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Saturday, November 11th, 2006
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1:14 pm - Otakon As Best I Remember It Part the Last
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I guess after all this time I should finish my Otakon memories, though they're a bit foggier than if I had done this after I had posted parts one or two. But at least this way you'll get a nice short synopsis without all the extra drudgery, and I can get back to writing about stuff thats actually current, though that'll take a nice long period to catch up on as well.
So I decided not to quit, which is good cause I really didn't want to quit, just got placed in a spot of my own doing where I felt trapped. After talking with some friends got that all straightened out and got on to the con-age...
Actually left on time and got down there with just Eric Murray and myself, and in not having to wait for people we actually got there at a point on Thursday where I could actually help my department heads get everything up and running for the mass hordes on Friday morning.
Went out for a dinner with a group of senior staffers, if I tried to list them, I know I'd forget one, so I won't.
The con itself was a blur, like most events where you're running constantly. I'd like to thank a number of people who kept me sane, such as Robin, Edwin, Hanako, Dar, Malcolm, Sam, Neal, Adi, Evan and a number more; if you're not listed its not cause you weren't a help, I just waited too long to post this.
Spent large chunks of my weekend at the info desk, answer questions and making myself available to ops, and the masses.
Sometime during the week Neal decided that I was a minor celebrity and big in some circles, which circles he never shared.
The staff party afterward was cool, got to open a bottle of champagne for the first time, hang and just relax with friends I've known for years but never see.
After the staff party walked back with Russian, sat on the hotel sofa to chat, and fell asleep and got woke up by someone I can't remember who at the minute, but I can picture your face, coming back from hanging out with someone else, went back to the room, and got a few hours more sleep on a bed, before we left in the morning.
Wanted to thank all the dept heads and other staffers who put up with me throughout the year, and made my job tremendously easier in the process.
You guys rock, and you only ever get mentioned when something bad happens.
I think thats all I'm going to write, cause running from Hall A to Hall C isn't a lot of fun to read; and I really don't feel like getting into shop talk, theres a time and place for all of that.
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| Wednesday, August 16th, 2006
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6:54 am - Otakon As Best I Remember It Part 2
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The night before I left for the con was filled with so much stress and realization that there was so much left unfinished, that I seriously entertained the notion of quitting right then and there. Not my best moment but one nonetheless. It was one of those times when you get that small voice saying "you can't do it, you're not good enough." For a while I listened to that voice. I started trying to, and talking to friends trying to convince myself otherwise. Most of them did the opposite and kinda agreed with that voice that it was worthless etc. That led to me actually msg'ing the Chief of Staff's asst, and saying, where is she, I want to resign. A short phone call later and I was back on board and curious as to what this upcoming weekend would hold. A friend would later say, "if you need talked out of it, you aren't ready to quit yet."
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| Tuesday, August 15th, 2006
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11:43 pm - Begin the Decompression: Otakon as Best I Remember It Part 1
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Now that Otakon is done for the year, well the convention at least; I guess I can start to organize my thoughts on it. I still got a few loose ends to tie up, and some stuff I'd like to see set into motion for the 2007 Programming SC be it me or someone else.
There are tons of things that happened within programming that I wish I'd have done differently but they can't be changed now, only learned from. I realized how interdependent programming is on the other sections; and how the schedule can crap the bed, if one section is slow in providing its share. Ultimately I take the blame for the failures in the schedule, they are a result of me having not done my job as well as I should have. But I want to vent a little before I start my Wrap Meeting Section Report, and I'll work my way thru the con bits at a time, as best I can remember it.
The lynch pin in the schedule having taken so long to get assembled was that Guest Relations/Industry never got into contact with Panels until after the Memorial Day Holiday. Panels did there best to get everything accomodated by that took time, and with Theater 1 being shared as a panel room and a video room, video programming couldn't get their share done on time. Hence stuff that could have been fixed before print deadline, went to press wrong, and caused a bunch of other errors that eventually led to the schedule being updated every day including 2 days before the con. This should have never happened, and if I ever get a chance to work on the schedule again, it'll be squashed, the members deserve better than to be told, "that schedule in the pocket guide, its not valid, here take this one, no its ok it says staff confidential, its the valid one."
Ok now that thats finished, I go back to assuming the blame, and will work on wrapping up Otakon 2006, and see where in the grand scheme of things I end up next year, perhaps info desk?
