Review Katsucon 2007

[IveyAngelo]

Hey everyone,

The convention starts tomorrow though knowing me when I'm on trips with a computer near by, I may start writting up my review tomorrow.  So might as well get this topic started.  Hopefully there'll be lots of pictures and stories to tell.  I need to get video tapes, right now all I can do is take still pictures since I'm all out of my tapes and Sams Club stopped carrying it.

Hopefully we'll all have a lot of great memories to share!

[IveyAngelo]

Hiya everyone, wow it's day 3 of the con and my first chance to jump on here real fast and let you all know things are going good.

Crittle, Raka, Misty, and I have been hanging out at the convention a lot. Though also at this con they've gotten me to go out and get some food more than I normally do... wow food hehe

Friday Misty, Miki and I got there kind of early.  Miki went and put her art into the art show, and than we went to get our badges.  Waited in not too bad of a line, which was moving at a good speed.  After getting registered we looked at the shedule looking for what we may want to do next.  The first panel of the day didn't even start till 5pm.  We decided to walk around the Dealer room as soon that open.   So we headed down there and got to go around, I saw some of those fun Japanese pops for sale so bought a few of those.  Though to my surprise that wasn't the only thing I bought in the dealer room.  A table had a pair of sais that just caught my attention... they were GREEN!  And just a little smaller than my size.  So I picked them up, without a sai case they were $15.  The case would of added an extra $20 to it, so I went without the case.

After shopping we went to the hall and sat down right there.  I was so tired and sore, my arm has NOT been my friend on this trip.  We goofed off while sitting there with the Japanese pop, Misty has never seen it before.  So we had her try to open it (if you don't know what I'm talking about, some day in the future if we meet up you'll learn ).  We got a lot of laughs out of this, and she really seem to have fun too.  Than we relocated over near the first panel room.  Though the doors wasn't suppose to open till about 4pm, and it was going on 2pm.   So we knew it would be a bit of a wait.  We took turns watching our stuff, and going off to explore the convention.  The artist alley is right next to the first panel, so we'd get up and check it out.  I even picked up a little something for Iruka there

Though after we all had gotten up and saw what we wanted to see.  We spent the rest of the time sitting in line just hanging out.  I pestered Crittle till my phone was near dead as she did arive but didn't get her badge right away cause she was waiting on another friend.  So I kept calling and pestering her with the ways that I do

"Opening panel is about to begin and Mike might be here."
"We're sitting here and really want to get to see ya."
"Ooohhh so if Mike comes you'll come running?"  

Yup I was full of it, all in a fun joking voice.    We do pick on each other often at these cons, that's just the type of friendship we have.  We know we're both joking around which makes it a lot of fun.  When they FINALLY opened the doors for the panel (4:50pm)... we got our seats.  Crittle was still no where to be seen.  I sat close to the area they had closed off for Guest to sit.  Though the Guest finally started to show up.  I'd see a few faces some I knew, some I didn't.  Once I saw Mike come in I went and talked with him for a little bit, I had some good news to tell him.

While sitting in line to get into opening panel, I got a phone call from my Lawyer office.  Things are cleared up and I got a meeting to go in for when I get home from the trip since I won my case against Worker Comp.  Yay!  I so happy!!!

Mike was happy to hear this too, I wish I could tell more good news like the pain is under control and such, though this type of news takes a lot of stress off of my head.   We talked a little bit, though a lot of people wanted to say hi to Mike besides me, I wanted to get to introduce him to Miki.  Though it seemed this would not be the best of times.  I sat down and called Crittle.

"Mike is here"  I said grinning wickedly as Crittle was like "Ack I'm getting my badge!"  So I told her I'll keep a seat near me safe for her.  The panel started, though like always it's the boreing rules and stuff first so that bought Crittle a little bit of time.  She called me back and said where she was, so I ran from the panel and lead her back to the panel room.  We got back before the guest got introduced, though Mike was back stage so she didn't get to say hi to him just yet.

When Mike went up on stage he had a sliver case that went up there with him and he introduced his newest toy.  A remote light weight type air plane which he flew over the crowd.  Than he went back stage.  We waited till the end of opening and wanted to let Crittle show Mike something (I'll let her tell you all).  Though Mike was already gone.  We talked for a little bit, though I had to get my sister to a train station so we decided to head out.   We went up to Crittle's room where she agreed I could keep my camera for the weekend so I didn't have to bring it back and forth everyday.   Than we headed out.

We had to walk back to Misty's from the subway station which was six block.  Though this don't sound too bad to most people, my arm acts up to the cold badly and my sister has asthma so didn't do either of us good to be out there.  And Misty was wearing her cosplay boots which was very hard to walk over the ice.  So we weren't moving the fastest.  Miki's asthma started to attack her bad.  So once we got back to Misty's house she had some hot tea and soup before I'd take her back out.  This is also when Miki got to meet Misty's mom.  Since she got back in town from a trip.

We visited for a little bit than I told Miki to call her friend to say we're going to the train station.  Though Miki didn't inform me that her friend was still at the Hospital and didn't know when she'd get out.  So we left, and got to the train station and was sitting there. This is when Miki informed us of this little news.  We couldn't get through to her friend on the phone for a least a half hour.  Than when we did get through it was another 45 minutes before she even got there.

