What a week!!!
First of all, I must begin on a sad note. My dad put his foot down about Winston: either my brother have him put down, or my dad would do it. My mom was put to the hard task of convincing my brother. I stayed firmly out of it. That Monday, my mom made the appointment, which had to be for that night, before I got home from work. So I wouldn't have had a chance to say good-bye, except I did something unusual. I said good-bye to him before I left that morning to go to work. I *never* do that. I'm very glad I did. I did go home in between work and class, for several reasons. I cried all the way home from work; I had a bin in my car that I didn't want sitting in the parking lot all night; I wanted to see how my brother was doing. It was *really* hard.
So let me take a moment of silence for my brother's fifteen year old Irish Setter: Winston, you were well-loved, and we will miss you.
In other news, I dropped two of my classes. They are classes I resent taking in the first place, and they are morning classes. From here on out, I take only night classes. I'm done with morning. I can't get to them anyway. So my schedule is a wee bit lighter than it was.
Nan Desu Kan, commonly called NDK, was this weekend. Piper was supposed to go with me, only the night before, I got a text message from her, saying "So I don't think I'm going to be able to afford to go this weekend." I was taken aback, and I sent her a message back, "Go? Go where?" She sent me a reply--twice! Only I never got it. We were kind of communicating through Prue, who I was hanging out with at the time. Finally, after we were out of WalMart, I called her to confirm what I knew was coming: Piper couldn't go to NDK. I was disappointed. I understood. The only part that annoyed me was that I wished she had realized sooner, because that was last minute. I am just lucky that I had another friend who was going: a person who will be known as River...(which means I should probably switch fandoms. Whenever River is in an entry, Prue will be known as Inara and Piper will be known as Kaylee.)
River was going with a big group of her friends who were all cosplaying as Sailor Moon characters, with a few exceptions. After a short conversation with Kaylee, I called River up. She had to put the phone on speaker, because otherwise, she was juggling. (Her group was frantically trying to finish their awesome costumes.) I knew that she was probably busy, so I was already planning on keeping it short. I explained to her what had happened with Kaylee, and asked her if she would mind me hanging out with her friends all weekend. She didn't mind, so we made plans, then we hung up.
Inara and I spent the rest of the evening watching a bunch of Highlander, of which I apologize for. I was just really excited to show her the really intense Methos episodes, which are Come a Horseman and Revelation 6:8. We only got to the first one of them. But still! I had fun. I really, really wish I could hang out with Inara and Kaylee more often. *sniff sniff*
An odd aside...I had a strange feeling about this weekend. I somehow knew that Kaylee was not going to be able to attend this weekend. I don't know how I knew, but my intuition had told me all along that she wasn't going to be able to go in the end. I also had a weird feeing about this weekend. I couldn't even think about the future beyond it. There was this weekend...and then blackness. Something was supposed to happen this weekend...and it did!
Nan Desu Kan 2008
Friday
Nan Desu Kan 2008 started on a rather slow note. I got there at around 6:30 or 7. I hadn't gotten off work until 5, and then I had to go home, eat dinner, and change. I ate dinner at Tokyo Bowl (I am slowly becoming addicted to their salmon bowls!) Then I went home. I did everything I was planning on doing, and then walked out the door. I almost didn't make it. Dad was flipping through channels and turned on my all-time favorite mini-series: "The Tenth Kingdom." It was the part where Wolf is about to be burned at the stake for killing that slutty and annoying descendent of Bo Peep, and Virginia was freaking out. This mini-series starts off slow, but from this part on, it picks up the pace, and some of my favorite stuff happens after. So I almost didn't make it. I had to force myself out the door.
I drove to the con, which was held at the Mariott in the Denver Tech Center. At some point, I called River, to find out what was going on with them. They were either just leaving or somewhere in between where she lives and their hotel. I got in the LONG registration line, and registered for it. Then I kind of wandered around. I had my Bluebeard story with me to work on, but there was just too much activity going on around me to write. I had forgotten the atmosphere at the con. There's a jittery, electric excitement to the air. And everyone feeds on it and feeds back into it. I noted that there were a lot more people in costume than there were the last time I was there, which I believe was in 2005. I wasn't. My anime costumes do not fit me anymore (which sucks, since I have an *AWESOME* {if I do say so myself} Vampire Princess Miyu costume, that I designed and my mom made. I can't sew on a sewing machine. Yet.) I was wearing one of my most comfortable shirts and white jeans. I made a decision fairly quickly that I would dress up for the next two days. I do have plenty of Renassaince costumes that I can wear. I also realized that I had forgotten my camera. *sigh*
I got bored while waiting for River and her friends, so I called my friends. I couldn't get ahold of Kaylee or Inara. But I did manage to get ahold of Paige (who does not have a Firefly name). We talked for a little bit. But I had to let her go, because she was eating. I felt bad. I called River again, just to get an ETA out of her. She said that some people were already at the con, and some were still getting into their costumes. So I just kept wandering around. I eventually decided my Witch Hunter Robin bag was getting too heavy to carry, so I took it back to the car. It was getting dark by that point, but I decided to remain outside, watching this group play Twister on the grass. It was quite amusing. At one point, a really awesome guy showed up with a Jurassic Park jeep and a Ghostbusters car blaring the "Ghostbusters" song. Everyone standing outside started cheering. It was unbelievable! And so awesome! I watched that spectacle for a short while, before deciding to call River back. She told me they were parked and headed towards the hotel. I turned around, and asked her if she could hear the "Ghostbusters" music. She said no. But then I spotted her, and she saw me. I started walking that way, and we hung up. She stopped, in her lovely Sailor Saturn costume, and I glomped her. It was a weak glomp. But still. Then we walked into the hotel. I got quick introductions to everyone. However, it took until Sunday evening for me to be confident in names.
