Hello everyone! 😀 This year, I have been busy with my new job and with this, I decided that I need to have fun and do what I love, and cons are one of those things. Feeling the passions and delights of my anime and manga, cosplaying, meeting voice actors and amazing new people along with connecting with old friends. It is a home away from home. So, I somehow went to four cons, FOUR IN FOUR MONTHS! Let me tell you, that was not good on my wallet and I am not sure I can do it again, but, I am glad I did, gaining these experiences. Here, I did highlights and reviews for all four of those conventions and some pictures. ^_^ <3 So, sit back and enjoy!

Several of these cons have videos of panels I went to and I added them to my Youtube Channel here.

Wild Con 2017 (Wildwood University):

My dad, brother, and friend got to come with me and it was wonderful to spend time with everyone. Seeing my dad having such fun at his second con was epic!
We found a great 50’s diner for lunch. And it had a red phone booth in it!
Hanging out with my buddy Chris Mahan and the president of the college again. They threw a wonderful event and it was a blast to hang.
I met some sweet venders, one gentlemen so rockin’ that we gave each discounts and helping to spread the word for each other.
I got some kawaii products at the venders!
My booth was right next to Rodney, the chair of Cosplacon! Steamworks and Shadows were there again as well (I got a “Once Upon a Time” keychain from them and three necklaces: a little blue book I could write in, and I have, a piece of chocolate and strawberry cake, and a kawaii coffee cup with swirls of foam).
I got to be on the Creator’s Panel again (this time in cosplay since I didn’t have time to change). It wasn’t as entertaining as last year, but I tried.
Got to see Miles’ new, original cosplay for the first time and it looked cool.
FREE food!
One person knew my cosplay (Umi from Magic Knights Rayearth). Miles and I were drafted to enter the cosplay contest. So unprepared, but, well, there you go!
I WON THE ANIME BASKET RAFFLE FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW! Here, it was the most popular basket and everyone was stunned and joking that I rigged it. HA! =) I didn’t, but it was so rad. I was fangirling! It was a GREAT basket too!
SELLING A GOOD NUMBER OF BOOKS AND PRODUCTS! I also donated some of my mangas and animes to sell cheaply, but the money went to Perryville. It was hit hard by a tornado a week before and I have good friends who lived there (Heroes for Kids and Villainous Grounds),
Meeting people. Two moms even game JUST TO SEE ME because their daughters LOVED my first book the previous year. I got pictures with them AND recorded my first personal message to a fan. It was surreal. Everyone I met were gems!
Cool cosplays. I even got to meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse AND posed with Batman and Moana!
Achievement Unlocked! Hung out with some adorable kid cosplayers too.
They had a FREE photo booth this year! I was sold! Miles and I did it. I heard they had karaoke too. May have to try it next year.
I got asked to come back again next year as their staple author! WOOT! =D
I think my favorite part was meeting a new, dear friend. She was Asuna that day her, Miles, and I talked for 45 minutes afterwards. She came to our Creators Panel too. She even offered to help us move our stuff! She is so sweet and now, we chat often and even spend Sunday together at Anime St. Louis, squealing and having a ball! YEAY FRIENDS! =D

This Wild Con was INCREDIBLE! They had a great turnout, the people were loving, the atmosphere rad, and they had a lot to entertain all! So pumped for next year! ^_^ <3

Cape Con 2017:

This is the first convention I had to work a table all weekend, but it was an amazing experience. I am a member of a non-profit organization called “Heroes for Kids,” police officers, military, teachers, and so forth who dress-up as superheroes, focusing on children in need, and they introduce them to THEIR heroes, real officers, firefighters, and such. Lonnie, Jessica, and Dennis, the founders, are incredible people and it was an honor to work with them at their first con table. I look forward to next year if I get to return.

Highlights:

