As in the last post I will be booking a room for the Hyatt Regency.
I have been thinking about either driving or flying down. There are good points and bad to both. It does look like even if I get a car, I will be renting a car. It is not that expensive, and it depends on the car I get if I change my mind. Breaking down on the way down or heading home would be bad.
Driving
Good points
- Can bring stuff and not have to worry, like a cooler, alcohol, etc..
- If I buy stuff won't have to worry about getting it home.
- Even with gas and parking still a little cheaper than flying.
Bad points
- This really isn't a bad point, but it is a 12 hour drive.
- Will need an extra day when I get home to recover, maybe
- Pay extra to park the car for the weekend.
Flying
Good points
- Only a little over 2 hours flight time, not including the nonsense at the airport.
-Dont have to worry about extra money to park a car
- Shuttle to and from airport in Atlanta
Bad points-
-Expensive
- Limited on what I can take and bring home. I have had terrible experience with checking bags.
I think I will be driving, it is a nice drive and I can take my time.
The other hotels I looked at. The Westin is definitely out of the question, a basic room is around $400 a night. That is way outside of my budget. It is a beautiful hotel, and if I had the money I might think about it, but no.
The other hotels are possible, but I think I will go with the Hyatt.
Is it too early to be thinking about this stuff, probably.
Am I too fixated on it, probably.
Is there any harm in that, hmmm.
For me, this is kind of a new way of doing things. Planning this far ahead is new. I tend to be more of fly by the seat of your pants person. I have a impulse issues, I tend to act before I think and with little or no planning. I am trying to change this, a little. Plus planning this far ahead in the future gives me a goal, a reason to save money.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Monday, September 23, 2013
339 Days
What is 339 days you may be asking?
It is how many days until 2014 DragonCon. For many years I have wanted to go back, and 2014 will be my year to get there.
I went in 2007 and for various reasons haven't been able to go again.
If you are a fan of sci-fi, movies, books, or have wanted to go to ComicCon in California but it is too far, too expensive or whatever, then think about DragonCon. It is the biggest convention of its kind on the East Coast.
Why am I going to spend the next 339 days preparing for it? Because I am going to do it right this time. I am going to get a room at one of the convention hotels, one of the five hotels. When I was last there I was in a hotel nearby, which was not too bad, it was the same hotel Jonathan Frakes (Commander Riker from Star Trek Next Generation) stayed at. But I want to be able to just go up to my room and not have to worry about wandering the streets of downtown Atlanta. It is going to be a bit pricy for the hotel too. And the rooms book amazingly fast, they will be accepting reservations starting October 9th.
Plus I will need to buy a car too, that will be the largest cost of this whole endeavor.
Here is a link for the photos I took in 2007 LINK
I was just looking through the photos and a thought struck me. What if you were a person staying at one of the hotels and didn't know about the convention? All of these people walking around in some pretty strange outfits, what would they think?
So here is the rough schedule as it stands now.
October 9 and 15th Hyatt and Marriot rooms become available
November 15th ticket prices go from $75 to $85, so I will order the ticket at $75.
As it stands now that is all of the deadlines. Expenses for the trip besides the hotel and car, will be gas for the trip. I did some rough calculating and from Bucks County, Pa to Atlanta will cost about $200 in gas round trip to be on the safe side. It is a 1600 mile round trip. I will take the same route I did the first time, 81 to 77 to 85 and that will drop me right at the hotels. It is about a 12 hour drive, but it is not on 95 and it is a nice drive, very scenic.
So I will update this as needed, 339 days to go!!
*** Quick Update***
I will booking a room at the Hyatt Regency October 16th
It is how many days until 2014 DragonCon. For many years I have wanted to go back, and 2014 will be my year to get there.
I went in 2007 and for various reasons haven't been able to go again.
If you are a fan of sci-fi, movies, books, or have wanted to go to ComicCon in California but it is too far, too expensive or whatever, then think about DragonCon. It is the biggest convention of its kind on the East Coast.
