I have emerged from blogging no man's land to report that Anime Matsuri in the Woodlands was SUCH A FLIPPING GOOD CON! The staff was so organized and capable, and I appreciated how well-run and prompt the panels were. You guys took amazing care of us, and I'm so thankful for the invite.

love,

Luci

I’ve been planning a wedding and preparing for moving houses/married living. around work, of course. can you say ’out-of-comission’? this has really been a valuable time, and I’ve learned a ton. for instance, I think people who say planning a wedding is fun are smoking something... there’s so much to do and so much collaboration involved that it’s incredibly easy to get stressed-out. unless, of course, you’re the picture of serenity like I am. eyeroll.

another thing - the whole wedding shower business is awesome. and not because of the gifts - which are nice once you get past the whole "all-of-these-people-are-watching-us-open-a-stack-of-presents-we-pre-picked-out" weirdness. no no, the reason showers are fantastic is because after all of the decision-making about everything from locations to guest lists to invitations to clothing to colors to flowers to cakes to programs to etc. etc., it’s really a lovely thing to have parties here and there that remind you of how you totally chose this, that you want to be married to this amazing person and that other people are so happy for you they’re willing to brave the bridal registry search to get you that awesome toaster, the fab wall clock, or a remote control lantern for camping in style (thanks, stacy, chip, and kyle!). and really, what’s better than sitting around with a bunch of great women eating boob cupcakes and opening a mountain of unmentionables?! brilliant, I say! and so truly affirming to celebrate this special time with our exceptional community of friends and family.

if I was the sort of person who gave unsolicited advice to persons embarking on this particular journey, I would pass on the following: get really good, in-depth pre-marital counseling where they seriously make you talk about money, faith, roles, family, etc. not the easiest thing in the world, but invaluable. and when it comes to planning and working with your beloved/other family members/friends/etc., learn to let go of the need to have everything your way and choose what’s important enough to fight for... this will keep you from generally imploding. see, I’m 35 now (and a day!)... I’ve had a lot of time to grow some pretty strong opinions and, of course, the way I do things is absolutely the ’right way’, duh... yeah, when it comes to working well with other I’ve been handed my bootie on a platter a couple of times. let things go! use that insistent and borderline control-freak energy to do something productive, like work out or clean your house! it’s for your own good and people will like you more! I also can’t stress enough the expediency and ease of shopping for things online. I was certain early on that I wanted a vintage dress from the 50’s, and there are absolutely fantastic online resources. I’ve also discovered a trick to winning things on ebay...

anyway, just thought I’d update. I know it’s been awhile. I’m going to be out at Anime Matsuri this weekend here in Houston talking about the VA biz and One Piece, so those in the area come play with us. oh, and I got my notice from the government that I may be eligible to get my $600 ’economic stimulus’ check. since the majority of this post has been sweetness and light and weddings and lingerie parties, am I allowed a teensy little rant? I abhor this stimulus package. I am frustrated by the short-sightedness of our country’s leaders. if the IRS, or the government, decides to refund me $600 of my own money that I’ve paid in (or $600 of someone else’s money that they paid in, or $$ that the gov borrowed because hello, it doesn’t make any), I am under absolutely no obligation to go spend it at Best Buy to ’stimulate’ the economy, and neither are you. in fact, if I get a check I’m going to do the opposite - either pay debt with it or SAVE it. tangential thought.... tax time is upon us so I’ve been battling with my usual frustrations. as a self-employed person, I’m forced to pay in about 12% to social security - 6% as the employee, as most of you do who are salaried, and the other 6% employer side. and I won’t see it! my government-imposed ’savings’ will be gone by the time I’d be eligible to collect it! GRRRRR to the nth degree. so, if you’re within the sound of my fingers typing, self-insure your own retirement and start now. do not wait for the government to help or take care of you. now, back to the stimulus package... in my perfect and political armchair quarterback magical world, I would rather the government think long-term - say, by creating more incentives for employers to not lay off half of their workforce right now. it’s kind of hard for people to want to spend/keep the economy rolling when so many are fundamentally afraid of losing their jobs. or how about cutting heavily taxed (see SSecurity rant above) self-motivators a break, like mom and pops and the self-employed? the government apparently has the power to do such things... I mean, apparently if enough people tangle themselves up in loans they can’t pay with fine print they don’t read on houses they can’t afford through banks with predatory business practices that no one regulates, the fed will start slashing away... not that I’m totally against the concept of such cuts. I think that’s what they did after 9/11 to ease things, and I’m pretty sure that was a successful move. but now... it all just makes me hot under the collar. which is similar to the feeling I get when I fill up my car these days...

