As you might imagine, the San Diego Comic-Con was crazy fun and crazy exhausting. This won't be an uber-detailed write-up, largely because my evil friend Stephan Pastis made me drink so many margaritas the first day that I don't remember the rest of the weekend in much detail.

Some things I DO remember, though, include:

• The thrill of hanging out with over a dozen geek luminaries backstage at W00tstock Thursday night. I even got to go on stage and introduce Matt Fraction, which was a huge and unexpected honor.

• Molly Lewis, being too young to stay in the 21+ club after her W00tstock performance, putting on an impromptu and unbelievably awesome minishow outside during intermission.

• Watching sworn enemies Scott Kurtz and Ted Rall become BFFs (at least temporarily) during dinner Friday night. If they deny it, I have video bwahaha.

• Getting hugged TWICE over the weekend by Veronica Belmont. Purely platonic, but still.

• Seeing the looks of pure joy on Wil Weaton's, Adam Savage's and Paul and Storm's faces backstage at W00tstock. They've created something really magical, not just for the audience, but for the performers.

• Having drinks with too many old and new friends to mention on Friday and Saturday night (Some of those drinks were just water. I know at least one was.). A welcome change from my usual cloistered-hermit routine.

• Jeff Smith coming by the NCS booth and drawing a Bone sketch for my son. I'm pretty sure I didn't blurt out a "squee!," but I was close.

• Getting yelled at by Brent Spiner's assistant for taking his picture. If I were obnoxious, I would post it here...

• Attending the unofficial webcomics.com gathering late Saturday night and learning that even Penny Arcade occasionally has a t-shirt design that tanks. :)

• Did I mention I was hugged twice by Veronica Belmont?

• Signing a print for David Gerrold, who wrote the Star Trek "Trouble With Tribbles" episode.

• Walking the mile from my hotel to the convention 20 minutes before my book signing and realizing halfway there that I'd forgotten my badge and having to frantically run 1.5 miles in jeans and no one complained (at least to my face) that I was dribbling sweat all over the table at the signing.

• Finally, meeting so many kind and supportive people who came by the NCS booth to buy one of my little prints. I've always known my readers are the smartest, but I think they may also be the nicest. You guys are awesome…thanks!

If you were there and couldn't find me (or you came to the booth just as I'd scurried off), I apologize. I definitely would like to return next year, possibly even with my own booth or at least a better presence (the NCS booth is a great bargain, but you have to share it and it gets crowded and there isn't anything pointing at me saying "Hey! It's the FoxTrot guy!"), but it's too soon to know for sure.

And, now, time to get back to work. Just after this nap.

I've just returned home from appearing in the Chicago edition of w00tstock, and I feel like the luckiest cartoonist on Earth right now. For those who don't know, w00tstock is an evening of geeky music and humor featuring the musical duo Paul and Storm, Wil Wheaton, Adam Savage and an assortment of guests. It started last fall with shows in San Francisco and LA, and has continued this spring with a Seattle, Portland, Chicago and Minneapolis tour. I'd met Paul and Storm at PAX and they were nice enough to extend an invitation to appear, which I immediately accepted. Forget public speaking, I wanted to meet Adam Savage!

Kidding aside, it's insanely fun speaking to a friendly crowd who actually "get" a lot of my dorkier strips, and the folks who came out to the Chicago show couldn't have been more awesome. Thanks to everyone who was there for making the night so special.

Update: Here's a pic I took of Adam and Wil just before the show started...