Aqua Regia

So apparently falling off the Earth and forgetting to update my LJ is becoming alarmingly common.  Well, I comment in the communities I watch, but somehow I never get around to updating this journal.  I definitely need to remedy that going forward.  These three month gaps between updates means I forget to write about lots of stuff.

So, I see my last entry was right before Anime Expo, so let's start there.  Can I just wallow in the feelings of joy I experienced going to a con for the first time since 2004?  I know I was apprehensive before going down - would I still feel the same happiness about the con experience, or would I just feel irritated and frustrated?  To my delight, it was definitely the former. 

Except for the driving part, which was way worse this year - the con used to be in Anaheim (Disneyland area), which was a wonderful convention center and super easy to get to.  By this point however, the con has outgrown that area and now resides in the LA Convention Center.  I am ultra afraid of driving in congested metropolitan areas like whoa, and this was no exception.  It didn't help that the GPS got us super lost (it was the first time that's ever happened, and I feel so betrayed! XD) and that traffic seemed to come to a grinding halt in pretty much any direction we went.  At least if I go back next year, I will have a much greater understanding of that area!

On a happier note, I want to say how much of an improvement the registration process has undergone since I last attended.  We were in line for maybe 45 minutes - a far cry from the untold hours in line spent in years previous. 

The selection of guests and panels was only just okay.  I feel like if you hadn't seen Fate/Zero or Madoka Magica there was like no reason to attend. XD  I'm glad I made it a point to at least watch Madoka before going.  The composer for both of those series - Yuki Kajiura - was in attendance this year again (she was also here in 2003), and her band Fiction Junction gave an AMAZING concert.  I was so, so glad that I got those tickets because it was the highlight of the con for me to see her again.

On a weird note, I also got to meet Peter S. Beagle in the dealer's room!  He was there promoting the graphic novel edition of the Last Unicrorn (which I of course got a signed copy of), and I had the opportunity to chat with him a little bit; let me just say that man is an exceptional gentleman, and being able to meet him was probably my greatest con surprise.  He was also interested in my "20% Cooler" Rainbow Dash shirt (which I was also complemented on by a 10 year old boy and got bro-hoofed in line for the concert. XD  I'm not really a brony, so I found this all very amusing).

So yeah, Anime Expo 2012 was a great experience.  It really felt nice to just be around an are filled with general weirdness, be able to nerd out with panels, buy fun stuff in the dealer's room, and forcibly remind myself that I am not the only person in real life who likes anime.  Sometimes I tend to forget that little nugget of wisdom.

After AX, I spent about a week hanging out with my parents and spending time at the ocean.  We returned at long last to Sea Ranch (which despite the name really has nothing to do with horses) - possibly the most relaxing place on Earth.  I dug into reading the awesome Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, and we pretty much did nothing of import aside from walking down to the beach and looking at the adorable seal colony daily.

Other than the vacation, summer has been a little bit of a blur.  I've really tried to spend more time in the gym with my trainer.  I'm definitely feeling like I have a little more muscle definition, which is great, but since it's basically still covered with a layer of fat it's kind of a moot point?  IDK, I need to get my diet back under control.  After spending three months on the new Weight Watchers, I cancelled my subscription.  I never saw two consecutive weeks of weight loss, despite following the PointsPlus programs very closely.  So that was a bit defeating.  I'm debating getting out my old WW materials again.

Fall/Winter is looking rather busy.  For a self birthday gift, I got tickets to see Cirque du Soleil next week.  And then Sarah Brightman announced a new tour, which I can't miss.  Having been to her last two tours, I plan to keep going to every one I can.  I'm also thinking about getting Nutcracker tickets for Christmas.  It's been ages since I last went, and since I was able to secure a good amount of days off this Christmas (since I worked last year), it might be a nice outing.

Writing wise, a lot of it is still flailing about.  My end-of-year writing goal is to finish Queen Kale (a one-shot Jewel Riders fic I started at Sea Ranch) and add one more chapter on my old Tamara fic.  The Tamara fic unfortunately has like five or six more chapters to go.

And on a final note, on October 4th I celebrated two years at my current job.  It feels weird that I've been here for that long.  I'm torn about looking for another job, as I really like the people I work with, but want to be closer to my family.  But it's almost like the longer I stay the harder it will be to leave.

On a less introspective note: first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season today!  SO GOOD.