Here it comes...

KawaKon is almost upon us!

The schedule is up. If you're one of my friends, and you're NOT coming to the con I want to ask, "Why not?!?"

Personal drama aside (work schedule, child care issues, lack of money, or transportation problems) everyone I know should be attending this con.

Don't believe me? Check out the Programming schedule:
http://www.kawakon.com/downloads/kawa-kon-schedule-final.pdf

I'm running the cosplay and doll tracks, and I gotta tell you that there is some FIERCE action happening, not just in my tracks!

Here's some FAW: (Frequently Answered Whining)

"But Kukla, I don't like Anime." Well, I don't like Magic:The Gathering, but I still go to Archon. I don't LARP but I used to go to NTC. I don't like Facebook but I still *use the internet*. I don't attend all of the programming at any convention, frankly. I cherry pick what I want to do. Double-check that program schedule. Anime is only one track of programming at this mega-event.

"Isn't it all just kids now anyway?" I have to admit that even though I don't care for the "anime Kids" moniker, I even hear myself say it. If I promise to knock it off, will you join in and just call them "Fans", too? They're not "Them" and we're not "Us." I didn't like being lumped in with "the Kids" when I was a kid, so I don't want to foist my fuddy-duddy language onto the next generation. If no one older than me had been my friend as a "kid", I might not have continued to be a member of Fandom. Don't think of it as "tolerating those Anime Kids". Think of it as corrupting the next generation of fans. >:D

"I don't want to be Glomped." The Glomping is kind of over, dude. I do still see "Free Hugs" signs, but hey. Free hugs!

"I don't understand what everyone is dressed up as." LOL. Last year I got to play Quidditch with Harry Dresden and Buddy Christ. I saw Steampunks everywhere. I saw Hawt ladies in skimpy clothing. I saw Hawt young fellas in skimpy clothing. Rawr! Besides, if you don't get the reference, it makes a fantastic ice breaker to say, "Hey, that outfit is amazing! What is this from?" And when they explain it to you, nod enthusiastically and say, "Well, you look STUNNING in it." You might make a friend for life. :D

"But you'll be surrounded by Dolls the whole time. I mean, I'd go if I got to hang out with you, Kukla, but you'll be over booked and busy the whole time." I'm not actually overbooked for this one. The panelists that I was a little bit worried about are actually going to come through, I have a FANTASTIC team to help me out, and the programming I arranged is NOT the All-Kukla Show this year. I will have break times and down times. Remember too that I'm running the costuming programming. I'll be having a great time making shoe uppers (as a hands-on workshop no less), doing make-up demonstrations, and talking about underwear.

I challenge you to come out and see what I've been raving about. I challenge you to attend and enjoy the programming centered around things that actually interest you. I challenge you to make a new friend or three, and to find a new audience for your stories and jokes. I challenge you to get out of your usual routine and see something new and exciting. This convention is doing things in a way that I have always wanted a con to do them. Wear a costume and get the Cosplay discount. I want to see you there, showing your support, if for no other reason than to support my crazy project, and see what I can do when given complete control over a track (or two) of programming. I'm GOOD at this, true believers. Come see me shine!

If you're still thinking about it, I want to point out that a one-day badge is perfectly reasonable.


www.kawakon.com
Here's the registration info from the web page:
At the door - $45 for the weekend, $20 Friday only, $25 Saturday only, $15 Sunday only
Child (ages 6-12) badges - $10 less than the adult price
Children 5 and under are FREE

Cosplayers receive a $5 discount on the price when they register. To get the discount, you must cosplay when you pick up your badge at registration. If you pre-register with the cosplay discount, you will have to pay the extra $5 at the door unless you pick up your badge in costume.

Tell me with a straight face that you know of a convention with this much fun stuff going on that charges less.

Land line.

Folks, I want you to remember that I have a land line. I'm getting complaints from my cell phone plan partners that I'm gobbling up the minutes. I have an answering machine at home, and a land line. I'm going to have to ask that you call me there, and if you call on the cell phone I might quickly arrange to call you back from the land line.

My S.O. can only call me on the cell phone these days, and I have no intention of cutting him off from that contact. He gets priority, as I'm sure you all understand. If you do not have my land line number, shoot me an email and I'll give it to you.

For all intents and purposes, I have only about 300 minutes on the cell phone. So if you need to talk, arrange a time to do so when I'm home and can talk for a long duration on the land line.

I do like to hear from you. I just don't want to have to tell the S.O. when he calls that 'Oh, sorry Honey. I can't talk because I'm getting charged 40 cents a minute right now.'

So if I'm brief when you call my cell, that's why. Tell me your business quickly and get off my line. :D