FA+
Shop
Headin out to BLFC
General | Posted 12 years agoAlright, I've decided to take the populated route to get to the con, rather than running around Lassen and getting lost in the desert so I should be hitting the hotel around 10-10:30 tonight. See some of you in Reno I suppose! Muah hahahahah!
BLFC a few days away.
General | Posted 12 years agoOnly a few more days till Biggest Little Fur Con in Reno.
I'm out of work again and burning up all my PTO before the con. At this point it's close enough and the room is cheap enough that I'm going anyway. I'll be leaving here Thursday night after work (assuming I have work to do that day) and should be heading home Sunday evening sometime after closing ceremonies.
Just for the memories....
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g.....ps5f5d93fc.jpg
Here's a pic from Con 2001 in Reno, in the same hotel, of all the costumers that showed up at the convention. ;)
Yeah, it's so long ago we're talking Crosscheck V1.0 there!
I hear they have mini-golf there... I'm bringing my hockey stick and going Happy Gilmour on that like old times. Fursuit go karting is on my list of things to do as well. We'll just see who goes along with that.
I'm out of work again and burning up all my PTO before the con. At this point it's close enough and the room is cheap enough that I'm going anyway. I'll be leaving here Thursday night after work (assuming I have work to do that day) and should be heading home Sunday evening sometime after closing ceremonies.
Just for the memories....
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g.....ps5f5d93fc.jpg
Here's a pic from Con 2001 in Reno, in the same hotel, of all the costumers that showed up at the convention. ;)
Yeah, it's so long ago we're talking Crosscheck V1.0 there!
I hear they have mini-golf there... I'm bringing my hockey stick and going Happy Gilmour on that like old times. Fursuit go karting is on my list of things to do as well. We'll just see who goes along with that.
BLFC
General | Posted 13 years agoNo... that's not just the sound that you make when you've had too much to drink... it's also a convention ( http://www.biggestlittlefurcon.org ) in Reno apparently. And seeing as that's the closest damned thing I'm going to get to a local con around here. I've registered.
Yeah yeah I know... going to two cons this year. Y'all are going to start thinking I'm either not dead, or not retired or some combination of the two.
Fun facts leading up to the con.
#1 I'm working on a big project south of the airport at the moment that y'all wouldn't even be able to see the start of because we're still in prelim design on it.
#2 The con hotel used to be the MGM Grand Reno. Sometime back in the early 80s we stayed there. See mom and dad used to go to the air races in Reno every year and finally I was old enough that they didn't decided to dump us on the neighbors anymore. Dad being the idiot that he is, took us to Reno without a room reservation. Back then you didn't *do* that because there wasn't a room anywhere in town when the races were there. So of course we get there and can't find a room. I remember he tried every hotel in town until finally we worked our way out to the MGM Grand. It was really late and we were really tired but I remember mom making him get the room there and then bitching about the price of it. It was on the 23rd floor I think. I remember because at that age it scared the hell out of me being that high up in anything. In bringing up the subject with mom the other week she reminded me that the bed in the room was circular and had a mirror on the ceiling above it, which I do kind of remember now...
Anyway, there you go, funny circle of life and all that. I get to go to a furry con in a hotel that mildly raped my childhood. :)
Going to try to drive out there Thursday evening after work and probably head back Sunday since I'll be light on vacation time after my FWA adventure. If anyone is up for rooming let me know.
...I bet I still have a postcard from that stay at the hotel too, cause back then it was kind of the classiest hotel in Reno. Dad was always good for cheap souveneirs like that, which is why I have half of a Circus Circus menu and my brother has the other half... seriously.
Yeah yeah I know... going to two cons this year. Y'all are going to start thinking I'm either not dead, or not retired or some combination of the two.
Fun facts leading up to the con.
#1 I'm working on a big project south of the airport at the moment that y'all wouldn't even be able to see the start of because we're still in prelim design on it.
#2 The con hotel used to be the MGM Grand Reno. Sometime back in the early 80s we stayed there. See mom and dad used to go to the air races in Reno every year and finally I was old enough that they didn't decided to dump us on the neighbors anymore. Dad being the idiot that he is, took us to Reno without a room reservation. Back then you didn't *do* that because there wasn't a room anywhere in town when the races were there. So of course we get there and can't find a room. I remember he tried every hotel in town until finally we worked our way out to the MGM Grand. It was really late and we were really tired but I remember mom making him get the room there and then bitching about the price of it. It was on the 23rd floor I think. I remember because at that age it scared the hell out of me being that high up in anything. In bringing up the subject with mom the other week she reminded me that the bed in the room was circular and had a mirror on the ceiling above it, which I do kind of remember now...
Anyway, there you go, funny circle of life and all that. I get to go to a furry con in a hotel that mildly raped my childhood. :)
Going to try to drive out there Thursday evening after work and probably head back Sunday since I'll be light on vacation time after my FWA adventure. If anyone is up for rooming let me know.
