This is my second year going and first time I have taken 3 days off to hit a comic convention. I managed to blow up a diet pepsi all over in my friend's car and missed the turn off for highway 80 to get to Chicago but we made it shortly before 11.We did get a quick cab ride I will not forget where the cabbie was trying to steer with one hand and the other snap a photo with his phone of someone dressed as Black Widow. Should have offered to hold the steering wheel or take the pic for him, sheesh!

First stop was to get in line for Dan Slott and the first wait began. Guy in front of me seemed nice enough and he offered me a piece of gum and we chatted a bit about comics. But he decided to leave the line only to come back later begging to get back in. I was in a great mood so I let him in and things seem fine. We got up to Slott and Humberto Ramos and the guy in front of me then pulls out 7 of the exact same variant among other comics to get signed. Come on! Already this crap is starting? Anyway, got to meet Dan Slott who I could just listen to talk all day. Told some interesting stories about how he never gives away a story in a book that hasn't come out and he believe there is many more women reading comics these days and online comic services like Comixology is the medium they prefer. A very nice guy, so not a bad start to the day!

Then on to artist alley and got in line for Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, not too long of a line and met both. Chatted with Conner who was super nice and Palmiotti about his kickstarter comics and he was nice enough to do a little sketch on my All Star Western comic.

Then next came Rick Remender and Gregg Tocchini, line became a little longer and had to wait a bit more. Got some of my favorite Remender books signed like Uncanny Avengers, Punisher, Deadly Class and Black Science.Gregg Tocchini was super nice and personalized my trade of Low with a sketch. After this I didn't know how much better my day could get.

Then I was hunting around for Brian Bucellato and wanting to get some Flash and Detective books signed and let him know I enjoyed when he was on the Comic Vine podcasts. The funny thing is I didn't see them first but I heard Tony and Mat first from the Comic Vine podcast. Has to be my favorite podcast and Saturday just isn't the same without listening to it. Got a chance to talk to them, tried to get some ideas on where to eat in Chicago from Mat and then to top it off Bucellato took a picture of us. My only regret is I walked away in such a great mood I totally forgot to look at anything on Bucellato's table and I never did get back to check out his table again.

On my way out I caught Ryan Brown's table and get some copies of The Manhattan Project of mine signed and had to pick up his variant copy of God Hates Astronauts with his cat Simon on the cover, kinda looks like my cat... Your welcome Simon, I hope the money buys a lot of kitty litter and cat toys.

Then back to the hotel to find some place to eat and walked down to Ricobenes home of the famous breaded steak sanwhich. At this point I was starving and could have eaten just about anything and that sounded perfect with a side of fries. Well it was huge, glad I didn't pay for the larger size or I would have left it there. I think you could feed 2-3 off a regular sandwich and a bag o fries.

After we were finally able to get out of our chairs we walked back and thought we would be able to get some sleep. I enjoyed for the most part my Stay at The Chicago South Look hotel but we found out that there was a club right below our room. I had earplugs but it was the thumping till 2am that got old. But the night was broken up by a fire alarm going off in the hotel. I was very close to not getting up but we did and went outside with everyone else and waited for the firefighters to check everything out and get the ladders up on the roof to check things out. After 30 minutes we got the all is clear and headed in to go to bed.