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s2m on a train! And networking!
Today, for the first time, I rode public transportation. Yes, that's right! The first time!! HOW is this possible?? B/c, gentle reader, I grew up in the country. In Texas. If you want to get anywhere in Texas, you have to have a car. Or at least access to one. Oh sure, the bigger cities and two or three college towns have public transportation, but for the most part (as in 95%), public transportation in Texas is nonexistent. But that's not how it is in Portland. ^^
But that's really the minor point of this post. I rode aforementioned public transportation to downtown Portland, so I could attend Graphic Novel First Thursday, an event in the Wordstock festival's retinue. I was first there, or at least first inside the gallery holding the event. I saw the address, went "YAY, here 'tis!" and walked right in. Before they opened. I was stared at. Thankfully, they didn't throw me back out, but let me stand in the corner and watch for the remaining 10 minutes of preparation. ^^;;; In my defense, the promo literature said they'd be open at 6, and I arrived at 6:10!!! :P~~~ I'm new to the whole art gallery thing!!
They didn't have as much artwork displayed as I would like, though the styles were varied. Even the one with the most manga-styled artwork was still obviously North American in layout, content, and pacing. Four different artists did readings. I admit I almost left after the first two, but I'm glad I stuck it out b/c the 2nd two were really funny!! XD I realized I'd even heard of the last one. He's the guy who does a comic every day based on someone's trippy dream. I know I've visited his site before, though I lost the bookmark when Utena died.
I didn't chat with as many people as I was hoping. Almost everyone came with someone or in a group, and I didn't feel like inviting myself into their conversations or anything. No one struck up a conversation with me, either. :P Why is that? Is this related to my strange power to terrify kids just by looking at them?? Mmph. Oh well. The three people I DID talk with were very nice.
I did buy three books. Two are female-oriented character dramas drawn by the same artist with different writers, and one was a short booklet by the only woman who did a reading. I managed to find her in the crowd and got her to sign it. She was happy to do so!!
But the really cool part was when I chatted with and then gave my business card to the rep from Dark Horse. X3 I'm networking! Wooooo! I'm really glad I overhauled my bcard especially for this event. =3
I thought about visiting the other art galleries around that place, but I was tired and hungry, it was only getting later, and I needed to get back to work. (yet here I am, blogging...) so I clomped the half-mile back to the train station and hopped back on board. Easy! And no one took my transportation ticket, so I can save it for next time. >:D
I've been saying that once I figure out how to use the public transportation here, I'd go into Portland proper one day and relax and have fun and spend several hours in Powell's City of Books, and maybe venture into some other stores. Now it's no longer a vague wish, but a real possibility. Woot!! XD This is a big step for sheltered little me. ^^V
Note: to afford the time to do this, I took a day off of Honey, and I completed my Captive quota before I left. Technically I still have to crunch 6 pages of Nana, but if I can't finish (which seems likely, given the time) then I have enough Nana buffer to be safe. Though I'm pushing it at this point. Hmmmmm. At least I don't have to worry about Skip, thanks to the wait for 19. Woot!
But that's really the minor point of this post. I rode aforementioned public transportation to downtown Portland, so I could attend Graphic Novel First Thursday, an event in the Wordstock festival's retinue. I was first there, or at least first inside the gallery holding the event. I saw the address, went "YAY, here 'tis!" and walked right in. Before they opened. I was stared at. Thankfully, they didn't throw me back out, but let me stand in the corner and watch for the remaining 10 minutes of preparation. ^^;;; In my defense, the promo literature said they'd be open at 6, and I arrived at 6:10!!! :P~~~ I'm new to the whole art gallery thing!!
They didn't have as much artwork displayed as I would like, though the styles were varied. Even the one with the most manga-styled artwork was still obviously North American in layout, content, and pacing. Four different artists did readings. I admit I almost left after the first two, but I'm glad I stuck it out b/c the 2nd two were really funny!! XD I realized I'd even heard of the last one. He's the guy who does a comic every day based on someone's trippy dream. I know I've visited his site before, though I lost the bookmark when Utena died.
I didn't chat with as many people as I was hoping. Almost everyone came with someone or in a group, and I didn't feel like inviting myself into their conversations or anything. No one struck up a conversation with me, either. :P Why is that? Is this related to my strange power to terrify kids just by looking at them?? Mmph. Oh well. The three people I DID talk with were very nice.
I did buy three books. Two are female-oriented character dramas drawn by the same artist with different writers, and one was a short booklet by the only woman who did a reading. I managed to find her in the crowd and got her to sign it. She was happy to do so!!
But the really cool part was when I chatted with and then gave my business card to the rep from Dark Horse. X3 I'm networking! Wooooo! I'm really glad I overhauled my bcard especially for this event. =3
I thought about visiting the other art galleries around that place, but I was tired and hungry, it was only getting later, and I needed to get back to work. (yet here I am, blogging...) so I clomped the half-mile back to the train station and hopped back on board. Easy! And no one took my transportation ticket, so I can save it for next time. >:D
I've been saying that once I figure out how to use the public transportation here, I'd go into Portland proper one day and relax and have fun and spend several hours in Powell's City of Books, and maybe venture into some other stores. Now it's no longer a vague wish, but a real possibility. Woot!! XD This is a big step for sheltered little me. ^^V
Note: to afford the time to do this, I took a day off of Honey, and I completed my Captive quota before I left. Technically I still have to crunch 6 pages of Nana, but if I can't finish (which seems likely, given the time) then I have enough Nana buffer to be safe. Though I'm pushing it at this point. Hmmmmm. At least I don't have to worry about Skip, thanks to the wait for 19. Woot!