...I bet I still have a postcard from that stay at the hotel too, cause back then it was kind of the classiest hotel in Reno. Dad was always good for cheap souveneirs like that, which is why I have half of a Circus Circus menu and my brother has the other half... seriously.
Survived FWA!
General | Posted 13 years agoWoke up 6am Atlanta time to get ready for my flight, and just got home 7pm Pacific time. Waaaaayyy too much driving and waaaaaay too much flying. As I watched the Blues Brothers on my mini DVD player in flight I had one of them empiffanny things or something.
Hmmm abridged con report...
The elevators... yeah it's like the first few seconds of this clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2quc-iQ96R0
And Saturday night's visit to the hotel by the police looked a lot like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMagP52BWG8
:3
Hmmm abridged con report...
The elevators... yeah it's like the first few seconds of this clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2quc-iQ96R0
And Saturday night's visit to the hotel by the police looked a lot like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMagP52BWG8
:3
FWA Meme thing.
General | Posted 13 years agoWhere are you staying?
-Westin Peachtree Plaza (provided someone didn't derp up the registration as just an excuse to get exclusive at home alone time with me! ~scandelous!~)
What day are you getting there?
-Technically Wednesday night, buuut should be at the hotel Friday morning after some of that alone time mentioned previously.
Who will you be rooming with?
-Nobody you yougins have heard of!
Who will you hang out with during the convention?
-Don't expect to hang out with anyone! Pffft I'm sooo hiding in the room... unless there's booze... I can be baited with booze.
Will you be suiting?
-Who meeee? According to everyone I know I've surely sold off all my suits and have no such thing anymore!
Do you do free art?
-First of all my art is far too hip for the common rabble... secondly it's more like technical illustrations, so I can help you complete that automotive manual with the missing page of wiring diagrams or something.
What is your gender?
-Seriously? I'd say the beard should be a clue but I seen some girls in the fandom that could challenge that notion...
How tall are you?
-6'0" or in metric that's... ARE YOU F-ING KIDDING ME?! I AIN'T CONVERTIN FOR NOBODY!
Are you taken? Are you looking for a 'mate'?
-That used to be one of the great mysteries of the fandom when I was relevant!.. or so I heard. :3
Can I talk to you?
-Of course. Just be careful not to confuse talking at with talking to.
Can I touch you?
-Of course! I hear they've made great strides in prosthetic limb replacements in the last 10 years! Heck you should be able to get a nicely used set of Olympic grade legs from South Africa on the cheap!
How can I find you?
-By using that strange voodoo technology of tiny portable phones.
Can I visit your room?
-Only if I can find it! In my advancing age I may forget!
Can I buy you drinks?
-Fuck and yes.
Can I hug or snuggle with you?
-Also another great mystery of the fandom at one point. Apparently legends have it that people think I'm pissed off all the time and would fold them in half the wrong way if they approached me. That's only mostly true. :)~
Are you nice?
-Long as you don't tick me off, sure!
Do you have an artist table?
-Technically yes, but we call it a desk, and it's in my cubicle since nobody uses drafting boards anymore.
Will you be going to parties?
-Hopefully! >.>
Will you be performing?
-Mmmmm the meaning of that could go so many ways with this group.
If I see you, how should I get your attention?
-Hockeyfox works fine. We seem to be a rare breed. (o.O)
-Sharks Suck! also works, although these days I'd be more inclined to just droop my head and shuffle off to cry quietly about that.
What/where will you be eating?
-Presumably food or some equivalent level of.. food. Fukin derp. Also there's a Hooters nearby I hear, just in case we run out of milk for cereal! >.>
Can I come with you for food/fun/etc?
-Food yes, fun? I'm never around that icky stuff. etc. probably!
Can I draw in your sketchbook?
-I cannot express to you how impressive of a miracle it is that I even found what box the damn thing was buried in... but yes regardless.
Can I take your picture?
-Good luck! Backside is better because then I won't see you trying it. *squintyglares*
What's your goal(s) for the con this year?
-Get away from work, probably get drunk, reaffirm that I'm not totally dead in this fandom just yet.
***Update aside from all that - I'm going to work blind lately with no projects to really get hooked into. I've already started burning my vacation time to cover this week and I really don't know if there's much work there for me at all this week. I stand a very good chance of going on this trip with no vacation time at all leaving me to either dip into the negative side (our company is kind enough to allow this to some extent) or just take it unpaid. Either option leaving me about as thrilled as you could expect. Might as well go through with it at this point given how much I've already put into this trip and I may be sitting at home anyway.
-Westin Peachtree Plaza (provided someone didn't derp up the registration as just an excuse to get exclusive at home alone time with me! ~scandelous!~)
What day are you getting there?
