So ACEN snuck up on me this year. I think maybe I was thinking of not going or something, I dunno. All I know is suddenly I get a frantic email from Sarabi and Milamber asking about registration and costs and dates and stating that "it's the only thing that's kept us going - the thought of going to ACEN".  Sigh. okay. Twist my arm ^_^
So I scrap together a quick budget and decide that the only way I can attend is... to stop buying manga and anime. Yipes! I would like to try to make a parallel, if I may - it's like a drunk trying to save up money to buy alcohol by not buying alcohol... no, that's not desperate enough... I really cannot come up with a good parallel. Let's just say, it was ridiculous, and sad. Especially the depths I went to to get my japanimation fix... *shudder*
So anyway - time came and it found me in desperate straits... Let's begin, shall we?
*opens Winamp*
*starts [Groove That Soul Mix - Amazing Kiss]*
oh yeah... bass...
Tuesday
Tuesday when I went in to work, I made the silly mistake of announcing to my co-workers that I was going on vacation. Not really that big of a deal, but then...
Them: Oh? Where are you going?
Me: Chicago.
Them: Oh. Not St. Louis? Do you have family up there, too?
Me: Well, yes, sorta. But I'm heading to a convention.
Them: oh! For Vacation?
Me: ... yeah. Meeting some friends for it and all...
Them: ... what kind of convention is it?
Me: ...
Them: ... ? |
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now. Here's where I made my mistake. I should have simply said, just... TV shows and stuff... or something... But stupid me. "Educate the people!" It usually played out as follows...
Me: Anime.
them: Awnny Mae?
Me: Japanese Animation.
them: ... ?
Me: ...
them: ... ?
Me: ...
them: ... ?
Me: *sigh* Pokemon, Yugi-oh, Dragonball Z...
them: OH! Cartoons! |
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It then evolves into either an explanation (*insert crazy Otaku purist propoganda here* - I tend to go overboard and peoples' eyes glaze over rather quickly. Although one time I spent about 10 minutes trying to explain everything and finally just had to say "guh... like, um, Speedracer?" before the guy understood. o_O!) or me smiling and mumbling about having to get back to work. This year, however, it sometimes went a bit different...
Me: Anime.
others: Awnny Maes!?!
Me: ...yeah?
others: You're into ENEMAS?!?
Me: ... *deadpan* yes. I am going to a convention on enemas. |
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others: ... !
Me: A whole four days of people taking enemas. Yes. That's what I am doing on my vacation.
others: ... ?
Me: *facepalm* ANIME! AN EE MAY! ANIMATION! Pokemon, Yugi-oh, Dragonball Z...
others: OH! Cartoons! |
OR
Me: Anime.
They: Awnny Mae?
Me: Japanese Animation.
they: You speak Japanese?!?!
Me: ... no... I watch it with subtitles. I'm thinking of learning it though.
they: why?
Me: *facepalm* |
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So I finally got out my white board and wrote a big note explaining that I was gonna be gone for a week, to Chicago, to watch Pokemon, then left.
Wednesday
According to the original plan I drew up, I was gonna get off work Tuesday, drive up to Merrillville, Indiana, on Wednesay, spending the night in a motel there, then drive into Chicago on Thursday for the convention pre-registration. Unfortunately, my ability to withstand the pull of manga was not that great. I swore to myself that I was just gonna get the most recent Kindaichi because it was part 2 of Kindaichi The Killer and I was desperate to find out what happened. Yeah. Well. Both trips to the bookstore ended up in manga purchases that were not intended and not budgeted, so ixnay on the otelmay. Plus I couldn't find the damned Kindaichi. I ended up spending Wednesday at home, ostensibly packing for the trip, doing laundry, printing maps, and finishing up the autograph books I make for us every year... I lie - I was downloading porn.
Well, Porn sounds so... crass... It was Yaoi - Japanese Boy-Boy Love manga. I'd just discovered the most wonderful group of people who DAILY distribute pages of scanlations and raws. (I've fallen hard for Bohra Naono-sensei!! eeep! She almost always draws from the point of view of older men - like, in their 30s - and she has nice plots and great style and the most gorgeous!!! feet...        
see what I mean? Plus, she does stuff like weird powers and werewolves!
She had me with Three Wolves Mountain and Fingertip's Love, but the toe curl in that seventh "feet" clip above, it's from Reason for Desire and... guh! I melted when I saw it. And no, Sarabi - that's not my "new" kink.) |  |
Ahem. So, yes. Wednesday was almost a waste of trip time. I didn't pack until way late in the afternoon/evening, and was ALMOST late picking up the rental car. But all went well, and in the end everyone was... satisfied. heh heh heh.
Thursday
I don't remember what time I went to bed on Wednesday, but I got up in plenty of time to get on the road, next day. The latest plan was for me to drive directly to Union Station and pick up Sarabi and Milamber...
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