[KJ](http://www.kjtoo.com) and I spent the weekend down in Columbus for this years’ Origins convention. We had a great time overall, despite some bumps in the road because of the silly, overpriced hotel. The high points all have to do with meeting up with [Mur Lafferty](http://www.murlafferty.com), her husband and all-around cool guy [Jim Van Verth](http://essentialmath.com/vintagegamer/), their daughter, Kingfish, The Vicar, and Billy Flynn from [Geeklabel Radio](http://www.geeklabel.com/podcast.php), and WorkingMan and Tangent from [Fistfull of Comics & Games](http://www.fistfullofcomics.com/). We hung out, ate [large cream puffs](http://flickr.com/photos/42071889@N00/753193337), recorded, played [Arkham Horror](http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/arkhamhorror.html), recorded more, played more Arkham Horror, and generally had a good time. We also saw [Paul Tevis](http://www.thevoiceoftherevolution.com/), [Mario Dongu](http://www.thevoiceoftherevolution.com/ ), [Fred Hicks](http://www.evilhat.com/), [Michael Miller](http://www.incarnadinepress.com/), [Richard Hatch](http://www.richardhatch.com/gwom/index.htm), and [the Mad Three](http://somniturne.com/gtp/) around the convention, but it was pretty impossible to get everyone together.

We’ve posted an audio recap over at the [House of the Harping Monkey](http://harpingmonkey.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=232&Itemid=1) and [*Conlive](http://conlive.gamingpodcasters.com)…feel free to listen for an earful. [Pics are up on my Flickr account](http://flickr.com/photos/codeshaman/tags/origins2007/).

Spent an all to brief time hanging out with [Michelle](http://www,michellebelanger.com) and her friends. That would have been fun, but they were off to go clubbing, and I had to go battle one of the [Elder Gods](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elder_God_(Cthulhu_Mythos)). Such is the way of things.

On the way home, we stopped off and joined Wesley and Bob for the latest episode of the [Volcanicast](http://www.volcanicast.com), which should be posted tonight or tomorrow sometime. Wesley was very kind and asked if I’d like to join the cast, and being extremely flattered, I said I’d love to. I’ll be gone for the next two weekends on a family vacation, but after that, I should be joining them pretty much full time, until they throw me off.