I started early in the morning my usual waking time. I got ready and just decided to walkabout in the frigid morning air of San Jose. Back at the hotel, I had a couple cups coffee in the lobby. I tried to get a key for Tim, but instead made me a regular key instead of a Fanime key. Anyway after that I came up and everybody was just waking up. We ready and went to go eat at Peggy Sue’s. Well when I walk over the morning I didn’t realize that he was even open. Well, I guess I wasn’t paying attention. We were eating at Peggy Sue’s for breakfast and then came back to the hotel to finish getting ready to go out to the convention center once again.



When we got to the convention center, things weren’t happening yet so we just are wre just stuck around Stage Zero and watched a few music videos until the Dealers Hall opened. So as with any usual day, we did the usual thing, just sat around in the back when we’re tired. We slowly browsing stuff that we’ve seen over and over again for the last three days. Also, after the dealers hall, we just kicked it outside and hung around the front of the convention center to take pictures. And then the crazy Christians showed up again and this time they were largely ignored. Luckily the police were there to set up a perimeter separating the convention people and the crazy Christians. What else can I call’em?



After a while, we went to the hotel to freshen up. I changed into my cosplay clothes and went back to the convention center again. This time, there was a show short Maid presentation going on at Stage Zero. We tapped a couple of their performances. Interesting, but there was nowhere to sit, we decided to continue to go on. And about that time, it was about and was almost lunch so we were thinking about going the Mad Cafe, but did realize that no one would be there because they were at Stage Zero. So we just went to the Dealers Hall because Tim was look for something to buy while me and Lawrence was browsing around once again.



Basically after the Dealers Hall, we realize that the FLOW Q&A is supposed to have started already at two o’clock. And where were we!? We were at Stage Zero wandering aimlessly until we realize that the FLOW Q&A is going on. So we made a mad dash over to the room where the Q&A was supposed to be. There was a line that awaited us and it took a…things of that caliber it was delayed. So things didn’t really happen until almost 2:45. And then once we got into the panel, the FLOW band members introduced themselves and some moderator was asking a few questions which a which they answered. And then the actual Q&A started, but because of the delay, it didn’t last very long…about 20-30 minutes all because of this emo-chick who cosplayed as Naruto gave a splendid, teary-eyes, performance to FLOW.

So after the Q&A, supposedly 30 minutes later at 3:30 was their autograph signing. Well we didn’t think that it would be just the people that would get shit signed. By the time we got to the Hilton where the autograph signing was, there was a long-ass line that snaked down the hall, back down the hall, into two heated, heated rooms and finally got through. And well, in way we work on a misinformed because some of these volunteers had to take pictures behind a white line but by the time we got to FLOW to have our merchandise signed, I noticed that somebody was trying to get a picture of them but was escorted out. So there went the plans of the taking their pictures. It would’ve been cool, but we already took their pictures are during the Q&A. So it wasn’t much.



Well then after that fiasco, we went back to the hotel to get ready for the masquerade. Tim already had his dinner, so Lawrence and I went to Peggy Sue’s again and chowed down real quick on dinner. On our way to Peggy Sue’s, we noticed that the line was already in front of the restaurant. After we ordered, called Tim to meet us down at the end of the line. And then surely but slowly, and fairly quickly the line started progressing towards auditorium.

I’ve forgotten how the last masquerade was, this one was pretty interesting. At first, when we entered the auditorium, there is this one convention chick that said “there was absolutely no videotaping and photography.” So by the time we got to our seats and when the events started, I was wondering “why the hell were people out in the orchestra area had all these cameras on the performances.” So I decided to ask one of the auditorium ushers. He said that he’ll “check up on it.” After that, I continued taping until I got word and then actually a convention person actually came up to me and said “it was perfectly okay to videotape as long as I don’t videotape with flash.” Whatever the hell that meant!? But anyway the skits were okay but a lot more intelligent than the ones we’ve seen in Southern California during Expo so no argument with me there.



By the time of the skits were over, there was no entertainment during intermission so we decided to jet out of there. And since it was still fairly early, we decided to get a late snack/dinner—whatever you want to call it, we were just hungry. All the total places that went to were all packed…except for one small place at the corner of some street that sold Afghan food. We decided to go there and eat because there was no line. So we made it there in time because after Tim order, after Lawrence and I, there was a gang og people that showed up. Now we ordered our food to go and are now back here in hotel relaxing. Our day is over and, okay, signing out.

We started our second day with fresh start. After a good night’s rest, we woke up somewhat early, got ready and ate breakfast at Jack’s. Actually, I got up first to walk in the lobby and around the hotel. After breakfast, we wanted to buy a supply of drinking water so we don’t have to use hotel tap water. Walking down Paseo de San Antonio (or something like that), we found nothing. We wound up back in the hotel to get ready for the convention.



For the most part...most of the morning hours, we just walked around the dealer’s hall and around the main concourse. Talking pictures along the way. By noon, we decided to go to the maid care on the other end of the convention center. So we got in line and waited–rather shortly. The cafe was already filled by the time we could order. The person in charge of the cafe wanted to hold the line until some patrons left. But because the ordering was done by convention center staff, they just called for the next in line–us. It pissed off the person in charge, as well as the greeter maid.



Well, we ordered and awkwardly waited to be seated. I still find it weird being served my maids. Still, because the cafe was somewhat full, we were seated on a table with one person already seated there. As we waited for our (expensive) food, I struck up a conversation with the girl already there. Her name was Laura, I think. And she’s from New Mexico. Our idle chat turned into a somewhat involved conversation about various things pertaining to anime and the like. Only to be interrupted by our cute maid server. At one time our server played Hungry Hungry Hippo withe us–a Japanese version. It was fun. Soon after, Laura left to meet up with her friends. Bummer. Anyway after we ate and some chit-chat with our server, we took pictures with the maids and headed off.



The next couple hours what pretty uneventful. We just hung around the front of the convention center and took pictures. Then the Christians showed up again, spewing their righteous rhetoric. And just as predicted...tension between the “hellspawn” con-goers and the “if you don’t join us then go to hell” Christians. Funny, a convention truck packed out front of the convention center and forwarded and reversed to try to block those dudes. That went on for a couple hours. The police broke up the commotion. Now were was a neutral zone established by the police. Anyway…



We got in line for the Yoshiki’s appearance at Fanime. But line was already long. To make things worse and trying to keep with with a schedule, Yoshiki showed up almost and hour and a half late. It was cool, so cool, to see him, but we had to keep with a schedule and didn’t want to hear about a goth fashion show. So we left at the scheduled time for Yuya Matsushita and FLOW’s concert. On our way to the hotel, there was this random girl that waved at us. I looked to see if there was anyone else around, but wasn’t. For some reason, she kinf of looked like our friend, Kimberly. I looked twice to make sure and just smiled back at her. Pretty unusual sine I don’t know too many people here, but family. We dropped our electronics at our room and got into the end of the line–just outside our hotel. Our wait was short and finally got in.

Yuya was excellent. Most notably, it’s his first ever appearance in the US and is most famous for his song, the opening thing theme for last years’ anime “Durarara!” His dancing was totally excellent. After that was FLOW! Now that rocked the house. I swear I could feel the entire auditorium vibrate. They did not disappoint! Just seeing them and Yuya was way well worth the money for this trip. After the convert, we ate at Joe’s Original Italian Restaurant. The food was excellent, but out waiter was a douche. He must’ve had a olive vine stuck up his ass or something. Anyway we left and checked out the convention center. Nothing much going on. But there was still a good amount of people there. We left and called it the night.