So I went driving around looking for a store to get some food, but the area we were at was no mans land.  There wasn't even a fast food place in sight.  So I was a bit bummed.  Though I'm glad I did drive around, cause I was able to learn the area we were in better.  We went back and parked and Miki's friend called saying she was in the area.  Though she didn't seem to have luck finding where we were parked, so she went driving around looking for us.  Once I found out where they were, I told them to stop at a little party store (that was closed at this late hour), and we'll meet them there.  So that's what we did.  Once my sister was with them, Misty and I hit the road back to Misty's house.

Once we got in, we had some Hot Dogs and headed to bed.  

Well it's going on 8:30am, and I gotta be at the conventions at 10am, so till than take care everyone and I'll give a Saturday and Sunday report as soon as I can.   And I'll share... PICTURES  

[Kazari]

Glad you guys had fun! Sadly I couldn't be there! Oh well!! Thanks, Ivey!! See you in a few days!!

[IveyAngelo]

Yeah, I know you would of had a blast with us Kaz.  Though I understand where you're coming from and I can't wait to see ya next week!!!

This weekend has been going by so fast.   It's 15 to 10am and we're suppose to be at the con at 10!   Eep, so I'll post more when we get back today.  I think I'll have a chance to write up a Saturday con report (don't quote me on that    ).  Though I'm leaving here tonight for a concert than going to Crittle's house till Thursday.  So if I don't write the report today I will this week!  

[Kazari]

Awesome stay safe and when I get to Jersey on Thursday, I'll call you!

[Jade]

Glad you guys are having fun, only thing wrong with this post Ivey is its not 06 any more its 07 *laughs*  we all make mistakes (me more than anyone XD)

[IveyAngelo]

OOPS!!!   It's fixed now

Yeah, sorry about that... been out of it this weekend still can't believe it's another year even though we're into our second month  

[Kazari]

Time flies when you're having fun!!

[Absaraka]

Wow, where do I start?  Some of this is going to be out of sequence, I'll warn you up front.

Couldn't attend Friday night due to unscheduled overtime at the office (a whole other thread in the making there...), but did show up Saturday for a full weekend admission.  I left on the earliest train I could get, but only AFTER telling Dad that I was not going to make a side trip to the coffee shop and fetch him a cup of cocoa.  I remember the line to get back on the floor at NYCC last year, and I told him that I didn't want to be stuck in line for two hours.  He didn't buy it, because it wasn't convenient to him getting a delivered cup of cocoa.  Oh, you should have HEARD the lecture I got.  

An uneventful train ride later, I checked in at registration (Man, were they efficient!), and dallied in the lobby until ten, when Ivey and company finally showed.  Saturday highlights included the voice actor panel, which was an almost nonstop laff riot.  Mike Sinterniklaas, when asked about which role that's changed him the most, said Leonardo, but didn't elaborate that much.  He also got a look at Crittle's new tattoo.  We joked afterwards that she should have done a stripper act to show the other one, and I even started humming the tune "The Stripper" to comic effect.

I did drag Ivey and Misty to lunch at Cafe Asia, as promised.  What part of "extra spicy" the chef didn't get, I don't know, but I finished my mee goreng on only one glass of iced tea.  I was wearing my Caps sweater--did that make me look like a lightweight or something?  Anyway...

Somewhere in there was the autograph session with Mike.  I was a little bit depressed to see so few people there, but we got some quality time with Mike because there weren't that many fans begging for his attention.  (Open note to GW: I couldn't find anything Leo-centric for Mike to sign, so I had him sign my con program.  Hope that'll suffice...)

Misty very graciously invited me to dinner with her grandmother, which was an honor.  We talked, although I tried (for once) to keep my mouth shut more than my usual.  There's a time to be silent and a time to speak up, and I did my best to be uber-polite.  I'd like to think I made a good impression.  (Also got the chance to share the TMNT trailer from my iPod.  I'm turning into Donatello, ladies and gents...)

Mike's solo panel late Saturday night was a certifiable hoot, although there was one moment outside the room at the earlier panel which made my weekend.  The panel before Mike's was a panel on how to draw yuri.  Well, one attendee was wondering why they were checking IDs at the door, and we told her what the panel was.  She didn't know what yuri meant, so Misty told her in fairly blunt terms exactly what it was.  The reaction on this poor woman's face was worth the weekend price of admission all by itself: after she left, Misty and I must have spent the next quarter of an hour cracking up over it.  Mike himself was all over the map in a good and funny way at his panel, and showed us a clip of a show he's working on.  After it broke up, he got mobbed by a bunch of fans with questions, along with a handler who was trying to drag him to an interview.  He was trying to stall his handler as much as he could, and just as she was about to bodily drag him away, I said, "One question, just one.  One-minute answer, tops."  Handler and handlee both let me ask, and I asked Mike in what ways voicing Leonardo has changed him.  He was like, "That's not a one minute answer!", and jokingly lifted a knee in my direction.  I didn't get my answer.  

At that point, it was getting extremely late, and I had a long train ride ahead of me on a Saturday night.  I wasn't expecting that much trouble because of the weather--it's been so cold lately that Rosie O'Donnell started a feud with Punxsatawney Phil--but I wasn't taking chances.  Home, bed, asleep before head hit pillow.

