Saturday, September 8, 2007

   Dragon*Con (August 31st-September 3rd)
I know this is a late post but I figured I should post it anyway, so here goes. Dragon*Con was actually a very good con this year and was fairly dramaless until the last day for the most part.

Thursday - We made the venture down there, luckily, without any problems other than the heat since we literally left during the heat of the day. When we got to the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, it turned out that, regardless of my father reserving a room for the Concierge Level, we had to stay on the floor just below since my father isn't a Gold Member. Due to that, it took a bit of time for us to get into the room and during that time, one of the cages that my hermit crabs reside in was knocked over and part of it broke. One of my crabs nearly got stepped on but luckily, someone saw him and quickly gave him back to me. We all got our badges almost immediately after that and since Michael had a transfer and Mama and I were with him, we were able to skip in line. He's a good luck charm sometimes. The weather got really bad that afternoon so Cody, Michael, and I stayed with my parents. Things got a bit hectic since they and Chelsey were supposed to stay with Jeanne, Wendy, and Mary but things worked out and Chelsey ended up coming up Friday morning.

Friday - The first official day of the Con. Not much, as in con stuff, actually happened on this day. Chelsey got there early so Michael and I were able to run get Mary and Wendy. We missed a lot of good cosplayers but that comes with the territory of getting people and we also got stuck on the way back from Jeanne's house. We had a photoshoot at two PM we were supposed to go to as well but we didn't quite make it. Once we got back, it was around noonish (maybe a little bit after) so we did our best to get into the room and Chelsey and Alex left to get Alex's stuff. Luckily, we were able to but a piece of my luggage got lost so that got me in a panic attack until Michael found it in the lobby. All my stuff was still there too so that was a major relief. After that, Michael, Wendy, and I rushed to get our Bleach costumes on for the shoot even though we missed it by about forty-five minutes. The best thing, however, was once we were walking to the bottom level of the Marriott, my phone rang and Michael got down on one knee. Of course, this didn't seem out of the usual since he had to get my phone out of the bag. Well, while my attention was elsewhere, he pulled something else out of the bag, a ring. He called my name and I ignored him then glanced to him when he called again. I simply turned my head and looked away once more then he grabbed my hand and I looked at him once more. While he had my attention, he smiled and said, "Alli, will you marry me?" He says I gave him a weird look and I know I managed (I don't know how) to say "Are you serious?" Once he nodded, I started crying and fell into his arms, nodding instead of speaking. After that, there was a mini Bleach shoot that later had a Miroku in it (don't ask) and not much else happened until Chelsey, Alex, Mary, Alex's brother, Michael, and I went to the Hard Rock Cafe Downtown. It was pretty funny due to some of the conversations and Chelsey and Alex actually danced the YMCA in the cafe. Good times. We crashed after that and Jeanne came later and we all slept.

Saturday - Parade Day. Everyone in the room woke up early because we were all supposed to be in the Parade. It ended up just being Alex in her Lupin/Padfoot costume. The rest of us were just too damn lazy. Not much of notable interest actually happened on this day other than Michael reproposing so Chelsey could film it. We actually made it to the Bleach shoot. Um...We actually went into the Dealer's Room and Exhibitor's Halls. I had my only third or fourth alone meal with Michael since we started dating. It was quiet and overall nice other than the hair glue in my hair kept getting in my mouth. Some other random things happened like I got on the elevator to go to my parents' room and ended up bumping into Matthew Lewis since he gotten on the wrong elevator. We ended up talking for a bit. He's a really nice guy. That night, I saw Barry and he's looking good (healthy) and it was just a crazy night because Emily and her brother, Andy, came into the room and yeah. Barry + the room group + Emily + Andy + Barry's friends = crazy, CRAZY conversations. It was nice though. When I stop and think about it, I miss some of those people more than my own family. Anyway, after all that, we crashed for the night.

Edit for Saturday: Chelsey and I donated blood as Roxas and Kairi from Kingdom Hearts II. It was pretty fun but I froze my ass off while doing it though.

Sunday - Masquerade Day! Sunday was just a bunch of mixed up happenings. I missed three photoshoots I wanted to go to due to a costume malfunction of Michael's which, in my opinion, should be replaced by the commissioner. Sunday was the last full day I saw my friends. I recorded the Masquerade in the room via Dragon*Con TV complete with our commentary. I got a feather in my back (don't ask) and I saw Barry for the last time of the Con since we left fairly early Monday. We later went out to have our own mini Kingdom Hearts photoshoot and ended up staying out until close to five am. I saw one of my life-long con friends (my first official crush) who went into embarrassing details of knowing me. I hadn't seen him for over a year and I only spoke to him for a few minutes. Turns out he's engaged too. He didn't recognize me at first since I've changed my hair color and lost weight but it was good seeing him. He's like a brother I see very little of now. There was a hobo that kept harassing us outside of the Marriott and he made a beeline for my camera. Once Michael grabbed the Keyblade, he was scared off, though.We later ended up with Miroku as a roomie for maybe four hours. After that, we went to the room but it was at least 5:30-6 am before we slept.

Monday - The last and officially saddest day of the Con. It wasn't really that bad other than we made the venture home and some of the people I see there, I see maybe once a year. Sometimes, it's not even that. Well, once we were within an hour of my hometown, Mama's car died after we hit something. The car lost all it's oil and once I pulled over, me being the idiot that I am, I tried starting it again which caused it to throw a rod and ultimately kill the engine. In an effect, a very good weekend was ended in horror and stress since I killed my mother's only mode of transportation.

Overall, Dragon*Con 2007 was one of the best cons I've been too in awhile, if not my entire life. I met several great people and I saw on of the happiest moments in my life. I came home with a Kon and a Renji plushie, both from Bleach, as well as a phone charm from the same series, and a few other odds and ends. I had so much fun and I wish it didn't have to end. I think about it now and I cry. I look forward to 2008 already!

XOXOX,

~Kayago~

P.S. Here's a picture of my fiance and I!

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