Aw man, this con was so much fun! I don't think people realize just how sad I am that I won't be able to go for a while T_T
Things started for me on Thursday. Managed to get my ass out of bed around 8am. After pulling my bags out front, I did some last minute prepping and shoved breakfast into my face. Got a hold of Tech and got picked up around 10. We got to MoA, where Sadame and her boyfriend were waiting for us. Switched cars and headed to a warehouse so they could get merchandise. After that, we went back to the Eagle Anime office, where I helped take out trash, put product on the shelves and pack the van. After running some more errands, we finally got on the road around 2. It was a pretty fun, but uneventful, ride over. We made no stops because we just couldn't sacrifice the time. We got there just after 7. When on a mission to grab myself some dinner, I found a nice, little spiritualist shop across the street from the hotel. I poked my head in, chatted with one cashier and geeked out with the other, promising to be back later. Ate my food back in the room, changed clothes and went downstairs to volunteer in the DR. It was a lot more fun than I thought it would be. I got to see that there are more con families than just cosplayers. I was there for 3 hours, before the kink in my shoulder got to be too much. Got in my PJs, unwound for about an hour while updating my FB on my PSP (yay free wifi!). Finally went to sleep around 1. Woke up around 7, but then dozed off and on for another 2 hours. Finally motivated myself to shower and eat breakfast. Took my time getting ready and finally got downstairs in the badge line at a little after 10. I was confused at the comments I was receiving once I got there, only to realize it was because I was early and first in line for at the door badges. They didn't open the lines until 11am. So that I could continue to volunteer at the booth without con staff breathing down my neck, as they had been during my last hour there the night before, Sadame bought me a vendor badge before she came up the night before. She met me at the line and gave it to me before heading to the DR. I helped there for a little over an hour before I had to motivate into Kurama. Saw Pinky and her boyfriend, so I stopped to talk with them before heading up to the room. I spent most of the time changing passed out in front of the floor fan because I was just too dang tired. I was half in cosplay and half done with makeup when Velocity texted me to say she, Serra and Asuma had arrived. After a quick exchange, I finally made the rest of my way into my cosplay, but I was having problems. Made my way downstairs and chatted with Pinky for a bit more before my con family found me. In between bouts of serious discussion and moving luggage to our room, I bumped into Whit and Fox. Once we moved everything (and a few moments of me forgetting shit in Sadame's room), Velocity got into full Roxas cosplay and we walked around con to see what was going on at that hour, which wasn't much. We poked the DR for a bit, where we held the fort while Sadame went to go eat, before heading back to the room. Spent some time in the room making jokes at Velocity's behalf, then the four of us, along with Jay, headed out to Denny's for dinner, in which I paid for everyone as a big huge thank you for sticking with me and being my family away from my family. We came back to the hotel and just chilled in the room while Velocity tried to poke her sewing machine. She only got about an hour in before people wanted to get some sleep. We both went to bed around 1 or 2, right before which I talked to her about the issues I had with Kurama. She just listened to me talk, then put in a second opinion when I finished. It was in that moment that I new I had to retire him. I think I woke up to someone's alarm around 9. After some fresh air, Velocity started poking her sewing machine, during which I finally showered and ate breakfast around 3, while also managing to injure myself. Around 4, she was getting so frustrated with the jacket she was making that she was getting angry. To help her calm down, we went over to the spiritualist shop while I browsed for gifts. In doing so, we found the cashier I geeked out with the day before. The three of us went back and forth between talking geek and astrology before I made my purchases and we went back to the hotel. The break was just what she needed and she finished her cosplay around 5, where we both finally got into our Ben 10 stuff. We didn't even take 10 steps out of the room before someone on our floor came out of their room and freaked out that we were cosplaying Ben and Kevin. We went to the DR and I gave Fox the commission he ordered back in November during MFF. We perused the room a bit more than we had the night before, making some purchases here and there. At one point there was this ADORABLE squirt of a kid, probably not even 3 years old, who exclaimed "That's Ben 10 mommy!". All kinds of Ben 10 spazzing would happen through the day. During that time, we were poked as to what we wanted to do about food. In the end, a large group seemed unappealing, so just the two of us decided to have a date at a pizza place a few blocks away, where it was so cold out that I got turned into a meat shield. The pizza wasn't the best we'd ever had, but it was still pretty good. We got back to the room and relaxed for a bit before hitting the dance and video game room. We had a photoshoot near the pool area of the hotel, chatted with Batou outside for a bit, then did some more wandering before we headed over to Sadame's room for drinking and watching various Abridged series. After that, we went back to our room and went to bed around 3:30, deciding to give Elena a big middle finger and do Kevin again the next day. Woke up around 9 and tried to motivate myself to get moving, waking up a sleepy Velocity about a half hour later. It took a long time for us to be ready enough to check out of the room. Moved stuff to Asuma's van, where I kept my things as well. Watched the last 10 minutes of chess and it was honestly one of the worst things I'd ever seen. Walked around DR and shopped until I started to get hungry enough to start turning into a bitch. The original plan for lunch ended up changing, but it was still just the two of us. After food, my con family was ready to go, so I helped get things to their van while grabbing my own stuff and leaving it with Sadame. While trying not to cry, I said goodbye to all of them and ran back inside to help with tear down. This consisted of 3 hours of getting even more sore and injured while taking down the Eagle Anime booth and helping Pawstar load their van. We finally left around 8 and stopped for food and gas. After some lighthearted texting with Velocity, I began having issues with Tech for a ride home and having to stay awake so I could keep Sadame's boyfriend awake. After several panic attacks and sobbing, Nexus was able to pick me up from MoA and take me home, in which I was able to give her the gifts I bought for her. I finally got home around 3am. I spent what little energy I had unpacking what I could (I got about halfway done) and then passed out on my bed.
