About A Year Ago (pt. 3)

About a year ago, I went to my first anime convention. I went to Anime Weekend Atlanta. I went for two reasons, to go TO an anime convention and, this is pretty much the main reason, to meet J Michael Tatum, my favorite voice actor. Yes, I did other things besides meet Tatum, I went down artists alley and walked up and down the aisles for vendors. It was fun. I got a piece of art and a thermos. This story is a long one, mostly because I want to tell every detail and that starts from that morning up until the end of the day and into the night... And then some of the next school day. So... Part 3 of AWA. (For part 2 go here.)

I met J Michael Tatum. It was an exciting time to be alive. After that not much happened at the con. I immediately texted my best friend once I calmed myself.

9/27/14 2:18 PM

Just about passed out talking to Tatum. He's sooo nice, and understanding and every bit of AWESOME as I expected.

Yeah, I was excited, still am. I wandered around some more, walked down artist's alley and got a picture. Saw some amazing cosplay. And I met Vic Mignogna. Let it be said, that I think Vic Mignogna is an amazing very talented voice actor, but I'm not drop dead fan girl crazy about him. Todd Haberkorn, Travis Willingham, J Michael Tatum. Them I have to make sure I'm not gold fishing or dying, but Vic. I don't know. Vic is Vic. So anyway yeah, I met Vic Mignogna, honestly just because I could. I have nothing against Vic. I was there, the line was just forming, Tatum was still there, and I thought, ok might as well get him to sign the Ouran DVD cover while I'm here. So I did, and I had him sign the AWA program. And I got a picture, which probably looks akward...

Yeah, definitely slightly awkward looking. Anyway, that was my day. It was sooo exciting and amazing. Then I had a thought, well a flash back..

I remember on the first day of sophomore year, I had been watching one of Tatum's panels on YouTube the night before, anyway, I walked into my first period/home room, saw my teacher and immediately backed up and had to collect myself, with the phrase, "Oh my gosh, J Michael Tatum is my lit teacher," going through my mind. Basically, my teacher reminded me of Tatum so much, even the way he spoke with that same sarcastic voice, I was sitting in class trying to not completely lose it, it also didn't help that he was totally completely and utterly awesome like Tatum. So the whole first week of school, I was trying so hard to not completely freak out. To this day, even though now that I’ve taken note that he looks NOTHING like Tatum, I still link him with Tatum because of that initial freak out when I only took a quick glance before backing up and collecting myself in the hall.

Anyway, I realized that I STILL had that link and knew that there was no way I could deal with my favorite teacher on Monday... I still went to his classroom that Monday morning before school for one of our little quick chats. I babbled about meeting Tatum and such. As always he was nice about it and listened. I didn't completely die from the memories. And then on October 1st... I realized once again... that I had met J Michael Tatum. 

I still have these little epiphanies that I met Tatum. And I still have those moments when my teacher reminds me of Tatum (it's the sarcasm I swear) and all I can hear is Tatum's voice saying, "I'm a ball buster. I bust balls." (which is referring to his sarcasm). Literally, the other day, I sat in class for pretty much the whole time trying to not completely loose it. So that's my tale. It was a long one but I'm happy to actually get it out and share it. Sanders out.

About A Year Ago (pt. 2)

About a year ago, I went to my first anime convention. I went to Anime Weekend Atlanta. I went for two reasons, to go TO an anime convention and, this is pretty much the main reason, to meet J Michael Tatum, my favorite voice actor. Yes, I did other things besides meet Tatum, I went down artists alley and walked up and down the aisles for vendors. It was fun. I got a piece of art and a thermos. This story is a long one, mostly because I want to tell every detail and that starts from that morning up until the end of the day and into the night... And then some of the next school day. So... Part 2 of AWA. (For Part 1 of AWA go here.)

So I left off on standing in the autograph line and meeting nice people. This is when I move from my VERY excited texts to what I wrote down last year the day after I went to the con.

From what I wrote down last year (plus some edits)...

9/28/14 

So, I wanted to write this yesterday but I hadn't slept in more than 24 hours. But here it is. 

As I was standing in line waiting for J Michael Tatum to come out and start signing things, I met some people and we were talking about all the shows we watched, what we wanted signed, etc. I was basically dancing and trying to breath. Tatum came out and we all cheered and screamed. It was awesome! I realized I wasn't breathing. So we were there, half way through the line. I was alright until I was almost there. I was next in line, trying to breath. He was right there! I had my stuff out, my phone camera ready. I was finally going to meet J Michael Tatum! I gut up there and opened my mouth. Words failed med and I stood there "dying" for a good moment before I brought my hand down on the table. "Damn it!" I shouted. I popped up, "Oh look I can speak!" I looked at the people still waiting, thrilled that I could still articulate, I looked back that Tatum. "And now I can't speak, oh wait, I can! Hi." "Hi," he said. I cave him my letter that I had worked on up until 6 AM that morning, and babbled out my short story about it. He listened and said thank you. He asked if I had anything for him to sign. I handed him Sebastian's pocket watch. He took it and I looked down at my hands, they were shaking. "My hands are shaking." He said, "Your hands are shaking," he puts his arm over, "Here, put them on my arm so they don't shake." I put my hands down and nearly die. I got lower to the ground. Then it hit me, I looked at him with wide eyes. "Oh my god, you're J Michael Tatum." He sat  up proudly and with a smile, "Yes, I am." I got my now signed watch back. That's when I got overwhelmed with my excitement. 

