Can anyone recommend a good, reasonable alternative to GoDaddy?

Like the title states, a friend of mine is open for commissions. And for good cause, too. More information is found by clicking the following link - http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/2856981/.

Want a badge? Click the link - http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/2856981/
Need a ref sheet? Click the link - http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/2856981/
Wanna commission someone who can supply what you need? Click the link - http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/2856981/

Click the link - http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/2856981/
Click the link - http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/2856981/
Click the link - http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/2856981/
Click the link - http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/2856981/
Click the link - http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/2856981/

As you can tell, my friendly pimpage is way off the Geiger counter scale!!! Bwahahaha!!! Do eet! Do eet NAO!!! Check out her work. You know you wanna! *Peer pressure*

Balto Woof's Custom Meme, Mention  BaltoWoof in repost.

Unless plans change as to something that'll come up in my favor, I'm staying home this year. Depressing, really, considering that this is the once con I'd so like to have attended this year. Pity, really, but the show must go on at work. So, for the sake of laughs and giggles, I shall post this journal anyway, and answer the questions to the best of my ability.

Convention Name:
Midwest Fur Fest
https://www.furfest.org/

City:
Chicago, Il

Travel:
By means of imagination

Arrival time:
2700 hours local time.

Departure time:
54'40" (Or fight!)

Dates:
Forever

Hotel:
Bizarro World INN

Primary Purpose:
Pleasure

Gender:
Male

Preference:
Straight

Fursuiting:
*M. Bison voice* OF COURSE!!!

Which Costumes:
Krypto, Bat Dog, Buddy Lee Dungaree (Buddy Lee tested, can't bust 'em)

Do you speak while costuming:
Just silly cliches, like "Up and atom!"

Are you ok with physical contact while in costume:
Show me on the clown where you'd like the bad man to have physical contact mit vous.

Do you have a craft in this community:
Photography, brake and lamp inspection, user, owner of the transgenderfier, and controller of the Orgazmorator.

Can I talk business with you while at the con:
Yip. Yip yip yip. NARF!!!

Can you perform repairs:
Sure. Just bring the car in, and we'll see what we can do.

Can I buy you dinner, gifts, drinks, art or anything to show gratitude:
Cash, cash, or cash. Nobody gets repairs done free. :3

Are you single or taken:
Single, but I am aiming on changing that soon. :D

Where can I find you if I need something:
You don't find me. I'll find you.

Do you attend parties:
When and where?

Do you attend the dances:
Yes, in fursuit.

Who will you be spending the con with:
Me, myself, and I. Wanna change that?

Are you cliquey:
Mmhmm.

Are you approachable:
Yes sir.

murr?:
What the heck is murr? More poignantly, what the heck is a murr job?

Can I room with you:
No Vacancy. None. None at all.

Running or attending any panels:
"How to have a good time while not attending a popular con while from the comfort of your own home."

Dealers Den:
Can't. No money to spend this time around. DX

Will you be in the "Fursuit Parade":
Nah. Count me out on this one.

Any personal question, Please note me. Anything public, use the comments below.

-Johnny the Boy

Would anybody be interested in having a Bitter Lake viewing/reviewing party? You know, the sort of party where we having pizza, popcorn, Mexican Coke, and generally have a blast just watching, and probably, deconstructing the movie. I'll go ahead and actually buy the film personally if anybody's down for that sort of thing.

Oh, and all my Rain Furrest pictures are now ready to be uploaded to my Photobucket account. Tomorrow. It's too late for me right now.

Sadly, no MFF for me this year. No time. FC I might attend, and I may purchase an Artist's Alley table as well. Might make a few fursuit-related postcards and such, and mostly non-furry related pictures as well. Any thoughts and constructive ideas?

Before I get into the finer details of what I originally intended to write, I'll just make a quick jab at Apple Safari for being such a pain in the ass by crashing in the middle of writing an FA journal. HATE...NERD...RAGE... *______*
.....
Okay, firstly, I've been unable to upload all of my RF and Antheria onto Photobucket. Yes, yes, I should better manage my time, but since dealing with work and family are BOTH such horrible full-time jobs that make me wonder why I'm still alive at all is a wonder, really. But I do promise to upload them this week. Hopefully

Second off, I was planning on doing fursuit photography live streaming this Saturday. Why Saturday? Because I work six days a week, and Sunday's the only day I really get to sleep in. Which means that I could stay up all night Saturday and do photography over the internet. I will have various fursuits that I plan on doing photography with, either my own or borrowed. And I will be open to suggestions as to all sorts of poses I may be willing to perform in front of the camera. PG-13 rated, of course.