Why am I going to spend the next 339 days preparing for it? Because I am going to do it right this time. I am going to get a room at one of the convention hotels, one of the five hotels. When I was last there I was in a hotel nearby, which was not too bad, it was the same hotel Jonathan Frakes (Commander Riker from Star Trek Next Generation) stayed at. But I want to be able to just go up to my room and not have to worry about wandering the streets of downtown Atlanta. It is going to be a bit pricy for the hotel too. And the rooms book amazingly fast, they will be accepting reservations starting October 9th.
Plus I will need to buy a car too, that will be the largest cost of this whole endeavor.
Here is a link for the photos I took in 2007 LINK
I was just looking through the photos and a thought struck me. What if you were a person staying at one of the hotels and didn't know about the convention? All of these people walking around in some pretty strange outfits, what would they think?
So here is the rough schedule as it stands now.
October 9 and 15th Hyatt and Marriot rooms become available
November 15th ticket prices go from $75 to $85, so I will order the ticket at $75.
As it stands now that is all of the deadlines. Expenses for the trip besides the hotel and car, will be gas for the trip. I did some rough calculating and from Bucks County, Pa to Atlanta will cost about $200 in gas round trip to be on the safe side. It is a 1600 mile round trip. I will take the same route I did the first time, 81 to 77 to 85 and that will drop me right at the hotels. It is about a 12 hour drive, but it is not on 95 and it is a nice drive, very scenic.
So I will update this as needed, 339 days to go!!
*** Quick Update***
I will booking a room at the Hyatt Regency October 16th
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Been busy
Despite the lack of new stuff here, I have been busy.
Finally off the unemployed/seasonal worker roles, while still working part time it is at least a regular not seasonal job, so that is good. I have managed to keep busy otherwise.
Was the unofficial photographer for the Bucks County Sharks rugby team, from the AMNRL
LINK
Photo sets
1
2
3
Went on vacation to Emerald Isle North Carolina in July
An old friend plays in this band called Tuesday's Gone, a Lynard Skynard tribute band.
LINK for Facebook
Went fossil hunting at Calvert Cliffs in Maryland. A word of advice if you go, especially in the summer, BRING water, and put it someplace it isn't going to fall out and lose it. The beach where everyone goes is picked over quite well. But there is a better location. As you stand on the beach, about a quarter mile away to your left is the beach in the photo. You can either find the path from the park, or you can take your chances walking over the top of the cliffs. I am not telling anyone to do so, the cliffs are not stable and there is a big sign telling you not to do that. LINK
I also went to hear Richard Dawkins speak at the University of Pennsylvania
LINK
I also went to see Dylan Moran at the Trocadero in June. Don't have any good photos but I did shoot some short video which I cannot find at the moment. If you don't know who Dylan Moran is, either Google him or here is his webpage
Finally off the unemployed/seasonal worker roles, while still working part time it is at least a regular not seasonal job, so that is good. I have managed to keep busy otherwise.
Was the unofficial photographer for the Bucks County Sharks rugby team, from the AMNRL
LINK
Photo sets
1
2
3
Went on vacation to Emerald Isle North Carolina in July
An old friend plays in this band called Tuesday's Gone, a Lynard Skynard tribute band.
LINK for Facebook
Went fossil hunting at Calvert Cliffs in Maryland. A word of advice if you go, especially in the summer, BRING water, and put it someplace it isn't going to fall out and lose it. The beach where everyone goes is picked over quite well. But there is a better location. As you stand on the beach, about a quarter mile away to your left is the beach in the photo. You can either find the path from the park, or you can take your chances walking over the top of the cliffs. I am not telling anyone to do so, the cliffs are not stable and there is a big sign telling you not to do that. LINK
I also went to hear Richard Dawkins speak at the University of Pennsylvania
LINK
I also went to see Dylan Moran at the Trocadero in June. Don't have any good photos but I did shoot some short video which I cannot find at the moment. If you don't know who Dylan Moran is, either Google him or here is his webpage
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