Maybe you noticed, maybe you haven't, but this account has been dead since December. Short answer for as to why, my computer died. I've had a new one for a while now and have been putting off touching this site again, for no particular reason other than feeling kinda "eh." Without much in the way of a legal venue to suit (thanks church street market place) and being swamped between two jobs (haven't had a day off in over a month) I haven't found myself much pulled back into interacting here. Sorry for the late reply to some notes. So what's new with y'all?

After Furpoc I have finally resolved to break into the world of dance comp.
Yesterday I tried to do everything at once. I did research on the style I want to work with, put on my suit feet and got in-front of a mirror that showed the floor only, and focused on footwork. I kept getting exhausted, so I decided to do a cardio workout. When I was breathless after 15 minutes I decided to work on some strength training. When my arms and legs were aching, I went back to watching tutorials, finding music I like, and some more work in front of the mirror.

Overall I had some encouraging, and some discouraging moments. The issue you can probably see is, I'm fighting a battle on many fronts. I'm not sure what I should focus on. I can't throw myself at everything at once. The end result is that today I feel pretty burnt out and all my muscles are telling me I'm a dumbass. I know I want to leave choreography for last, once I have the basics of this style down, and I know I need to get my stamina up as well. I'm just not sure how to balance all that. I've never had any kind of fitness regiment before in my life, and though we have a weight bench, treadmill, and stationary cycle, I have no idea how to really use them all or pace myself.

I'm not in it to win it, I want to have fun and get in shape on the way. I want to entertain.

Thanks in advance for any help.

I wasn't sure if I was gonna make it this year and thankfully things have come together.

For beer I am bringing a dozen of each of the following.

Pumpkin Stout: I'm very proud of this one. Last time I attempted to brew one I went too heavy on the pie spices and ended up with a beer that tasted a bit too much like a Yankee Candle. This one is more subtle, and very sweet, with maple syrup used as the carbonating sugar. Made with one huge 20 pound Vermont organic pumpkin that was oven roasted before mashing in with the grains. Full bodied for sure. All home grown Cascade hops in this one.

London Porter: Very malt forward using Fuggles and home grown Cascade hops, roasted barley, and dark malts. A short high temperature mash results in a very sweet full bodied beer. English ale yeast contributes nicely to this one.

India Pale Ale: In the tradition of casked IPA this one has been maturing for the longest, and was fermented with oak to add character. Using East Kent pellets and fresh Cascade and Centenial hops, Burtonized water, and all pale grains this was my first attempt at an IPA since reading a whole book cover to cover on the IPA style. I would be very happy with this one if I have not since discovered myself capable if creating even better tasting hoppy beers.

Fresh Hop Pale Ale: Made with fresh Cascade and Centennial hops from the back yard, still alive and kicking as they went into the mash tun, kettle, fermenter, and the bottle. This ale epitomizes the smell of a fresh plucked hop crushed to the nose. I used hops in every stage of brewing, and it's such a lovely beer it breaks my heart every time I down one. If every beer I brew or drink for the rest of my life had to be the same, I'd stick with this one if I do say so myself. Indeed, as my stash diminishes I wonder with worry if I will ever produce a beer so lovely and hoppy as this one.

Step one:
Eat a gas station burrito on the way to Pittsburgh.
Step two:
Get so sick that the entire con all you can manage to eat is a few bites before you want to throw up.
Step three:
Suit at least twice a day, and use the stairs as often as possible, also make sure the escalators are constantly broken.


With this plan I lost a whopping six pounds in six days. You can too!

Despite being under the weather most of the con I managed to get a lot done this year. I can't wait for the flood of pictures to commence. I know a lot of people got pictures of my new suit which I adore! Thanks to everyone who made this year awesome, you know who you are.

