なみのり ピカチュウ (o^ : ^o)

OH, and I'm also happy that Masahiko Otsuka will be at AX! He's ex-GAINAX staff so I've met him a bunch of times. Honestly, seeing that some of the Trigger staff would be there (though it was rather hidden for a while) was one of the things that made me go, "I must go!" A lot of the Trigger people are Gurren Lagann staff, and of course I love them and have met all of them at least once, and in many cases several times. Otsuka's doing several promotional events for Little Witch Academia, and I suspect there may be a series announcement or something at AX. I just have a sneaking suspicion!

I'm going to have to print out my AX schedule and start planning things out... Though, I'll have a lot of time in the car to do that on the way down, I suppose.

I got all bitten up by some sort of insect! Maybe a spider? I have around seven or eight bites, and they're quite a bit larger than that of a mosquito. One of them is on my face, clearly visible, which is really irritating. They're itchy/annoying, and one of my arms seems to be swelling a bit from them. Googling right now for clues, but the bites are non-specific. Basically just swollen red areas, about the size of a dime, but not bright red or anything. They just look like giant mosquito bites. I hope they go away soon, though, as they are definitely bothering me.

I told my mom, though, and she flipped out. She seems to think there's an insect infestation somewhere in my (messy) room, but I highly doubt it, as there are no signs of such, and the bites just appeared last night. Anyway, she got all upset/frantic, proceeded to basically tear the room apart (which I was not happy about), and...anyway, there was much upset and shouting involved. Of course I've washed all my sheets and bed matter, though, so hopefully that'll do the trick if anything was hiding in the blankets still. I put my room back into relative order after several hours of decompressing, because I lose literally all my energy in the face of that much negativity. Someday I'll properly clean it, but it's hard to get to it when I spend most of my time exhausted, and we repeatedly have vacuum problems.

I really hope I don't get any more bites. It's going to be much more problematic if I do, because then I'll definitely think something must be lurking or right around my bed. Whatever it is, these bites are not fun.

For another chapter in how much of a derp I am, I watched A Necessary Death. However, I somehow misread the summary before starting it and thought it was a real documentary--it's a fauxumentary--and spent my whole time bouncing back and forth about whether it was real or not. (EDIT: Upon further reading, it is intentionally deceptive about being fictional; the audience is supposed to assume it is non-fiction, it seems. So, now I don't feel as stupid!) It is expertly shot, and in some cases feels very real, though there were aspects of it that made it questionable. In the middle it became relatively obvious, at least to me, that it was fake (and the whole time there were telltale signs in hindsight), but I was still uncertain because I was under the impression that it was non-fiction. Consequently, my heart was really pounding towards the ending. That made it quite an experience! But, it was quite thought-provoking and fascinating, and well-done, so I do recommend it! It's a weird movie, but asks a lot of complex moral questions, is quite intense and heartbreaking at parts (especially if you're half-thinking it's real :P), and it is presented in a pretty fascinating way. I do wish it had used less melodrama and silly things like that, as it gradually lost its believability as a result, but I still thought it was an interesting movie.

Ahhhhlajfalkgag all the Pokémon news! It's been quite a day!

I honestly think, with all the added features and Pokémon we've seen so far, this will almost certainly be the best Pokémon generation to date. I'm incredibly excited to play the game as soon as it comes out! Talonflame is my favorite of the five announced today, though...I must question the name, haha? Pretty generic name there. Everything else is cool, too, and I like the designs. I've at least liked everything so far this gen, though, and LOVE a lot of it. * A * I'm amazed by all the new features and customization and...fklahdglkajgla I can hardly handle it, everything is just so exciting! ♥

I've really done nothing today aside from keeping up with Pokémon news and playing Animal Crossing: New Leaf. I have a fishing addiction, in particular. Next shark I catch is going in my house, LOL. I'm going to the Island tomorrow, woohoo, and I've paid two mortgages so now my house is upgrading again! I also have a bridge in the works, and the Night Owl ordinance starts tomorrow (which will be incredibly helpful for me). Anyway, it's a great game, and it's fun visiting friends' towns, too.

I watched Kotonoha no Niwa today! First off, utterly and completely beautiful, of course. A feast for the eyes. I'll probably watch it plenty more times just for that. It's completely worth watching for just that.

As for the story? Ehhh, I've always been lukewarm about Shinkai's writing skills.

