Getting closer...

[ladyofthethread]

Okay, it looks like Anime North is inching towards the definite list for me. ^_^ My father actually seemed more anxious about getting a room booked near the convention center than me. O_o; Maybe, he remembered us looking all over when trying to book a room for Otakon in May.

Anyway, since he seemed to be in a rush to get rooms and wanted a nice hotel, I booked a couple of rooms at the Renaissance during the 4 nights the con rate was available. I’ll probably have to call for adjustments later on since the website seems to assume that you’ll have the same number of guests in each room if you book more than one on a single reservation. Assuming my grandmother doesn’t come (she doesn’t do well with car travel these days), there’s only going to be 5 of us which won’t split evenly.

My father is talking about possibly spending two weekends in Toronto so we can see all my mother’s relatives. (he figures some of them would be busy with work during the week and we wouldn’t have enough time during the convention weekend) His idea is to drive to Niagara Falls for a few days after the con and then go back to Toronto for another weekend. But that’s just an idea at this point.

In other news, we seem to have a mouse problem. Yesterday, I found some Hershey’s Kisses that had been left out downstairs had bite marks. o_o; And I saw one run behind some stuff in my room the other day. The darn thing kept me up most of last night because I could hear it running around! >_< I caught the mouse in my room this morning though. I baited all the traps up here with a bit of chocolate last night since they seemed to be going after our candy. >_>; And it worked!

Comments

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Mice problems are evil! I hope it didn't leave droppings around. o.o

It's great that you caught it! Maybe we should have tried chocolate instead of peanut butter. XD

[ladyofthethread.livejournal.com]

*laugh* A couple of the Kisses that had bite marks were actually the peanut butter filled variety. My grandmother said she saw another mouse today though so I guess our problems aren't completely over yet. -_-;

[novaraven.livejournal.com]

The way we catch mice around here is by filling a bucket half way with anti freeze and leaning a board up against it for a ramp. Antifreeze is sweet so animals like to try and drink it, but it's lethal for them. Also when the mice fall in the bucket they drown because they can't climb back out. Since we have mice in our garage the antifreeze trap is perfect because that way the liquid won't ice over. But if you have other pets around ths is not a good trap to use unless you keep it far from their reach.

[ladyofthethread.livejournal.com]

Hmm... Didn't know about the anti-freeze. We don't have pets other than goldfish but the mice problem is inside our house so a trap like that doesn't sound ideal. ^_^;

[novaraven.livejournal.com]

I have a random question, if you're coming to AN and you decide to bring a D robe,(I agree that they're easy to pack) would you rather I bring my Sofu D, my Daddy D, or a possible future D?

I am definitely making a new robe for Sofu with a kirin theme. I have also been nagged/bribed to do that red and black leatherish outfit for the new D (I am putting this one on my maybe list)

I'm not sure if I should bring Daddy D since my one black outfit for him is very gothic and I'm trying to get away from being a random goth. I really can't decide and it's going to lead to making him a whole new robe. >< He so needs a lab coat too!

But anyways, I was just wondering what you think would work best with your outfit. ^^

[ladyofthethread.livejournal.com]

Hmm… I don’t know. You’ve seen both of my Count D costumes so far. I have ideas for more but I’m not sure if I’d make another before Anime North comes since I’ve got a couple of non-Petshop costumes to work on. I had a thought about doing the dress D’s sister is wearing when Leon first runs into her so I wouldn’t have to worry about being too curvy for once. ^_^; But I like D’s outfits more.

Not sure if any particular character would be better than the others; I don’t particularly have a preference. :-) Maybe, try to coordinate the costumes in terms of colors, materials, or theme? Like maybe the kirin outfit could go with my peacock one? Or if you’re using Chinese brocade, it might go better with my original D.

We could also consider which characters might be easier to pose together for photos. There’s some stuff from volume 10 with D and his father which could be used for ideas. (And that artbook picture of them but that one kind of scares me. ^_^;;) Not coming up with anything for D and his grandfather off the top of my head. And I suppose something with a future D would have to be improvised.

[novaraven.livejournal.com]

Right now I'm thinking that my Sofu D (blue and purple) would look the best. Then you can bring your original D outfit and not have to worry about making anything new.

