Well, I am sorry that I encouraged a FFML party and couldn't host, but maybe
next year.  We'll see.

First, I am glad to have met some of the list members who I've only known for
their writing.  In particular:

1) Richard Lawson.  If I had known that you were at Anime Iowa, this wouldn't
have been the first time I met you. ^_^  And thanks for the photo op.  (If you
want to know the details, private e-mail me.)

2) Zen.  Nice BA Spatula.

3) Gary Kleppe.  If there is another Gen Con, maybe we can discuss anime
there.

4) Ryan Matthews.  Thanks for the fanfiction.
______________________________________________________

As for the convention as a whole, I had a lot of fun.  I didn't go to the
video rooms much, except before the costume contest.  (The room I went to was
in the middle of Bastard!)  I did like the dealer's room, but the selection of
Urusei Yatsura stuff was small, and those things that I really wanted (Lum
dolls and a cell from UY4: Lum the Forever) too expensive.  

But my favorite moment had to have been the costume contest.  The Ranma-Panda
bit stole the show.  But what Richard didn't say was that while the judges
were making their decisions, the contestants had a photo shoot.  And the Panda
had his moments with another female contestant dressed in a black leotard and
carrying a whip.  The dominatrix scene was about as good as the anything in
the show.  (I'm glad to have seen a few costumes from non-commercial animes,
like South Porco Rosso, and a girl as Nurse Angel Ririka.)  

I talked to the couple who were the Ranma-Panda after the show.  Seems that
they wanted to do something different, and the "I'm Too Sexy" bit was born.
The dominatrix stuff diring the photo time was a result of the contestants
waiting during their stage appearances, and those people decided to repeat it
for the audience.  And Amanda Winn's added bit helped their chances.  Got a
couple more photos with the Panda and Amanda Winn.

I missed the Shin KOR debut (I plan on getting it later on.)  I was
disappointed in the cancellation of the Evagelion: Death and Rebirth, but I do
understand the reasons.  (BTW, I saw an unsubbed copy some time ago, and all I
can say about it is that it had one hell of a cliffhanger!)

I do hope that the convention staff can improve the facilities for next year,
or at least make sure that there are no other events going on at the same
time.  (One costume bit was helped by the music from a dance that was in the
next room.)  And the dealer's room was a bit crowded.  But otherwise I thought
that they did a good job.

And guys, I am not as wierd as that.  You just have to get to know me (and get
around the warped, self-depricating sense of humor.) ^_- 

As always, I am

James Holzhauer (aka Tobimaro [Ton-chan])
      ---Maho Tsukai Tai! CD v1, Marmalade Boy Best Album, Key the Metal Idol
VDD v1, and a sketch of Rally Vincent by Robert DeJesus.  Not a bad
convention.
________________________________________________________
James Holzhauer (aka Tobimaro [Ton-chan])
      tobimaro@aol.com      http://members.aol.com/Tobimaro/index.html
      Lum nut, anime fan, and fanfiction reader 
      "All we need to do...is make sure...we keep...talking."
          Pink Floyd  Keep Talking  The Division Bell