVER walk into Gamestop. This I swear.

So after getting a copy of Reach and barely getting into the campaign, I came down with ebola or some other major illness that laid me out for the better part of a week. The worst part of being sick was that I really couldn't take a day to recouperate thanks to the new project and several outside events that I needed to work. So if you have not seen me online, post on Twitter or post a new blog, now you know why.

So why is October "Where's Waterborn" month you may ask? Well there is a ton of cool, geek-related stuff going on as Summer breaks into fall here in New England. Here is a breakdown of some of the events that I will be attending and travels that I will be embarking up in the next 30 days.

Vacation!

That's right, Waterborn is finally getting to go on a ever so short and ever so necessary vacation to kick off this month. Beginning this Friday, I am flying down to South Carolina to meet up with my family, whom I haven't seen in almost two years. My girlfriend and I are flying into Myrtle Beach where my brother and his family live to hang out with him and especially my niece and nephew. It has been way too long since I have since the munchins, who have grown quite a bit in my absence. Having lived in Myrtle Beach for two years (a fate a really wouldn't wish on my worst enemy as it is not my favorite place that i have lived) I also plan to reconnect with some friends that I have not seen in ages. From there we are heading down to Charleston to meet up with my parents and enjoy as much food and Dogfish Ale that I can consume. I also plan to meet up with OmegaMaximus, our resident custom console creating czar, who lives in the Charleston area. For those of you who saw the Gears of War - Dom Santiago XBox 360 that Omega put together for our Gamers Gone Wild Party at PAXEast last March, then you know how amazing his custom work is. Well, we are working with Omega and Caesar of Gamer Grafix once again for a very special event coming this spring, so stay tuned for that. Anyway, back to vacation. After Charleston, we are heading down to Hilton Head where my parents live to just chill out until we head back to Myrtle Beach to fly back to Boston.

New York ComicCon

Once I return to Boston I dive into four days of intense work in conjunction with the aforementioned project and then get to Geek out in a major way at the New York ComicCon. I will be meetng up in New York City with DSMooth, ElektraFi, Tigresaa and several of our friends from SFX-360 to check out this event. I am very excited regarding much of the talent scheduled to be at NYCC. Most importantly for me personally is to that I get to cover the TRON Legacy Panel which will feature updates on the TRON Evolution video game that is schedule to be released just before the movie comes out in December. I am hopeful that we may also see some of the stars from the upcoming movie at the panel. Other high points (in addition to the obligatory cosplay watching) will include a keynote address by none other than Stan Lee, my favorite actor of all time Bruce Cambell, Gill Gerard (from the orginal Buck Rogers tv series) and even Corey Feldman (yes, THAT Corey). Should be a weekend of fun for all.

Rock N Shock Horror Fest & New England ComicCon

I return from NYC to put in a few more days of hard work (no really) and then get to put in a double-header weekend of Geek Mania as both the Rock N Shock Horror Festival AND New England Comic Con are coming to the Boston area on the same weekend. I have press credentials for both and look forward to running around New England like a chicken with my head cut off trying to soak it all up. Highlights for these two shows will include a joint concert by Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie at the Rock N Shock and an interview with Bert Ward, the original Robin from the TV series at the New England Comic Con. I should be throughly exhausted by the time this weekend is over, just in time for . . . .

My Birthday - I turn 43!

That's right folks, I wil be turning 43 years old on October 19th (please PM me for my mailing address if you wish to send gifts. Please no money, just SWAG ). Not sure what my birthday has in store for me, but given the hectic month that I am planning, I may just lay up on the couch with my girlfriend and chill out for a few days.

Halloween in Salem, MA

And to conclude the insanely busy of October, we are planning our annual excursion to Salem MA for the Halloween festivites. If you have never spent Halloween in Salem, you have no idea what you are missing. Imagine the wildest Halloween party that you have EVER been to and then throw in an entire town on top of that. Everyone dresses up and the local ghouls, witches and pagans all come out to celebrate. This is always a fun time. Below are some pics from one of our previous trips to Salem on All Hallow's Eve.