The day start out by looking for breakfast. We went over the the CitiNational building for Carl’s, but it was closed. Next, back to the Bonaventure for Subway. It was closed too. Well, damn, the sign said it opens 7 AM for breakfast. It was already almost 9 and sill not open! We had too many plans today and not enough time. So we skipped breakfast.



So back in the convention center, we split up. Adrian and I went to the Robotech panel. Lawrence, Tim and Francis, we to another guest panel. We decided to grab a bite to eat inside the convention center cafe, but it was still early and wasn’t open yet. So with nothing else to do, you guessed it, we went in line...to the Robotech panel. I had other things in mind since it was a hour wait, but “oh well.” But it was cool though. If I hadn’t got in line, I wouldn’t have met up with an old friend of mine, Craig Spurlock. We met over ten years ago at AX when AX was fun. We both shared the same enthusiasm for videotaping. We hadn’t seen each other for a couple years now, so we reminisced about past AXs, how fun they are and how strict they became. That’s funny because AX made the claim this year that it wanted so share memories with the fans (from AX TV), but with a lot of restrictions. Yeah, that’s the memory I have! Anyway, back to the Robotech panel. Tommy Yune hosted the panel and was the same as the panel he hosted in AOD. The new info are about the new toys coming out and that they finally had a writer (of Empire Strikes Back and Raiders of the Lost Ark fame) for the Robotech movie. I forgot his name though.

After the panel, Adrian and I finally ate the convention cafe for breakfast. Again...highway robbery! $16 for two, I said two, sandwiches! And they were smaller that Subway! That’s funny because I finally realized that at this AX, nobody in the exhibit hall was was selling Japanese snacks. I had a small chat with Peter Payne of J-List about this the other day because I asked him if they had any snacks to sell. He said, to paraphrase, they would be kicked out. So damn, another kick in the groin by AX. I hope I’m not the only one who saw that. Oh yeah, they did sell Ramune at the convention sanctioned cafe, but at $4 a pop! That’s a case already of Ramune.

We again roamed around the dealers hall to kill time again. We were waiting for the guys but their panel ran longer than expected from what I could remember. Actually details for this day are a little sketchy. But the dealers hall is always a good place to kill time. So we took more pictures today than the last two days combined. We finally met up again. On the way to the bus stop (the shuttle service), there was this dude checking every badge for the shuttle symbol. Now that's a first. For the last two days, nobody seemsed to care whether or not a badge had the stamp to use the bus. But now there was this a@#($$# checking eveyone if they’re supposed to use the system or not. Adrian and I weren’t worried, but the others didn’t have the stamp. Damn it was drama.

So the plan...to split up and get back to hotel to plan some more. We took the bus and the others took the Dash back to the hotel. Adrian and I got the hotel first. And for some damn reason I was really stressed out with the situation. It’s a good thing that I asked the bus driver where to get the badges stamped. Finally, someone connected with AX who actually knew something! So my stress levels went down. But not too soon after, the guys arrived. I told them the situation and everything was cool. So the plan, the guys to get their badges stamped and Adrian and I to get in line for Masquerade tickets. That was a quick regrouping at the hotel. We freshened up and ate a quick dinner at the cheap restaurants in the hotel. But time was short. We had to get back by six, before registration closes. Adrian and I headed out first to the convention center. I found out by asking the bus driver that anyone with a badge could go back to convention center, but not back. So I called up Tim and the guys and told them not to use the Dash to get back, but the bus.



At the convention center, Adrian and I got in line for the Masquerade tickets. Funny...it was advertised on AX TV that there will be no lines. Yeah, right! This was longest line we ever waited at AX this time around, one and a half hours. We totally wasted time again. Dammit, I hate lines! And besides...there were a bunch of obnoxious guys behind us in line. It was hot also! So it added to the aggravation. The only thing that kept me sane were these two “hot ass” chicks in line further back that I’d sneak a peek at on occasion. That’s right! That did it for me. But in a way, I was upset that we didn’t go to any cosplay gatherings. So an hour and half later, we got our tickets.



Next...you guessed it! The dealers hall. We just can’t get enough of it! We had an hour before the start of the masquerade and the guys were at some panel again. And again, I’m at loss with the details. Well, I was about to do a video round at the exhibit hall when I saw that the camera battery was running low. We went back to the hotel to grab the other batter and freshen up. Yeah, it was hot in that line and I forgot my deo this morning. And going back to the hotel was a gamble also. I didn’t know if we were allowed to videotape the Masquerade. The security was “wishy-washy” with their policies from day to day, event to event. Security at the front had a different memo from the people inside. Anyway, that was quickest round trip we did. It was fifteen minutes before the masquerade and the guys were finishing up with the signing panel. We were already at the Nokia waiting for them. Tim and the guys arrived. Thankfully this time, it started late. The other events up to now all started on time, to our surprise. Oh yeah, I forgot the Opening Ceremonies was 30 minutes late.



Honestly, I could say that this year’s Masquerade went smooth. It also was the shortest Masquerade in over a decade. Also the technical aspects of the event was a lot better. Probably because they got help from the Nokia staff. Also we were told that there was no videotaping allowed and that security wouldn’t let my tripod in. But luckily the guy who examined my tripod gave me an OK to take it in. There were other people inside of the Nokia taping, so we decided to tape too. So good thing I took that gamble to go back to the hotel to get the spare battery.

