Clingons, Storm Troopers, and Pirates...OH MY!

This weekend is Dragon*Con (http://www.dragoncon.org/), the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the US. Every year, there is a parade of 'characters' down Peachtree St. We took MARTA downtown and found a great spot on the street (Thanks to a very nice and TALL family that let Allie and Ryan sit in front of them!). Now, you may be saying, 'Carri, isn't something called DRAGON*CON a little scary for a 3yo and almost 5yo?'. In theory, yes. In reality, Ryan only cried once. How did I know the Zombie was going to get right in his face? What kind of Zombie approaches a 3yo? After that, Ryan perched safely on Neil's shoulders. For children who LOVE costumes, super-heroes, pirates, Star Wars, this was heaven...an early Halloween! Allie loved the fairies and princesses while Ryan was most impressed with the Star Wars brigade. It was some of the best people-watching I have ever experienced!!

On another note, college football kicks off this weekend. In the South, this is a big deal. A VERY big deal. People plan their weddings around college football games. A foreign concept for someone from the NorthEast (oh yeah, BC is good at football now, right??). Clemson is playing Alabama tonight at the Georgia Dome. Mixed in with all the aliens, yoda's, and other assorted costumers, was a SEA of Orange/Purple and Crimson/White. People don't just wear a shirt with their team's logo...or a jersey of their favorite player...they dress from HEAD TO TOE in their team's colors. I saw many orange mini-skirts, purple dresses, crimson tube-tops. It's incredible. We rode the train with a (grown) man wearing these pants.

The pants cost $135.00...now that is a true fan! Although we are not a college-football household, I can understand their passion. We are gearing up for professional football to start NEXT weekend. We'll dust off the Brady and Bruschi jersies for the start of another season. I will not be wearing pants emblazoned with the Patriots logo. I have to draw the line somewhere!