This is a summary of what was one of the nicest weekends I've had in awhile. Last weekend was the local anime-con "Kawaii-Kon," and it was the first convention that I've ever been to. For starters, I wasn't even sure that I was going at all, since, as I've mentioned in a previous blog that I've been spending most of my time, namely weekends, as a caregiver for my sleep-apneated 94 year-old grandmother, and didn't know if I had that weekend free, so I didn't give it much thought until my aunty mentioned it to me. and so, at nearly the last minute, I had the weekend free, so I decided to go.

Too late to pre-register, so I'll have to buy my pass at the door, not to mention (as an artist) having to assemble a portfolio and business cards in a hurry. This was obviously not something to do spur of the moment, but considering what I would have to look foward to for the next few weeks, I needed the chance to get out. And for once, I even have the MONEY to actually spend. The good thing is that I live on island, so getting there was no problem.

The big day:

I got there by bus, (Parking is HELL in Waikiki, especially since there were other events going on around town that day, including a wedding expo downstairs ath the convention center.) and just followed the cos-players. I bought a two-day pass, and headed straight to the Artists' Den (naturally.) I already knew of one person who'd be there [Ponygirl], who I already knew and hadn't seen in a few years. (And as I've just discovered after the fact, so was Netrat. This should teach me to pay more attention to who's there.) I bought a few things from her table, including some of her prints and her [absent] boyfriend's stuff. Met another local artist who works as an editiorial cartoonist at a local paper. (Of whom I was familiar with since we've both went to UH at the same time). Showed him my stuff, which he liked, and even drew something for him.

Also picked up stuff at the Dealers' Room, (Namely plushies and a catgirl figure) and encountered the local publisher "Limelight". He like what I had shown him, and now I'd better start thinking of something new, original, [ & family friendly] for submission.

But of me the highlight was meeting Rikki and Tavisha Simons of "Reality Check", and "Invader Zim" fame. They were quite nice, got a sketch of Catreece and Gir, and No, I did NOT ask him to do the "Doom Song!" In fact, I asked him not to sing it, which I think might have been a refreshing change for him for once. (Ironically, I've never watched IZ. But I probably should now.)

Cosplay:

Needless to say, the bulk of what I saw came from "Naruto" and "Bleech", along with the obligatory cat-girls, (Oh, my mistake, "cat-PEOPLE", since there were guys waering them too), school girls, (some might actually be in their school uniforms), goth maids, stormies, a certain anemic looking criminal profiler with bad posture and a sweet-tooth, and the most disturbing, a middle aged guy wearing a maid outfit, bunny ears & tail, with son in tow.

"Hello, Dr. Phil?"

I also check out some of the other things, like the gaming tables. and overall had a good day. But being a small venure, there wasn't so much to see or do on the econd day, so I called it early. Not to metnion that I had a bit of a headache. But I had a great time notheless, and maybe I may have earned a few new fans. next year though, I'll probably just stay for one day.


Now it's back to shuttling my grandmother to and from day-care, changing her diapers, get no sleep, and spend the weekends watching her sleep all day. Fun.

Photos to follow...