[Note] I’ve grown tired of the format of this blog. I don’t like the way in which I am updating once a week or after I have left the location which I’m writing about. By doing this I feel like I am losing many of the details and feelings that I experienced when I was there. Instead, I will update with smaller posts more often, and with more humor. So after this post, expect something different than a summary.

The San Diego Zoo is thought to be the be-all end-all of  zoos. For the avid zoo enthusiast, it is the mecca of animal conservation. So when I came into San Diego, there was no way I could pass it up.

I spent five-and-a-half hours at the zoo, because it’s layout was very confusing to navigate. Oh, and it was fucking huge. There were many animals there that I have never seen, particularly types of lizards and turtles. But at the end of it all, I think I’ve finally outgrown zoos. Although I don’t ever think I’ll get tired of seeing rhinoceroses, I’m now no longer surprised when I see primates, giraffes, big cats, and your typical zoo animals. Many of the animals are tired or have no longer display the mystic wild wonder that once made them so enticing to me. Although cute, I can only stare at sleeping koalas, bears, pygmy hippos for so long (by the way, koalas are marsupials, not bears). Also, I really hate giraffes and flamingos, and there always seems to be a big deal about them at the zoo. Screw them.

These three exhibits were only tolerable for so long.

But these guys always rule. Closest I've ever gotten.

The San Diego Zoo was in a huge cultural park known as Balboa Park, whose dozen or so museums represent the Spanish roots of the city. When I was walking around, I stumbled upon a huge organ in the middle of the park. I found out that a concert for this Spreckels Organ was soon going to be taking place, so I sat, waited, and enjoyed.

Later in the week, I was reminded that the annual San Diego Comic Con, the biggest nerd convention in the world, was going to be taking place the same week that I was there. I scrambled to find myself a ticket, as they had been sold out for months before my arrival. Luckily, I found a kid on Craigslist that was selling his and I jumped on it. I was going to go on Thursday.

I registered the ticket in my name and Wednesday night went to pick up my entry badge in advance. The pickup was at a hotel, and when I got there, people were already lined up around the block. I was amazed and disgusted by what I saw in the line. People come from all over the world for this event, but the most disgusting people there are from our own country. The body odors and hygiene in that line were reprehensible. I was stuck behind one woman, who had a tiny face, buck teeth, and jello arms beyond anything I have ever imagined, for the whole night. It was a chilling premonition of my time at Comic Con. Surprisingly, every once in a while a hunny appeared. But not surprisingly, said hunny was always hanging on to some guy who was walking around with his hand in her pocket to show her off. Ah, nerd mating tactics.

The event itself was great. There were thousands of people there, but they took much better care of their bodily functions on Thursday than on the day before. All sorts of comic companies, retailers, television networks, and video game companies littered the show floor. You could stumble upon any sort of merchandise from the rarest comic in the world to that cherished Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle toy you used to play with when you were young- still in its package. Going to see the panels, where celebrities or people who worked within the industry, were worth the admission alone.

"You're fucking out."

Marvel's Booth

Classic

Listening to composer Danny Elfman

Check out all these gems.

The recently found first-appearance of Superman, which I think is worth more than the Bailout plan.

Hey, look. It's Stan Lee. He's crazy.

I played the Spider-Man game that is coming out later this year. Surprise: it doesn't suck.

Batsuit from "The Dark Knight."

I don't know what this was for, but it made me laugh.

Lego Spongebob!

Not for jabronis.

After the convention, I had to move out of San Diego. I travelled northeast, to Joshua Tree National Park. There, armed with a camera, a Quizno’s sub, and an ocarina, I had a great night in solitude. It was nice to be back in the desert. But once my lips started splitting open again, I knew it was time to move one.

This is a Joshua Tree.

I don't like this pose, but I like the rest of it.