This may very well have been my best Anthrocon ever. I felt like for me there was very little downtime, there were plenty of people I knew, and, fortunately, they were relatively easy to find. Do I have regrets? Yes, but not too terrible ones.

In roughly chronological order:

Drove up Thursday. As has become my own tradition, I stopped at Taco Bell in Breezewood for Doritos Locos Tacos for lunch.

Hit a patch of severe rain on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and somehow missed my exit. I got off at the next exit and followed signs on the local streets to Pittsburgh. I think this was a blessing in disguise because I missed the traffic I always hit on I-376.

Parked the car and walked to the Courtyard hotel. Met my roommates:  Keedot  Sookta  Ishaway  SpartaDog  ECMajor

After this weekend, I think the Courtyard is now my official favorite Anthrocon hotel. Incredibly convenient to the convention center, but smaller and with shorter elevator lines than the Westin.

Headed over to registration, waited in the preregistered line about 30 minutes. Could have been worse.

Encountered  ShaneRufus  Arterian21  ffredxiii  Articus-the-tigulf  BenAnderson They were also staying in the Courtyard two floors up from me, and they told me I was welcome to come up anytime to hang out. Their room pretty much became the FBA suite. (Apparently being GM of the Keystones is not enough to get me a penthouse.)

Hung around the convention center for a bit and eventually made my way to the FBA suite, and joined them for a pizza dinner. We hung around, shot the breeze, played games, etc. After a while I left and went to the dance.

Friday, opening ceremonies

Hung out in the tabletop room for a while

Made a preliminary lap of the dealer’s den and picked up my Viking badge from :Keedot:

Went to GOH Kimlinh Tran’s voice acting panel. Kinda eh.

Lunch at Fernando’s, naturally. Finally decided to try the lasagna wrap that everyone always goes on about. Pretty good, actually.

More hanging out in the dealer’s den

All hail the Great Giraffe! Brrrreeee!

Dinner at Primanti’s with  StevieMaxwell and  Nightfirex

Friday and Saturday nights, downtown Pittsburgh was more alive than I have ever seen it. There were people everywhere, and not just furries. It was amazing.

Back to the FBA suite, hanging out, breeze shooting, games.  Fraddas showed up.

Saturday, toured the art show, bought a print in the dealer’s den from an artist I had never heard of and may not even have an FA: ar.gi.bi

Fursuit parade. I was in the dealer’s den when they passed through, so it was not until later that I saw the pictures and heard about the amazing turnout outside. I love Pittsburgh; the relationship between the con and the city is extraordinary.

Made some Bad Decisions in tabletop gaming

Story Hour!

Dinner at Tonic. They were out of the Mac & Cheese, so I had a burger. I heard by the end of the weekend they were out of nearly everything. I heard Ben & Jerry’s ran out of ice cream. Furries are hungry

Back to the FBA suite for Cards Against Humanity

Sunday morning, car show. The highlights for me were the 1954 Dodge Coronet and the 1956 Studebaker Commander.

Brief swing through the dealer’s den. Crossed paths with  EerieSilverfox Ran into the FBA crew again.

Fursuit Dance Competition Finals, amazing as always. Kotto’s performance really stands out in my memory.

Foxes & Fools in tabletop gaming

Closing ceremonies never mean the con is over.

Chinese for dinner in the FBA suite. “The person closest to you is more important than you think” in bed.

Late Sunday evening Shane broke out his Oculus Rift and terrified us all. I got physically dizzy while sitting on a perfectly stationary ottoman. Did not get back to my own room until very late.

Left Monday a little after noon. I think this is the first time I have ever been ready to go home on Monday morning. I was thoroughly conned out.

I took the scenic route home on US 30, which conveniently brought me past the Flight 93 National Memorial. I had to stop and visit. The events of that day are still ingrained on my memory, and being there brought a lot of it back.

Happened to run into a couple other furries there also taking the scenic route home.

Got home around 7 PM.

Regrets? I wish I could bilocate so I could have gotten to spend more time in the dances, or even gone to them nights other than Thursday, while simultaneously enjoying myself with the FBA crew. Same with going to “Can You Read It?,” a panel I have enjoyed in past years and missed this year. Also, I wish I had seen more of my own roommates, because they are awesome people.

The Zoo seemed kinda dead whenever I dropped by, which was only two or three times.

All in all, BEST CON EVER