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August 01, 2004
las vegas has a monorail, just like brockway.
I just got back from Vegas, and I want to do a quick recap.
I only have a few minutes (I'm using Ryan's computer, since my Linux box has a blown-out monitor, and the logic board on my iBook exploded -- for the fourth time in two years -- Thursday morning before we left) so I'm going to make a very quick recap of some highlights now, before I forget:
I now present the best of . . .
Thursday
We made it to Vegas in about 4 hours, which was nice, but along the way we got a phone call that put our family medical terror to rest. I can't go into it right now, but everything is going to be okay, and I want to thank everyone who kept us in their thoughts, and sent us their positive mojo, or prayers, or voodoo dances, or snake charming magic.
Thursday night, Anne took me to Blue Man Group at Luxor (one of my favorite shows, ever -- I'm kind of a Blue Man Group Geek), and I got to go backstage, meet the Blue Man (Blue Men? Blue Mans?) and take home a painting that they made in the show!
Friday
Friday was my big performance day at the convention, so it's really hard to pick out the top moment . . . but here are a few:
- I met some people who are longtime readers of WWdN, and they shared with me how this lame website has had a really positive impact on their lives. I was overwhelmed (if you're playing the Joy Of Tech Drinking Game, drink now) and very moved that the things I write here could mean so much to someone I've never met.
- My performance from Just A Geek and Dancing Barefoot was awesome! The room was almost full, and I felt like the audience was "with me" the entire time. Near the end of my time, Brent Spiner walked into the room, and told me, in front of everyone, that he'd read Dancing Barefoot "cover to cover," and that he liked it! Then he told me to wrap it up, so "these people can come over and listen to me talk." It was really funny, and really cool.
- Our Earnest Borg 9 show absolutely killed! I was scared to death that we weren't going to be as good as we were in Pasadena, but everyone in the cast, as well as my wife and parents who were in the audience for both shows, thought it was better! After the show, I went out to dinner with the cast, my folks, and my friend Kat, ate massive dinner, and gambled until the sun came up (well, until the sun came up on the East Coast, but still . . .) When I left the tables, I was actually ahead. Okay, so it was only 15 dollars ahead, but it's the first time I've left ahead in about five years.
Saturday
It was a great day. I met tons of fans who saw the EB9 show, and / or my reading, and the comments were totally positive. I also sold out of all the copies of Just A Geek that I'd brought with me!
Overall, it was an awesome and fantastic weekend. Adam and Gary put on the best Creation show I've been at since . . . well, I think it was the best Creation show I've been at in my life. All the fans I talked to seemed happy, the show felt very well organized, and everyone seemed to be having a really good time. You know what? It felt like a fan-run con!
It was also the best time I've had in Vegas in years. It was pretty crowded, but Lady Luck stayed on my arm the entire time I was there, and I am actually 35 dollars in the black, baby. Oh yeah. I am such a high roller, I think I hear the Travel Channel calling me right now.
There are some other details that need to be filled in, but Ryan has been patiently waiting for me to get off his computer, and I'm so exhausted from the weekend and the drive home that I don't know if I'll even make it down the hall to my own bedroom.
OH! Holy shit! I can't believe I almost forgot to mention this: There *will* be an audio version of Just A Geek, unabridged and performed by me, available in September! If you're coming up to Powell's Technical Annex on August 6th, I'll have some preview CDs to give out.
Okay, that's all for tonight. Thank you to everyone who sent kind birthday wishes, too. That rules :-)
Very glad to hear that the medial situation is OK... and happy birthday!
Posted by: Dave Diamond at August 2, 2004 01:01 PMHow about an ebook version of JAG, Wil? I've been reading a lot of books (including all of Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Baker books) on my Treo using the Palm E-Reader. Very pleasant, I must say.
Posted by: Hugh Caley at August 2, 2004 01:08 PMI gotta agree with Dave. It's GREAT to hear that the scary medical episode is over. I'm sure it had more than a few of us worried, and it's a relief to know it's passed.
Glad to hear Creation went so well for you! I just wish I wasn't out here on the East Coast. Otherwise, I would have been there in a heartbeat. Gotta talk your publisher into some East Coast (Pittsburgh? NYC?) signings or conventions...
Posted by: Eric at August 2, 2004 01:09 PMHappy Birthday Wil! Glad to hear the medical thing is better and Congrats on the excellent convention weekend! (Lady Luck sometimes smiles! :-)
Posted by: Angie at August 2, 2004 01:11 PMSince I have not been to Vegas in a little while, I was actually hoping you would tell us about the monorail. Did you get to ride it? Where does it go?
Posted by: Shanu at August 2, 2004 01:12 PMRelieved to hear that the medical situation is resolved. I'm so jealous of everybody who can get to these Cons. I hear about all these cool things and all I can do is live vicariously through the stories and hope that, one day, I'll get there, too.
*sniff*
(Pssst ... You need to add an "I" so it says Monorail, not Monoral.)
Glad to hear the medical sitch is ok.
Is there a chance that the audiobook will be available on Audible.com? I get all my audiobooks there and would love to see you published there.
Congrats and Happy Belated Birthday!