yep. that’s how I feel about that.

to end the post on a giddier note, can I just say that my sweet fiance blew my mind the other day? he had to be out of town on my birthday, so he orchestrated a surprise dinner for me with friends and family and presented me with an iphone. which I never would have bought myself but have drooled over along with everyone else who’s an apple fan. I was completely and totally surprised all the way around, and I’m blown away by the riches of my life right now (not really talking about the iphone here). I’m so blessed, I can’t tell you. it’s humbling. and I’m still in the ’oh crap, please don’t let me lose or drop the phone in the toilet’ phase.

=)

hope everyone is having a lovely day out there.

L

just popping in to say hi and happiest holidays to everyone out there! all of the sweet messages and comments are making me warm inside. =)

love and blessings to you and yours.

the Luce.

go here to check it out... I got to play Deunan and it was the big fun.

L

my sweet, amazing Michael got down on one knee outside of the Rothko Chapel last Friday and asked me to marry him. the prettysparkly on my hand is awesomely distracting as I type...

days later, my mind remains blown and I'm still a little stunned at God's goodness and generosity... but I'll take it. =) this man has exceeded every expectation I could have had in my girly head - I'm so proud to be his choice, and so excited for us to belong to one another and share space, towels, etc...

when I count up all the things I have to be grateful for it's more than a little overwhelming. really. huge thanks to our friends and family for walking the road with us, even before our maps converged in Eleanor Tinsley Park on the set of Josh Bass' short film.

LOVE!!



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good sleep. good coffee. good day ahead. favorite things right now include michael, this coffee...indonesian/pumpkin spice blend, jasmine green tea, this soft tristan prettyman t-shirt that I just might wear all day and not tell anyone I slept in it, the weather, my happy dog, good friends, the beth moore bible study I just started, making soup, projects and possibilities, reading good things and watching documentaries, and podcasts (mostly dave ramsey...just started democracy now, too, but I like to listen to all sorts of things - from little nuggets by desmond tutu to real estate/business info. I haven't subscribed to it, but I discovered one on i-tunes the other day called 'My History Can Beat Up Your Politics'...awesome name, right?! my dad and brother would probably LOVE that. the point is that podcasts make travel time jet by and I come out on the other end feeling somehow smarter.).

here are some pics from recent travels/living, beginning with the trip to Toronto...




this was the best breakfast I'd had in a long time. found the place in Where? magazine in the hotel...this peameal bacon was the BOMB.

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then I walked around just snapping pics...

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the Bailey was a great companion...I hope your feet survived the gold shoes, dear.

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KEVIN TURNED 30. and Linda gave him a kick-butt party.

He's a piece of my heart and my favorite brother ever.
EVER!!


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sweet Morgan is the centerpiece right now. we're not ashamed of that.


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michael and I road-tripped to dallas to see Wilco...Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was my gateway album into that world, which led to all the other albums and back into Uncle Tupelo which led to Son Volt...if you haven't seen the documentary 'I Am Trying To Break Your Heart', really...find it. fascinating. aside from the band, the other stand out memory from this trip involves eating Long John Silver and Waffle House in the same day. burp.


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and these were from last weekend...on location for the 24-hour film festival with mr. jones & co. movie stars!!


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I'm out.

L

tonight on Cartoon Network, 9p Central.

woot! go pirates!

L

**edit - okay, maybe I should have said "check out the new Funimation dub of One Piece tonight. because I'm Nami." =)

I had SUCH a good time in Vancouver! it was great having friends there...Mr. Michael Coleman surprised me at the airport, and from then on it was a fantastic time of hanging out with great people and soaking up the scenery. The convention was great - attendance was apparently higher than ever, and I can't say enough nice things about the con staff - the green room was always stocked with food and drinks (Tim bits and energy drinks = morning lifesaver!), and there was always someone to take me to my event or give me a ride. But the real highlight of the weekend for me was spending time with some fairly awesome people, beginning with these two: Michael and his lovely wife, Michelle.


