Sit back and grab a snack, 'cause this is going to be a ramble.
TL;DR, Furnal Equinox 2016 was great. Extra corn and extra cheese thanks to everyone for various things.

As I type this, I've only just come back from Furnal Equinox 2016. Granted, I was tired for most of it and a little less involved than the previous years as a result, but it was a memorable convention nonetheless. I didn't get to speak to most people I had gotten acquainted with in the previous years, but that's okay. I got to meet plenty of other people, and also to speak to one of the guests of honour for this year, TaniDaReal. It was kinda unusual and a bit frightening to get started, but it definitely ended up being a very enjoyable talk.

The reason this year is special, though, is because it marks the first time that I've shared this account in person with people. I was always very afraid that I would be judged harshly for drawing the things that I do, but I took a risk this year and was amazingly surprised. Literally no one raised a bother about it. I'm so very relieved to come to that realization, that no one in the furry community is judging me for liking or drawing certain things. I knew furries weren't very judgmental to begin with, but this is really the first time that I've been so directly struck by that acceptance and tolerance, and it makes me very happy.

It's also a very special convention to me because in addition to that, it's the first time I feel I've been able to promote myself and share contact information so freely. It always felt wrong for me to advertise myself until now, and I think I'm getting over that feeling. For this, I have to thank everyone over the years who encouraged me to make myself more well-known, to spread my name out. It took all this time but I'm starting to do it, and I don't think I would have if I hadn't felt like it could be a good idea.

While I'm thanking people, there are a few others that I'd like to mention. First of all, even if none of them are reading this, a big thank you to everyone who attended Furnal Equinox, whether over the years or for the first time this year. The ambience just wouldn't be the same without so many of you great, friendly, weird, loving and fantastic people.

It seems, also, that there are now over 100 people following my account! A very special thank you to  rears for popping that three-figure cherry!
I'd also like to thank everyone else who's following me. I might just be a niche kinky artist, but every one of you is significant to me, the sign that something that I've made and continue to make is appreciated, even if it's weird. I don't want to take any of you guys for granted, nor do I want to think of you only as part of "my statistics", and if I had the drive (and didn't think it would be awkward to go and leave shouts on so many people's pages), I would thank each of you individually.

I'm on a roll with the gratitude! Let's keep going with the super-special thanks, for those people who are closest to me.
First off  sketchmaster, probably my oldest friend at this point. You're always around and even though you might not know what to do to help me sometimes, it's still good to know I have someone to rely on.
 freedfenrir, for supporting me throughout the years and making it plain and simple that, yes, at least one person does love what I do. I might not always follow your advice directly, but it always ends up being an important factor in my decisions.
 cpt-night, while we may not talk all that often, I always feel good while I'm talking to you. I don't know many others who have the same interests as me, so it's nice to be able to connect with someone on that level.
 heisui, for giving me a chance and making me feel appreciated, not as an artist but as a person. A lot of good things happened in only a year for me, so if I can, I'd like to make the same happen for you too.
And last but not least,  murphyalter,  obeythesnarf, and Shiro who, I think, doesn't have an FA. You guys might not have done anything tremendous like single-handedly putting my life back in order, but you do give me a sense of community, the feeling of stability that gives some semblance of structure to my day-to-day routine.

There's so many more people that I didn't mention, but just because I didn't say your name doesn't mean I don't appreciate you, nor does it mean that you haven't made my life better. Maybe I don't know you well enough yet, or maybe I'm just not sure what to say. Either way, I hope by the next time I start thanking friends, I can include you in the list.
And I know it's cheesy as heck to just start thanking people out of nowhere like that, but I think it's important to do it one way or another. If I didn't do it now, maybe I never would. It's kinda overshadowing the convention wrap-up at this point, but really, I think the event itself may not be quite as important to me as what it means and the changes it brings. And really, that's about all this is; I want to communicate the things that are important to me. Love, caring, support, and improvement.

If you've read through this whole essay, you're a real champ, 'cause this is really unreasonably long for a journal. One final thank you to you if you did, for reading it through.