-Technically Wednesday night, buuut should be at the hotel Friday morning after some of that alone time mentioned previously.
Who will you be rooming with?
-Nobody you yougins have heard of!
Who will you hang out with during the convention?
-Don't expect to hang out with anyone! Pffft I'm sooo hiding in the room... unless there's booze... I can be baited with booze.
Will you be suiting?
-Who meeee? According to everyone I know I've surely sold off all my suits and have no such thing anymore!
Do you do free art?
-First of all my art is far too hip for the common rabble... secondly it's more like technical illustrations, so I can help you complete that automotive manual with the missing page of wiring diagrams or something.
What is your gender?
-Seriously? I'd say the beard should be a clue but I seen some girls in the fandom that could challenge that notion...
How tall are you?
-6'0" or in metric that's... ARE YOU F-ING KIDDING ME?! I AIN'T CONVERTIN FOR NOBODY!
Are you taken? Are you looking for a 'mate'?
-That used to be one of the great mysteries of the fandom when I was relevant!.. or so I heard. :3
Can I talk to you?
-Of course. Just be careful not to confuse talking at with talking to.
Can I touch you?
-Of course! I hear they've made great strides in prosthetic limb replacements in the last 10 years! Heck you should be able to get a nicely used set of Olympic grade legs from South Africa on the cheap!
How can I find you?
-By using that strange voodoo technology of tiny portable phones.
Can I visit your room?
-Only if I can find it! In my advancing age I may forget!
Can I buy you drinks?
-Fuck and yes.
Can I hug or snuggle with you?
-Also another great mystery of the fandom at one point. Apparently legends have it that people think I'm pissed off all the time and would fold them in half the wrong way if they approached me. That's only mostly true. :)~
Are you nice?
-Long as you don't tick me off, sure!
Do you have an artist table?
-Technically yes, but we call it a desk, and it's in my cubicle since nobody uses drafting boards anymore.
Will you be going to parties?
-Hopefully! >.>
Will you be performing?
-Mmmmm the meaning of that could go so many ways with this group.
If I see you, how should I get your attention?
-Hockeyfox works fine. We seem to be a rare breed. (o.O)
-Sharks Suck! also works, although these days I'd be more inclined to just droop my head and shuffle off to cry quietly about that.
What/where will you be eating?
-Presumably food or some equivalent level of.. food. Fukin derp. Also there's a Hooters nearby I hear, just in case we run out of milk for cereal! >.>
Can I come with you for food/fun/etc?
-Food yes, fun? I'm never around that icky stuff. etc. probably!
Can I draw in your sketchbook?
-I cannot express to you how impressive of a miracle it is that I even found what box the damn thing was buried in... but yes regardless.
Can I take your picture?
-Good luck! Backside is better because then I won't see you trying it. *squintyglares*
What's your goal(s) for the con this year?
-Get away from work, probably get drunk, reaffirm that I'm not totally dead in this fandom just yet.
***Update aside from all that - I'm going to work blind lately with no projects to really get hooked into. I've already started burning my vacation time to cover this week and I really don't know if there's much work there for me at all this week. I stand a very good chance of going on this trip with no vacation time at all leaving me to either dip into the negative side (our company is kind enough to allow this to some extent) or just take it unpaid. Either option leaving me about as thrilled as you could expect. Might as well go through with it at this point given how much I've already put into this trip and I may be sitting at home anyway.
Oh good, I've run out of work.
General | Posted 13 years agoWell the tap has run dry at work for the moment so I'm burning my PTO again this week ahead of the convention. Hopefully some project work will shake loose before the trip next week or I'll have do decide if there is a trip next week or if it's just cheaper to eat the airfare and stay home like usual. I'm waiting to see how tomorrow shakes out since the engineers I'm pulling work from aren't here today. There may be more work for me out there, but I'm not seeing it at the moment.
Because the universe has a sick sense of humor.
General | Posted 13 years agoI got a jury summons today!!
...fortunately my report date is the 19th soooo the day *after* I get back from FWA. Reeeeaaaally funny though universe. Reeeeeallly funny.
...fortunately my report date is the 19th soooo the day *after* I get back from FWA. Reeeeaaaally funny though universe. Reeeeeallly funny.
Hot N Fluffy FWA?!
General | Posted 13 years agoSo if travelling has taught me anything, it's to check entertainment for an area before heading there.
Well get this! Gabriel Iglesias... I'll say it again GABRIEL FUKIN IGLESIAS is performing at The Tabernacle ( http://tabernacleatl.com/ ) on Thursday 3/14 and Friday 3/15. That means that he'll be there the same time as FWA, for two days, in walking distance from the hotel!
And if you have no idea who he is... then y'all spend too much time not crawling out from under a rock!
I'm thinking I'll hit up the Friday show.
