This week has been very busy, as I've been pulling together pieces for my Mai Hime outfit in time to be worn at Anime Expo. This will be the first time I've worn a costume at a con, I'll have you know.
Infinite thanks to KL for helping me, again. I will post pictures after the con.
I recently got a gift certificate for Forbidden Planet, and when I went there, I was horrified to find like no manga and no anime related toys compared to the last time I went there (although delighted to see some Dr. Who toys and a dalek T-shirt). I spoke to Ms. Wildgoose, who asked if I'd checked to the upstairs.
"What upstairs?" I asked. On a return trip to the store I marveled over an entirely new section of a very comprehensive manga selection, a decent shelf of anime, a small variety of toys, and a nifty magazine section. (And there were trading cards, but who gives a crap about that?) I picked up that new Yotsuba& book by the Azumanga Diaoh author, and the second volume of Cromartie High School and some issues of Kare Kano that I'd been pining after for a while. I also picked up the premiere issue of Shojo Beat magazine. It's some kind of answer to the American version of Shonen Jump. So far so good!
On Sunday I got gypped out of tickets to Princess Raccoon because the New York Times gave it a good write up so people from like, Minnesota showed up to wait in the stand-by line ahead of me. Screw you New York Times! I've been going to this festival for three freaking years! I will not be beat by Minnesota! I am seeing the movie tomorrow instead, and therefore missing not one, not two, but three parties I could be at instead, including but not limited to an anime watching party, a coworker's BBQ, and a birthday party.
On Monday I went to a meeting of an NYC area Doctor Who Club. There I met some really hardcore dorks, not the least of whom was my brother, but perhaps the most impressive of which was a couple on their honeymoon from Wisconsin.
On Tuesday and Wednesday the internet was down at work and I ALMOST DIED.
Also on Wednesday I went to another freaky New York-Tokyo event put on by that Taeko chick. It was a Shojo night, with screenings of stuff I'd seen (and not much, at that, it was a small event). The weird thing was there were some real Del Ray industry types there, hyping their manga and giving away some free books. It was a very odd event, par for the course for Energy Fest and the mysterious Taeko.
I've been reading the book of Howl's Moving Castle all week. It's a very cute book, and a fast read! I can't decide how I feel about a certain chapter, which I will discuss with those who've read the book.