Otakon: O-What-A-Kon!

I spent the final weekend of July 2011 (7/29-7/31) in Baltimore, Maryland celebrating the 18th anniversary of Otakon! It was also my fourth appearance at this particular anime convention (I previously attended in 2003, 2009, & 2010)!  Of course, the biggest draw was the Dealer's Room!  I hardly had to spend a dime, as my Hubby was willing to spend most of his hard-earned money from his job to make me happy! (SN: Thanks for a great weekend, Chris!  I love you!)  I ended up with most of the anime titles I was looking for, including: 1. Season 1 of  "Black Butler," 2. The entire series of "Chobits," 3. The complete collection of "Moonphase," 4. "Rumbling Hearts," 5.  "Daphne In The Brilliant Blue, 6. "Fruit's Basket" (which I truly appreciate, because I know how much Hubby hates the series!), and 7.  The second box set of the anime "Nana!" 
 I'm going to be busy watching all that anime!  Hopefully, it will keep me satisfied until Anime USA  (November 18-20, 2011)!  Sadly, I'm already working on my Anime Wish List for that con!  I missed the premiere screening of "The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya"  at Otakon 2011! It is definitely something I would have loved to have seen, because I have both seasons of "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya" on DVD!  Hopefully, "Disappearance" will be available in the US by the time AUSA starts!  I believe it's already out in Japan!  http://www.amazon.com/Disappearance-Haruhi-Suzumiya-Region-Japanese/dp/B0050XOCLK/ref=sr_1_3?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1312243121&sr=1-3
And before the question is asked, yes, I did cosplay!  Only 2/3 days though.  I cosplayed as Toad from the Super Mario Bros. video game franchise  and also as a catgirl!  (SN: I hope at least one person got a pic of me in that outfit!). 
I really didn't do much interacting with the guests this year, though I did manage to get an autograph from Peter S. Beagle. who wrote the book that inspired the movie of the same name --"The Last Unicorn!"  Perhaps the next time I see him at a con, I will be able to buy his book (Or maybe the graphic novel that came out this year)!
One good  thing that happened outside the convention center walls was another anime-related event, the premiere of the ThunderCats on Cartoon Network on July 29!  Based on all the Facebook posts my Hubby received via his Blackberry, he & I were not the only ones who left the con to go back to our hotel room to check it out!
Of course, the last day of the con was bittersweet:  checking out of the hotel, saying good-bye to new friends, making last minute purchases from the Dealer's Room, and packing up and clearing out of the Baltimore Convention Center!  Still,  I'm looking forward to cuddling with Hubby while watching some of the anime he bought for me!  As I said, I'm sure it's enough to keep me occupied until Anime USA!  And if not, there's always the Funimation Channel!