2011
I want to keep a record of my life because I have such a terrible memory. There hasn't been a post in my LJ since May 2011. The least I could do is make a year-end post, even if it is already 2 weeks into 2012. The best way for me to sum up my year is to use photos. Luckily, I somehow managed to take photos every month of the year.
January: I brought in the New Year with friends at my parents' house. Video game themed drinks, Daft Punk music, Kelly and Rich catering, and people wearing glowie things on themselves.
Later in the month, I had the pleasure of going to a quirky little store in Buck Town and watching Steve Weibe try to break Hank Chien's Donkey Kong record. He didn't make it, but he was still really amazing to watch.
February: As usual, I had my birthday celebration in combination with Chinese New Year. My friends made it despite the 10-foot high piles of snow on every corner.
Later in the month, I went to DC for a while to be a vendor at Katsucon. I didn't do that great there, but I do have a memorable customer experience. A little Asian girl with glasses and bangs with with her father. She wanted the animal orb cardinal I made. Her father asked her, "Are you sure that's what you want?" She nodded and he bought it for her. My plushies are not cheap. Each con I go to, the price goes up on them because I can't keep up with the demand. He bought her this small, handmade cardinal for $25. I had to leave the table because I suddenly missed my father very very much and started to get teary eyed. It was like watching myself with my father when I was little. I gave my dad a call and he was really happy to hear from me.
March: Patty and Suke threw a mad party downtown for her birthday. There were a lot of out-of-towners there and Keisha made a surprise visit. Her charisma and beauty really amazes me. I also fell on my face at one point and it was pretty hilarious. Also in March, Pokemon Black and White came out and I went to C2E2.
April: I went to the Cherry Blossom Festival and met NASCAR driver Akari Ogata, who was a super nice guy. Also in April, I went to a potluck at June's where Stephen told me about Game of Thrones. Little did I know, it was my next obsession. I also had and awesome time at Chocolate Fest with Mariko in Long Grove. There we ran into Dave and Rebecca and took photos of chocolate covered apple donuts in our mouths.
May: Anime Central is a giant, drunken party where we make money. Earlier that month, a 10-pound snapping turtle could have bit my finger off and given me a nasty infection while scratching me with his claws of death. He didn't though. I picked him up from the middle of the street and moved him into the grass. All the neighbours clapped and I felt pretty bad ass.
June: I somehow got mad sick and wasn't able to stick around all of Queenie's bachelorette party, but I was able to go to RJ and Queenie's wedding shower. Lots of love and friends here.
Also in June, I had a last-minute going-away gathering at Mitsuwa and then Gameworks. I was surprised and happy to see a lot of people there. Mark gave me My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I had never heard of it, but Mark created an irrationally obsessive monster in me. Ponies very well might have been the best thing that happened to me in 2011. Oh yeah, and I moved 700+ miles away from home.
July: I had this really frustrating incident with Otakon, and Fufei graciously helped me out with it. I stood in line for a table in the artist alley on Saturday morning, lucked out, and did awesome for a day and a half of selling. I also got to stop by Bit Gen Gamer Fest and had the most amazing pizza I've ever had outside of Chicago at a place called Pub Dog Pizza.
August: Eight words -- Seattle, Mount Rainier, PAX, Skyrim dragon, drunk, & Connie.
Oh, and I also got to visit the beautiful PNC Park in Pittsburgh and experience the Columbus itis with friends earlier that month.
September: Coronado Island, San Diego, Newport Beach, L.A., Anaheim, and Chino Hills. Lots of love to Sheryl, Steve, and Maritess and family. Here's a photo of SushiStop, where you can get your pre-owned copy of shimp tempura. Later that month, I was hired by ThinkGeek as holiday help. It was the strangest job interview I ever had.
October: I am the crafty underdog. I wasn't supposed to win best vendor for the 2nd largest craft fair on the East Coast, but endless thanks to my friends, I did. I'm still waiting on some recognition from the Washington City Newspaper.
November: I visited home some random weekend in lieu of going back for Thanksgiving. I stopped by MWFF to say hello to a couple of friends of ours (who are picture here). They are two people Mike and I really got to know this year and we went to their house for Thanksgiving.
December: Sheryl came to visit and we had a blast. On the first day, we went to Baltimore. Then, Malcolm and Pernell came down too. We went to Eastern Market, the National Zoo, and the National Mall. We also ate a bunch of great food too. I was really glad my cousin was able to take the time off to come and visit me.
On Christmas eve, I cooked for seven hours. Nick, Karen and Johnny came over and we ate, decorated cookies and watched UHF. Christmas morning was spent with Mike's sister and brother-in-law. We spent New Year's Eve with Nick, Karen, and Johnny (and his girlfriend). I got pretty tipsy on some Johnnie Walker and watched MST3K. It was a nice, quiet New Year's.
Looking through all the photos I took last year, I remember how awesome my life is. Though, it's only awesome because of the people in my life. I miss everyone at home a lot, but at the same time, I think being away has allowed me to progress creatively like I never have before. My own work is being recognized and with each show, I make more money than the last one I did. Doing Crafty Bastards changed my life because it made me realize gamers and otaku are not the only people who want my work. I can open my work up to everyone. Not having to be a starving artist looks more and more like a reality to me.
Street Cred from 2011:
Northwestern Commercial
Baltimore Sun
Tomopop
NBC Washington