To start my Los Angeles vacation, I went to Downtown Disney and picked up a present for Tom. After all, Lunar New Year (thought I'd be politically correct since BOTH Chinese and Vietnamese celerbate it) was just around the corner. I got him something from Build a Bear. Then it was lunch at Bob's Big Boy in Torrance. Yes people, it still exists! After a long day, I picked up Tom from LAX. For the rest of the night, we snuggled to Miyazaki's The Cat Returns.

The next morning, we had plans to leave for Anime Los Angeles after noon. This way, we would just have lunch at home and then leave. Tom and I dressed up as Yoichi and Maki from Geobreeders. However, my brother was taking way too long with the car. We also heard of a bank robbery near the airport which had to close down the 405. Regardless, we were going to run into Friday afternoon traffic. Normally, it would take half an hour to get to Van Nuys. That half hour turned into two hours of bumper to bumper traffic. However, we made it to Airtel Hotel safely.

I was very excited to see my friends after endless traffic. Lots of cosplayers occupied the garden area of the hotel. It seemed already that this was being like another camp cosplay! In other words, lots of catching up with each other's lives that does not involve livejournal! We wandered into the con suite where there were much ranting about rabid yaoi fangirls. Our friends at Brilliant Moon cosplayed as waitress Sailor Senshi. They also gave out flavored salt water taffy! Yum!

There was an impromptu dollfie gathering in the lobby. Karisu brought her entire doll family. If only my doll came in earlier, she could have been a part of the madness. We chilled by the Consplayers room with Gentle Ben. Mike showed up decked out in a suit. He showed off his "Idiot Control Now" skills. We got it on tape.

Afterwards, Karisu and friends invited us to dinner at this simple Japanese restaurant. We had to take two cars over there. Karisu and Rei had the pleasure of riding in our minivan, Death on Wheels™. I told them about my days learning how to drive Death on Wheels™. I ordered the tempura bowl. We all played that chopstick breaking game to see if you are good or evil.

For the rest of Friday, Tom and I just spent it with Karisu and family (do the dolls count). We did not get to the hotel until 5PM, but we made the most of what time was lost with friends and what was still being offered.

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