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I can't even begin to explain just how badly I want to go back to this con! It was an amazing experience that I don't regret deciding on doing, even though it meant missing several people that chose to go to Daisho instead.
Things started on Friday for me. Packed up my last minute things before my egg donor took me to work, where I was from 10am until just a little after 2pm. A coworker of her's was taking me to the pickup location at Ridgedale Mall. I waited for about 30 - 45 minutes before Sike and Nite showed up. The first stop we made was a little after Eau Claire for gas and food. Apparently, people that work at gas stations aren't accustomed to customers being nice. In Tomah, our power steering went out. We spent around an hour and six U-turns there before fixing the problem and getting back on the road. I finally drifted off to sleep in the back seat around 10 and didn't wake up until about 11:30. When I woke up, the fog was so thick, I was waiting for zombies to pop out. We crossed the Illinois border and hit some toll booths, both of which I'd never seen before. I crashed out a bit more until we got to the hotel around 12:30am. Sike texted my pack leader, Twisted, and I headed up as soon as I got the room number. Mind you, the hotel is pretty big and I was out of my element not knowing many people. So I had a panic attack as soon as I walked in. As such, I forgot my room number. I must have knocked on five different doors hoping I found the right one, since I was on the correct floor. I even went back to the lobby to see if Sike was around. I sank into a chair on the 22nd floor and started to have a break down until I heard a soft 'Kurama?'. Lo and behold, Twisted had just come off the elevator and had been looking for me. Apparently, he was expecting me to meet him in the lobby, but we thought he was gonna wait for me to come up. He gave me a key and I met Bakie, who was on the brink of asleep and awake. I realized I left my wallet, so I met up with Sike and Nite to get out to the car to get it. After saying good night, I went back to my room, where I met Van. We chatted for a bit before I got in my PJs and went to sleep around 2am. I was woken up a few random times through the night with being introduced to Oaose and Auracle. Waking up around 8am with a nasty kink in my neck and back (I had floor space with only my jacket as a pillow and a thin blanket for cover), I spent most of the morning getting to know my pack. They were all very sweet. Bakie showed me a strategy/puzzle game on her laptop before I finally had the motivation to get dressed and get on my tiger makeup. During that time, Sike and Nite gave me money for my room fee and my badge. Once I was ready, I went down to the main floor and tried to find my way around. Got my badge, then promptly went to the consuite. Sat and chatted with Bakie and her friend, Tealie, while eating sammiches. Bakie and I walked around as she showed me the hotel and where everything was. After checking out the game room, we went to the AA and DR, which were HUGE!!! I didn't get to see everything before I was whisked away to meet the pack in consuite to watch a 12 inch gummy bear get sacrificed by Flip. During this time, I recognized Vix, said hi and chatted for a bit. Then my pack wanted me to come with to see the comedy group Too Much Light. I went in skeptical, but I laughed pretty hard. Came out and went over to a rescue table that had kittens and they were so cute! I wanted to take one home so badly! After kitty snuggles, Bakie and I went to the game room again and sang for Rock Band. Got to do a song I knew and people really enjoyed it <3 After some derping, we ran into Vix and helped her with makeup. We split from Bakie to play a My Little Pony version of D&D. I laughed pretty damn hard, we didn't actually get very far in the actual game because Twilight Sparkle was trying to find loopholes for EVERYTHING and it was hilarious shit XD After the game let out, Vix took me to where there was a group of spiritualists. My kind of people. She suggested we go into the labyrinth, which was crafted out of florescent tape. The things that transpired were...it's kinda hard to explain. Only those that deal with spiritualism will understand. I was in there between 15 - 30 minutes. I came out and, for a while, I was still inside my own head, staring aimlessly at the wall. People that didn't get it were asking if I was okay. I knew it wasn't just me when Vix came out and was acting the same way. We made our way outside after that to participate in the Midnight Howl. I always heard cool things about it and was excited to see it and record it. Never in my wildest dreams did I thought I would actually be participating in it. After that, I had to get my makeup and contacts off, to get rid of the weighty feeling, and dressed civilian. After that, we went down to play Cards Against Humanity. This was my first time playing. My brain exploded. I played with Sike, Auracle, Innouva and a few random people, Vix joining after the table cleared a little. We