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when I first got into town, we went to Granville Island to grab some food and catch up...


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and I got a little tour of Gastown before heading to the guest meet and greet...this is a famous steam clock!


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the next morning, Michael took me to Deep Cove to go hiking - we met up with Jillian Michaels, who is just fantastic, and headed up the mountain...


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I should give a special shout out to Mr. Coleman, who ended up driving me to and fro...it should be said that we met at a convention a couple of years ago and, along with Johnny Y.B., bonded in a huge way, so it was great to get to hang out again.


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Michael and Michelle hosted myself, Trevor D., and Sam V. for an INSANE game of Apples to Apples one night, which morphed into a rousing, late-night conversation about American-Canadian politics/healthcare/etc. It was, seriously, a blast. It was great to finally meet Jocelyn L. and Brad S. - Scott McClennan from ADV had gone to Vancouver to record recurring roles from the Soultaker series in Nurse Witch Komugi, and I'd played off of both of their voices here in Houston. I got to hang out with and do a couple of panels with Maryke H., a seriously cool chick, see Mr. Scott M., and meet lovely people like Michael A., Matthew E., Lisa Ann B., and Saffron H. I was struck by how genuine, warm, and career-professional everyone was, and really enjoyed both the general company and shop talk. I got to go be a reader for Michael for a couple of on-camera auditions, and was inpired not only by that experience but by more than a few interactions over the weekend to come back and be a better actor. And to relax more! the Canadians are sooo laid back!!


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the campus we were on was gorgeous...hello, it's canada, everything is gorgeous. =) the pic below doesn't really do them justice, but the clouds up there are the puffiest-looking things you've ever seen. and check out the SmartCar! crazy, right?!


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in short - I can't wait to go back to Vancouver. my passport is at the ready.


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I saw Children of Men last night and was RIVETED. RIVETED, I say. Freaking awesome movie.

riveted.


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and this is my poor puppy...he's getting treated for itching so I've subjected him to this awesome lampshade to keep him from biting himself...lol, he's still trying to figure it all out. in the interim, I confess it's really funny hearing him knock into doorframes.


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L

so yesterday I was organizing and working in my office area and while just sitting there, minding my own business...

ok, I was actually standing.  and cleaning.  well, really just moving the big basket on my desk that holds all of the stuff that I like to keep handy - stapler, scissors, stamps, lint brush, calculator, tape measure, a bevy of notepads, concert and movie tickets I intend to scrap or bronze or something...I was moving the thing, trying to tidy things up, and then it happened.

I smoothly and gently knocked my almost full cup of coffee across the entire keyboard of my macbook.  sharp intake of breath. 

it should be said that I'd already had a bit too much coffee for the morning.  this is relevant because, as I've gotten older and more awesome, caffeine affects me differently than it used to and three cups of coffee turns me into a living jack-in-the-box minus the creepy.  so I might have been a bit jittery... 

I did all of the right things, of course, like immediately cleaning it as best I could.  I did some wrong ones, too, like turning it off and on and then leaving it on.  according to the mac website, you shouldn't do that.  ever.  I somehow thought that was a good idea at the time - blackmac seemed fine, and I breathed a huge sigh of relief.  until I came back home after work and keys weren't working.  it would start up, I could open programs, but no dice with the keyboard.  I thought I was going to throw up.  really.  you know the feeling - "I'm the biggest jerk-dork in the world who doesn't deserve to have nice expensive toys booooo!"  with tears wobbling in my eyes and clutching a knee-jerk Diet Coke (again with the caffeine addiction), I called M and he, amazingly talked me off the ledge and sent me to keep my hair appointment...

the long and short of it is that blackmac is going to be okay!  we plugged in an external keyboard and all was well, and we got most of the keys to work...the only things that were still wonky were the spacebar and touchpad, so I took blackmac to the macspa and we should be good to go sometime today for not too much $$.  which is good, because I leave for Vancouver (Anime Evolution!) in the morning and I'd miss the thing.  I mean, it's just a thing.  a really nice thing that I've gotten used to having, that I love to play with.  it's spoiled me...I know I could live without it, I could save up for another one, but I'm sooo thankful that I didn't lose this puppy.  I feel like I got a Get Out Of Jail Free card...and a not-so-subtle reminder to backup.

