Wait, KoLumbus twelve? As in a dozen?! There's no goddamn way that's right. I mean, okay, people look older and have gained some weight and have less hair, including me, but it can't have been seven years. Wasn't I just at KoLumbus 5 like three years ago? *checks records, flips through travel notes, checks update time of last KoLumbus photoset*

...

Well, shit.

Okay then. Seven years. Time sure flies when you exchange disposable income for familial responsibilities. But hey, I've got a new job that doesn't require me to schedule time off a year in advance so there's the possibility I can get to meets a little more often. So let's see what we've got here. Columbus photos, here we come! Let's see how the city has changed since I was last there.

Well, that's not right. Damn, I'm out of practice. Give me a moment here...

Well, now--No, wait, that's still wrong. Dammit. Gotta shake the rust off...

There we go. And as it turns out, Columbus is now truck-shaped. That's weird. No, hold on, I'm pretty sure I traditionally include more photos of before and after than I do of the actual meet, so this is a travel photo. Okay then, that makes more sense, unlike the notice on the back of this truck. I worry about why this warning/explanation is necessary, and I fear there's a terrible, haunting story behind it, but I'm not sure I want to know.

Eastern Pennsylvania still shows signs of autumn. As I headed west, the colors disappeared and the trees were mostly bare, which was far less picturesque, which is why those photos generally aren't included.

This enormous rock cut along Interstate 80 was, at the time it was completed, the largest earth-moving project in the history of Pennsylvania. It would not surprise me if it has since been surpassed, but it remains impressive, considering I sometimes get worn out mowing the damn lawn or carrying groceries in. And to think this was the most efficient path when they were building the interstate. Imagine how bad the alternate routes must have been.

What does any of this have to do with Columbus? Not a damn thing. I'm padding, okay?

My wife wasn't able to attend, so I sent her these images to keep her posted on my progress, an approach that Doc Trauma stated was an interesting mixture of old- and new-school.

Driving into the setting November sun is not fun. This photo shows the "Welcome To Ohio" sign on Interstate 80. Picturesque, no?

I liked how these trees appeared, with just a few leaves at the top backed by fuller trees and the sunset.

The official Werewolf Threat Level for the weekend was low.

Am I the only person who just doesn't get hotel beds? The sheets here are folded back halfway down the bed and tucked in solid on both sides, so I had to circle the bed and yank the sheets out of both sides before I could get in. The "blanket" at the bottom is just a footer that covers the bottom of the bed but doesn't actually serve the purpose of a blanket. It's essentially nothing more than a large decorative knick-knack, in this case with monochrome polka dots. Does any human being ever make a bed like this in any private residence?

This is the first photo I have of Loathers at the meet, because when I showed up I ended spending about two and a half hours playing Cards Against Humanity and I didn't think to take a single picture. I used to bring a digital camera that was uncomfortable in my pocket so I would keep taking it out, and then since my camera was in my hand I was always taking pictures with it. Now I use the standard camera phone which works probably as well or possibly better than my digital camera which is now about a decade old, and I tend to forget I have it on me. Technology marches on.

SWEET MERCIFUL CRAP WHO STOLE RTAYLOR'S HAIR?! Seven years. It's been seven years. Jesus...

He admitted he shaved his head the day before, which means he did this to himself on purpose, which in some ways is even worse.

"Doc, Varjak's taking your picture. Look over here. This way, Doc. He's over here."

"There we go. That's better. But would it kill you to smile?"

"What the hell is that? That's not a smile. What is so confusing about this? Yes, that's Varjak. He hasn't changed that much. You just saw him last month. I don't understand why you're having so much trouble with this. Will you just goddamn smile for the photo already before that guy in blue who's creeping up behind us gets here?!"

"Finally! You're a professional photographer yourself. Why was that so difficult for you?"

Doc Trauma calls this the left-hand lane.

Lunch at the Mongolian BBQ for the first time in seven or so years! Good to be back. This attempt to get a photo of everyone at the table went badly until a waiter showed up and took the photo for us.

And this is the result, which turned out very well, though this photo reminds me that I used to have way more hair. Have I mentioned it's been seven goddamn years?

