Hi FA, it's been a while. I'm still around. Headed up to Anthrocon 2023 tomorrow. I'll be spending most of my time trying to keep things running on time over in the DLCC, but I'll also be performing with Rhubarb on the Friday dinner cruise, and helping make Anthrocon Tonight happen on Saturday afternoon. You know how to find me (and if you don't, just ask) :D

Maybe I should visit FA more regularly... again... :D

This morning I woke up to the news that Calamity Cougar / Draconis / Jugular Jaguar suffered a massive stroke overnight and has passed away. I'm absolutely devastated. Calamity was one of the first real characters I met in the fandom. He was a tireless supporter, with a fearless force of will to get things done. He was larger than life and down to earth at the same time and leaves a giant, cougar-sized hole in the fandom and our hearts. RIP my friend.

I didn't expect much out of this Christmas beyond a nice day off before heading to work tonight that would include a bit of a sleep in, opening gifts with Rhubarb, and a nice meal of some sort. I certainly did not expect a twist worth of O Henry.

As I enjoyed my morning coffee, I thought "better change your Facebook banner photo - it still says Christmas Eve." After some thought, I came up with the idea to use a photo of the Steinway Vertigrand piano in Abbey Road Studios - the one played by the Beatles on some of their recordings, but (for me) most notably by Mrs. Mills, a famous British pianist. (Google her.) It's not something most people would pick up on - it's just a photo of a very old, run down piano keyboard.

I chose it to remind myself of some goals I've had, one of which is to keep saving enough money to go to Abbey Road Studio 2 and record a CD of old pub songs. I don't think this is something anyone would necessarily want to buy (always a few friends, but it's not full of "all the epic feels" and other sorts of things furries are into.) And to be honest, what I really want to do is just put my hands on that instrument and play it; to be in the physical presence of that piano and its history.

I thought I was going to live that dream when a fellow musician approached me in February 2015 and mentioned that he was going to record there, and that he wanted Rhubarb and I to participate. I was elated!!! Perhaps more-so than I should have been, in hindsight. By November of 2015, it had become clear that no only was I no longer going to be part of the project, Rhubarb had been asked specifically to keep me in the dark, lest I tag along uninvited.

The session came and went and I destroyed myself emotionally trying to remain supportive of Rhubarb's participation but dying a little bit more every time the band in which I once played did another show without me. Going to cons almost broke me. I still can't tell you why any of this happened, and when I finally asked, neither could the fellow musician. I decided back in 2016 that if I wanted to live the dream, I'd have to make it happen on my own. For the past couple of years I've been slowly working on a three-disc project, one of which is to be the CD of Pub Songs recorded on the Mrs. Mills piano at Abbey Road.

So, Christmas morning 2018. I've changed my Facebook banner photo. A while later, Rhubarb suggests that the next couple of weeks we have off together would be great for recording all the songs we've done at cons and said we would record, but haven't yet. I agreed. He asks for some help in his studio - can i play piano while he fiddles around with settings? Of course. I sit down to the piano and have barely played one chord when I recognise that this is NOT his usual piano setting. It is the Mrs. Mills piano. He has cleverly purchased a virtual instrument collection of classic Abbey Road keyboards and installed it on his studio computer. I began to cry. I barely managed to ask if what I heard was true. It was. The kicker? He hadn't seen my Facebook banner photo yet. Talk about a coincidence!

We played and fiddled with settings for a good hour whilst enjoying a cuppa from the new coffee maker with which I'd surprised him this morning. We tried all sorts of piano samples, microphone profiles, etc. It's not quite the same as having your hands on the actual instrument but the sound is amazing.

So, this week I hope we can get at least half a dozen songs recorded. I hope I can remember some of them - half of what I write exists in the moment of a con show and I have to rely on other people's videos to jog my memory. And on New Year's Eve, I plan to write down that fellow musician's name on a slip of paper, tear it up, and toss it into the bonfire. It's how I let things go. I don't know why it works, but it does. It allows me to move on, and I have to move on. That friendship has been broken for years now. I don't know if it's reparable, but if it's to be salvaged at all, I have to let it go and move forward.

In the meanwhile, I have the best, most amazing husband in the world, and I'm incredibly lucky to have him.

Merry Christmas, Rhubarb.
Merry Christmas, Mrs. Mills.
Merry Christmas, fellow musician.
Merry Christmas one and all.

Once upon a time, I didn't know anything about convention-going. I didn't know about the fun you have, the friendships that grow, or any of that. I felt sort of depressed after my first con was over. "Don't worry", said everyone, "you just have PCD."

So there was a name for it: Post-Con Depression. After my second con, I knew what to expect. I probably welcomed it, knowing it was going to happen, and that it was part of the con-going process.

After a year or so of con-going, I noticed I no longer fell into a depressive slump afterwards. I had learned to forestall PCD by already planning my next con. It was great - but it didn't really cure the PCD because it didn't allow me to go through the separation and grieving process with the con that had just ended.

I started to go to more cons. Eventually I realised I was going through PCD before the con was even over. I thought "I'm just exhausted" but really, I was going through the PCD process early because the next con around the corner was already fighting for attention.

Last year I did eight cons, and I think that was too much. I'm not sure I got to fully enjoy every second of them all because to make them happen I would fly in at the last minute or leave a little early to get back to work. "No time for PCD - I have to get to work so I can get back to the next con!"

This year I've cut back. I'm still tired from last year. And I've made a conscious choice to enjoy every bit of the con experience: the planning, the arrival, the con itself, and yes, even the PCD afterwards. I think it's okay. Healthy, even.

I'm writing this because we've just finished Just Fur The Weekend Closing Ceremonies and my emotional pool is drained. Instead of trying to quickly refill it, though, I'm going to take my time. There are so many people and memories to cherish, I don't WANT to rush to my next con. It's in five weeks (Hi, Confuzzled!) and there will be plenty of time to enjoy that one when it finally arrives. :D

I have a Christmas favour to ask: If you're willing, would you take a moment to visit http://www.broadwayworld.com/orland......XQAhqFks.dpbs, and vote for "Christopher Leavy - The Fantastics" in the Best Music Direction category? I've no hope of winning, but I would like to make a decent showing. Ours is a very small theatre, and we're always up against these behemoth groups with 10 or more times the cast/crew/audience. I know it's just an online popularity contest, but if you're willing, it would mean the world to me. Thanks, and have a happy Christmas!!

I don't usually do these, but...

