Re: AnimeBowl Sunday with the Kansas Musketeers

***** Warning!  Warning!   Warning!   Warning!   Warning! *****
The following is the result of a very disturbed mind; possibly
influenced by too much FFML SPAM consumption.  All characters
are copyrighted by their parents and do not represent any
known (or even, possibly, respectable) persons dead or alive.... 
except for Kun-chan.
***************************************************************

Superbowl Sunday

[a report based on a Steven Spielberg film, taken from a 
Danielle Steel book, lifted from the collected works of 
Kierkegaard, stolen from a Giuseppe Verdi opera, picked 
from the demented mind of Uncle Fester (and we all know
what *he's* like - especially after a few drinks).]


Chapter 1 - The Gathering Storm

     Ah, you only get to know people by spending a holiday or special
occasion with them.  To that end, I spent Superbowl Sunday with the Kansas
Musketeers (Butler, Biles, and Lawson).

     The whole event was held at the palatial Lawson estate, just off the
golf course.  I brought the chips and dip (well, the chips anyway... left
the wife at home).  Travis showed up with a bag of pretzels big enough to
choke a cow (I know because we tried to do just that around the third
quarter).  John arrived looking like the latest KU polar expedition member
(The boy just hasn't adjusted to these Kansas winters yet).
     Actually, it was most entertaining in more ways than one.  We started
off with general discussions concerning our various projects, doing a great
deal of FTF C&C.  Richard, brandishing his polished bokkan, asked if there
were any thoughts on his 'Ranma-does-the-dirty-deed-with-another-guy' fic. 
We looked at the sword, back at him, and at the sword again before
deciding, as a group, the fic was great... best of 97... really 'deep'
<snicker> (that was mine - earned me a well deserved @bap@).
     Travis showed us his latest project where he inserts just about
everyone he ever knew into the story, starts killing off Ranma Saotome
clones, and pins the whole thing on the Dirty Pair.  Somehow, I don't think
Kei and Yuri will be amused.  Still, the way his eyes lit up when he
described the handcuffing scene...
     John announced that he had secured an IBM PS/2 computer and would soon
be joining us 'on-line'... if he could just figure out how to make the damn
thing work.  Good Luck.  I understand IBM spent 10 years trying to do just
that before giving up.
     As a pregame warmup, we watched 'Kiki's Delivery Service' while
chowing down on Chinese (the Shampoo cutlets were fine but I thought the
Mousse-chunks were a bit stringy) and chugging cherry cider... lots of
cherry cider... really, lots and lots of cherry cider.  Halfway through a
bag of chocolates, we noticed Jimbo down on the floor coloring.  Travis
whispered he was afraid this would happen - teaching so many freshman
history classes finally had its effect on poor John.  *I* thought it was
more the result of owning an PS/2.  Still, we felt safe enough so long as
the paper and crayons held out... and no one mentioned Kun-chan.  Just in
case, I took control of the bokkan.
     By kickoff, Travis was busy taking notes on his laptop (we're not sure
why but he hinted something about the 'Otaku Court of Opinion' - we're all
awaiting our subpoenas - I just *know* Zen is behind this), Richard was
busy checking the FFML E-mail (and grumbling about the 'gay-fic' debate
going Islamic - whatever that meant), and John had finished two pictures (a
kitty and some red-headed girl in a compromising position with a guy - we
just attributed *that* to Richard's influence).  By now, we were into the
second jug of cherry cider.
     By the second quarter, we were all doing MST3K comments about the game
and the sportscasters.  All went well until John made an offhand
disparaging remark about the gene pool that sportscasters were drawn from. 
Richard revealed that he had once been a sportscaster.  John's only
reaction was to break his crayon in the midst of another drawing (a kitty
AND a red-headed girl in a compromising position with a guy).  Good thing I
had the bokkan.  Travis just typed faster.
     Halftime was a little quieter.  John mentioned his Anime collection
had doubled - someone had given him another tape - a 'Robotech' episode, I
believe.  Richard showed us the Belldandy lithograph his sister got him -
hung it prominently over the sofa in his living room.  (Where he hung the
Ranma-chan poster I'm not tellin.)  We talked some more Anime, made more
comments (this time about the halftime show), and switched to carrots for
snacks.  We also opened the third jug of cider.
     The rest of the game went quietly.  Mainly because poor Richard (who
had worked the night before) kept passing out.  Travis thought it was too
much cherry cider.  I tried to warn those guys about Kansas cherry cider... 
     Anyway, I think the Packers won because the cheese on Richard's plate
got up and cheered, Travis did a 'Nabiki' trying to figure out how much he
lost in bets by not taking the point spread, and John finished a perfect 
3-D rendering of Sailor Moon in a Packers uniform (The scary part was when I
looked at it real close, she winked at me).
     At that point, Richard's cats informed us it was time to go and showed
us to the door.  We walked to our cars in 80 degree sunshine with hula
girls escorting us (except for John who had Sailor Mercury on one arm and
Sailor Jupiter on the other) and had our chauffeurs drive us back to our
own worlds.  Travis gave a ride to Kei and Yuri (they mentioned something
about taking the 'long way' home - whatever *that* meant.  The way Yuri
kept tickling his little beard and giggling...  In any case, I'm sure 
Zen-chan will be hearing some interesting stories around 3WA headquarters). 
John disappeared in a flash of 'Moon Tiara Power' or something - pictures
and all.  
     Me?  Why I returned to Nabiki in Hawaii. (Yes dear, I'll come to bed
just as soon as I finish this post.)  The only thing I want to know is...
where did John get that cherry cider?  (And why is my dog chasing a 4 inch
naked Ranma-chan across the ceiling?)  WOW... 60's retro... Far out,
man.........


     - Greg 
     (Cardinal Richelieu of the party.)