I was going to meet Ivey and Misty at ten on Sunday morning, but Dad just kept giving me a list.  I had hoped to be on the train by 8:30, but I just kept getting more and more and more and more and more and more chores, until I finally snapped: "Dad, I have to be at Woodley Park by ten.  That's about a half-hour train ride.  It's 9:30 right now.  Do the damn math.  I'm leaving."

Spent most of the day in the game room, rocking out on Guitar Hero II.  I was actually putting some footwork into it, and generally trying to strut my stuff a bit.  I wasn't playing on Expert, and I wasn't doing all that well by my standards, but I at least wanted to look stylish doing it.  Too many players were just standing there like statues.  Me, I was hopping around, getting up on one leg, leaning back like Jimi Hendrix, and generally making a spectacle of myself.  I don't know who that guy was who let me talk him into playing rythmn guitar on "Jessica", but man, was that ever fun!  What wasn't fun was hearing too many renditions of "Beast and the Harlot" while songs like "Tattooed Love Boys" and "Crazy on You" went unplayed.  And whoever it was, no, we REALLY don't want you to play "Freebird"--especially not if you're going to play it on Easy.  Doofus.

After closing ceremonies, we swung by the freebies table, and wouldn't you know it, there were a LOT of movie sneak peeks still on the table.  What the heck, it's the freebie table and the con is closed--they won't be missed.  Fourteen, if you're curious, as well as a movie Leo poster.

We also got the chance to catch up with Mike after the con closed.  He was EXTREMELY gracious, and FINALLY got around to answering my question about how playing Leo has changed him as a person.  I'll respect his unspoken wishes and not disclose what he said.  What I WILL say is that he's won me over as a fan, both personally and professionally.  The man is a class act through and through, and we're lucky to have him as the voice of Leonardo.  We did talk shop a bit, and we both ended up finding common ground in bemoaning the sorry state the entertainment racket has become.  He said that as a director, he wants to get it done RIGHT, while all the time he's being told to do it faster and cheaper--but never BETTER.  He also asked me what I thought about the change in voice cast for the film.  I told him that, to me, it's not just a matter of getting the voice right--it's a matter of getting it right for that particular world.  Rob Paulsen, for instance, was a great Raphael for the original series, but his version of Raphael wouldn't have been right for the first three movies, and never mind for the 4Kids series.  It's like losing weight (and Mike was surprised when he saw the "before" picture that I use for my driver's license): a system can work, but it's got to be able to work FOR YOU.  So the voices have to be right within the world of the film, not just right in general.  

We also picked up a bit on why Leo and Raph tend to hog the spotlight.  I said that if we think of the TMNT as the four elements, Leo is fire and Raph is water.  (Fire represents spirit, sun, and light; Water represents emotion, instability, and darkness.  Yes, Raph is a hothead, but that doesn't make him a fire elemental.)  Since fire turns water to steam, and water puts out fire, it's a very powerful opposition to play on.

There's more, but I need to go to bed.  Now, where is my mugwort tea...

Raka

[Michaelangelo]

Thanks for posting a review Raka!   It was great to read!!!

Here's my Saturday report!

Saturday morning I woke up by 7am, and started to get around.  I was able to get a shower in, and pack up my bag to go to the convention.  At 8:30am, I went up to wake up Misty.  Her mother woke up at the same time, she came in and asked when we wanted to be there and I was like we have to be there at 10 for a panel.  She looked at the time and thought it was 9:30 so got a bit rushed, though was happy when she realized we had plenty of time.  

Misty's mom gave us a ride to the convention center, getting there right at 10, Raka met us right inside the lobby.  Crittle was meeting us at the panel room, and she had my camera and tripod.  So we went straight there for a 2 hour panel.  At first there was only three voice actors at the panel,

Antimere, Mike M, and Richard.  We were wondering if Richard was even going to go on stage at first, since he just was standing off to the side down next to the stage.  Though he did go up there and sit down.  I didn't set up the camera yet, cause I only had two video tapes and wanted to save those for panels with Mike S. in them.  Shortly after the panel started, Mike S. did show up so I set up the video camera.  

I was going to let Crittle mention that she got her new tattoo though since Raka posted about it, guess I'll tell this story as well.  She does have a new Tattoo of Dean, it's on her back (I'll let her at least be the one to share what it looks like to you all ).   She was wearing a Dean shirt over another shirt, and asked what she should do about showing Mike her tattoo... and how she wants him to see the shirt too.  So I told her..

"You should raise your hand, tell Mike that you want to show him something, go up there and show him your shirt, than pull off that shirt and turn around to show your Tattoo.."  and the jokes began.  She's like "Nooo...."  So I joked with her for a bit, all I had to do was look at her and she'd bust a gut laughing.  She'd hold up her hand like 'talk to the hand' towards me and all.  After half the panel went by of hearing stories on how the voice actors got their jobs, which was their favorite jobs, and where was the best places in Texas to eat, I asked Crittle...

"You are going to show him the Tattoo during the panel, right?"  And she shakes her head no.  "Don't you want it on tape?"  So she thought about it than told me.

