Imagine, 2,000 irritated, sweating, food-starved anime geeks all shoved into one dealer's room. Imagine a dealer's room lacking in quality merchandise or fair prices. Imagine dozens of brain-dead con-denizens holding signs proclaiming 'pocky for kisses!' and other such sexually harrassive slogans. Imagine panels that never start on time and are moved without any prior notice. Imagine a staff of the utmost incompetance, unable to communicate with one another over even the most simple of things.
This? Was AniZona, the annual Arizona anime convention. This? Was where I spent most of my time in the designated smoking area of the hotel, and wandering around with a rag-tag group of fellow con-goers, mostly ignoring the actual convention. We found some amazing restaurants in Mesa, discovered that Walgreens was actually a two mile walk from the hotel, not half a mile, and learned that the cashier at the local McDonald's was a fellow anime fan and greatly appreciated out costumes.
It was not a bad convention, as far as my experience went. Other than the numerous perverts who asked me to pose in suggestive situations for them and the fact that the designated smoking section was so horribly hidden, I had a good time. Hey, when a bunch of costumed geeks get together, we can entertain ourselves. And I did get free merchandise in the Dealer's Room - a Yoko Molotov original with the autograph 'to the chick with the amazing tits', a few posters, some story image figures.... a good haul, for nothing other than wearing a slinky dress that shows a bountiful amount of cleavage.
The first night we watched whatever movies were on basic cable. Apparently, it was Kevin Bacon Rape night, as every movie we came across involved Kevin Bacon either raping someone or being raped. We weren't entirely certain what to think about this, as they were all spread across different channels. Coincidence, or Kevin Bacon conspiracy? You be the judge.
Saturday I couldn't find my underwear, and I believe our male hotel guest was using my suitecase as a pillow. I pulled on my Lust dress hastily, and tossed on my wig - can't be see out of costume, after all - and wandered down regimental for a smoke. Upon returning, Bear (my best friend from Seattle) wanted to go grab breakfast. Queenie (our male roommate) was still sound asleep, and so I trekked all the way down to a small, organic coffee house sans panties. I will never do that again. Saturday brought some Dealer's Room perusing, some photoshoots, and the pool. And 4$ hot dog platters at the local bar and grill. There was a rave, but we didn't quite care. Anime raves? Are pathetic.
Sunday was my Ouran Host Club themed birthday party, which we invited anyone who wanted to come to. We did this by setting up and then yelling 'FREE CAKE!' to anyone who walked by. I had Mario and Captain Jack Sparrow at my birthday party, I call that a success.
And most importantly, I discovered amongst the throngs a friend. Someone who lives near enough to my own middle-of-nowhere abode that we can get together. Plans are already in gear for Anime Vegas in September.
Oh, and as to my sporadic updates? I'm working. Money makes the world go round, as they say, and I have a small Ebay business getting off the ground. Google Ads don't pay the bills. Or wig fees. ;)