I could always save one of my other robes for the masquerade ball on saturday night. They have a formal dress code that my other costumes won't fit very well. (imagines sister paula with her metal corset and spiked heels dancing a waltz....er...no ^^;)

I haven't heard when the tickets for the ball will be on sale but I know you have to order them in advance. If you'd be interested I'll let you know.

The ball runs late, from 11 till 3 in the morning last year (starts after the masquerade show) so there is always plenty of time to go back to the hotel and change into something as simple as D if you've been wearing a less formal costume all day. D's slippers are a godsend after all day walking around in heels. ^^ Especailly when there's a chocolate fondu fountain there...how could I not take D? It would be such a crime!

[ladyofthethread.livejournal.com]

Okay. Blue and purple sounds like it should work. Taking pictures together might be interesting since D and his grandpa look about the same when the latter isn’t hiding under his cloak. *laugh*

The ball sounds like it should be fun. ^_^ How much were the tickets last year? If it doesn’t start until that late, I probably wouldn’t be able to stay more than an hour or hour and a half though. ^_^; At cons, I usually try to be back in my hotel room by around midnight to make sure things are ready for the next day and get ready for bed.

If it’s after the masquerade, I suppose I would just wear my formal Terra costume because I’d like to enter it in the contest. Although a D costume could be an amusing choice. *imagines a guy mistaking D for a woman and asking him to dance* XD

[novaraven.livejournal.com]

Last year the tickets were 12$ I think. They will be charging more this year cause they're renting a bigger room. And there is a contest for making the best carnival mask to go with your costume.

Last year I went with Leon, and made him wear a tux. That was rather funny. I think this year if I'm some form of D again, I'll take T-chan instead. (What is formal wear for a totetsu??) My Leon won't cosplay anymore, but he was a lousy dancer anyways.

The thing about our saturday masquerade contest is, they say it's not for skits, the skit contest is friday night, and most of the awards go to workmanship, but honestly it boils down to a contest of whos act was more entertaining and who had the best gimick. Simple walk ons are few and far between. Past awards have included "best use of a foam finger" There are no specific awards you can aim for as the judges make them up as they go along to reward the entries they like the best. And there are different judges every year so it's pretty random.

I am very certain your Terra will win something for workmanship. I just have no idea what they'll call it. ><

I'd never have the courage to go up on that stage alone! In fact I usually don't even watch the masq, I go out to dinner and then get changed for the ball instead.

This year may be different, depending on my friends and if they're going to drag me into the masq with them or not. If their costumes turn out well then yes, if not, then I'm free!!

[ladyofthethread.livejournal.com]

Hee hee Leon in a tux is amusing. I remember seeing that in your cosplay.com gallery. :-D Hmm… Formalwear for T-Chan? I’m not sure what he would wear for a formal occasion either. ^_^;

Eh, I’m not a good performer so I just do walk-ons and would never expect a presentation award. Presentation is rather subjective, too, so it’s harder to say what’s better than in the more objective craftsmanship. I really just try for best craftsmanship and have won that a few times for my division. Actually, I try to construct all my costumes well for personal satisfaction even if I don’t have a competition in mind for them. ^_^ Like my original Count D isn’t that likely to be in a contest since it’s not a replica of a specific outfit. But I lined it anyway since I want the things I make to be nice on the inside, too. ^_^ (Craftsmanship contests here tend to take only recreations which is why Terra hasn’t been in a contest yet and why I’d like to enter it at Anime North.)

Would that be the Trinity Blood group you've mentioned? I prefer competing in formal hall contests over masquerades myself but Anime North doesn't have one of those and the masquerade seems like the best chance I might ever have to compete with Terra.

[novaraven.livejournal.com]

I don't think the judging at AN is very formal at all. But good workmanship is always rewarded. The judges usually don't ask for any kind of reference pic, most people there would look at you like you were nuts for having one. (what? does this school girl outfit look like it has pockets to carry that stuff??)

I'm sure the judges don't know the difference for most of what they see, if it's accurate or not. But awesome work like yours always impresses people.

Even for the random hallcostume ribbons something with lots of detail and all hand made will definitely get one, provided you can find a hall costume judge around somewhere... They do exist! I swear I've seen one before! They're like unicorns, only shinier! ^^

Yes, my friends want to enter their trinity blood costumes in the masq. I haven't even started my costume for that group yet tho. I'm so behind on it! I'm still saving up for my boots.

[thimbles.livejournal.com]

Sounds like fun! I hope your plans end up working out ^^