For no obvious reason, our table was now on the second row back, one section over from where we were placed for the past three years straight. (We even had a couple people stop by and say that they thought we were not here this year when they did not see us in our usual space.) We did not get the traffic we previously got, but we actually sold more books than the past few years.
The staff allowed us early arrivers to pull into the hall itself to unload our vehicles and set up our tables (above). Here is Mark, standing proudly before our new VW ID-4. It was technically a used vehicle from 2021; however, it had but 53 miles on it when we bought it just a few days before and paid less than half what a new ID-4 cost This was our first long trip. We decided on the second day to Valet park it because they would charge it while they kept it. They might have tried to charge it, but when the Con was over and we loaded it up for the drive back home, iD-4 was only at the same charge as it was when we turned it over to them. I wanted to get out of town, so we took off without complaining and stopped East of Riverside to recharge at a Wallmart station.
The ride was smooth both ways, and we fell in love with the vehicle, especially since Trump's Iran war caused the price of gas to skyrocket. It was a new feeling to not even think about stopping for gas at a gas station.
Here was one view from behind our table. But the direct line points to the fellow from Arizona who had the table beside us for the previous three years.
The following is a much better photo of Mark, on our second day.
The following is a photo of a fellow who I corralled the first day of the Con because he was wearing a FORBIDDEN PLANET uniform. He took a photo of us which I have yet to find. But here he is wearing a Captain America WWII uniform. He bought all of the books in the series except, of course, the two we give away for free.
Another woman bought three books in the series and also ot the other two free volumes. Another young fellow showed up with a copy of Volume 6 in the series which he said was given to him by his Grandmother who must have collected the whole series when I was giving the first eight away at the Palm Springs Comic Con years before. He bought the last two volumes in the series.
Hilton had remodeled the main restaurant which we did not enjoy and only had our first breakfast there. Their Market Place was way over priced. We were also given a room on the 5th floor, which seemed to be the party floor for drunks. Never again. We had no view out the window. Mark got cornered near the parking garage and almost forced to give the three large men who surrounded him $25. They tried to steal credit card info to charge even more but Mark was quick to pull his wallet back in time. He reported his situation to the Heoel staff because he was not the only person so scammed.
Otherwise, we had an enjoyable Con, meeting new folks and again seeing those we have known from before. Next will be Q Con in June in West Hollywood.