I was on the ground with my eyes level with the table. He got down to my level and we looked at each other. I slid my Ouran DVD cover over. Still on that same level with me, he uncapped his marker and signed it. I slowly got back up-ish. He got back up and asked me, "And what's your name?" "Cindy." "Well, Cindy, you are adorable." I unlocked my phone and handed it to a staff member. "Ooo, a picture." He said. I came around the table and looked at him. "Can I put my arm around you?" "Sure!" I put my arm around him. I could feel my face smiling and I knew I looked completely starstruck. 'School picture. It's just a school picture.' I thought. I collected myself and threw on my school picture face. The picture was taken and I said thank you. "Aw, you're welcome. Hug." I blushed and got a hug. I got my phone back and got my stuff. "Thank you. I love you. I love you're work. You're awesome!" I said walking backwards. He smiled and said, "Thank you. And for the letter." I turned and finished my exit, trying to breath some more.  

Mission accomplished. I had done it. I had met J Michael Tatum. He was nice, and caring, and awesome, and everything I had hoped and more. So in the words of J Michael Tatum, "It's a good time to be alive!" 

Also, at some point I had babbled to him about being afraid that I'd be standing there goldfishing. He said, "Aww, don't worry. Not my first rodeo." 

So that's my story of meeting the man I call my favorite voice actor. He was super nice and so tolerant of my very excited puppy like antics. This is the picture from that day. You can see that I still looked starstruck.

But that's not the end of my tale yet...

This story will continue in the next post... Up Next: What Came After Tatum.

About A Year Ago (pt. 1)

About a year ago, I went to my first anime convention. I went to Anime Weekend Atlanta. I went for two reasons, to go TO an anime convention and, this is pretty much the main reason, to meet J Michael Tatum, my favorite voice actor. Yes, I did other things besides meet Tatum, I went down artists alley and walked up and down the aisles for vendors. It was fun. I got a piece of art and a thermos. This story is a long one, mostly because I want to tell every detail and that starts from that morning up until the end of the day and into the night... And then some of the next school day. So... Part 1 of AWA.

Anyway, my day started off with me standing in line for hours and texting my best friend about standing in line.

9/27/2014, 1:11 AM
Holy crap! In about 8 hours I'll be at AWA!!!

9/27/2014, 7:51 AM
Poke... Morning!!! On my way to AWA!!!!!! J Michael Tatum!!!!!

9/27/2014, 9:01 AM
I'm her standing in the line!!!! Trying to remember to breath!

9/27/2014, 9:14 AM
I've already seen an amazing Sebastian and a Prussia. I've died and gone to heaven.

9/27/2014, 9:22 AM
I'm not even through the line yet... Arg! Panel starts at 9:45... Trying to think positively.

9/27/2014, 9:28 AM
(After my friend mentions Tatum) I JUST STARTED BREATHING NORMALLY!!! Trying to NOT think about my fav VA!

9/27/2014, 9:31 AM
(She asks how that's working for me) Alright... Focusing on other things that aren't here. And the fact that the line is moving relatively quickly.

Finally, I got in just as the panel was starting. Tatum did his usual greeting, did the most requested lines and laid down the ground rules, then the shenanigans that only happen at a Tatum panel began. (You can find that panel on YouTube. AWA 2014 J Michael Tatum panel)

9/27/2014, 10:49 AM
Just got out of the panel... BEST THING EVER!!!

9/27/2014, 12:05 PM
(She askes me how it was and if it was awesome.) IT WAS J BLOODY MICHAEL TATUM OF COURSE IT WAS AWESOME... AWESOMER THAN PRUSSIA!!!

9/27/2014, 12:12 PM
I've even worked myself into an Italy voice. And its hard to come down from it. And autograph lines are brutal.., I want to get something but things are either over my budget or I can't decide.

9/27/2014, 12:17 PM
Well, more like I'm circling because they keep having to back people up and stop from prematurely forming lines.

9/27/2014, 12:35 PM
I'm in the line... Great spot... Found nice people to stand and talk to.

This story will continue in the next post... Up Next: I meet J Michael Tatum.