Widow Once More

By the title I am, of course, referring to Anime Weekend Atlanta (AWA). Last year I posted that I would be an anime widow once a year. Well, I apparently wasn't kidding even though I made a much better effort this year to participate. (sigh)

See, Mike has been going for a few years and he gets all hyped up about it. It's his guaranteed fun time every year. I like some of it but I am just not otaku enough for him to be happy with my tagging along. Oh, he wants me to come with him but let's face it, I am merely a distraction. I have admitted defeat this year. I thought it was all me last year because I was sick and stressed out but I see now that isn't really all it. Mike has a pattern here and I throw that off. I slow him down.

Mike's been incredibly grumpy lately. And I thought I had mood swings! He's been snappy and it pretty much boiled over this week. I don't know if I'm rubbing off on him or what but normally he's the calm one. (snort) And, of course, his moods have been affecting my moods. (sigh) Joyous fun and excitement.

Anyway, I am sick again but this time with that head cold that's been going around and I've been fighting off. I started feeling it come on yesterday. We got to Atlanta on Thursday night. Everything went fine with the hotel this time. We slept in a little and then did some stuff together. The main thing was dance lessons in preparation for last night's ball. We had fun with it and move pretty well together. So, I will definitely have to look into us doing that when we get home. We went our separate ways while I went to the mall to get my makeup done at the Clinique counter. It looked good. Mike looked awesome in his tux and I'll post those pics later. I don't have the connector for my camera. The ball was ok. I wanted to dance right away but Mike was "unwinding from the day" and we just sat there for a while. Made me feel grumpy. But eventually we did dance and it was lovely. We stayed for about 2 hours and then changed a little so we could go watch the hentai. It's always a riot because people go nuts with comments ("bring on the animated porn!"). lol

I apparently snored all night even though I had a nose strip on. I was so exhausted. And when I woke up, I didn't feel like myself at all. I felt like everything was coming from a long distance away. I just didn't feel connected. I still don't, not completely. So, we went to breakfast and then wandered around the dealers room. I bought Mike lots of stuff and got myself a few things. And I found a few more pins for the bookstore peeps. I need to get the rest tomorrow. Wanted to bring them something to show I was thinking about them. Jon, of course, is getting the most cause, well, he loves this stuff too. lol Maybe he needs to come with Mike next year. lol

I've made some contacts for possible signings and other stuff. I talked with one of my peers about helping her next year so, maybe if I'm working at the con Mike and I can keep from irking each other. Either that or I'll just drive next year and hang with Maya. Or work in the room. lol Everything seems to need to come back to work for me lately. It's about the only time when I feel productive and focused.

After wandering around I started to feel even more wretched so I came back to the room and passed out for a few hours. It gave Mike a chance to do his own thing and me an excuse to stay here. He came back to bring us dinner and was the happiest I've seen him in days. (sigh) I'm glad. I hate when he's grumpy. And I really don't mind being alone. Maybe that's what we need right now. Alone time. We don't get much of that because at home we feel like we have to spend our free time together since we don't see each other much. We love being together but we both inherently need alone time too. Another lesson learned.

So, there you go. As for the rest. . .we had some kiosk drama this year but nearly as much as last year. The worst part was the shipment not coming until the day before it was due. It really threw our schedule off and I didn't get a day off at all that week except for Saturday afternoon. Spent that shopping for the con so no real rest which is why I'm fried. The three newbies are gonna work out fine. They are good ones. I am so thankful for that. Everett is pleased with everything. As for the job, it's being left up to the new DM to make that call after an interview with me. It hasn't been set up yet but we'll see. There's a manager's meeting in mid-October so hopefully they will make up their minds by then. Mike's manager is gone too so they need to hire someone for there. School is going well but I just don't have any time for anything but work work work. I'm gonna give up reading anything "fun" and focus on my diss stuff during breaks. Burn out? Possibly but oh well. I'm not really happy unless I'm working a lot.

Well, hugs to all. Must get some rest now.