Meeting and Greeting

When Howard and I are visiting an area we like to try to hold a Schlockfest event where Schlockers from the area are able to congregate and visit. We did it last December in California and we did it while we were in Seattle. Our kind hosts volunteered to let us use their home for this event. This was very brave of them because in California we had 25 people attend. The Seattle attendance was much lower, only 15 people. I think that was because many people elected to meet Howard at Emerald City Comic Con instead.

The majority of people who attend Schlockfest were people that we’ve known online for several years. Some of them we count among our first fans ever. It was so nice to have a chance to visit with them. Visiting with Schlockers has always been a joy. All the ones I’ve met have been both intelligent and polite. It is fun to be able to sit down for several hours and just talk with people who share some core interests. This event was no different. We all sat in the Strohl’s front room and watched as Howard drew pictures for everyone who attended. The conversation was always lively and laughter was frequent.

Three days later on April 1st we had something of a reprise. Pi, Kreely, and Vermillion invited us over to their home for dinner. Raif, Magneticheeks, and Jean were gathered there as well. We were particularly glad to see Jean since she colored Schlock for two years and we’d never met her in person before. That evening was one of the truly relaxing events of the vacation. I left the kids with the Strohls and was able to just relax and socialize. That was good. For the rest of the vacation I was hostessing or watching kids but for that one evening I really had a chance to enjoy. (The other relaxing times all took place at the Strohls house when the kids were happily busy and I could just visit or rest.)