beginning of March,, and beyond
March 2011 begins, and the year is already 2 months over with. I haven't posted here in a while, so it's nice to be able to post on something other than Facebook and cosplay.com, and hopefully most of my friends here will read this.
2011 has been off to a good start, with January conventions being pretty good with Anime Los Angeles and OhayoCon. Followed by Katsucon in February, all 3 cons so-far this year have been very entertaining and I got a lot of nice pictures.
Now it's March, and no conventions for me this entire month. (No Animeland Wasabi for me this year.) But my month will be busy since I have to fight for the San Diego Comic Con Hotel rooms on March 9th, and then reserve my spots for the FanimeCon Swap Meet on March 15th. Oh, yeah, it's also my b-day on March 15th. haha Even though I turn the big 40, it's not too big a deal, but then again it is. (more shortly)
Then the end of March/beginning of April begins a busy month with WonderCon, and that weekend will mark my return to my hometown Sci-Fi/Comic convention (missed it last year due to it being on the same weekend as SakuraCon.) I also plan to do something different this year, and I can't really disclose the details now, but it will take up most of my weekend, meaning I won't take as many pictures at WonderCon but I'll still get pictures. (please come-up and say hi to me if you're going and see me!) Then later on in April comes the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, and then SakuraCon, and then the Nor. CA gathering, and then nothing until FanimeCon at the end of May.
Even though I told myself that last year's Fanime Swap Meet would be my last, I'm participating in it again this year, selling a lot of stuff. I'm selling DVD's, Blu-Ray movies, Super Eurobeat CD's, my Sony XPLOD boombox, my Xbox 360 system, all of my Xbox 360 games (including my autographed copy of FFXIII), my Kasumi-adjusting-her-thigh-high-stocking figures, a pair of Chinese retractable swords, some posters, my GIANT movie standee's for Silk Spectre 2 from Watchmen and the Baroness from G.I. Joe, and my Hibiki Takane (Last Blade 2, Capcom vs. SNK 2) costume including the cane-sword. Anyone interested in any items, feel free to ask.
Now to get serious.. While I'm looking forward to this year of cons, the fact remains that my father's health has not been the very best, dating back to last year. It was before Fanime last year when he was diagnosed with cancer, and then went into the hospital in mid-June, causing him to miss my younger brother's wedding (the weekend of Anime Expo.) Since then he's recovered and been at-home, with my mom taking-care of him and my 2 brothers and I have been visiting him when possible. A few emergencies now & then, he's stable but it's hard to say how long he has. (If we're lucky, he'll be alive to see Harry Potter 7 Part 2 in-theaters come July, and we'll have to find a way to take him to a local theater to watch it. haha)
I can't say as of now if he passes how it will affect my conventions; if he passes either before a con, or while I'm at one. I am sure everyone will understand if I have to cancel on any conventions, leave unexpectedly, or stay at a con until it's over and then go home to take care of the family. I thank you for your support if/when that time comes.
For my birthday, my father wanted to get me something nice, like a new computer, but I'm happy with my current one. He offered to get me a new camera, and while my current one is still very good, i'm thinking about asking him for the funds to get a Sony A700 (online only) body. I would feel bad asking for a Sony A850 body, since it's quite expensive, but since he knows this would be my last birthday he celebrates, he wants me to be happy. (He plans to get my older brother a new laptop in May.)
Back to less-depressing stuff. I'm doing okay, being of good health and sound-mind, and not suffering any mid-life crisis yet, thankfully, haha I forsee myself still being very active in the convention circuit, and taking nice pictures where I go. Perhaps that's why I want to get a nice, professional camera, and just concentrate on doing photo-shoots at conventions. I still like the hall-cosplay scene, and it allows me to meet new cosplayers do take more pictures of them, but it's also nice to see older friends that I've known longer. I just can't seem to get into video-games anymore, RPG's to fighting-games (not going to get Marvel vs. Capcom 3 or the new Mortal Kombat game.) and don't mind parting with everything come Fanime. The internet, conventions, cosplay photography, and some movies is really all I need to get by.
