If you ever get the chance to take the train to PAX, I highly recommend it. I've taken the Coast Starlight from LA (well, the commuter from outside San Diego to LA first) to Martinez (outside of San Francisco) several times. I've taken the train the entire way and I've done the train/bus/train (train from San Diego to LA, bus from LA to Bakersfield, train from Bakersfield to Martinez) and I would highly recommend taking the Coast Starlight all the way up. It's a long long ride but you end up meeting a lot of interesting people. My dad, who was terrified of flying, would take the train up to Seattle and he said he had the best time. We just won't discuss the choice of Speed as the in-flight movie when I was on the bus portion of the trip.

or maybe "I'm not a dick but I play one on TV"

I have a phone phobia. I hate talking on the phone. Even to people I actually *want* to talk to...I still don't want to talk to them on the phone. I've worked in call centers off and on (mostly on) for the past 17 years. After 8 hours + attached to the phone, the last thing I want to do is talk on the phone. If I could text/email/IM everyone I need to talk to, I would be very, very happy. A girl can dream, can't she? Maybe someday...

This picture reminds me of the The Egyptologist from The Mummy...http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0002694/ Great picture