The night before, I had a dream I was stuck at the airport with Eurobeat King (zzz!), Nando (que?), and Tom (huh?). When I told Tom about the dream, he envisioned it with Eurobeat King crashing in the waiting area, Nando texting the night away, and himself playing endless The World Ends with You.

Sunday was Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl day for us. Tom filled in as Brock. Deb fulfilled her cosplay dream by dressing up like Ash Ketchum. When Julia heard we were planning to do the main Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl cast, she wanted to join in as Cynthia so we can fangirl over her. We were ten minutes late for the 10:30AM Pokemon Gijinka gathering. Tom, Stan, Deb, and I always joked about chucking pokeballs at Gijinkas.

Luckily, there were still people left at 10:50AM to pose for group photos. I really liked the creativity these cosplayers put into their Gijinkas!

And then it's off to individual shots of our group. Cynthia is huge! Yet, she needs a Garchomp to call her own. Ash Ketchem is still dorky, but loveable as ever. Brock still has Croagunk bothering the hell out of him every time he sees a cute girl. Of course, yours truly as Dawn, oy...that Piplup!

We actually did catch some Pokemon Gijinkas. We ran into a Blastoise on the way to the shooting range. Brock needed a water type to breed with another water type. In theory, Brock could have used his P-38 against Blastoise. We also found a Charmander just back from the set of Richard Simmons' Sweatin' to the 80s.

Lo and behold, there were more Pokemon Gijinkas in the Artist Alley. Though we missed on the official gathering, looks like the Artist Alley was swarmed by wild Pokemon. You can also catch a Pikachu carrying the guitar item.

Our friends Kate, Thessa, and Claudine wanted to have lunch later that day. We met at Claudine's room at the Crowne Plaza. Kate and Thessa were dressed up as characters from NANA. Kate was wearing my Misato outfit. Claudine and Kate were talking up a storm while Tom banged his head against the wall to drive the chatter out of his head.

We decided to go for Peggy Sue's. It's a simple saunter from the civic auditorium. Claudine really loved the chili cheese fries. Kate and I agreed that the milkshakes were too thick. Otherwise, it was one of our favorite sit down meals of Fanime. Tom and I have been to Fanime since it came to the San Jose Convention Center in 2004. We never had a meal together at Peggy Sue's during a Fanime. Tom got to sample Peggy Sue's during lunch breaks from his old job and a quick meal before seeing something at the American Musical Theatre of San Jose, but he never had a chance to sit in there for a meal. The food costs more than Johnny Rocket's but it tastes better. Peggy Sue's is also a local extablishment, if that means anything to anyone. It's a nice alternative to Johnny Rocket's, and if you don't want to walk too far.

Sunday still had many cosplayers in full swing. Different groups gathered in front of the convention center.

And yes, Final Fantasy VII is still popular!

Kate and Thessa headed to the An Cafe concert. We went to another doll gathering. I ran into my former college roommate, Chris and his new girlfriend.

Tom and I usually like to stop by Stage Zero to relax and unwind to quixotic and eccentric entertainment. This time around, they were doing a charity auction. Tom happily participated in the auction where he won a new ball jointed doll and a giant Gaia kitty. Combined with the Obitsu Doll auction, Traveling Valentine donates a little over $150 for the Asian Prenatal Advocates and Springstone Community High School.

Video: Tom wins a giant marshmallow cat

Did you also know that the KiKi Gaia cat can also be used as a weapon of mass distraction? Tom tried it on Ryoga Hibiki.

Tom and I took our Custom House Choa and Indiana Yo-Joe to the Sunday afternoon doll meet up. Likewise, we also had her dressed up as a Pokemon Gijinka. I made her a Mismagius outfit. By the end of the doll meet up, she sent us into a dizzy spell where we just conked out. I dreamed of facing off my mother in a Pokemon Contest. Tom dreamed of being surrounded by Officer Bart Boy's and Nurse Ebie-chan's. That is until Croagunk woke him up!

 

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