Just wanted to wish all my friends and watchers a very happy and merry Christmas. Here's hoping you all have a wonderful day.

Just wanna wish all my fellow Canadian friends and watchers a wonderful and happy thanksgiving. May no one get arrested, get in a fight, end up in the hospital or show up on the evening news.

Well, almost already to go. Just need to do a little bit more packing and I'm done. This time tomorrow I'll be arriving at LAX for an almost 3 hr layover and then on to Albuquerque.

I didn't realize how long it's been since I last sleeved up art work I've gotten, until I started on it tonite. I had artwork from 2014, sitting around in envelopes waiting to be sleeved. I ended up going through over half a box of 1 pocket pages, before I finally finished. Was fun seeing art I'd gotten years ago or won in an auction for the first time in years. What shocked me is that I had a second original from Vicky Wyman that I'd completely forgotten about. Hopefully I'll get a shot of it and upload it when I can.

Sadly many of my favorite pieces are oversize and won't fit in th pages and thus will have to stay sealed away in shipping envelopes. Perhaps one day I'll figure out a way to display them when I have the room.

Well,  Pyat and I made it home safe and sound a few hours ago. After a very easy trip, I crashed as soon as I got home and now fear I'm coming down with something, but I certainly hope not.

Now AC was a blast, but also very frustrating as I had to do it on a very strict budget due to a road trip in the fall. There was so much I wanted to buy, but was good and stayed on my budget with one small exception. I did manage to get 3 new sketches, including 2 in my new sketchbook : Ladies of the Alphabet, that I hope to upload soon. I suited briefly, but it was just so hot in the convention that I didn't even think about doing the parade.

Well, AC is almost half over and it's been a blast. I've gotten 3 sketches so far with 2 in my new book, Ladies of the Alphabet, which I will upload after I get home. I'm hoping for at least 1 other piece, but we'll have to wait and see.

The only downside is, since I'm on a very strict budget, it's hard looking at all the things I want, but knowing that they are out of reach. Also for a change, nothing in the art show really interested me this year, which is very unusual.

I plan on doing some suiting in a few hours and have decided to skip the parade/photo shoot, mainly due to the heat. I'm sitting right now in the game room, slowly cooling down in preparation of doing a bit of suiting. I'd also like to give a big shout out to the convention centre for having such an easily usable wifi this year. In past years in been there, but really spotty, but this year it's great.

Well, AC is a go for me. I'll be riding down and back with a good friend of mine  Pyat and stayin offsite with the generous  MatthiasRat, who one again opened his home up for me to crash at. Now the con experience is great, but staying with friends and their family, especially his daughter, is wonderful and I look forward to staying there every time I can make it.

I'll be arriving Friday after lunch and leaving Monday morning, and have pre registered this year, in order to avoid the nightmare the year I didn't. I'm also hoping to bring my suit and do a little bit suiting around the con, most likely on Sat.

I also just picked up a new sketchbook today, as I'll be debuting it at the con. Now money will be tight this year, so I likely will only bring it and maybe my Artists Choice book as well. I'm hoping for maybe 3-5 sketches and as seeing this book has 100+ pages, it should another 10 years+ to finish it.

I'm also hoping to take in a couple of panels this year. I say this every year, but seeing as money will be tight, they should help to fill my day, without me wandering the dealers den from open to close, tempting myself with things I shouldn't buy.

Now if any of my followers/friends wanna meet/chat in person, just let me know and maybe we can arrange something.

Well, it looks highly likely that I'll be at AC this year. I've got an extra week of vacation as well as a 2 week US road trip this fall and have been crunching the numbers to see if I can pull of both. Accommodations are accounted for and now I have to see about transportation. Down side is that it will be a very lean con as money will be very tight and I'll have to stick to a very tight budget.

However it should be a blast and am considering bringing my fursuit as well. I won't be doing much suiting, probably once a day and no parade, but I know several people want to see me in it. The lack of cash will also force me to do something I rarely do and that is go to panels or events. I always plan on going, but in the end I never do. It'll also be a good place to unveil a new sketchbook I'm planning on. I won't say anything, other than it's gonna be another unusual one.

Looking forward to seeing everyone there.

So on Saturday I decided to go to the Toronto Zoo for the Kerfluffle event. now Kerfluffle is like a mini-con that has been held in various venues like a city streetcar and a tall ship cruise. This time they held it at the Toronto Zoo and since I haven't been there in years, I decided to give it a visit. Now I enjoyed it a lot, but realized that these events just aren't for me, I'm just too old to relate to this crowd. Frankly I only know a few of the furs in passing and I've never really been a dance kinda guy. I admit I felt very much out of place and spent much of it alone. If they have another venue that interests me, I might give it another try.

oh and in other news, I turned 53 today, big whoop.

Hopefully I'll be able to post most of my art from FE 2019 over the next few days rather than months from now. Included will also be the last several pictures from my now finished Hoofer book, a task only 12 years in the making.

Well after 12 years, I can officially close a chapter of my life. My 'Female Hoofers' sketch book is finally done and retired.  hbruton is finishing the last empty page tonight and then I can put it away and begin a new one. I'm thinking of doing ladies of the alphabet, what do you think?

Well I'll be leaving in a little bit under an hour for the con and I hope to upload art as I get it. I'm also looking to finish my hoofer book as I only have 5 pages left. Looking forward to seeing everyone there and having a blast.

Seeya all soon.

Well, Furnal Equinox is roughly 2 1/2 months away, so I figured I'd better register. Going Super Sponsor again this year, badge #877, so I'm guessing we'll crack the 1000 point again this year.

I initially wasn't all that fond of the theme -Graduation-, but it's grown on me. The amount of swag is nice, but I'm most curious about the class ring. Also, even though I've said it before, I wanna try to hit up more panels rather than just spend all my time wandering the Dealers Den all day.

