What a ride -

[kyburg]

And it can be yours too, for $55 each way - that's like, fifty cents a mile. I'm talking about taking Amtrak from LA Union Station to San Jose, of course.

Now, I expected the smooth ride, the station stops and so on - but I'd been warned about spotty foodservice, so I packed enough to tide us over and ran through the bakery in Little Tokyo on the way out on Friday. There really isn't anything like munching warm-from-the-oven anpan standing in line to get on the train, yanno.

No x-ray machines, no taking my shoes off, half a six pack of DDP no worries, only need to check one bag and that was no big deal...the only thing missing was the safety briefing, to be replaced with a card in the pocket in front of you that suggested three methods of exiting the train in order of preference (first, the door you came in, second, another door, third, the window next to you) in case of an emergency. The conductor came through, asked us all to tidy up after ourselves when we used the bathrooms located downstairs, and to have fun!

The next announcement was Debbie from the dining car, advising us of the procedures to obtain lunch or dinner in the dining car. Have a reservation, and the sleeper cars would be polled first - but then she would be through to take our requests, see you in 45 minutes.

And we were off.

I knitted a bit, then got curious. Found the lounge car, with a magnificent observation deck - and docents from the California Parks Service. We would be crossing through a number of California sights - and what would that be if you didn't know where they were?

I have now seen the mission at San Miguel, the Guadalupe jail (room for one only, hence the fact it's a landmark and not a working jail anymore), the clams at Pismo Beach, the missile silos at Vandenburg AFB - and lots and lots of oak woodland. I live in a very pretty state - this was just a reminder.

Weather going up was cold, moist and wet enough to make looking out the windows pretty difficult, and besides - I'd found the electrical outlet downstairs next to the snack bar. Snakes on a plane? I got Geeks on a Train - all I had to do was pull out the power strip and I had many instant friends.

Pulled into San Jose about 9:00 PM, got picked up by silverkun and back to our hotel after returning him to his digs at Baycon.

We fwumped. Resumed activities at a reasonable hour the next day, which was spent divided between Baycon and Fanime. Took some pictures, which I'll get posted soon.

Baycon was sharing space with a charismatic Catholic conference. It was - rather odd, but kinda appropriate to be in the restaurant looking at badges to tell the difference between the hard-core Catholic monks (the ascetic, unused to speaking to anyone, wearing simple robes - dead giveaway) and the random Star Wars/I-like-the-simple-life cosplayer.

Utilikilts everywhere. I kind think I want one for myself - they looked both durable and useful.

Gaming was gaming - and a really nice room to sit in, let alone play in. I have to admit - I'm the Sim with 8 neat points. I tend to cruise rooms, picking up - because I've noted that people are more willing to sit at empty tables and use them for their intended use, but won't normally if - say - there's an empty glass sitting there. Hey, trash can right over there? No? No worries. Wow, look. A table ready to use again.

Got reminded yet AGAIN that Rock Band - while it requires a ton of tech - really is the game of the last year or so, and I predict that will hold for the next five years. It really is as good as advertised - and only gets better with friends.

Noted that they were having a blood drive - and since I'd missed the last Red Cross appointment, I took advantage...and ran into western_slope in the process. That was the easy part of being around - the people I needed to see? Just showed up. Surely, there were more people there that I didn't see - but I got just enough socialization to make me a happy camper. I think we ran into betnoir at breakfast the next morning - and just got reminded again that we need to get together more often. For one thing, my husband needs someone to play with and Steve has things wot go boom. What else could be better?

Got together with murphymom, kshandra and her youngest son - with a long chat on adoption, both from her POV as a reunited adoptee (wow, happy ending deluxe considering the time her adoption happened in, when she did her search and on - proof there is no better time than the one have to do such a thing. You just can't predict the outcome) and mine as a prospective adoptive parent, nevermind having adopted cousins. I cherish my resources found through LJ - yes, I truly do.

Then we packed it in and went over to meet up with the crew in the karaoke room at Fanime. catsonmars, kiyone, hamusutaa, skademonx, desslok - socializesocializesocialize. Beer. Repeat.

Go back to hotel, fall down. Sleep. Wake. Demand breakfast and begin again.

However, Sunday was Gong Show at Fanime. This - was fun. Any time Jim can chase Tommy around a packed house of crazed karaoke nuts demanding the gong that Tommy won't let him use - was worth the price of admission. We need more ad hoc acappella stuff ala Carmen Sandiego.

I was noting that while they didn't think that Gong Show was the best one so far, it certainly was well attended. A somewhat empty room certainly filled up fast enough during the contest...and of course, emptied pretty quickly once the contestants were done. Who wants to see someone else get prizes, right? But at a couple of points, it was standing room only - who noticed?

The weekend was either nonfat lattes or beer. By the time we got home Monday night after an equally FINE ride home on the train, so tired I couldn't crack a book open but to fall asleep reading it.

So goes the con report - commentary, another time. Now? Now I go Sim - today was a beat me up, drag me around day at work. I'm going to go play a bit now.

Comments

[cahwyguy.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a bargain. A coworker drove to San Jose over the weekend in his minivan (with his family). He said it was over $200 in gas.

[dracowayfarer.livejournal.com]

I believe that's still cheaper than most airfare from SoCal to NorCal right now.

