The drive there was supposed to take just over fifteen hours, according to mapquest. According to others it would take around eighteen. We took I-5, through the farmlands and over the mountains, then through a barren desert. We stopped once for lunch at a rest stop in the middle of nowhere. We made LA in just over thirteen hours.

Getting there the day before the convention took a lot of pressure off of the whole ordeal. We found Hope's (~tensergorn) apartment and made ourselves comfortable for a while. Then we promptly visited In & Out Burger. We don't have those at home. After that it was off to Hollywood for some nerdy tourism mixed with shopping for our last minute con needs. People were gathered around outside of the Chinese Theatre to pay tribute to Michael Jackson. I found some ties to my family history immortalized in cement. When we tried to move on a pushy street musician sold me a CD. We visited some shops, and found some essential jeans as well as a fake gun. It was a good day. Later that night we got to style a wig and even eat dinner and sleep. Wonderful.

The next day we dawned out Gundam Wing cosplays for their debut con wearing. We were thoroughly shocked by how popular they were. People thanked us for wearing them. Much posing for photos happened, some interviews occurred. We gathered tickets for the things we wanted to see. We had picked up our badges the night before, luckily. Oh, and then we saw MANA-SAMA LIVE in CONCERT with his BAND Moi Dix Mois. We were about six rows from the front and in the middle. And it was one of the greatest experiences of my life to say the least. Directly after the concert we went to check in at the hotel. Hope dropped us off and took the car back to her house. While Ashley and Andrew were at the ATM I waited with our things on the second floor. I became bored and leaned over the railing to peer at the first floor below. AND THERE HE WAS. MANA. RIGHT THERE BY THE ELEVATORS. Unfortunately, Ashley had my camera AND my phone on her. WHY FATE, WHY!? The rest of the band and Morning Musume followed shortly.

The next day we wore Gundam Wing again. And people were STILL thrilled. Did I mention we got to see many excellent friends there? Lets see... We went to a Gundam gathering one of the days. I know we wore Zelda on Saturday. I know we went swimming. I know we were back to Gundam on the last day. I know I got dollfie clothes, a DS case, and some things for my family members. The convention was all just way too big and eventful to condense into a journal. We went to a Yun Kouga panel, we went to a Moi Dix Mois panel. We got Mana's autograph as well as those of a couple other band members. We took many pictures. We ran into Vic again as always, too. Now here's a list of who we saw, those who have DA accounts anyway:

...
And ummm... LOL. If I left you out let me know and I'll add you to the list.

So anyway, after the con we experienced Little Tokyo a lot. And on our way home many good things happened. San Francisco happened. Beautiful beaches, wine country, the Redwood Forest... Also we got in a car accident and I got to have my first ambulance ride! I then spent about five ours at a hospital in the middle of nowhere in Bandon, Oregon. Had some X-rays, my neck no longer has a curve in it and that hurts. It's all messed. I have contusions on my head and face, bad bruises on my left thigh and hips and one of my knees. Cut open my lip, which stings badly. And am now having lots of headaches along with other pains. My muscles are spasming... It sucks. BUT, on the way home we HAD to go through Florence so we stopped and had seafood and climbed the sand dunes, despite being hurt. Which ended up being a bad idea.

And now we're home. I'm positive I've left quite a few details out. I am losing days. I have to go to the doctor again and get medication that knocks me out. Anyone should feel free to call my cell but if I don't answer don't get offended. It probably means I am asleep. I also apologize for picture spamming. I will be doing more of that for a while. We took SO many photos.

I wonder who read all of that boring stuff? I'll upload a cool pic of one of my bigger wounds later.

-J

P.S. I AM SO UPSET I HAVE NO MONEY TO SEE HARRY POTTER OR FOR THE VAMPS CONCERT. D; WHY, LIFE? WHY!???!!!!!