It'd be funny as all heeeeyell if he ends up with fursuiters in the audience or sneaks over to the con, since I'm sure furries would neeeever make for good comedy material!
http://fluffyguy.com/
Well get this! Gabriel Iglesias... I'll say it again GABRIEL FUKIN IGLESIAS is performing at The Tabernacle ( http://tabernacleatl.com/ ) on Thursday 3/14 and Friday 3/15. That means that he'll be there the same time as FWA, for two days, in walking distance from the hotel!
And if you have no idea who he is... then y'all spend too much time not crawling out from under a rock!
I'm thinking I'll hit up the Friday show.
It'd be funny as all heeeeyell if he ends up with fursuiters in the audience or sneaks over to the con, since I'm sure furries would neeeever make for good comedy material!
http://fluffyguy.com/
FWA
General | Posted 13 years agoOfficially registered, hotel is reserved and flight is paid for... barring any sort of fucked up work situation I should be flying out Wednesday and be in Atlanta that evening. Flying back out Monday.
Work seems to be steady enough for me that I'm not going to have to worry about the PTO issue and sit on my hands all the time. >.>
Work seems to be steady enough for me that I'm not going to have to worry about the PTO issue and sit on my hands all the time. >.>
Bail out!
General | Posted 13 years agoAnyone have very last minute crash space for Fri/Sat at FC? Work has stabilized enough that I didn't run entirely out of PTO and didn't have the world cave in on me yet so how about a quick weekend fling? If not I'll just stay here cause mom already called to let me know she wants to come over this weekend just to get out of the house.... help meeeee!
Of note for the new year!
General | Posted 13 years agoGoing into 2013 it's worth noting that this guy.
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5868980/
Is gonna be 10 years old this year. CC V1.0 was 2001 and Megaplex 03 was where he first showed up, soooo yeeeeah we're all old and gonna crumble to dust now. ;)
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5868980/
Is gonna be 10 years old this year. CC V1.0 was 2001 and Megaplex 03 was where he first showed up, soooo yeeeeah we're all old and gonna crumble to dust now. ;)
So now that we're past all this MFF nonsense...
General | Posted 13 years agoWho's got roomspace at FC with that only being two months away. I don't know how long or in what capacity I'll actually be at the con. Mostly just need a place to crash and store fursuit stuff. Yes I still actually have a fursuit, dorks. I'll probably do the Thursday to Monday routine, but that's up in the air since it's a bit of drive from the north end of the state. :P
After 2010 this is gravy...
General | Posted 13 years agoS.F. Giants 2012 World Series Champs! -FUCK- -YEAH!-
Nuff said. :3
Nuff said. :3
Stolen 66 Mustang
General | Posted 13 years agohttp://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/ktxl-dad-offering-reward-for-finding-stolen-classic-car-20120926,0,5395219.story
I just got linked to this today via my mustang club. He got the car Sept 15th (earlier than he was told it would be done) at the Mustang Picnic with a big red bow on it as a surprise.
Latest update is:
"The Mustang was seen this morning in Sacramento by someone who saw the FOX Channel 40 news story. He said the license plates were changed, but said it was the car, had the dual red line tires on it. Del Paso Road and Natomas area. Police were called, but the car had left the Rite Aid before they arrived."
Correct plate on the car is a california black and gold "NLY 385" (sounds like those are no longer on the car though)
I just got linked to this today via my mustang club. He got the car Sept 15th (earlier than he was told it would be done) at the Mustang Picnic with a big red bow on it as a surprise.
Latest update is:
"The Mustang was seen this morning in Sacramento by someone who saw the FOX Channel 40 news story. He said the license plates were changed, but said it was the car, had the dual red line tires on it. Del Paso Road and Natomas area. Police were called, but the car had left the Rite Aid before they arrived."
Correct plate on the car is a california black and gold "NLY 385" (sounds like those are no longer on the car though)
Random Thought...
General | Posted 13 years agoIf STD's were named after pokemon, would you wanna catch 'em all?
Updates
General | Posted 13 years agoCon updates:
Not doing anything for the rest of the year. Combination of budget since I bought a couple of big ticket things this summer, and mostly just not looking to burn through all my vacation time. I got caught short this summer when I had to stay home for a couple of days due to lack of work. I'm being told things will be light for us in the coming months, but I may not be affected because I'm damn good at 3D modelling and they need me on other projects outside the office to keep them moving forward. That's what they keep telling me anyway. No danger of losing my job just because I'm in something of a unique spot in our group with the model builders being the lynch pin guys.
If I hit any con it'll be Further Confusion. Normally I do that as a hit and run, one night only kind of deal but I may stick around longer this year. Need to find a room if I do that though. Or get one away from the con hotel so I have some place to escape.
