30th May2009

BotCon 2009 Day 3

by ardith

Guess what time the exhibitor’s hall opened this morning?

truck version of Optimus Prime

Truck Prime

8:30 am.

This has to be the earliest start for any exhibit hall that I’ve worked in. But this con is a bit unusual in that it lets the pre-reged members have first pickings before letting in general admissions.

It’s super nice for the members, but really, really tiring for exhibitors!

I made the drive with Sat. from West LA to Pasadena a little before 7am. We arrived via amazingly clear freeways a little before 7:30. I say amazing because freeways in LA are almost always sort of crowded. But I guess people don’t wake up on the weekend before 8am, so could make our way to the land of giant robots without any impediments.

Apparently the line for general admission took about an hour to get through. The general public is allowed to go to the exhibit hall and but wristbands for autograph sessions. I’m not really sure if they let them attend panels.

We got here at 7:30am…. No coffee. Lots of robots.

The hall, of course, was busy and quiet in waves. Today, there were A LOT more families. Also? A lot of people with massive amounts of Transformers bodyart. Sleeve and calf tattoos of battles and stuff. Which must have been all sorts of painful, yes?

It was also sweet to watch dads buy robot stuff for their kids. I guess that’s a great way for geek-dads to bond. Over the love of giant robots. And of course, on the hope that their kid will be that genius scientist who INVENTS GIANT ROBOTS!

Isn’t that the hope of a Transformer fanboy who has kids?

Tell me it isn’t true.

Anyway, the last wave of shoppers just about did me in. Our booth features a TON of Revoltech figures for series like Transformers, Macross, Tatsujin 28, as well as Patlobor and Votoms merchandise.

Hotrodimus is a name that makes me giggle. Even after all the days that have passed since I read that on the Revoltech box. I guess Rodimus Prime just sounds a bit more dignified.

Also? He has the touch.

Category : Conventions, Work
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29th May2009

BotCon 2009 Day 2

by ardith

This was the first time I’ve ever worked at a Transformers

Better since he can't make noise.

Bumblebee Statue

 Convention. Apparently BotCon moves from city to city each year, so it’s not so strange that I’ve never actually attended before.

I guess this is the case for many conventions. BEA (Book Expo America) is in a different city each year (well, either in New York, Chicago, DC, or LA). I’m used to conventions like San Diego Comic-Con and Anime Expo. They stay in the same region year after year.

This Exhibitor Hall is so much smaller AX or SDCC. Of course, the dealers are catering to a different crowd. Well, more like a very specific crowd. All the exhibitors must feature Transformers or Robots of the giant variety.

The booth I’m working at is featuring poseable Transformer figures along with figures from Macross, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Tetsujin 28 (Gigantor), Die-buster, and more.

The convention seems to be skewing more males than females, with a few families. I wonder what tomorrow will be like, since it will be opened for general admission on Saturday and Sunday.

The script writers for the recent live-action Transformer movies are Guests of Honor, along with voice actors from the animated series.

As I confessed earlier, I haven’t actually watched the new live-action movie. All I know is apparently, now Optimus Prime has FLAMES on his chassy (?!). And they are pu

Optimus Prime Statue

rple. Or is that blue?

I know more about the animated series as I am a child of the 80′s. But even then, I don’t think I watched it as closely as I watched Robotech. Of course, I was obsessed with Robotech as a kid, so that doesn’t signify….

Since the toys have been around for over 2 decades, there are lots of toys to collect. BotCon caters to these hardcore collectors as well as the casual Transformer fan. There are limited edition figures as well as out of print toys that cost a mint.

Our neighboring exhibitors seem friendly and the attendees are polite, so I hope for another good day tomorrow.

Honestly, I miss working at conventions. I haven’t worked at one in over a year. It’s super fun, since I love speaking with other fans. There’s just such a feeling of comradery. Just sometimes…people need to remember their hygiene and keep clean. Shower once a day. Cuz knowing is half the battle.

Category : Conventions
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11th May2009

Yoga or Flan: If You Can’t Make the Right Choice, At Least Suffer For It

by ardith

I’m a big fan of desserts. I made for Mother’s Day. The calorie content of it was, shall we say, on the side of horrific. I mean, egg yolks and condense milk are a delicious combination but just begging for some sort of fat content award.

I decided that I couldn’t just eat a mouthful and get away with it. Well, yesterday, I ate several mouthfuls and then collapsed in a food coma. But 2 days in a row was pushing it.

So instead, I decided to eat my mouthful and head to the gym.

I’m a member of LA Fitness even though I do not live in LA. It’s a chain of gyms along this side of the US. I’m actually not sure about the rest of the country, but I’m sure the LA Fitness webpage would tell me….

I used to be a member of Bally’s but I never went to that gym even a quarter as much as I go to LA Fitness.

As a member, I’ve never taken any classes or did the free training sessions. I like to listen to podcasts and giggle to myself while on the weight machines or the elliptical.

Anyway, today was the first time I took a class. I watched while the class before us sweat and stepped to music. All I wanted was the calming joys of yoga.

But I haven’t taken a yoga class in years, preferring to do it from disc at home. I’d forgotten the class atmosphere pushes you to go further. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t want to be the person who falls out of the one legged chair pose. (I did, though. Fall, that is.)

Anyway, after a hour of yoga, my arms are sore from holding down dog to plank to left-arm to left elbow plank to warrior pose. She really made us hold that down dog pose for a long time.

I’m afraid I’ll be super sore tomorrow. But I feel better. I mean, that will teach me to eat a mouth full of freaking flan again.

Category : Food & Cooking, Health Matters
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08th May2009

Botcon 2009

by ardith

p>I’m planning on attending BotCon 2009 and will be working on Saturday. I shall be tweeting, so you can find me via Twitter (@hanabatake). While I’m like Transformers, I’ve never been an obsessive fan, I have watched quite a few episodes and did like the animated movie. 

I have to admit that I have NOT watched the live-action movie. Well, I did see bits and pieces over at my cousin’s house during Thanksgiving, but I wasn’t paying attention. I did catch the last scene, though.

**** SPOILER /****  

Ew. Your car = alive. Do you make out on your cat or your brother? Please do not do so on your sentient car.

**** /SPOILER **** 

Category : Conventions, Work
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