Everything started with a mere talk at the kitchen table one evening. When I mentioned the expo my parents said "Oh, we could have gone. It's not that far." Of course, knowing my parents, I knew what this could turn out as. Picture this: Two parents in their forties, stand up, all wide eyed and glowing, enthusiastically exclaim "Let's go on a road trip!" Now how many times have I heard that? Oh let me see... Great Grandma was sick all the way in Ohio, My dad just happened to have a convention for work in good 'ol Chicago, we've gone to several out of state beaches, and now this. So after checking it all out over the internet, it was settled.

We had 2 and a half weeks to get ready. We scrambled to do it, but it all went through. Preparing my costume had really been the most part of this. First my leotard was too small, then we couldn't get that yellow colored hair spray, moon shaped earings were a run around, Oh, and a big thanks to all the tips on how to do my hair!

The road trip consisted of me sitting and listening to music from Sailor Moon Best Song Collection and believe me, after listening to Kaze Mo Sore Mo Kito all those times I was about to go crazy! It seemed like we had left itty bitty Connecticut for an eternity.

In Toronto, we easily found the hotel, only to find out we had to have more than one room because all the big ones were taken. Luckily the next day they had a bigger one available. We explored the convention. We stood in line waiting for it to open for awhile. When we got in we decided to look around the booths up stairs. An extensive range of japanese goods were there. After looking around for awhile, we spotted some T shirts and my souvenere is a Manga-print shirt of Venus, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Pluto, Chibi Usa and Tuxedo Mask on a blue background. It was packed with people, so we didn't get to look at everything. We hung around for awhile when I realised I should go get my costume on.

The Masqurade event where I was to show my costume wasn't untill 6:00 P.M., but I wanted to have it on because we had to register and be ready by 4:30. I came back and we went to the Sailor Moon Voice Stars Q & A. The booklet given to us said appearances would include both women reconized to voice Sailor Moon and the women who does Sailor Venus, but they were a no show. Instead the voices of Zoicyte/Emerald/Kaori Nite, Melvin, Diana, and Tuxedo Mask/Darien came. They seemed to be unsure of the dubbing of Sailor Stars, a few things on what it's like being a voice star was said, and some random comnments that made us laugh. We filed out of the workshop room to go stand in line for autographs.

The voice of Diana was too busy talking to someone else there, so I didn't get her autograph, but I did get her in my picture! By that time my feet hurt lots, I guess it takes alot to walk around a convention in big red boots! We decided to go for lunch, so we went through the convention centre and into the hotel (they're connected) as I aproached the round-a-bout doors, Sailor Mercury and Sailor Saturn who I hadn't seen came through the hall and said "See you at the Masqureade!" I was stunned! I felt so special ^_^.

Ater eating at a near by restraunt with very annoying oldies music, we came back. My tiara had a disaster, so my dad went in search for scotch tape. As we went in the convention centre doors, my mom said "Look at the long braid that girl is wearing!" Lo and Behold, a girl was dressed as Aisha from Outlaw Star! She was the only Outlaw Star character I saw, figuring because it has yet to air in Canada. My brother teased about my sister being an outlaw star fan, I was about to stick up for her, when I heard someone ask to take a picture with me! I turned around to see Sailor Mars! It turned out there was a whole group of them! Saturn and Mercury were a part of the group, but everyone was kinda spread out. They were all apparently older than me. Right there was Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Chibi Chibi Moon, Sailor Uranus, and Sailor Iron Mouse just happened to be hanging out with them. They had a camera recording stuff, so they asked me to say my email. I did, and I spelled it too. I hope I hear from them! Not everyone who dressed up competed though. Iron Mouse was not at the Masqureade, and neither was Aisha.

The day continued, and the masqureade soon came. A photographer took nice pictures, and then they took a polaroid for the judges to look at. I recieved a numbered card, and I paniced. It read: 1. SAILOR MOON on it. I asked the polaroid taker "Wait, does the number on the card mean I go first?" Aren't I so lucky? My first convention, and what do they do to me? Shove me at the head of the line. There I met Hotaru Tomoe....and uh..some other anime charecter I didn't know. They were really nice to me, and we talked while waiting. I nervously sat inside a pay phone stand. A man with a pitcher of water came through the hall, but we missed him, so when he went up the stairs my mom waited at the bottom to get the first cup. I drank it down gratefully. At that point you would have thought my mom remebered to put blush on me.

We went behind the curtains that surronded the platform/stage. I was told to go out on stage, do my thing, and walk off the other side. I was really nervous. Hotaru, her friend and I were standing behind opaque,thin, black covers acting as curtains. They reminded me of what I was to do. I heard the audience clap as the MC went on stage. I was lead on the stage, or up the stairs, then the music started. Moonlight Legend came blasting out of the speakers. I guess they hadn't thought of testing. I was led on stage.

I had told my mom previously, I had no real stage appearance plan. She said she didn't think it mattered, but now all these people were looking at me as I walked across the stage. I heard the first clip we added to the music go off, so I spun around and did the same pose as in my picture. At the sounding of the third and final clip, I made sure I pointed as I heard "oshiyokyo!" Then I walked off stage, and out to my mom. We found some seats and watched the show.

My eyes lit up when I saw the Sailor Senshi I met earlier. Their act was impressive! The sang and danced to La Soldier. I couldn't figure out how they knew the act so well when they all lived in different places. Another Sailor Moon act, it was towards the end, was Sailor Tin Nyanko! She told us the rules of being a baddie. She said to let your partner do all the work, take credit for it, then destroy them any way you can! She held up a red feather and sympathetically said "Poor Lead Crow."

