"That was underwhelming."

last modified: Thursday, March 11, 2010 (7:19:31 AM CST)

If you've played "Dissidia" and a certain character, then you know the line.

That fits the sign-ups for Anime Expo's artists' alley. I randomly checked the forum and found they were made available a week earlier. Okay. . . dash over to registration and. . . sail through unscathed, though $215 poorer. What, no drama? No constant page reloading? No stampede? That's it?! Pick, click, and pay??? But it WAS rather underwhelming, expecting an adrenaline rush that never came. Unless I want to hitchhike down to LA and sleep on the grass I'd better start looking at airfare and hotels.

It seems 3 am is about the time things that have annoyed me during the day finally reach a boil. In this case, the toaster oven that smelled more like melting plastic than baked potatoes. As usual, the universe has conspired against me. . . amid ALL the phillips screws holding it together, someone thought it was the height of hilarity to include some that need an allen wrench. I have 3 sets and can find NONE of them. Why can't things be constructed like my old G3 Mac. It's got a pull tab to access its inner workings. No can openers, no screwdrivers. *grump*

Let that be a lesson. . . I may show up at 3 am to take you apart and figure out why you're making funny smells. Just annoy me. Like the idiot who thinks it's funny to send Chinese spam mail. But I guess that explains the gallery hits.

I have a local convention at the end of the month and getting a table there was effortless, as it always has been. They even have some good guests from a show I particularly love. I've always done well there. But. . . I'm trying to compress any confidence I feel into a ball that I can kick into a corner and ignore. . .

. . . because. . .

. . . I wonder if, at some point, a mocking voice will say, "you should have known better."

You're off the edge of the map, mate. Here there be monsters.

last modified: Sunday, September 21, 2008 (6:49:36 AM CST)

A quote from Hector Barbossa (PotC), in case you've lived uder a rock. He got all the best lines. Perhaps if RS were a map, with its inhabitants all labeled. . . my little corner would have 'here there be monsters' in a lovely inked scroll. Heh. It's my corner of the world and I'm the only monster allowed in it. Nyan. :P

Well. . . I hardly know where to begin.

I had been hoping to update. Probably the piece I am expecting will show up on Monday. For me it rises almost to the 'Holy Grail' level, it's something I thought I'd never see let alone be able to aquire.

After the abyssmal four days of Anime Expo I'm not sure what was worse, doing so badly in the artists' alley or not finding anything worth going ito a little debt for. I really want to say the latter. . . it was crushing to not find anything to add to my collection. Seeing this piece pop up went a long way toward alleviating those feelings but more importantly. . . some friends, who were also interested, did me the great honor of allowing me to be the one to win it and I'm extremely grateful to them.

That event got me to thinking, though. In the past, I told myself no matter how much I wanted something I wouldn't bid or buy if owning the piece would. . . bring me no joy. Against my better judgement I would often give in and it would take some time for me to enjoy the piece as I feel it deserves. I guess that means taking a pass on some things. A regret I'll have to live with. . . although it sometimes pays off in the end. Had there actually been real temptation I may not have been able to try for the piece I was able to win.

I think it came to me as I was typing this, I have some very wonderful friends, friends who have done nice things for me, who have given me wonderful gifts. . . not the least of which has been their friendship. I'm not sure I have anything to give back to match that. . . but I'm always willing to send my monster off for their defense. ^_~