"I'll do it, if you raise your hand and tell Mike that I have something to show him."  Though she already took off the Dean shirt, so she's not going to do the tease show  This was agreed so the two of us left our piles of stuff where we were sitting and moved to the front role, as the Texas food talk was still going on.   I'm not even sure how that topic got started just know it lasted awhile.  Anytime I thought they were done I'd go to raise my hand and someone would go in "And there's..." and start talking about some other food place.   I leaned over to Crittle and said "They're just buying you some time to think about this."

Finally they were done and I raised my hand, Crittle walked up and showed Mike.  This time it was a real reaction of total surprise.   He grabbed out his phone to catch a picture of it.  I took a picture but some how didn't get Mike in the first shot.  Than Mike says out loud "And if I know Crittle like I do, this is not her first Dean Tattoo".    So Crittle got to show the crowd her original Tattoo as well.

Crittle and I ended up staying in the front role through most of the rest of the panel.  I moved around a bit, anyone who has seen me in a panel knows I like to make sure things are ok with the camera.  I like to move for better pictures, and I like to keep checking so no one is feeling left out.  The full two hour panel was a blast.  I wanted to get back in time for Greg's panel though Raka wanted to go out.

I'm going to admit something here, and I told this to Raka too.  I don't like leaving conventions to much.  I pay $50+ to be at the convention for the panels and stuff I wanna make sure that I get that $50 worth of time there.  Enjoy every panel.  I bring food to snack on and they supply water at some conventions (including this one) for drinking during the con.  So food is not a big deal to me at conventions, I perfer to stick around the show itself.  Unless the panel is a food panel, I don't normally eat.  Though Raka really wanted me to try this place, as much as I was saying I'm not really up for it.  I was hoping for a two hour break from 11 to 1pm, but than realized that the panel ended at noon... so it went from a two hour break between panels down to a one hour... and realizing we had to do so much just to head out.

Go to Crittle's room drop of bags, camera and tripod.
Go to coat check and pick up coats to go out.
Go to subway, and ride it two stops.
Walk to food place... place order, wait and eat.  Than try to get back.

I realized when leaving esp since I was going slow from pain that there was no way I would be back for Greg's panels.  I don't like going outside also because of the cold.  I was hurting so bad from it already that going out in it only caused me to slow down more.  I wish I could be as fast and hyper outside like I use to be, and I'm sorry to anyone who is outside with me when I'm going slow.  I would speed up if I could.  Seriously I would!  Anyone who remembers me from two years before, know that I would usually be running in front of the group to where ever we were going, not dragging behind.  This is not me.  And I hope some day I'll be back to how I was.

We got our subway pass and went to this very Modren place to eat.  It felt like one of those art museums, with a very simple yet relaxing design.   We sat down and got food, don't ask me what it was, cause I couldn't say it let alone spell it.   It was interesting, had some egg noodles and beef in it.  Almost like the food I get from the Chinese place in my area that I eat at.  After eatting we ordered desert. I figured before going back to the convention I'd use the bathroom.  

The bathroom, as weird as this sounds was my favorite part of our outting.  It was both the mens and womens rest room, when I heard that I thought of those normal bathrooms where you walk up and theres the door that you go through and it's just one little bathroom with the locking door... but I was wrong.  I walked around the corner there wasn't even a door to through as I walked in there was this LONG sink, and across from the sink was all these big heavy looking doors... that lead into the stalls.  They looked like they belonged on a boat or something.  Big and metal.  Something you'd find in a Sims game and put up there just for the fun of it.  I laughed a bit, and used one of the stalls.  It was nice, each stall was fully closed so there was no looking under the stall to the next.  I was very amused by this bathroom though it's one of those things that you have to see it to understand why.  If I had my camera I should of got a picture (and not to be perverted or anything) it just looked so different!

I went back out and we got our stuff together.  Sure enough though we were going to be late back to the convention.  Once we got there we walked around the dealer room a bit.  I think I behaved this time.  I don't recall buying anything but one drink (peach this time).  Though we stopped and looked around a lot.  This time while walking around I was noticing more Pokemon cosplayers, so I would get Misty who was dressed up to pose with the other Pokemon cosplayer for picture.   I think Misty really enjoyed that

Though by time we were done there it was 4pm and we had to go meet up with Misty's mom to go out to eat.  Misty invited Raka to come with us.  We were going to the place that her Grandma lives.  Once we got there we sat in the Lobby for a little bit waiting for Misty's mom to go get her Grandma, once they got down we went and sat in a waiting room.  I had some water, and started talking with Misty's Grandma.  She's very nice and interesting lady, she really likes to hear about people and loves to share her stories as well.  So we really kicked it off talking.

We moved to the dinning room where they even had a table reserved for us.  I sat between Misty and her mom, and the other side of Misty was Raka than her Grandma.  I shared photos and pictures.  I had some hot tea cause my throat gave way yet again to another convention.  To eat I had a Grilled Cheese Sandwhich.  After eatting we went up to Misty's Grandma's appartment and sat around talking.  She was really interested in hearing all of our stories.  Raka got to share his Ipod as he mentioned and showed everyone the movie trailer.  It was not easy to say good bye, we had such a short time, I do hope to get to visit with her again.  Though we had to get back to the convention.