Not doing anything for the rest of the year. Combination of budget since I bought a couple of big ticket things this summer, and mostly just not looking to burn through all my vacation time. I got caught short this summer when I had to stay home for a couple of days due to lack of work. I'm being told things will be light for us in the coming months, but I may not be affected because I'm damn good at 3D modelling and they need me on other projects outside the office to keep them moving forward. That's what they keep telling me anyway. No danger of losing my job just because I'm in something of a unique spot in our group with the model builders being the lynch pin guys.
If I hit any con it'll be Further Confusion. Normally I do that as a hit and run, one night only kind of deal but I may stick around longer this year. Need to find a room if I do that though. Or get one away from the con hotel so I have some place to escape.
Califur update
General | Posted 13 years agoThis is an easy one. Not going, like usual. Going to head north and enjoy some time on the Oregon coast instead. Have fun!
Califur Cup Finals
General | Posted 13 years agoDon't look now but the LA Kings just punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals. Game 3 is Monday in LA after the con. I'm going to take a stab at going to that game, but I doubt the ticket will be either available or affordable. We'll see. That will be the only reason I'd bother to go to LA at this point, but it doesn't mean I wouldn't swing by the con at some point while I'm down there. No promises. :P
Also took the 65 to it's first car show since getting a new engine in it a couple of weeks ago. Didn't shine up too bad for being old paint.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g.....HMC2012_01.jpg
http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g.....GHMC_2012show/
Also took the 65 to it's first car show since getting a new engine in it a couple of weeks ago. Didn't shine up too bad for being old paint.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g.....HMC2012_01.jpg
http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g.....GHMC_2012show/
FC2012 report
General | Posted 14 years agoSo believe it or not I did go! It went like this:
Left work haulin ass down I-5.
Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule The World on constant loop singing along to it for like five hours straight cause it's that awesome.
Got to San Jose early enough to make a beer run to Safeway.
OH NO! Safeway has two registers open and a line to the back of the store for each register, screw it and drive home out of frustration!...
Wait... it's too far to drive back home, damn I'm stuck now... okfineI'llgototheparty *grumble*
Went to the party, got pleasantly drunk, slept and woke up, THEN drove home.
Bonus feature ~ I stopped in Vacaville on the way home to get a haircut and pick up my comic books cause I still like doing business with my people. Really if I wasn't doing that I would've just blown off the whole trip, but I really needed a haircut.
Made it home in time to watch the 49ers WIN! FOOOOOK YEAH!
That's FC2012 on the books for me. Awesome. :3
Left work haulin ass down I-5.
Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule The World on constant loop singing along to it for like five hours straight cause it's that awesome.
Got to San Jose early enough to make a beer run to Safeway.
OH NO! Safeway has two registers open and a line to the back of the store for each register, screw it and drive home out of frustration!...
Wait... it's too far to drive back home, damn I'm stuck now... okfineI'llgototheparty *grumble*
Went to the party, got pleasantly drunk, slept and woke up, THEN drove home.
Bonus feature ~ I stopped in Vacaville on the way home to get a haircut and pick up my comic books cause I still like doing business with my people. Really if I wasn't doing that I would've just blown off the whole trip, but I really needed a haircut.
Made it home in time to watch the 49ers WIN! FOOOOOK YEAH!
That's FC2012 on the books for me. Awesome. :3
FC - not expected
General | Posted 14 years agoJust a quick update. I want a redo on the start of 2012, cause it's sucking balls pretty well thus far.
I ran out of work to do last week, so I had to cover the downtime with what little PTO I have and burned my "floating holiday" (presidents day) for the year already. I'm supposed to have work to do this week when I get back, but I just don't know. The kicker is that they're doing this to me to hold me in reserve for a heavy project to dedicate me to it full time, but I have to wait for it to break loose from another office to do any work on it.
My plan for FC was going to be a very brief visit like last year. I don't expect I can pull that off this year though with it being a 300+ mile drive from here. If I show up it'll be for one party I've been asked to attend. I'd stay the night and head home in the morning so I can get a haircut and pick up comic books where I used to live (I still got mah peeps there). I'm leaving it at me not planning on going for now given the work situation, but we'll see. I'm not really keen on six hours of driving following a day at work.
I ran out of work to do last week, so I had to cover the downtime with what little PTO I have and burned my "floating holiday" (presidents day) for the year already. I'm supposed to have work to do this week when I get back, but I just don't know. The kicker is that they're doing this to me to hold me in reserve for a heavy project to dedicate me to it full time, but I have to wait for it to break loose from another office to do any work on it.
My plan for FC was going to be a very brief visit like last year. I don't expect I can pull that off this year though with it being a 300+ mile drive from here. If I show up it'll be for one party I've been asked to attend. I'd stay the night and head home in the morning so I can get a haircut and pick up comic books where I used to live (I still got mah peeps there). I'm leaving it at me not planning on going for now given the work situation, but we'll see. I'm not really keen on six hours of driving following a day at work.
