Okay, I am going to announce something fun right now. It could be cool, or it COULD TOTALLY BE A DISASTER but either way, it should be fun to witness!
Ready? It involves a lifelong dream, and one of my favorite parts of making comics.
This'll be fun!
Ready? It involves a lifelong dream, and one of my favorite parts of making comics.
This'll be fun!
Here's the deal. I get asked questions about cons all the time, from both curious readers and from new pros who have questions.
I get asked to a LOT of cons, I can't possibly attend them all, it's sometimes over 200 requests a year.
So I pick VERY CAREFULLY.
I get asked to a LOT of cons, I can't possibly attend them all, it's sometimes over 200 requests a year.
So I pick VERY CAREFULLY.
I try to consider a lot of factors. Some cons, I am contracted to appear at, some a publisher asks me to attend. But I try to put a priority on ones I haven't been to yet, in areas new to me.
The exceptions are cons that I just really enjoy each time. Like @C2E2 in Chicago.
The exceptions are cons that I just really enjoy each time. Like @C2E2 in Chicago.
@c2e2 So @c2e2 is possibly my favorite US con of the bigger events. I have made so many friends, and they treat us wonderfully, and Chicago is one of my favorite cities in the world. I wish I could go every year, but I just don't think that's fair to other cons, so...
@c2e2 ...I often say no but then I feel bad because I missed my favorite con. :)
So I haven't been for a couple years, and I agreed to go this year, I think it was announced yesterday. So yay.
But here's the cool bit. Or the stupid bit.
OR THE STUPID COOL BIT!
So I haven't been for a couple years, and I agreed to go this year, I think it was announced yesterday. So yay.
But here's the cool bit. Or the stupid bit.
OR THE STUPID COOL BIT!
@c2e2 I don't love airplanes, I don't love the process of air travel as a rule. It's convenient but often uncomfortable and after the first thousand stinky planes, you can feel a bit over it all.
On the other hand...
On the other hand...
@c2e2 ...I freaking love trains. All my life, I read stories and watched movies with trains, I love the romance and history of them, I love that you can get up and walk around.
When I was a kid, I loved Wild Wild West because TRAINS.
When I was a kid, I loved Wild Wild West because TRAINS.
@c2e2 But because of time considerations, I've taken very few longer train trips, almost none in the US. I've been on train trips through China and Scotland and a few other cool places, but my DREAM has been to take a train across the US.
But it never worked timewise.
But it never worked timewise.
@c2e2 TRAINS! I know they are stinky maybe and probably bumpy and maybe cramped and all that stuff. BUT I LOVE TRAINS.
So. I was watching random youtube videos, there was one about a train, I said, we should do that someday...
So. I was watching random youtube videos, there was one about a train, I said, we should do that someday...
@c2e2 And @rocketspouse says, "Why DON'T we, then?"
So, long story SLIGHTLY shorter.
TRAIN!
To @C2e2!
Guys, this is flipping me out. I am so excited.
So, long story SLIGHTLY shorter.
TRAIN!
To @C2e2!
Guys, this is flipping me out. I am so excited.
@c2e2 @RocketSpouse A lot of you probably ride trains five times a week and don't see the appeal. But if you have read Agatha Christie and dreamed of trains your whole life, it is a BIG DEAL INDEED.
We weren't sure we could work it out. I did a TON of research.
We weren't sure we could work it out. I did a TON of research.
@c2e2 @RocketSpouse So then I thought, man, if we could do this, I could do videos and livestreams and tweet about it, FROM THE TRAIN on the way to the con, right?
I don't know if anyone's done that before, and it will probably explode, but damn, it sounds fun.
I don't know if anyone's done that before, and it will probably explode, but damn, it sounds fun.
@c2e2 @RocketSpouse So I wrote to my dear friends at @c2e2 and explained my goofy idea, that I would be posting about the #TRAINTOC2E2, not just on the train, but the process leading up to it, what to pack, how to fill time, if there's a murder mystery to solve...
@c2e2 @RocketSpouse ...and because they are awesome, they were completely into it and were happy to support it.
So from now until the actual con, I will post tweets and stuff, and take suggestions and advice, and answer questions. But basically, #TrainToC2E2 is a thing starting NOW!
So from now until the actual con, I will post tweets and stuff, and take suggestions and advice, and answer questions. But basically, #TrainToC2E2 is a thing starting NOW!
@c2e2 @RocketSpouse I'll tell a lot more details about the trip soon, I know a LOT of people love any kind of travel videos. I will review the food, our super weird tiny little accommodations, any unusual odors, the scenery, AND will be doing a comics script live on the @amtrak train!
@c2e2 @RocketSpouse @Amtrak Also, since I don't have a youtube channel OR know how to edit videos OR know what I am doing, it is almost a GUARANTEED chance of extreme embarrassment!
