(Written Sunday, July 17, 2005 - 4am)

I made it to Connecticon today, and I had a GREAT time. First, I entered - not knowing where to go, as this IS my first time going to a convention, and well - yeah. I was directed upstairs to the registration desk, where I registered for the full weekend and got a nice t-shirt. Then, I just wandered around aimlessly, basically, until I found a couple people playing a card game called Flux. I joined in and hung out with the two for some time. We watched anime, had some food, and watched the NERO people doing their swordfights. One event that truly made my day was actually finding a Vulpix keychain. I didn't quite expect to find one there - but I did. I spent the last of my money - 3 bucks - buying it. To me, it was worth it, as I had been looking all over creation for Vulpix and Ninetales figurines, my efforts all in vain - until today...I found a keychain. I also saw an Eevee plush, which I might buy tomorrow. It's not so much the fact that they're Pokemon, as you may be able to tell. It is because they're foxes. I'm a kitsune fanatic. It's sad that I barely have anything related to kitsune in my room, save for a plush fox, and the keychain which I bought today.

Eventually, the couple and I parted ways - as they were going out somewhere I couldn't go to because I was under 21. You guessed it, a bar. So, I continued wandering aimlessly. Why I didn't make any social contact with anyone is beyond me...Maybe I was nervous...Maybe I didn't want to disturb anyone. Either way, I hung out. Soon, they started having a rave, and I danced for a bit. I went back and forth between the gaming area and the rave, and the hallways. Eventually, I realized that I had to go home - that I had to go to work. It was 12am. I asked around for rides home, mostly everyone wasn't able to. Then, I just settled in a room watching a shonen-ai anime which had caught my interest....Gravitation. Perhaps it was the use of the name Yuki....I don't know. It was pretty interesting, I might buy myself a copy. Then it was after 2am, and I was back out in the hallway - and I talked to a nice person...forgot what her name was...but she said that she could get me a ride home. And we chatted for a bit while we waited for her mother to get there. And...here I am now. ^^;

Good times...good times. I'm coming back next year for sure. And I am going full time.

Sunday Afternoon -- I bought my fox ears, 9 bottles of Ramune (mega-fucking-addicting soda), an Eevee plush, some pocky, and an Inuyasha soundtrack. Then I just hung around.

Pics taken Sunday afternoon: http://www.kitsuneparadise.com/pictures/connecticon

Yeah, I already mentioned this. But there is some breaking news about Connecticon that I feel that I should post, because it is really that big of a deal.

The main site is here: http://www.connecticon.org -- but...

-- http://www.saveconnecticon.com --

Taken from the main page:

In 2003, ConnectiCon opened its doors for the first time. Run by Matt Daigle and Briana Benn at the University of Hartford in Connecticut, ConnectiCon was a labor of love. Through blood, sweat and tears (and their own finances), they created one of the friendliest, most welcoming conventions in the Northeast. It caters to Anime, Sci-Fi, Gaming and more.

They ended their first year in debt, not entirely unusual for a first time convention. Yet despite their own financial losses, in 2004 they hosted ConnectiCon for a second time. The convention doubled in every aspect: attendance, guest appearances, and in fun. They finally broke even.

Due to a change in management and policy at the University of Hartford, where ConnectiCon was hosted for the first two years, the convention was forced to find a new home in 2005. Faced with a choice of canceling their event or taking a risk on a more expensive venue, Matt and Briana put everything they had on the line to throw the best convention they could. They moved ConnectiCon to the brand new Connecticut Convention Center.

Despite throwing another wonderful convention this year, they did not break even. In fact due to the Convention Center being so new, there were a lot of unforseen expenses tacked on last minute. As a result Matt Daigle is now $34,148.50 in debt. That is too much for one person to shoulder alone, let alone a person who was never interested in making money, and just wanted to throw a fun event for people to enjoy.

At this point it's not only ConnectiCon 2006 that's in danger; it's Matt and Briana's future.

ConnectiCon has earned a reputation amongst the webcomic community as being the largest supporter of our medium. There has never been another convention that treated webcomics with such respect and admiration. There has never been a convention that showcased such a huge number of webcomics in one place.

They have treated webcomics like royalty for the past three years and now, in their hour of need, dozens of webcomic creators and other artists have banded together to organize this fund.

We need to save our friends. We need to save our ConnectiCon.

And we need your help to do it.

You don't necessarily have to give them money. You can spread the word about it, or donate some stuff for their e-bay auctions.