were joined by a guy in a wheelchair. He was quite the asshole, acting as if he was better than everyone in the room. He slammed down nearly 4 bottles of beer, mixing the drink with whatever was in his flask. Then right around 3:30am, he just passed out at the table. We finished playing by 4, but we didn't just want to leave him there. We got security, who got someone higher up, who called EMTs to check on him. Auracle, Innouva and I talked about the issue for a while before we decided to go to bed around 5am. The pack was still awake, so Bakie and Oaose tried to share their tiny bed with me. They'd been able to fit their pack in a bed many times before and thought it would work this time. I technically woke up around 9am, but that was because I kept tossing and turning due to the uncomfortable feeling of being squished between two people. I was overheating, cramped, had a lingering headache and, since I couldn't move much, my right side was going completely numb due to laying on it all night. Once I was able to get out, I curled up in my corner of the floor and slept until noon. I debated on what to wear for my first costume before taking a half hour to decide on Kumajiro. Took my sweet time, since I had the room to myself. After dressing and makeup, I left around 1:30. Trying to find a familiar face so I could cling (had a mild panic attack being left on my own), I found my way to consuite, where I continued to look. It was like being the new kid in a school cafeteria. After I got food, I found someone I played Cards with the night before and his pack let me sit with them. We talked for a while before Sike came up and chatted with me for a bit about when I wanted to leave the next day. He wanted to leave around 9am, but was giving me a choice. I was fine with 9, so we stuck with the original plan. He left and I was alone until Twisted came up. We talked about some things Bakie did the night before that confused me and about when I was leaving. He left just as I was greeted by a sheep fur and his friend, who sat with me and talked for a bit. Vix found me and we started making plans for the day and sticking around consuite for another hour before motivating. We just wandered aimlessly for a while before we made plans to get food later, inviting anyone we knew along the way. This was not only a food run but a chance for me to see the city, even if we weren't going very far. I was gonna hit the DR again, only for Vix to inform me they had closed a half hour prior. After my pack and Vix went to closing ceremonies, I went to my room, already tired of being in Kuma. I showered, which felt amazing on my sore joints and back, and dressed civilian, if a bit too nice for MCD's (I thought we were stopping at a nice place for pizza). While getting ready, Sike and Nite stopped by my room and we chatted as I got things together to leave. Made my way to the lobby around 6 to meet up with Vix. We looked around for Auracle (the only one to accept the invite) and found her in consuite, where we chatted with Jay for a bit before leaving. The three of us got to know each other quite well on the walk there and back, as well as while we ate. Vix had to go home upon our return, so we said our goodbyes before going to the MNFurs room to help Sike make a duct tape dummy for a fursuit. After putting some stuff in the car for the trip home, we headed over to consuite to grab the leftover food they were giving away. After that, we hit the gift shop and headed up to Innouva's room to play Cards. Sike, Nite and Auracle played while I ate. Only after Van and Sike left did I have the space to join. After a few hours and people taking short breaks, Innouva began to engage in conversation with me, asking if I had a good time. I was surprised at first, because I didn't know it was him (I've never seen him outside a fursuit until that weekend). When it finally registered, I was more open about my time and we touched on many other con related topics. Getting back to the game while still sticking to the conversation, a voice came over the loudspeaker around 3am, indicating that there was an emergency and we had to evacuate. All the furs that had been to MFF last year groaned on our way out. As we were on the way out of the building, we were told we could go back to our rooms. It was a fluke, but it was an effective buzz kill, as Cards weren't touched when we returned. The furs were upset about the alarm because it appears someone is always a dick at fur cons and an alarm goes off at some point during the weekend. We talked more about cons and jerks and what have you before my eye started twitching around 4am. That meant I had to get my contacts out and go to sleep. Auracle and I said our goodbyes before going back to our room, the rest of the pack sleeping. She set her alarm for me and we got ready for bed while trying to be quiet. We finally got to sleep around 4:30am. Auracle woke me up at 8am, but the wake up was so sudden that I went through bouts of nodding off as I tried to get my things together for a 30 minute time slot. Double checked my stuff (which I didn't do