Foos

I am a restaurant manager, and my job rocks. I get to sit around and tease employees, play in the parking lot with carts, deftly stun and counter-prank prank callers, eat and drink free, and basically have fun all day running a friendly neighborhood pizzeria.

I'm one of eight children, so I'm very loud and energetic, since you HAD to be to get what you wanted growing up. Combine that with my oft-inebriated friends, and you get a roving group of CLAMP-obsessed cosplayers knighting each other with hotglue sticks as they induct others into "Team Awesome." We're a pretty big group, and sometimes others tell me later on-line that they wanted to talk to us but felt intimidated -- don't be! We are the biggest dorks ever and we love to talk shop!

I'm too old and waaaaay too lazy to be very serious about cosplay anymore. I make my bizarre, crazy outfits, and occasionally commission a simple (but boring to construct) cosplay to do things like sing karaoke or simply lounge around in. Almost every costume I've made in the past year started out with me finding the ref picture and going "LOL THAT'S SO STUPID" and ending with "Ha, I'm gonna do it just to be deliciously tacky and piss people with good taste off." And I always succeed. In tackyness, anyways.

I have no idea how much longer I'll be cosplaying, but for now it's my favorite way to kill one weekend every other month.

What got you into cosplay?
A combination of not being allowed to celebrate Halloween as a kid, and wanting to be a part of the ridiculousness.
What was your first costume and why?
I made a Hikaru costume for a JACO meeting first, and an Inuyasha costume for my first convention costume (Jacon 2003).
What is your favorite costume and why?
Gogo (Amano-based) from FFVI. It was an experience to both create and wear. I could go on and on about why I love it so much, but lemme just say that I got to meet the Gogo cosplayer who originally inspired me, nab my first craftsmanship award and get mistaken for a cheesy hotel statue anytime I stood still for too long.
Do you have a dream costume you'd like to make?
Besides anything from CLAMP, Dynasty Warriors or obscure Final Fantasy characters? Judge Bergen from FFXII... someday!!
What has been your most memorable cosplay experience?
Being spotted in the halls of AFO in my Al costume, and dragged into the green room to meet the entire VA cast of FMA. I felt very honored to spend ten minutes chatting with them (through the tiny hole in Al's neck) while hundreds of people waited in line just to *see* them. They took pics for their website, autographed my costume and thanked me. It was very unexpected, and very awesome, and their professionalism blew me away.
Do you participate in masquerades?
Yep! The masquerade line is basically the cosplay world's water cooler.
What was your best masquerade experience?
Anime Supercon 2. I sang "Pain" from Xenosaga in my Maya/Magna Carta costume (shut up! Maya is emo and the song makes sense!), and the audience reaction was like, wow. People were standing on their chairs and screaming, and I felt like a million bucks.
Have you won any awards for your costumes?
A bunch of hall costume awards. They are my fave, really, because a judge just kinda pops up beside to chat with you (Like a craftsmanship ninja!) and it feels very warm and personable. Other awards: 1st place cosplay talent (Skit/Musical) at Houkocon06 --- Best Video-Game (Skit/Group) at AFO07 --- Best Musical (Skit) at ASC207 --- 3rd place Advanced (Craftsmanship) at AZ07 --- Best detail/Judges Choice (Craftsmanship) at Janicon07 --- Judges Award (Craftsmanship) at Metrocon08 --- Best Comedy (Skit) at Metrocon08 --- Best in Master Class (Craftsmanship) at Chibipa07 --- Best Presentation (Skit/Group) at Metrocon07 --- Best Group (Craftsmanship) at Metrocon07 --- Best Group (Craftsmanship) at Megacon08 --- Best Technical (Craftsmanship) at ASC207 --- Best of Show (Craftsmanship) at ASC07
Tell us a little about yourself
I'm a restaurant manager with a giant family, fantastic friends and the cutest corgi ever :3 My friends are the only reason I cosplay, and without them I'd have no interest in the hobby. I'm super casual about cosplay, and not above breaking out the glue gun or rocking out with steam-a-seam. I prefer to work with paints, armor, props and accessories as opposed to purely sewing, and eventually I'll figure out how to work without my damn machine altogether.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I looooooove CLAMP. Yes, it's hella-gay. Yes, it's gaudy and ridiculous. Yes, it often doesn't translate into 3D well. Yes, Tsubasa has gotten ridiculous with the clones and clones of clones. But I still <3 it to pieces and fangirl over the costumes.
My favorite anime
Currently, Ouran High School Host Club, Bleach, Eyeshield 21, Anything by CLAMP and Black Cat. Old favorites include anything by Leiji Matsumoto, Slayers, Escaflowne, Rurouni Kenshin, Trigun, Honey and Clover, Naruto, Gundam Wing, Inuyasha, Rose of Versailles, Fruits Basket, X/1999, Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Lodoss War, and... hell, everything popular, I guess.
My favorite game(s)
The Sonic, Mario and Zelda series are the best! I <3 Final Fantasy's character designs and stories, but I suck too hard at the games to play them. All I have left to say is Assassin's Creed is so good that it's practically softcore pr0n.
My favorite book(s)
My taste for literature falls somewhere between C.S. Lewis and Kurt Vonnegut. Seriously.
My favorite character(s)
I always like bad guys or stupidly optimistic heroes (The dumber the better.)
My favorite movies(s)
Anything with the actors listed below. They are hardcore, and if John Garfield was still alive, he would have been cast as Spiderman, kicked 37467593 more ass, and done all three movies with a cigarette hanging from his mouth.
My favorite actors/actresses
Christopher Walken, John Malkovich, Al Pacino, John Garfield, Guy Pierce, CHRIS MELONI!!!