It's been a while since Califur ended now, and I decided I wanted to say a couple things.

First off, I have to admit, I express myself incredibly disappointed at my OWN performance during the Califur Pet Auction. But I'd like to share why, since now it doesn't really matter.

Several years ago, I WATCHED a Pet Auction involving a friend of mine. He went by the name of Puppy (though now goes by the name Pelt). Now, mind you at the time I didn't know the stuff in it was scripted, and I actually watched him catch a bit of 'abuse' on stage from the auctioneer. Getting bopped on the head a few times with the newspaper, and the auctioneer saying it was something he enjoyed just didn't sit well with me.

Okay, so right now you're probably thinking, 'Oh come on, they'd never hurt anyone on purpose' right? Well, I was already bummed from a bad day, and only really showed up to support him.

Well, anyway, the auctions started up, along with a bit more 'abuse', and I just had to sit there, half in disbelief of what I was seeing. The thing that frustrated me the most was how much I was kicking myself by the end of his auction. The guy that bought him... well, if I had been able to sign up for bidding as well, I could have outbid him by more than $15 because of the money in my pocket.

Again, I'd like to remind my readers here that I DIDNT KNOW back then that this was all scripted, so by the end, I was in tears for more than an hour until a friend of mine came to me and explained what had gone on.It hadc managed to cheer me up, but by then the 'damage' so to speak was done.

So, now we reach why I'm disappointed in myself.

After a LONG discussion with the people in charge about EXACTLY how it is all done, I decided, since it didn't seem as bad as I thought it was years ago, that I'd give it a shot. What almost IMMEDIATELY took away my happiness in doing it was that nearly as soon as i got on stage, the velcro in the back of my suit came undone. So even though I planned on being jumpy, excitable and had everything I was gonna do all planned out, it basically fell to pieces in seconds flat.

Not to mention without my glasses I could barely see a thing so I was also afraid to move out of where I stood, so other than some goofy hand gestures and stomping up and down, there was very little I could actually do.

Then came the auctioning. I was beyond embarrassed that it seemed like no one wanted me. I mean, I know I was being practically a statue up there, but I expected a lot more of a reaction out of people considering the number of people that crowded me as Stitch beforehand. When the auctioneer called out '$5' and it took forever to get anything going, I was more than a little afraid that I wasn't going to be wanted at all.

I did everything I could, short of turning around to reveal the reason I wasn't jumpy, to get the attention of the others, but it didn't seem I was getting anywhere. Thank god for the auctioneer's joking around. As this time I think it saved me. The auction finally seemed to be picking up but came to a screeching halt at $37. That's where it ended.

I got off stage, then a second fear hit me. I knew I'd need to eventually get out of suit to be with my 'owner' but the problem was that... well, let's just say I wasn't equipped for that, as I hadn't thought about it. After checking with staff, I slipped out the side to get my close friend to have him go to our room to get my change of clothes.

I switched out of Stitch, which I needed to anyway as I was sweating profusely, but then yet another problem surfaced. What if, whoever bought me, was irritated to find that they would get 'Stitch'. Obviously, I thought, someone felt the need to finally help me out on stage and put in a decent bid, and I was going to disappoint them because I wasn't in Stitch. I really didn't know what to do, but by then I'd all but given up anyway, as I felt I did so poorly in the auction that it probably wouldn't matter.

So anyway, all of the pets had been asked to wait in the Headless Lounge for our owners, so after having gotten out of Stitch that's where I went. It seemed though that things didn't seem to be going well, as it turned out that some of the winning bidders for the auctions didn't show up.

I was almost certain that one of the ones that wouldn't show was mine because it's kinda hard to miss when a giant blue fursuit slips out the side and out the back door. Perhaps my owner thought I was going to bail?

So anyway, I waited and waited, and there were less and less fursuiters waiting to be taken, until it came down to about me and four or five others. 'I knew it,' I thought. 'I was blown off.'

Then a familiar face I knew popped into the room. A buddy of mine  dogbomb saying that HE was the one who won my auction and that he didn't care whether or not I had Stitch on, as he just wanted to hang out anyway.

So we did end up hanging out for a short while, and I have to say I'm relieved. A good end to a bad problem.

Two things I learned in all this:

1. Next time get a bigger fursuit (or else lose weight) which will actually be rectified by FC as my Scatterpaws suit is custom fit to my size.

and 2. Don't let myself get depressed, even if it looks like I blew it.

Oh and before I forget. THANKS AGAIN DOGBOMB! Ya made me feel so much better knowing I went to a friend.