This Journal is all about the Fabu weekend I had with Nimblnymph, Lady Alys, and my friend Christofferson at Anime Detour!

The weekend started on Thursday April 2nd as Lady Alys and I drove down to Minneapolis to pick up Nim-chan who flew in that afternoon. From there we checked into the Hotel and headed over to the Mall of America (the largest Mall in the USA) to pick up some last minute cosplay needs.

One of those stops was at a hair salon because Alys needed a trim. I figured, hey, what the hell, I may as well get my eyebrows waxed because if left to their own devices, they become caterpillars...and grow in so I have a unibrow that would rival Bert from Sesame Street. Now this isn't my first time getting waxed, so I knew I would be red afterward. However I didn't expect the woman to rip off a couple layers of SKIN with my unwanted hair! Yes boys and girls, you read right. The night before a con where I am going to be in costume and lots o pictures will be taken of me, I end up looking like I just escaped some weird torture device, (bamboo slivers anyone?). And I admit, the proud Shinigami's Wrath despaired and felt very very Stupid. I mean, I should have known better right? However Nim-chan saves my hide yet again with her uber-concealer. This stuff was the bomb diggity! It not only covered up my flame red skin, but covered up our lips so we looked a bit more 'guy-ish'. For future reference, this stuff is now known as 'guy stuff'.....

Moving on. Friday dawns and us three girls head over to the con. Christofferson came down Friday night because he had to work....but once the four of us were assembled we wandered around buying Merch and having the relatively few people take our pictures. As we walked into the tail end of a Trinity Blood panel, we had the shock of Chris Ayers almost coming out of his chair when he saw us. After the panel was done he came to us and complimented our costumes. Then I made Pandaikon mew. Now Nimblnymph went to Build-A-Bear and made a Pandaikon, complete with voicebox. Once Chris heard him mew, Chris about went nuts! He got us to go downstairs with Greg Ayers and himself to take a picture! You can find said picture in my Gallery. I guess that was the first time I had ever been kidnapped by a couple of celebrities of the anime world. It was fun!

Saturday morning began our "Saiyuki" day....after a rough start of getting suited up we headed over and oh my god did the glomping and photo fest begin! It was amazing! HUGE props out to Nimblnymph for making the Sanzo, Goku, and Hakkai costumes! I made Alys' nyoi-bo and helped with the shoulder armor on Goku's costume. Nim-chan had a friend out in DE that made my Shaku-jou (I can never remember if there is a dash in that word, or not)....

After taking in several panels in the morning (one of which was the Voice Actor Q&A where Chris and Greg pointed us out in front of the whole room) we decided to make some fan photos, as in posing in a way that the guys would be seen.

I participated in the Iron Pen drabble contest that afternoon. Now I remember why I hate impromptu projects....I can never think of a thing that quickly....I heard crickets chirping the first fifteen minutes of the hour that I had to write. I scribbled something out, but I knew it wasn't my best stuff. For those of you interested, it will be posted on the Anime Detour website in a couple weeks.

Nimblnymph took first in the Fanfiction contest, and I couldn't be prouder of her! She is an amazing writer and is finally recognized! She didn't think she would win, but she's kind of silly in the head that way. Nimblnymph, you know I love you very much!!!!!

Saturday night we executed a Mall Raid. In Detour Terms, that means going over to the Mall of America in costume and in character. The only exception was that Christofferson had to get out of his robes, so he was in street clothes. The rest of us went over in costume, minus weapons, and suprisingly it was Goku that scared children and not me, with my red eyes (had colored contacts). Our venue in the mall was Hooters and we enacted a typical meal with the Sanzo party. Just see the gallery and you'll know what I am talking about.

Sunday we suited up again in the Saiyuki garb to go over to the signings. Greg liked our costumes and was impressed by the nyoi-bo, so he signed it for Alys. I got Pandaikon signed on his hat, and a box set of Speed Grapher autographed. Which, by the way, if you have time to watch, DO IT! It's AWESOME AND DARK AND TWISTED....I loves it!!!!

The rest of Sunday was spent at the park at the Mall of America where we went on roller coasters...FUN! And I still had my red contacts in, but was in street clothes and the salesperson at Lucky Brand Jeans thought my eyes were cool. I thought he was hot, but that's beside the point...

Sunday night was a sampler platter of anime by the titles of Devil May Cry, Speed Grapher, Nerima Daikon, Sayounkokku...or however the hell you spell it and Beck and many others...

Monday marked the day my Nimblnymph flew away...a sad day, but I will see her in four short months at Otakon, where the Otaku goodness can continue!!!!!

I walked away from that con with a lot of manga, a few boxsets, a load of laughs, but more importantly tons of memories that I will always treasure. And though these pictures may be funny to those viewing them, they are a 'you had to be there' group of moments. but it helps to know the anime that we are portraying. So without further ado, I give you, the Detour Pics!