Very quickly, myself and the ninja who I am going to call Relena, because that's who she dressed as for the rest of the convention, were quite amused as person after person after person accosted the group. But that's what comes of having a whole bunch of people dress as such well-known characters. There was a Sailor Saturn, as I said, a Sailor Jupiter, a Sailor Mars, and a Sailor Mercury. A few minutes after this, the rest of their group joined them. This group rocks! They had four guys who were dressed as the generals from Sailor Moon! That night, they had Zoisite, Nephrite, and Kunzite (Zoicite, Nephlite, and Malacite, from the dub). Jaedite couldn't get the weekend off work, so he wasn't there until late Saturday night.
Unfortunately, though, all of this accostation (is that a word?) had a price. The registration line closed. A little later, we were told that there was an after-hours place for those who had pre-registered. There were two in our group who hadn't pre-registered, so they had to wait until the next morning. They got their badges, though not without a little trouble that chibisaturnbetter explains in her journal.
We spent the rest of the evening, and indeed, the weekend, just hanging out. We eventually ended up at Wendy's, since they had not eaten dinner yet. I had gotten dinner right after I left work. But I was thirsty, and I wanted to hang out with them. So I got a drink. I got to know her friends a bit better. Dinner was quite a lot of fun.
When we chose to end the evening, River and I made plans where I would meet them in their hotel room (they were staying at a different hotel than the one NDK was held at.) I followed them to their hotel, so I would know where it was. And I went home.
Saturday
I woke up and convinced my mom to lace me into my awesome corset. I dressed as a pirate. I felt I could get away with it, especially with the whole "pirate vs. ninja" battles that go on. I called River to get coffee orders. Yes, I bribed them with coffee, lol. But seriously, I was going to get coffee for myself. Starbucks has brought back the delicious pumpkin spice lattes, and I knew I was going to need coffee to survive this weekend. There's a Starbucks two blocks from my house. So it wasn't out of my way, and I figured if I was going to need it, everyone else was going to need it too. Therefore, I got coffe orders. I got two marriage proposals out of it. River proposed to me, which I accepted. Then Sailor Jupiter proposed to me for bringing her chocolate. It was quite amusing.
Sailor Mars, Relena, River, and I were the last ones to leave the hotel. I followed River in my own car to the con. We met up with everyone who had already gotten there. Sailor Jupiter and someone who dressed as a character from I believe Naruto were already in the registration line, since they still needed to. River, Sailor Mars, and I waited for them. At one point, I took Sailor Mars into the bathroom because she had gotten red eye make-up on her costume. I proceeded to scrub out the stain with a paper towell and water. I got most of it off, and another marriage proposal. We walked back out, and met up with everyone else who was waiting. Kunzite showed up, needing his white wig combed out. I did that for him, even though he is quite a bit taller than me. Everything I didn't get, River fixed.
Once everyone had their badges, we started wandering. Things are a little blurry at this point. Forgive me, I had very little sleep over the weekend. I know we found our way to the dealer's room. I bought several yaoi books. River found a great Sailor Saturn picture. The dealer's room was actually really amusing, because the vendor I bought my books from was right next to the entrance/exit, so I got to see everyone coming and going. I know at one point every single member of River's group was in the room, all of them without knowing it. River took her Sailor Mercury to where she had bought the Sailor Saturn picture, to try to find her favorite scout. Eventually, the people I was with decided to go looking for them, and we found them at the same vendor, along with almost everyone else. Mercury was trying to decide between a Sailor Mercury picture and a picture of the inner Sailor Scouts. I think it was Nephrite who convinced her to buy the Mercury picture.
