We started this Fanime on Chicago time and we ended it on Chicago time. Tom and I decided to take it easy on Monday morning. We dressed up as Anime Central's mascots, the Aoi Duo (really the Aoi Sisters, but since Tom's a guy...nah!). It was crazy check out time for everyone at the Marriott. We left a few things behind in Stan's room over the con and came to collect them. We saw the Marriott lobby filled with luggage.

Monday was your typical convention slow day. Most Southern Californians were already out on the road. Tom and I had a light breakfast at the cafe. Many thanks to Imari for sharing her cookies with us. We also ran into the cutest little bovine ever!

We wandered around the convention center if there was anything left to do. Of course, everyone likes last minute deals. Jen recommended that I hit this Elegant Gothic Lolita booth because they sold doll clothes. I found a dress that really would go well with Sherry (Custom House Choa). It's so Lucille Ball like! The same booth will be back at Anime Expo. I look forward buying from them! We also decided to get custom Fanime badges from Image Craft. Basically, Image Craft would take a picture of you in cosplay, select an appropriate background, and you would have your custom (unofficial) souvenir Fanime 2008 badge in flash!

The Traveling Valentine Special Video Unit had to start their descent into Southern California. We said our bye bye's. Stan decided to take Deb on the scenic route 101 instead of the I-5. Lucky bastards. I gave Sherry to Darcy so that she can have a brand new face up just in time for Dollectable.

We did one more round of Artist Alley. The custom badges I requested for commission weren't ready, but they would be sent to me in the mail. I look forward seeing them! I scored a necklace from Pegasus Maiden's table. I love me some cameo necklaces.

There were still some cosplayers left, but Fanime's numbers kept going down by the hour. We said bye bye to our friends who were on their way home. Hopefully, we'll catch each other at another Bay Area event, or maybe Anime Expo.

Try to remember the times that were good. Tom and I decided to make one round at Peggy Sue's for lunch. Since I love me some chili cheese fries, I wanted to try them out. Claudine compared them to Steve's chili cheese fries. I just had to try them. Man, were they epic! We ran into the Proctor Twins and Nikki. While Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" was playing in the background, we were talking on and on and on about Transformers. Dave talked about his future plans to cosplay as a G1 Megatron should Bot Con ever happen on the West Coast. Then everything faded to black, but I then realized it was shake ache.

We went back to the Artist Alley. Dakota and Anton were being very open about their heterosexuality by showing off their heterosexual pride in their heterosexual lives. Tom decided to frolic with them in the Artist Alley in solidarity. We ran into Guest of Honor and scholar of Japanese culture Gilles Poitras at the convention hall. He gave Tom the remainder of his Fanime Bucks to allow us to grab a cup of coffee. Thanks, Gilles! Please buy his "Anime Companion" book.

Might as well show off our Aoi Duo photos. The Anime Central mascots are based off The Blues Brothers. We even wore our Anime Central press badges as a part of the costume. Though no one really knew what the Aoi Duo was really all about, we got plenty of compliments for just looking cute as a matching couple.

We ran into the Seeker Crew again. Dan pointed out the foreshadowing that was the Cosplay Spectacular badge. The badge had artwork from The Melancholy and Infinite Sadness of Haruhi Suzumiya on it. Was it trying to tell us something? Or was it pure coincidence? I don't think any of us wants to hear another verse of "Hare Hare Yukai." Tom jokingly promises to shoot the next group that performs "Hare Hare Yukai..." and not with his camera.

For the most part, Fanime was dying down during Monday afternoon. Most of us were just chilling in convention center lobby. The Seeker Crew kept us some good company since they were staying late in the area anyway. Dan and Dave opened their Transformers swag. Tom started making his ABJD interact with them. Tom wished he brought the Transformers he bought at Fanime along with him. He also expressed if Dollfies can have a meet up, so should Transformers.

One boredom event Traveling Valentine and the Seekers made up was playing volleyball with the balloon. It's your typical Monday afternoon at a convention activity. Of course, Tom lost the game after popping the balloon. The rubber melted into his fingers.

Tom bought us all drinks of the energy kind. We ran into Cosplay Hell. Andy posted a scandalous video of himself and a certain Morrigan on /cgl. It was time to go.

The San Jose Convention Center was almost empty. It felt like being on the set of I Am Legend.

Yet, some staff was still around clearing stuff out. Fanime really died down fast. It felt like a ghost town. Very lonely. We decided to meet up with the Seeker Crew over at the Old Spaghetti Factory, a favorite place of theirs. I haven't had Spaghetti Factory in years and I was jonesing for it! We were really hung over 1980s nostalgia, specifically Transformers. Dave's Megatron was our center piece at our table. Voice impersonations ensued! Here's a clip. Finally, we all made a toast to close down the Fanime experience, "Decepticons, transform and rise up!"

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