For those of you who haven't seen Sailor Moon Stars, I'll give you a little background. An evil sailor scout by the name of Galaxia is out to control the galaxy. To do this, she needs Star Seeds, seeds that come from those who possess planetery power. Once she has a Star Seed, the planet's hers. Humans have these, but they fade after being exposed. The humans turn into 'Phages' or fake sailors based on who they are. From the previous planets taken over, some sailor scouts surrendered their star seeds, in retun for star seed capturing bracelets which keep them alive. Tin Nyanko would always steal Lead Crow's targets. Lead Crow was tricked and later got sucked into a black hole because Nyanko wanted to get the star seed.

They told us to return at 9:30 for awards. I truged off to find my brother, sister, and father. We went down to the lobby of the hotel, and we had some cheese popcorn, a grape fruitopia, and peanuts to keep ourselves form starving. We rambled back in to the hall to wait for the awards to start. I sat down and took off my boots. I am so glad my charecter for next year doesn't wear boots! But she does wear heeled shoes. I'lll tell you what it boiled down to eventually.

We got second row seats in the theater. My feet were loosley placed in my unzipped boots. The first award went out. It was by judges discion, they didn't have to at all. A best in division award to the Youth Fan division, for Sailor Moon! I clobbered up their and recieved my ribbon. It was red. The white middle had a masqurede mask on it. The middle white ribbon hanging from the circular center read in gold "SFX Masqurede 2001". I had to stand up their with all the contestants who were in the novist division. I finally got to sit down.

The Sailor Senshi won an award! YEAH!(Ahem) Also, Tin Nyanko got second place in the whole show! She won a nice set of Cowboy Bebop DVDs. The Best In Show went to some charecters from Final Fantasy 8. They got some rare DBZ litho-grapgh thingy signed by the cast. It was worth over 500 U.S. Dollars! Shiney....oooooo.....

In order to catch the Karaoke I practiced for, my mom and I split from everyone else to quickly eat. We heard someone say "Oh, Sailor Moon! Congratulations!" As we crossed the street. I thanked them graciously. They asked us if we were going to the Anime All Night, and they told us it was an hour late to start. Normally I would have laughed at the irony, but I just smiled at my mom as we headed for the late open Subway. We ate our sandwiches and somehow happily headed for the hotel. People crowded to get into Anime All Night. As I walked throuh, a guy shouted "Non-Otakus comin' through!" And there I was, Odango haired, wearing my manga T-shirt, in big red boots, so I turned and spat back "I am too an otaku!" and we caught the elevator to our room. Two more people congratulated me on my award in the elevator. I love getting noticed! Finally the rest of my family came back to the room.

We went down to sign up for the Karaoke. They were showing something about a cyber doll called may. It was a dub. When I picked up the pen to fill out the slip, I put it down. I backed down. I was too scared. It wasn't what I thought. It was dark, and full of people atleast 4 years older than me. I thought as we left, "Well, atleast for once in my life I can say I sing." I sat in bed wondering if I did the right thing. My mom kept saying we could go back, so I finally stopped moping and said "Can we see if it's near karaoke time?" It turned out after a 45 minute wait, it was going to be atleast 15 more minutes. There was no way I was going to sing at 1:45 A.M. I don't mean to let anyone down, but come on! I was up at 7:00, and I walked around almost the whole day in 4 inch heel boots! My feet killed, the smell of smoke isn't my favorite, I was getting tired by the minute, and if anyone dares to call me a chicken or anything of the sort I'll personally send you a wave file of me!!! Anyways, back to the coverage.

The next morning we went to the Convention Centre and milled around the booths. My brother decided to get a final fantasy 7 T-shirt. My sister was very depressed, they didn't have anything Outlaw Star. NOTHING. No booth carried any outlaw star. It's funnny, there never seems to be anywhere that carries a good selection of Outlaw Star stuff.

My parents decided to go home that afternoon, we had nothing else to do. We arrived home around 10:30 P.M. My coverage isn't as nearly exciting as being there, it's something you have to experience yourself. I'll tell you one thing: If you aren't planning on anything but the shops and the voice stars, its not worth it. The masqureded is something you have to see. You'll also get noticed if you're an anime charecter. Everyone told me "Can I take your picture sailor moon?" Or, "Wow, it Sailor Moon!" You'll get that no matter who you are. If it's not dubbed, it defenetly recognived, too! Ok, maybe that was more than one thing.I hope everyone can have an experience as good or better, than mine at the 2001 Canadian National Anime Expo.

Oh, and one last thing before I say Ja ne. After my brother and I carefully thought this through, yes, we're going as Outlaw Star charecters. I'll write all about it if I do another coverage. Now for some pictures!

Oooh..me in my new shirt.... The voice stars! In this order:the voice of Diana, Melvin, Zoicyte/Emerald/Kaori Nite, and the voice of Tuxedo Mask/Darien. And who says they look nothing like their charecters? Me as Sailor Moon!

It's the senshi! Nyanko, please don't take my star seed! And then, at like 10:00, I got another photo. Mercury: Nyanko, you're missing the picture! Nyanko: No! Don't make such a silly face! Super Moon: Nyaaaa! Saturn: Am I the only one posing? Chibi Chibi: Not so chibi! Uranus: zzz...dreaming of neptune..(hehehe, did I just put that in?(whistling)) Venus:Hahaha! Look at Sailor Moon!

That ends my coverage. In one day my life as an otaku was uplifted. For first timers a convention is a really good experince. At first I didn't think I'd get all this out of it, but now I know I'll have a lot more day-dreams at school about this! That also brings me to say, school will slow me down, but I'll keep on typing! Ja ne! -Victory