Friday I had planned to hit the Tonga Room with my friend Steve for dinner and drinks before going over to the Kabuki to see Watchmen. However, everyone else had also seen the 'Save the Tonga Room' message floating around and the line was crazy long by the time we got there. We waited anyway and made it right up to the front of the line before it stopped in it's tracks. No one seemed to be leaving so we eventually gave up and cabbed it over to Japantown.

We ate at Sundance Kitchen, which has taken over the spot next to the movie theater which used to be a Pasta Pomodoro. The food and drinks were well earned by this point, and dessert was tasty as well. At around 7:45 sinmix , clockworkbuddha  and Journaless Joe Price joined us and we headed over to the theater to meet the rest of our group. Assigned seating is a wonderful thing.

Although I did have some issues with the movie, they  were related to editing and pacing in the first half. I would definitely see it again. Afterwards we grabbed food at a Le Mediterrane on Fillmore and were once again the loudest table in the restaurant.

Saturday I made bacon and eggs, watched Arc of Infinity with foxmoor  and just generally lazed about.

Sunday I also started the day with bacon and eggs and the first half of 'Black Orchid' (with commentary) before heading out to lady_leandra 's birthday party, themed after the Wasp and the Unicorn episode of Doctor Who. I cobbled together a 20's style outfit and Diane Rooney kindly let me hitch a ride with her. There were tons of people who I normally only see at conventions, so that was nice, and she served scones, clotted cream and tea. Merv (I think) brought an Elderflower sparkling wine that was very nice and the cake was tasty.

When I got home we watched the second half of 'Black Orchid' and then washed the taste out of our minds with 'Castrovalva'

Gallifrey is over, alas. It was a wonderful convention with lovely, lovely guests and I will almost certainly return next year. I took pictures and will be writting up a report for the next issue of SF/SF. The art show was small and unfortunately I didn't sell anything, but you can't win 'em all.

I am now at my sister's house in Santa Monica, the morning started off overcast and threatening rain but by the time I got here it was all blus skies and sunshine so I hit the beach, took some pictures and had a little breakfast. Now I need to gather my strength for the skiing. No rest for the wicked.

So it looks like I'm gonna opt for taking the train down to Gally... which means I may as well shoot for the nice one and take the Coast Starlight. I gotta get myself to Oakland, but all the other trains mean a bunch of bus to train to bus switches so whatev. The only issue now is figuring out luggage-if I can get a ride to and from Oakland it's one thing, if not then I gotsa leave some shoes behind or something.

Now I gotta get some new art done.

I've been breaking in my shiny new iPod (thanks jrhett!) over the last few days, so I've been looking through the podcasts available through itunes. 

Keeping in mind I've only had a chance to listen to one or two episodes or sometimes fractions of same;

The Good: Around Comics: I frankly didn't expect much, but it's been consistently entertaining and even a little informative. Podshocks: I love audio commentaries, I love Doctor Who, what's not to like? The Now Show: Funny British guys, yay-but not crazy about the musican numbers so far t

The Bad: This American Life: Boring stories told poorly, am I missing something here? Slice of Scifi: Content doesn't start until six minutes in and then is sparse at best with way too much pointless back and forth, ugh.

The Unknown, on the list but unlistened to as yet; Battlestar Galactica commenaries, The Signal, Suspense! Pendant Productions, Vintage Tunecast and assorted OTR shows that I haven't investigated yet.

Any leads into good OTR shows? Modern audio dramas? Local shows? Is everything pretty much listed on itunes or are there other places I should check out?