Posted by: Dave at August 2, 2004 02:01 PMHappy Belated Birthday Wil. Glad all is ok and that Vegas was a blast. Oh, and an e-book version would be SO geeky...that would rock. :)
Posted by: ScottMcW at August 2, 2004 02:08 PMYikes! I can't believe I didn't get my birthday wishes out on time...but, hey, hope you had a good one, glad to hear you came out ahead in Vegas, and congrats on the successful readings. I still haven't picked up JAG, but I think by now it should be available live and in person in my local Canadian bookstore, so hopefully I will get it soon.
Posted by: Deborah at August 2, 2004 03:00 PMOk, I'm definitely coming to the Powell's thing on Friday, then. Hopefully I won't totally geek out on you.
Posted by: Leah at August 2, 2004 03:09 PMI'm glad that you have had a good weekend.
Over the last few years reading about you and conventions, you have come so far.
You started out so negative, and it seemed like you hated the conventions, you wanted to so desperatly like them, be apart of them, but you never managed it.
And now you love them, thrive on them. People come to see you, not the (young boy) actor, not wesley, but YOU, WIL WHEATON, the writer, the blogger.
It's great to know that you have come to understand who you are, and that people admire and respect you, for who are, and through your writing you bring joy into peoples lives.
I'm *so* glad that the medical situation is okay! Scary stuff! Happy belated birthday, and congrats on a great convention weekend.
Also, I just finished JAG - great book! Just what I needed to read right now, as I'm looking for a new job for the first time in years. (I'm feeling kind of typecast myself)
Take care -
Posted by: Andrea Palumbo at August 2, 2004 04:40 PMhappy belated bday wil... sounds like u had an awesome weekend. im glad that you and your family are doing ok. I have Just a Geek, but i have reading for school to do first. Once that's done, I'm definetly gonna start reading it.
Posted by: Sarah at August 2, 2004 04:42 PMI was at the convention on Saturday and thought it blew. The dealer room was so empty and it seemed like the main attraction was this car covered with autographs. So frustrating--it sounded like Friday was the best day to go but we had to work and the drive took far too long. Would have liked to see your show, though. Went up to talk with you but there was a long line and I never made it back. Suffice to say, it's great to see so many people going up to you and chatting with you. You have really humanized the blog thing and your connection to the fans is great and admirable.
The monorail is cool. $5.50 round trip, it takes about 15 minutes or so to get from the Hilton to the end of the line at the MGM Grand. $3 will get you a one way trip. If you say your ticket stub you can get $5 off the price of admission to the Star Trek in 4D ride, or whatever it's called. (The ride is okay, the 3-d aspect is kind of ho hum, but the enthusiasm by the actors who run the show is palpable and make up for it.)
The monorail is cool, though, and a great way to visit the strip. The only drag is that it closes at midnight--it should be 24 hours. My bet is that they wanted to make sure the cabbies were happy. My monorail trip was delayed (not unlike New York) for about 5 minutes, but it was no big deal.
Wil, are you going to that convention in August in LA?
Posted by: mike at August 2, 2004 04:50 PMWil kicked ass in Vegas! The reading was great, Brent Spiner busting in to break it up was definitely an added bonus. EB9 was hilarious, Creation busted up the show as it was going on to long. :(
This was my first “Trek” convention and I only went to see Wil and EB9. The fans were great, the show was great, and the hotel staff was great; I’m definitely going back next year for the whole thing!
Thanks for taking the extra time to talk to your fans, it means a lot.
Posted by: Hadessa at August 2, 2004 05:00 PMglad to hear the medical drama has subsided...and glad to hear that you kicked ass in VEGAS...i think sooner or later someone, somewhere is gonna notice your comedy work and give you a shot in a big time comedy project of some kind.
Posted by: d. burr at August 2, 2004 05:11 PMWil,
So glad to see the comment page is working again.
I have to get my WWdN daily fix. Wish I could have been in Vegas to see your show--it was great that Brent Spiner was on stage with *Milt*. A very merry un-birthday to you, to you...
Freeman :)
Posted by: Freeman in Louisiana at August 2, 2004 05:15 PMThat's great on the medical news Wil. and...being $15 ahead is always a good thing in the end...it's better then being 5,000 behind ne? Yay unabridged audio ^_^ Hope to hear how it sounds!
Posted by: Shaynie at August 2, 2004 05:23 PMWil,
For the love of all that is good and holy, please get your audiobook on the iTunes Music Store!!
Brad
Posted by: Brad Kimberly at August 2, 2004 05:56 PMSorry to hear about your computer problems. It almost sounds like your computers were revolting against you. I'm also sad to hear that your iBook has died on you four times in two years!
I love my 17-inch iMac and iPod...and am anxiously awaiting the audio version of your book. I hope it's available on audible.com but I'd be willing to buy a CD off your website too.
I haven't heard much about the Blue Man group in a long time but I bet they were a blast to see in concert. Imagine how long it must take for their makeup!?
I wish I lived closer to the West Coast so I could see some of your performances. Have you ever thought of offering them for download on the web? Quicktime movies? I'd certainly pay to see them -- maybe you could use Paypal -- quick and easy!