We sort of stuck together after that. Poor Mercury, though, discovered a run, and wanted River to fix it. River asked me if I was comfortable enough with her friends to stay with them while she ran Mercury back to the hotel. Surprisingly, for me, I was. Her friends are awesome! We waited outside the dealer's room for awhile, before we realized we should probably get in line for the Anime Music Video contest. We did get in line. Several people called back and forth, to make sure River and Mercury knew where we were. Murphy's Law was unfortunately working on River and Mercury, but they eventually found their way back to us. I had remembered my camera, so I started taking pictures and videos of them in line. (I was also very bored.) We finally got into the AMV's. There were some really awesome videos this year! Unfortunately, the Sailor Scouts and the generals left early, because they were supposed to be part of an unofficial Sailor Moon photo-shoot. They missed it, anyway, but there was another planned for the next day, which was going to be better anyway. They would have all the generals then.
I knew which music video was going to win Best of Show after the AMV's. It was easy to predict. It also won Best Comedy. I felt bad for River, though. She missed the music video she really wanted to see, which was a Fruits Basket one to the trailer for "Beauty and the Beast." It was a funny video. The comedies are really some of the best.
After the AMV's, I think we had lunch. We kind of hung around for a bit, then returned to the con. Not long after that, we got into line for the Costume/Cosplay contest...which they should have entered! Their costumes ROCKED! And they *made* them! It's incredible to me! It was nine months of "blood, sweat, tears, and laughter...sometimes all at once!" As one of them put it.
Anyway, aside over. I took a bunch of videos while waiting in line for that as well. I got a really funny one of Zoicite holding Mercury with one hand while Jupiter and him tickle-tortured her. It was amusing. I also got a picture of River and I. (Obviously, I didn't take that one. I'm not really sure who did at this point. It was a blurry weekend.)
The Costume/Cosplay contest was awesome! This contest gets more impressive every year. The costumes so well-done! One of River's friends was in it, and she had done a costume that included wings...that she made herself! She won one of the judges' awards too! Congratulations to her!
The Cosplay part was *awesome*! The first skit was called "Epic Battle" with a ninja, pirate, and a zombie duking it out! They were great. They had clearly practiced and they stayed in character the whole time. There were others that were good, but that one was my favorite.
We went to Wendy's after that to have dinner. But first we had to deal with the thunderstorm that was going on. o_O I was not really afraid. My costume was designed to get wet and survive. The only thing that bothered me was the lightning. Poor Saturn! Her boots were not designed for the weather. There were puddles everywhere. I was the first one to my car and got it started. I went back and picked up a few of them. Then, instead of walking to Wendy's as we had the night before, we drove. It was interesting trying to find tables for about 14 people, so that no one had to sit alone. But we managed it. There were tons of other people from the con there as well. I'm sure this place does fantastic business during these weekends.
I was exhausted and so was River. We made plans to return to the hotel room. Nephrite was making plans to ensure that Jaedite finally joined us. But he was delayed, and he wouldn't be able to make it to the con until the next morning. So Nephrite gave River the key, which she handed to me, to make sure she didn't mix up with hers. When we left, I ended up getting to the hotel first. I figured that Jaedite would already be there, and he was. I introduced myself, and we chatted for a bit until River and the others she had with her got there. There was a problem with the key. Somehow, it got demagnetized. But it was fixed. I walked back to River's room with her, and stayed for just a tiny while. I was exhausted. We made plans for the next morning.
This night was horrible when it came to sleeping. I dreamt I was still at the con, which was fine. I also dreamed I was taking pictures of them, which was funny. However, I was awakened from my sound sleep by a stupid charley horse! I was able to rub it down, but it was sore for the entire day.
Sunday
I was running a little behind on this morning. I wanted to sleep as long as I could. I also couldn't initially find any parts of what I wanted to wear: not the skirt, the blouse, or the cloak. After what took *forever,* I found them. Then I called River for more coffee orders. I spent the entire drive over there wanting to kill something. I vented a bit to Relena and Jupiter, and started feeling better. Then I drank my coffee, and it made me feel even better.
We drove back to the con. We went to the art show for a brief time. There was some *gorgeous* stuff in there. River had to talk Relena out of something. I was proud of myself. I didn't buy anything. We sat down outside of the art show, where there were some chairs, waiting for the others. River brushed out Kunzite's wig, which really needed it. I took a ton of pictures of them on this day. Many candids. A lot of them came out well, too. ^_^
This was also the day where I talked to River about possibly joining them the next year, as Sailor Venus. The day before, Mars initiated a conversation about "Sailor Moon," which I thought was just about that. But when she found out my favorite scout was one they didn't have, she brought up the idea of me being one of them. I had to think about it...hard. But when my mind started coming up with practical solutions for finding things like Venus' shoes, I realized this was something I wanted to do. So I let River know. She eventually let everyone else know as well.
