(no subject)
So…AnimeExpo was a real let-down for me. I’ll just summarize the weekend as $400+ worth of suck.
I had intended upon spending a fun-filled weekend with friends enjoying anime. Perhaps I misjudged what I’d signed-up for. Instead I spent a good portion of the convention in my room alone or wandering about Anaheim and all the convention had to offer was old anime (and if it was new…I somehow would miss it). The only redeeming qualities of AX were seeing some classics on the big screen and the AMV award ceremony. The purchases made at the dealer hall I could’ve made online.
Friday I spent 3 hours in traffic to get to the hotel. Everyone had already basically called it a night. I made my way down to the convention hall…walked the labyrinth to get my badge and walked back to my hotel room. I should’ve read the early warning signs for the rest of the weekend.
Saturday…was a fiasco. Lack of communication and drama had me ready to leave and recoup my losses. By mid-day it took every ounce of my self-control and patience to not leave, go home and shoot myself in the face (seriously, I was that depressed).
Sunday was no better. It was so unmemorable that I can’t recall anything of value except going to Benihana’s to eat.
Monday, the 4th of July (my second favorite holiday), I decided to go about it on my own. I got up early, had breakfast and checked myself out of the hotel. I waited in line for the AMV awards, talked to some people about anime while in line and enjoyed the AMVs. The group wanted to eat at Il Capo for lunch, but by that time…it was too late…I’d had enough.
I went to check-in on my family for the holiday, big mistake…I stayed long enough to lend them money for fireworks, eat a little BBQ, and toss back a few with old friends from the neighborhood I hadn’t seen in a long time. I left when the drama started and I was getting lectured for being in the military (on Independence Day for fucks sake!).
I decided to try and redeem what was left of my weekend. I drove up to San Pedro to go to my favorite coffee shop and (big surprise) it was closed…then I headed to my favorite hangout, the Korean Bell, it was overcrowded with people preparing for the firework shows (I should’ve known better). I was all set and ready to drive home a defeated man and drown my sorrows in a bottle. Fortunately as I was making my holiday calls to people I ran into some friends who were headed to Hollywood. Their ride had flaked on them, so their misfortune became my fortune (I don’t enjoy when that happens, but I was already in a dark mood, so…c’est la vie).
We watched the San Pedro fireworks from a friend-of-a-friend’s balcony. It was a really good view and the show was awesome. We headed out to Hollywood…traffic was bizarre, but not overly irritating. We just blared old-school rap and basically made the most of the trip. We went to Blue Mondays in Hollywood. It was just what I needed…loud 80s music and people enjoying themselves lost in the moment. It was actually really fun, the club was located deep in a dark alley, like something out of a movie…I wasn’t exactly dressed for an 80s club, but I still made the most of it. I danced and encouraged others to dance and mingle…had a few pictures taken for their website…all-in-all a good night.
Looking back on the weekend, counting my losses, and summing it all up I’d have to say I’m rather disappointed. At least my fourth wasn’t a total loss, but I can’t help but feel that the time I spent was wasted for the most part.
Currently time is not a luxury I can frivolously dispense. I don’t know what others may think about my situation or the way it’s perceived, but I do know I’ve expressed that my time is valuable to me. In approximately 7 weeks I’ll be headed to the Middle East, into a conflict that knows no borders or boundaries, to perform a duty that has an erratic casualty rate. I’d like to think the people, whom I call my friends, understand the time I apportion out to them is precious to me. Perhaps I haven’t made that clear enough and it’s my fault, but I can’t shake the feeling some are taking it for granted. I’m not trying to say I’m gifting others with my presence, I’d hope my friends know me better than that. What I am trying to say is when I dedicate an entire day to spending time with anyone I’ve given them something irreplaceable to me.
I had intended upon spending a fun-filled weekend with friends enjoying anime. Perhaps I misjudged what I’d signed-up for. Instead I spent a good portion of the convention in my room alone or wandering about Anaheim and all the convention had to offer was old anime (and if it was new…I somehow would miss it). The only redeeming qualities of AX were seeing some classics on the big screen and the AMV award ceremony. The purchases made at the dealer hall I could’ve made online.
Friday I spent 3 hours in traffic to get to the hotel. Everyone had already basically called it a night. I made my way down to the convention hall…walked the labyrinth to get my badge and walked back to my hotel room. I should’ve read the early warning signs for the rest of the weekend.
Saturday…was a fiasco. Lack of communication and drama had me ready to leave and recoup my losses. By mid-day it took every ounce of my self-control and patience to not leave, go home and shoot myself in the face (seriously, I was that depressed).
Sunday was no better. It was so unmemorable that I can’t recall anything of value except going to Benihana’s to eat.
Monday, the 4th of July (my second favorite holiday), I decided to go about it on my own. I got up early, had breakfast and checked myself out of the hotel. I waited in line for the AMV awards, talked to some people about anime while in line and enjoyed the AMVs. The group wanted to eat at Il Capo for lunch, but by that time…it was too late…I’d had enough.
I went to check-in on my family for the holiday, big mistake…I stayed long enough to lend them money for fireworks, eat a little BBQ, and toss back a few with old friends from the neighborhood I hadn’t seen in a long time. I left when the drama started and I was getting lectured for being in the military (on Independence Day for fucks sake!).
I decided to try and redeem what was left of my weekend. I drove up to San Pedro to go to my favorite coffee shop and (big surprise) it was closed…then I headed to my favorite hangout, the Korean Bell, it was overcrowded with people preparing for the firework shows (I should’ve known better). I was all set and ready to drive home a defeated man and drown my sorrows in a bottle. Fortunately as I was making my holiday calls to people I ran into some friends who were headed to Hollywood. Their ride had flaked on them, so their misfortune became my fortune (I don’t enjoy when that happens, but I was already in a dark mood, so…c’est la vie).
We watched the San Pedro fireworks from a friend-of-a-friend’s balcony. It was a really good view and the show was awesome. We headed out to Hollywood…traffic was bizarre, but not overly irritating. We just blared old-school rap and basically made the most of the trip. We went to Blue Mondays in Hollywood. It was just what I needed…loud 80s music and people enjoying themselves lost in the moment. It was actually really fun, the club was located deep in a dark alley, like something out of a movie…I wasn’t exactly dressed for an 80s club, but I still made the most of it. I danced and encouraged others to dance and mingle…had a few pictures taken for their website…all-in-all a good night.
Looking back on the weekend, counting my losses, and summing it all up I’d have to say I’m rather disappointed. At least my fourth wasn’t a total loss, but I can’t help but feel that the time I spent was wasted for the most part.
Currently time is not a luxury I can frivolously dispense. I don’t know what others may think about my situation or the way it’s perceived, but I do know I’ve expressed that my time is valuable to me. In approximately 7 weeks I’ll be headed to the Middle East, into a conflict that knows no borders or boundaries, to perform a duty that has an erratic casualty rate. I’d like to think the people, whom I call my friends, understand the time I apportion out to them is precious to me. Perhaps I haven’t made that clear enough and it’s my fault, but I can’t shake the feeling some are taking it for granted. I’m not trying to say I’m gifting others with my presence, I’d hope my friends know me better than that. What I am trying to say is when I dedicate an entire day to spending time with anyone I’ve given them something irreplaceable to me.