Mumah's Open House Experience
Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 10:45 pm
We arrived in Detroit Wednesday. I wanted to meet up with an old friend and spend some time, since I knew I wouldn't have a chance once the OH festivities began. I was travelling with my hetero-lifemate Karl, who I hadn't seen in over a year who took his vacation time to hang with the Palladium Crew. We purchased the crappiest beer we could find (Labatt Blue Lime) and wound up watching Mystery Science Theater 3000. Within the first ten minutes I was laughing so hard I threw up. I could tell it was going to be a good weekend.
After a rough night sleeping on an uncomfortable fold-out (and an unassociated rib injury) we headed to the hotel early. After charging everything I could to Brandon Aten's credit card, I sent out word to Nick Bradshaw, Brandon Aten, Jeff Hansen, and Josh Sinsapaugh that I had arrived. Sinsapaugh had just landed at the airport, and Aten was still a half an hour out. Bradshaw, Carmen Bellaire, Karl and myself went to have a terrible breakfast at Denny's. Bradshaw and I exchanged love with verbal barbs like we always do. I say he had to get court approval to leave the state, while he said I was the "Winger" of art. Once finished, we rushed back to the hotel and found Aten, Hansen, and Sinsapaugh ready and willing. It was time to go to Comerica Park.
Hansen being a cop, brought a gun to the game, which he delighted over once inside. Sensibly he never pulled it out, but his joy was infectious. Somehow my iPhone developed superpowers, because I would joke about using my "I need a Beer" app and the beer guy was instantly there. It even worked once when I declared I was using the, "I need a hottie" app, and boom, there she was, needing to get by.
After a quick shower at the hotel, we headed over. I have to tell you, walking through those doors Thursday afternoon was like coming home. The Mannings, Chuck Walton, Lonnie Langston, Mark Oberle, Irvin Jackson and Amy Ashbaugh were all there and happy to see me. I don't think i was there for five minutes before I got my first sketch request. It's always amazing when I see these people. We see each other once a year if we're lucky, though many of us do manage to communicate on the boards. We see each other's work, and are genuinely impressed and encouraging of one another. When I got to the warehouse, it was as if I had never left.
VIP night was such a blur. Kathy Simmons' food was amazing as usual, and Kevin's speech inspiring, even if I knew most of the announcements already. The enthusiasm the fans have for the product is always stunning.
I didn't game at all Friday night, though Jorel did bring beer by the hotel room for Aten, Karl, Sinsapaugh and myself, and we had the first taste of Aten's delicious bourbon. The only way to describe real Kentucky bourbon? Smooooooove.
Friday morning I got up bright and early. Forgetting about the "Do Not Disturb" sign, we first learned about Sinsapaugh's night terrors at 8:30am. Housekeeping knocked, and SInsapaugh sat bolt upright and screamed. I think we all yelled in unison to go away, but I woke up anyway.
To Be Continued...
After a rough night sleeping on an uncomfortable fold-out (and an unassociated rib injury) we headed to the hotel early. After charging everything I could to Brandon Aten's credit card, I sent out word to Nick Bradshaw, Brandon Aten, Jeff Hansen, and Josh Sinsapaugh that I had arrived. Sinsapaugh had just landed at the airport, and Aten was still a half an hour out. Bradshaw, Carmen Bellaire, Karl and myself went to have a terrible breakfast at Denny's. Bradshaw and I exchanged love with verbal barbs like we always do. I say he had to get court approval to leave the state, while he said I was the "Winger" of art. Once finished, we rushed back to the hotel and found Aten, Hansen, and Sinsapaugh ready and willing. It was time to go to Comerica Park.
Hansen being a cop, brought a gun to the game, which he delighted over once inside. Sensibly he never pulled it out, but his joy was infectious. Somehow my iPhone developed superpowers, because I would joke about using my "I need a Beer" app and the beer guy was instantly there. It even worked once when I declared I was using the, "I need a hottie" app, and boom, there she was, needing to get by.
After a quick shower at the hotel, we headed over. I have to tell you, walking through those doors Thursday afternoon was like coming home. The Mannings, Chuck Walton, Lonnie Langston, Mark Oberle, Irvin Jackson and Amy Ashbaugh were all there and happy to see me. I don't think i was there for five minutes before I got my first sketch request. It's always amazing when I see these people. We see each other once a year if we're lucky, though many of us do manage to communicate on the boards. We see each other's work, and are genuinely impressed and encouraging of one another. When I got to the warehouse, it was as if I had never left.
VIP night was such a blur. Kathy Simmons' food was amazing as usual, and Kevin's speech inspiring, even if I knew most of the announcements already. The enthusiasm the fans have for the product is always stunning.
I didn't game at all Friday night, though Jorel did bring beer by the hotel room for Aten, Karl, Sinsapaugh and myself, and we had the first taste of Aten's delicious bourbon. The only way to describe real Kentucky bourbon? Smooooooove.
Friday morning I got up bright and early. Forgetting about the "Do Not Disturb" sign, we first learned about Sinsapaugh's night terrors at 8:30am. Housekeeping knocked, and SInsapaugh sat bolt upright and screamed. I think we all yelled in unison to go away, but I woke up anyway.
To Be Continued...