End of a Saturday.

So. Second day at Otakon.

Negatives:

Did not meet up with ladyjaida, aurorafirechild, or fatherdog like I'd wanted. In the first case this is because we didn't set a date or time and I have no idea what her Saturday costume looked like; in the third case, it was because I don't think we ever actually expected to meet up in the first place; and in the second case, I suspect we had a miscommunication regarding the time or the place. (aurorafirechild - I didn't see you at the info booth between 4:45 and 5:45, and you weren't answering your cell phone. Is everything okay?)

The dealers' room closed at 6, which was pretty bizarre.

I didn't get to go to one of the workshops I'd wanted to go to (How To Draw Manga), although I'm not too upset about that.

The art auction was pretty disappointing, and I'm still kind of boggling at how some of the pieces had minimum bids of over $1,000. Although several of these were really good, most of them I had to wonder whether the artist actually wanted to sell the art.

There was something else, but I don't remember what it was.

Positives:

Met up with hamstergal, her boyfriend Zeus, and her brother tubadayv, in line at a restaurant; they were going in as we were coming out.

Met many of Dave's friends, and had good dinner.

The dealers' room closed at 6. (So... poor... - actually, Dave lent me $100 for the con, with payback whenever, so thanks Dave!)

Got a chance to mention to Matt Boyd and Ian McConville how their work has inspired me.

Found They Were Eleven on DVD, which kicks so much ass I can't even describe it.

Got T-shirts. Four of them, in fact. Two for me, one for Alex, and one for an unnamed future recipient.

Got a signed poster.

Got to experience the con with a friend, which kicked a lot more ass than going alone.

After we got back, with Dave's cute-and-taken friend Nikki in tow, we watched The Sting (SO. GOOD.) before bed, so now I have Joplin rags in my head.

cmccurry, there's a slim chance I won't be around tomorrow. You'll know before 1 if that's the case.

What I learned at Otakon this year

1. "Saving up for the con" is an event to be partcipated in year-round, not the month beforehand.
   
2. Hotels are love. (Next year, I'm hiring a sitter to stay with the house (and Alex, if he's here) from Thursday night to Sunday afternoon, and getting a hotel room for the weekend.)
   
3. For every hour when there are two things you want to do, there will be an hour when there's nothing you want to do.
   
4. Conventions are 100% more fun with friends.
   
5. Workshops are more fun if you can participate. (See #4.)
   
6. Although I usually consider cell phones a bother, there were at least three separate incidents this year where I wanted to have one.
   
7. Always, always buy something from CPM (Central Park Media). Even if it's only a DVD, they'll be more than happy to give you a bag for it that's not only amazingly sturdy but gigantic.
   
8. Take the time - maybe an hour when you don't have anything to do (see #3) - to learn the layout of the convention center and the surrounding area, so that you don't get disoriented when you fail to realize that the skywalk connects to Harborplace at a weird corner. (Also, remember that Harborplace's buildings aren't in line with one another.)

*grumble*

Flash download is complete.

Flash install is not complete.

Why is Flash install not complete?

Because EDG runs Windows ME.

I'm thinking about going out tonight and buying the WinXP upgrade, just so I can run this software.

Also, I don't have a printer anymore, since Dave took his with him to New Jersey.

Oh, and

Pre-registration for the convention: $50
Custom character costume for the convention: $100
Plane tickets to and from the convention: $300

Getting in everybody's way while someone takes your photograph: priceless

Some reasons for blocking off an entire hallway are absolutely necessary. For everything else, there's stop interrupting the flow of traffic, moron.