Hey there! I've been something of a plant geek all my life, but up until this summer I have not delved into the world of horticulture outside my own personal gardening experience. Working in a nursery this year has greatly expanded my expertise and I would like to turn this into a career. I can visit a site and asses the soil quality, lighting conditions, and wind conditions for a yard and tell you what would be good to plant where. I can also tell you all about what is already growing, including herb lore and wild edibles. I eventually want to do this for money but right now I am offering this service for Free! Keep in mind I have two jobs and my free time is limited, and I have lots to do in my own garden. If you can compensate my time and fuel with something like beer, artwork, or a meal I'd be very grateful.

I am also going to be cutting back some of my rambunctious fruiting brambles and will be offering plant starts. I have black raspberry and black berry. Both are heavy fruiting, adventurous and spreading specimens that were already growing on the property when I arrived. I will be happy to plant these perhaps in exchange for aforementioned favors and or dividable plants already on your property I might be interested in.

I can also offer you catnip seed of the same strain I make my beer with. I originally found it growing along the railroad tracks in Winooski. Sew seeds in late fall, harvest sparingly late in the season the next year, and heavily the following year. Mulch with leaves or straw in winter. A member of the mint family this musky pungent herb is great mixed into iced or hot teas to chill out and laze about. Or just give it to your cat for a good time.

And in the world of beer, I have created an Irish Red Ale with Orange Habanero peppers.

Anyone in Burlington Sunday? I can't visit my father because I have to work at 6 pm but if anyone has the day free and wants to suit (weather permitting) is welcome! I was thinking about starting at noon on church street.

So I'm going with the Chocolate Oatmeal Stout featuring Alehoof also known as Turnhoof or Creeping Charlie. Sounds suspiciously equine to me, and the herb has little horse hoof shaped leaves. It has a fresh mowed hay smell to it, and when presented to my roommate for a sniff with no prompting she described it as smelling "Like horse feed." I am starting with a limited three gallon batch of this to feature at AC at certain room parties >.> Help me think of a good horsy name for it, and please keep it clean. I'm wondering if I should add fresh carrot juice at bottling?

Also, according to the first herb manual I ever owned it is "Appetizer, astringent, digestive, diuretic, pectoral, stimulant, tonic. Ground ivy is helpful in relieving diarrhea, and inflammation of mucous membranes, as in colds, sore throat, and bronchitis, snuffing the fresh juice us the nose often helps nasal congestion, and headache, it has been used for problems caused by hypoacidity, for catarrhal enteritis, and for liver ailments. Ground ivy has also be beneficial in cases of neurasthenia, and morbid hysteria; and, made into a bath additive, it is said to be good for sciatica, gout, gravel, and stones. The fresh juice may be given to small children for tummyache. To stimulate appetite and promote digestion, use a decoction of the dried herb."

I Apothacer, as an apothecar, enjoy bringing my friends beers brewed with interesting combinations of herbs. As a furry I like to blend the two. Many of you are well aquainted with my catnip beer but I want to branch out a bit. While working in my garden I've been inspired to try a few other animal themed herbal brews.

First would be a more equine brew. It would be an Oatmeal Stout of course but to supplement the hops I would use Alehoof also known as Creeping Charlie. This troublesome and robust weed has been used as a beer additive since ancient times, and it's hoof shaped leaves have given it the name Ale-hoof. I'd call it Charlie Horse Oatmeal Stout.

For a canine brew I'd like to do something exciting like brewing with some home grown hot chilies to incorporate into a red ale. Something to leave you panting. Not sure on a name yet.

To add an ursine twist I was going to do something with the bumper crop of blueberries, blackberries, or black raspberries I have coming along in my yard, along with some honey. Not sure on a name yet.

Any other suggestions, or suggestions for names? It will be a while before I get to these, though I'm drying the Alehoof now on my patio. In my fermenter at the moment is a batch of pitch black porter hopped with home grown cascade hops, bayberry also known as wax myrtle, and black spruce tips. Both those herbal additives were alternatives to hops for early colonists to New England. Today I will be switching that one over to the secondary fermenter and starting up an Extra Special Bitter using a grab bag of hops left to me by a friend and brewer who was moving away. In other news the catnip beer has been tasted and it's the most catnippy brew I've ever created, with a thick head on a golden amber ale.

