Hey, everybody.

     About A-Kon...

     The best description I can give for how the con went for me is hectic.
 I found myself running from event to place to event, with not much time
for real rest.  

     The most enjoyable thing?  Sitting in either Tokyo-one or Denny's or
Whataburger, talking with people and just chewing the fat (in more ways
than one).  I had some beautiful discussions with Richard, Zen, Lara,
Travis, Doug, Blade, Gadekan, and others in these locales, and (along with
the panel) this will be the most memorable part of the experience.  The
last meal in Scoops was one that I needed, as I felt like I'd been running
everyone everywhere.  

     I was sorta bummed to hear about Krista's absence.  I hadn't been on
the ML, so I didn't hear about it until the meeting that Friday night.
Krista, you missed a heck of a party (and some really good Japanese food).
Overall, the absence wasn't something I couldn't handle: I asked Doug to be
on the panel, and we went from there.  

     Friday night was a blast.  Imagine a number of the most opinionated
writers around a table, scarfing sushi and debating characterization with
some of the most admittedly opinionated writers out there (myself included).  

     One thing I have to admit, because he sometimes gets a bad rap: Blade,
if you ever meet him in person, is one of the coolest people you'll ever
meet.  Arrogance is usually spawned by intelligence, and Blade certainly
has it in abundance.  Some of the discussions we got into were the most
enjoyable I've had in ages.  Also, he makes a very convincing Tarou-human
when in costume.

     The panel wasn't as good as I would have liked, though it was pretty
good; I thought we got off on tangents too much.  I decided to try letting
the audience ask the questions; problem is, that tends to lead the group
off topic.  

     *sigh*  Now I know how Tybalt feels.  ^_^

     As for the stuff, I got some Rurouni Kenshin and Sailor Moon manga, a
couple of CD singles ("It's Moon Revenge...ooooohhh..."), a Tenchi cel, and
a beautiful Hotaru model from the Art Show.  Too bad Sean wasn't there... ^_-

     Unfortunately, real life sometimes interferes.  I found out I didn't
get a job that I thought I'd likely get, and that sorta depressed me after
the con.  

     Look for Borrowed Time 4 in a day or two, once I get a couple of
errors corrected.  

Anyway...

Things I learned from A-Kon 9:

Being off of the ML just before a con can be a very bad thing.  I didn't
learn of the absence of one of the panelists until the night before the
panel.  

All good writers are arrogant.  Some of us are just able to disguise it
better.  ^_^

If you are arrogant in front of other writers, even accidently, dive for
cover.  Bokken and battle spats may be headed your way.

All-you-can-eat Japanese is your friend, even if it is expensive.

Just because a place has more hotel rooms does not mean that it has more
parking.  And I thought school parking was bad...

If you're religious, the Serenity prayer can work wonders at a con.
Nothing *ever* goes as planned.  

If it needs it, get your shocks fixed before going to a con.  Your car (and
your passengers) will thank you for it.  

Nothing is ever as it seems.  Ask the costumers.

VLARPers suck the life out of cons.  They also suck other things too, but
we'll not go into that here.  One word: POSEUR.

To quote Sachel Paige, "Don't look back.  Something might be gaining on
you."  Especially a VLARPer something.  

You know you've lived an interesting life when you find someone from just
about every aspect of your life at a con.  I found someone there who I'd
known since grade school.  

Don't trust any electronic or similar equipment in a hotel room -
especially the alarm clocks.  

If the con staff isn't willing to do it's job, do it yourself - then
complain later.  

If you're running a panel, do not leave in the middle of it for anything
else, else you might get an irate writer at your throat.  

Institutions are difficult to deal with - especially if they are loud and
quite vocal.  

The ability to say "Shut up!" is one of the most powerful tools given to a
human being - especially if they have the power to enforce it.  

Do not spend too much time with one member of the opposite sex unless you
want the rumor mill to start flying.  Especially when you drove to the con
with said person.  

Anything can happen in an elevator.  Anything.

The factor of safety on most elevators ranges from six to eleven.  That
doesn't mean they'll run when they're above weight, though.  

Elevators being above weight when the art auction's about to start is not
fun.  

When in an art auction, bid on the first thing you find that you want, and
bid to your limit.  If you don't get it, get out.  The closing bids just
rise from there.  

Some people will be pricks.  That doesn't mean that you can't get revenge
on them, though.  

Three words that should *never* be said during a panel: "Script or prose?"

If you want to know what okonomiyaki tastes like, ask Jamie and Bridget.  I
found their description given to me months ago to be right on the money.
It has this very interesting tangy flavor, thanks to its sauce.  

Pity the child who everyone else beats up in grade school.  Especially if
they never come out of the wall they build.  


Well, take care, everybody, and have fun.

-- Nick