Last year's ACen set the stage for this year being my last. However, a significantly better con means I'll be attending next year, even if they pissed me off royally (more at the end).
This year, I went with MagicalZombie and our friend Trisha, with settlements made at her abode. In other words, we commuted.
Friday, I got to experince the secondhand effects of LineCon. For those not in the know, LineCon is when you stand in line all day because you didn't pre-reg in time. This is the fault of MZ, and while we got to the con center at 10:30am, we didn't actually get to go in until 4pm. Yeah. I mean, me and Trisha had our badges, but we didn't want to go in, do rounds of the dealer's room/artists' alley, and then when MZ was ready to go, we'd be bored. So, like good friends, we waited.
Five hours, two coffees, and several drawings later, we were in.
Pro Tip: Always pre-register for a large con.
Bonus: Have the badge mailed to you if offered.
We bounced around for a bit, hitting up various booths and stands. I got another Doctor Who poster (the one of 11 and the flashlight) and was stopped by two seperate guys to talk about freaking fanfiction. "Now, wouldn't THIS be a good idea...?" What is it guys, do you somehow sense I write fanfiction?
Which reminds me. MZ and I were dressed as Rory (version Day of the Moon) and the Doctor (version 11 with fez), and we attended a Doctor Who photoshoot at 7:30. We had a blaaast, hanging out with all these other fans. There were more 11s than 10s and that got played to an advantage. The shoot went on for quite a while, and afterwards it was dark, sooo we headed on back.
And got free Chinese food.
Pro Tip: Never pass up free food, especially if it's a meal.
Saturday was...uh. I'm not even sure how to describe Saturday. We went, explored around, bought some things, and went to another DW photoshoot. Now that...THAT was fun. And there are things I did I kinda wish I didn't do afterwards. But it's all good. Ended up friending a bunch of them on Facebook and we're all planning to meet up at Chicago TARDIS and be nerds again. Yay.
Noooow...he's the problem. At this point, MagicalZombie and Trisha just crash. It's about 4 in the afternoon and the two of them died. We were in the Hyatt; I ended up finding Carney and Schultzie and talked to them for a bit. But 5 o'clock rolls around the two of them are ready to go home.
So...part of me can't blame them. Part of me reminds myself that it's their first big con, and 2011 marks my sixth year of ACen. I'm kind of an old pro at the excitement and the chaos because yeeeaaaah, ACen is huge (over 23,000 this year). The past few years I've gone for all three days, and the secret to my success is being chill and drinking coffee. And not all that much coffee.
But honestly, when you're petering out at 5 in the afternoon? Come onnn guys. I mean yeah, we had a great dinner courtesy of Trisha's folks and watched The Rebel Flesh and Saturday Night Live, but...meh. Cons are for cons.
Pro Tip: Always keep going and don't get sucked into breaks.
I think part of it is that my body is used to long, exhausting days. Like this past semester, me and my 13 hour Mondays that were led into with maybe five hours of sleep. Marching band bolstered my endurance considerably.
And coffee really helps.
We didn't go Sunday, which worked out for the better on my end.
Anyways, to wrap up the post: ACen '12 is the last weekend of April. This really sucks, since it's still during the school year and is pretty much the weekend before all final projects and things are due.
What also bites is that me and some peeps were talking about having an artist's alley booth next year. Well, we can't, not if we're only going on Saturday and have school things to deal with. So much for that.
Eh, haven't done one in a while. On the queue for tonight is Ryu's commission, which I'm not certain will get done but will certainly have progress made on it.
Here's the link if needed. Not sure what the music choice will be. P:
Skipped the con today.
Dad called. Grandma passed away.
I'm sad. But I know it's better. At least she's with Grandpa now.
A sample from Friday's Doctor Who shoot...
And then today's, in which I laugh at everything and have a good time with my fellow 11's, who believe we can dance.
ACen's this weekend, and I'm heading over to a friend's house tonight with MagicalZombie to create our weekend encampment. To those of you already aware of my existence: My cell number hasn't changed, I plan to be there for all three days, I'm going as the 11th Doctor ("Space Florida" get up planned but regular wear in case of weather), and no we're at a hotel.
But things don't always go well...
Two things going on in my family. First, one of my mom's many cousins just died. He was the younger brother of a cousin I actually do know (and like), but I never met him to my knowledge. My mom wasn't upset, just, you know, it's family. He apparently was an alcoholic and, well, his liver gave out on him. Mom's waiting on funeral arrangements, which could happen this weekend, but I'm not obligated to go.
Second is my grandma, my dad's mother. She...apparently is reaching her end. Bee put into hospice and just being made comfortable. I remember that my dad was called Tuesday night and he talked to her, but it was an odd conversation. Her coherency and memory are shot, and they have been going for a while.
I'm just...sad. My dad already lost his father about seven years ago, and ever since, Grandma hasn't been the same. I'm not sure how to feel about this, and I was never close to either set of grandparents due to distance. But still, they were relatives I actually knew, which can't be said for many of them in my family.
...Have to end this post. Not quite sure I can figure out many more words than that.