Once we got back we went to Crittle's hotel room and got our stuff and went down waiting for the autograph line, where more photos happened as a few more Pokemon cosplayers went by.  I got to hang out with Crittle's friend Ash, who was staying with her.  She joined us down for the autograph session.  So I shared photos and all with her.   Once it was time for the autograph session it was a short line (but what was one to except with his autograph session going on at the same time as the costume contest?).  I got to talk to Mike a little more as I told him what I was going to try and get Crittle to do during the panel with taking off the shirt and he said that would of been funny.  I also showed him my talking Michelangelo toy and showed him the new Leonardo toy from the movie.  

I didn't want to stand around the full autograph session though cause I know there was others that wanted to talk to him as well.  And I wanted to get a good spot for his panel, so after our group was done with autographs we headed down to the panel room that Mike was going to be at.  There was a "How to draw Yuri" panel going on.  This had me laughing, but I wanted to sit down... so Crittle, Ash and I went in.  Raka and Misty decided that they're going to wait elsewhere.

What can I say about this panel?  Heh not too much since this is a family forum  Though this artist they had wasn't that good at all.  It was funny watching the panel, I did a few fast sketches that I ended up giving to Crittle just to be funny.  Though it did hurt, it was worth it  I told her she's not allowed to scan those pictures hehehehe

Once that panel cleared out Mike came in.  Some of the people in the crowd was dressed up like characters from Venture Brothers so of course that got his attention.  This panel again was a laugh a minute.  Mike enjoyed picking on Crittle and I, but we were doing that any how with each other.  Once again we got to the point that all we had to do was look at each other and we'd bust a gut laughing.  I'm sure Mike had to be wondering what in the world was going on in our heads.  Once again Mike took out his plane and showed it to us all, had it fly around the room.   Another thing he was doing during this panel which my throat couldn't help but thank him for, was he was throwing mints to the crowd.  I'd catch it than curse at myself for using my bad arm.  

One person asked who Mike's favorite character he voiced was and that got Crittle and I picked on.  He's like "I have to be careful how I word this, or these two are going to box it out over there"  Mike has answered Leonardo & Dean most of the time when asked this question so Crittle and I always goof off when that question comes up.  During the panel I took the time to show Mike pictures of my sewer that was done for the "TMNT Party" at my house.   Glad I did than, cause I wouldn't have had another chance through this weekend.

Once the panel was over, everyone went up to talk with Mike.  All I really wanted was a picture of him with my sister in her costume of "No Face" from "Spirited away" that she made.  Though I had to wait my turn, and the lady that was with him was rushing him to go do an interview.  I finally got a second to get a few pictures in, than he had to go.  Though before leaving asked me if I was going to be at the uncensored panel... I wasn't thinking about it since it wasn't till 1am and Misty and I had to still go back to her house.  So I asked Misty if it was ok with her... I thought she'd let her mom know.  She said it was ok with her.  Through out the next two hours I kept asking Misty if she was sure this was ok, since we wouldn't be getting home till late, though she says she's a night owl and could handle it.

Raka had to leave, so Misty and I hung out with Crittle up in Crittle's hotel room.   We got some pizza and watched some anime.. yay I got to watch Bleach.  Than when we came out of the hotel room I noticed some of the guest so joking I said "Hey maybe we'll see Mike on this floor"  we walked across to the other elevator thinking the panel was going to be on the far end.  Though when we got there I looked back and saw Mike at the elevators we normally would ride on... "It's Mike!" I said... and ran down the hall to where Mike was, I think at first Crittle thought I was pulling her leg, since we were just talking about Mike being on this floor.   We got over to the other elevator and got to ride down with Mike.  Seems the Green room is on Crittle's floor.  

We got to ride in the elevator down with Mike and walk towards the panel room with him.  Than we were reminded you need your ID to get into this panel... Misty... didn't have her ID!  EEP!  I saw Mike and asked for him to vouch for her... and he did.

As respect to the guest in this panel I ask that no one who went quotes any of the guest on any line or what went on in this panel.  It just a lot of dirty jokes that don't be long on TMNT-L any how.  

Misty and I were in the panel for about an hour, one line was said about Pokemon (Please do not quote this line here) that did offend Misty.   So Misty and I took an early leave from the panel.  To cheer her up for a little we stopped in the game room and played a few games than headed to leave.

Before leaving I stopped by the room to make sure to give Crittle her Camera back, and I got to say good night to Mike.  At this point I was wishing we did have a hotel room, so that we could just crash but Misty and I were able to catch a cab back to her house.

That was Saturday... Sunday report coming soon.

[Brinatello]

Thank you so much Ivey and Raka for a wonderful report of Saturday!  Wow, I can't wait to see pictures next!  

[Michaelangelo]

Hehe I think Sunday's review will get up before the pictures do hehe

[IveyAngelo]

Sunday started like the other days, I woke up in time to get ready and get out the door for the convention with Misty and her mother.  This time I was determined to stay at the convention center, keep an eye out for any voice acting panels and voice actor autograph lines.  We were suppose to meet up with Raka in the lobby, though once we got there I looked around and did not see him.  I figured I'd Misty and I could run and check on some autograph information than come back and look for him again.  So we went over to where the Autographs were and asked about the make up autographs, this took longer than I originally thought it would, as the person we asked started to call around to other staff members asking them.