so yeah, I'm blogging from my auntie's PC.  quaint.  HA!  in the middle of mac mayhem, I got my hair whacked off and I LOVE it.  I've wanted to do this for so long, but was just terrified of ending up looking like a soccer mom or something.  it was a very Almost Famous moment - remember when Jason Lee (or was it Billy Crudup?) said "just make us look cool, man"?... that's what I said to my stylist - just make me look cool and soft and pretty and awesome please.  I barely breathed when it seemed like 5 lbs of hair was falling to the salon floor, but when all was said and done I was on an omgosh-it's-rad-"I Feel Pretty" a la Maria from West Side Story-high.  M and I celebrated Hott New Haircut and 'yay at least my coffee didn't kill the guts of my mac!' by making a flipping fantastic dinner before taking mac to the doctor at the genius bar...who took a whiff and said 'nice roast'...

so by the end of the day I was done.  pooped.  emotionally drained.  I slid into auntie's hot tub with my glass of ice water (no caffeine!) and started breathing deeply again.  how about those days that give you new lines in your face?

must get out of the house and do something active before heading to work.  I'm a total nerd for Dave Ramsey podcasts right now - when I'm out walking/running around the neighborhood I'm generally listening to his show.  oh, and I'm looking forward to exploring Vancouver this weekend!  Canadians, represent!

L

 

 

 

 

being self-employed, one doesn't often go on vacation. a vacation means planning ahead and saying 'no' to work during that time, which can feel like pulling teeth. conventions don't count - sure, it's travel, but it's travel + work + fulfilling obligations, which can be lovely and fun in it's own right but doesn't constitute a vacation. michael went to chicago last year for his vacation and, in february, decided he wanted to go again - I invited myself along, and then our moms invited themselves along. so we all took off for the windy city together! I have to say, I heartily recommend the taking of the mothers - I suppose a lot would depend on the type of people your moms are, but ours are fairly awesome and it was really cool to see and do Chicago together.

as a city, I really liked it. the weather was fantastic - 80s in the daytime, 60s at night. I loved the ease of public transportation!! $20 for a 7-day CTA ticket (covered trains and buses)!! the laundry list of things we did includes the museum of science and industry, the shedd aquarium, milennium park, wrigleyville, michigan avenue, deep dish pizza, an architectural boat tour, paddle boats in lincoln park, and fireworks on navy pier. we managed to see Harry Potter and Tranformers, hit filene's basement (woot!), and sampled a bevy of good food...loved the Japanese food we had the first night, and Gino's was possibly the best pizza I'd ever eaten. one of the cool things we discovered was a magazine in the hotel called 'where?'...it led us to some great local restaurants and we liked it so much we wanted to write and volunteer to test all of their magazines in different cities!

michael and I had tickets to the Pitchfork Music Festival, which was a really cool event in Union Park. VERY economical, too. tons of music for not much $$, and dollar bottled water and Fuse. bands ran the gamut...the ones we checked out were Voxtrot, Grizzly Bear, Fujiya & Miyagi, iron & Wine, Jamie Lidell, Girl Talk, Of Montreal, Cat Power, and The New Pornographers...I think my faves were Fujiya & Miyagi and Jamie L. fun fun fun.

our last day there we discovered oak park. we'd intended to go out there to check out some of the frank lloyd wright stuff and move on, but the area was so quaint and cool we spent as long as we could walking around the neighborhood, taking pictures, etc. so pretty, and a great way to end the trip...

and now a word about vacations. i understand now why we need them. it's good to get away and get some perspective, to relax, to put work and schedules and worries on the back burner for a few days. it wasn't easy for me - in fact, it was really hard to NOT think about what opportunities I might be missing, or worry about things that, from Chicago, I had no control over. but in the end, I thawed out, was reminded that God has always been faithful in steering my ship, breathed deeper, soaked up the new scenery, and came back better all over. which, I think, is the purpose of a vacation. I say yes to it!


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