It started with a 'Thank You'...

As we boarded the 255 to Seattle from the Kirkland Transit Center one chilly November morning, I had a feeling this was going to be a good day.

She took her usual spot in the front and sat in the first row of seats. She had the aisle seat on the left hand side. Lucky me, the aisle seat on the right hand side of the first row was also free.

How to start a conversation? What's going to be my 'in'? How in the world can I make the initial contact? Aha! As luck (fate?) would have it, she dropped her pen as she was marking certain sections on the article she was reading. The pen conveniently rolled to my feet. I picked it up and handed it back to her.

"Thank you", she says while her brown eyes locked contact directly with mine. Thus began what I had hoped to be the beginning of something special....



Approximately 4 months later...

On 30 March 2011, I believe I have said what might possibly be the last words I'll ever say to her. Waiting at University Station in the bus tunnel, the 255 back to Kirkland was already a few minutes late. It had eventually arrived. As we got up from the bench and made our way towards the line, she and I stopped at the same spot about 5 feet away from the bus.

"Go ahead", I said with an open smile. She nodded in acknowledgement and she boarded the bus. She sat in her usual seat in the first row and I made my way to the back. With those two words, just as quietly and calmly as it began, that is how this story ends.

Emerald City Comiccon 2011

What a great turnout this year! Shatner, The Boondock Saints, James Marsters, Amy Okuda, perennial favorite Wil Wheaton...and of course my personal favorite - Felicia Day! It could have been called the Felicia Day Con for all I cared. She was THE person to see for me. As I got to tell her, she is simply the coolest...well her and Eliza Dushku :P Geeky sci-fi hotties ftw!

She is the poster child for this new wave of beautiful, intelligent girls that have a geeky side. While right now I would consider Felicia Day, Eliza Dushku, and Olivia Munn as the only really attractive girls that have a good fanboy following (due to them being knowledgeable on sci-fi topics), I believe that will change in the coming years.

Case in point: Natalie Portman is co-starring in the Thor film, Scarlett Johansson was in Iron Man 2 and will likely be in the JOSS WHEDON-directed Avengers film, and Blake Lively is in The Green Lantern. While all three starlets can fill up some of the world's largest pools with the drool of all the men that admire them, they are a completely different breed of attractiveness and personality than that of the aforementioned three. Regardless, the involvement of what one may classify as a classical Hollywood beauty in a comic-book film will undoubtedly shape the projects that all the pretty girls will focus on in the future. Felicia's certainly a pioneer for inspiring girls to use their brains for roles rather than looks (though being a gorgeous redhead doesn't hurt).

Meeting Felicia has been more than a dream come true. She is just so damn awesome and down-to-earth. That's one thing that surprises me about ECCC every year. From the writers to the artists to the models to the celebrity/media guests, everyone is sociable, kind, considerate, and open-minded. I suppose you have to have a pretty open mind given the crowd but it is an amazing community and I am glad to somewhat be a part of it and join them in this so-called geek subculture.

Seattle hosts their own Comiccon, PAX, and Sakuracon each and every year at the Convention Center and there is very specific reason for that - because we Seattle-ites effin' rock! Even though I am not and will never claim to be THE biggest anime fan, or THE biggest comic fan, or THE biggest videogame fan, it is nice to know that if I ever wanted to check out some new and upcoming projects, the next convention is not that far away.

I love Seattle and the culture we cultivate. Folklife, Sasquatch, and Bumbershoot are also other annual events that occur ever year. This city will always welcome something new, something innovative, and something "outside the box". From Microsoft to grunge music to American soccer - we'll show our support and back up the creative minds that put forth their ideas in motion. Always.

With that said, all the guests that came this year should come again next year, especially The Guild's Felicia, Amy and Wil!

PS: Bill Prady - please, please find a way to incorporate Felicia Day in a guest (if not recurring) role in The Big Bang Theory. She'd be PERFECT for that show. Just think about all the connections that are there already: Simon Helberg, Wil Wheaton, Eliza Dushku. Just make it happen already!


Felicia Day reads:

http://feliciaday.com/blog

http://smallscreenscoop.com/halt-read-this-felicia-day-interview/311503/

http://www.stalkingwiththestars.com/2010/05/are-you-there-ptbs-its-me-aj.html