It came down to the... "I don't know" answer from everyone.  Though the staff member we talked too was very helpeful and tried his best to answer the question.  I thanked him for his time and said I'll be back around later.  So I went back to the lobby looking for Raka.  He found us, and was wondering where we were.   Than we headed up to Crittle's room and knocked on the door they weren't up just yet.  So we hung out up there for a bit as they got ready to go down.  

Once we headed down I went to try and find out about autographs again.  Though once again no news.  Misty and Raka wanted something to do, and both showed interest in going to the Gaming room.  So I mentioned to them that they can head there and we'll meet up later.  They're into video games a lot more than I ever have been, so it makes sense for them to be able to enjoy the games.  

Crittle and I walked around the dealer room one more time, I picked up a sore throat while there.  While digging around I found some Ranma 1/2 comics for $2 each, so bought those.   After going through the dealer room the last time of the convention, we headed out to go to Crittle's room to pack up.  Though Crittle called OMG as we were heading out and was on the phone, she was just following me.  As I was walking I glanced over and saw a group of people with their backs towards me... though one of them stood out, I wasn't sure but it could of been Mike.  So I walked over and noticed one of the Venture Brother Cosplayers and than I was sure.  I stepped up next to him, and joined in on what was going on.

Crittle didn't realize who I was talking to at first, so she was on the phone for a minute more.  We talked with Mike for a little bit and walked with him back up to the Lobby.  Mike was going out to lunch so we split ways than went up stairs to Crittle's room.  Crittle and her room mates got their stuff together and we headed down to the lobby.  We got split up and I lost them in the crowd I had to call Crittle just to find where they were.  After finding them, I set my stuff down and took off to check on the autograph news.  Though two actors were signing, Mike wasn't.  Though Mike told Crittle and I that he'll see us at the Closing Panel.

So we got a few autographs on some Beck (an anime I haven't seen yet) posters than went and sat down for a little bit.  After taking a little rest we went to the room Closing was going to be in, and sat down.  Funimation came in with two CRATES full of Ramin soup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   AND WAS GIVING THEM AWAY FREE BY THE CASES!!!!   I took a case, than they gave away a pixi stick I got that too... and just feeling good I was even willing to get the Raffle ticket they were selling. They offered $1/each or 6 for $5.   I had only $4 left on me so I bought $3 worth to leave $1 on me just incase.  

Now during this time Misty and Raka were still gone at the game room and I was getting a bit concerned.  Neither of them were answering their phones and the panel was going to start.   So I asked Crittle to guard my stuff and I ran off to find the two, though they were not in the game room (and I checked every game)... than I was heading back to the Closing panel feeling very worried and calling Misty one more time on the way though this time I even heard her phone ringing and I turned to see Raka and her in the hall.  I hung up the phone and came to them saying that Closing was already starting.  So we ran to the Closing panel and sat down.

I sat there and watched each of the guest go up on stage... but Mike was a no show so I was a bit disappointed.  Than they said they're going to call out the raffle... so I pulled out my three tickets and listen as they read the numbers off..

3449898  was the winning ticket number... and YES THAT WAS MY TICKET!

PRIZE:
4 Weekend Passes to Next Years Katsucon
A Suite at the Hotel for the weekend

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Heh it took seconds to know where each badge was going for the con.  So yay I'll be at Katsucon next year for sure.  I ran up and the lady hugged me... I was so happy.   They took my info, than Miki and her friend showed up.  I said bye to them, we went and sat in the Lobby cause that's where we were most likely going to get a chance to say good by to Mike.  Though things weren't looking good for us, as we were chased off to artist alley.  

Casey was very helpful here.  He wanted to talk to Mike too, and he met up with us in the Lobby so he helped us get a hold of Mike, but we had to wait.  At 4:20 he was going up to see Mike, and I got a call telling us that we had to be outside in 10 minutes for our ride I asked our ride to wait till 5:15, thinking that would give us sometime.  But we didn't get the call to come see Mike till after 5pm, so it felt like we got only 5 minutes to go up get a few group pictures with him and say our good byes.   It was rushed but at least we got to say good bye.

We said bye to Casey, Raka, Miki and her friend as well at that time and took off.  Katsucon was over and it was time to start getting ready for the next part of the trip.

[Kazari]

AWESOME!! You soo deserve it, Ivey!!

[CriticalCrittles]

Sorry it's taking me so long to get back into the spirit of things, I'm still believing that Katsucon, the Cruxshadows concert and NY Comic Con was like, one big dream I think lol

Anyway, here's my review of Katsucon, as copied from my lj

OK so....Katsucon 2007...hmmm lets seeeeee....I shoulda done this like, the moment I got back XD


Friday.....Lets see...I went to get my badge and it was pretty simple since I had pre- reged...but just to be fair I decided I'd stand in line with my friend Ash as she got hers...then Ivey called me....MIKE'S AT OPENING CEREMONIES! ACK! Ash understood and let me run off to see Mike...as I sat there and waited for him to come up on stage he finally came up with a silver case....and opened it to show off his latest toy. I swear he's like a little kid sometimes lol. Anyway it was a tiny model toy plane, which he refered to as The Monarch! *snerk* Afterwards I wanted to go back stage and see him to show him my tat but he was already gone. Oh well. I told Ivey she could come up to my room and keep her camera and some extra stuff there so she wouldn't have to carry it back and forth between the con and her friends house the whole weekend. What else happened Friday....oh, I think after the opening ceremony we didn't really do anything else but rest...and I believe that was the night we had our little ....butt...butt....butt.....butt joke while watching Will Ferrell lol I thought Ash and I were gonna DIE laughing XD

