Twas that time of year, when furs from all over the globe converge on the city of Orlando and seek refuge from the nearby sun in a hotel with a killer pool for a whole weekend. This time, we had to present golden tickets to gain entrance to the chocolate-laden wonderland that was the Candy Factory of Megaplex 2014. And though I had been to this convention several times already, I always find myself looking forward to it. Perhaps it's me pretending I'm having a summer vacation despite not really leaving home. Maybe it's how I have been able to watch the con grow by leaps and bounds over the years I have attended. And just maybe it's the killer pool. In retrospect, I think perhaps what keeps me coming to Megaplex is its ability to balance relaxation with activity... though it's hard to ignore the draw of that pool.

Sugar Rush
To the con's credit, this year the theme was very present, visible, and celebrated. From the larger-than-life candy decorations, sweet badges, and the mind-blowing amount of sugar distributed over the weekend, no one could mistake what was the central theme of the weekend. This was the first year I attended the fursuit-friendly bowl-o-rama and was rather impressed with how many people managed to fit into one bowling alley! The photos that were taken, the air hockey that was played, and the beer that was spilled all added up to quite the evening, one that I intend to see more of next year!

Assume the Position on the Otter
Fortunately there were many friends both old and new to share the sugar rush with. Chief among them was the squeakiest mouse there is . Of course, all I had to do was show him pictures of the ginormous pool and whisper the promise of cheese and he was already sold. My good friends and helped to share the room and the good times all around. And beyond even these luminaries I had the good fortune of seeing the noble lion , the utterly adorable , the puffy fops , frosty , ever-plush , inflation-crazed fox , and the flattenable rounding out the we had to actually travel to get here crew. However, one other gang was present, one of the squeaky variety. This included , , , , , and (all of whom helped create the title for this section of the journal). Other local luminaries gathered in the hotel, including , , , , , , , and the Floridian . One thing that I really enjoy about cons is the ability to take my camera and stealth my way though the hotel halls and see my friends enjoying themselves and being happy. I think it's something that happens all too infrequently in our modern lives, what with all of the stress and the small roadblocks that keep piling up atop each other. Seeing people laughing, hugging, or even just sharing a quiet, supportive moment makes the travels and expenses worth it in the end.

Good Day, Sir
Ultimately what makes Megaplex worth attending for me is the small moments I get to have. Taking a friend out to a new restaurant I've just discovered, being told a joke that makes me laugh so hard I cry, MULTIPLE POOL TRIPS IN THE SAME DAY. I could talk about the programming that was available, the fursuits that made their debut or return appearances, or of the money that was raised to support a worthy cause , but those are only facts and figures. What makes a con worth attending are the smaller moments, the inside jokes that no one else might understand, and the friends that surrounded you for the journey. Couple that with copious amounts of chocolate and sugar and you had a weekend that could not be forgotten. And though the weekend left me asking some questions, overall it was a worthwhile experience. Some things remain up in the air, long shots that may or may not pan out. However, those can wait for another day. Here's to next year and the good times that will come.