Anime Boston - Althanacon 2015

[Lye]

I know there are a group of Althanians coming to Anime Boston the beginning of April. I just want to get a better idea of who is going to make it and what days you'll be down there.

I will be there from the second to the fifth of April. We have a room in the hotel connected to the convention hall/mall.

Who else will be there? I know Cory, Michelle, and Sarah will be. Anyone else?

[Alydia Ettermire]

I'm getting to Boston in the afternoon on the 2nd and am leaving the morning of the 6th.

[Luned]

I'll likely be coming down on Saturday, Cory owes me a slumber party. My work situation is pretty overwhelming at the moment, though, so I'll have to leave first thing on Sunday.

I'm also not really into anime or anime cons as a general thing, so if we could all get together outside of the con, that would be preferred! Entry's expensive enough that it's hard to justify without interest in the actual show.

[Lye]

I'm fine with that. We could totally make plans to grab grub as a group. Thoughts?

[Max Dirks]

I'd like to go, and I'd drive Michelle, but hotel costs for anything beyond a couple of days are a bit too high for me. Is Cory offering room and board?

[Requiem of Insanity]

And I'm here in California. Waving. Kicking rocks and wishing I could go.

[Alydia Ettermire]

You have Althanicon: California Edition every time you hang with your brother and any of the friends you brought to the site. :P

[Erirag the Poet]

We (Zook and I) had been planning on trying to go but it's just not a possibility for us. :<

[Dissinger]

And I'm here in California. Waving. Kicking rocks and wishing I could go.

We'll make our own Althanacon! With blacKjack and hookers...you know what? Forget the con!

[Erirag the Poet]

https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608025927741345047&pid=15.1&P=0

[Sulla]

I'd like to go, and I'd drive Michelle, but hotel costs for anything beyond a couple of days are a bit too high for me. Is Cory offering room and board?

I have and will continue to offer room. What is board in this?

[TwinCast]

Board would normally be food but I think he went with the colloquialism rather than actually want it.

[Mordelain]

It's a little far for me, but I'll work on meeting Flames and the Scottish rabble by the end of the year and we'll send photos.

*stillcries

[Sulla]

Board would normally be food but I think he went with the colloquialism rather than actually want it.

As long as he doesn't expect midmorning handsome cab rides or apple picking.

[Hysteria]

I demand photos. If required I'll send a cardboard cut out of myself to be included.

[Alydia Ettermire]

I demand photos. If required I'll send a cardboard cut out of myself to be included.

It is required.

[Philomel]

I will send a cardboard cut out of myself to join you in Boston :3

[Sulla]

I've got Dirks, Manda, Michelle, and Sarah staying at my place for the weekend.

We're one wisecracking alien puppet away from a sitcom.

[Alydia Ettermire]

So... we're a sitcom when we have Jack with us? :P

[Luned]

I packed pajama pants. I hope you all understand the incredible sacrifice I'm making.

[Smushing Pumpkins]

I'm packing my nice camera that will likely never get used but WHATEVS. I am going to be surrounded by beautiful people so I am going to be prepared.

[black shadow]

Please share pictures of this althanacon that I will sadly not make it to! (I wanna see you guys all together for sure;) )

[Skie and Avery]

I'm going to be liveblogging Althanacon to my Instagram and tumblr (username countingcrowds) with the hashtags #althanacon2015

3 30am, I'm showered, have coffee, and I am now on my way to DC to meet up with Dirks!

https://41.media.tumblr.com/2550d1baf89762cfce9889575bc83708/tumblr_nm7zfoq2fG1qkw6iao1_1280.jpg

[Philomel]

;-; I want to come ... Nooooo ...

Grumble!!! Lets get some money together and fly there now!!!

[Erirag the Poet]

I am outside Dirks' place and have to pee but I think his phone is dead and he isn't set to wake up for another hour. Plz send halp

[Erirag the Poet]

I am in. Everyone is asleep so I am looking at the cat and willing it to let me pet it.

[Hysteria]

I am outside Dirks' place and have to pee but I think his phone is dead and he isn't set to wake up for another hour. Plz send halp

I am imagining that dirks was greated with this when he saw you:

http://media.rob.nu/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/funny-gifs-hot-salsa-dog.gif

[Alydia Ettermire]

Checklist:

Pack! (Done)
Wake up! (I'm not sure)
Shower! (Done)
Pay some bills! (Done)
Clean up a little bit because people should be able to use the last guaranteed friendly bathroom until Cory's! (Done)
Make breakfast! (Created and consumed.)
Remind the dog that he's stinky! (This will likely happen ten times.)
Feed and water the bird! (Done)
Double check that I'm packed to appease my OCD! (Done. I packed right.)
Put on socks! (So, so done. Socks accomplished.)
Take out the trash! (Done.)
Wait for Dirks and Manda! (Possibly while reminding the dog that he's stinky.) (In progress)

[Erirag the Poet]

That dog is awesome! Alydia has joined the party! Doot doot doo!