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| Monday, July 10th, 2006
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1:19 pm - Construction, Destruction and Action
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I was looking forward to a nice weekend, filled with some con work, sleep, and church on sunday after the previous week of work etc. However on Friday it became obvious that it wasn't gonna happen that way. Scott sends me a message asking if I wanted to finish working on the plumbing fixes for the shower. Realizing that it was probably one weekend when I could actually get time to do it I agreed. We finished all the plumbing work at like 3am, and pulled off the old tub surround, as we'd need a new one because of the new fixture. So I figured I'd get up in the morning and start work on the new surround. Well that wasn't the best idea, as when I put it into place and put my hand on it to slide back into place against the wall, my hand went right thru it. Oh well...that wasn't going to work. Sat too long in the garage before finally getting to be used. So this coming weekend, I got to get a piece of drywall, and tile, and the rest of the materials and put them together, when I'm not traveling too and from the Panic Meeting in Baltimore.
Went to the Bridge/South Hills Assembly with Scott for the Media Team Training before the Bridge Service. When we arrived the area was in midpower outtage. After that we got to play with the stuff in the sanctuary media booth. Scott and I ended up getting trained on the cameras. And even got some time in on them during the service. Some how the power outtage, killed the the server and network setup, and with the guy who intimately knows the network on vacation, we had no choice but to forgo media on the screens during service. But it gave us a chance to play with the cameras and get used to the flow.
Afterward we joined the crew at Eat N Park, and hung out in the church parking lot for a bit, before dispersing for home.
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| Saturday, June 3rd, 2006
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8:26 pm - Anime Boston - Part 3
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Ok in this post, I'm going to combine the last day and a half of my trip - only cause they kinda go together as almost 1 very long day, separated by a few hours of sleep in the middle.
So I've finally gotten around to finishing the tale of my trip to Boston. Go ahead and call me lazy, you wouldn't be the first, nor the last to do so.
Realizing that the con was pretty much lame we didn't really do much 'con-ing', rather we spent a great deal of time hanging out in the hotel room and with each other. Eventually Robin had to go home, she's local so it wasn't like she had a long trip or anything. After she left, we got the bright idea to go and find the site they filmed the exterior shots for Cheers at, with the idea of hitting the replica later that evening for dinner.
So we hopped aboard the T and went to the exit detailed on the directions, and walked across this amazing park, I couldn't adequately describe it if I wanted to other than to say WOW.
A few blocks later we're standing across the street from the place where everyone knows your name. Cheers is the definition of a tourist trap. Small bar, gift shop, stairs, bigger gift shop, dining room. So we stopped and hung out and ate lunch, and watched the tourists take pictures with their menus and mugs etc.
After ward we decided to go walk thru the adjacent park, which was just as amazing, and hit find the nearest T station, which was closed, a mile later we walked to the governament district and thru the downtown crossing, which was like a giant open air mall, complete with stores like champs etc.
Eventually we headed back.
Came for dinner, and so Sam and I went looking for Kave to go grab some dinner. Walked around the con, after it was closed with no problem, the guards didn't even stop us. Ended up stopping in the main events room and helping tear down, just cause thats how we roll or something. Found Kave and his buddy from Funimation and met up with Sam's bro Hop and headed out to the replica Cheers bar. It sucked, so we didn't even go in, we just kinda walked by. Quincy Market, wow - you stand in the center of this rotunda, and food court booths as far as the eye can see in both directions. We stopped for dinner at this irish pub. Which was about as IRISH as I'm Korean (I'm not). We were convinced our waitress hated us cause she completely seemed to avoid us, and we were having way too much fun in the corner. Eventually that all ended and back to the hotel room.
Sam and his bro left about 11:30 or so, they were driving back to Maryland. I watched a little TV and crashed myself.
Got up early like 6am to get myself packed and together and headed out to the airport (Logan International) for my 9 am flight. In Philly on my connecting flight, sat on the plane for about 45 min waiting for them to get the darn thing started, and it took 2 start carts as the first one was broken. Throughout I could feel myself getting antsy and worried about the plane - till I heard from that still small voice, saying 'You are mine. Don't worry. No harm can come to you with me' or something like that, instant relaxation.
Got back to pitt and got my luggage, got home and got attacked by my niece who was so excited to see me after not having done so for a few days. She's like my shadow, so she was lost for a weekend. Anyway the trip was enjoyable, and gave birth to hundreds of stories, that might get told when something reminds me of them, or I feel like sharing.