********

1. What is your name?
Cosmik

2. What is your gender?
Meat and Two Veg

3. How old are you?
Age is just a number...

4. How tall are you?
5' 11.5"

5. Are you in a relationship?
Yes

6. Where are you staying?
The Metropole

7. What day are you getting there?
First thing Thursday morning.

8. Who will you be with?
Probably Rhubarb, most of the time, and my JFTW family.

9. Do you have art in the art show?
Nope

10. What suit(s) will you have?
Navy pinstripe

11. Can I dance with you?
Oh dear, I don't really dance. Unless that was a euphemism... you Brits are so hard to read.

12. Can I touch you?
Yes.

13. Can I talk to you?
PLEASE talk to me. No, talk WITH me. Let's converse and get to know each other. :)

14. Can I hug you?
Absolutely! I am a massive hugger.

15. Can I take photos of you/with you?
Yes, if I can do the same with you. :)

16. Can I buy you lots of drinks?
I will not say "no".

17. Do you drink Alcohol/Smoke?
I am a social drinker, but not a smoker.

18. Can I give you lots of money?
Sure, especially if you're tipping me whilst I play piano, because those tips will go to the charity.

19. Can I hang out with you?
Please do!

20. How will I recognize you?
Most likely by my beard and all the Union Jack clothing.

21. Where will you be most of the time during the con?
Working Art Show mid-days, performing and drinking in the evenings

22. Who are you rooming with?
Rhubarb

23. Attending any events?
I'm doing a show with Rhubarb on Monday at 17:00, and I'll be at PawPets for sure... everything else is "whatever I can get to."

24. How can I find you at the con?
If you can't actually find me, just poke me on Telegram or Twitter (therealcosmik) or text me and we'll find each other.

25. Are you doing anything in line with the theme?
I ordered a themed badge, does that count? Maybe I'll do a carnival song in the show. :D

As you probably know, Sir George Martin (the man who signed and produced the Beatles) passed away yesterday (9 March 2016) at the age of 90. It's going to be a long slow sad, but I wanted to sing a little something in his memory last night at the pub, so this is what I came up with.

https://youtu.be/55alSs_YmQ0

Let's call it what it is - a popularity contest. The winner is always the show with the most people involved because they all vote for their shows.

That said...

I'll just throw this out there - I'd love to have a few more votes thrown my way, and I know so many people online here - there's no cost to you beyond a few minutes of your time. Put in your e-mail (I can promise they don't spam you) and then vote for Christopher Leavy under the Best Music Direction - Professional category. I'm actually nominated twice, so let's go with Marvelous Wonderettes, because that one is already ahead.

I won't win, but I'd like to do better than 4%.

Can you help me with this? Here's the link:

http://www.broadwayworld.com/orland.....2015region.cfm

Thanks friends!

Happy New Year!

I have a charmed life. I get paid to do something that I love. I am paid well enough to afford the rent, the car, enough food, and still have money left over for a few nice things, like cons and art and dinner out and a nice (if older) computer and other things that make life comfortable. I have the best husbear ever. I have furry friends I see fairly regularly. I have an audience for my music. I have my health.

Sometimes, it's very easy to forget that. Sometimes I think "why don't I earn more?" or "why isn't this going my way?" or "why can't I have what so-and-so has?" or "why does that person get to do that thing when I don't?" or... you get the idea.

It's then that I have to take a step back and think about the people I know - the wonderful, amazing people I know - who don't have what I have. The people who work at jobs they detest just to make a living. The people who don't have the circle of support that gets them through the year, waiting for that one con they CAN afford, where all is right with the world for most of a week. The people who give and give everything they have of themselves and get comparatively little in return. And it's then that I feel a bit ashamed for wanting more.

So I'm taking this moment to be grateful for everything I have, and to put out there in the universe that I hope to never take all that I have for granted, and that I hope I can raise up others along my path.

Thank you, universe. And especially, thank YOU, person who read this. Thank you for making my life better. :)

At the Eurofurence closing ceremonies, RhubarbTheBear handed me the mic and asked if I had anything to say. It appeared I didn’t… because I was so overcome with emotion that I literally could not speak. Sound would not come from my throat. But there was much I had to say, and I would like to say it now.

First and foremost, there are people to thank.

Thank you to all the attendees who welcomed two relatively unknown US furs and made us feel like Rock Stars for the week. Your attendance was overwhelming (seriously, EF attendees are FAR more supportive of musical acts than at US cons!) Your support and appreciation mean the world to us, and to me especially. Without you, there is no reason for us to perform.

Thank you everyone who came up and introduced yourself to a shy American who wants nothing more than to be friends with the world. From Tuesday night, when the first person I met said “I do not know you – drink this!”, you made Eurofurence a con like no other. Thank you for the port & cheese, the beers, the vanilla rum with the sludge at the bottom of the cup, the Croatian mystery liquor, for the candies and snack foods from all over Europe. Thank you for doodling in my sketch book (even the vore), for the drawing lessons, for the history and geography and language lessons, for the music around the campfire, for joining me at breakfast and dinner and just hanging out in the lobby, for the room parties, and letting me photograph so many of you so I can try to better remember you all. Thank you for all the hugs and skritches, for the FA watches and the Twitter follows and the Facebook likes and the Telegram adds.

Thank you to the board, staff and volunteers of Eurofurence for taking a chance and bringing a couple of little-known musicians to Berlin and treating us like royalty. Some of you I had met previously at Anthrocon and/or Megaplex, some of you were new to me. I wish we had more time to spend together outside of our working 25 hours a day. I hope in future years we can rectify this.

Thank you to the audio team, who worked even more hours than we did. We faced a lot of unexpected challenges, frustration ran high, and you always came through for us as we worked together to give the best show we were able.

Thank you to the GOH team, especially Arahn and Goldie, who practically gave up their con to ensure that ours was a good one. From the moment we arrived in Berlin to the moment we left, you were on top of everything, going WAY above and beyond anything that should be expected of any GOH team. You were not just our “handlers”, you were, and will always remain, our friends.

Thank you Cheetah for having a dream and the means to pursue it. If you had told me in advance what the Eurofurence 21 experience would be like, I would not have believed you. “Wishful thinking”, I’d have called it. To see you twisting and shouting with us on Friday night was for me one of the highlights of the con.

