Tampa Bay Comic Con (continued)

Me with a super cute Toothless plushie! <3

Another note to add to my previous post on attending your first convention, is to consider food. If you plan on spending the vast majority of the day at the convention, plan accordingly. Eat a healthy breakfast, bring a water bottle (and drink water often), and bring sandwiches and snacks. Alex and I brought our water bottles and two PBJ's but when you're walking around up and down stairs and you're there all day, you need more than one sandwich. We were super hungry and ended up spending money on food available on site. Bring an apple, some nuts, and maybe even some other munchies to help get you through the day because you're not going to be able to enjoy yourself if you have a headache along with fatigue from not eating enough. So bring a happy brown bag. There may be food available there but I would look into what they have and how much it costs prior to going. If you would rather spend $9 on a personal size pizza instead of putting it towards an awesome original print or some much loved Comic Con merchandise, go right ahead.
Also, if it wasn't obvious enough, wear comfortable shoes. I know you want to look nice and stylish when you go out-- that's great, do it wearing comfortable shoes. There are fashionable comfy shoes. If you are wearing or plan on wearing a cosplay that has slightly or mostly uncomfortable shoes you are going to want a more comfortable version or just flip flops for when you take a break. I'm only saying this from observation but, trust me, I've seen enough people limping in their shoes to say this with confidence. Wear or bring comfy shoes. Period.
One last note: have fun and be social! Revisit booths that you enjoyed and ask questions about the artwork and/or merchandise. Take fun pictures with cosplayers-- getting the picture of the cosplayer is cool but if you're in it it makes it more personal and no one can say you just snatched it from the internet. I didn't take any of me with the cosplayers but I totally should have- especially after getting my official TBCC shirt (looks like the logo I shared in my previous post)!

Once the day was done, Alex and I were really tired (and bummed about the vendor hall closing) and ready to move towards and look forward to MegaCon. Doing TBCC was probably the best decision we've made so far for working towards MegaCon. Now we really have to work on building our sewing skills and getting our muscles into shape. We have some awesome Joann Fabric coupons so that's always a good start!

I have signed up and made a Photobucket. I have all the pictures uploaded now I just have to go in and edit where I can to get better views of the stage cosplays. Here is the link to my bucket.

This is the couple I dashed to the moment I saw them come in. I like to think I was the first to get them on camera.

Tampa Bay Comic Con

Yesterday was Tampa Bay Comic Con and I had no idea how unprepared Alex and I would be.

First of all, prepaying for your tickets online is the best thing you can do-- the line is shorter, quicker, and you get to the vendor hall faster. At least we did that right.
Afterwards I fell into a panic because of all the people, all the tables and, well, just everything. No matter how much you think you know about your first convention, you probably don't know much. It's like a theme park. The best thing to do is just push through. 

If you get there in the morning you'll have a decent amount of time to sift through the vendors. Just walk in and keep walking, looking as you go. Then once you've absorbed the atmosphere enough and you've finished your moment of panic, enjoy. Stop at booths that interest you, ask questions. Don't buy anything just yet unless you know without a doubt you have to have it and it's something unique to that vendor. Otherwise, keep looking around-- you may find something better or cheaper. 

Do keep in mind how late the vendors will be at the convention; there may be events and panels that extend into the evening but vendors will be shut down prior. This happened to me. I was super bummed because I was going to make a trip back to the vendors after the cosplay competition for another super cute kawaiiuniverse sticker for my laptop. To my dismay the vendor hall was closed. So if you know you absolutely want a particular item-- go! Get it. This is a day for convetion stuff and spending money on cute things and taking pictures of everything are both definitely included. 

In regards to the cosplay contest, and any other panel considered premium, get in line early. I'm talking at least an hour early. This was a small convention compared to others so for big ones you may need to line up even earlier. 

Alex and I got in the cosplay contest line a little more than an hour early and we still weren't able to get the best seats-- they weren't bad either but at least we got seats. 

If you don't get a good picture of your favorite characters as they get on stage, you are most likely going to get a chance after the competition.

A tip that convention regulars and cosplayers alike already know but are not obvious to all con newbies is that you don't have to do candid. You can ask people in costume if you can get a picture-- of or with them-- and the vast majority of them will be happy to oblige. When people dress up they want people to ask them for photos; they want to be noticed. 

When Alex and I were sitting down for a PBJ break we watched people go by in costumes. When I saw a -------- bombshell Black Canary I had to get a photo. I went up to her and asked if I could take a picture and she was genuinely surprised "me? Really? Of course!"  Not only is it flattering to ask for a cosplayers photo, it encourages them to keep crafting and artsing (yes I made that word up). While there were lots of cool cosplays I picked out the ones that caught me the most to take pictures of-- whether they be as unique as Sharknado or as detailed as the third place winner Death Stroke. However I was ready to round up all the bombshell cosplays I could find. 