Hanging out with my best buddy Andrew. Great conversation, jokes, trips down memory lane, epic car karaoke as we somehow got rained on a trip again! Chilling at the con and hanging out at our friends’ house was a blast! It is grand to have a con buddy!
I got to stay at Lonnie and Jessica’s house. They were so sweet and accommodating and I got to play with their darling puppy! Their kids are epic too! I appreciate their kindness and their cosplay closet was impressive!
I got to show off a new cosplay: Rin from Fate Stay Night. I think for a closet, it turned out real well! 🙂 I even had two college boys freak out and take selfies with me as Rin! HA!
My Annabeth Chase cosplay got to go to its first con and it was my first time putting fake blood on my own. I felt so empowering. Only a few people knew who I was and I got called a zombie a few times, but this is still one of my favorite cosplays.
Running the table was wonderful. I got to meet several of the Heroes for Kids members and interacted with INCREDIBLE people! I got told I have a shiny, energetic personality. Whatever works! We did raise some good money for our organization.
I also got to pass out Tootsie Rolls to lots of kids. When the venders room opened on Saturday, a shy girl asked Andrew and I if I wanted some Tootsie Rolls. We said sure and then she gave us a large red bucket FULL of them! Our goal was to give them all out by Sunday at the end of the day. 100s of Tootsie Rolls to hand out! Hehehe!
One of my favorite parts was seeing Heroes for Kids’ reactions to the chibi pictures of five of their main heroes in a postcard form to sell. They own the rights too so they can sell them for their organization to raise money. We have Superman (Lonnie), Cat Woman (Jessica), Batman (Dennis), Supergirl (Ally), and, of course, a fun Deadpool (Andrew)! Suzy did a beautiful job and here she was nervous! They were all squealing over them and were nice to sign them as their superhero selves. We sold several for our organization! WOOT!
The venders was set-up much better this year! And I spent WAY more than I should have, but it was worth it.
I met two new friends that were my stalkers since I was Sailor V. They thought I was a professional. They stopped by five times, fanning nutso after that! Now we talk on Facebook.
I had the BEST cake pop I’ve ever had! They were shaped like dragonballs and I had four, one was bought for me by my first stalker guy, which was ‘sweet’ of him! YUMMY!
I got to meet a guy that was in “The Walking Dead” and got a signed picture and photo was Julie. He was a sweetheart, fanning over the superheroes at our table!
Andrew being Deadpool and getting into creative mischief is always a treat! HA!
I randomly got to see a good handful of my friends at the con!
Two of my anime club kids swung by Sunday and this was their first con. They were in awe and we had a lot of fun chatting and taking pictures. 🙂 Teaching done right!
Andrew and I did a mini photoshoot and it turned out awesome!
I saw some incredible cosplays and one was my good buddy Matthew Standing Eagle. I heard the contest was super crowded and confusing.
I got to meet my author friend, Rachel, and we did a book exchange! 🙂 We are doing an author convention together next week! WOOT!
I sadly did get very sick at night on the trip. Andrew was real kind and made sure I was feeling okay, but that part was not fun. Lonnie and Jessica’s daughter even gave me her Supergirl teddy bear to borrow. 🙂

Anime St. Louis 2017:

I haven’t been to Anime St. Louis since 2013 with Miles and Derrick. They moved locations to a larger venue two years ago, actually in Missouri this time (ha!), so this was the first time I was at this convention center. For some reason, I knew I really wanted to go to this con. I saw that Leah Clark, a famous anime voice actress, would be there and I wanted to see my buddies at Anime Hypnosis again. I went with Miles and Andrew, who is super popular as Deadpool in the con circuit. Here are some highlights, good and bad, from the 2017 Anime St. Louis:

The ride up was good. We got lost once, but saw some nice houses in a subdivision along the way. Sight-seeing! HA! Jamming to music was a blast.
I got the cheapest hotel I could since I was paying for everyone (to cover my brother and to thank for Andrew for driving). It wasn’t in a really great area, ten minutes away (which was not on the site), and it seemed to smell of very strong curry. The people who worked there were nice and the breakfast was so-so. Oh well, it was a place to stay. There was a fun cut-out too in the lobby of Super 8’s mascot apparently. I took a selfie!
The convention center was HUGE and we got lost easily. It was nice, but it was a little overwhelming, even by Sunday, at least for Miles and I. We are used to smaller to medium conventions and this con is getting bigger, with over 6,000 attendees now. I am so happy this con is growing after 12 years, but there were a lot of people.
The venders were epic! I spent too much money, again! The venders were super kind too. I got some really good priced official Japanese items, including a new super large fan for my classroom since my first one burnt in the school fire. The owners even grabbed ones from the back to help me. I got some adorable chopsticks and bowls too. Overall, the venders were good and a good place to hang out.
I got my first commission ever from a super sweet table (I also got like $40 worth of buttons and $20 worth of others things, lol! I have a problem!) It is of Percy and Annabeth from Percy Jackson, chibis, in color. I am always looking for Percy stuff, but I never find it, so this is nice! I am so proud as I stare at it by my desktop in my office. KAWAII!
The cosplays were top-notch here and most of the people were nice. Sadly, the cosplay show was super short (apparently, Andrew talked to some of his pro cosplayer friends that were there and several people did not know where to go).
Some of my favorite cosplays include: some of the Power Rangers (full suit and Ninja Billy from the first movie), Beaker from the Muppets, Gumby, a very convincing Maui, Yamato and Harima from School Rumble (that made me happy), a little girl who did an adorable Kirby mascot suit (chef version. Gosh! She was darling), some Ladybug and Cat Noir, Cardcaptor Sakura, an amazing Yami Yugi that made me swoon, and of course, Sailor Scouts.
Andrew sadly had a cosplay mishap Friday morning, so he threw together a Daredevil (from the TV show) and was mostly blind through the day! We had a lot of jokes throughout the day for it. His Deadpool was a super hit on Saturday and he did lots of funny videos off and on all day. And Sunday, Star Lord returned. He finally got a baby Groot to complete the look as well. We also took fun, sexy pictures staring at each other like at Cape. That’s one of our things I guess.
Miles wore his Max from Dark Cloud, his first closet from last year. Sadly, his awesome time traveling necklace he needs that Tabby made last year fell and broke. I fixed it for two days, but but it fell apart the second we were done on the last day. *sighs* We will work on it. He had his original character on Saturday and got some pictures.
I wore Rin from Fate Stay Night on Friday and saw two others. In fact, another Rin, who was incredible, waved at me and called me her twin and we got selfies together. Every time we saw each other, we yelled to each other. It was epic. I was Umi from Magic Knights Rayearth on Saturday. I only had one person know me. I didn’t get many pictures at this large event, which shocked me.
On Saturday afternoon, I ran into ANOTHER one of my Anime Club students at his first con. We took random, goofy pictures together. His sister, who I am friends with, surprised him to his first con. He was super pumped to meet Deadpool too. 🙂
So, one of my FAVORITE things about the whole con was Anime Hypnosis! It was wonderful to see the Amazing Brando. Miles and Andrew were tired, so they rested in the lobby while I went. And I got a special front row seat in the center since I told them I would be happy to film again. Gregory, one of Brando’s main assistants, was looking everywhere for me in line. He hugged me and asked me if I could do a favor, whispering to me that he was proposing to his girlfriend before the show started and had been planning it for four months! He wanted me to get the right angle for it! I was so thrilled and touched! So, I practiced my shots before he went up there and popped the question…with a POKEBALL ring! It was a perfect nerd-proposal and I adore it. It’s on my Youtube! It was great to catch up with Brando too after the show.
Another one of my favorite things were that there was a vender that made all 150 original Pokemon in these beautiful felt hats! You had to get tickets for them and then place them for which Pokemon hat you want. I wanted SO many of them, so I got 40 tickets! I didn’t get the Ponyta or Kadabra I super wanted, but I did win the beautiful Ninetails AND the Metapod, which is a hoot! I even had a guy who won like eight Pokemon hats beg me for the Metapod and I refused. My girl, Erin, and I were squealing like crazy ladies when I won the hat. I also bought the Beedrill for me and the Poliwhirl for Evan (I BARELY missed out on the Poliwag one, his favorite), for $12. I even convinced Miles to get the Primate hat for $5 since no one bid on him and he loves monkeys. People ADORED our hats all day Sunday! I even got my pictures with my winning hats on the charity site. ALL the money went to sick children and they raised over $550. How could I NOT refuse?!
On Friday, there were some awesome panels. Leah Clark had a panel where she called other voice actors and we asked them random questions! I got to EVEN hear the voices of Todd AND Caitlin Glass! I WAS GUSHING! And I almost had a fangirl attack when Chris Patton was on the screen, but we just missed him, so we didn’t get to hear him! 🙁 All the voice actors were so friendly over the phone and kind, but one who ignored us the whole time. Andrew even got bold and told her my question I was too shy to ask: “If you could be any shape of pasta, what shape would you be and why?” What a grand panel!
Right after this was Disney and Anime Karaoke! Oh my golly gravy! SO MUCH FUN! The energy, the love, was so powerful! I had an amazing time. I was too shy to go up there, although Miles kept encouraging me since he said I sang better than most (which is not the point, but the fact HE was trying to be nice was stunning!). Nevertheless, it was wonderful and Caleb Hyes, the Youtube sensation, who ran it, was so sweet and rocked! I’m a fan now!