Most of all, thank you Fox Amoore. Thank you for your music, for your friendship, for your support, for your gracious humility on and off stage, for putting up with my often maddening idiosyncrasies and rehearsal process and making me feel I have something to offer the band, even when I don’t believe it myself. Thank you for whatever it was you did, or whatever it was you said, or whoever it was you… well, you know… you are ultimately the reason we were able to attend Eurofurence at all, and we will remain eternally indebted. I will gladly keep the refrigerator stocked with all the IrnBru you want, even if you never actually drink it. It will be right next to the Guinness. :D

Thank you, Eurofurence, for one of the greatest experiences of my life. I can’t decide if I want to come back every year, or if I should never return, because I fear any subsequent visit can never live up to the spectacular awesomeness of this year’s convention. (Hint: I choose not to live in fear.)

tl;dr Version: Anthrocon was awesome! It left me exhilarated and exhausted.

**********

Long version for anyone who cares: This was my third AC. I first attended two years ago and discovered that it is unlike any other con, at least the ones I had attended. With that many attendees, there's just too much. You will NOT see everyone you want to, you will NOT get to do everything you want to. Unless you set your sights stupidly low, it can't be done. So I learned very early on that AC is a con where you just don't plan anything - you show up and experience whatever comes your way. You can try to put yourself in the path of things and people with which and whom you wish to connect, but there are no guarantees.

I spent four days at my first AC (Thursday-Sunday) and six at my second (Wednesday-Monday). This year, because a) the date was shifted a week due to a prior convention centre booking precluding us from our usually July 4 weekend and b) the shifted production schedule at the Playhouse where I work, I had three days. That was a gift - I wasn't sure I would be able to attend at all. (Previous years, this would have been a performance weekend. This year, it was the end of rehearsal week one, and they graciously allowed me Friday off.) It was all fairly last minute in con time - I didn't know until a month out that I would have that opportunity (and if I had only Friday and Saturday, I'm not sure I would have attended. Too much money and trouble, too little payoff.)

But attend I did. I flew up after work on Thursday and arrived around Midnight. My con started with me in a crowded lobby where I didn't recognise anyone. It had been a long day already and I was tired and cranky and immediately started regretting the decision to attend. Fortunately, that quickly passed as I metaphorically hiked up my trousers and went about doing the con. First stop, credentials, immediately after which I ran into Syr, Kodi and Orion. Their simply being the right place at the right time turned my con around. Thanks guys! I got to my room just as the band rehearsal was breaking up (of course) and everyone took off except Rhubarb (of course), Matt Ebel and Runtt (happiness), so we went over the Courtyard and ran into Bucktown Tiger (more happiness) and headed up to meet Wolf and Onyxx in their room. By now it was after 1am, and I had an early morning coming up, so it was a short party for me, but much fun.

I was honoured to join the Reg staff this year. Thanks Sonic for adding me even though I told you last year I didn't think I could make the con. I pulled 4 hours on Friday and another 7 on Saturday. With my late arrival and other obligations, that was all I could pull. What other obligations? Glad you asked.

Lots of people attend AC and do a panel. Some even help out in one or two other panels. My schedule this year, aside from my Reg hours, was as follows:

Perform with Amadhia Albee, Friday 2pm
Perform with Fox Amoore, Friday 4:00pm
Perform with Bandthro (and the San Diego Chicken!), Friday 8:30pm
DJ Fursuit Friendly dance in the Allegheny Room, Friday 10-Midnight
Perform as a guest of the Jazz Show, Saturday 11pm
Perform with PepperCoyote, Sunday 11am
Perform with Rhubarb, Sunday 3:30pm
Host and Perform Dead Dog Pub Sing, Sunday 10-Midnight

That's right, I did six scheduled shows, one scheduled DJ set, and my annual unscheduled traditional Dead Dog Pub Sing. (It's nice that by now, hotel management knows me, and knows it's coming, and is prepared for it.)

In between all that, I actually got to the dealers den to say hi to some artists I know and buy a few pieces, enjoy some local cuisine (disappointed in Tonic's food service hours this year, but that lasagna wrap from Fernando's still satisfies, and I always enjoy my basic breakfast at Hanlon's. The outstanding rookie this year was Bill's Burgers in the Westin - damn fine food!) The liquor store closed Saturday at six - SIX! - so I didn't buy any. Turns out that was okay, as I barely had time, and Kazee give me another bottle of mead. I met Coopertom and JymFox (finally) and even though it was only badge recognition and "Hi! I know you!" in the lift, I saw DarkPhox, LupineAssassin and BitFox13. I saw Soba at the Pub Sing but he disappeared. I made some great new friends (Shosta, Contra, Staghorn/Jake, Mohr, Silence, et al) and, typically, never got to see some others or make contact with people who seemed interesting but then disappeared (like that Blue Otter who was at the Pub Sing for a little bit, or the guy with the leopard print hair.)

After the Pub Sing, I went upstairs and packed my bag, got maybe two hours of sleep, then headed back downstairs to catch the SuperShuttle which got me to the airport 90 minutes early, and where I sat ALL ALONE for an hour before the next passenger showed up. I wish you could just input a later pickup time. Ugh. But I got home this morning, and worked a full day at the Playhouse and a full night at the Pub in EPCOT, and I don't really know why I'm still awake; I'm still running on AC fumes. :)

So there are two things I'm taking away from this weekend. One is how incredibly proud I am of the reg staff. I'm a perfectionist - if I'm slow because I'm learning the new system, or have to hold the iine to call a supervisor for a problem, or whatever - it annoys me that I'm holding up the process. I want to get people through as quickly as possible (and I did a much better job of streamlining the process on Saturday.) But the cool thing is that countless people coming through the line commented on how much better it was running this year, so I thanked them and smiled and was pleased to be in such a well-oiled machine, even if I worried I was holding things up.

The other is music in the fandom, and the musicians that create it. In addition to all the stuff in which I participated, Bucktown and Niic both had shows. (I was hoping Niic would show up for the Pub Sing so I could meet him and get him to do some numbers, but I don't know if it's on his radar.) Anyway - the musicians I know in this fandom are, in addition to being insanely talented, some of the nicest, most collaborative people I know as well. Fox Amoore, for example, is the patron saint of Furry Musician Collaboration and Promotion. He's both the musician and the person I want to be when I grow up. There is not a diva bone in his body. He actively seeks out new musical talent in the fandom and happily spotlights the work of others in his Bandthro project. I can't wait to see how this event grows in future years under his leadership. PepperCoyote, I don't know if I can ever fully express how honoured I've been to accompany you in your show.

