Monday, September 12, 2005

Updating my journal - AFest
So, last weekend, I traveled to the Kingdom of Dallas with Mint and Levi and adventured in the Epic Level Raid known as AFest. All stupid MMORPG terms aside, the covention was okay. I have to say, at this point, convention events rarely interest me too much... I'm much more interested in hanging out with my friends.

The convention itself, I found to be kinda silly. There is no need for it to be four days. I know that staff and guests in some cases found this better, as the con wasn't as "cluttered" as shorter conventions tend to be... but in all honesty, there was many times when it seemed like NOTHING was going on at AFest, wheras I never saw a point in which I felt there was nothing going on at Ushicon and A-Kon.

Of course, the four day convention thing is almost a standard... I mean, while Ushicon is technically a three day convention, with it's Matsuri, it really comes out to be around four days. But at least with Ushicon, things seem to be planned pretty solidly. I don't know, I don't want to inflate any egos of the Ushi staff (they have enough of an ego as it is... Heheheh) but at least Ushicon seems to have a sort of I dunno... I was never really bored at Ushicon. (Well, last year was a bit silly for me, but the year before strikes me as being just amazing with it's craziness. And I mean that in a good way. Plus, I really liked running Exalted and getting to talk to people. Thus, why I look forward to Linucon.)

Not that the AFest staff didn't try. I think Afest wasn't the most entertaining of conventions... but at least it's staff seemed to be all level headed and cool. Anyone I talked to seem to be good people, I personally didn't have any trouble with security (Then agian, besides A-Kon one year, I've NEVER had trouble with security. Unless of course, I'm trying to make trouble for a security staff... *laughs* Just kidding!)

The guest line up was pretty damn amazing. I have to say, I don't know if I can ever hear Yakusoku wa Iranai ever the same way agian. I mean, the song was originally good, but now that Maaya's gotten older, she's got such a more powerful voice. Her rendition at Afest was truly amazing! Of course, getting to hear Kiseki no Umi was really good. It didn't have the same force of emotion as Yakusoku, but it was still truly wonderful to get to hear the Lodoss - Heroic Knight theme in person.

The thing that truly set the mood for this convention, however, was hanging out with all my friends, old, online, and new! I was trying my hardest to make sure I hung out with every friend I could at AFest. I did this to varying degrees of success. *laughs*

I went on my great journey with Mint and Levi (Anubis on the Ushi BBS), in which our party was later joined by Phlinx. Of course, they had to put up with my singing, and shenanigans. *laughs* I kind of felt bad becuase I stayed with them over Helena and Scortia becuase I was worried I'd hang out with them entirely too much, and thus essentially snub Helena and Scortia and bunch... when instead, it turned out to be the exact oppisite. I had a tendency to hang out with other people, and not them enough. Of course, they do see me nearly every other week... but it didn't help me from feeling a little bad. I wasn't quite as Sugoi as usual. Gomen guys!

Greg, Galena, Josh, Brandy, Chase and JoJo - Heh, I don't hang out with you guys enough, so I figured I'd be a pest this weekend! *laughs* Messing around with Greg's nothing new for me... getting to talk with Galena is always fun. I owe a great deal to the two of them, and even if I don't seem like it, I look up to both of you alot. In my own strange sort of way. *laughs* Josh and Brandy are pretty cool. It's not like I've NEVER talked with them before, but I haven't gotten to talk with them with such depth. Josh Hearn amuses me to no end. I don't know how to describe talking with him. I haven't had that many conversations with him, but he's all cool and such. Brandy is quite fun to talk with, has a D&D collection that truly rivals my own, and is the first person I've seen at a dance from the Ushi Staff. (Which is quite embaressing becuase I don't know how to dance!) Chase, I haven't gotten to know, but near the end of uh... Friday night? He told me about some new Sci Fi books I'm really kind of itching to pick up. Admitadly, most of the military science fiction I've read is Hienlen's work, so I wouldn't mind trying to read some new stuff. JoJo, I think I talked with for a good deal of time. Heh, and he gave me some ramen. It's not that I didn't have anything to eat, just as much that I neglected eating, to answer my upset stomache. Something that didn't work out very well. *laughs* We talk a good deal, and it's cool. I really want to game with him. Along with other folks, of course!

Katie - While on that note, this seuges right into you. *laughs* I'm being told I was percieved as rude with the whole comment on the bells thing. *laughs* Cheer up, you of all people should know I only act like an ass to those I feel comfortable with speaking to! And seriously, I had a headache, and those bells in one's ear can be really annoying! It's a cute look, but take out the hammers in the bells. It'll look cute and Asuna like then, and not be annoying. Of course, you don't have to take my word for it. (Woah, did anyone else see Geordi La'For-- I mean, Levar Burton. Reading Rainbow flashbacks.) *laughs and shrugs* If you want, I can be all awkward and weird around you, but I figured being otherwise would be better. *laughs*

Helena - Man, did you have the most bad ass Mahou Tsukai Tai costume ever! (Raise your hand if you didn't think I was going to make that joke? Anyone? Noone? Good.) As I've told you many times in person, your Hamel costume was every degree of badassery possible. Your Sizer and Rip costumes were cool and all, but I honestly think the work done on Hamel was amazing. Except for the contacts. They were kinda freaky. *laughs* But I guess that adds to the look. *laughs* We actually hung out at a convention! Huzzah! *laughs* I was bound determined to change my habit of just saying hi and speaking in passing with you. It was really fun hanging out with you and everyone at AFest!