[Sulla]

Oh dear sweet god, what have I agreed to?

[Otto]

Groovy pooch.

And Manda: I want that mug.

[Alydia Ettermire]

We just made it to New Jersey.

[Alydia Ettermire]

Dirks is making up and singing fast food songs.

[Alydia Ettermire]

We're somewhere in New York.

[Alydia Ettermire]

Connecticut.

[Artifex Felicis]

Well then. This is going to be a thing.

[Zack Blaze]

Do we really need the play-by-play to what state you are in?

[Max Dirks]

Yes.

[BlackAndBlueEyes]

It's less a play-by-play and more of an early warning system for Cory, so he can devise escape routes so Manda doesn't take pics of him constantly over the weekend.

[Warpath]

Are you there yet

[Alydia Ettermire]

Not yet!

[Luned]

I'm going to try to sneak out of work early. Wish me luck! Hoping to arrive by 8.

[Alydia Ettermire]

Good luck!

[Alydia Ettermire]

Massachusetts! Cal, we're almost there!

[Alydia Ettermire]

We are in Boston. We might die here. Other drivers are scary. :S

[Erirag the Poet]

We goin' die.

[Sulla]

You need to flip them off. Have Dirks establish dominance.

[Zook Murnig]

My parents visited Boston a few times when I was little. They always said people drove like aggressive assholes there.

[Lye]

Oh they do.

[Luned]

That's why the rest of New England refers to them as "Massholes". Also, still looking like around 8!

[Alydia Ettermire]

Everyone who isn't with us should be jealous. We're having a great time.

[Cards of Fate]

You're missing AlthanaConline 2015

Based skype call is better than having to deal with people.

[Alydia Ettermire]

^jealous

[Logan]

This is where the REAL action's at!

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[Alydia Ettermire]

If the tarot hierarchy wasnt so inclusive maybe we would have joined them -- Dirks

[Erirag the Poet]

I'm joining the tarot and have never been invited on skype. Elitist assholes.

[Logan]

This is the ghetto version...

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[Zack Blaze]

You have too Manda! When we were discussing the AC was a Tarot Skype call!

And this is not a Tarot Skype. Stoph, Logan, and Jon are not Tarot members. This is 'WebAlthyCon' Chat.

[Rayleigh]

As a note: AlthyOnlineCon 2015 is not exclusive to Tarot members. Only Sei and I are representing currently.

Ninja'd by Cal. So time for another picture.

[Logan]

And now wartime...

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[Rayleigh]

Heads up, I do not think that I am gangster (gangsta?). These are poorly timed photos.

[Logan]

These are perfectly timed photos. All the skills, right here!

[Logan]

We had a cat sighting (multiple, this is just the one I caught on screen cap)

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[Erirag the Poet]

We made Dirks get on a bus. He captured the attention of a random girl dancing a jig in a mud kip hat by humming the tune for the Sam Adams commercials. He is now sitting with her on the bus, trying to recruit her to the site.

[Zook Murnig]

Oh my god. He is shameless.

[Logan]

We have our eyes on you...

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[Mordelain]

Stoph has amazing eyes.

[Cards of Fate]

Im hurt you guys thought Althyconline2015 was Tarot exclusive! Even after I muttered sweet nothings to Dirks on it...

[Erirag the Poet]

Words cannot describe how much I hate the murder stairs outside Cory's room.

[Alydia Ettermire]

The murder stairs are objectively awful.

[Star Strike]

murder stairs are beautiful are ideal for pushing people down dramatically

[Artifex Felicis]

We are at Akai Ryu. It's upstairs and to the left of the Ramen place, yume wo katare

[Logan]

Day 2 of the Althanacon Live Video and Voice Chat

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[Alydia Ettermire]

We've been having an awesome time.

[Alydia Ettermire]

"I'm one of the nicest meanest people." - Cory

[Doge]

Day 2 of the Althanacon Live Video and Voice Chat

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I say, Christopher's beard is majestic.

[Hysteria]

Waaa, invite me to skype sessions if I'm on. Its awfully loney so far away from you all TAT)/

[Mordelain]

Dirks is hawt, we've decided.

[Philomel]

*is just weeping over the size of that pond*

SOMEONE COME TO UK OKAY?

