Post NekoCon 14: A Little Late

Well, Hampton's anime convention, NekoCon, has come and gone. Over all I had a great time, though I think one of the best parts was my friend Jeff and I having fun at the photo-shoot booth which was a fantastic deal.

Artist Alley was huge with many prints that I wanted to take home but really do not have room for let alone money. I did get my usual custom con badge (see pictures below) and got a few prints along with some stuff for my partner.

As usual I skipped over the video rooms being too busy with the Main Events which means I stayed out the Panels as well. Jeff and I tried to go to one Panel, Pheonix Wright mock trial, but the line was huge long by the time we got there that we didn't even bother.

Speaking of Main Events, I was surprised at the AMV Contest content was dominated by what I presume is a new anime that I am not familiar with called Ouran High School Host Club. I swear 18 out of 23 videos used this anime.

My only real disappointment was MC Frontalot, which put on a great show but was about 2 hours late getting started. When I have some money to spare I think I will pick up some of his albums, I am sure he is on iTunes.

Below is what everyone is waiting for, Con pictures. Now when I take pictures, I go for what I find cool or impressive or just like the character. I tried to identify characters as I know them. If you do, please shoot me an email so I can change it. If you are in any of the photos and like to have me take them down, again email me and I will be glad to do so.

I, Praying to the Users

Custom Con Badge

Aruther Dent

   

G.I.R.

Convention Center Hallway

Jayne

Miyoko, Nekcon Mascot

Reiko and Takeo, Nekocon Mascots

Poison Ivy

Sailor Scouts

Spartan chocking out Riddler!

Speed Racer

Steampunk Group

Tech-priest of Mars

Tony Stark

Kakashi

Jeff and I at the end of
the Photo-Shoot. He is a
Generic MGS Soldier (Alerted!)

Fran and Baltheir

Envy

Flo

Travis Touchdown

Post Transgender Day of Remembrance

This past Sunday, Nov 20th, was Transgender Day of Remembrance (T-DoR). My church (FYI, I am a Unitarian Universalist - Pagan) had an evening service and candle vigil for T-DoR, which I took part of in fact by reading off some of the names of those that we have lost in the past year across the world. It was a great service.

To show my support and raise awareness in my church I went to the service as my female side, Gwynn. This would be the first meeting of my church and Gwynn face to face. A selected few in the church knew about me being bigender until quite recently when I came out as part of a LGBT panel to educate the church's youth.

Gwynn

It was a great experience and very supportive in fact though it was not surprising as everyone at the service was there showing their support for the Transgender community, the bigger challenge would be a normal service that we have every Sunday.

Go Go Power Ranger Fun!/Happy All Hollow's Eve!

My partner is a big fan of the blog The Bloggess and not surprisingly because of it I get to hear about it. I got tired of hearing about it so I have started reading it because there is some good stuff there. Frankly, The Bloggess, aka Jenny Lawson, has chosen to live by a philosophy I can agree with and get behind. I could explain it but why when I have a video for it here. Go watch it, I will wait.

All done? Good, I just finished my sandwich. In the spirit of Halloween and being silly for the sake of myself and others I chose to go in 'costume'. By costume I mean a t-shirt with a costume print and the chosen one was The Red Power Ranger from the original series.

Said Red Power Ranger T-Shirt

Me wearing said Red Power Ranger T-Shirt.

I got some laughs (with me and at me), smiles and groans. Nothing unexpected but it all worth while by the smiles and the laughs, making someone else's life and myself brighter. Sometimes you just have to take yourself and life less seriously.

Going Out/Coming Out in Oct!

Last weekend, two major things happen in my life about being bigender. First, and the bigger of the two, Gwynn went out in public! Now Gwynn has been out to private play parties, which are rather safe environments and only after John has become familiar with the host/origination of such parties. That was a big step, leaving the house as Gwynn to be seen my people though these people were known to be open and accepting. What I discuss now is a bigger step and far riskier.

I (Gwynn) went out to dinner at Carrabba's Italian Grill on Saturday, which also happen to be some school's dance as there were lot of younger couples in 'prom' dresses and tuxes. Thankfully it was drama free and uneventful, in fact it was a very fun time.

Now I look back at it, it was a rather stacked in my favor. It was a friend's birthday party so I was surrounded my friends and allies, it was the back half of October and a busy night. I thought I handled everything very well though my partner tells me I was white knuckled in the car before coming inside.

The other big deal is I 'came out' to my fellowship, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Peninsula (Unitarian Universalism), or more specifically the middle school children of our fellowship about being transgender/bigender. Let me explain some more.

My fellowship is currently doing the OWL (Our Whole Lives) program where my partner has been acting as a teacher and I have just been just helping out here and there. Well last week we had a LGBT panel so the students could meet LGBT and talk to them. About quarter way through the panel I ended up joining the panel adding myself to the Transgender section and introducing all of myself to the students and answering questions. To say the least, it was a very interesting weekend but over all I am very glad it happen and it was all positive.

Dark Cloud Blogs going to Nekocon

Hampton Roads has it`s own anime convention every first weekend of November, Nekocon. This veteran con is in it`s 14th year and this will be my 3rd time having the pleasure to attend. It was a rather last minute decision, missing pre-reg by a day so I will have to pay at the door which sucks but it will be worth it. I will be joining one of my best friends at the con; the same friend that convinced me to go.

He will be cosplaying as an alerted MGS generic soldier, while I will be cosplaying a quick `n` dirty Sam Flynn from Tron: Legacy (This cosplay will be covered in a future Bigender Kinky Gamer post.). I am looking forward to all the events Nekocon has to offer, always enjoying the AMV contest. I will be buying a new camera for the con and will all can expect a post about the con with pictures!

Shades out!

Pastry in Review: Archer Farms Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Where: Target Weight Watcher Points: 10

So I am at Target seeing if they are carrying Pumpkin Pie for the Fall season. Disappointedly they did not but I did discovered their Pumpkin Spice Muffins. I decided that it be fair enough (like the sad Pumpkin Muffins at Donkin` Donuts) but was happily surprised.

Biting into the muffin I was surprised by the full pumpkin pie flavor but slightly different. Making it even better, the muffin has a full smooth top while the texture is a smooth sponge while being moist.

This muffin has easily gain "sinful pleasure" status. Usually Pumpkin Pie is my Fall favorite but now Pumpkin Pies and Target's Pumpkin Spice Muffins are my seasonal favorites.

The Great Pumpkin

"Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere. He's gotta pick this one. He's got to. I don't see how a pumpkin patch can be more sincere than this one. You can look around and there's not a sign of hypocrisy. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see." Linus, Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)

To some, it is well known that I love the flavor of pumpkins which makes Fall one of my favorite seasons. As the leaves begin to change color and the weather starts to chill the air the stores begin to put out pumpkin spiced items as pies start to appear in bakeries.

For me I started the season with Dunkin' Donuts' Pumpkin Muffins (they were out of Pumpkin Donuts). I am looking forward to my other pumpkin treats this Autumn but I will have to do it smartly as I am still trying to lose weight.