[kshandra]

murphymom's youngest (not mine, though the age difference is sufficient that he and apandaleaf could be) is n_1_n, though neither of them really use their journals at all.

And it was lovely to meet both you, betnoir and your respective spice.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

I can see Jim blinking now - "spice?"

That would be me. He's the midwestern meat-and-potato bland one.

*chuckles*

[kshandra]

Well, if the plural of mouse is mice....

[drlaurac.livejournal.com]

That sounds positively lovely!

[saoba.livejournal.com]

I am NOT the Sim with 8 points in Neat and I have bussed tables at every single con I have ever attended. And gotten told thank you by harried con staff - or told, 'oh, I'll do it!' to which my standard reply is 'let's not fight, there's plenty of trash to go around'.

I bus tables at almost any public event I attend. It only takes a few minutes and everyone benefits. Plus, the staff appreciates it.

Sounds like you had a plenty good trip.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry we didn't bump into each other! I was there with hitchhiker both days.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

But from the sound of your weekend, I think you had all you could handle as is, neh?

Never made it up the stairs or the escalator - that may have made all the difference.

Someday! Someday!

[yasha-chan.livejournal.com]

Rock Band is the shizzle. It's so good that the gf, who works on GHIV all day, will come home and play hours of Rock Band.

I really want to take a trip on the Amtrak now haha. We're kinda limited by not having our own car, but we wanna go places... sounds like good times XD

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

It was effortless. Seriously.

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

I will absolutely consider the Amtrak option if we have to go to LA any time soon - or choose to. I'm waiting (not holding my breath) for the hi-speed rail, too - that's gonna be awesome.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

I'd have to mention that the seating is ALL UPSTAIRS - tiny, wow this is tight habitrail stairs. Putting the power chair on probably wouldn't be a big deal, but how they handle folks in wheelchairs, I don't know - but they certainly would have a method. It's too good a choice to get from point A to point B.

But the cost couldn't be beat. Add in the Parks Service docents, and you've got a real event on your hands.

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

I've taken CalTrain here, and it's only moderately annoying at worst. Climbing the stairs might kind of suck, but if the chairs are more comfy than what a plane puts me in, I'll be golden.

And the scenery sounds great. I miss being able to just drive around the scenery myself, so making someone else drive sounds awesome.

[ming-ling.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking of taking the train down to AX after hearing your relaxing tales on the train.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Seriously consider it. With the con in Downtown Los Angeles, the only thing you'd have to do is take a Red Line toward the convention center. If you chose to stay in Little Tokyo, you could even consider walking to it. (Late enough and with baggage? SHORT cab ride.)

[pseudicide.livejournal.com]

I love trains and that ride sounds great!

[chriso.livejournal.com]

It was good to see you for a few minutes at BayCon. The train ride sounds wonderful. johno and I took the train to LosCon once when it was in Burbank and it was great. Then LosCon moved to near the airport and it became much less convenient to get to by train.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

If they're still doing it at the LAX hotels, there is a workaround that allows travel by train these days.

You take Amtrak to Union, then MTA Red, Blue, Green Line to Aviation and take shuttles in. (You could really ghetto it and take the shuttle to the airport, then take the hotel shuttle out again - hardcore!)

A whole lot more options these days than back when QL was in production, I have to say. I remember trying to get to Universal using the bus from Hemet - I had to drive to Montclair to catch the one bus that would come out that far. Good times, good times....

[blindgeoff.livejournal.com]

Amtrak is an interesting service option... I looked into it when I had to go to Chicago on business, for the same price asbeing stuck on a plane for 8 hours, I could've been sitting on an Amtrak for...

40 hours!

If I wanted to lie down and sleep during that 40 hours, I could've got a sleeper for only about twice what I was paying for a Hilton room in Skokie...

No, Amtrak was a non-starter for that trip!

Yes, Utilikilts absolutely rock! I love all of mine! That said, they are manly clothes, so you will be cross-dressing... if I see you wearing one at one of Darling Bet's soirrees I will have to mock you mercilessly before handing you a homebrew.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

so you will be cross-dressing...

COULD I? It's so overdue.

In all honesty, though? The coach seat reclined almost as much as some lounge chairs do - and yes, I slept just fine in it. I don't think I could justify the cost of a sleeper - they are what they are. Think it would make me claustrophobic anyway.

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

It really varies by route. If there's a good direct line, it can be very affordable and decent on time; if there's no direct line, you're hosed. IT's not so much a national rail system as a half-dozen different rail lines, some of which might sometimes connect. I looked into cross-country travel once and it was - well, I couldn't actually tell from their Web site if it was even possible, much less whether it would make any sense to try it.

[blindgeoff.livejournal.com]

Scary thing for me is the San Berdoo - Chicago route is one train... no connections.

I Just couldn't see spending 2 full days taking a train for the same price as a few hours air travel... not unless I was doing it FOR the journey itself...

[ecstaticlght.livejournal.com]

I re-discovered trains last weekend! They seriously rawk and then roll. Leg room, plugs to rev your tech up, friendly (neh happy) conductors that like to answer your questions, plenty of room to sleep, big windows....I'm looking forward to the trains making more connections in Okieland.

Must have been spikey bugs on a train weekend for Scorps :)