Wow, so yeah - still not 100% recovered and just dreading going back to work tomorrow. But ACEN was f'n awesome. It was great meeting all of you. Been going to cons for a few years so the 8 hour car ride Friday was nothing, but it felt good to finally get there. It was slightly odd because for the first year like, ever? My group arrived on Friday yet
still got into the parking garage - and at 10am was able to check right into our room.
Usually we're waiting around till at least 1pm to check in. So we were a little put off by being able to get showered and ready to go by noon when we usually hit the con floor about 4 or 5 Friday evening. But this was a theme that stayed the entire weekend, even Keith brought it up at one point. Anyone else notice? Especially Saturday night it just seemed slow, not that many people around late at night like usual. I'm interested in the final count for the weekend, have they posted it yet?
Anyways, rocking Hiroto Friday - briefly passed a Go-On red and figured that would be all I saw for the weekend, I'm used to cosplaying things no one's heard of. But I'm glad I was wrong. I think this ACEN alone I got my picture taken more then all my other cons combined.
Speaking of pics, we only took a few. That's kinda my downside at these cons, I wish I remembered to take more.. but by the time I get there it's just all about the drinking and hanging out - I forget too easily.
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One of my roommates, who can never take a good pic to save his life, shows off our supplies for Friday night.
Now this is what I'm talking about, anyone who has been to ACEN before knows - this is absolutely unheard of for Friday afternoon - this is the registration line. You know? The 7 hour line that usually stretchs outside around the building? Yeah.




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And I now realize, even I, did not get pics of myself as Kick Hopper. lol. Even tho I was only in it Sat afternoon and then changed after the photo op outside the toku panel. One part an actual call to see Hiroto again, one part the Yaguruma costume is heavy and sweaty as hell and those boots
eat your ankles.
But luckily that's why I have all you great heroes.. with much better camera skills then I. There are tons of pics on Facebook and whatnot, so thanks guys for sharing!
Hrm, what else? Well, much like last year I didn't find much in the dealer's room I wanted. Was only after the Vinyl V3 figure I saw @ Detour but bought
Rider 2 instead - but alas one of you got to it before me. However, spent about $100 @ Mitsuwa.
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Got these cool little rider belts. And my customary stack of mags..


Had some cool little tidbits. Those chibi stickers are too adorable. And an ad for some cute hoodies, but unfortunately I'm sure they don't come in adult sizes. I thinks me may have to commission a custom one or two. Too cute.

Came with a few extras, some DVD I haven't checked out yet, some cool cardboard masks. I dunno why, they're cheap entertainment for five year olds - but that Diend one looks too cool.

.. and a Decade card! For that Ganbaride game it seems, tho not sure what the card would do.
Also this inflatable Shinken sword and bag with the Shinkengers on it to attack.
And probably my favorite extra...
A big cardboard cutout of Shinken Red's sword. Of course, it seems to lack instructions, I'll have to try and figure this out at some point.[/hide]
Now I'm just flipping through and deciding what pages to cut out and put on the wall. My desk area is slowly becoming all Gackt, Decade, and the Shinken Guys.
But I met a ton of cool people. Finally got to meet Keith, had a blast. We need to go to more of the same cons. Met probably one of the coolest persons ever - Emily. Glad to be her friend, and the the GunpeiXHiroto photos were fun.
Shoulda taken more tho, instead of nervously putting it off until 3am when we were dead tired and just quickly taking a few. heh. We couldn't keep from laughing, it was great.
But yeah, had a f'n blast.. I'm sure I'm forgetting to mention some stuff and some people. sorry... but I
was fairly drunk all weekend.
Oh and I found out why I had flu symptoms before we left last week and why I lost my voice so quick Friday? Laryngitis. Kept telling people "I don't usually squeak like this". lol. 'Course.. Alcohol and smoke make it worse - way to spend my weekend.
But yeah.. I'm gonna stop rambling. We
have to do it again next year, all of us... and that means coming back from Japan for it Emily! *huggle*
EDIT: and Yves - like I told you guys @ the con, your costumes were awesome, especially for the short notice. I'll take a "crappy" homemade costume with a lot of love and effort put in over an expensive bought costume any day.
EDIT2: And after some convo's on our jackets and whatnot, I'm thinking my next purchase will be Shinken Red's.
^ I realize how ironic those last two statements sound next to each other, but you do need to put together the rest of the costume besides purchasing the jackets ;p