[Mordelain]

We can has ukalthanicon.

[Lye]

https://flic.kr/p/rXGWCi

Here I am promoting borderlands sales.

[Hysteria]

I.... and the pun.... and... the... best... ever.

*faints*

[Sulla]

Lye! Dear god, did you survive the trains?

[Alydia Ettermire]

I doubt it. That's a posthumous post.

[Sulla]

If Althanacon Boston has taught me anything, it's that a surprising number of Althanians could benefit from breathe right nasal strips.

[Alydia Ettermire]

^fact

[Logan]

Time to add a new pic of Althanacon ONLINE 2015. SCORE

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[Artifex Felicis]

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The site is in good hands.

[Sulla]

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The site is in good hands.


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I tried :(

[Skie and Avery]

https://36.media.tumblr.com/b6483f0e6641fe1c0658704251a7b8fb/tumblr_nmd563zkV41qkw6iao1_1280.jpg

[Mordelain]

Dirks. New avatar picture ^

[Hysteria]

Hail the king!

[Alydia Ettermire]

Unfortunately, I didn't just put this entire thing on video and/or get a hundred snapshots. So, with what pictures I do have, here is the trip, from Harrisburg and back again.

When Manda and Tony got here, I put the dog on the leash to let him smell them. If Riker didn't try to rip them to shreds, I figured they were fine to spend seven hours in the car with. He smelled Dirks, then REALLY smelled Manda (she has more interesting smells, apparently. And she was petting him, which is the important thing when you're a dog). Dog test passed, we got underway. Tony gave us a little crap about our AC threads, we gave him a little crap about the site. He tried to get us to rejoin staff. It didn't work. (He tried several times over the weekend. Still didn't work.)

Eventually, we had Wendy's for lunch. It was a slightly shady area (just slightly). There were some thug wannabes in line ahead of us. Dirks was a bit worried about it, Manda and I were not. We got our food, ate it, noticed that Cal had snarked off on my state-by-state updates, and that was when Tony said that yes, they were indeed necessary. I think it was the last time all weekend he used his own account to post things during Althanicon.

For the most part, the trip was safe and a bit rainy until we got to Boston. Then, in a last-ditch effort to not have a bunch of semi-strangers in his home, Cory (Sulla) sent out all the Massholes to try to kill us. Seriously, driving into Boston was terrifying. But Boston drivers failed to end our lives and the impending convention, and we made it to Cory's house alive and relatively unscathed.

Our host as he first presented himself was a well-dressed young man who looked rather terrified that we would hug him. The only one who tried was Dirks, but since Cory "would really rather not," it was handshakes all around. We got our stuff in (including the giant bottle of wine Tony had brought and the regular sized bottle I had brought) and then we went out and got some more alcohol, because my drink of choice is cider (which I'd forgotten to bring along), and Tony just wanted to drink all the alcohol. For the record, Fireball whiskey is pretty good, Crispin cider is not as good as Angry Orchard, and Cory is capable of putting down a 40 of King Cobra in under an hour, however little he liked it. Also: the stairs into Cory's room are not for wimps. They are narrow, steep, unstable and lightless; a journey through purgatory, if not through hell itself.

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We played Cards Against Humanity with his roommates until Sarah (Luned) arrived, and since Jack (Lye) was not answering any of Tony's inquiries as to whether or not he and his fiancee would be joining us for dinner, we sent him a DnD pic to taunt him. He didn't respond to that, either. (Sarah has that pic, because she was the one with Jack's number.)

Cory, being a nicer guy than I'd initially given him credit for, had presents for us all. (Seriously, don't let his snarky chat persona or his sociopathic serial killer character fool you - he's very sarcastic, but a really great human being. And the sarcasm can be funny; we were treated to several hilarious Cory rants over the weekend.) For Dirks there was a big book of WWI spy stories, for Manda there was an Angel (something or other book. I want to say Anthology, but that's not the word.), for Sarah there were TWO issues of The Best Lesbian Erotica (some of you who were in the Onlinicon late enough were treated to dramatic readings from them), and for me there was this awesome graphic novel called Kill Shakespeare.

Group assembled, we went out for dinner. Thinking it would be warmer, I'd neglected to bring a jacket, so I borrowed one from Cory and totally rocked it. Dirks summoned an Uber to take us out, which was most of our first time in an Uber. Dinner was Mexican/Cajun-ish. Cory described it as "Tex-Mex," but I'm pretty sure Texans have better sense than to put BBQ sauce in their fajitas or call quesadillas "kes uh dillas." Decent, if unusual dining experience.

