Haaaaai!! I'm Mark!
Pokemon Blue version was the very first game I ever got when I was in second grade and I loved it with all my heart. I've been a passionate Pokemon player ever since. As a kid I was obsessed with it. I played the games all the time, collected the cards, watched the show, saw the movie, you name it. I remember thinking that nothing could've ever been better than Pokemon Blue version. Or at least until Silver version came out. Best game ever right there.
I did kinda have a falling out, so to speak, with Pokemon shortly after Ruby and Sapphire came out though. The games never really did it for me, the show started getting boring to me, and I just sorta stopped playing Pokemon for a good few years afterwards though. Ever since Diamond and Pearl though, I've been playing again and regretting the decision to ever stop.
I'm not much of a competitive battler, but the PAX Pokemon League is absolutely fantastic. I was at PAX for one day this past spring and managed to get 6 badges over the course of the day. Barely did anything but try to track down gym leaders.
Applied to be a gym leader myself this year, and I didn't get accepted unfortunately. But I've spent the day since then planning out what I'm going to do for my team, and I just can't be bummed out anymore doing that. Something about putting together a new team that just brings out that sense of childlike wonder in you.
Gym Leader or not, I can't wait to be at PAX and I can't wait to challenge the league and earn some new badges for my collection.