I had an extra room slot at MFF so I invited my wife. Now she's staff with me in Con Suite. And she's a badger.  SakuraShwerrustung give her a watch if you can and say hi.

I met a woman named Jennifer back on May 17th through a mutual friend, Mina. We enjoyed each other's company and went on more dates and got to know each other better. We even met each other's family. Then on July 3rd, we decided to upgrade to a boyfriend/girlfriend situation. But that didn't last long. On July 13th it became apparent that Jen's mom was abusing her sister. Jen wanted to fight for custody of her sister, but lacked the resources to do so. Resources I had. We decided that we had to be married in order for Jen to save her sister from her mom and the foster system. We are to be wed this Tuesday. I have an appointment with a lawyer tomorrow to draft a prenuptial agreement. After the marriage we will attend couples counciling. I do love Jen, and I know she loves me. I just hope this doesn't ruin it.

On my way out to Morphicon this year I made friends with someone on the bus. Her name was Kia and she sold magazines for a living. I bought her lunch because she didn't have any money and we talked for most of the ride. When we were leaving the bus, she gave me her real name so we could be Facebook friends because she didn't have a phone.
Fast forward three weeks. She messages me and tells me she was abandoned by her crew in Louisville KY. with no money, car, phone, etc. She was communicating with me with a library computer. I was suspicious of this story, so instead of simply sending her money, I told her I would pick her up and bring her to my place. I figured if it was just a story, she would have an excuse and leave me alone. But she didn't. She was very excited for me to come rescue her. So we made plans that I would pick her up that Friday.
Now I don't trust my old truck that far, (610 miles one way) so I turned to my friend Mina to get her advice on the situation and maybe borrow her car. She said that it made sense that if we go, to plan on stopping by a zoo so if Kia bales on us, we still had a plan.
Friday Morning about 8, Mina and I left for Louisville. When we were just west of Peoria (halfway point), Kia calls me to make sure everything is all right, and that we would be there at 6. Everything was going great until we got there at 6:02 (central time) and she wasn't there. There was a definite sinking feeling at this point. We walked around and checked the area out (by this point I was just not ready to admit she stood me up.), but she wasn't there. We went to a nearby restaurant, Tumbleweed, and ate supper. Afterwords we went to a go-kart track. They had a very impressive arcade when we walked in, and a sizable go-kart track in the back. I paid for tickets for the karts and we rode around the track once. This was the most fun per minute I have had in a while. I felt better after that, and we went to find a hotel to spend the night.
On Saturday we ate at Steak n' Shake (they make their shakes with skim milk now instead of 2%, not very noticeable with a fruity shake but ruins a chocolate one), I bought some fireworks, and we went to the zoo. Ever since being stood up I was checking my phone every couple minutes to see if she responded to my messages. After we got to the zoo I saw that she had read my messages and didn't respond to them. She had liked a few pages and commented on the statuses of some friends, but didn't talk to me. I have a fairly severe Fear of Rejection, and that didn't sit well. I was feeling sad, betrayed, rejected, mad, and just all around not happy. I was at the zoo to make Mina happy, and we were supposed to be enjoying ourselves, but I just couldn't do it. And that made it worse. But I have a well put together mind that I know how to manage and I had a job to do. Just because someone hurt me doesn't mean that I have the right to ruin the day for someone else. So we went through the zoo, I did like to see the animals, and afterwards we went to the library that she went to to get online (supposedly). She wasn't there and the librarian didn't recall seeing her. So I gave it up. She wasn't there and there was nothing more I could do. On the way back we stopped at the Indianapolis City Zoo, then kept going ($52 admission + $26 parking for an hour and a half till close? Lol, no). On the way back, we had just crossed into Iowa when I checked my bank balance. I was so distracted by everything else, I forgot to track that. I bought gas for the car to get us home and had nothing left. I was planing to go to a local con the next day to meet people I don't often get to see and to just feel better after the trip. And now I couldn't go. I also wanted to tend my fathers grave on Memorial Day (He was an Air Force vet). And now I couldn't go.
I would like to apologize to Mina for concentrating on the bad (I got stood up) instead on the good (I helped her).
Sunday morning I slept in because I had nowhere to go. When I woke I checked Facebook and found that Kia had been tagged in a photo by her boss, He was bragging about her sales and wanted everyone to see that she earned a $700 check that week. She was never in trouble. She got a $700 check and I am selling my Xbox to buy food. <-- THAT is why there are so few nice guys left.
But I WANT to be a nice guy. And now, after it's over, she has only to apologize, and I would forgive her. Not do that again, but I hold no grudges.