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After eating, we went on a brief walk around Harvard Square, there was a Cory rant about it being traditional to pee on a statue, we did not locate a smoothie place, and we got a picture around a sign for Otto's pizza place, because we wanted our Otto to feel included. I think that's also on Sarah's phone.

We peer pressured Dirks into taking his very first bus ever, which is when the Mudkip incident happened. I think we gave Tony more crap over Mudkip girl than over the site.

We went back to Cory's place, spent some time on the Skype call, and went to bed. Tony spent night 1 downstairs on the couch, and the rest of us talked about nothing really and laughed a lot. None of us got really great sleep between people crawling over people to get to the bathroom and a random storm that cropped up overnight, but morning came and we all got up eventually.

Cory made us breakfast - omelets with carrots and spinach for the lactose intolerants among us, add in feta for those of us who could have cheese, along with banana bread English Muffins spread with apricot preserves and mini bagels spread with margarine. Carrots in omelets sounds terribly bizarre, but he used them because Sarah had brought them, and they actually worked. He then proceeded to eat his leftover quesadillas, because after his hosting duties were fulfilled, laziness won.

We slowly got ready to leave so we could meet up with Jack and Colin, I stowed clementines (that Sarah had brought) in my bag in case anyone wanted them, a friend of Cory's roommate showed up with a zillion adorable mini cupcakes, then we walked to the store to prepare ourselves for the day.

Ladies and gentlemen, your head admin watering the flowers so he could use the water bottle for a beer bottle. I'm not sure why he didn't just get ginger ale; it would have been less suspicious.

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[Mordelain]

Looks like a riot. I'm so glad you guys made this happen. There's been talk of it for some time, so let's make this a thing!

If somebody finds me a job in Adult Ed over in the states I can make the next one :cool:

[Alydia Ettermire]

We got to the Prudential center (via Uber again), tried to find out where Jack was (still wrestling with costumes), and we found out that Colin (Artifex) was at the food court. Dirks learned a valuable lesson about not grabbing hold of me when I don't want to be grabbed (and hopefully not to blow beer breath in my face). When we got to the food court, he was no longer there, and I got separated from the group while finding the place where he was. I saw him, didn't know it was him, looked around, noticed I was on my own, and went back out of the shop to find them. There were a few moments of confusion, then we all met up. Hugs and/or handshakes were exchanged, Cory and Sarah went off with a real life friend of his, and the rest of us went to a pub to secure some lunch (on Tony's request, because he wanted alcohol. I gave him more crap about his BAC over the weekend than I did about the site). It was hella windy.

Since we were planning on a big dinner, Manda and I split an appetizer, but Dirks had a full meal. Colin had an appetizer and a half, and his girlfriend (who was quiet but nice) shared some pretzels with him and also had a small appetizer. We went back to the big mall-ish thing to look for Jack, Colin and his girlfriend split off from the group to meet up later for dinner, and then the hunt for Jack was on. The group got split several times; splitting the party is not necessarily a good idea. We had a Scooby Doo moment while looking for the final members of our adventuring party ("Tony and Michelle go that way, Cory will go this way to find Sarah and Manda!") Cory and Co found Jack and his fiancee, Dirks and I met back up with them, and we got a pic of all the American members of our DnD group.

https://scontent-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/11136658_710644037310_538598297347619508_n.jpg?oh= 920da1c36826320f69a751211b5a61e9&oe=559D8116

Look at how freaking tall our Paladin/forum EXP adder is. Look at that. What a jerk, being so tall. We decided he was a good reference point for us all when we were walking. Which we then did a lot of, trying to find a good hangout spot. There wasn't one in the mall, so we went back to their hotel and settled in at the hotel bar for a drink (three, if you're Dirks) and some conversation. Jack got irrefutable proof that Sarah draws smut for a living (and it still blows his mind), he complimented her on the fineness of her lines, and I made him draw a sketch. Dirks made it be of his character. I might upload it later.

Ladies and gentlemen, your Judging/everything admin wearing a clementine hat:

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And the clementine hat wearing a hat. Pretty meta.

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Eventually, it was time to go to dinner, so Jack and his fiancee went to get out of costume/grab warmer clothes. When they were back, while Cory was out smoking (with his high-tech cigarette), we got her to snap a portrait of the DnD family group. We have that tall shiny paladin, his half-sister rogue, and their ranger cousin. And a random Manda.

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I AM STANDING ON TIPTOES AND LOOK HOW TALL THAT JERK STILL IS! Rad Doge shirt, though.