Saturday....hmm....I remember having to wake up early, to meet Ivey at the voice actor's panel with her camera...for a panel with Antimere (he was a real sweetie, and this was only his second con ever!), Mike M, and Richard Cox...oh huzzah XD But Mike Sinterniklaas and Greg Ayres showed up both late....Greg later then Mike cuz he had had a show the night before til 4am...and he was complaining, what kinda crazy person sets you up for a panel at 10am when they know you were just out til 4am the night before?! I have to agree with that heh. After such questions to them all such as how did you get your first VA job, whats your fav show to do and for some reason....wheres the best place to eat in Texas.....I finally got to show Mike my new Dean tattoo. Before hand, Ivey had been trying to convince me that I should walk up and show Mike my Dean shirt (the one I had airbrushed of Dean dressed as Leia) and then take the shirt off to show him my tat but there was no way in HELL I wanted to STRIP for him! XD SO I took the shirt off ahead of time and had Ivey raise her hand and say that I wanted to show him something,then went up and showed him. He was actually SUPRISED by this one, he didn't know about it already lol. And as the other VAs looked at it, Mike says almost like he's bragging for me...."And if I know Crittle like I do, this isn't her first Dean tattoo!" to which I have to show them all my first one lol The rest of the con, I got refered to as "the girl with the tattoo" by fan and guest alike XD I admit...I didn't really mind Afterwards Ivey and her friends went out to lunch and I went back to the room to hang out and eat snacks...then Ash and I met Ivey and her friends at Mike's autograph session....which was sadly small, but it was stupidly scheduled at the same time as the costume contest. Oh well, it just means we got him more to ourselves! I didn't complain heh. It was here I got to show him my latest Dean drawings, showed him the colleges I did of different pics of him and where he pointed out the one Flesh for the Beast pic I used and complained about it, to which Ivey commented that she was gonna get to watch it at my house after the con....his reply was "OH man, no! I hope you don't hate me after it, you're so gonna hate me afterwards!" At that point I wasn't sure if he was just joking around or not, but I decided not to bring up my Dean dressed as Martin Shelly pic, and gave him one of my FAVORITE Dean drawings I've ever done instead, and a print out of the tattoo pic. I hope he likes them both. Ivey also took advantage of the time we had with him then and told him about her little trying to make me strip idea, much to my embarassment....but he found the idea rather amusing and said I shoulda done it, it woulda been great. No thanks, tis a personal thing really...my obsession with him already leads some to think I like, want to marry him or something....at least thats what I fear anyway....I don't want to leave room for rumors to form, ya know? Yeah heh. Afterwards we went to the panel room Mike's panel would be in next...where they were currently having a How to Draw Yuri panel.....beautiful XD Rather amusing as well.
Then it was time for Mike's panel! King Gorilla, Monarch and Dr. Girlfriend cosplayers at his panel amused the hell outta him, he kept going STOP RAPING ME and so on in his attempt at Monarch's voice lol Also he once again whipped out the toy plane...and afterwards started throwing mints at the crowd *snerk* He also had fun picking on me and Ivey, especially when the question of who's your fav voice to play and Ivey and I were about ready to duke it out and Mike was like "I have to be careful how I answer this question or those too are gonna kill each other!" it was so great. Afterwards his uh...assistant was ready to pull him away even though he wasn't aware that he had anywhere else to even be and he wanted to stay and answer people's questions. I...can't say I liked her too much but oh well. Afterwards I think we just went up to my room to eat some pizza and hang out. After we were done eating, we finally poked our heads outta my room, and we saw some guests walk by, down a hall just a few feet from my room. Ivey goes "Hey, maybe we'll see Mike on this floor..." then we walked down the hall to the other elevator, thinking it would put us closer to the room we were trying to get to. As we stand there waiting for our elevator, Ivey looks down the hall we just came from....."....It's Mike..." she says. No it's not, shut up is my reply. She starts walking down the hall slowly toward the people waiting at the elevator on the end we just came from...."No really....it's Mike...." she starts running...."MIKE! MIKE!" I finally follow her, walking quickly....and it IS Mike XDD It was totally him! And Ivey's like so what, is your room on this floor! He smirks and goes no0o0o0, my room is....somewhere between the 1st and 3rd floor XD Thanks for that tip, Mike lol We got to ride with him down to the lobby which was cool though...getting to ride in an elevator with Mike...like the first time I met him at Katsucon Up next? GUESTS UNCENSORED PANEL! KICKED shell!! XD I learned alot of things that I...probably didn't wanna know lol. They didn't allow video recorders or tape recorders or cameras in this thing, so I won't repeat things that were said...just that I loved seeing them that way, it was awesome.
After said uncensored panel (which Ivey and her friends had to leave early from for uh...reasons)I walked up to Mike to tell him good night, cuz it was like 2am after all, and as I waited for a break in a conversation he was having with one of the other VAs, the VA (I can't remember his name) said "Hey you're the girl with the tattoo, aren't you?" to which I nodded, and he demanded I turned around and showed him, which I did. Mike pointed out that I had another one too and the guy responded "Really?! Where?!" and before I could respond, Mike goes "On her butt!" ....thanks alot Mike XD After I showed the guy the one on my leg, I gave Mike a hug good night and went upstairs with the intent of going to bed. When I walked into the room, all the lights were out and everyone was already in bed...but I wasn't tired, I was more like...wired and sugar high and wanted to talk to someone! So I just kinda left the room and went out and sat in the against the wall, looking down the hall that I had just reciently found out the Green Room was at the end of, watching the guests go in and out and texting my friend Cassie. Suddenly I remember, hey I never asked Mike about the tat signature thing! So I run back downstairs to ask him, and catch him just as he's waiting for the elevator...and bring up the subject...he gives me this look like hes like horrified and is gonna cry....like an OMG I can't believe you wanna do that! thing. Over and over he asks, are you sure you wanna do that? A tattoo is forever, it never comes off and you'll be stuck with my name on your back forever! I know I know, I tell him, but I wanna do it, and I was gonna have Jackson and Doc's sigs done too....finally he breaks down and says to ask them first, and see what they say...and that he'll let me know at NY Comic Con. Fiiine, I agree....and we get into the elevator together and ride up to my floor, to which I say ok I'm going to bed now, nite! And he says good nite and wanders off to the Green Room. Once again though...I'm still not tired. So I take my place back sitting against the wall looking down the hall where the Green Room is.
Moments later I see Greg Ayres and a group of fans following him go by, laughing and joking...suddenly some guy comes up to a girl in the group and says where have you been, your friends have been looking for you all day! So she runs back to her room to tell her friends she's ok, then goes back to the Green Room to knock on the door and say hey I was with Greg Ayres and his group of friends, let me in! Staff basically says yeah right, hell no! And shuts the door in her face. She comes back to ME in tears, sits next to me, and I get to hear her sob story for the next half hour or so. Poor thing,I mean that kinda sucked but really...go cry to your friends, not me....I don't know you and there's nothing I can do! I mean...well, I guess it helped her out just listening. After listening and listening and listening....Mike comes out of the Green Room heading toward the elevator which I'm sitting by...smirks at me and goes "Why aren't you in bed? You said you were going to bed!" and I'm like oh I'm going soon and he SLOSHES ME with the water in his open water bottle, SOAKING me and goes "Go to bed Crittle! Now!" ....thanks for that Mike. XD And that was Saturday.