Here is me falling back on my ol' standby of taking a picture of people taking a picture. Doc Trauma is standing in the shadow photographing us.

No, he's not the silhouette in the background. He's to the left of that person. See? No? Well, take my word for it.

Ichiban sighting! Missed you, Ichi!

There's two linebackers and a defensive end back there, but no safety. We're good.

"I want to hang the flags vertically!"

"But they'll look better horizontally!"

"No they won't!"

"Well, I'm hanging them horizontally anyway!"

"But then it won't look right! It'll be inconsistent!"

"I don't care!"

"Fuck it! Do whatever you want! I don't care either! But I'm not doing that!"

"Fine then!"

"Fine!"

I am told that this screen is one-way, and people in the car can see through it, which is great, and I am sure worth the aggravation of being pulled over by every policeman who sees them driving with the visor in place.

Doc Trauma pointed out that they don't give units on this data transfer so it's hard to tell if it's a good deal or not, even if it is DSL.

Okay... Something is definitely wrong with this sign, and it's so fundamental that I don't think I can explain it.

Other people go to meets and spend time reminiscing with friends. I go to meets and say, "Gee, they didn't even lay the carpet out straight."

I had a great time playing Lords Of Waterdeep, which is actually a very fun game, even though we got rushed a bit at the end to make way for the auction. Hey, the game took a little longer than expected. I still want to play this again.

There's a lot more young kids at meets than there used to be seven years ago, and there's plenty of people who are willing to look after them for a time while their parents get a bit of a break.

Spidey's looked better...

Nope. His hair still hasn't grown back. Thankfully Princess Sunshine hasn't shaved her head too, because that would just be weird.

She did convince him to pose for this photo, which I think it entitled, "I can't tell. Is there something on my shoulder? I think there may be something on my shoulder."

Ah yes, the increasingly clothing-optional part of the meet. At least things haven't changed that much.

I understand that the KoL crowd got these darts stuck up there two years ago. Apparently they are really stuck up there.

Classic November foliage. Don't worry, though, because climate change is a total lie according to everyone paid to say so.

Having loaded my car up earlier, I exited the hotel with nothing but a box of Cheez-Its (white cheddar flavor), which I thought was an odd visual. Then Princess Sunshine pointed this flower out, so I took a picture as well because I am nothing if not a copycat. Then she wanted to get a picture of me and her fiancé together (I think because were arguably the two most freakishly-tall people at the meet) (or she wants to show her friends how far she traded up in a single photo), and I didn't want the Cheez-Its in the photo so I tossed the box over by this flower, only she went with a wide angle shot and got the box in the photo anyway. Foiled again!

The way home. Drive until you reach the horizon. When you get there, do it again. Repeat approximately 2300 more times. Once you've accomplished this, you still won't be close, but you should probably stop at that point for a break.

Co Rd 214 is where the excitement is.

If you are truly asking this question, odds are there are more effective ways to get an answer than by buying billboard space. Have you tried Google?

I will bet good money that you are not allowed to drive nearly as fast on this road as the name would lead you to believe.

All zero of you who remember the similar photo from the KoLumbus 5 photoset will note that not only has Mellon Arena been renamed, but they resolved the signage problem with two lanes to stay on the interstate and three exit-only lanes on a road that only had four lanes. Progress!

Bridge repair: Pittsburgh's ongoing nightmare. One of them, anyway.

Costco knockoff brand. Don't be fooled.

Brick road for the win.

I saw plenty of Clinton-Kaine signs in Pittsburgh. Once you get out of the city, it's back to endless Trump signs, like someone let their untrained dogs shit absolutely everywhere.

I suppose after every election they have to print out new photos and have them installed above the restroom doors in every highway rest area in the state. I'm not sure I see the point.

Me, back home after a long and tiring but wonderful weekend.

Me, less than twelve hours later. No, the difference here is not a haircut. This is me after a shower and a good night's sleep and a bad case of bedhead.

I haven't changed a bit since my first KoL meet over a decade ago. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Hopefully it won't be another seven years before I get to another non-Philly meet.