Mentioned more Anime Hypnosis and how fun craziness ensued as usual. I even helped with the quest, talked to a Black Butler character, and got to see some amazing times. All on Youtube.
Miles and I got lost on our way to the Voice Actor Q & A Saturday, which was a bummer because we had to stand in the back and we couldn’t hear. But, the voice actors were super nice and witty.
The Pokemon Quiz show on Saturday and Password on Sunday was tots fun! I knew a lot of the bonus trivia Pokemon questions, which were hard. And Password ended up being amazing. The guests who were supposed to be on a team had to leave early (funny story: one of the video game actors, who I got his autograph from on Sunday, was super chill and we talked about how I was looking forward to seeing him at Anime Password. He said, “Oh yeah! I remember I am going to be on that. What is Password exactly?” So, I explained that you answer questions about anime, using clues to figure out with one it is. He looked at me freaked out, “Ah, s***! I know nothing about anime! Could you maybe tell me the answers or look them up for me?” I told him that was called cheating with a chuckle, but he said I could help, winking me. Well…we waited 20 minutes for him for Anime Password an hour later and he finally messaged Greggo, the show host, back, and the actor was on his way to the airport! Miles was cackling and blamed ME for him skipping out! I was red and felt horrified, but Miles keeps telling people this story). Regardless, the game shows were perfect as always.
Getting the autographs from all the voice actors was great. They were all super sweet! Now, I am huge fans of Chris Smith and Cindy Robinson, who I think are ADORABLE together! They were so kind and supportive when I told them I taught kids. Cindy is also, no offense, short and our picture together his darling and Chris has some nice arm muscles. I think I scared Leah Clark… I asked her to sign my rice ball plush and told her how I run an Anime Club and my kids bow to me. She rolled her eyes and looked a bit annoyed. I hope I didn’t make her upset for she was the one I came to see, but at least I met five other amazing celebs too! I did get them all to sign my panda bag or some other product.
Went to the Maid Cafe. It was an hour wait, so that was boring, but it was cute and we had a fun group at our table! We played the LONGEST game of Jenga ever; it was rad! And we won against the maid and I got it recorded, us earning tickets. Their dance was kawaii too. 🙂 The tea was not very good, but the turtle cheesecake was INSANELY TASTY!
So, there was a super professional Sailor Moon cosplay group and I was in awe. So, I had to take a phone call doing the Q and A panel and there, I saw the Chibi Moon cosplayer with two little boys. I waited a moment, but they I could not resist any more; I had to go gush and the littlest boy was dressed as a little Tuxedo Mask! TOO CUTE! So, the Chibi Moon, their mom, and I, talked about how I was Sailor V and how she would love to get a picture with me sometime and the stress of wig care. I talked to the little boys and asked if I could get a picture of him. The mom warned me that he may not wear the mask for he was super tired from a long day. I smiled and told him it was okay because he was a champion of justice, a hero, but he lifted up his mask and wore it for a picture! His mom was stunned and asked how I did it. I explained I was a school teacher. ^_^ The other boy asked if he could be in the picture too, but was sad that he couldn’t because he wasn’t in costume. I told him of course he could and that he can be the Moonlight Knight! He held roses too! SO PRECIOUS!
Ms. Robinson and Mr. Smith did a Voice Acting class on Sunday and it was so inspiring! If I was braver, I wanted to go up there and show my stuff, but it was super packed with aspiring voice actors and everyone was so amazing that I got scared I was not good enough. Oh well!
There was an opening ceremony on Friday and closing on Sunday. They were average.
We even, on Friday as we were in line getting our badges, we had Team Skull photobomb our selfie we made for mom to let her know we arrived. We tried to not laugh, but we could not help it! It was epic! He even joked about photobombing before I took the picture and I asked him to! Later, I ran into another Team Skull member and I got brave and yelled, “Team Skull Rules!” He hollered “YEAH!,” started playing the Skull theme music, and dancing through the main part of the lobby! HA!
Miles and I got to bond in the gaming room, playing some awesome fighter games. He kicked my butt 8 out of 9 times we played, but it was a great time with my bro-bro!
I got to see my friend Jennifer and we gushed over her amazing Jeanne cosplay!
My favorite part of the weekend was seeing my new convention girl bestie, Erin! We hung out for a bit Friday, but most of the day Sunday at panels and in the vender room! We had SUCH an amazing time, fanning over “My Love Story” art, cheering when I won the Pokemon hats, being girly and overly sweet to everyone, her getting scared when a Blue Bonnie snuck up behind her, her so freaked out she was laughing breathy! We have such similar, upbeat personalities and it is nice to have an otaku girlie girl friend.
We even met a new friend who is a student of Mr. Mahan’s Anime Club at Wildwood! She was even at Wild Con, playing Breath of the Wild the whole time! Ha! And she likes classic animes! She hung with us in the venders room and even was sitting with us at Anime Password. It is so cool meeting someone new!
We had solid food at Cracker Barrel on Saturday and it was good.
Sadly, I was coughing a lot all weekend (sorry you can hear it on the videos on my Youtube) and even Saturday, I had to run out of the room and puke. I barely made it. I scared Miles, but he was good and waited for me outside the restroom (Andrew was at karaoke with some friends he hadn’t seen in awhile). I did hear some weird girl restroom conversations from some young ladies and I had to comfort one of them (from the rave). I didn’t sleep hardly at all on Friday night, Miles even yelling at me in my sleep, which is new. Saturday, I fell asleep with Andrew speaking to me in mid-sentence! HA!
I saved some Disney Princesses! 😀
We were good kids on Sunday and even sent mom a Mother’s Day message. <3