This is why we can't have nice things.
General | Posted 14 years agoSo Christmas was dull and boring for me. And a bit uncomfortable when I was watching 1000 Ways to Die... and lo and behold... there's furries in one episode. Nothing really makes the holidays special like getting asked if that kind of "stuff" really happens.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSJ69K9I5GI
Also, there was an advert for an upcoming episode on National Geographic Channel's "Taboo" with furries:
http://video.nationalgeographic.com.....c-furries.html
So yeah, totally normal holiday weekend at home wanting to throw the remote through the TV. >.>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSJ69K9I5GI
Also, there was an advert for an upcoming episode on National Geographic Channel's "Taboo" with furries:
http://video.nationalgeographic.com.....c-furries.html
So yeah, totally normal holiday weekend at home wanting to throw the remote through the TV. >.>
Busy new year already.
General | Posted 14 years agoAlright, my lease here is up in the middle of January. Now that I'm more established here and I have a renter in the condo I can make a move to the apartment I wanted when I moved up here. It's a bit smaller, technically going down from a 2 bedroom down to a 1 but they have a sort of nook in it that makes a good space for the computer. Most importantly it has a garage, so I can keep one of the Mustangs here with me instead of parking them at the house. Given the timing of it I should be moving at the end of January.
As for FC, I'm thinking I'll head down Friday. I've got other errands to run at stops along the way, so I'll be there late Friday. I'll head back home either Saturday or Sunday. If I get fed up with the "con experience" like usual, it'll probably be Saturday. Either way I'm looking for crash space for the two nights, if I leave early I'll still cover my share for Saturday night.
As for FC, I'm thinking I'll head down Friday. I've got other errands to run at stops along the way, so I'll be there late Friday. I'll head back home either Saturday or Sunday. If I get fed up with the "con experience" like usual, it'll probably be Saturday. Either way I'm looking for crash space for the two nights, if I leave early I'll still cover my share for Saturday night.
2 years too long!
General | Posted 14 years agoAfter a lot of screw ups... and some creative solutions... I finally fired up the 65 Mustang for the first time in two years today and drove it home. Ran like a champ all the way, didn't have any issues. I pushed like crazy to get everything finally wrapped up this weekend and goddammit it runs! YAAAY! You cannot believe how much stress I've been under with every failed solution just adding to the pile and the peanut gallery chiming in about selling the car, taking it to a professional or just towing it up to the house for storage. I bought that car because it's a simple car. I can work on it and dammit I'm going to fix what breaks because I know I can figure this stuff out.
2 years of time for one moment of vindication... feels good. :3
2 years of time for one moment of vindication... feels good. :3
Out from the shadows; MFF
General | Posted 14 years agoIt's been a... different adventure.
It was never my intention to all but vanish from the fandom for the last five years, but he who does not attend cons or garner the attention of the crowd through other means of remaining relevant... well yeah, just kinda faded back into the shadows mostly (not that I'm against that).
It felt a little weird seeing people I hadn't talked to at all, literally in the last five years, and still just strike things up with them like we hadn't missed that much at all. That's kind of been the nutshell version of my presence in the fandom the last few years anyway. Things just got busy enough and real world stress had buried me to the point that I don't feel like I'm missing all that much by not being a personally active in furry as I used to be. There are some folks I would like to have said hello to that I have not officially met, but thought better of it as I don't expect to be back out east for a con anytime soon, hell it might be another 5 years the way my budget works (or barely works).
When I left FC after my meltdown a couple of years ago at FC, I was very much questioning what place I have in this fandom anymore. Going to MFF didn't particularly change that. I felt by Saturday that I was ready to leave, and I was. I'm not into the dances, the art, or the panels. I just went there to chill with friends and that's generally what I did. It's not some black and white "Oh I hate furry and I'm leaving the fandom forever" thing that people seem to like to make of it. I just don't fit in doing the things other folks there tend to like doing. That, in itself, is what makes it easier for me every time to feel less and less like I'm missing something by not being as active with cons. Personally I've run the course from feeling depressed after leaving cons to at this point feeling more like they're a burden on my time and relief for actually getting home...
Anyway, con report:
Left Tuesday after work to cut 160 miles off the trip, got to the condo at 10pm, set up an air mattress and slept four hours before heading out to BART in the east bay to make to to SFO for my flight. Things went smoothly with the travel, but it's a reminder of just how far from civilization I've actually moved to. I spent the first night at a Super8 with a kamikaze shuttle driver and a mattress that was a weeee bit bowed in the middle. There were also a couple of titty bars down the block so totally a choice place to stay. That being said it was the most comfortable bed I had on the trip, and they did have a really nice continental breakfast there too, which for $80 on short notice was a good place to stay.