We got a cab to the restaurant, I went to buy a sweater (next time I will prepare better), and Cory went with me to make sure I didn't get lost and also to procure gifts for Jack and Jacque. She got a cute and convenient coin purse, and Jack is very proper and lady-like with his new fan.

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The restaurant was a ramen place where you get a huge bowl of ramen, try to not burn your tongue (I failed), and try to down the whole bowl. You also may state your dreams if you want. Of our four perfects, Dirks wanted everyone to join his website (so the rest of the Althanians cracked up), Colin wanted... I'm sorry, Artifex, I forgot, Manda wanted to travel the world with her daughter, and Jack adorably stated his dream in halting Japanese. My Japanese is not great, but I think he said he wanted to go to Japan with his fiancee. Her dream was to finish her degree.

After eating, we went to a bar (Colin put the directions in the thread for Manda, Sarah and me because it's a small restaurant and they all got in ahead of us, so we penguin huddled outside for several minutes). We got drinks, got to watch the guys do sake bombs, and at least us girls on the end of the row of guys had cocktails. Say what you want about girly drinks, but my girly drink was good.

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In order, you have Jacque's shoulder, Jack, Cory, Tony, Manda, Colin, and Colin's girlfriend (I'm not sure how comfortable she is with her name being plastered all over the forum, so I'm avoiding it. Jack's fiancee gets mentioned a lot more, so I put her name up; I'll take it down if asked). Then there's me, and Sarah is to my left. Neither of us are in this pic. Sarah and I talked about boys some.

After drinks, we said our goodbyes to the Artifex group and went on the train. Cory gave explicit directions to the Jack group, who would have to separate from us to get to their hotel. She got it, he didn't. We're pretty sure they made it. Either that or they died. We got on a bus to go back to Cory's.

Our host's roommate's friend was taking the couch, so Dirks got the floor with me while the other girls had the futon and Cory was in his bed. It was plenty cold, and I don't really think I slept for the symphony of snores. Maybe an hour or two. Tops. And Cory's roommate's friend hurled in the middle of the night (in a bowl in the living room), so we had muffins and cupcakes for breakfast in his room so we could avoid that. I had a very good Leprechaun muffin (pistachio, but it was green).

After that, we said our final goodbyes and headed out at about ten, getting back to my place by about 4:30. We stopped at a Burger King for lunch (Manda's crown pic is better than mine, so I will let that one stand). My dog went ballistic because I was gone for like, EVER. Then I took a shower, hung out on the forum for a little bit, tried to read Kill Shakespeare, and went to bed when I was not nearly awake for it.

The end.

[BlackAndBlueEyes]

Wait, is that Cory actually touching not one but two other people in a friendly, affectionate manner?

Or is that shopped?

[Alydia Ettermire]

It was real and magical. And probably a little awkward for him. But we're all friends in real life now, so it's okay.

The whole meetup was actually a lot less awkward than any of us had expected. And there's a good pic of Jack's fiancee in Manda's bar pic, but he was leaning too far forward for me to get her in my shot. :/

[Warpath]

This is the best

[Lye]

I need my height for maximum banhammer velocity and reach.

[Philomel]

Jack's t-shirt ... Oh my bloody goddesses.

Is that just to annoy me? O_o

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Here is a picture of my hand.

[Lye]

Or maybe a hint to Doge's true author? Who knows? I could just be a Doge sympathizer. Keep on fighting you custard yellow furball you.

[Sulla]

We found out who Doge was over sake bombs. I was sworn to secrecy.

[Luned]

I've got some pictures that I'll share later! Gotta add censors to some first...

[Alydia Ettermire]

Overall, I think the meetup was a lot more comfortable than a bunch of people getting together from the internet would usually be. But I think that's mostly because Althanas is so small and close-knit that it's more like visiting family than it is meeting a bunch of semi-strangers from the internet.

[Luned]

Otto!:
http://i.imgur.com/NemO74E.jpg

NSFW masterpieces in progress by Cory (http://i.imgur.com/GDsRxHN.jpg) and Amanda (http://i.imgur.com/EWaAnyk.jpg)!

Sake bombs:
http://i.imgur.com/7tJlFqi.jpg

Sign cat:
http://i.imgur.com/lKQnJVZ.jpg

[Luned]

Here are our final artistic masterpieces. Both are NSFW. You've been warned!

Dick off (http://i.imgur.com/kJvGECZ.png) (you know, like a dance off)

Dick cannon (http://i.imgur.com/x13PrWT.png), by Cory and yours truly

[Max Dirks]

Clearly Lye and Dirks own at Sake Bombs. Also, Jacque wins with that reaction.

[Mordelain]

I'm glad it's not just me that stops to take pictures next to Althanas related signs.