And then there's Rhubarb: my reason for being in the fandom (that's another story), my partner in music and life, my support every step of the way. He's the bear who actually DOES make me a better musician and person. He allowed me to horn in on his show, and now we're Guests of Honour at Eurofurence 2015. Talk about honoured!!!!

When people ask "Why furries?" I can answer this. The music. The people. The friendships. The room parties. (No, scratch that. I'm still waiting to get on that invite list.) ;D It's very easy to see how some people are consumed by the fandom. It's an awesome place to be, and there are times when I wish I could make a living touring the furry con circuit. (I'd have to have something to sell in the dealers den, of course, and then between that and performing, I'd never get to enjoy the con.) But for now, I'll take every second I can get and enjoy the hell out of it.

So yeah, THAT was my Anthrocon 2015. Exhaustion and Exhilaration. How was your weekend?

Where are you staying?
The Westin

What day are you getting there?
Arriving very late Thursday - like, probably Friday morning.
Leaving very early Monday morning - like, probably not going to sleep Sunday.

How are you traveling?
Air

Who will you be rooming with?
Rhubarb the Bear. Maybe others, if Rhubarb wants to split the room. :)

Who will you be hanging with during the convention?
The reg crew in the mornings, musicians in the afternoons and evenings, and anyone else who wants to hang out with me.

How is the best way to find you?
Find me onstage performing with Amadhia (Friday afternoon) or Fox Amoore (Friday evening) or Bandthro (Friday night) or Rhubarb (Sunday afternoon) or at the piano in the Westin 2nd floor lobby (managers willing) on Sunday night for my annual pub sing.

Are there any panels you might be attending?
I don't know if I'll get to any panels - I have a pretty full schedule already between working the reg desk and all the performances. In addition to the ones I'm playing, I'll also catch Matthew Ebel on Saturday afternoon and Pepper Coyote on Sunday morning.

What do you look like?
There's a "How to find Cosmik" meme in my gallery. It's still pretty accurate, except I won't be DJing on Saturday this year. Too busy doing music shows. :)

Will you be suiting?
No, I dress casually for cons.

Do you do free art?
Yes… I make lots of free music! Come to the shows. Come party at the dead dog pub sing!

Do you do trades?
No one's ever asked.

Do you do badges?
I'll draw the worse badge you've ever seen. It'll be a collector's item. :)

If you have an Artist's Table, what will you be selling?
I don't, but I'll be hanging with Fox Amoore and Pepper Coyote and Matthew Ebel at their tables.

What is your gender?
Male

How tall are you?
6 ft.

Can I talk to you?
I would love that!

Can I touch you?
I love hugs, and I'm a tactile person, but don't just surprise me with inappropriate touching. Get to know me first.

Can I visit your room?
Um...

Can I buy you drinks?
It would be rude to turn down your offer, therefore I accept.

Can I hug or snuggle with you?
See "Can I touch you?"

Are you nice?
I like to think so, but I still have some social anxiety which can come off as standoffish. I don't mean to be - I promise I'm a lovely person.

Will you be going to parties?
Only if I'm invited.

If I see you, how should I get your attention?
Just approach me. I'm very approachable, but not from a distance because ADD and stuff.

Can I come with you for food/fun/etc?
The more the merrier. That said, I rarely initiate food/fun/etc. - I'm always tagging along with someone else.

Can I look in your sketchbook?
Yes. Hopefully I'll remember to bring it.

Can I draw in your sketchbook?
I would be honoured! Unless you draw NSFW. Kids see my sketchbook. :)

Can I take your picture?
Sure!

What's your goal(s) for the con this year?
To meet new people, survive the weekend, and particularly, to not fall asleep at work on Monday. :D

CaliFur first crossed my radar when I asked an artist whose work I've admired and commissioned since I first wandered into the fandom if he'd be at any of the cons I was planning to attend, and replied that he pretty much stuck to CaliFur because it was more local. Of course, it's not at all local for me, so it was a while before I had both the time to get away and the cash to do so.

Then I discovered Amadhia would be GOH this year, so several of us musician types who have accompanied her in the past offered to back her up in her GOH show at CaliFur. A new con is always a crap shoot - it's exciting to experience something new, but there's always the "back to square one" social integration issue beyond the couple of people you already know.

I'm happy to report that CaliFur was very comfortable. It reminded me a lot of Mephit Fur Meet, my very first con in 2011. Even though CaliFur was about double the size of MFM '11, it felt small and accessible. Some highlights:

Performance. Amadhia had a GREAT show and we had a blast playing it. The tech wasn't perfect, and the keyboard wasn't weighted, but in the end, the audience liked it and that's what counts. PepperCoyote did his show the next afternoon and packed the house. I've been dying to perform with Pepper since I met him a couple of years ago, and I finally got to play piano for one song in that show as well, so cross that one off the bucket list.

The People. I met some really cool furs at this con. Okay, I meet cool furs at every con, but I hardly knew anyone going in, and ended up meeting more than a few new friends (I hope... if I can read the notes I took and find you all on FA and Twitter.) There are always furs you hope will be there, and this was no exception, but rather than dwell on that disappointment, I focused on the people who WERE there and it was great. It was especially nice to see some unexpected familiar faces, even briefly. I also got hit on more than at any other con, which is zany because CaliFur was like Straight Fur Con. :)

Elliott's Party Room. Apparently, Elliott's Live Events does these room party things at several cons - this is the first time I've been to a con and knew about it and that's because someone in the lift had a flyer. Wow! The Elliott's room was like the best con suite ever. Food, drinks, liquor... on Saturday they had a Panda Express buffet set up! Of course it's all to promote Elliott's Spring Gathering, but it was a great time, and a wonderful environment to meet some new people. I just wish most of their staff were friendlier. Or more outgoing. Or something. It's very hard to read them.

The Hotel. The Irvine Marriott was quite comfortable, and less than a mile from the hotel. Seriously, I could have walked, but they had complimentary shuttle service. My Marriott rewards card got me free WIFI and 20% off at the Starbucks in the lobby. SCORE! The restaurant seemed nice but I didn't eat there because hotel restaurant prices. Pepper and I walked to iHop on Friday morning, then I just got a breakfast sandwich at Starbucks the other two mornings. We also had a band dinner at El Torito on Sunday night. The Sunday night post-con band dinner is becoming one of my favourite parts of a con. And NO "ELEVATOR CON"! Rarely did I have to wait on a full lift - getting up and down the floors was a breeze! (My only complaint was that there was no plush robe in the room's closet. I was so looking forward to having a plush robe.)