well enough, since I left some food behind by accident) and traded contact info with the pack. Made my way down to the lobby where Sike and Nite were waiting for me. After getting turned around and dealing with shitty construction workers, we were finally on the road by 9:30. We stopped for gas and I nosed around for food, which they severely lacked. After the promise to inform me when we would stop for lunch, I let myself sleep. It was about 12:30pm before we had lunch at Arby's. We filled up for gas again in Coloma and didn't have another stop until we hit my stop at Ridgedale Mall. The bus left just as we unloaded the car, but we didn't think anything of it, assuming there would be another in about a half hour. I ended up waiting for an hour and a half, the bus coming just after a panic attack started. I started to calm down once I boarded, but the driver...man, someone must have pissed in her Wheaties, she was such a bitch to me. My panic attack finally went away as the bus passed places I was familiar with. We made our stop at the Mound station around 7pm. Thinking this was the bus that stopped by my house, I sat around and waited as everyone got off. The driver was, once again, very rude to me and I had another panic attack at the thought of having to walk the half hour home with all my luggage. Not wanting to wait for another bus and just really needing physical comfort, I went to where my egg donor worked and broke down upon seeing her. I was shaky from fear and cold for a long chunk of time, accidentally getting my hot drink spilled on me because I couldn't hold the cup properly. She called the house to inform her boyfriend about what had happened, who was concerned that he hadn't heard from me since 5. I ended up staying there and eating a hot meal before her shift ended around 8:30. We got groceries and gas before heading home. I unpacked right away, poked the computer and curled up in a cat-like fashion in my bed a bit earlier than usual. This would be the con that would alter the way Velocity and I conducted rooming together at cons. If we could afford the room with just the two of us, then it would be just the two of us, instead of always staying with a group just to save some money.
The weekend started on Thursday with Nexus picking me up after work. We hit Goodwill for last minute cosplay shopping, along with picking up Chinese for dinner. While we ate and worked on cosplay, we watched Mulan, with was spent mostly reciting it line for line at certain parts XD We rushed to take showers before their mom could bar us from taking one, then we crashed early for the night. Friday started with my fuzzy brain not firing on all cylinders, thinking there was some miscommunication. Bless my con family for letting me sleep a little more. Even with me sleeping extra and taking my time in getting dressed, we still left earlier than planned with friends. We arrived around 1pm, showing everyone around the con space. We found Sohma shortly after, who allowed some of us to store our things in her room. Upon then, I changed into Elena and walked around for a bit with my fellow Turks while perusing the AA and DR. Sadly, by the time Velocity got there, we brought our luggage to the room and started getting ready for the formal ball, we weren't able to get in a photoshoot. Some drama ensued while getting ready for the ball and at the ball and it really set a crap mood for the rest of the weekend. I stayed later to try to fix the problem, but in the end, staying later fixed nothing and pissed off my friends that were waiting to go out to eat. After some photos, 4 couples headed to Denny's for a quad date. This ended up being a lot more hassle than it was worth due to the size and people involved, so the original 2 couples decided it best if we kept it to just us from now on. There was a basketball game that ensued, the hoop being my cleavage. I got cold near the end of the meal, so Velocity put her jacket around me until we got back around 11:30pm. After watching some Adventure Time and Ben 10, Velocity and I went to Serra and Asuma's room to drink. I was already tired, so after two glasses of wine, I couldn't stay up to watch the movie they were playing (totally didn't help that Velocity was petting my hair and rubbing my shoulder). Returned to our room and got to bed around 1am. A cramp in Velocity's leg woke us up a half hour earlier than planned. Sohma stopped by to return a shoe that had been left behind the day before. I enjoyed a nice shower and attempted to get into Sango. I had some problems with my cosplay, not something I wanted to deal with in the mood I was in that early. While I was changing, Nexus and Velocity watched Ben 10 while the former omnom'ed the food they just bought. Nexus left around 1pm to line up for autographs. I waited for Velocity, but she was having too many issues to be ready on time, so I left without her. The line for autographs was HUGE!!! Luckily, Sohma saved me a spot and she was at the front of the line. I was in and out within 15 minutes. It was during this time that my ride dropped a hell of a bombshell