At the end of the Masquerade, we went back to the convention center. Francis had to leave because he had a ride home. There was nothing to do, so we wandered around. We relaxed a bit at West Hall, by the dance rooms. Adrian was about to videotape some of the same, by that plan was shot down. We also decided that since tomorrows schedule was going to be tight, we’d eat a late dinner and totally skip breakfast. So with that, we went back to the hotel to eat dinner at that cheap Chinese restaurant.

On the way up to the room, I decided to take a different tower elevator. Luckily we did. We met some people and everyone on that particular elevator was invited to a room party. Cool. Who could pass up an invite like that...hmm...a total otaku would! Anyway, we got back to the room and freshened up a little for the party. Tim though we we’re joking because he got separated and took another elevator. And just like any otaku, we were indecisive about going.



We were going to bring our remaining beers to the party. So we went. Adrian stayed. Ok, we went up to their floor, room number withheld, but got a little nervous and went back to our room. It’s because of the Tim said earlier. But in my mind, we’d be just like the stereotypical hikikomori and/or anti-social otaku you see in anime all the time. So f*&% it! We went back to the party. It was a n excellent drinking party. There were a lot of people there, well, enough to fit in a suite. After the fifth drink, details got a lot sketchy. But from what I remember of the party, I had a blast and met a lot of people. I’m so glad I came to the party to break the stereotype and the turmoil of the convention. Too bad Tim and Lawrence didn’t loosened up. They could’ve got hooked up. I was wasted after the party. I think I killed a few brain cells. From what they guys told me, I crashed right away.

We started out our day eating breakfast at the restaurant on the bottom floor. We just had to eat there. When we did our scouting mission a couple months ago, the breakfast buffet was so good, we just had to come back. I met Rehan again. He was the waiter I had a long business conversation with the last time we were here. He again greeted us. Actually he recognized me right away. That was cool. Anyway, we all enjoyed our breakfast.

After breakfast, we took the bus to the convention center to start out second day. The first event that we went to is the David Hayter panel (of Metal Gear Solid fame as Snake). Damn there was a lot of people at the panel. It was stupid of the staff not to seat everyone as soon as possible. There was a long line that went outside the center. And when we finally got to sit down, the panel already started. People were coming in until about half way through the one hour long panel. During the panel, Mr. Hayter was answering fans’ questions. Some questions were good but a lot of stupid questions, requests and self promotion also. The latter half probably screwed a lot of the remaining people who actually wanted to ask more appropriate questions. But I guess that fun part of it then.

Then Adrian, Lawrence and I left a tad early and got in line for the Yoko Ishida featuring Jyukai concert. I just thought “why should we get in line” when we could just go let tickets thirty minutes before the concert and get tickets then? Well, when Tim and Francis came to meet with us, we three headed to exhibit hall to roam around. Round and round. Soon Adrian and Lawrence met up with us, but just as quickly we met, we broke ranks again and went out separate ways. We eventually met up in front of the exhibit hall to go to the concert. We barely made it. I thought I had to check in the vidoe camera again, like yesterday, but security let me though. Cool. But no turning it on!

The convert overall was good, not as good as the SKIN concert at AX last year, but good none the less for the style of music. Yoko was signing and dancing solo with backup dancers to her karaoke music CDs. She sang songs from some of her works and a lot of para-para dancing songs. On the other hand, Jyukai sang solo with a guitarist backup. Again, she sang a lot of “Ah! Megamisama” songs from her karaoke CDs, minus the guitar track which was live.

After the concert we were waiting on the Nokia lobby because we though Adrian had to take care of some business, but later found out he skipped over the dealers hall. So we went to the dealers hall to meet up with him again. As as usual, one we met up, we go separated. Lawrence went to the Jyukai signing. Tim and Francis disappeared. So Adian and I roamed around again. On the way to get a drink, I met up with my old high school buddy, John. We chatted a little bit and he introduced me to his wife and baby. The last time I met him three years ago, they were still dating. Now they’re married. Cool. We caught up a little bit and stuff going on with our other mutual friends, we exchanged numbers and went our separate ways. It was good seeing him again. I couldn’t call him in the past three years because I never got his number. I give my number to him though, but he never called. Bummer. Anyway, Adrian and I wandered some more and stayed put by the Copic Marker booth to rest and have everyone meet up with us. Everyone eventually did. But while waiting, we met up with another acquaintance of of our, James and his friend. We just chatted about work stuff and then they left. In the meantime, Bam Zoom was having a signing with Patty Lee of the ASOS. Tim seriously wanted to go, but didn’t have anything for her to sign. So we left and went back to the Bonaventure just to eat dinner at Subway.



Nobody was sure what they wanted to do so Adian and I went back to the convention center to goof off and watch the premier of Helsing IV. We took a little pictures. And while waiting in line for the premier, we met these two girls, one from Illinois and the other from Colorado. They were cosplaying as Rey and Asuka from Evangelion. We talked about anime mostly, cosplay, anime movie rumors and a lot of stories of other conventions we went too. I forgot to ask their name which was stupid of me, but I took their picture. Thanks you guys. The Helsing IV premier was good. It really wasn’t my think with all the violence and blood, but I enjoyed it. And that’s it! End of day two. I just wished we could’ve done more today. Sorry we didn't take more pictures.