Admittedly I was planing on this being my last Morphicon. It's just to far away from my (700ish miles) and most of the people there are local to that area. I have since changed my mind. First off is the bus ride there. Now I'm a big guy, and most planes/buses/cars are designed with someone smaller in mind. So 15-20 hours each way being kept in light bondage is unappealing to me. But I made the best of it and made a friend on the bus anyway. Now we're facebook friends. Rain (my horse) :marefurryfan: picked me up from the bus station and brought me to the con and helped me got Hospitality set up. I can't say enough good things about this guy. He'll be on staff next year. Thursday night I set up the spider web on the ceiling with help from Richard(?) the Gopher King (that was fun). And I found out that Neeka :lunasparkle: and Ann (Savant's wife) would be helping staff the room.

Friday was a pretty standard con day. I got to meet two gophers :kazeli: and :vashyron-kun:. Then something happened that doesn't usually happen; I got invited to a social thing. Kazeli wanted to go swimming. So after arranging a trip to Walmart to buy swim gear, we get back get changed and find out the pool will be closing in ten minutes (that sucked). We each went our separate ways and I went back to Hospitality. Still in my swim trunks, vest, and hat. I stayed up late with a handful of other people including syberfox and kattywampus. I closed at 5:48am that night, more on this later.

Saturday was also a pretty fun standard con day. I met with kazeli and we decided on a 9-11pm time for a pool party and we spread that around. After finding someone to cover for me I was able to attend the party. I had a lot of fun there. After the party I changed and went back to Hosp. to relieve my horse. I received a warning from other staff that I should not stay open as late tonight because they were worried about my health (Ha). After that it was slow in the room for a while. This usually is a bad thing for me. I love to work. And working all the time leaves little time left for socializing. So when things get quiet, I'm all alone. And then I start the self-pity thing. But then someone sent down a drink from a room party for me. It meant a lot to me that someone was thinking about me. Then people came back in the room and actually included me in the conversation. Soon I was giving backrubs to two girls at the same time. It felt great to be able to make other people feel good. Special thanks to :marisol: I closed at 5:44am.

Sunday was a day of firsts. We were low on supplies to begin with so there wasn't much left to give out, and what was left Kazeli got rid of very quickly. Hospitality was torn down and headed for the truck before closing ceremonies. And I slept in till 11am instead of 8am. All of which make the day go by entirely too fast, and before I was ready, I was headed back to the bus station for my dreaded 25.5 hour trip home.
I had a lot of fun at this con and I would like to thank everyone I met for making it that way.

Now for a footnote. I caught a lot of flack for keeping Hospitality open that long. But I love doing it and looked forward to it all year. I could offer people a place to go to be social but not party. A place where people could go to sit around a table and talk about important subjects or other interesting tidbits. A welcome place for those, like me, that don't really have a room party to go to, for whatever reason. A place to wind down after a day of stress or too much caffeine. A place where you can say something and not have to worry about it going viral online. A place where people can go to grab a snack, or make a friend. I love doing it. I love the atmosphere, and hearing the down low on controversial topics from people who would know. So, please, if you have a moment, say something to upper staff (particularly Talmac) and let them know you appreciate what I do. I would mean a lot to me. Thank you.

