Bob Greenberger

For example, on Friday, Robbie turned 17. We were still figuring out his present that morning since all he really wanted was the right video card so he could play a Lord of the Rings PC game he got for Christmas. We had bought said video card only to discover neither his computer nor mine had the right slot for the card. Deb’s computer, the second version of a new one (long story), not only had the slot, already had the card installed. So, we could return the video card we bought but it meant we were down a present. Thankfully, Deb had Plan B. She had already spoken to some of the game players at her office and had a list of suggested titles. So, Friday at lunch, I ran out, bought two of the games and some wrapping paper.

He loved the games we picked, and the music CDs we already had on hand but really loved the freedom to play the LOTR game.

That evening, he hosted a party for some 20 friends. Deb worked on projects in her room while I did college financial paperwork in the basement. These kids apparently weren’t too hungry since we had a ton of leftover pizza and chips. Still, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and as I emerged at midnight to start cleaning up, people were still lingering.

The following morning, bright and early, we took the ferry across to Long Island and the annual I-Con.

We all had a great time. Robbie played games, saw friends and enjoyed being on Stony Brook campus. Deb spent Saturday with Kate for lunch and then saw a quilting buddy. Me, I saw friends, actually signed a few autographs and did my panels. The first, the by-now –clichéd “Dude, Where’s my Flying Car?” went far better than expected. The moderator, a campus prof., did his homework and came with a dozen items culled from current news sources that all sounded like science fiction and he would read a few at a time, spurring a conversation.

The second sounded more like Robbie than for me. Titled something like E-Gaming and Censorship, it featured game designer Matt Hawkins, Peter David and me. We broadened the topic to discuss mass media and censorship and happily filled the time.

I then hightailed it across campus to show the ever-popular movie previews. Sadly, DHL screwed up and fresh videos will be delivered Monday, not this past Friday. I showed what I had, took questions (aided and abetted by web master Glenn Hauman) and generally enjoyed the experience. Of course, this was third hour of speaking with a cold so lost most of my voice.

From there, Peter took me to meet Jewel Staite, from Firefly. She’s really cute and incredibly thin and her husband Matt seems like a nice guy. Unfortunately, the introduction was as far as it got given her schedule but at least I got a chance to express my appreciation for her work.

Then I relaxed and watched the Brobdinagian Bards, a fun duo, who do parody songs and traditional works. They have gained quite the following at I-Con but this was my first real exposure to them. It was also the first chance I had to see Kate. The Bards were quite entertaining and the room, with its poor acoustics, was packed.

While Deb lingered to visit and take official pictures of the Boogie Knights, Robbie, our friend Jean, and I dashed over to the con banquet, stuffed our faces on the fly, grabbed some portable food and returned in time for the Boogie performance.

Even though the band numbers six, I-Con was the very first time all 6 managed to be together for a performance. And since they had three hours to fill across the weekend, plus three songs at the Cabaret, it was a great chance to hear stuff from their catalogue stretching back through the years. The audience was sizeable and appreciative.

We helped them schlep their stuff back across campus to the where the cabaret was being held. In the gym. With lousy speakers. And poor acoustics, especially for performers who were largely acoustic guitars and voices. The Boogies went on about an hour later and seemed to do well, despite the horrid sound. The Bards followed and their fans were enthusiastic. When the final performer, an amusing but crude Voltaire, finished, we had a handful of starving performers. So, with Andrew from the Bards tagging along, four cars headed towards a diner. By then, my voice was almost totally gone so I nodded a lot and suffered in silence.

By 1 a.m., we were finally checked into a hotel (where the con had screwed up the reservation) and asleep.

Today, I had a 10 a.m. panel so we were up and out early enough. The panel was on the future of Star Trek with me, Keith DeCandido and Terri Osborne. Poor Terri finally succumbed to a migraine and stayed at the hotel. So, Keith and I filled the hour and had a fine time. On Saturday, I never had more than 15 people for the first two panels, this time we did over 25, so there’s some life in Trek yet.

At 11, I hurried to the next building to catch the final Boogie performance, with a really tiny attendance (which I ascribe more to the early hour than their quality).

By noon, we did the Family Business panel. Bob & Chuck Rozakis, me and Robbie. Our audience either dated Chuck, was married to me or came early for the next panel. We filled the hour but it was somewhat disjointed.

At 1 I ran through the current DC slide show promoting projects from DC, Vertigo and WildStorm coming out over the next few months. Nice, enthusiastic crowd with plenty of questions. By the very end, my voice was fairly gone again, certainly raspy. Fortunately, my commitments were also at an end.

The family said goodbye as Kate prepped for a return to college and we hightailed it back to the ferry.

And now we’re back. Just one more event lay ahead before things calm down for a few days: Opening Day at Shea!