Why am I going to a My Little Pony convention for the first time this year instead of a Transformers event once again? Read on...

1. Baltimore, being 100 miles from home, is a lot easier (and cheaper) to get to than San Diego.

2. I've been to eight Botcons already. Although it has grown, I see a lot of the same faces every year and it's getting boring. Time for something new.

3. This year's Botcon exclusives are Machine Wars toys. Yawn.

4. There are no Edgar Allen Poe historical sites in San Diego.

5. As far as I know, none of my mortal enemies will be at Bronycon. The same can't be said about Botcon.

6. I'm allergic to earthquakes and only San Diego is a seismically active area.

7. Peter Cullen isn't scheduled to come to Botcon this year. And I already have his autograph.

8. Wanna take in a baseball game after the convention? The Orioles will be in town during Bronycon. The Padres are on the road during Botcon.

9. I'll be picking up my custom-made 14 inch Fluttershy plushie there. Yay!

10. A lot of cash was raised to get Poniverse to Bronycon. I need to go and make sure it was money well spent.