Another Indyfurcon has come and gone and a splendid time was had all the way around. Got my cupcakes (mucho noms!)....got my peach daiquiri (very mucho noms!) and had lots of furry fun. So, to break down my weekend:

THURS: got started late and didn't arrive at the Sheraton until around 6 p.m. Unloaded waaaay too much baggage for two people (but we brought 3 fursuits with us, so what can we say?) and popped down to registration to get our super-sponsor badges and drop off donations for the charity auction. Loved the s-sponsor gift this year, a beautiful leather-bound journal/sketchbook! Unpacked and prepped our fursonalities to do some suiting at opening ceremonies on Friday, had dinner and crashed like the over-worked, tired graymuzzles we are...lol!


FRI: Once again enjoyed the Sheraton's amazing breakfast buffet. The fresh fruit (blackberries & raspberries especially) was wonderful! Got suited up as Liszt 'Captain Hook' and Bo'sun Smee the wolverine for opening ceremonies. Made a quick run for last minute supplies then went straight into the late afternoon panel line up: 4pm Improv Workshop hosted by Alkali. 5pm 3 Headed Monster-stand up sets by Xander, Pandez & Alkali and we were in stitches....bravo gentlemen! We went for a late lunch/early supper and called it an evening to rest up for Saturday.


SAT: Brekkie noms once more and went to Kage's 'Convention War Stories' at noon. My respect for the folks who put on conventions for us fans has always been high but I am amazed that anyone is crazy/dedicated enough to actually do it! Thank you Uncle Kage and all the fantastic people who organize and run furcons, we appreciate it very much! Back to the room to change & grab my props and laptop in anticipation of leading my first panel for Indyfurcon: 'Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Coyote?!....Er Fox?'

2pm: Panel time! Let me pause here and interject that in my career, I am a teaching naturalist. Presenting programs on wildlife is a big part of my job and to be able to mix my business with one of my hobbies was lots of fun. I had about ten people attend (less than I was hoping for but I'm glad I didn't get skunked, lol) and everyone seemed to have a good time. Obviously I couldn't bring any live animals with me but I did have my teaching collection of fox, coyote & wolf pelts as well as skulls to show.

I was glad to have the chance to teach and if any IFC staff happen to read this, I would love to offer another natural history panel for future cons. If you receive any feedback, pro or con, and don't mind sharing I'd like to know what folks thought.

Also: to the conger I spoke to before the panel about working in the natural history field: GO FOR IT! I always enjoy talking shop with someone who has a genuine passion for wildlife biology.

Missed the fursuit parade for the first time in 4 years of IFC attendance but I'm not too disappointed (teaching was a great trade off instead).

Schlepped all my props & computer back to the room, changed & opted to forgo 'Furrywood Squares' to get a late lunch instead. Back at 5pm for 2 Gryphon's show, then straight into Uncle Kage's Story Hour at 6pm and Family Feud at 8pm.

Stayed after for 'I Comedy Better When I've Had a Few' charity show at 9pm then these two graymuzzles called it a night.


SUN: Slept in (and heavens did we need it!), late brekkies then enjoyed the Furry Variety Show at noon. Back to the room to change into Arlo as 'Grandma In Wolf's Clothing' to attend the charity auction. Didn't take anything home but I had a wonderful time bidding on & heckling with the person who won a very beautiful Halloween quilt. In retrospect, when I was outbid I should have said my Social Security check wouldn't stretch that far.....ah hindsight, your 20/20 goodness is a bane indeed, lol.

Sadly, I got turned around on my program times & missed the Cards vs. Humanity charity event but we made it to closing ceremonies and lazed around the rest of the evening.


MON: headed out from our well-deserved break and back to reality but thoroughly enjoyed the weekend.


PROS: I've said it many times before & I'll say it again, Indyfurcon is a GREAT con! We consider it our 'home furcon' and only extreme catastrophe would keep us away (you guys should know, you already have our $$ for next year's attendance). The staff is friendly, dedicated and does everything in their power to make sure we all have a fantastic time. We love you for it guys and gals!

3 Headed Monster panel: Xander, Pandez & Alkali all were terrific (what level of niceness are you?!)

Furry Dance Competition: I am so happy that IFC has one and that it went so well that it should be back on the docket for 2015. My goal? to take the music edit I made and actually rehearse enough to do the 1:45 routine next year. Yes young un's, graymuzzles can dance!

Getting to teach. I had a blast plying my trade at the con and I hope to do so again.

The new venue next year. I love the Sheraton....the staff has always been friendly & helpful but the pics from the Marriott look fantastic (I'm already planning fursuit pic layout in the garden/gazebo area).


CONS: Really the only drawback was the tough choices I had to make on what to attend/skip. There were multiple time slots that overlapped w/programming and the programming tracks this year were wonderful, just like always. One of these years I will actually make it to the fursuit games (grin). Part of this was on me as I chose to offer a panel but it was so worth it.

So to wrap up, thanks again to the great staff & volunteers of IFC. Many thanks as well to the Dorsai for keeping us safe and sound. Hope everyone had as great a time as we did and that you're all safely back home.

Oh, and if anyone has pics of Captain Hook the lion, Wolverine pirate Smee or Grandma Arlo please point me to them! Thanks much!!