Thank you for reading my long post, and I appreciate your concerns, comments, and look forward to seeing you in April/May and beyond at conventions for more pictures and fun-times. Good luck to you in finishing up those costumes: my camera will be waiting! -Al
2011 has been off to a good start, with January conventions being pretty good with Anime Los Angeles and OhayoCon. Followed by Katsucon in February, all 3 cons so-far this year have been very entertaining and I got a lot of nice pictures.
Now it's March, and no conventions for me this entire month. (No Animeland Wasabi for me this year.) But my month will be busy since I have to fight for the San Diego Comic Con Hotel rooms on March 9th, and then reserve my spots for the FanimeCon Swap Meet on March 15th. Oh, yeah, it's also my b-day on March 15th. haha Even though I turn the big 40, it's not too big a deal, but then again it is. (more shortly)
Then the end of March/beginning of April begins a busy month with WonderCon, and that weekend will mark my return to my hometown Sci-Fi/Comic convention (missed it last year due to it being on the same weekend as SakuraCon.) I also plan to do something different this year, and I can't really disclose the details now, but it will take up most of my weekend, meaning I won't take as many pictures at WonderCon but I'll still get pictures. (please come-up and say hi to me if you're going and see me!) Then later on in April comes the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, and then SakuraCon, and then the Nor. CA gathering, and then nothing until FanimeCon at the end of May.
Even though I told myself that last year's Fanime Swap Meet would be my last, I'm participating in it again this year, selling a lot of stuff. I'm selling DVD's, Blu-Ray movies, Super Eurobeat CD's, my Sony XPLOD boombox, my Xbox 360 system, all of my Xbox 360 games (including my autographed copy of FFXIII), my Kasumi-adjusting-her-thigh-high-stocking figures, a pair of Chinese retractable swords, some posters, my GIANT movie standee's for Silk Spectre 2 from Watchmen and the Baroness from G.I. Joe, and my Hibiki Takane (Last Blade 2, Capcom vs. SNK 2) costume including the cane-sword. Anyone interested in any items, feel free to ask.
Now to get serious.. While I'm looking forward to this year of cons, the fact remains that my father's health has not been the very best, dating back to last year. It was before Fanime last year when he was diagnosed with cancer, and then went into the hospital in mid-June, causing him to miss my younger brother's wedding (the weekend of Anime Expo.) Since then he's recovered and been at-home, with my mom taking-care of him and my 2 brothers and I have been visiting him when possible. A few emergencies now & then, he's stable but it's hard to say how long he has. (If we're lucky, he'll be alive to see Harry Potter 7 Part 2 in-theaters come July, and we'll have to find a way to take him to a local theater to watch it. haha)
I can't say as of now if he passes how it will affect my conventions; if he passes either before a con, or while I'm at one. I am sure everyone will understand if I have to cancel on any conventions, leave unexpectedly, or stay at a con until it's over and then go home to take care of the family. I thank you for your support if/when that time comes.
For my birthday, my father wanted to get me something nice, like a new computer, but I'm happy with my current one. He offered to get me a new camera, and while my current one is still very good, i'm thinking about asking him for the funds to get a Sony A700 (online only) body. I would feel bad asking for a Sony A850 body, since it's quite expensive, but since he knows this would be my last birthday he celebrates, he wants me to be happy. (He plans to get my older brother a new laptop in May.)
Back to less-depressing stuff. I'm doing okay, being of good health and sound-mind, and not suffering any mid-life crisis yet, thankfully, haha I forsee myself still being very active in the convention circuit, and taking nice pictures where I go. Perhaps that's why I want to get a nice, professional camera, and just concentrate on doing photo-shoots at conventions. I still like the hall-cosplay scene, and it allows me to meet new cosplayers do take more pictures of them, but it's also nice to see older friends that I've known longer. I just can't seem to get into video-games anymore, RPG's to fighting-games (not going to get Marvel vs. Capcom 3 or the new Mortal Kombat game.) and don't mind parting with everything come Fanime. The internet, conventions, cosplay photography, and some movies is really all I need to get by.
Thank you for reading my long post, and I appreciate your concerns, comments, and look forward to seeing you in April/May and beyond at conventions for more pictures and fun-times. Good luck to you in finishing up those costumes: my camera will be waiting! -Al