This year's batch of Catnip Ale is about to go into bottles. A full six gallons of an Amber Ale, kissed with home made maple syrup as the priming sugar, is being bottled with an experimentally high amount of catnip. Six ounces of dried home-grown catnip leaves, buds, and flowers went in as a finishing hop and a full six more dried ounces just went in at bottling to "dry hop" it with more catnip. This is easily the most potently catnipy catnip beer I have ever created. Much of it will be going to a friend who requested it be brewed, and the rest is to share sparingly with all of you. For those who have not yet tried or heard of my special brew, it tends to cause vivid dreams bordering on nightmares. Plenty of people will attest to this. I am curious to see what happens now that I have kicked the catnip factor up to eleven.

Looking up Plant Diseases is like looking up disturbing venereal diseases. Seriously, Fire blight in pears gives the blue waffle a run for it's money.

Last year at St. Patty's day I didn't touch a drop because of antibiotics. This year, I will drink twice as much to make up for it. Gonna be mixing fresh ginger juice, Fireball Whisky, and Hot Cider with lemon and honey. Oh yeah. Also got the makings of some Dark and Stormies.

Here he is! http://www.furaffinity.net/view/12895876/

I am pleased as peaches right now, just over the moon. I can't wait to wear this guy around! Coming soon to a VT fur meet, and Anthrocon near you!

Winning!

http://www.wptz.com/Mardi-Gras-rock.....-City/24772378


Also, I will be selling selling shrubbery. I will be... a shrubber!

This was posted to FA back in 2008 and it's as relevant today as it was then.

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/998722/

Thank you, that is all.

The flooded garage, blown tire, and fiance in bed with a fever of 103 kinda weekends. Send hug... no wait... Booze. Send booze.

Hub bub bub bub blurb blurb

Henna tattoos

April carrot cake Monterey

Cheese curds

Neck beard sundays

I close at the pizza place I work on Mondays. We close at midnight and when it quiet's down we can get our cleaning tasks done and be out of there by 12:30 AM on a good night. At 11:00 Wallmart ordered 20 pizzas ($389 and change worth of pizza) which they wanted delivered at midnight for a staff party. We worked our asses off just trying to get orders out the door on time from that point on. Pizza's were delivered on time with a smile, complimentary plates and napkins they hadn't ordered but I figured they would need, and I even helped them inside making two trips to my car. I stacked them up for them according to kind of pizza all hot and fresh and steaming. I was paid $400 in cash. That's it. Ten bucks and change. Now because of how much pizza we were making right up till the end of the night it wasn't until 2 in the morning that I got to cash out and clock out.

On the up side, someone tipped me ten dollars on a 20 dollar order my first run of the night. If I were a very zen person I would be just as happy to receive the 10 from Wallmart as the 10 from the overly generous customer but the actions of Wallmart kept me at work for an extra hour and a half at $5 an hour.

To the rest of you, Merry Christmas, and remember to tip generously.

Working with wiggas puts me in close contact with this kinda material.

EDIT: Issue now resolved, I'll be coloring in some line art to resolve this, just leaving this up so I don't loose the links.

I'm finding myself in a bit of a pickle. I need a three view ref sheet for my fursuit. I didn't realize it until now since nothing has changed with my character in the last decade but last time Tweeko worked on Apo it was just a partial. If anyone knows of a generic fox ref sheet line art for me to color in and take a picture of, or is willing to throw one together for me I'd be ever so grateful. It doesn't have to be snazzy it just has to get the point across. Most important is it has to be three view. Thanks in advance to anyone who helps and if someone does end up drawing me something I'll have to find a way to repay you with beer, soap, or anything else I might be able to offer.

First of all thank you to everyone who showed up yesterday to make last night awesome. If you haven't already said thanks to our favorite corgi  rsrallygrl who did all the short stubby leg work in organizing this please do so! Syl and I couldn't have done this without her. I could ramble on and on about how well last night went but I think if you were there you already know what I'm talking about.

On to lost and found. Note me if any of these items are yours.