First an update on my wrist: It is close to as it was before my accident on 12/21/12. I am officially permanently partially disabled because of it. Not 100%, but I can use it.
Anyway, On 9/30/13 or 10/1/13 my roommate went through my room and stole $810 I had as an emergency fund. Early 10/2/13 I noticed it was gone. The only evidence I had was coincidental (he was the only one here), so I decided to wait until the weekend to look through his room for material evidence (he had plans to paint a house that weekend). On 10/5/13 I entered his room shortly after he left and began to look for large receipts or something else incriminating. I found the envelope I had my money in in his trash(I wrote "emergency fund" on it). So I texted him and kicked him out. I kept his TV, bed, couch, and just gave him back his clothes and little things. He thought I should give him back all his stuff, all his rent he just paid, and then give him a week to find another place. I told him he was lucky I didn't A. shot him when I found he had stolen from me. B call the police. We work together at the same place during the same hours and carpool there and back. I figured that work would be interesting that Monday. Well 10/7/13 he couldn't find a ride so he quit his job. I did not expect that.
I had been parking my truck in my garage and locking it since the eviction, I normally leave it out unless their is a good reason to park it indoors. Tuesday night I left it out for the first time. Wednesday I leave for a neighboring town to pick up my new roommate. My transmission blows on the way there. I called a friend for a ride home and picked up new roommate. The timing on this could not be worse. Or more suspicious.
I made it through the week and transportation worked out for several weeks. I got my truck to my mechanic. And I've got my bike to get around town.
Right now as it sits I have to come up with $1000 for rent and utilities by the end of the month, another $1000 probably to fix my truck, And Sallie Mae wants some more money for student loans. Most of my savings were just stolen.
I seem to have fallen into a hole. But don't concern yourself for me. I'll pick myself up, and keep walking down the road, a little wiser.

See some of you at MFF.

Almost got hit coming home from work today. An oncoming car lost control and spun out right by me. I took the ditch to avoid a head-on crash. I saw their headlights go right by my window. Everyone was fine, but their car was leaking fluid. Don't text and drive, kids.
I probably need to get better insurance for my truck.

Surgery a success. Anesthesia wearing off rapidly. Pain reaching my upper limits. Hope meds work soon.

My surgery is set for next Friday the 15th. I have a closed fracture of the scaphoid bone of wrist. They will be installing a screw in the bone and likely taking a bone graft from another bone in my wrist. Sounds like they will be using a local anesthetic instead of a general one. It should only take a few hours in the afternoon, and I will be off work for at least a week.
I hate needles.

The Friday before Christmas (12/21/12) I sprained my wrist at work. I filled out an accident report immediately afterwards. Yesterday (02/04/13) they finally got me in to see a doctor. They did some X-rays and found that the little bone at the base of my thumb was misaligned by 2.4 mm (That's a lot, apparently) which is irritating my other wrist bones. The cartilage that was torn is scarring up instead of healing, and there is a chance the bone itself is broken.
The doctor I saw prescribed me some Vicodin, gave me a better brace, and got me an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon to discuss my options on Wednesday. I hope surgery isn't necessary, but its looking pretty grim right now.

I have just returned from this years MFF, and already I feel the onset of PCD (Post Con Depression) upon me. But I do not have time to feel down. On the drive home I have had a long time to reflect on the con experience as a whole. Things I would like to happen and things that I could have done better. The summary of these thoughts is simple; (1)I would like to go to more cons a year, (2)I need to lose some weight, (3)and I want a fursuit. Same as everyone else. But these goals are not out of reach for me. For (1) I need money, time off, and transportation. Money and TO aren't really a problem right now. But the transportation is something that worries me. I simply don't trust my old truck very far. Although it just did a round trip to MFF with no complaints and it did 85+MPH the majority of the time. My choices are: get a new car (or motorcycle?), Carpool, Alternative transport (fly or train), or get AAA(?). Thoughts? For (2) I just need to get off my ass and do it. It would take a stain off my joints and reduce my overall pain during a con so I could have more fun. And of course look better. For (3) All it takes is money and a ref sheet.
But money might be getting tighter for me then I am used to. Social Security is cutting the amount my mom gets a month by $500. I may be supporting her soon. We are filing an appeal. I hope it works out.
Other reasons for this journal: My old journal has gotten so old it has rotted to dirt. And to remind my 20 watchers that they do watch me.

I had a great time last night. I met a lot of new furs, made plans for cons, explored new places in my mind, and even got comfortably drunk (no hangover Yay!). I wasn't expecting that many people to be there, but i'm glad that a single well timed event can yield such a turnout. I do regret, however, that i was unable to get to actually meet Kri and Deo. A couple rounds of pool against Deo's team was as close as i got. I need to work on my pool game. I probably won't be attending any meets for a while due to the onset of planting season.
In other news i pled guilty to Civil Misconduct today and need to pay the fees totaling $152.
Thank you Nbowa and Tzup for throwing the party and filling your home with furries.