Once again, I feel compelled to report that I am still, in fact, not dead. (Nor eaten by Takarazuka shininess and feathers, though the latter is probably closer to the truth.)

Just over a week to ALA, and the bulk of Kaya still languishes untrimmed. I need to bleach her again tonight, then get the bias tape in place on the dress portion of the habit. I think I'm not going to worry about the lower sleeves for ALA -- they're going to be six kinds of bitch because of all the corners (none of them at right angles either, stupid THORES), and I don't want to do them just to rip them apart again. So concentrate on getting bias tape and fasteners on the habit, doing up the wimple arrows, and not going crazy (because that one's very important).

Right now, cosplay plans for ALA:

Thursday (prereg): sleepytime Unohana (or possibly my crack side project)
Friday: Unohana -- and yes, I'll be hauling Minazuki around with me, at least for the shoot
Saturday: either Unohana or pre-exorcist Miranda in the morning, Kaya (assuming everything's done enough) in the afternoon, and semi-secret Saiyuki project with D in the evening once we've Had It with Trinity Blood
Sunday: same Saiyuki stuff as Saturday

Work's quiet this week, which is nice. Having company over Christmas was nice, even if I felt like a terrible fail host. >_> Con needs to be tomorrow and a year from now. And I need to sleep, because four to five hours a night doesn't cut it.

Blagh.

* Still not dead.

* My brain is wired wrong. Nature versus nurture: I have problems with both? I'm a ridiculous perfectionist and never feel like I've done good enough, but apparently I'm good at hiding this? I don't think so, but I don't think most people realise that.

* Cosplay induces meltdowns. Feeling stupid over having a meltdown over something that should be fun makes it worse. I HATE MY BRAIN.

* Having friends who will try to cheer you up when you're in a shit mood is nice, even when it doesn't help. The effort and the sentiment make me feel all warm and fuzzy (even if that just makes me feel worse sometimes too -- oh brain).

* I think I have gotten both the emo and the desire to burn/destroy/throw out Kaya out of my system. Hopefully both those impulses stay gone.

* It rained, but there is no longer rain. I am sadface.

* Takarazuka is shiny and eats my brain and I am not tempted to try to replicate some of the costumes -- by which I mean, I shall not do so until my plate is empty. This is a Good Plan, since it should keep me safe until 2020 or so. And in the meantime, I can enjoy the shiny without worry, because I have someone who'll smack me if I change my plans.

* 24 days to ALA? Fuck! Too much to do!

* The neurotic cosplayer's mantra: I do this for fun, it's not worth stressing over. I do this for fun, it's not worth stressing over. I do this for fun ...

* Ulcers are Absolutely Not Allowed.

The most important part of it: NOT DEAD.

What I've been up to:
1) Work.
2) Trying to finish getting home clean and organised (it is an ongoing battle, but downstairs is okay now).
3) Projects: mostly cosplay, some holiday gift work, not nearly enough of either.
4) Work.

Trying to get two and a half cosplays done for ALA -- I want Kaya wearable again so that I can stop having the impulse to completely tear her apart and start over (because I know if I do I wouldn't actually redo her), and I'm working on one of the oh-god-how-many-am-I-trying-to-do-this-year Saiyuki cosplays I've decided to do. (I'll blame D for this one -- she seems to be quite content with that.) The half is a half because it should be a fairly quick bit of work, but I'm saving it as a maybe if I can get everything else done in time.

ALA's the next con. If things work out, I'll be taking Unohana, Kaya, and those other two projects; pretty much think Miranda's out unless something else falls through. Should be awesome fun times, with the roomies I'll have. Looking forward to it a lot, and to the Fabric District on Day 0 (waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaant).

Not much else worth saying, really. This winter seems uncommonly cold, but thankfully the cold snap started just after the San Jose meetup last weekend. We had rain, but it has gone and I am upset; I like my rain.

I should be sewing. *zoom!*

NDK was dubbed Plotcon, and even with my stupid moments of emo was awesome fun times. Hearts for Colorado family (and associated non-Colorado family)!

Think I've got my lineup for next year sorted out. Three Saiyuki projects (I blame D and , in the most loving and happy way possible), KAYA DAMN IT, Shusui for Saiunkoku group, and possibly Hanajima to go with Katchan's Uotani. At least, that's the important stuff. One Saiyuki project I may table if I can't figure out how to make it work, but the other two are definitely happening. (And okay, there's bankai if Kubo shows us Captain Mom's -- NOT BLOODY LIKELY -- and sleepytime Kaya and working on doom!Risai, but that's kind of sidelines.) All in all, should keep me pretty busy. Next con planned for is ALA, and I want to have Kaya for that, so once the weather cools down, major push there. In the meantime, I'll work on Saiyuki stuff. :3

Didn't get con plague but did get a cold. Am ignoring it as much as humanly possible. Other than that, it's back to work and missing people. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

*flag*

Finally got around to watching the Avatar finale last night (I know, I suck). I need to go and put that on in the background while I work on cosplay, because goodness knows English is a lot easier to track, and this way I don't have to flail over to the computer to fix audio and subtitle tracks each time it changes episodes.

Anyway, the upshot of it is, I flailed at Kol a whole hell of a lot, and commented that OMFG COSPLAY WANT, because we all know Charis is hella weak versus layered clothes and cosplay that is way too freaking warm for her state. XD

So there is a distinct possibility of doing former avatars for Fanime next year. She'd do Yangchen, and I'd go as Kyoshi. I think the odds of finding people to do either Roku (even younger) or Kuruk are relatively slim, but it'd be awesome if that happened.

... really, I just want an excuse to make another costume with too many layers and floof and FANS. *giggles* Even if the realisation that Kyoshi and Shusui wear fairly similar colours makes me laugh too hard. But Fanime's a way off, and there's time and plenty to do, so we'll see what happens. The idea is just fun.

Meanwhile, con plague continues, though I'm pretty sure I'm done with the fever parts and if I was contagious, I have several coworkers who'd be bedridden right now (and aren't). It's mostly fucked-up equilibrium and congestion, which are no fun at all but tolerably awful, compared with the fever earlier this week (up to four degrees at the high, I think?). This weekend will be for laziness and cleaning up, next weekend will hopefully be for SLO Faire if I feel better enough (but considering I'm about as energetic as a limp noodle right now, and that's after coming home from work and basically crawling into bed pronto, I'm not so optimistic). AX report at some point when I am a little less gooey. Going to see Les Miserables in Solvang tonight, so I have to remember to pick up more drugs and cough drops over lunch today.

And after that? Start working on Kaya to have her viable for NDK. WHICH WILL HAPPEN. DAMN IT, UNIVERSE, YOU WILL NOT STYMIE ME AGAIN!

... right. Time to go drink some EmergenC. ;_;