Part 1 - Friday
So this year, I actually attended AnimeCentral for all three days. Well, I was physically present at some point during the three days. ...That was an amazing cop-out.
Friday morning, I woke up to the sounds of "Treats or Goblins" blasting from my stereo (something I view as a tradition) at 5:30am. School showcased me being jittery and excited, and the stretch from 4-7pm was one of the longest durations of my life.
At 7:20pm, I shipped off to the Super Target, where my friend Marissa was working. She and I were to set out after 8pm for the con together. After transferring luggage and bidding farewell, I spent a good fifteen dollars in snacks and chapstick.
Fun fact: The checker thought I was twelve.
Shuffle past all this - including Marissa buying things for herself after her shift (including plastic 'flasks' for the two of us) and her picking up a cheeseburger at the McDonalds (which apparently has an auto night on Fridays) - and we finally got on the main drag of our trip - I-90 - at 8:45pm. Armed with my LED keychain light, I flubbed out directions, getting increasingly nervous as the 25 miles on I-90 came and went.
There was this point when we were to do two consecutive circles of off-ramps in order to turn around and get to Rosemont. Unfortunately, we missed the second one, and after going straight down one road, we pulled into a gas station to ask for directions. Armed with pepper spray (yes, we have mace at my house), we entered said gas station, and the guy was just like "uhh, go straight and you'll see it".
Which we did, and then we were cool.
We pulled into the convention center area around 9:45pm. After almost running over cosplayers and paying for the parking garage...and finding the entrance to said parking garage...and getting a spot on the top deck...we unloaded and went to the Hyatt to find our friend Deanna, who was playing hostess to us, more or less. For a few minutes, I felt like a true hobo, with a suitcase, a Target bag tied to said suitcase, a messenger bag, and a garbage bag stuffed with two pillows and a blanket slung over my shoulder.
Despite it being 10pm on Friday, the hotel was lively and full of coslayers. Getting an elevator wasn't difficult, but being on the tenth of ten floors proved to be a hindrance latter on during the con. Upon getting out, we waited at our supposed room - 1024.
But nobody was there.
Deanna reassured us that somebody was there, but there was indeed nobody. While we waited for her to come and rescue us, the guys in the room next door asked if we had any tape. I gave them the strip I had used on my Timber finger-puppet, and they used it to post up a note that invited people to come in and BRAWL! We later used their bathroom, and then one of the occupants came out and talked to us.
Fun fact: I have met the nicest people at conventions. They're always willing to help out or socialize.
When we were finally rescued, we realized Deanna had flubbed up room numbers, and we were boarding in 1019. There we met the rest of the occupants - including a Canadian ninja, a couple who made My Little Ponies but awesomer, Deanna's brother, her friends from her old high school (since she moved to our district this year), and a professional photographer. That was the crew. Great people.
After claiming a corner and getting settled in, I showered and slipped in to my pajamas. I planned to get some sort of sleep at this con. But then, at 1am, another friend boarding in the room, Vivien, came and was like "let's go exploring!" So me, Marissa, and Vivien headed out. I was still in my pajamas, but slipped on my sandals, messenger bag, and con badge. We caroused the hotel a little bit and I snooped around some stuff. There were things I wanted to check out - like Anime Hell and the videogame room - but Marissa lacked her badge (much to my annoyance).
End Day 1 at 2:30am