All and all, it was a fun con with my great brother and my incredible buddy Andrew and I had some wonderful moments. It was not the shining star I wanted it to be, but overall, I would give it a 8 out of 10! We will see about next year! 😉

Cosplacon 2017:

Oh my gosh! What a great year, our fourth year at Cosplacon this year! Evan and Julie finally got to go with us all four days and we had two surprise friends show-up too, so nine of us total at one point and my beloved Samurai Dan and Jillian got to be there as well! I know they have had a rough summer with losing both of their fur babies. Prayers to them. But, this was a con to recall. I will, SPOILERS up front, was better than last year’s.

We got to Jefferson City with only one time having to turn around due to a road being closed with only a 500 feet ahead warning, getting us 20 minutes behind, but it was still a good trip there and back overall. No police officers searching our car for Subway (story from year two), and I only felt queasy a few times! WOOT!
The pun war this year was intense! I somehow got on the board, but Derrick did end up getting 15 and they were all…not school appropriate, which shocked us all. Evan got in the 70’s, playing off Miles, and Miles was able to get his 125 goal when we were like 4 miles away from home on Sunday! HA! Still, it was fun. Now…for next year…
Japanese was good, but I was sick in my stomach off and on all weekend, so I could hardly stomach half of it. 🙁 I had to even lay in the car mid-way through the delicious meal (Evan came and joined me). I know with his gallbladder getting taken out last year, he got sort of sick off and on during the weekend too.
Having Evan there, my bestie, was incredible! Everything was his first: his first con, his first time buying from a vender, his first time trying Japanese food…we did this all weekend! Not sure how he felt about it each time I gushed about it like a mom! 😉
We both discovered we are obsessed with popcorn flavored jelly bellies! You learn something new each day!
Our hotel room was decent, considering we had four people in our room, but Miles got the couch and Evan brought his inflatable camel toe bed, but it popped in the middle of the night Thursday, so I got him a cot. It was a tight fit in the corner, but we made it work. I know he was so excited for his camel toe too…
I know it was hot that weekend, the first hot weekend in Missouri (mid-June), so that was fun moving stuff back and forth. Poor Samurai Dan was alone Thursday and we tried to get the cart we snagged to help him after we finished moving seven people, but we barely missed him. 🙁
The venders were TOP NOTCH! There was not a lot of them, but the ones I went to often were either super neat or unique. I spent even MORE than I should have here! BUT! I did get some rare Power Ranger original dolls, a Rin from Fate Stay Night figure (hey! I cosplay her, Miles found her, and it was a good price), lots of buttons, and other fantastic things.
I also got another Percy and Annabeth commission done by a young lady and she mailed it to me a few weeks later. It’s perfect! I am going to start a collection of Percy art!
On Thursday, I was the only one of us that cosplayed, doing Annabeth again. I met a young lady who was cosplayed as Levi from Attack on Titan and she had a whole bunch of cleaning supplies with her. After she and her friends fangirled over me and took pictures, she asked why I was dirty and acted bothered. I told her that happens when you have to fight giant creatures. She then asked if I killed the Titan she was looking for. I told her yes, but that was no Titan I knew (HA! Anime Titan verses Greek! How fun). She then put Germ-X on my hands and skipped away! I was chuckling!
Julie took some cool pictures of me as Annabeth too, but some plants like I was stoking.
The opening ceremony and welcome party were fun, for one, but not amazing (but that is hard to do). Still, Rodney’s energy was incredible and made our several first time con goers feel happy the second he came on stage. Warning us about BO, cosplay is not constant, pineapple pie, pop tarts free style raps. He’s epic!
The Iron Cosplay, which I got front row seats for with Julie and Miles, was sort of a let-down. The outfits were okay and the cosplay hostess was rad, burping loudly into the mic to get our attention (she was nice all weekend), but I felt like it dragged, and not in the fun drag show.
Julie was awesome and helped me with videos this weekend too!
That night, I went to a creating characters panel that Dan ran. Oh what fun! He asked who was an author and many raised our hands, including me. He gave me a goofy look and bantered that I didn’t count. I told him I had five books out and he inquired jokingly, “Five books or five readers?” I told him “I know I at least have 7 readers because I have 7 official reviews on Amazon!” ^_^ Hey, at least it got a smirk since I was standing up to his humor, a hard task indeed. We used his tips, all excellent, for creating characters, to create our own almost like D and D character. We were poking fun at this goofy, overly confident guy that happened to sit by me the whole time. He somehow time travels back in time and can only speak 140 characters (Twitter) or in memes. He meets a dragon who has accidentally killed all her husbands and she is pregnant. She is going through like a mid-life crisis and she was a water dragon, her bubbles acid. It ended up they somehow fell in love and her seven children, the guy, and her get transported back to modern time and her children are scattered and we have to collect them to return them home (HA! Dan was not happy we somehow snuck in a Dragonball reference! LOL!) It was such a hoot of a time!