In addition to asking for pictures you can also ask them about the work they put into the costume. People spend a lot of time sewing and crafting their costumes and want to use those well earned brag rights!

I'm working on getting a photobucket up of all the pictures I took. I have all the ones from the camera now I gotta get the ones from my phone plus zoom in and edit for the cosplay contest stage.  

I allowed myself a nerdy t shirt moment and got myself and Alex official TBCC t shirts. They were only $20-- normal tshirt price. 

Made of Tin

Day after intense leg workout at Muscle Madness group fitness class? So sore it's tough sitting down. At work today I felt like I was walking like the Tin Man from Oz. It was very frustrating just as spin class was frustrating because they've both made me feel so out of shape.
I'm going to keep pushing forward because I enjoy the classes. The more often I go the less I'll feel so exhausted. That and I just need to start drinking the vegan protein again afterwards-- totally should've done that yesterday. After all those lunges? Definitely. I don't usually do lunges-- I didn't even do them with weights and I'm probably more sore than the other people that were in the class. I can do this.
Tomorrow is Tampa Bay Comic Con and there is no way these stiff legs are slowing me down. I'm so ready for my first convention. I don't have a nerdy outfit or anything but I do have my dorky nerdy self to bring and share. It will be awesome to meet new people and get to ask questions at the cosplay panels. Of course, I'm also excited for the cosplay competition! Who wouldn't be?

Is It Just Me?

I don't know if a person is supposed to feel lower back and neck pain when they are doing certain workouts but I certainly do. This is the exact reason why I don't do/like crunches and why so many other moves are just not a part of my self-approved workout list. I'm fine with really creative sit-ups but other moves that I'm supposed to relax my neck but keep my shoulders off the ground? No. 

It'd be really great to know if other people experience this same sort of super discomfort because when I'm doing the group workout classes, I look around and everyone else can put in a good effort where I can barely do one without taking a moment to rub my neck or back. Am I just weak?

Memory Preservation

Really wanted to share some beautiful moments from my brother's wedding.  Click the link below to see.

http://vimeo.com/102047940

Spin To The Bed

It's been a month since I last did a group workout class let alone a high intensity one (and I still gotta get the last day of the cruise typed up!). I had originally decided to try yoga at 3:30 since my original Monday class was moved to 7:30. Then when I went to sign up I thought "why don't I try spinning at the rec?" And thus I sealed my fate of exhaustion. That ride kicked my butt and totally made me feel out of shape. I used to be really good with spinning-- well not like amazing but I did good enough to get through the class at a healthy challenging pace. I would go like once a week and even buddied up with one of my sisters, Danielle, to go to the class and do abs after. 

This new spin class was really tough on me and it's good because it's what I need to hop back on the bike, so to speak. It sucked just a little because I wasn't prepared. My body was just done after that spin class-- so done I just wanted to shlump and lay but for some reason my back was hurting. Thankfully the bicycle ride home is mostly down hill and only 10-15 minutes. 

So tomorrow I'm not sure yet what I have planned but I know I'm working out. It may just have to be arm day or something because I'm feeling so tired physically that my brain is running extra for it. Maybe it'll be a just Just Dance day. Probably not that though because Alex will need his rest when he gets home from his 4 AM. We shall see. 

And thus Monday says farewell. 

I Want To Participate

This one got me off my lazy bum today. I may not have anything exciting to do (until my spin class at 6) but getting out the house is good. Publix here I come!

To explain the title of this post quickly, Alex and I went on a walk with Penny a couple months ago and we were discussing how artists paint such beautiful, emotional events. I pointed out that, while they recorded and brought to life these moments in time, immortalized-- in a sense-- those moments and people, they themselves were not taking part. I concluded that there are two types of people, and yes people can be a little of both but, the first is a Participant: one who lives the adventure and feels the emotions and life in that moment. The second, (and this one was hard to name) the God's Eye: you have the ability to look all around you and present life and wonder within an image or a book but you must give up your own joy and wonder of those moments to create them. Art is beautiful and there is nothing wrong with being the God's Eye or the Participant... I just know if I get to my last day and look back and all I see is the lives I've observed without me in it, my heart would weep.
I want to see others in their sadness and happiness but I also want to see me next to them. I know there are many ways of describing and observing the artist themselves but this was what came to mind that day-- and what came to mind again when I saw this Hunchback quote. I love to paint, but I want to participate more.
Namaste.