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| Sunday, May 28th, 2006
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8:26 pm - Anime Boston - Part 2
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Saturday or as best I remember it.
Got up around 8ish, which is kinda late compared to my normal wake up time of 6:30-7a thanks to work. Which reminds me that as soon as I finish this post, I have to call Mary and confirm my schedule for next week. Got cleaned up and dressed and stuff, and headed across the street to the con, with the memberships I actually purchased.
We walked around laughing at stuff, as how their con isn't quite run the otakon way. Guess we're kinda spoiled by our success/lack of failure.
Met Harmon and Kaveman and grabbed lunch, and talked con stuff, it's odd, that once you reach a certain level, the con becomes your life, and dominated your discussions.
After that we went to man the con table, at con row - which none of us realized we had, so we sat there a while and just kinda answered questions, and listened to people tell us how great they think our con is. Even had a guest who had a question, and walked past the table, noticed the Otakon brand perked up and came over and asked us.
We started to watch a cosplay type dating game, which was opened by a cosplay music group, the music was pretty good,the cosplay, well....
The following actually had us one by one get up and walk out it was so cheezy and lame.
We kinda hung out some more till the Funimation panel, which we only went to cause Kaveman was like come get some free stuff, etc,and let us in on their big secret. So we went and it was cool. Got me a one of 300 specially marked Anime Boston, BECK backstage passes as a tiein for their upcoming release of BECK.
After that we went to a grocery store, so they could stock up on booze. I live in a commonwealth, so its still odd to see a beer/liquor aisle in a grocery store.
From their I got dragged Bar Hopping in Boston. Well I guess we can't really call it barhopping since we only hit 2 bars and left the first one cause it was way 2 packed.
They succeeded in getting a few shots in me, not enough to get me drunk, mind you, not even really buzzed. Walked back to the hotel, read/answered some con mail and went to sleep.
I R OUT
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| Saturday, May 27th, 2006
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8:25 pm - Anime Boston - Part 1
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Every so often you think you have God figured out, when he comes over and goes "Heh heh, check this out!". I had that feeling the first time I flew in an airplane yesterday. It was a tiny little plane, and I had the pleasure of the window seat. Though I had seen the views and shots from planes, on film and tv; I wasn't quite prepared to see it in person. As we take off and reach the height we'd fly at, as the sun's rising, my jaw just drops, and I sat there completely mouth agape in awe of God.
Yes, I'm Boston this weekend, for Anime Boston, came up with some friends to check out a con, I don't have to staff or otherwise worry about.
So much to write so this 'report' is going to be broken into segments.
Thursday night: Bed at 10:30p - almost Ken Sarbers bed time but a little later - sorry ken for throwing you under the bus.
Friday morning - up at 2:20a - yup I know I just went to bed a few hours earlier, but to get up great ready and get to the airport an hour before my 6:20a flight, it was necessary. So I get thru security, etc at the airport, to find out that we have a little "maintenence" work being done on the plane. 40 min later we finally get the ok to board and take off for the 30 min flight to Dulles in DC. So from Dulles another 30 min flight takes me to Philly, and a 45 min one to Boston. I know stupid multiple connecting flights but it was cheaper. Next time I'm liable to pay extra to just get here in one shot. So I get to Boston and find out my luggage is still enroute. After waiting for the next flight from Philly to come and sans my luggage, I consent to have them deliver it, and hop the subway for the hotel. Random stuff happens, including lunch/dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. Hmm....Tons of fun burger. We go off to the con to register (something I've never had to do before) and get only the Saturday ticket since Friday's all but over. However we go visit other con friends who are staffing the con, and walk around and don't get questioned about our Sat only memberships. I guess when you reach a certain level of con staff hood, you just kinda give off that perception that you're supposed to be there and no one questions you. Back to the hotel, and I just completely crash the moment I lay down around 10:30-11p. Anyway thats enough for part 1, stay tuned for other parts, when i'll expand on other stuff that happened etc. Seacrest out.
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| Monday, April 10th, 2006
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8:29 pm - April Fool
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Recently I spent April Fools day in Chicago at a Bible Quizzing Tournamaent. How ironic, the day of fools with people with a bunch of people who have memorized large chunks of the WORD.
It did make for a long weekend, but it was quite enjoyable nonetheless.
Unlike years past, I didn't take Thursday off for prep. Mostly cause in years past we'd get there early enough and with enough help to get everything done early enough we'd be sitting in our hotel rooms bored. Well that changed this year.
