From time to time, I have claimed to be an intelligent person.  This, however, is not always an opinion I can support with definitive proof. Case in point, I did not think to charge the battery for my camera either Friday or Saturday night.  I assumed it would be fine.  I don't know why I assumed that; I had gotten it for Christmas the year before, and this was its first three-day test.  So, about an hour or so into Sunday, the battery died.  Accordingly, I am going to make my description of Sunday relatively succinct.

Not only did we have the wonderful feeling of finally achieving a goal, the shoot was also a lot of fun.  We waved at the tourists in the harbor when they passed by in the boat, and alternately hid or (in my case) assumed attack positions when they threatened to shoot us with the water cannons.  Louis was asked by a pleasant Japanese patriarch if he might be permitted to take a picture with his (Louis's) "women". David walked off with Kitty’s socks in his pocket.  It was that kind of day.

After we finished the photoshoot, everyone went their separate ways to start winding down for the day and the trip home.  Louis and I went to the Dealer’s Room to see if we could snag any closeout deals--I don't remember now, but I don't think we did.  However, I did get something much better: I saw a friend of mine from high school that I hadn’t seen since...probably since she graduated. 

Rachel and I were VERY close in high school, but, you know how people drift apart, especially since not as many people had the computers and e-mail addresses back then.  Rachel is utterly and endearingly insane..and considering neither of us even knew what anime was in high school, I can't believe we both developed an interest in it as we got older!  I guess it's not as much of a surprise in my case, because I’m such a nerd, but to me, Rachel was--is--beautiful, side-splittingly funny, and, well, cool!  Well, I guess nerds can be cool.  It doesn't matter what we are.  Rachel is Rachel and I was thrilled at the chance to see her again.

We ran into a few other friends as we went through the Dealer's Room--Jessie, who I have a long-standing tradition of running into at pretty much every convention I go to, and who always looks absolutely incredible, I saw AeonisPi again after she made a super quick change into her beautiful Sailor Lead Crow costume from the Sera Myu musicals, and Taiki, who I was able to introduce Louis to for the first time.

Everyone in the two rooms OPIB shared was leaving about the same time, and a little earlier than we were, so Louis and I went to their hotel after the Dealer’s Room to say goodbye.  This is always the hardest part of the con.  I cried when I hugged Hime-chan goodbye, knowing the next time I saw her, she'd have a nugget in her arms rather than in her belly.  I cried when I hugged the girls goodbye, knowing the next time I saw them would be for Avi's wedding.  I started to cry when I hugged Ferio!Chris goodbye, but it's hard for me to cry and jump up and down at the same time--he had brought NASA related goodies for both Louis and I!  (I proudly wear his NASA pin on the lapel of coat, and brag to everyone who will listen about my favorite rocket scientist.) Out of all of them, David Ng lives nearest me, so I knew I'd see him again soon…but it's still always sad to say goodbye.

And soon enough, it was our turn.  Louis and I changed into our regular clothes, packed our bags, and checked out of our hotel room.  The valet brought the car around and warned me that the brakes seemed a little low--right!  Almost forgot about that.  Sigh.  I guess there was no chance they were going to magically fix themselves during the weekend.  (As it turned out, when I brought the car to the shop during the following week, a hole had developed in the brake lines, probably right when the light came on in the Lincoln Tunnel.  So even though I had had the car thoroughly checked before we left, there had been no indication of a problem because it didn't develop until after we were on the road.  It happens.)  But I maintained a little under the legal speed limit the entire way home, and by that night we were back in our own living room--a little tired, but happy.