Monday, November 6, 2006

3:11 PM - 4:18 PM
DUDE. It was freaking awesome. This past weekend was easily one of the best weekends of my life.

Obviously, I'm talking about Youmacon. It was awesome beyond words. I guess I'll just explain everything in order.
Friday:
Unfortunately I was only able to stay for about 2 hours on Friday. I basically just followed Paige, Sasha, Sara(h), Kerry, Tammy, Allison, and Jessica everywhere. Most of us got Dave Anez's autograph. Actually, through an odd turn of events, I ended up with Dave Anez's signature in his own freaking book. He jokingly said that it'll be worth a lot of money someday, but I don't really doubt it.

I was surprised when several people asked me for my picture. I kinda forgot about that part of being a cosplayer (I did mention that I was going as a Black Mage, right?). Oh, and one girl asked for a hug. So yeah. Apparently Black Mages get a lot of girls or something. Dunno how that works.

Saturday:
Jani and I picked up Tim and arrived at the con around noon. We wandered around for a while, then went into a Kingdom Hearts panel. After a few minutes, we realized that it was basically an online forum in real time. In other words, it was totally boring. So we left that and hung out some more, making fun of a lot of cosplayers. Specifically "Dogiroth", a Sephiroth cosplayer with a very doglike face. Bwahahahaha... we're going to have a lot of fun with the pictures of him.

After lunch, we dropped Tim back home, picked up a disposable camera, and went back to the con. Where I did a lot of nothing for a very long time. In other words, I just hung out in the lobby watching the Spoony Bards. I have become totally obsessed with them.

We were going to stay late so we could watch the FMA movie, but I was having too much fun with the band to leave, so... I kept hanging out there. A little before 10 PM, they started something that I believe is the most epic thing I've ever seen. They played a crapload of songs in a relatively short time, with very little or no pause in between. One Winged Angel (Sephiroth's theme), the FF Victory Fanfare, Spoony de Chocobo, Gerudo Valley, Vamo 'alla Flamenco (some FF9 thing), Slam Shuffle (FF6 Zozo), Those Who Fight Further (FF7 Boss), and they finished off with Korobeniki (tetris!!!). It was awesome. I danced like an idiot the whole time, and I don't care, it was great. There was also a huge crowd there as soon as they started playing OWA.

Throughout a bunch of this stuff, I made two new friends, Karen and Amanda. So yeah. I met Karen in line to get Matt Hill and Patrick Seitz's autographs, and Amanda during the whole crazy dance thing. I think I talked with Amanda for well over an hour before deciding it was late enough and heading back to my dad's.

So, that means that minus lunch and autographs, I spent about 9 or 10 hours just standing next to and listening to the Spoony Bards. They were nice, too... Some of them would occasionally smile at me, and it really made me feel welcome and stuff. So yeah, Saturday freaking rocked.

Sunday:
This time Jani and I got Andy, and also Jani just kinda dropped us off instead of hanging around.

We checked out the dealer's room and stuff for a while, then went back to the lobby to watch the Bards. I met up with my two friends from before and got their email addresses. Eventually, Andy went back to the dealer's room, but I stayed with my friends and the band. I also got all of their autographs! Even the people that weren't really in the band, just with it. Heh. It was most awesome. Then I got 3 or 4 pictures of them. After my friends had left and before my dad came to pick us up, I asked Andy if he wanted the sammich that Jani packed for him (and I already knew I didn't want mine). He said no, so I gave it to the band. Truth be told, I was pretty hungry, but I thought they deserved it more. One of the violinists (I think he was Chris... I'll have to memorize their names) was really excited, and said something along the lines of "Oh man, thank you, we always need food!"

So having done all this I felt very accomplished. I have to say, other than the Bards, the best part of the weekend was the feeling of belonging that I got. I felt right at home at the con, as though everyone there was family. I miss it already...

A few other things worthy of mention: Someone came dressed as Raptor Jesus. That was pretty awesome in and of itself, but then he proceeded to march around the convention for about 15 minutes with 2 of the Bards following him, playing the theme of Jurassic Park. Luckily, Tim managed to get part of it on video.

Hmm... what else happened? Oh yeah! On Saturday, I noticed someone walking around with a free hugs sign. (go here if you want to know what I'm talking about: http://youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4). Within a few hours, it seemed like every third person had a free hugs sign. It was really moving... I hugged everyone with a sign, except the gross-looking kagome cosplayer on Sunday.



Okay, semi-done talking about the con. As for today, well... it was an okay day at school. But seeing the crowds just reminded me of the con, and I really wanted to see all the cosplayers again, even the really bad ones. I decided after 3rd hour to carry a free hugs sign myself. Only 2 or 3 people wanted a hug, and most people just stared or laughed. But I don't care. I felt a lot more at home.

Heck, I put my sombrero from my costume back on for a while when I got home. I felt much better. I can't wait for next year to see my "family" again.

Anyway... I should go do my homework now, before it gets too late. *sigh*
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