Oh
Mah
Goodness

I drive in on Thursday with my biznatch, , and we get checked in.
Not FIVE MINUTES LATER (and I'll spare the details) I got an eyeful of BUTTSEX. I made new friends and they invited me into their room to check times for the artist alley... and the guys in the room were BUTTSEXING.
Now, I have no problem with the gay populous in the furry community (gay dudes are win) but put a freakin' do not disturb sign up.
Geez.
I feel bad for the poor girl who had to room with them. I mean, there were 5 GUYS in there. WOAH. And they didn't even respond when we walked in the room. I made fast tracks back to my room, much to Red's amusement.

*cue music*
It's a dick in a butt!

SO ANYWAY, our roomies show up and get settled. They were pretty freaking sweet, and now I have four new awesome-sauce friends to annoy. , , , and were totally cool and a blast to have! LOVES YOU GUYS!

Friday morning was the mad rush for Artist Alley. They only had 16 spots in line, and I was NUMBAH 17. Fail. The worst part was, lineup was like 9 or 10 in the morning, and I didn't get a table til 5pm. I sat around in the zoo the entire time, waiting. It sucked because the people at tables would give the table to their friends when they were done, so even though I was the first person turned away in the morning, I couldn't get a table for hoooours.
It turned out great though, because came down that day and we got to hang out for the first time in almost a year. (So long the big doof forgot my real name for a minute and I had to give him a hard time... LOVE YOU Shawntaaaae!)
It was also cool that I got to sit next to the ever awesome and totally fab who is a WHIZ at cranking out sweet art. She's totally cool and I'm going to pester the heck out of her online from here on out. YOU'LL NEVER GET AWAY BLOOD... NEVAR.

The second day was better for AA. The staff added many more tables and I got a seat in the back next to EbonyLeopard. We had a great time encroaching on each others space and bantering/catching up while people window shopped our table. We stayed almost the entire day, and I had a blast. I need to go to north to see my buds more often. I miss them already.
The highlight for me that day was when I got a new neighbor at the table beside me... . OMG, it's like my long lost furry bff, come back to raid my crops and claim his rightful place as head of the village. Srsly. We got along SO well, and I think our geek was showing a little as we gabbed over Neil Gaiman, Anime, and Baba Yaga. I was so happy, squished between two awesome dudes and selling art.
Then I met and was like WHOA. We chatted about Art History (lol nerds) and furries and all kinds of stuff, until my room started to fill up and I think my roomies scared him off. BAD ROOMIES, NO COOKIE.

I donned the Pinata for Saturday (after more awesome AA time with EbonyL) and was escorted around the lobby (by the same black kitty!) to the amusement of furries and hotel staff alike. I really really really want a copy of the picture of me hitting the bartender in the butt with a riding crop... if any of you have it, SEND IT! I promise arts and love in return.
I got down to the semi-hoppin rave (AC's will have to make up for FCN's, it was only so-so) and danced my butt off for a little bit. I got to see there and adorned him with my glow-chain necklace. I loves that panda burr.

There was much alcohol to be had for my roommates. Red was SO FREAKIN FUNNY with some booze in her, and I loled my nights away. I know Ebony had a blast with her too, and we need to get her more juice for our get togethers in the future. (Which we WILL have, I'm super cereal people!) Poor Dingo was getting beat up on, physically and verbally, by all the lushes in our room. He's such an easy going guy, and took it all in stride. +Win.

The Dealers Den was pretty cool. Aside from the ever smexy Red Dog, I got stuff from Tracy Butler (omg omg omg), Mary Mouse, and others! I can't wait to scan all the stuff I got to show off! XD

I made so many amazing new friends, got to do stuff for so many awesome commissioners ( and were so freaking awesome to finally meet! SUBASAURUS, RAWR!) and I broke even for the weekend so I'm a happy 'yote!

On a slightly more serious, albiet happy note, I think this con really solidified my confidence in furry art. I've always been highly critical of my own work, and I've always felt like a little fish in a school of big, brightly colored mega-feesh. This con gave me a HUGE confidence boost. I had lots of compliments and got a fair amount of commissions. Only a handful of people thought I was "the" Kyoht, and I was asked to draw in a sketchbook with the likes on Gnaw, Shawntae Howard, MaxBlackRabbit, Red Dog, Heather Burton, and MORE on the merit of my own art! (Last year someone mistook me for Kyoht and commissioned me, and I didn't realize it until he had paid and picked up his book... a real stab in the heart to me.)
I feel like I improved in the four days I spent there. :D I'm so happy.

I HAD A BLAST. I can't wait for Anthrocon!
OMG there are SO many stories I could share, but think this journal is long enough already. I LOVE ALL OF YOOOOOU, YOU CRAZIES!

Thanks for making this con the awesome-con.