Oh? I did I not make it obvious we were gonna be at FWA this year? XD
Well, we were there from Day 1 on the 8th till the 12th after it ended just so we could enjoy the festivities of Sunday of the Con since last year we had to miss that day entirely due to our work schedules and funds only allowed us to be at FWA for the Fri and Sat of the Con. We came back this year for all of it, minus the Aquarium event due to funds to afford that event on top of Registration and Hotel cost ^^;

Where do I begin?!
Um...Do I begin with the crappy sleep my brain gave me the days up to it? Yeah. My brain decided that if I wasn't already stressing about making sure everything was packed...it decided to go, "LET'S WAKE UP AT RANDOM INTERVALS WHEN YOU GOTTA BE UP AT 6 A.M.!" >< That made sleeping the day before it really hard. I took the 7th through the 12th off from Work so I had time before it began to relax and to let my hubby get a full day's sleep in before he had work the night before we drove to Atlanta.
More like, he drove and I played DJ and passenger princess.
He got off work Thurs morning, came by , got me and all our stuffs. Off to grab McDonald's breakfast, gas up the car and a stop by 7Brew for coffee for the drive, more like Energy Drink from 7Brew for the hubby so he could stay awake for the drive.

We got to the Hilton sometime after 10 a.m. since it was only a 2.5 hour drive, surprisingly. Paid the early check in fee and got up to the room to unpack and just a chill a bit before we hit the Con Floor.
Guys. This Con was PACKED.
If you haven't heard, it was 17, 736 people in attendance this year. So yeah. Packed.
Registration was interesting and we managed to get through it and then enjoyed walking the Marriott over, heading to some panels like the Yeen Meet Up and can't recall what else we did XD
Sad downside of Thurs: Stair Con. We were on the 11th Floor and had to huff it to the 11th floor and then my hubby had to, bless his soul, walk down them and BACK UP THEM with our pizza he ordered later that night. My strong hubby wanting to provide for us.

Friday: REN FAIRE WEARINGS! We brought our Ren Faire attire and wore it around and I will say this, it was rather comfy and people commented on the hubby's coyote pelt he wore which made him rather happy and to those who called out to me about my Marie tattoo, you guys rocked.
We got into the Dealers Den Friday morning and let's just say...things were packed. But upside to it was meeting the voice actors Jonah Scott and Ben Diskin. They are the voices behind Legoshi and Jack in Beastars and other anime series. If you guys ever get to meet them, you will not be disappointed. They are sweet, and such dorks.
We also got to meet a fellow SoCal Furry whose an animator, known as Pinkie Davis XD Funny to know she's out in a similar area where we used to live 5 years ago XDD
Small world!

My heart was so full getting to finally meet Rukis and buying one of their books. I would have loved to have bought more of their books, but sadly, we didn't have much spending money this year. No real reason behind it, but adulting sucks.

We had to rush from the Dealer's Den to try and make it to Opening Ceremonies which we did make it to and it was pretty awesome.

We ended up in the room to chill and the hubby to pass out so sadly, I had to miss the Warriors Trivia Panel (if it happens again next year...I'm dragging him to it and propping him up like Weekend at Bernies to go to this!) but it was it what it was. But when we were heading to Yammo the Yeen's Comedy Panel...we saw flashing lights in the Hilton -_- Someone either pulled the fire alarm or someone did something to set it off. Making the elevators not work.

HERE WE COME STAIRS. Thankfully it was only the 11th floor to the 2nd Floor. Not too bad.
If you have not seen Yammo's act yet, FIND HIM ON TIKTOK! NOW! DO IT NOW! He is a silly Yeen and so a sweet person. We ran into him and a friend of his in the Dealer's Den and he was so warm and sweet and gives awesome hugs.
Once that event ended...back to the room and pass out XD

Sat: Fursuit Mingle Day! Since the Con is not able to host a Fursuit Parade like most Cons we have a Mingle which is at 10 a.m. where they line us up in the Atrium Stage room of the Marriott and take a GIANT group photo and then do species group photos. And then we all file out as we want to the area outside to Mingle. Which is an awesome time to meet other furs or run into people you've never met before.
Sat. was also the day of the Warriors Animated Panel. Oh. My. God. The talent behind this project...I could cry.
We got to hear about the process and see the character sheets! AAAA! They're gorgeous! And see a 1 min preview of it...I'm gonna be so annoying once this goes live.

Once we left that, we went by the Help Desk for the Moonlight Festival to ask if they needed help setting up. Changed into regular clothes (was in some fursuiting stuff even if I was using the Spirit Halloween head and paws and slippers from Wal-Mart to "suit") and came back down to help out and we ended up helping longer then we had planned XD
If you we are it and got asked to stay behind the Yellow Tape near the Aerial Act...um, Hi? And I'm sorry if it sounded like we were being rude. Not our intentions. Just wanted to keep you guys safe and the actors safe too.

We had signed up earlier in the day to help out in the Con Store for a couple of hours to not only earn the pin for Volunteering but also the Trading Card XD and that was the next morning on Sunday.

Sun: *tired* "Didn't we say we would go volunteer at the Con Store?" "Yes..." "Damn." XD We we're so tired from being at the event the night before till 12:30 a.m., almost 1 a.m. but we pushed through, went down and did our time in the Con Store and eventually got our Card and Pin ^^

The trading cards were a new thing this year! When you went through Registration you got a pack of Trading Cards and then you had to go certain things and do certain things to get certain cards.
Volunteer
Go to Hoppy Hour
Go to the Aquarium
Attend the Mocktail Masquerade
Check out the Furality VR Space
Visit the Quiet Room (quiet space for neurodiveregent/overstimulated/need space from the Con)
Shop at the Con Store
Check in with the Ambassador Desk
Dealer's Den
Visit the Board Game Room
...I think that was most of them ^^;

It was really fun and due to helping at the Con Store we are able to get some of the ones we were missing and eventually got our last missing ones from a Staff member who had extras.
We so hope they bring them back next year. Please!!!!!

Sunday was the Closing Ceremonies which had an AMAZING promo for next years. Nowhere Inn Between! We walked around the Con space and then retired to our room but not before earlier in the day finally meeting up with a couple we had made friends at a Warriors Book Meet Up last year due to the Graphic Novel re-launch for Warriors. I had stayed in touch since then and even when this Springs came around and we had Messenger tag going on XD We would run into one another in passing but didn't get a set time to chill and talk before they had to leave Sun afternoon.

This Convention...was amazing. So much serotonin. And such a needed break from our jobs.
To those we met, talked to, hugged, and got photos with....Thank you one and all.

The serotonin gained from this Con took over the serotonin from last year.
We're in plans for next year's and hopefully gonna have in attendance with us ^^ its the hope and a shout out to ya, if you can't make it for any reason, I'll make sure something of YOU is with us in photos XD YOU WILL BE AT THE CON WITH US IN SOME SHAPE OR FORM.

Until next year...