Instead of taking off Thursday and helping my friend Rick gather materials for the event; I decided I'd try for some scarce work hours, or figuring it'd be an early night. Figured if I got lucky I may get to 10 oclock, but wasn't hopeful. We were there till 12:30am. There goes that idea. Ended up staying up all night, grabbing a quick shower, and packing and heading over to Ricks at 7am.
Instead of staying in a hotel we'd be sleeping in the church. Not to mention that we'd be short staffed compared to normal. So I climb into the back of the van and sleep a small bit of the way but mostly stayed up and chatted. After getting stuck in traffic outside Chicago for 3 hours, our normal 8 hour trip took us 11 hours. We'd end up setting up and other stuff before getting to bed at 4am. Got back up about 2 hrs and 45 min later all set to be the head statistician and asst Tournament Director.
The tournament was awesome, and from the position of the Rate room, in the mothers room, high up in the choir loft I actually got to see quite a bit of quizzing. Usually the rate room is buried somewhere in a corner of the building.
After the tournament which we actually kept on time for a change and got done exactly when we aimed to; we went out with the group from Canton for some Deep Dish Chicago Pizza, as traditions been the past couple years. Dinner was awesome, the pizza and the conversation with people you only get to see a few times a year.
We'd go back to the church and pretty much go straight to bed at like 10:30pm. Up at like 5:45 am wasn't fun, but with the time zone change and the like we wanted to leave kinda early so we'd get home on time. Got in about 4pm-ish, and went to the Bridge, then some volleyball, and out to eat with the group at Fridays. And then back home again where I crashed and slept for hours.
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| Monday, March 6th, 2006
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8:31 pm - wREC'd is paradise
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Had an interesting last week and a half to 2 weeks.
I'd been looking to get out of the post office for a myriad of reasons, mostly that were getting killed on hours. Like obviously I realize that 40 a week isn't going to happen. 30 was about the norm lately. When we started getting like 15-20 it became a problem.
So I went looking for a new job. Found one where a friend worked, same building different section.
That was Wednesday. Put in my resignation at the REC later that night. Thursday I got grabbed by my supervisor, and asked about it. And by Friday most of management knew about it, though most people who worked with me still didn't.
Monday I started training at the new job. Was a significant paycut, obv. The job wasn't that bad, but when I got to the HR presentation, the misgivings I had really began to take hold.
I was getting sundays off for church and bridge, which is the the only qualm I had. But when I started hearing the time off policies, and how easy it was to get fired. That's about when God grabbed a spiritual 2x4 and smacked me upside the head.
At some point I'll need a new job, but the REC allows me to take time off when ever, and even with the short hours, I'll still make the same if not more than bout any other job till I get my butt back in school and finish off my degrees.
So I call Joanne up on Tuesday morning and ask for my old job back. She responds that she'll get back to me on what I'll need to do but it shouldn't be a problem. So I call up PRC and quit, telling them that due to extenuating circumstances I could no longer continue the training. (Translation: I hate the job). So I find myself unemployed for say 6 hours till she calls me back and tells me to be there tomorrow.
So in the end I only end up showing i requested 2 days off. Though Derek the schedule maker is turning into a jerk, and giving me Mondays off...which might be a blessing in disguise.
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| Thursday, February 23rd, 2006
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8:32 pm - Leaving the REC
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So after 4 plus years at the REC I've decided that it was time for a parting of the ways. Now don't get me wrong, the job is great, minus the lack of hours. Recently I started looking for employment elsewhere, not entirely sure what I'd find.
My friend Ken works at PRC, and mentioned applying there. I kept putting it off, like who wants to do telesales. The more I looked the more kept coming back to PRC. So I went there Wed Feb 22, and went thru the application process and go offered a job doing Phone Support for US Cellular. Of course I took it. The hourly pay isn't as great as I'd like it to be, but I'll get benefits in a few months, and tution reimbursement, so I can get my butt back in school full time in the mornings before work starts up.
Got plenty of friends at the REC, many of whom I'll miss interacting with on a daily basis, but then again only getting say 3 hours a day, you don't get much interaction time, or pay for that matter.
Submitted my 3 day notice, had no choice but start on the 27th if I wanted the job. I'll have to post a bit this weekend on the emotions of the next 2 days of REC life, my final 2.
