Hi Brenda,
Normally I try to stay off my computer while at 
home, but I HAD to respond to  your letter here.  
Mosty because I am in the same room with you on 
the cel collecting.  I used to do it a long time 
ago, but due to college expenses, I had to get 
out of it.  I finally graduated, and now I have a 
job that pays very well, especially considering 
my age and lack of experience.  I make more money 
than most adults my age, and I know I make a lot 
more money that some of the people here, or who 
are into collecting in general.  But even still!  
I cannot afford most of what I want.  I live in a 
very expensive town, and rent is high, and the 
bills pile up fast.  I just now, about half a 
year ago, decided to get back into collecting.  I 
thought, it's been a few years, Im sure the hobby 
has died down a bit, and I can find whatever I 
want for cheap!  I was very very wrong.  I only 
collect from three shows, Fushigi Yuugi is the 
sole series I collect from.  I also like to pick 
up just a few Ayashi No Ceres, and I also like 
Tenshi Ni Narumon.  In fact, I just got my first 
cel from TNN a couple days ago.  However, FY has 
a special place in my heart, and my most favorite 
character is Nuriko.  I have driven myself almost 
crazy looking for decent cels of him, but, none 
are to be found, and when you DO find them, they 
are not at all cheap.  Even if the cel is not 
good, the price is always high. And most 
collectors who have the good cels are very 
attatched to them, and will not part with them.  
Even if I had 700$ to throw at someone for a 
Nuriko cel, I usually get turned down.  

So, in all, I know just how you feel.  Like me, I 
have a muscle problem that is very bad.  I cant 
lose sleep or else Im in a lot of pain all day.  
So, while most people can stay up all night long, 
and press refresh on Taro, I have got to sleep or 
my body will kill me.  I would love to be able to 
catch all the great updates, but, for me it's 
just not worth it to lose the sleep.  So, I have 
to resort to Ebay, AND to hounding gallery owners 
who have good FY's @_@.  Hang in there though, 
dearheart, it will get better.  It always does!  
I have missed countless cels that I have wanted, 
only to find that there are more waiting.  What's 
good about these big collectors, is that they 
always need money for more things.  That's when 
you have to catch them, and throw your best 
offer!  Good luck, and know that you are not 
alone!  

Pyrrhusgrl
PS  Im in the middle of putting up a gallery, if 
you like, you can contact me and maybe I can set 
up a small page for you off of my site :).  Im 
doing this for a couple friends too who dont know 
how to put up a page.