WHAT COULD BE BETTER?
WHAT COULD BE BETTER?
@c2e2 @RocketSpouse @Amtrak So, if you have questions about this trip, or the con, or cons in general, ask on this thread. Use the hashtag #TrainToC2E2, and I'll answer 100% honestly unless it's about @TomKingTK's haircut.
This is going to be fun!
This is going to be fun!
@c2e2 @RocketSpouse @Amtrak @TomKingTK Starting #TrainToC2E2 facts!
This trip leaves from Union Station in Portland, Oregon, and ends in Chicago, and takes 45 hours!
The @amtrak train we are taking is called the EMPIRE BUILDER, and crosses through some of the most beautiful country in the USA!
This trip leaves from Union Station in Portland, Oregon, and ends in Chicago, and takes 45 hours!
The @amtrak train we are taking is called the EMPIRE BUILDER, and crosses through some of the most beautiful country in the USA!
@c2e2 @RocketSpouse @Amtrak @TomKingTK I am sure this all sounds silly, but this is genuinely a dream I have had my whole life, growing up on a tiny, isolated farm with a family that didn't travel.
So expect LOTS of terrible photos of blurry scenery and quite possibly full on reviews of vending machine Doritos!
So expect LOTS of terrible photos of blurry scenery and quite possibly full on reviews of vending machine Doritos!
@c2e2 @RocketSpouse @Amtrak @TomKingTK My favorite detail that everyone has mentioned about a million times?
THE TRAIN WILL BE LATE.
What train? You don't even know what train we're on
IT WILL BE LATE
But I--
LATE
THE TRAIN WILL BE LATE.
What train? You don't even know what train we're on
IT WILL BE LATE
But I--
LATE
@c2e2 @RocketSpouse @Amtrak @TomKingTK Anyway, thank you SO MUCH to @c2E2 for sponsoring and supporting this weird adventure. I promise, there's gonna be some fun stuff, and we MAY even have some goofyass #TrainToC2E2 merch at the con if there's demand from weirdos like you guys!
@c2e2 @RocketSpouse @Amtrak @TomKingTK And thank you @amtrak for being helpful with my millions of questions!
#TrainToC2E2
#TrainToC2E2
@c2e2 @RocketSpouse @Amtrak @TomKingTK And FINALLY, I will be asking you folks a LOT of questions...we want to do lots of short videos, mostly stupid ones but some might accidentally be great.
But I don't know a THING about the best way to do it, the easiest equipment to use, or setting up a YT channel.
Advice?
But I don't know a THING about the best way to do it, the easiest equipment to use, or setting up a YT channel.
Advice?
@c2e2 @RocketSpouse @Amtrak @TomKingTK Do you have a great train ride story?
Do you have a favorite tip for train travel?
Please post using the hashtag #TrainToC2E2 and I will definitely keep monitoring this thread! SHARE YOUR STORIES, DAMMIT!
Do you have a favorite tip for train travel?
Please post using the hashtag #TrainToC2E2 and I will definitely keep monitoring this thread! SHARE YOUR STORIES, DAMMIT!
@c2e2 @RocketSpouse @Amtrak @TomKingTK ALSO, if any travel product companies have a product they would like me to try on this adventure, or any company offering anything to make the hours go by, let me know. I'm into the idea of doing a couple unboxing videos actually ON the train just for the fun of it!
@c2e2 @RocketSpouse @Amtrak @TomKingTK In particular, we might be looking for easy-to-use two player games, maybe?
I don't know, I'm new at this!
Anyway, it should be a lot of fun and I'm already completely obsessive about it.
Join us!
#traintoc2e2
I don't know, I'm new at this!
Anyway, it should be a lot of fun and I'm already completely obsessive about it.
Join us!
#traintoc2e2
@c2e2 @RocketSpouse @Amtrak @TomKingTK This is the train, you guys! Each car is two stories!
And they used to have a theatre car that showed movies but everyone hated it so it's gone now!
And they used to have a theatre car that showed movies but everyone hated it so it's gone now!
@c2e2 @RocketSpouse @Amtrak @TomKingTK Is it wrong that I am kind of hoping we get robbed by the Dalton Gang?
@c2e2 @RocketSpouse @Amtrak @TomKingTK Also, seriously, if this works out...how fun would it be to plan the same trip for a BUNCH of nerds next year?
We could be playing RPGS in the observation deck!
We could be playing RPGS in the observation deck!
I have a question for people familiar with @Amtrak sleeping cars...I know they have free coffee available, but we donβt drink coffee. Do they have hot water for tea?
Okay, starting the communal decision part of #traintoc2e2!
We want to have a theme for the movies we watch on the trip. Which should we choose?
We want to have a theme for the movies we watch on the trip. Which should we choose?
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