( No spoilers, just the general gist. )

I'm four episodes from finishing Shinsekai Yori, and man, this show is utterly fascinating. I love it! I'll post more once I've properly finished it. I kept thinking about it while I was at work today.

I made big Eevee order 1 from Gin today! It...wasn't as terrible as I thought, but it's still a lot. I got mostly everything I wanted, though, except for the Sylveon TOMY plush, which I'll pick up later (because TOMY plush tend to stick around for a while, and I might be able to get it at AX). I'll make another order when the new stuff comes out this weekend, but that shouldn't be as many items--just like three things or so, I think.

Now, PLEASE, Pokémon Center, a reprieve from new Eevee items for a while!

(I'm scared for the Eevee theater exclusive items, though there's at least some time before that.)

I still feel stressed about money because of the conventions coming up, but I keep convincing myself that everything is going to be all right! I'm going to go to Otakon no matter what, mark my words! It will work if I have to force it to work. I made my crazy Japan trip work and I'll make this happen, too.

I got my tablet today, two days ahead of schedule, yay! I'm excited to do art again! :D

Phew, it's totally summer weather here already. Ew. ;;

Nice, I won 6/8 of the Eevee DX plush for 4000 yen. Pretty good because the full set tends to go for 10,000+ yen, from experience. Now I just have to get Vaporeon and Eevee (and probably the inevitable Sylveon, though it hasn't been released yet) and I'm set on those DX plush!

Ughhh, gotta do a big-ish order from Gin for the new Eevee goods, but of course everything comes out before I get my paycheck, so I'll have to order for her second run on those.

Just have to grumble about a few things, although overall I'm content right now and need to write about Fanime! I'm starting to recover a little of my energy already, even though I worked today. I have the next three days off, woohoo, so I'll have time to really recover.

- I lost a bag of about $50 worth of Pokémon pins and items from Artist's Alley. I'm really sad because it was super cute stuff... I'm hoping I'll be able to find it somehow. Maybe one of my roommates took it on accident or something. I also posted on the Fanime forums and Tumblr, and called the hotel (they didn't find anything). I just hope it turns up! But, ahh, if not, nothing much I can do about it...

- I also put out a sketchbook for people to draw their favorite Pokémon in, complete with little rules and the blog to find the drawings at after the con ended. It was there late Saturday night when I checked it on, but disappeared sometime after that. It's not a big deal because I was half-expecting someone to maybe make off with it or that it might get moved where I wouldn't be able to find it, but... I wanted to see everyone's art! T____T Ohhh well, it was only a $6 sketchbook, and I'll probably still try it again next year although this year it didn't turn out so well.

- Someone internally bid-warred me on Noppin for the 1/1 Pansage, which is one the few 1/1 plush I still need (and it hasn't been popping up much lately). My max bid was $100+, but because of Noppin's internal bidwar rules, whoever it was won it for 2600 yen. :| I was away at Fanime, so obviously I couldn't counterbid or anything... Anyway, it just sucks that it got away so cheaply!

- I purchased the newest 1/1 Pikachu finally, but have had a bunch of problems with the order. Anyway, if I get it without any further issues, which I think is what will happen, it's not really worth complaining about now, but it's been kind of an annoyingly bumpy ride for something so straightforward.

Today has been a very good day indeed!

Finally, the emotional realization that Fanime is so close has dawned on me, and I basically spent the whole day prepping for it. It feels good to have another whole day to prepare (and then a few hours on Thursday, as I'm leaving around 1 PM or so) because it doesn't feel like such a stressful rush this way.

And I'm so, so excited for it! I know it's going to be a wonderful time, because Fanime always is! Fanime is like my spiritual home (Pokémon world aside, and when I arrive every year it's like, "YES, I BELONG HERE!" I always hate leaving, because I get so used to being surrounded by fellow geeks who are so happy and excited, who I can talk to about what I love without any sort of explanation. It's just such a wonderful community of people that forms over just a few days. It's nice to be just a few words away from becoming friends with people, and the vast majority of the time at cons people are so polite and upbeat and fun to be around. It's always such a shock to go back to regular life, which isn't that bad, but in comparison it's definitely not the same. But, after I leave the con and head home, I feel this amazing glow of happiness that I can't even describe. It literally feels like my body is glowing with happiness. I swear, it's like I absorb all of that positive energy. I never get even the slightest bit tired of cons, and especially Fanime.