Thursday I hooked up with the roomies and got things squared away in that respect. I spent most of the day just wandering and reconnecting with folks I haven't seen in a very long time. I did maybe half an hour to an hour of suiting in Crosscheck as a partial since I didn't bring the full suit. He was mostly ignored by those that didn't know him as the suit hasn't been seen in years. It was actually surprising to me how many people thought I'd gotten rid of him during my suit purging period a couple of years back. It's also kind of funny how people still identified me by the suits I used to have, but it just speaks to the only reference they would have of me I suppose. The day kind of blurred away quick just re-connecting.
Friday ended up much the same. There wasn't really much going on that I remember other than spending a ton of time with KC and Lomax just chatting since we haven't seen each other since AC 2003. Some confusion happened on the general skate time and I missed out on that which left me miffed, but I just wandered a bit in suit instead.
Saturday I was all geared up for the furry hockey thing. THIS time everyone made sure I was aware of the time, the only downside was we had to scramble for some gear for me to play with, but folks came through big time and I borrowed enough to play in the game (no cup though, so trusting my balls of steeeeeeel there). Everyone held their own and we had a good competitive game out of it. It was really relaxing and nice to just get away from the con and do something that helps me forget about, well, everything else. After that I came back feeling pretty beat though and I think con crud was settling in. I didn't catch wind of any parties and nobody got a hold of me for dinner so I killed a sandwich in the room and passed out at the old man time of like 11pm. Extra bonus fun was the roomies waking me up and asking a question of when I had gone to sleep and I just babbled something incoherent cause I wasn't awake enough to speak properly. Honestly the words were there in my head but just wouldn't reach my mouth!
Sunday was another slow day. By this point in the con I would've left if I had the choice. I just felt out of place there and wasn't really involved in much. I met up with KC though and we went next door to drool on the cars in the show there. They were having the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals there. There were some really amazing cars there, including some 1 of 1s that I've never seen or heard of. Too much Dodge though and not enough Mustangs! I was kind of out of it on Sunday again and went back to the room to pass out early like I did Saturday. I was about to crawl into bed and then remembered it was dead dog night and I'm not over 40 sooooo I went back downstairs to just hang out and make sure I didn't fall asleep at a decent hour. I managed to hook up with some folks and chat some more. Blueneko bought me a few drinks but otherwise I didn't do much beyond casual drinking all weekend which is another change I've kind of stuck to at cons.
Monday went well enough, I managed to get a little bit more chatting in before my flight, but otherwise I was more than ready to head home with the way I've been feeling. The flight was uneventful and I managed to make it to the condo for another air stay with the air mattress before driving north this morning.
Overall it was an ok trip. I definitely invested too much time into it both for travel and just days where I had hoped for something to do and found nothing. Part of that was due to the bare bones, cobbled together budget I came up with though. I'm not going to tell you that I had some moment of grand revelation that inspires me to make this a regular thing in my life again, it just simply wasn't the raging bit of fun it used to be. I know some folks there don't want it to be another five years before they see me again, but it may very well just be. It's just something to have to deal with.
I'm not going to say I regret going. I'm also not going to say that I had such a fabulous time that it was a home run for me either. I've done long trip/ care shows where I felt better about the time invested and felt more comfortable than I did at the convention this weekend. We'll see how things play out when FC rolls around in a couple of months.
It was never my intention to all but vanish from the fandom for the last five years, but he who does not attend cons or garner the attention of the crowd through other means of remaining relevant... well yeah, just kinda faded back into the shadows mostly (not that I'm against that).
It felt a little weird seeing people I hadn't talked to at all, literally in the last five years, and still just strike things up with them like we hadn't missed that much at all. That's kind of been the nutshell version of my presence in the fandom the last few years anyway. Things just got busy enough and real world stress had buried me to the point that I don't feel like I'm missing all that much by not being a personally active in furry as I used to be. There are some folks I would like to have said hello to that I have not officially met, but thought better of it as I don't expect to be back out east for a con anytime soon, hell it might be another 5 years the way my budget works (or barely works).
When I left FC after my meltdown a couple of years ago at FC, I was very much questioning what place I have in this fandom anymore. Going to MFF didn't particularly change that. I felt by Saturday that I was ready to leave, and I was. I'm not into the dances, the art, or the panels. I just went there to chill with friends and that's generally what I did. It's not some black and white "Oh I hate furry and I'm leaving the fandom forever" thing that people seem to like to make of it. I just don't fit in doing the things other folks there tend to like doing. That, in itself, is what makes it easier for me every time to feel less and less like I'm missing something by not being as active with cons. Personally I've run the course from feeling depressed after leaving cons to at this point feeling more like they're a burden on my time and relief for actually getting home...