Sunday...Sunday was full of getting packed up, looking over the dealers room a few more times...I bought my traditional microbe, got polio this time *snerk* also got a BOMB!!! JK ITS A LITE BRITE!!! A Mooninite BOMB! I'll have to take pics, its awesome you guys lol what else did I get...oh that's right! The day before, before Mike's autograph thing I had gotten Jungle Emperor Leo since I'd never seen it before and I had him sign that. Awesome. Anywayas we were leaving the dealer's room I called Scott and was talking to him and not really paying attention, just keeping an eye on Ivey and paying attention to where she was going. Suddenly she stopped to talk to a group of people, I thought nothing of it and just stopped too. I leaned against the wall, still talking to Scott, and looked over to see someone cosplaying Dr. Girlfriend. Oh cool, I thought....but wait a minute, why would Ivey stop to talk to a Dr. Girlfriend cosplayer other then to say hi....I looked over and....
"OH *insert swear here* Scott, I gotta go, Mike Sinterniklaas is standing right in front of me!"
Ivey laughed so hard at me, Mike smiled and then said to the cosplayer and her friends "It was nice meeting you guys, but I'm gonna go talk to my friends now!"
Ivey and I are still pointing out to each other...he called us his friends. After some chit chat he had to go, he was going out to lunch with Mike M. and Greg Ayres but said he'd see us at the closing ceremony.
At the closing ceremony they were giving out shitloads of ramen, and Ivey got a case full....she also entered a raffle and WON! A free suite and 4 free Katuscon tickets! I'm going to Katsucon FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE NEXT YEAR!!! FREE FREE FREE!!!! *dances* XD Mike never showed up to the closing thing, but we found out later he never went out to lunch with Mike and Greg either...turns out he actually went back to his hotel room to sleep, the poor thing lol. After much waiting, we ended up getting him woke up and getting a small get together to say good bye before we all left. The group pics ended in immature amusment and in my case, embarassment....I wouldn't fit in the shot so I ended up having to kneel down in front of Mike, and as I was collecting myself to sit up straight and look at the camera, I heard Mike say something and so out of reflex I looked toward him, only to get a face full of Mike crotch. Yeah...that was.....great. I looked up to him slowly and his response was "Wow...you're face is SO red....this all seems fimiliar..." I was like WHAAAAAAAAAAT?! But nono, he says, he meant that didn't this happen at Anime Vegas too...and yes indeed, it did. Ok, the fact he was refering to that made me feel a bit better lol. After the pics we each had to go our seperate ways and said our goodbyes. I told Mike we'd be in NYC Thursday afternoon and that if he wasn't busy to give us a call and we'd do our interview. He said ok, and...thus we left, and Katsucon 2007 was over.