on me that compromised my ability to get home Sunday night (said he'd get me back to MN, but refused to drive me to my house until Monday). Texted Velocity to meet me in Sohma's room. We chatted for a bit, asking us if we wanted to have pizza in their room later that night. We all agreed. Velocity and I went down to check out some of the AA and DR, but didn't get very far before we needed to help with the WausaubiCon table and get pics of our InuYasha group. After that we changed into civilian clothes and headed over to Sohma's to eat. Much hilarity and snuggling ensued. After we ate, we gave the leftovers to other hungry peeps, who were more than excited about it. We returned to our room to watch Hetalia with Nexus, while Velocity tried to work on a cosplay. After a while, we went out to get pop and snacks from the front desk and so Velocity could smoke. We were gonna hit the sack upon returning, but we randomly started talking, which ended up with an hour of cuddling and watching each other play video games on her PSP. We finally went to bed around 3am. Woke up around 9am, followed Velocity out when she went to smoke and called my egg donor about the ride issue. She was LIVID that this kind of problem had come up and told me there was no way round it, as I figured. Went back to the room, half assed into Leon and moved luggage to his car. Took some time for me to get into the rest of my cosplay, since I needed help. We had 3 minutes to spare when we gave Serra the card keys. Velocity and I scoured the AA and DR much more closely this time around. Halfway through, we got a text, saying my ride wanted to leave. Still not having found a way to guarantee getting home, still having things I needed to do and not keen on leaving Velocity so soon, I talked to Chibi and Snow about taking me home instead. They agreed, only because they sold enough at their table to have room for another person in their vehicle. I relayed the info to my ride and did another luggage transfer. Said our goodbyes and went back to shopping. While talking to one of the dealers, a man tugged on my lab coat and asked for a picture, knowing who I was. I felt so happy at the recognition and held a convo with him about Star Ocean. We moved around the room some more before Velocity had to help with the WausaubiCon table again, leaving me to my own devices. Just as I finished shopping, she came looking for me, saying she had to go. After snuggles and smooches, I went to help Chibi and Snow with their table. It was such a weird feeling being behind the table, actually being able to help and such, like I was part of the team. After playing Tetris with everything, we loaded up and left at 5pm. We made two pitstops for fuel and snacks before finally getting on our way. The ride home was INCREDIBLE! I can no longer listen to Lady Gaga without laughing my ass off. In fact, my voice was only shot because I was using my Kuwabara voice for about a half hour straight. I got home around 10pm, which I promptly unpacked and settled in. My first, only and last Ryan con. It was such a terrible event, there was really nothing to do. I went not realizing it was one of his cons, but I probably would have had to go anyway (was spending the weekend with Nexus and they wanted to go). Worst $35 I ever spent.
My con started super late on Friday, shortly after I got picked up for the weekend. We went in to just see what was going on and to get our badges. Saw a couple friends there, took a couple pictures and went around the AA. As we were getting ready to leave, I saw Luxy. We chatted for a bit and he was talking about what a shame it was that the con was shitty and that he wouldn't be back the rest of the weekend. Had I known earlier that he'd not be coming back, I'd have yoinked his badge instead of putting money down on a crap con. Saturday started in the late morning. With no need for a hotel, we left Nexus' house and got to the con in the early afternoon. I was in a gay pride version of Ukraine and immediately got in line for Todd Haberkorn's autograph. The line wasn't terribly long, but it was going to be a while before the room opened up, so I sat down with some of the other people. A girl two heads behind me recognized me and went bat shit insane that she was sitting so close. The poor pre-teen between us had no idea what was going on. But they, by the time we got our autograph, said they had fun waiting in line and wanted a picture with me. So we did just that and I offered up a hug as well. After that, I made my way through the DR and AA, making small purchases here and there. Sat around and chatted with friends, then went with Ammy and Dock into the hot tub and stayed there even after they'd left. There really wasn't anything else to do, as programming was absolute shit. Got out and got my clothes back on and perused around the con for a bit until Nexus was ready to leave. We never came back on Sunday, as we were both pretty fed up. |
KB's Ramblings
Just writing here about my adventures in the cosplay scene. Archives
December 2016
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