I'll also be bringing and hoping on playing, the Unstable Unicorn card game this year. Hopefully the new expansions will arrive in time as well. I brought it last year, but was too tired at the end of the day as well..

It'll be nice to see so many old friends again and hopefully find some new ones. I'll be planning on doing the dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory again either Thursday or Friday night again, since it seems to becoming a tradition.

My Hoofer sketchbook is very close to being filled, so I'll have to come up with a possible replacement for it. I've found a possible replacement but I'm not sure how artists would like it. Basically the book is divided into 1, 2, 3, and 4 panels of different sizes and each panel has a theme. I like the randomness to challenge artists, but fear they will have difficulty in setting prices for some of the smaller, oddly shaped panels.

We'll be staying at the main hotel again this year and will be arriving on the Thursday and leaving on the Monday, so I look forward to seeing everyone there. As we get closer, look for the FE meme.

Just wanted to wish all my friends and watchers a merry Christmas. I hope everyone has a wonderful day and know that even if you aren't with family, there are people that care for you.

Sadly for me, as soon as it's a respectful time, I'll need to head out and find an open drug store as I've come done with a very nasty cold overnight. Not surprising as everyone I've been around has been sick, but you think it could've waited a day.

About a month ago I managed to win a free short story from the talented  Amethyst_Mare. I just finished reading the pre-edit and I look forward to linking the result to for everyone else.

Well, just over 5 hrs before I head out to AC. Surprising how time seems to slow, the nearer I get to the departure time. See everyone there.

Where are you staying?
Will be commuting daily from a friends house

What day are you getting there?
July 4th-9th

Who will you be rooming with?
 MatthiasRat,  Salvestro, Lurkingwolf and several others.

Who will you hang out with during the convention?
My friends and whoever else I run into

What is the best way to find you?
Look for me in the Dealers Room

Are there any panels you will be attending?
Maybe

Are you hosting any panels?
Nope!

What do you look like?
Older guy with a white beard

Will you be suiting?
No, not this year

What is your gender?
male

How tall are you?
6"+

Are you mated/in a relationship?
Nah

Can I talk to you?
Yeah!

Can I touch you?
Nothing weird!

Can I buy you drinks?
If I know you, sure

Can I hug or snuggle with you?
hugs ask first

Are you nice?
I hope so!

How long are you going?
I already answered this!

Will you be going to parties?
not likely

nope

If I see you, how should I get your attention?
just call out my name

Can I take your picture?
ask first

What's your goal(s) for the con this year?
Have fun, try to be social, buy lots of stuff

Well, AC is definitely a go now. Just ordered my passport and it should arrive in about 10 days. Gonna sign up for reg today as well and will probably book my bus by Friday. Looking forward to seeing the con again and all my friends.

My only regret is that I wasn't able to grab a lift down with anyone, but such is life.

Well I have successfully completed my 52nd solar rotation. Hopefully I'll be here for number 53.

FURNAL EQUINOX MEME 2018

Where are you staying? Main Hotel!

What day are you getting there? Thursday afternoon

Who will you be rooming with?  MatthiasRat,  Salvestro,  WolfFriend,  Cobalt_k

Will you be fursuiting? Certainly

What is your gender? Male

How old are you? 50+

Can I talk to you? Sure.

Can I hug you? Ask first, unless I know you.

Photographs? In suit, sure. Otherwise ask first.

How can I find you?

Which suit(s) will you be bringing? just my Cape Buffalo

Do you draw? Nope.

How tall are you? 6 1'

Are you taken? nope.

Can I visit your room? Perhaps if the others are ok with it.

Can I buy you drinks? If I know you.

Can I hug or snuggle with you? hug yes, snuggle no

Are you nice? I hope so.

How long are you going? Thursday-Monday.

If I see you, how should I get your attention? Call my day

Where will you be most of the time during the days? Wandering the Dealers Den and the panels

What/where will you be eating? not sure

What’s your goal for the con this year? To relax and enjoy the company of friends.

Well she came through the back surgery with flying colors. They had to fuse her back but everything went well and they just had to assess her with regard to the hip surgery.

Imagine our surprise when we heard that they had sent her in for the hip surgery today. Now we haven't seen her yet, but we've been informed that she's alert and not in pain. My sister and I are planning on seeing her tomorrow and am looking forward to it.

Finally, I'd like to thank everyone who has expressed concern and sent their best wishes. It is greatly appreciated and although she may not know any of you, your best wishes are very welcome.

We just heard that she went into surgery about 2 hours ago. Thankfully it's about time and we're all hoping she comes through fine. I saw her Friday and for it was a difficult visit.mshe was in so much pain, she didn't seem like my mother, just some random old person, constantly calling for help.

Well, finally some good news. Apparently the mass in her back is just enlarged blood vessels that have been there for some time and it sounds like she just has to deal with the hip surgery. Normally they attach the rod and run it down the femur for support. Unfortunately, she already had a rod there from a previous fall, so now they have to attach a plate to the outside of the hip and screw it in place. She's gonna have a long road to recovery, but I know she can handle it.

Well, just got back from the hospital with my sister and aunt, after waiting for my mom to come back from a catscan. She fell at home today and unfortunately has fractured her hip and possibly her back. Luckily my sister was home to call the ambulance. Unfortunately scan revealed a mass in her back that they are not sure what it is. They ant to do an MRI next, that hopefully will reveal hat it is. They have used the big "C" word, but we're hoping it's something else.

Realized today that I'd failed to upload any sketchbook art in over 6 months, so look forward to 2-3 pieces each night until I'm done. Everything is scanned and ready to go, so it'll just be matter of filling in the blanks. Hope you all like them.