On Friday, we had skit practice and skits at 4:00. I did okay at our super rushed practice, but my nerves kicked in majorly the 45 minute wait between! AND! Derrick forgot my gloves I worked hard to decorate, so I had to borrow one of Miles’ black ones (he was wearing his original character here).
The skits were great overall and most the the people were nice. Only two were so/so or made the audience feel awkward. And there was a good variety from skits to musical/dance performances, funny, to emotional, to sweet, to serious, and heartbreaking. Dan and Rodney pumped ours up when I strode over as an angel with a firearm (I LOVED my first original character I wore that day. I sadly did not feel comfortable in the corest, but the outfit still looked nice). Rodney and Dan then competed for which side could cheer for us the loudest. It gave us good energy and I think other than two super minor things only we noticed, our skit went perfectly! I even got to add in EVERY fun background thing I wanted. Later, I got compliments from other skit pros, many girls fanned over how shiny and bright my dress was on-stage, and even Aaron, who is our local pro Jack Sparrow cosplayer, shook my hand and told me I synced my lines and actions flawlessly to the scenes and recording, a task he stated was hard to due. I took this as high praise.
I am not sure if this is the biggest cop-out at a con ever or Rodney was just super zealous, but he could not pick a favorite skit and the audience was cheering so much for everyone that he promised if the crowd could cheer so loud it could be heard on the ninth floor, then EVERYONE, all 22 of us, would get FREE PASSES for Cosplacon 2018 next year! So, we ALL got into it, even Derrick! And we did it! 😀 So, Tabby, Brown, Derrick, and I all won FREE passes for next year! I know Rodney’s assistants were not too happy with him, having to print all those.
We went to a local homestyle breakfast place that Brown and Tabby found last year. It was good, but not as grand as last year (the waitress was nice, but our service was fairly slow). We went there Friday and Saturday morning.
Andrew surprised us Friday by coming to the con for a while, sending us pictures for clues as he travelled. It was great to see him, if even for a bit! 🙂 And Derrick had to wear the Cone of Shame!
The gang was all pumped for the Five Element Achievements this year. The achievements are fun and if I happen to find some, great! If not, well, whatever. I did find two tribbles they had everywhere at the con and Evan found a lot of stuff, not sure what they were. The only thing that bugged me, and I mean this with love, is that other than Miles, everyone was getting way too into it. If it makes them happy, that’s fine, and I get the appeal of free passes, but it took away from our group/friend time together more than once and dominated way too many conversations, making me feel isolated (I have never seen 5th Element either, so do not kill me). So, I get Cosplacon wanting to do and and I appreciate all their uniqueness and effort, but for my personally, this put a sour taste in my experience a bit other than seeing my pals happy and win another free pass (Brown and Tabby got that and they gave it to Julie).
Miles won a free pass too! He entered a tournament (with Derrick and I encouraging him) for one of his all time favorite games, Power Stone, for the Dreamcast. The game room people only had three sign-up, so they were worried they would have to cancel it (the rest of us had skit practice and Miles was not allowed in), but Miles beat both the other guys and one was sort of full of himself, so Miles worked hard on that match! So, he won a FREE PASS too! We were so proud of him! ^_^
I got to meet ERIC STRAUT FINALLY on Friday! I even got brave and asked him a question (I was in the very front row with Miles to film at his Q and A; the rest of the gang was at sword class with Samurai Dan, but Dan came in real fast to hug his buddy Eric. So adorable). Eric is such a level-headed, kind, cool guy and Miles and I got the first autographs of the day too. I supported him and got two pictures (one Friday, one Saturday, two postcards, three signatures, and one of his CDs). He asked me questions, seemed really touched I wrote him a poem and wanted to post it on his Twitter later that he got one, and was so awesome posing and holding my props in pictures! He remembered me Saturday too when I came back. I thanked him for being the voice of my childhood and he smiled so brightly, thanking me for that and running my anime club. What a blessing of a person! His Friday Q and A is on my Youtube channel.
Tabby and Brown’s cosplays for Mad Max turned out great. 🙂 I have seen them working hard on piece-by-piece for a year and to see it come together was great. Only the hostler broke *knock on wood*
#Didyouask? 😉
Rodney in drag! I didn’t go to the show, but saw pictures.
We ordered pizza from the local pizza shop we like. I tried the pasta too. The pasta wasn’t grand, but the pizza was still good, but I got sick in my stomach soon after. We had a mini game night Friday with all our peeps (Andrew being the host) in Julie’s room. We missed one of Dan’s panels, but I texted him and apologized.
When I went to explore after looking for a public restroom around 8, I saw a Petsu and Sheeta from Castle in the Sky, my favorite, HIGHLY UNRATED, Studio Ghibli film! I was so pumped to see them and they were super kind.
