When I was seventeen I snuck into E3.

I had a too-big dress shirt and a wrist band given to me by my mom's boyfriend as a disguise. This was no Ocean's 11; this was betting against the capabilities of a locally hired security team. When I walked in I don't even think he checked the wrist band.

It was exhilarating. It was a rush. It was the year Enter The Matrix came out for PlayStation 2 so it was a really boring year to sneak into E3. I bring this up because last year I pulled what felt like a similar stunt. Last year I snuck into Blizzcon.

Sort of. I was registered as a member of the press having no experience with video game journalism, so I had a moment where I wasn't sure if it was a James Bond or a Jason Bourne analogy to write about. It felt that cool to be in the press room, one of them, enjoying free food and snacks and making casual chit-chat with YouTube personalities from Australia. I had priority seating to panels. I saw Metallica up close and thought about how old they looked. It was exhilarating. It was a rush, and it was a great year to go.

Now I write this in a motel named after the five motels that came before it. The kind of place where the sound of the nearby 5 freeway is like nature's white noise. I write on the eve of Blizzcon, getting ready to once again attend as a member of the press. Legitimately this time. I'm starting to earn my stripes and learn the ways of the press. This time, thankfully, I don't need the wristband.