... Is why everyone is soo astonished that FY 
prices got so high. I have only been collecting 
for 7 months.. and I have seen the prices 
increase exponentially. 7 MONTHS! 

First of all - the show is awesome. The show 
deserves as much attention as it's getting - and 
so of course the prices are going to get high. As 
more people watch it, more people fall in love 
with it, so more people want a piece of it. So of 
course competition is going to be agressive. AND -
 people who DO have awesome cels - are going to 
get extrodanary offers for them.. just because 
they mean so much to the person who has them - 
and a very high offers is *sometimes* what it 
takes for a person to get one. 

Cel prices: Look at the prices for Ah My Goddess, 
Gunnm, Evangelion *i know there are fewer cels... 
but*.. Vampire Hunter D, Princess Mononoke (or 
any miazaki *sp* cels) - even rurouni kenshin... 
and older anime. Even some Cowboy Bebop cels 
*cough*Gren/Vicious*cough*

I know that my attitude would be different if I 
didn't actually "win" my dream cel. I would 
probably be more negative. But ALL week I was 
preparing myself to congradulate the winner. I 
know that some people reading this are rolling 
thier eyes because "she can say that - she has X 
amount of hotohori cels". 

But right now I'm trying to enjoy the acquisition 
of my dream cel. I could write pages about why it 
means so much to me... but that would get boring 
quick. 

*sigh*... I thank EVERY person who offered me 
luck and support the entire week or so that I 
offered for Leigh's cel.. and waited *nervously* 
for the response. YOu listened to my babble.. and 
my meaningless banter. You all helped me so much. 
I met a few new FY fanatics (friends) as well 
through this whole "leigh" thing. THANK YOU Ame, 
shmecky, *cherry*, Karen, Kitt, Brandy^_^, Riven, 
Keys, Atiya, Mina, Ed, Jinx *and everyone ELSE i 
haven't mentioned that their names escape me 
now...*
But especially LIME. *big fat wink* *major 
embarassing glompies*

In closing.. I am letting everyone know.. 
(because some of you know how much i will be set 
back with this dream cel...) That I will be 
taking a serious vacation from cel collecting. 
But giving up a lot of my cels, and not 
collecting them for a while is worth it to me for 
this one that I am getting. I am still going to 
keep up with the "community" *hugs forum and 
channel*. Because everyone I have met with this 
hobby means a lot to me. 

Sorry this is so long.. but my original thought 
is to remember why we love Fushigi Yuugi (or ANY 
anime) in the first place. Why we spend our days 
and nights eating/sleeping/breathing/BUYING 
animation cels. These characters have had a great 
impact on our lives one way or another. I'm sure 
I won't be a collector forever.. but I sure hope 
to keep the friends I've met through it. 

Good luck and congradulations to everyone. 

Rubberslug.com - Noble Heart
~Tara