I did go to Herdcon

[cornerofmadness]

And I took the librarian's advice and aimed to get there for the opening. Getting up at my usual work time should have put me there at that time but somehow I got a half hour behind this morning (looking at you bad GI tract) And the dumb thing is the parking lot is 456 John Marshall Dr and the student center is at 1 John Marshall Dr so I though I'd be walking 4 blocks (and I couldn't tell on google earth because I don't have my dad's skill with that thing)

They were literally across a service road from each other. Side eyeing WV's numbering system. It was a nice little con AND I'm going to talk to my university who hosts Final Boss con about what Marshall did recruitment wise (the difference is Marshall paid for the con as well as hosted but surely we can come to an arrangement with the con runners of our con) It was also free.

And I got talked into the cosplay contest because everyone loved my steampunk outfit. In nearly 40 years of cosplaying I've never entered a contest. I didn't win but it was fun (except for the standing and waiting. I'm no good at that).

There were 90 + vendors in theory but I know I didn't see half that many but to be fair some might have been at the library and I wasn't up for that walk. I did get a cool necklace made of walnut wood and some Hazbin pin/earrings but didn't spend much money (honestly the coffee and mini donut pop ups were nearly the biggest expense).

It was fun. Got there around 10:40 and left at 2, rather exhausted (I am started to feel my age) hit the comic book store and then off to the mall.

I know I've mentioned before that the Barboursville Mall is still 1989 in terms of importance to the community and the whole thing was PACKED. I don't even know why I went into Home Goods/TJ Maxx other than I can't resist it because I had to park by the damn road because every spot was taken. Inside, the line to check out was three turns deep, easily 50 people in this line (I'm like is it Black Friday already?) Good for them, I guess. They were actually quick and efficient.

Books a Million was equally jammed. There were teens all over the manga like locusts. I did find one I was looking for but then I got sucked into the graphic novel aisle and found a webtoon I've never heard of but it's some gay vampire thing set in Paris and I put the manga back for next trip (I'm two behind on that one anyhow so did I need a third book to get behind on?) I'm thrilled so many popular webtoons are getting hard copy print because I find webtoon hard to read (between light induced migraines and eye strain)

It was a good day. Oh and I forgot to mention first I saw a lightsaber 'usage' training session followed up by a fencing demonstration. I always wished my university had a fencing team. I think I would have enjoyed that