Going into this con, I thought "This is the con where I'll just go to the Dealer's Den, find an artist I've never heard of, but whose work speaks to me, and commission something." I didn't, because on Thursday night, before the con even began, DanTheBear found me in the hall and presented me with an awesome badge. Then he gave me the pencil sketch to go with it. I'm so honoured and humbled. Thanks again, Dan!

Overall, not the most smoothly-run con. The staff were all lovely and cared about us, but I think they could use more organisation. (Apparently some key staff members had to drop out at the last minute due to real life work issues.) Hopefully they can work out their communication and organisation issues, get some decent tech in the main ballroom, and continue to improve.

So that's my CaliFur 2015 experience in a nutshell. A very large nutshell. Did you attend? Share your comments, and help me find everyone I met!

OMG THE SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS..

oh wait, not it's not. Seriously, most of you sound like Chicken Little.

You can find me here, or SoFurry, or Twitter, or Facebook, or Florida Furs, or at the Winter Park Playhouse, or at the Rose & Crown in EPCOT... all the same places you've always found me. Well, the seventeen of you who actively look for me. The rest of aren't reading this.

1. How many jobs have you had, and which was your favourite?
Let's see... entertainer/pianist/music director, Radio DJ/production & creative director, Club DJ, Temp office assistant, Teacher, Fast Food worker... I love anything that allows me to entertain folks. :)

2. When did you first connect to other people via computers?
April 10, 1990. I was using computers before that, but we were generally in the same room.

3. We’re/are you on AOL? Compuserve? LJ? Dreamwidth? A Listserv? Other?
My first online account was AOL. I met my partner there. We're still together after 23+ years.

4. If you went to college, does your major match your career/current job?
I attended university, and yes it does.

5. Have you had a mammogram? Colonoscopy?
Nope.

6. When did you get your first cell phone? What was it like? (Did it have a screen? Could you text? Was it a brick or flip?)
My first mobile phone was a Nokia with a little green screen. It made calls.

7. When did your family first acquire a color TV?
I want to say maybe 1968-sh?

8. When did your family acquire a second TV?
We always had two TVs - the large Magnavox console in the den, and a smaller GE "portable" in the living room.

9. Did you ever own “designer jeans”?
I don't have a designer body, so no.

10. Have you ever been to a disco?
I used to work as a DJ in Mingles Disco. I also created one of the first radio mix-shows in the late 70s.

11. How many places (towns, states, countries) have you lived in?
Charlottesville, VA
Durham, NH / Boston, MA (I count "New England" as one place)
Springfield, MO
Orlando, FL

12. Have any of you contemporary friends died? (I.e., people more or less you age.)
Far too many.

13. Are you parents still living?
No.

14. Do you have any gray hairs?
I haven't seen my real hair colour since Carter was in office. Who knows?

15. Did you or your family own a Betamax?
No, I bought an RCA VCR for hundreds of dollars back in 1980.

16. How did you spend New Year’s Eve 1999/2000?
Working, I suppose. I know I had to do all the imaging production for our NYE radio countdown, and I think I was performing for First Night.

17. What’s the oldest article of clothing you still wear?
I have shirts that are older than you.

18. Do you eat your vegetables?
Of course. Especially brussels sprouts.

19. Are the privileges of adulthood worth the responsibilities?
I'm not sure there's a direct correlation. Privileges are automatically gained by virtue of having reached adulthood, but not all adults are "adults" - just because you've lived to a certain age doesn't mean you've become responsible.

20. Do you feel like an adult?
Always, and never. :)

21. Is youth wasted on the young?
No. Adulthood is wasted on regret.

Because I started writing one big journal and realised it was two separate items. :)

So I've just returned from Furry Fiesta in Dallas, where there was an embarrassment of musical riches. In 48 hours I played four shows, participated in a panel discussion on music and musicians in the Fandom, attended two more music panels (I'd have attended more if I'd been able) both led by Matthew Ebel, mixed a two-hour DJ set, got interviewed for the Furry Musicians podcast, and basically recharged my inspiration levels enormously. Interestingly, inspiration can come from both great success and the stress of perceived failure. I experienced both this weekend, but mostly I got to hang out with some amazing music makers, and that was the greatest inspiration of all.

So thank you to Alexander James Adams, Amadhia/Dreamsong, Bucktown Tiger, DolphinBoy, FoxAmoore, Howlstice, Korozjin, Matthew Ebel, Pepper Coyote, Rhubarb The Bear and Runtt Wah. Thanks to the other Furry Drama Show musicians whose names i inexcusably can't recall. Thanks to the tech staff who (eventually) make us sound and look like rock stars. Thanks to every musician whose work I listen to on FA and beyond. I came home with a full page of notes and ideas and I can't wait to implement them. :)

In between all that, I got to hang with some old friends, I got to make some new friends, and I missed connecting with friends (and friends-to-be) because there were so many people and so few hours and sometimes you can go the whole weekend without running into someone. That part sucks. I want to spend the entire weekend with EVERYONE, and sometimes a quick Nose Boop is all you get. I also picked up a couple of new watchers - I don't know what I did to make you think I'm interesting, but thank you guys, and thanks everyone who made TFF 2015 the smashing success it was.

One of the issues I constantly face is the question of live vs. recorded music. Lots of people with a laptop and a copy of GarageBand are able to create music that's never heard live - it's recorded and uploaded and left there for people to discover. Ultimately, of course, one hopes for a combination of the two. That used to be how bands happened - kids formed a crappy band in a garage, they kept playing free bar gigs until they got good and developed a following, then played bigger clubs where they got noticed, then got a record deal. By that time, of course, they already had a list of songs that worked really well at their live gigs, and if the record sold, they'd get more live gigs where people would go to hear the recorded songs played live, and the cycle would just continue.

Conversely, I am primarily a live musician. When I'm not at cons, I play piano for live theatrical performances, or I sing and play at a pub in EPCOT at Walt Disney World. I am a live entertainer. It's difficult to put that on an FA page or a Soundcloud. What I do is ephemeral - you have to be there to hear it. After that, it's just a memory. I'm finally planning on recording some stuff this year, and to be honest, it's not so much because I'm dying to make a record, it's because I feel like I have to in order to stay relevant in the fandom. (Oddly, the dance comps are much more like my music - they happen, and maybe they're captured on YouTube, but you have to be there in the room to feel the energy and be part of the moment. They're the one creative thing in the Fandom that doesn't live and die in the FA Galleries.)

