やった！ I did it! I passed the D.A.T.A. test!

So, thanks first of all goes to my boyfriend for helping me study! Secondly thanks カードボアドーくん for the well wishing (haha).

The test wasn’t so bad, though I wish I had a better environment to take the test in.... it was way busy and noisy and some people wouldn’t leave me alone while taking the test! Each question is timed!! Distractions are a huge hinderance.

Oh and meet Geordi La Forge .... Maybe I’ll introduce him sometime.

Double.Agent.Technical.Assessment Test! がんばるよ！！

So tomorrow I will be taking my test to be a Double Agent. It is called the D.A.T.A. test. It was recently re-vamped and I am uBer excited about taking it.

For those of you that are not familiar with Geek Squad let me explain who and what a Double Agent is .
Double Agent - One of the elite of the Geek Squad that goes out to clients home/business in the spiffy white, black, and orange VW Bugs to defeat the evils of Viruses and Spyware, Setup Wireless Networks, Pimpin-Out Computers, and Training for gadgets!

So I have been studying some today, needed a break from reading the techno-mumbo-jumbo, and decided to write a little blurb for my site. Im hoping someone noticed that I had not posted in a while and would be excited at reading a new post. ^_^

I do have other things to post about but I am trying to get my photos for the post in order.... Blarg too many pictures!

Wish me luck カードボアドーくん!

Johnny Depp + BJD

So I found out that Souldoll offers a doll by the name of “Killian” that is dressed amazingly like Johnny Depp. When I was first looking at this doll I thought, oh the pirate look is just popular because of the Pirates of the Carribean movies... but if you look further Killian is also dressed amazingly like Sweeney Todd and the writer from “Secret Window”. I had to chuckle for a minute. I do admire the Pirate themed one.. the face-up is great!(mustache and goatee)

There is also one that looks quite similar to Vampire Hunter D. It is not as replicating as Killian is, but its gorgeous as well.

The closest I got to a Dollfie a.k.a. Ball Jointed Doll

In high school I was a big fan of the series Vampire Princess Miyu and thanks to my amazing parents I had just about everything Miyu related that a young girl in America could feasibly have. The one item above is a Tsukuda doll of Miyu. I also had Rava. They were the closest I had gotten to a true Ball Jointed Doll. Actually at the time I don’t think I knew they existed.... But I would find them later, and I have dreamed of getting one ever since (at least 4 years).

So I was doing that dumb thing where you ‘dream’ shop online.... and I really wish I hadn’t!

Now... if you continue reading on and you have no Idea what a Ball Jointed Doll is.. its time to bring something pretty into your life ^_^. BJD_wtf is a good source if you don’t know what they are. Also I have used hyperlinks for words that someone reading might not recognize, so click the links to get what the words mean. So read that and if you think they are creepy or just don’t like them, then only read below to revel in my torture or don’t read...

I have now found a Luts Delf I want more than El! I love Shine!

His face is perfect for doing Mana cosplays! Well as close as BJD’s get. I had wanted El for the longest time, and I still do, but I think he would be good for Gackt maybe... but these dolls are not cheap... so if I ever get one it will have to be one at a time. I really don’t see me wanting more than 2, but thats what they all say....

So anyway I decided to build my dream order from Luts. There were a few items I wanted that were not in stock... but I think my order with all the thins I wanted would have been ~$1,500.00. I was completely flaberga.sted when I saw they had a miniature Juene Fille and Juene Fille Blanche.

This post will be a work in progress... I want to list all the pretties I want so I can remember them for later. Also... There were fewer items in my Luts Shopping cart for the dream order above.