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| Monday, October 24th, 2005
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1:16 pm - While I was Gone from my Blog
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Finally I have returned to my blog. Yes I know it's been a few months here but I've been semi-busy during my absence. I've recovered adequately from the con and am extremely anxious to begin the long ardious journey toward great reviews by the attendees yet again. This year however, I'm leaving the post I've held for the past 3 years, and attempting, based on whether or not the Chief of Staff and Con Chair, see fit to appoint me Programming Section Chief.
Yes I do realize how much work I'm line for, but having done the job of the SC's assistant last year, and spending hours and hours discussing the day to day operation of the section, its a position I think I can handle. (I hope.)
Had my TE break from work which resulted in alot of boredom, poker, and reading.
Went out to the Otakon Election meeting earlier this month in Harrisburg. Got there early on Friday and had hours to kill in the state capital. So I started walking around. Notes on the capital, nice fountain in front of the capitol on Commonwealth; State Museum is cool, at least the first couple floors. Oh and switchboard.com needs to update their restaurant listings, I went looking for a Thai place they said was there only to find a coffee house in its place. So instead I ate at the Subway I spotted down the street.
Also been helping out at the bridge. I joined the A/V team. Now me and Scotty P, who Pastor Ken has taken to calling the "Dynamic Duo", sit in the A/V cage and run the lights, sounds, and everything you see on the screens behind every other Sunday (2nd and 4th Sundays of the month).
Sitting in the cage, and getting there an hour and a half early, setting stuff up, like the lights and the projectors and the screens gives a guy a whole new view on how the service is run.
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| Tuesday, August 23rd, 2005
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3:35 pm - Decompressing Otakon 2005
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As many of you in my readership, something like 5 people if I have that many, know I spent this past weekend at Otakon 2005. Again this year thousands of Otaku decended upon the Inner Harbor of Baltimore scaring the natives and homeless alike.
I was in charge of the workshops department for the third and final year. I needed a change, and left it in the more than capable hands of my assistant Malcolm. Also this year I had a new "official" title, assistant Section Chief in charge of Programming. When I accepted/applied for the job in October I had no clue of the amount of work that was headed my way. Now don't get me wrong I didn't hate a minute of it, but compared to being a department head it multiplied exponentially, and I was only the assistant. All of a sudden as if I didn't before I have a new appreciation for the Section Chiefs, and Con Chair/Vice Con Chair, who must not even get to see their families during the year.
I'm not going to touch on every detail, such as when I got up, when I got to sleep, etc..., because most of it is mundane, and frankly boring. However, I will touch on some of the highlights, and other points of interest.
I did sleep more this year than last only cause Sam made me sleep in on Saturday after closing Friday night. I had an awesome assistant in Malcolm who ended up the defacto head of workshops most of the weekend while I was helping out with assistant section chief duties.
We left earlier than normal on Thursday, which meant we'd get more time in Baltimore that evening to set up than years past. I brought a friend of mine this year as staff for his first time to help out in the CCG area. I missed him most of the weekend sans the times I ran sweeps thru the area where CCG's were held.
I got the chance to catch parts of events, that most people don't get to see, be present for other stuff, and generally get to have fun at con while working my butt off. Reminder to self to consult a doctor before next years convention might be a wise idea. For instance I got to "supervise" an audition by Michelle Ruff, for a couple roles as a voice actress. Basically I just stood in a corner and watched in the off-chance anything was needed. Nothing was needed, other than a 20 on Sam Dang afterwards.
I saw part of the Indigo concert since it was in my area, I looked in on it for a few songs as I checked the surrounding area of the BCC. Also got to stumble past Kato-san rehearsing for her concert on Sunday while retrieving a bag Sam left upstairs in the ballroom.
Got to sit in on the Puffy AmiYumi staff meet and greet. I figured after the meeting we had re-arranging some stuff on the schedule to make sure the fans of the con would get a chance to meet and greet them on their quick stop at the con, that I might as well meet them.
Got to meet new people at the con, and tighten past friendships with staffers even more.
The dead-dog party afterward was awesome as well, kudo's to Callie and anyone else who planned it. Got to hang with some of the American voice actors and the Little Gamers. The whole group was awesome, and had me laughing the whole time, just at the way they acted like real people, and interacted with themselves.
I could go on forever about the con, but I won't. I have hundreds of stories, most of which few people would get, so they aren't included. I'm going to end this with asking for a 20 on a hot stick of butter. An inside joke for the Panel Ops peeps, and MC.
current mood: accomplished
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