After everyone else joined us, River and I went to the AMV's redo, to see the "Beauty and the Baka" music video. Unfortunately, she missed it this day as well. I just hope whoever it was who entered it posts it on-line at some point, so she can see it. It was really funny! ^_^
At one point, we went to a panel to see a guy who worked on Robotech and a game franchise called Journeyman, I think? ^_^; Nephrite really wanted to see it, so the rest of us followed him. It was really interesting. Found out that they almost made Robotech into a 3-D show...that sucked. o_O Oh my god, did it suck. So glad it didn't happen. It was fun. Nephrite was able to ask questions about the game that sent the guy into nostalgia lane. It was amusing. ^_^ The rest of us enjoyed it.
I just have to say here that I enjoy the panels at NDK. I have enjoyed every single panel I have ever been to. I have been to several writing panels over the years, and a few acting panels. Even when I don't know who the people involved are, I still enjoy listening to them. I would reccommend everyone try to go to at least one panel per con. They are great!
We seperated for a little while. River, Relena, and I went to the AMV awards. We missed the very beginning, where they started the videos. But I'm pretty sure the only one we missed was the video game award. I wrote down who the winners were, which was good, because River and I were able to repeat the winners later to everyone else.
Luckily, this didn't take very long, and we met up with everyone else for the photoshoot. Unfortunately, the only others who showed up were these two Witches from the manga, and a Neptune. However, it was still really awesome. I got *tons* of pictures and videos from this time. I got a bunch of pictures of them in groups: villains, scouts, battles, a tug-of-war, and matching generals with scouts. Go to this website: www.youtube.com/qtecuttlfish, to see the videos I took.
After this incredible photo-shoot, we decided to go to lunch. They all had sandwiches. But I didn't feel like a sandwich, so I walked to Wendy's. We hung out together for lunch, then walked back to the con. The rest of the day was rather quiet.
We ended up hanging out mostly in the atrium of the hotel. A few of us walked through the area that I think was known as Artists' Row. River and I had gone through there earlier in th day. We found a wand we both wanted. It was a gorgeous wand made out of a violet wood that was just going to get more so as it got older. The handle was also decorated with purple beading. It was *beautiful*! However, it was also really expensive. Too expensive for either of us to buy. We also found a few more wands we liked, but neither of us bought one. Later, though, Nephrite found a set of "Firefly" bookmarks that an artist had done. We split the cost (which reminds me: I still owe her for it. Please, River, remind me the next time I see you!) I took half; she took half. They are really neat! I took Zoe, Wash (because he goes with Zoe), Kaylee, Simon, and Jayne. River got herself (lol), Mal, Inara, Book, and Serenity.
We moved around a little in the atrium. First we were right next to Artists' Row. Then we moved over to a corner that had a couch and two chairs. More of us got to sit down that way. I took more pictures. (I love my camera!) I also love taking candid pictures of people.
We eventually made our way into the Main Events for Closing Ceremonies. They were trying to decide what to do after. They wanted one last "hurrah!" in their costumes, so they decided to wear them to dinner. However, there was a bit of a quandry. I live down around the area where the con was held. They all live further north than that. Relena was *exhausted* at that point. She really wanted to go home. However, they didn't want to stop hanging out with me either. And they were all nice enough to not want to make the decision for either of us. I decied to make the decision: I got a Pepsi from the hotel gift shop and drove up with them. First, River, Relena, Jupiter, and I stopped by my house, so River and I could change. River did not want to drive in her Sailor Saturn costume. Then we left.
We stopped by River's house briefly, to unload the car, and allow River to change back. ^_^ Unfortunately, Relena went home, because she was so tired. Everyone else went to dinner in their costumes. I mentioned, "One of these things is not like the other." I was the only one of them not in costume, until the youngest's parents arrived. Dinner was nice and relaxing. Mercury and Jupiter looked at the pictures on my camera.
When dinner was over, I got hugs from everybody. ^_^ I felt nice and welcomed. I hope I get to see them again sometime soon (*hint hint* River ~_^). Jupiter, River, and I returned to River's. Jupiter left soon after, but I remained. I had already figured that driving home was not the best thing to do after how little sleep I had had all weekend long. River and I talked for a long while (which is something new and different, right, River? ~_^) Then we went to bed.
I ended up getting only five hours of sleep, but that was okay. I woke up feeling free and happier than I have been in a *really* long time. I spent the next two days flying higher than a kite. The only thing that brought me back down to reality was being poked by a needle for the TB test my school requires for all teacher licensure students. When I fell, I fell hard. But I'm still happy. A lot of things changed this weekend. I am *so* glad I met River's friends. Even if I never see them again, I will be forever grateful I knew them. I spent much of the weekend telling River how awesome her friends are, and I still think they are really awesome individuals. I really hope I get the chance to know them better.
Thank you so much, River! This weekend was probably the best weekend of my life, and was the best con I have ever been to. So thank you, and all of your friends! ^_^