My Anime Pedigree

Like most kids with basic cable, my first two animes were Speed Racer and Sailor Moon respectively. At the time, I had no idea what I was getting in to, I just knew Sailor Moon was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen and I was far less satisfied with regular cartoons. I of course became a lover of Pokemon and Digimon, but I realized my feelings were well beyond a "fad". This love grew to obsession when in my tomboy teens I discovered Dragonball Z and Outlaw Star. This stuff (at the time) was so raw and fascinating. My mother, shockingly, understood my passion and would alot the TV time for me, no matter how much my little sister complained. I was, of course, treated strangely by schoolmates, especially girls, but that never bothered me.
In high school, however, all my anime perceptions changed. First came the manga: More Starlight To Your Heart and Chobits to be exact. Then there followed my first look at REAL anime, not the neutered garbage Viz had been feeding me. The first time I saw not-purple blood and heard the dialog as intended, I was floored. It was exactly like the first time I had real chocolate and knew I could never eat another hershey bar...
My passion thereafter has spiraled out of control. There almost 100 volumes of manga on my shelf right now, but I've read closer to 300 (yes, I camp out at Barnes & Noble). I have begun the long process of acquiring box sets instead of buying individual DVDs because my obsession is tainted with practicality and bills still have to be paid.
I began drawing manga at 14 and am starting up again, as well as resuming Japanese lessons. I am a Japanophile and surround myself with the culture. I have recently developed a true love of the Lolita lifestyle, realizing there has been a WaLoli inside me this whole time. Even though I get some glares for being plus-sized, I still love it. (BTW, I'm working on the plus-sized part ladies, but a thyroid disease does not make it easy.) Well, that's enough rambling. Now begins the reason you came here: FANDOM!