Jillian texted me later and asked for Derrick and I to meet them after their panel. They invited us to a late dinner at I-Hop. We were NOT hungry, but they hadn’t eaten and we all wanted to get together, so we did. It was nice to have conversations with them and the laughed that we had only been to I-Hop one other time (for our honeymoon. They are from Iowa), but they looked at his oddly when we mentioned we have a Huddle House and said that was a dumb name! Huh…cultural differences… The little bit I ate (and Jillian was sweet and gave me a nibble of her crepe because I have never had one) was good. Derrick even had hot chocolate! They did trust us with some news since they consider us good friends. Derrick and I have not told a soul and we will take care of our friends like they give to all of us.
On Saturday morning, Julie was acting all sneaky. When we came back from breakfast to the hotel, Alesha was there! This was HER first con ever too and she got INTO it! It was so great to have another friend there and see her smile so much.
I got to have Mickey Mouse pancakes for the first time Saturday morning and the diner we went to had the BEST French Fries EVER!
I got to model my new Cardcaptor Sakura school uniform cosplay that I had been wanting for YEARS! My hair would not work like I wanted to and Miles was nice and did Li with me for two hours before changing into Ice Dragon dude from Bleach (HA! Yeah, it bugs him when I call his character that). I got a few people know and fan over me, but my props were fun. I will have to sadly break down and get another wig for it. Argh…
Derrick wore his Box Ghost from Danny Phantom cosplay that Brown made for him, so that was a milestone on many levels! Derrick didn’t hardly wear the props though, so it was confusing on what he was, but still, I guess he did it?
Brown and Tabby had their first panel: “The Art of Skit Creation.” For their first time, I thought they did good. The ad-lib one we made with the audience was so humorous! You can see their panel on my Youtube and my blooper with Evan was on there.
We went to Self-Defense class and Dan asked me where my husband was. Derrick stood up, waving, in front of 50 people, and Dan used him as an example that someone like him could be lifted off the ground because he is so rail thin. Jillian came and showed this to me later. Derrick and I are both harder to do self-defense moves on due to us being double jointed. She tested on me and I still didn’t feel pain, just pressure, but she said if she moved me any more, she’d break my wrist off! Ummm…no thanks! But, I am feeling a little more confident with self-defense and wish we all could learn their methods.
We also went to Ninja Olympics (I got to help Jillian sort out candy). We had TEAM VIRAL (us) and TEAM SAVE THE DAY, OR…S.T.D! Boy, they were loud and shouting “STD” the whole time and scaring hallway people. Our team was more of the smiling, golf clapping for our teammates. It was tie until the last game, where we lost. Oh well. It was still so much fun!
SQUAT! WADDLE, WADDLE, WADDLE! CROUTCH! xD New dance for Cosplacon!
Jack Sparrow hosted again at the Cosplay Royale and it was epic! And the annoying dab came back that Jack was so flustered with!
The Cosplay Royale was shorter than normal, but the outfits were top of the line and I can see why the judges had trouble. There was even a Korra and Asami and the Korra cosplayer PROPOSED on stage in the middle of the contest! SO KAWAII!!! <3
Actually, we had a proposal on Sunday too, at closing ceremony, the first time we have ever gone…Must be a thing this year.
One of our cosplay guest had an adorable pug and she let me pet him! =^.^=
I got to wear Miles’ new Fate Stay Night shirt as a mini dress with my galaxy leggings I got for LARPing with my hair in a new style. I looked funky, but cute I was told.
We were all shaky by the time it was 7:30, not having eaten anything in 12 hours, so Tabby, Brown, Miles, Evan, Derrick, and myself went to Ruby Tuesday. Lovely food, the waitress was excellent, and Tabby was a ninja and snuck over to tell them it was Derrick and I’s anniversary, us getting free ice cream, although the waitress gave Derrick the check at my sadness. During cons, I pay for my own food or part of it, so I didn’t want Derrick to treat me at all and he knows this. My food was yummy, but I was getting a massive migraine during the Cosplay Royale and it only got worse.
One of the funniest moments of the whole trip was when Brown and Tabby mentioned they saw cosplayers dressed as Mrs. Frizzle, Bill Nye the Science Guy, AND Mr. Rogers. I about choked on the last one for I never have seen a Mr. Rogers cosplayers. Brown said he even had a little red trolley! Well, I felt like a complete failure as a teacher and I sank to the floor out of my seat at Ruby Tuesdays (it was dead in there), crawled under the velvet table cloth, and started mock whisper shouting in agony. “I MISSED MR. ROGERS! I’M SUCH A FAILURE AS A TEACHER I’M GOING TO GET FIRED!” then fake bawled. Everyone kept asking what I was doing and then were trying not to laugh as I continued, my friends whipping their phones out to film and take pictures! Tabby then made it better by getting under the table with me and bowing and apologizing in Japanese for not telling me in her sad voice and this went on for a few minutes. It was so fun and our waitress looked confused, but was trying not to laugh at our antics.