The question is: How do we encourage more fandom participation in live music - those rooms should be filled with people waiting 30 minutes or more to get in. What will build the fandom audience for live music?

Your thoughts and comments are welcomed!

I remember Anthrocon 2013 for many reasons, not the least of which was the night Rhubarb said "Hey, let's go hear some karaoke - Pepper Coyote's going to be there." I had never heard Pepper before, nor his band, but I suppose Rhubarb had. So 'round the corner we went to an overcrowded pub where, sure enough, this lanky lad in a green jumper and a coyote head shoved the microphone into his mouth and sang the most killer "And When I Die" I've heard since David Clayton Thomas. I was hooked. I got up early that Sunday Morning to see Pepper and his band, Look Left, at their live show.

Pepper is doing a show this weekend - well, a number of shows, but in particular, a solo (almost) show - at Texas Furry Fiesta. So is Bucktown Tiger. So are Rhubarb and I. So is Matthew Ebel with Runtt Wah on drums. So is Bandthro (never heard of them? That's the furry supergroup fronted by Fox Amoore, with just about every furry musician at TFF involved.) So is Amadhia Albee, with Fox on piano. That's 6 - count 'em - 6 live music shows. That's a LOT for a con. I don't even know if Anthrocon has that much spectacular musical talent in one weekend. (Even Megaplex, which I programmed last summer, had only five.)

Not all of these shows are at convenient times. There's a hell of a lot going on at every con - suiting, drinking, shopping, drinking, panels, drinking, dances, drinking, room parties, drinking... you get my drift. I'm asking everyone there to make the time - yes, MAKE the time - to attend at least one, if not more, of these shows. Live music is an experience you cannot buy in the dealer's den, nor something you can download (legally or ill-) and enjoy later. Live music (like all live performing arts) is an experience that happens once, in a shared space, and then it's gone. Live music videos, etc. are mere souvenirs of that single, ephemeral moment in time shared by a select group of people who were lucky enough to share the same air as the sound waves created by the artist(s).

Music matters. LIVE music matters, and it needs your support to exist. As Pepper said in his journal...

"Concerts like these are a relatively rare things for furcons. Ever con I've talked to has some horror story of a musician either being unreasonably demanding, not delivering on a show, or some other curfuffle that turned the con off from live music pretty much entirely.

You need to go to these shows so they KEEP HAPPENING. I would LOVE for the "concert" to become a huge deal at a con. Alright, hit up the dance comp, fursuit parade, concert, dealer's den... THAT is how I want people to think at cons in the future. There are so many talented people in our little club and I want to see each and every one of them get the chance to play for a packed room.

If you like me or ANY musician in the fandom, go to the shows. Don't miss them because you were at dinner, or because you "don't do panels" or whatever else. Get yourself a water bottle full of vodka, park your ass in a chair, and have a great time. I promise you, you won't regret it.

We're all counting on you."

First off, I want to acknowledge that this journal will be read by maybe a dozen people, all of whom are very dear to me (because you're reading) and will protest "We love you! We need you!" I'm very grateful, but still...

I'm not gonna lie. I've felt pretty "meh" about the Fandom lately. It's starting to feel like it's overrun with ageist kids and popufurs. I think part of this is my limited scope of exposure - I only see the people I know to watch, and the people who attend the limited number of cons I'm able to attend. Granted, I've made some wonderful incredible friends at these cons, and I hope we'll continue to see each other outside of those cons, because I want to start attending new cons, rather than just re-attending the few I already attend. Nothing against those cons - they're ALL great fun - but I need to expand my horizons. When I do this, I'll be able to better assess the other part of my funk, which is "What is my place in the fandom?" It's not enough to just be an observer. I'm not that guy. I need to be involved and feel necessary, and I don't get a lot of that in the fandom. I attended my first con because Rhubarb was going, so instead of flying home for the weekend to visit him, I registered for the con so I could visit him. I don't know that I've ever quite gotten past "oh, Cosmik? He's with Rhubarb." All the things that make me special outside the fandom seem to make me superfluous within it. I don't want to compete for a place, I just want to sit at the same table.

Yes, this is a bit vague, and no, it's not secretly directed at any one person or thing. It's just a general feeling of furry ennui, and there's not much can be done about it. We'll see what happens this year, and proceed accordingly. I just haven't posted a real journal in forever, and thought I should catch up.

::wan smile::

C

Recap: I've been nominated for as one of Orlando's best Music Directors in the BroadwayWorld.com awards. Some of you have already voted for me, and I'm so appreciative. I'm still hovering in third place right now, with 21% of the votes. I need a major push to go over the top before the voting ends on New Year's Eve.

If you're reading this, and haven't yet voted, please follow this link:

http://www.broadwayworld.com/orland.....2014region.cfm

I'm in the "Best Musical Direction (Professional)" category. (You can vote any of the other categories as you wish, but if you see Winter Park Playhouse/Backwards in High Heels, feel free to vote for my colleagues as well.) :D

Once you've voted, will you please help me by passing the above link and request along to your friends and followers? I'm not above begging. I'd really love to win this, and our show doesn't have the huge cast and crew that Les Mis and Sweeney Todd had. I need all the help I can get.

Thanks for your help, everyone! Have a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year, and I hope to see you and thank yo personally at a con or a meet or wherever in the coming year. (That includes you, Europe... and that's all I can say about that for now.) :D

So, I've been nominated for in the Best Music Direction (Professional) category of the 2014 BroadwayWorld Orlando Awards. What does it mean? Not much - these are yet another online popularity contest, but SOMEONE has to win, so I'm asking for your support.

Just go here: http://www.broadwayworld.com/orland......29OSQhzR.dpbs

And vote for me (Christopher Leavy) for Best Music Direction. (You can also feel free to vote for my colleagues in Backwards In High Heels at the Winter Park Playhouse, but I'll be happy to move out of 4th place.)

I have 472 watchers. I should be able to get a few votes out of that. :D

Thanks everyone!!!

MFM is an interesting con. Granted, my other con experience is limited to Megaplex, Anthrocon and Furry Fiesta, which are all top-ten cons in terms of size, so I don't have a LOT of other con experience for reference, but it's interesting.