The item we have that I'm most worried about getting back to the rightful owner is a set of keys. The key chain has Champ on it and two brass keys are attached. I'd be willing to mail them if you came a long way to get to our house.

Next is a Korean War Veterans kitchen towel. It's all white and fluffy and in better shape than any kitchen towel in this house so I'm sure someone wants it back.

Third are a set of lovely red oven mits with a black rubberized gripping surface.

Last is a six inch tall ten inch diameter white plastic Tupperware bottom. Please, we have more white plastic bowls in this house than we know what to do with.

Again, note me if any of these are yours.

Okay ruined is kind of an exaggeration. I still got lots of compliments on Apo this Halloween handing out candy. What was different was that every kid and parent that were able to identify me as a fox inevitably made some connection to "what does the fox say?" Mind you I was wearing it with my lab coat at the time. Am I doomed to forever be synonymous with a viral video whenever suiting among the general public?

While I could talk about something really cruddy that happened this year I am instead left thinking only of just how rich of a man I am in friendship. That and most of you heard the story from me in person. I came to this con with only two nights and virtually no money to spend. All of the badges I wear are entirely free or virtually free from close friends. I left with a blanket made by Lucky Chance that saved my butt from freezing a few times, and I'm wrapped up in it now. The biggest struggle of this con is making it twenty feet without running into someone I know and want to talk with. That and spending even just a little time with people I look forward to seeing every year. Every year it feels like I have less and less time for more and more friends.

Fur Fright will always be my "Home" con. Driving there feels like coming home.

Highlights of the con in no particular order.

The dance competition where I went to cheer on more people than I can count on one hand only to be blown away by some new talent in the fandom.

The car show which demonstrated Murphy's Law but was still a lot of fun. It was worth every penny of my gas money just to bring my car to the show and see people smile. Anyone who has pictures of my car, if you could maybe help me get a hold of those as I have no camera. I ended up taking home a trophy! Furriest Car!

The FEMA Tent. If you have to ask you'll never know.

The Car Bar which was hosted in the trunk of the car that won "Biggest Hoop-Dee."

Molly's room party, or what I can remember of it.

The headless lounge, seriously, I have the best conversations in there.

Stopping at the Kringle Complex on the way back to VT. There I was surprise gifted with a very nice candle by a certain corgi who was very slick about figuring out which one I would have bought had I the money. Her and Angel were also generous with delicious chocolates.

I could go on and on about how well the con was run and how nice everyone was but it would trail off into quite the ramble.

And yes, next year there will be much more catnip beer coming.

Arriving Friday morning. Departing Sunday night.

I plan on entering beasty in the car show even though she's still very much a WIP. Other than that nothing on the to do list besides drink with friends, dance my ass off, see the dance competition, and do some suiting. Sadly on the suiting front my eczema has come back the past few months on my forearms and the insides of my knees so wearing the leg and arm sleeves for my suit is out of the question for this con at least.

In other news, been out of work for a few months now after the working conditions at McD's made my eczema bad to the point where I just had to quit, no hard feelings. Trying for a step up in the world rather than a lateral move though there aren't that many jobs you could consider lateral in comparison with feeding the pigs on old Mac Donald's farm.

On a lighter note I'm typing this with a new computer!  dingozipper got a never before used, redundant, and therefor free hp compaq nx9030 through his work. Since my gutted and refurbished iBookG4 died in late April 2012 I've been sharing  Sylrynn's old school laptop. It's not the fastest but it's be good to finally have my own machine again.

Yes I said hand, not paw... Freaks... So, I know I had some of you help me with my last DTD, I made it wrong apparently and have to re-make it using one of those disposable painters suits. Anyone free sometime this week to help me out? I will hopefully have my phone working again later today, lost the third charger in the life of my phone. I can also give anyone a ride who needs it, and compensate your time with beer, food, and the inevitable laughs that come from duct taping a human being from the neck down.

This summer I will be fishing the commercial striped bass season with my brother on Cape Cod. It will mean long days at sea but only four days a week. Wish me all luck and see you on the other side!