My HORRIBLE migraine: So, I get headaches easily. It’s in my family, on both sides. Well, I mentioned how I had a horrid one around the Cosplay Royale? It got worse and worse during dinner and no amount of amazing company, tasty food, smiling waitresses, or amount of sweet tea and Pepsi (and I usually limit my caffeine due to my overactive heart rate), By the time I was in the car to head back to the hotel, my stomach was a wave, my head was throbbing, and I had to skip the Eric Stuart concert I was badly wanted to go to (Julie and Alesha were super sweet and filmed it for me, giving Mr. Struat my regards. It is on Youtube). Once I entered the hotel, I was crying from pain openly like an idiot, got sick in the bathroom in our room, flung my body on the bed as Derrick and Evan rubbed my back, not even taking my jewelry or anything off (I was too shaky and NO medicine was helping no matter what I tried). I finally weakly got in my PJs and we started discussing funny t-shirts, my head throbbing to the core, Suddenly, an hour later, we heard the WEIRDEST sounding thunder ever and then in randomly poured rain. We were all freaked out and then, my headache was good. I get weather headaches often and only rain makes them go away, but that one was super strange and strong. #dislike!
I still feel AWFUL I missed Mr. Straut’s concert! 🙁
Our Subway NOT miss adventure: We wanted to go to I-Hop, but it took us a while to get unpacked and my boys were sleepyheads (I was up at 5, showered, dressed cute for my panel, went downstairs to make Dan and I outlines in the hotel office, update my Fallen Star Dust blog tour, and check my facebook for 80 minutes, borrowed a cart, and still beat most of them up). When we went to I-Hop once we were all checked out, it was a 90 minute wait, so we booked it to the Subway down the road, the same one we bought the sandwiches that got us pulled over two years ago! It was just us. The food was okay, but we were all secretly glad to be away from breakfast food. Still, we want to go to I-Hop next year. ^_^ I’m just glad Subway didn’t make us get pulled over…again…
Derrick’s anniversary gift on his bed. So, even though I bought Derrick a BRAND NEW COMPUTER with all the fixings (and almost everything he has for it lights up; he had it for two weeks by this point), I wanted him to have something to open up on our actual anniversary, the 18th. So, I got him a royal blue Pokemon shirt that had Jackie Chan and Hitmonchan on it. It matches one of his favorite shirt, the one of Bruce Lee and Hitmonlee that is close to falling apart. He got a card on his chest too! 🙂 He seemed surprised and was showing off the shirt that Sunday.
Kawaii Pikachu game time and cuddles: So, last year, one of the best things I did was meet this little three-year-old boy. We played for almost two hours with a ball and his mom ended up being one of the gym leaders for the Pokemon DS League that Derrick partook in last year. She was awesome. So, Miles, Evan, Alesha, Julie, and I were done looking in the venders room and I wanted to show them the Pokemon Carnival. I personally think it’s sort of boring, but I love the people there. I wanted to show it to our new con friends. So, it was wrapping up and I saw this little boy dressed fully in a Pikachu outfit, crying his little heart out and all of the people around him were trying to cheer him up, but it was not working (apparently, he skinned his knee). I had bags all over my arms and I dropped them all dramatically on a nearby chair and with determination, told Miles to hold my purse. I went over him and started talking like a Pikachu and within a minute, he was all smiles. We then ran around, playing with a bouncy ball for several minutes and he wanted hugs and to sit on my lap, as he told me I was an Eevee (I had cat ears on) and then I did Eevee sounds and he giggled. We ran back and forth and had such an amazing time. Derrick even came to play after a while and the little boy was bossing Derrick around, throwing the ball to get him away from me and then said, “Go get it” to him! HA! He knew Derrick had a Pokemon on his shirt. His mom picked him up to go and she remembered me, telling him that I was Totoro last year. His little eyes lit up and he said, “Totoro!” all happy. TOO KAWAII! We got pictures and she said we can play all we want next year. ^_^ So happy!
My Writing Panel with Dan Review: Samurai Dan and I did our second panel together: “Breathing Life Into Storytelling.” I didn’t feel as prepared as I thought I should have been, although I studied it and have had much more experience with panels since 2014. Dan and I had a lot of fun like normal and work well together, but he stole the show. I am not upset nor surprised, but I just want to shine like him someday and inspire others with a bright smile and wit like Samurai Dan. I hope I did okay to the audience. My friends told me I needed to smile more. Dan kept asking Derrick questions and his eyes lit up each time Dan said my hubby’s name, like they were besties! AW! Dan is an amazing man, role model, and friend, and I love working with him and supporting him, hoping to do so for many, many years. ^_^
I am also SO PUMPED that the second book in Dan’s book series is coming out SUPER SOON, like in a few weeks! He also praised my review on Amazon for his first book and says he treasures it and that is how all reviews should be written. 🙂 Yeay!
There were so many kind and amazing vendors this year, especially the ones who had lobby tables! One girl and I were discussing the newest Fruits Basket manga and one of them was selling lovely clocks (I ended up caving and getting a beautiful rainbow mosaic one of Sora falling with the Kingdom Hearts emblem behind him). They also had TONS of RWBY buttons and Evan bought several (he really wanted to cosplay as Weiss this year, but his clothes were not fitting for it). He lost his bag of them at my panel and we looked everywhere for them afterwards. He looked so sad. So, I bought the clock and three more buttons and I told them about Evan’s, so they sold them to him at half price, all the ones he lost! I was touched by their kindness, so I wanted to mention that, their rocking personalities, and their talents.
Thank you Cosplacon for being our longest running con for a reason! Looking forward to year #5 with you! <3