The biggest challenge of the day was figuring out how to carry all my Swap Meet stuff by myself, but I think I figured it out. It won't be easy or fun, but it'll work! I used dog leashes and the bags Gin sent me giant Shinykarp in, haha, along with a big box as well. Everything is full to the brim! I should be able to make a good amount of money Thursday and Friday. 8D I will be missing a lot of great events on Friday night, but, I mean, I'm practically being paid to miss those events, so I will survive.

I still have some work to do on my panel, but I can do that tomorrow. The majority of it is done!

The other great thing is that the big sale I was talking about went through, so that completely rocks. I made $400 on one sale! I'm so happy! Basically, this was the perfect month for my grail to pop up. 8D

Anyway, I'm in better spirits than I've been in a while. Conventions really perk me up! And, I don't have to go into work tomorrow, so basically I just get to keep preparing and getting excited~!

AAAAHHHH LJ is back! It only chose the WORST POSSIBLE TIME to crash, seriously.

I found out yesterday that Yoko Kanno is going to be at Otakon! Therefore, I also will be going to Otakon, and spending my whole time being frantic and crazy about Yoko Kanno. If I can meet her and get her autograph, I will be happier than words can say! That's #1 on my life goals, so...I'm thrilled by the prospect that I may be able to make this finally happen. This will also be my first out of state convention. I was totally freaking out last night, and I've calmed down a little now, but still very excited and nervous. I'll be rooming with kirarakim, which I'm looking forward to very much! I've wanted to meet her for a long time, and I think we will get along great IRL.

I can't help but be paranoid about getting an autograph, though. I'd really rather spend the night in a line and be more or less guaranteed an autograph, than have to gamble on lining up just shortly before the event. That said, I've only missed out on autographs that I really wanted once ever, so I think/hope it'll be all right. Guaranteed I'll be a nervous mess, though.

I'm sure I can make it work financially, though it makes me feel less like I'll be able to go to Japan this year. I'll definitely be trying for both, but Otakon is a must. I am a little concerned about getting work off for all the time I need to get off for July and August, though--I just hope I can find a way to make it work. I suppose I can drop some of the smaller cons I was planning on going to if I have to, though if I can go to all of them, that would be amazing.

Also, someone on Tumblr is wanting to buy a bunch of my Pokémon merchandise. This is great news, but I can't help but be just a little nervous about people who have hundreds to spend on arbitrary Pokémon items, just because how many people have the budget for that? That said, she doesn't seem suspicious... If it works out, that'll be great! I remember a few years ago someone bought $400+ of items from me just before Fanime and that went very well, so you never know. I spent a few hours today arranging and photographing stuff, which needed to be done anyway (not the photographing but the arranging) for Swap Meet.

Carrying it all to Swap Meet is going to be quite a task, though. It would be easy, except that carts are banned and you can only make one trip, due to union restrictions. (My mom and I have a cart for moving animal feed.) So, I just have to figure out a way that I can carry this all by myself in one trip, without a cart.

I have lots to do before Fanime--by this time next week, I will be at the convention! I have plenty to do on my panel, and of course I have to pack as well. I'm excited, and trying my hardest not to fixate on Yoko Kanno rather than be excited about Fanime. Fanime will be lots of fun!

So, I think all four of the new Pokémon are great! I keep trying to think of something more thoughtful to say about them than just GREAT AND CUTE AND LOVELY, but that's really all I feel about them, haha!

Yayakoma is soooooooooooooooo adorable! Collecting? Well, I collect all the birds a little, but definitely, yes! I can't wait to see what it evolves into. It is so darling, I want to stare at it forever and give it kisses and snuggles. :>

Gogoat has a really cool design, and I'm glad we finally have a goat Pokémon! Also, the fact that you can ride it in the game is awesome. It reminds me of a Miyazaki design a little for some reason!

Yanchamu is such cute little naughty panda! I'm glad we finally have a proper panda Pokémon, and finally another fighting-type that I actually like!

Elikiteru is very cute, too! I wonder if that's a headband it has on, rather than ears? Either way, cutie.

I could hardy be more pleased than I am! So far, Gen VI is amazing. There isn't a single one so far that I dislike, and many that are flail-worthy. :D Welcome, new Pokémon, I will be doing fanart of you ASAP!

I'm also excited that we can FINALLY customize our trainers, even just a little!

(Also, GIANT KARP has arrived, and he is splendid! I'll take some pictures after I've rested from work for a bit!)