Anyway, con report:
Left Tuesday after work to cut 160 miles off the trip, got to the condo at 10pm, set up an air mattress and slept four hours before heading out to BART in the east bay to make to to SFO for my flight. Things went smoothly with the travel, but it's a reminder of just how far from civilization I've actually moved to. I spent the first night at a Super8 with a kamikaze shuttle driver and a mattress that was a weeee bit bowed in the middle. There were also a couple of titty bars down the block so totally a choice place to stay. That being said it was the most comfortable bed I had on the trip, and they did have a really nice continental breakfast there too, which for $80 on short notice was a good place to stay.
Thursday I hooked up with the roomies and got things squared away in that respect. I spent most of the day just wandering and reconnecting with folks I haven't seen in a very long time. I did maybe half an hour to an hour of suiting in Crosscheck as a partial since I didn't bring the full suit. He was mostly ignored by those that didn't know him as the suit hasn't been seen in years. It was actually surprising to me how many people thought I'd gotten rid of him during my suit purging period a couple of years back. It's also kind of funny how people still identified me by the suits I used to have, but it just speaks to the only reference they would have of me I suppose. The day kind of blurred away quick just re-connecting.
Friday ended up much the same. There wasn't really much going on that I remember other than spending a ton of time with KC and Lomax just chatting since we haven't seen each other since AC 2003. Some confusion happened on the general skate time and I missed out on that which left me miffed, but I just wandered a bit in suit instead.
Saturday I was all geared up for the furry hockey thing. THIS time everyone made sure I was aware of the time, the only downside was we had to scramble for some gear for me to play with, but folks came through big time and I borrowed enough to play in the game (no cup though, so trusting my balls of steeeeeeel there). Everyone held their own and we had a good competitive game out of it. It was really relaxing and nice to just get away from the con and do something that helps me forget about, well, everything else. After that I came back feeling pretty beat though and I think con crud was settling in. I didn't catch wind of any parties and nobody got a hold of me for dinner so I killed a sandwich in the room and passed out at the old man time of like 11pm. Extra bonus fun was the roomies waking me up and asking a question of when I had gone to sleep and I just babbled something incoherent cause I wasn't awake enough to speak properly. Honestly the words were there in my head but just wouldn't reach my mouth!
Sunday was another slow day. By this point in the con I would've left if I had the choice. I just felt out of place there and wasn't really involved in much. I met up with KC though and we went next door to drool on the cars in the show there. They were having the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals there. There were some really amazing cars there, including some 1 of 1s that I've never seen or heard of. Too much Dodge though and not enough Mustangs! I was kind of out of it on Sunday again and went back to the room to pass out early like I did Saturday. I was about to crawl into bed and then remembered it was dead dog night and I'm not over 40 sooooo I went back downstairs to just hang out and make sure I didn't fall asleep at a decent hour. I managed to hook up with some folks and chat some more. Blueneko bought me a few drinks but otherwise I didn't do much beyond casual drinking all weekend which is another change I've kind of stuck to at cons.
Monday went well enough, I managed to get a little bit more chatting in before my flight, but otherwise I was more than ready to head home with the way I've been feeling. The flight was uneventful and I managed to make it to the condo for another air stay with the air mattress before driving north this morning.
Overall it was an ok trip. I definitely invested too much time into it both for travel and just days where I had hoped for something to do and found nothing. Part of that was due to the bare bones, cobbled together budget I came up with though. I'm not going to tell you that I had some moment of grand revelation that inspires me to make this a regular thing in my life again, it just simply wasn't the raging bit of fun it used to be. I know some folks there don't want it to be another five years before they see me again, but it may very well just be. It's just something to have to deal with.
I'm not going to say I regret going. I'm also not going to say that I had such a fabulous time that it was a home run for me either. I've done long trip/ care shows where I felt better about the time invested and felt more comfortable than I did at the convention this weekend. We'll see how things play out when FC rolls around in a couple of months.
Ready to go, MFF-ages
General | Posted 14 years agoAlright, last update before cutting out of here for MFF tomorrow
I'm checked in for my flight and going to be trying the grand experiment of riding BART to SFO so I don't have to deal with traffic when I get down there.
Staying at Super8 near the airport tomorrow night and then in the main hotel the rest of the way. Packing light for the trip, not planning on bringing a suit or too much other stuff. I am bringing my ice skates, but I think the hockey gear will just stay behind since I'd rather save the $70 in baggage fees for that.
See some of you there.
I'm checked in for my flight and going to be trying the grand experiment of riding BART to SFO so I don't have to deal with traffic when I get down there.
Staying at Super8 near the airport tomorrow night and then in the main hotel the rest of the way. Packing light for the trip, not planning on bringing a suit or too much other stuff. I am bringing my ice skates, but I think the hockey gear will just stay behind since I'd rather save the $70 in baggage fees for that.
See some of you there.