Scortia - Which leads into you! We had begun speaking before AFest, but we finally got to meet! (In actuality, I think we spoke a few times before this, as well... Such as your Utena panel and so on...) You have the enthusiam for anime that I have, and that's so incredibly cool! *laughs* And the same ability to want to cosplay so many things that you can't do it all... something I totally understand as well. We got to talk a bit, and it was really fun! Besides, I can't help but love anyone who cosplays Sakura! I can't wait to see you at another con!

Zohra - Uh, I don't know what screennames you like to use yet... and I just kinda got used to calling you Zohra! It was really cool to meet another Sonic Team fan! I almost want to say I spent more time ranting and raving with you then any other person! *laughs* Since meeting you, I've had so many really interesting and intelligent conversations with you! It's really honestly cool to get to talk with you! It was fun hanging out too! *laughs* One of these days we so have to do that Mahou Tsukai Tai cosplay! *laughs* And your artwork is quite good! I want you to know I was really impressed with it! Heh, I'm graced with getting to know such cool artists like you, Gret, and Helena.

James of the Shaggywolfness - On the same note, I got to talk with you a bit more this convention. You seem to be a cool person. *laughs* As an unfortunate sideeffect of hanging out with you and your friends, I've picked up the bad habit of playing Yu-Gi-Oh agian. *sighs and shrugs* Inevitably money I shouldn't be spending on crazy stuff... but eh, it's my love... *laughs*

VIIIICCCEEEEE - We actually got to talk for once and even game! I really want to spend more time hanging out with you at a con! To anyone who doesn't know, Justin's been a long friend of mine since like... gosh, four or five years ago when he was cosplay... well, Vice! *laughs* Getting to actually talk with you at a convention was fun, and play CVS 2... even though as soon as I saw Bison, I was like... "Crrraappp." *laughs* I should get Live agian. I'm suspecting the 360 will inspire Live to be reborn for me agian. Until then, I need to sharpen my skillz for a rematch! *laughs*

Katy - It was really cool to meet you. Of course, I'm a fan of any person that would cosplay SNK characters! More then just a good looking Kyo (*sighs* Better looking then my own Kyo! *sighs dramatically* ) you were really fun to talk with! I really hope you can make it out to Ushicon! *laughs* I wish I had more to say, but yeah!

Cosmic - Jeff! It was really damn good to see you agian! So good I had to add damn to that last sentence! *laughs* I really kind of miss talking with you! We chatted a few times, but I wouldn't mind actually talking with you some more! *laughs* One of these cons, Jeff!

Drew - All joking aside Drew, it was really good to see you. It's really been a long while since I've seen you. *laughs* I really wouldn't mind getting to talk with you a bit more, heh, it's been so long! And that job offer is pretty tempting. I might have to get in touch with you about it. Although the concept of you as a Secruity head still fills me with some degree of worry. Who puts a cute girl in charge of security. Mwahahahahahahahahah! (Yeah, come on... we all knew I'd have to put the words cute and Drew together at least once. At least I started pretty serious, right? )

Bam2 - Greg! It was really cool getting to actually talk and hang out with you! Ghost Stories, with everything you told me, sounds to be really cool! I'll have to check it out! The dance was bad ass! I had the most fun at your dance!

PJade - Man, I totally apologize for not getting to talk with you more then in passing. In all honesty, I was trying to make sure I'd cover all my friends, but as said, I couldn't help it in some areas. For that I totally apologize! I'll try to make sure I get more time in to talk with you next convention!

Tabby - Drinking is bad! You shouldn't drink! *falls over laughing* Good to see you agian! And uh... yeah!

Tala - And I so have to give special thanks to Tala! She gave me the pass that I used through the convention! If it wasn't for her, I may not have even gone! I really have to thank you alot, Tala! You're a good friend, and I hope I didn't bother you too much when I decided to start drinking while you were sleeping. (I'm not too loud of a drinking type person... unless I'm trying to talk with someone when they are watching a movie... poor Helena...)

In conclusion, AFest was many degrees of badassery! The folks running that Serenity T-Shirt shop were really cool! I hope they are at Linucon, and I can buy one of their shirts! The concert was cool, I only drank one night, and it wasn't too bad!

Anyhoo, I'll put up another rant later on tonight! Just sort of copying and pasting from my Livejournal right now! Anyhoo! Ciao, folks!

PS: We'll see if I'm at Main Event tonight. Kind of depends on if I'm watching Final Fantasy VII: Advent Childern tonight or not with a friend! We'll see how it goes!

Agian, ciao folks!

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