~Ball Jointed Doll~
Delf SHINE
Delf EL-SPECIAL
Senior Delf ABADON (Real Skin Normal)
~Tools~
S-Hook
Head Mask
Doll Stand
Magic Block (for cleaning the resin when doing Face-Ups or Blushing)
Plastina (for putting eyes in place)
Carrier Bag (This one is kind of plain... I’d decorate it!)
Elastic String
Elastic String Puller
Forceps
~Wigs~
DW163 (medium length straight black wig)
DW09 (Long Black straight-wavy wig)
DW77 (Med/Long black wig)
WW19 (Short Black Mohair)
WW20 (Short Magenta Mohair)
~Clothes~
Baron Set Senior Delf(EGA Suit)(do Senior Delf clothes fit normal Delfs?)
Cigarette Stripe Pants Senior Delf (Maybe for Gackt or Miyavi Doll-play)
Minimal Suit Senior Delf (Semi EGA suit)
~Shoes~
DGS-12 CHIC STRAP For Girl (S.Black) Like Non-Platform Mana Illuminati
DBS-12 TRIGONAL BOOTS For Boy (BK) Awesome boots
DGS-06 LOLITA HIGH HEEL For Girl (S.Black)
~Eyes~ I am not sure what diameter would be good....must research
14MM S-REAL BLUE MARBLE
14MM S-SHINY RAINBOW
10MM G-DARK VIOLET
~Accessories~
ESP Blue Style (OMG Mana’s Guitar!!)
ESP White Style (Another of Mana’s Guitars!!)
Bc Rich Hate (And yet another Mana Guitar!!)
WIRE BAND 2 For Delf
GLASSES-SC For Delf (Dark Brown)
SOFA 1 For Delf (Black)
(So my doll would have a place to sit when I wasn’t playing with it)

Sakura Con 2008 - My amazing time there

So this entry is going to be a long one.... I met many amazing people, introduced two friends into the amazing world of cosplay and conventions.

So to start with I want to say that this was a very emotional Con for me. It really made my day to have two good friends with me to help me be in character as Mana. I have gone to conventions with people before, but this time it just felt really right. I felt ok in saying I was cosplaying as this incredibly beautiful and talented man that I admire. I could show them concert videos of them and really talk passionately about the band that made my teenage years exciting. I just introduced them to the magical world of Cosplay and JRock. I especially enjoyed when people recognized my character. It made me want to smile, but I tried not to because I dont think mana would have(at least on the outside). It was so nice to be around those who could appreciate my passion for Jrock, Cosplay, Dollfie, Mana, etc....

I hope she won’t kill me for this but It really touched me when one of the friends I went with sent me this email:

“I had the most wonderful time...
I can't thank you enough...
Before this, I didn't understand why people love these conventions so much. Now i see its the opportunity to be the self in your dreams rather than just the self you are to the world.
This weekend was the 1st time, I couldn't remember what sadness felt like. I felt like my old self.
That is one of the most precious thing any friend can give to another ^_^

Your wonderful Ashley (Mana) and I already look forward to sept!”

I also to recognize some of the people I met at the convention! These are in no particular order!

Elden Sama- You are truly an inspirational guy. Yaya-Han was and still is one of my hero’s but I must say you are a new one to add to my list. I love that you are passionate about what you do and have made your life into something you enjoy. I bet you have a very very happy life. Thank you so very much for the necklace Its beautiful! It was very refreshing to meet someone who knows who they are, is proud of it, and is a real genuine person. Sometimes when you meet people they are only nice because they are supposed to be, you were definitely not that way. I hope we become great friends and have some amazing adventures!

Yaya-Han- I know we just said hello and that I took a picture with you but.... You are what I want to be in the future. Just like Elden Sama. I know you don’t know me but, I am so proud of what you have done. I always admire those who have gone after their dreams and soared through the sky!


Chloe and Jesse(Did I remember your name right?)- Simply wow. You were the girls I wish I had in high school when I first started liking Malice Mizer. Its so very nice to get to know someone who likes the same music as you and can relate on so many levels. I am VERY excited about the possibility of a Malice Mizer cosplay group!

Jesse- What can I say? It was yet another inspirational meeting. You too were someone that was having fun with their life, pursuing what makes them happy. I think we could do a great Gackt and Mana cosplay! Hopefully we can meet again and hang out some more. I haven’t gotten a chance to listen to your demo (though I am importing it into iTunes right now!) I will listen to it on my iPhone at work tomorrow! You will have to let me know when your shows are. I would love to see you play and dance on stage!

Gackt Dancing Guy- Sorry I don’t think we exchanged names....
That was awesome! I’d love to learn the dances and do a skit or do it just for fun! I posted a clip of us dancing on my podcast. ^_^

The girl who said I should have won in the costume contest- Sorry I didnt get your name or picture! And I appreciate the thought(and am not insinuating that I believe I should have won...) I just really enjoyed your enthusiasm and that you told me how much you liked my costume. That really made my day. If you read this send me an email!

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I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone! If we keep in touch you will soon find that I have a really bad memory.... Its not intentional believe me! Even if you didnt meet me and just want to say hello just email me!