I first attended MFM in 2011. Rhubarb was still holding down the fort in Missouri at that time, and I had Labor Day weekend off so I suggested I fly home to visit. He mentioned he was already registered for a Furry Convention in Memphis that weekend. By this time we had already done Julie Bunny Must Die! and I was curious about the cons so I said I'd fly out to Memphis and join him there. I figured maybe I'd just hang out in the room while he was doing con things, and then we'd go have nice dinners together and hang out together later in the evening. I got there at 8am (cheap flights, whatcha gonna do?) and by the time he arrived that afternoon I had already made several friends and we were all partying together. It just felt that comfortable.

This was my fourth MFM, and although I haven't had the full ten-day span of down time at work that I had that first year, I can still count on at least three days off, so it's easy to plan for annual attendance. Last year we had four, which was lovely. This year was 3.5, so I got to fly out at 2pm and still get to the con by 4:15pm, too late to catch registration. The first person I ran into was Exendiv, who made me the most amazing badges. Seriously, ask anyone who saw my "Schroeder" badge. It's freakin' amazing. I did make it in time for Opening Ceremonies and the pizza party. Got my con badge after dinner and it was game on!

This year was the most relaxing/chill MFM I've attended. Perhaps that's because I'm getting older and I've been to enough of them now that I don't feel the need to attend and do every single thing on the schedule, but I also felt this year there just wasn't as much on the schedule as there has been in previous years. It felt more sparse. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but at least one other con-goer commented similarly.

This year, for the first time, I bought a Super-Sponsor membership, because I really wanted to party with GOH Floe, an artist I'm proud to call friend. Therefore it was the first time I'd been to their Super-Sponsor GOH Cocktail Party, which turned out to be corn dogs, pretzels, sheet cake, tons of cookies, popcorn and Raisinettes®. The cocktails were a table of assorted liquor (but not quite as much as the standard room party.) Wedding Cake vodka was interesting, as was the chocolate raspberry wine. The Super-Sponsor swag is awesome at MFM - an additional limited-edition t-shirt (red! long sleeved!) and a water bottle and lots of snack food and more.

I tried to briefly pop into as many panels as I could to get a feel for what they were about. I always enjoy Wielder's Moments, and I got some help drawing snouts and noses from an art panel. Yes, I went to the Baby Furs meet 'n' greet. What can I say? They give you cookies and milk. Awesome oatmeal raisin cookies. And a free travel tumbler, the kind you can open and put your own artwork into! I missed the Match Game this year, but then, I still haven't collected my prize from winning two years ago. :)

New this year: FREE BREAKFAST! Not quite as much variety as they've had in the past, but there is cereal, fruit, scrambled eggs, sausage patties, pastries and bagels, a waffle station, juices and coffee and tea... did I mention this is all free? We had breakfast every morning. :)

Saturday is all about the Masquerade, starting with rehearsal, and then the show at 3. I brought out yet another new song and after a tongue tied moment and a re-boot, I made it through. People seemed to like it. I hope. After that I went down to the dance comp. It was MFM's first dance comp, and it went pretty well. For some reason, Calamity Cougar kept suggesting I should be the mean judge. Feh. :)

Saturday night was DJ time. I had the midnight-2am shift and had lots of fun as usual.

Sunday was the most casual day of the three. I had a very relaxed morning (even took a brief mid-day nap) and went for a swim before I hit up the charity auction. (I came home with a sweet video mixer/controller.) I spent a good deal of time checking out the Dealer's Den. Then it was closing ceremonies, ice cream, the dead dog, and my one disappointment:

The more I attend MFM (or any con) the more people I meet and the more people with whom I look forward to spending time every year. Every year it becomes more difficult. This year, the sushi dinner was a bust. Now, there is one small Japanese restaurant down the hill from the con hotel, and they get SWAMPED every year. Half my friends wanted to go at 5. "Fine", I thought, until I looked at the schedule and realised that closing ceremonies were at 5, and some of the people with whom we wanted to dine were involved. "Let's make it right after closing" I suggested. "Can't", came the reply, "because another person has to leave after dinner." So they were going to wait there until we got there, which they did, but by that time, the restaurant was freaking out with a reservation for 20 at the same time. Then our group got separated and some of them went in and sat with two other people, and everyone else was hungry and wanted to go elsewhere, and the early arrivals were already finished, so I didn't get to enjoy sushi with half the friends I really wanted to see, but I did get to enjoy some spectacularly good fajitas with friends I hadn't seen as much. (This, friends, is why I HATE making plans at a con. But it seems poor form to complain, because I did get to see and spend time with so many people. I'm just greedy - I want all the friends all the time.) :)

Monday morning we broke our usual tradition of meeting at Huddle House for one last breakfast, and had a smaller group breakfast in the hotel. (Remember when I said "FREE"?) The bonus (other than FREE) was that we managed to hit the road by 11am which got us home before 2am (still way late and exhausting, but better than previous years.)

So to Albi, Ashley, Azal, BlueHeeler, Brejar, Buck, Bunny, Calamity, Cinnabur, Cosmo, Crysm, Durango, EagleBeagle, Exendiv, Firr, Flash, Floe, Hollie, Jase, Kazeem, Keefur, Kitt, Matsi, Max, Mr. Jingles, Nova, Ozark, Paddlefoot, PandaMom, Peach, Pedigree, Shasta, Shelby, Skippy, Slushie, Sodders, Steelclaw, STiTcH, Tempest, TJ, Tonka, Turnbolt, Tyger, Vitai, Wielder, Wild Bill, everyone else (because I'm still exhausted and I know I'm forgetting people) and especially Rhubarb: thank you. You make this con the experience it is. You are the reason I return every year. You are why I feel "welcomed home".

This is about other stuff that's on my mind but not MFM-related (even though it sort of is), but it's Labor Day weekend (or just past) so here it is:

On Sept. 2, 25 years ago, we lost Mom. It was the Saturday morning of Labor Day weekend, and I was working at a grand hotel in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, which made the timing all the more difficult. (No matter, my colleagues - well, most of them - were dear and made my sudden departure for the weekend as easy as they could.) The car I had at the time barely made it to the hospital. After Mom passed, it got into the driveway at home and never ran again. I inherited Mom's car by default. And with the little bit of cash she was able to leave us, my brother and I first bought my Dad a new, working TV and VCR, and then I got an upgraded CD player and, most importantly, my first computer.