Best wishes from the Midwest, Wil! I'm glad that you survived another birthday, and the family medical crisis.
I'll send some positive mojo for your broken iBook. BTW, how is your cat doing these days?
Sincerely,
L.
Hey Wil! I'm sorry i didn't know it was your birthday sooner, otherwise i would have said something at he convention! I finally finished your book "Just a Geek" last nite on my way home from the con, it was absolutely incredible. I can only hope that there will be more novels witten by you in the future because it would be a shame to deprive the world of your talent.
best wishes always, and good luck in the future.
David Rankin
audio would rock. To bad I am on the east coast and will miss the Powell show.
I hope it'll be on amazon so I can get it there.
I got your dancing barefoot from a site that had signed copies.. anywhere like that for Just a Geek?
welcome back! I'll second the motion for putting JAG on audible.com. Will see you in a couple of weeks in H'Wood so you can scribble into my copy of JAG (hey draw a picture in it like Ray Bradbury did for my niece during his signing)
hee :)
Posted by: lomara at August 2, 2004 07:52 PMHappy Birthday Wil!
Special ordered in JAG at my local bookstore as a result they brought in both your books -- it was nice to see them sitting there on the shelf -- so if your in the Edmonton area Audreys on Jasper ave has both of them in -- shameless plug -- read JAG in 4 hours nonstop -- it was a great way to spend my day off reading your book
glad all is well now
Hey, that's so ultra-cool that they put both my books in the store!
The monorail in Vegas is also ultra-cool. They actually play music the whole time it's in motion, and it goes past some really interesting urban decay behind some golf course between Paris and the convention center. I'm pretty sure they stop it at midnight to keep the cabbies happy.
Posted by: wil at August 2, 2004 08:43 PMI just wanted to let you know that normally I do not spring for hardbacks, especially hardbacks fresh out of the gate. I wait for the paperback, or at the very most buy a remaindered hardback at Amazon or half.com.
(Yes, yes, I know, the authors are not getting their royalties...lash me with a wet noodle)
However, for your terrific book I made an exception. Paid the full price and grabbed it as soon as I saw it, thus assuring that Hastings would reorder. Aren't you proud of me? I finished the book today, but I knew before I was halfway through it that it would be a keeper. (I was also pleased to see my guess about Neil Gaiman's writing the forward proved to be correct, snicker snicker.) I am happy that after all these years of struggling with the idiots in Hollywood, you have found your true calling.
In fact, I would think writing would give you even more satisfaction than acting. Just think of all the characters you can become, with no auditions and no rejections. I hope you take the step into full-fledged fiction writing soon. To be sure, it would be a challenge, but I believe your talent is up to it.
Posted by: Bonnie Warford at August 2, 2004 08:44 PMWhat games did you play? Do you ever play poker in Vegas?
Posted by: Alan at August 2, 2004 10:05 PMI never had time to play poker . . . but there are new poker rooms EVERYWHERE.
I mostly played Blackjack and a little craps. It was really weird . . . I've played so much poker in the last year, all the other games that I used to love so much just felt . . . passive.
I played craps for two shooters before I got bored, and settled in on Blackjack, where I could at least play basic strategy and have something to do with the outcome.
Posted by: wil at August 2, 2004 10:19 PMI'm happy to hear that the medical thing is OK. Sending a bit more mojo to keep it that way.
EB9 in Vegas was even better than Pasadena? I wish I could have seen that, because I thought you guys were great in Pasadena.
And thanks for the audio book. It's funny, when I read your words, I can hear you speaking them in my head. Now I'll really be able to hear you.
Posted by: loretta652 at August 2, 2004 10:20 PMLove the title, Wil. But are you sure Ogdenville and North Hayverbrook won't be jealous that you only mentioned Brockway?
Posted by: Jared at August 2, 2004 11:08 PMAw, poor iBook. (if you have already had the mlb go kablooey three times, ask them to replace the ibook. no, really.)
Hopefully Seattle will have a monorail soon. :)
Posted by: Laren at August 3, 2004 12:17 AMFor some reason, I keep imagining the audiobook being read by Richard Dreyfuss.
Posted by: Sarah at August 3, 2004 12:30 AMThat's awesome that there's going to be an audiobook of JAG. I'll be looking for that one on Audible.
Posted by: Jeffery Borchert at August 3, 2004 12:30 AMBlue Man Group does indeed rock. Wish I could have seen The Complex tour. Next time you're in Vegas, check out any of the Cirque de Soleil shows... they are amazing!
I'm glad the medical crisis thing turned out ok. Hope it stays that way.
Hey Wil!
Happy birthday!
Thanks for a great time at the convention. It was awesome to hear you read Just a Geek! Thanks for taking a picture with my friends on Sunday before you left, it means a lot to us!
Sorry about the ibook. My brother is going through the same problem. His logic board failed for the 4th time and Apple promised to replace it with a brand new G4 iBook. I'm sure if you call up Apple tech support and complain to them long enough they'll give you the same deal.
Enjoy your time off!
Posted by: Ali at August 3, 2004 02:11 AMThat headline made me laugh...I never knew I had a monorail until The Simpsons.
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