Nicholas Leifker wrote:

     Hey, everybody.

     About A-Kon...

     The best description I can give for how the con went for me is 
hectic.  I found myself running from event to place to event, with not 
much time for real rest.

And trying to find parking.

     The most enjoyable thing?  Sitting in either Tokyo-one or Denny's 
or Whataburger, talking with people and just chewing the fat (in more 
ways than one).  I had some beautiful discussions with Richard, Zen, 
Lara, Travis, Doug, Blade, Gadekan, and others in these locales, and 
(along with the panel) this will be the most memorable part of the 
experience.  The last meal in Scoops was one that I needed, as I felt 
like I'd been running everyone everywhere.

Nod.  This was really cool, and is the primary reason I go to cons (I
don't watch much anime there... too crowded).  Hopefully I can make it
to something besides just A-kon this year, and meet more people.

     Friday night was a blast.  Imagine a number of the most 
opinionated writers around a table, scarfing sushi and debating 
characterization with some of the most admittedly opinionated writers 
out there (myself included).

     One thing I have to admit, because he sometimes gets a bad rap: 
Blade, if you ever meet him in person, is one of the coolest people 
you'll ever meet.  Arrogance is usually spawned by intelligence, and 
Blade certainly has it in abundance.  Some of the discussions we got 
into were the most enjoyable I've had in ages.  Also, he makes a very 
convincing Tarou-human when in costume.

Nod.  Just because a person is opinionated doesn't mean they aren't a
great guy.  Heck, I'd say *most* of us are a bit on the opinionated
side.

     The panel wasn't as good as I would have liked, though it was 
pretty good; I thought we got off on tangents too much.  I decided to 
try letting the audience ask the questions; problem is, that tends to 
lead the group off topic.

*shrug*  I enjoyed it; being on the panel was an interesting
experience.  Fun, really, and I hope I have the chance to do it again. 
The fanfic panel is always one of my favorite events at a con (that and
the art auction are the only two events I am certain to be at.  Anything
else is optional).

     *sigh*  Now I know how Tybalt feels.  ^_^

Heh.
 

     As for the stuff, I got some Rurouni Kenshin and Sailor Moon 
manga, a couple of CD singles ("It's Moon Revenge...ooooohhh..."), a 
Tenchi cel, and a beautiful Hotaru model from the Art Show.  Too bad 
Sean wasn't there... ^_-

Nod.  *Very* nice model.

Things I learned from A-Kon 9:

All good writers are arrogant.  Some of us are just able to disguise 
it better.  ^_^

And some aren't.  *grin*

If you are arrogant in front of other writers, even accidently, dive 
for cover.  Bokken and battle spats may be headed your way.

*chuckle*  That depends on the degree of the arrogance, now doesn't it?

Just because a place has more hotel rooms does not mean that it has 
more parking.  And I thought school parking was bad...

No kidding.  My friend and I literally spent over half an hour looking
for a parking place Saturday afternoon (mainly because I was nice enough
to let the young lady who saw one space at the same time I did have it).

If you're religious, the Serenity prayer can work wonders at a con.
Nothing *ever* goes as planned.

Translated : Nothing ever runs on schedule, unless you're the one
running late. 

VLARPers suck the life out of cons.  They also suck other things too, 
but we'll not go into that here.  One word: POSEUR.

No comment. *grin*

To quote Sachel Paige, "Don't look back.  Something might be gaining 
on you."  Especially a VLARPer something.

*chuckle*

If the con staff isn't willing to do it's job, do it yourself - then
complain later.

If you're running a panel, do not leave in the middle of it for 
anything else, else you might get an irate writer at your throat.

Nod nod.  Or a horde thereof.

Do not spend too much time with one member of the opposite sex unless 
you want the rumor mill to start flying.  Especially when you drove to 
the con with said person.

Heh.  And neither of them commented on this?  *grin*

Anything can happen in an elevator.  Anything.

That could be interpereted *really* badly.

Stormy : *ZAP* Douglas no hentai!

Me : ouch.
 

When in an art auction, bid on the first thing you find that you want, 
and bid to your limit.  If you don't get it, get out.  The closing 
bids just rise from there.

Here I have to disagree.  I got the last Nene Thomas piece in the
auction, and got it for less than some of her other work.

Three words that should *never* be said during a panel: "Script or 
prose?"

Nod nod.

Well, other than my comments above, not much I could add, other than
that you never have enough money at a con.  I took twice as much this
year as last year, and still didn't buy half of what I wanted.

That, and the first day going back to work after a week's vacation
sucks.  Badly.

On the other hand, the first day of seeing your fiancee after a week
away is a very nice thing indeed.


-- 
*************************************************************
Douglas A. Reeves <dougreeves@earthlink.net>                   
Tempest - http://home.earthlink.net/~dougreeves/             
------- The Tempest is currently under reconstruction. ------
------------- Feel free to take a look, though. -------------
*************************************************************