It wasn't until the following April that I logged onto AOL for the first time. Doors opened that I never knew existed. I met people virtually that I'd never have met in person. Some of them remain lifelong friends to this day. One in particular is Rhubarb. We frequented the same forums, chat rooms and discussion boards, and met up in person a year later while I was living in Boston. In December of 1991, we moved in together. This year we celebrate our 23rd anniversary. (Interestingly, I don't remember any sort of Furry Fandom on AOL (and as a former AOL Guide, I think I was pretty aware of most of the chat forums that were out there.) Rhubarb and I didn't really know there was any sort of community for people who appreciated anthropomorphics (particularly in animation) the way we did until Oct. 30, 2003. But I digress.)

I've always said that Mom's greatest gift was Rhubarb. It was a pretty specific chain of events that brought us together, and she has sent me signs of approval and continuing affirmation of our relationship. I've been anticipating this past weekend for a while now, wondering how I would feel on the 25th anniversary. (I remember the 25th anniversary of JFK's assassination and how far away that seemed. Now that's been 50 years and it feels no more distant than it did then. Weird.) Well, the weekend came and went and it wasn't a maudlin affair, despite the loss of a friend and former colleague who passed last night (we got the news while driving home.) He had been unwell for a long while, so it wasn't unexpected, but it was still sudden and sad.

What saved me, I think, was MFM. It was being with a tribe of friends and family and having fun (despite how completely knackered I was the entire weekend) and especially having the weekend away with Rhubarb. Thank you MFM and everyone who attended for the gift of this past weekend. I still miss Mom terribly, but I know she's always with me. Anyone who has lost a parent knows this is true: the loss and the sadness doesn't go away, you just adapt to living with it and find joy in the memories.

Thanks, MFM, for making sure Labor Day weekend won't completely suck forever. :)

How are you getting there?
Driving.

What hotel are you staying at?
The Murriott

Which days will you be attending?
All of them (although I’ll slip back to work Friday during the day)

Who are you staying with?
RhubarbTheBear

How do you want to be addressed?
Politely

Age?
Greymuzzle

What do you look like?
6’ tall, overweight, Ginger hair and beard, probably wearing a Union Flag somewhere on me.

Where/how can I find you?
I could be anywhere. I’ll be out and about throughout the con keeping an eye on programming, unless I’m hiding in my room for a quick nap refresh.

Do you do requests/trades/commissions?
I take all requests, and will attempt to play them whether or not I know them.

Will you have Art in the Art Show?
My art is created onstage.

What is your main purpose for attending?
I’m actually working undercover for… well, I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.

Can I talk to you?
Yes. Please do!

Can I take pictures with you?
I’m not a fursuiter, but if you really want to…

Can I touch/hug/cuddle you?
I love all of that!!

Can I hang out with you?
I welcome friends hanging out with me, but please also understand that as Programming Lead, I’m “on duty” during the con, so I may not be able to pay 100% attention at any given time.

Do you go to parties?
Only when I’m invited. (hint, hint)

Will you be suiting???
Only as myself. ☺

What is the best way to reach you?
Radiotelephone.

This was the year Rhubarb and I decided to take an extra day before and after AC as "vacation". I don't know how much of a vacation the first day was (I spent three hours stuffing con bags, and much of the rest of the day was spent visiting other early arrivals) but it was a great way to start AC2014.

This was the year I had enough time to volunteer. I put in quite a few hours at registration, which I loved because I got to chat with lots of people. I look forward to spending more time helping out in the future.

I didn't have any panels to run this year (I submitted a couple but was declined because they had posted a draft of the program guide, which apparently means "we've passed the deadline". You know, the deadline that was never announced. But I digress...)

What I DID get to do was awesome fun. Friday I performed with Rhubarb, Fox Amoore, Teddy Wynton, Alexander James Adams and Amadhia in the "Anthrocon Tonight" show. This was a new show designed to feature the fandom's musical talent out of suit. Oh, I also shared the stage with a couple of guys you might have heard of... Lee Tockar and Jim Cummings, who did some voice improv. It was great fun and we could have gone an extra half hour, but it was time for fireworks, so we cut our show a little short and cleared out. But I digress...

Saturday night I got to DJ the fursuit friendly dance in the Allegheny ballroom. Attendance was sparse; I never had more than half a dozen people in the room at any given time, but for four hours there was at least one person in there dancing the whole four hours I played, and the comments were all extremely positive. This is the second year I've done this dance, and everyone seems to love the top 40 music as an alternative to the EDM they play at the raves. It's too bad we can't have top 40 dances in the main ballroom for at least the first hour of the night. (But I digress...)

Sunday afternoon it was time for the Rhubarb & Cosmik show "Hello World!" The program guide had us listed in one room, while the grid had us listed in another. We ended up in a third room (next door to one of the listed rooms) and it ended up working out fine for the show, but lots of people were confused and wandered in a bit late. We were also scheduled against the Kage/2/Fox charity show, which I'm sure cut way into our audience. But I digress...

Sunday night was my favourite part of the entire weekend: the Dead Dog Pub Sing (now that it's happened two years in a row, I feel I can name it.) This year Fox and I tag-teamed back and forth. The greatest single moment of the con happened about an hour into the fun, when I noticed that last year's GOH Jim Martin was enjoying the music, so I played the Great Space Coaster theme song. It took him a while to realise what was happening, and Rhubarb's favourite moment was watching the light dawn as he figured out that I was playing the theme to his show. We got a photo afterward and I thanked him for being there and giving me that moment to give back to him. Best. Moment. Of. The. Con. I do not digress.

One of the perks of staying until Tuesday is a relaxing Monday evening to gather one's thoughts. We decided last year while trying to navigate the mass furry exodus that was Monday morning in the Westin that this year we'd take the extra day to decompress. It's somewhat sad to watch the crowd in the lobby dwindle as the day progresses, but we had a lovely final dinner at Tonic with Fox, Vitai, Artie and Soba before retiring to the hotel room for a final night.

As always, there were people I was thrilled to meet, people I never got to meet, old friends and new friends, too numerous to mention here (besides, I'd probably forget someone.) It took until Sunday afternoon but I finally connected with MiLorde. The rest of the AC Brits went unstalked (well, mostly) so I'll just have to double my efforts at future cons. But I digress...

No time for PCD - I return to two more weekends of my favourite musical, then it's Megaplex time, and MFM is only a month after that. We'll head home tomorrow with lots of ideas for future shows, lots of creative rejuvenation, and lots of leftover liquor. But I digress...

:D