*sigh*
Folks, it took a long, long time before I was able to finally look at this thread. I'm still a little broken up about missing the festivities, and the pics -- while absolutely delightful -- made me feel the disappointment of not being there all the more acutely.
It looks like everyone had such a great time, and it was really cool to see what many of the TONMO regulars actually look like. Funny, the only one of y'all that I've actually met is Melissa, yet I feel as if I know so many of you personally.
I especially loved those li'l robo-cuttles! Which one of you created them? I'm not kidding, they could be prototypes for a new toy -- there's a store here in NYC called KID ROBOT which specializes in upscale toys of that type, and I'll bet if you sent them photos of your creations they'd ask you for a batch to sell!
The photos of the real-life cuttles were equally impressive.... one of them, with the little guy floating in the water column in profile, gave me a vivid flashback to the Guild Navigators in David Lynch's film version of DUNE. (I'm 99.9% certain that he based their design on cuttlefish, right up to the eyes.)
This year has been a washout so far, and will probably continue to be. In addition to missing TONMOcon, AnimeNEXT and Otakon (two major East Coast anime cons), I've had to forgo the opportunity to hear His Holiness the Dalai Lama lecture at Radio City Music Hall in October, because the tickets run $25 to $75. I will be going to the NY Anime Fest in December simply because I purchased the ticket awhile ago and can't get a refund, but to tell the truth, in retrospect, I would've rather skipped it and saved up to attend both TONMOcon and HHTDL's lecture instead. Coulda, shoulda, woulda.... doesn't do much good.
I sincerely hope I can make it to TONMOcon next year, but that depends on both its location and our financial status. I can't imagine that it will take place any closer than Florida, and if I couldn't even afford to go there, I certainly won't be able to go if it's any farther away. Besides, we've got members all around the world who are certainly entitled to attend a TONMOcon in their neck of the woods -- I assume the next few TONMOcons will be in places like the UK or even Kiwiland.
The irony of the situation hasn't escaped me -- after all, as some of you may remember, it was Yours Truly who first put forth the idea of an annual TONMOcon, and it looks like I'm fated to never actually attend one.
OK, enough Eeyore-speak for now!!! What I can hope for is that at various times in the future, each and every one of y'all will (individually) get a chance to visit Da Big Apple, and we can meet for lunch, dinner, a visit to the NY Aquarium, or AMNH, or whatever. After all, it just takes two TONMOers to make a "minyan" for a minicon!
Many-armed hugs to everyone.... e-mail or PM me when you get the chance, and keep those neat photos coming!
Love from your Benthic Buddy,
Tani