Which means that I might set things up to take a few Halloween-theme pictures in there as well.

Third part is sort of related to the second. I say that in the sense that, while I'm on the subject of holiday themed pictures, I might create a fursuit related Christmas card to send out to a few close friends. I'd have to see how best I could set that up, since the only way I could get a hold of a tree is the fake one my parents have in their shed.

Problem: How to take a fursuit-related Christmas card without my family finding out about a certain fursuit that I keep in a box in my room? I could probably count on my mom to be out of town to visit relatives, and probably convince my sister to go out for the day whilst I make use of the tree and all the decorations. But my dad's the variable in that formula, since he's worked hard to earn the title, 'The Guy on the Couch', which he's maintained for 15 years strong.

Difficult, but not impossible.

Okay, so I survived both Rain Furrest and Antheria, two back-to-back furry conventions. Now let us never talk about trying to do that again for a very long time.

And, in addition to trying to attend two different conventions in the space of a week and a half, I've found myself moving back to my old apartment. So, instead of paying rent to deal with my family's drama, I'm paying rent at my old apartment just so I wouldn't have to deal with more of the same problems anymore. Which means that I now have time to go through all my photographs for both RF and AA, color correct them, and decide which to upload here while dumping them all on to my Photobucket account.

Only drama left is in staying ahead of them in getting to my mail before they do. And that includes them accidentally opening my mail and finding something I don't want them to find. Like furry art and fursuit badges that I may try and commission again soon.

Anyway, what's new?

News update

I'm right now moving. It's really hectic, which means I'm not going to be online for a while. Whatever queue I have in my photography list will be taken care of as quickly as possible. This includes all photography taken at Rain Furrest (on staff and off).

I also have to rewrite this script I've written, since people I had in mind to play key characters have moved, and it'd be both difficult and costly to fly out to where they live to shoot they're relatively few and short scenes in one weekend.

My main computer that I use to browse the internet, and edit photographs with, is already starting to fail me. And, since money's tight right now, I can't simply buy a new computer to replace it with. I'm simply going to back up everything, and wait for this one to finally break down on me.

Antheria

I will be at Antheria this weekend. I'll definitely be there Friday through Sunday. And, if things work out, I'll be able to take fursuit photographs as well. I'm thinking of maybe getting one of those little Polaroid Zink printers and just printing out little souvenirs.

Free art supplies

I have sketch books, pens and pencils, erasers, canvas, and various other art supplies that I'm just going to give away. I don't really need them that much right now, and they're just taking up space. I'll try and show up with them at Antheria, to start with, and if there's anything you'd like that you see, feel free to ask and I'll be happy to oblige you with it.

I'll be sure to post a list once I have everything sorted out in my new place.

I've survived Rain Furrest 2011. It was my first Rain Furrest since 2010. *Drum roll to snare* Thank you, I'll be here all week.

But seriously, though, there's so much awesome, it's going to be a challenge. So I'll try to keep it like a woman's skirt: long enough to cover the whole subject, and short enough to keep it interesting.

I learned one thing this weekend, right off the bat. While I certainly CAN fly up anywhere one day and check into my hotel room the next, it's not something I'd like to try on a constant basis. It was fun hanging out in the lobby and everything, while taking power naps throughout the evening, it's not something I'd like to try, since there's not much value in it. After that, I had a pretty fun time at RF.

I took photos, plenty of photos. I think I've taken enough to justify buying two RAID external hard drive dedicated solely to all my convention photos. Only now, in retrospect, do I wish I'd taken up Brandy with me and gone suiting during the con when I wasn't taking photographs. I guess I'll have to make up for it at Antheria.

I took a couple of really awesome shots using a single studio light. And as soon as I can get some free time, I'll export them to a smaller Jpeg format and upload them onto here, since I feel they represent my style. I also need to invest in rechargeable AA batteries, because having to wait to my flash to recharge longer than usual is such a pain when trying to photograph fursuiters who're literally running around the whole time.

Saw and did a few pretty amazing things during the weekend. For instance, Wolever was passing out FREE Krispy Kreme doughnuts one day, and while in suit. That was really awesome! And I both appreciate and enjoy that kind of thing. It was really cool.

There was someone with a 'U MAD?' mask this year. That was pretty funny. He even participated in the fursuit parade and gave people a good chuckle with his antics. God bless him.

I was thinking, if I manage to attend next year, that I might save all my money up, fly up to Seattle a couple of days early, and buy a car there. Why? Because there might be a few things in Seattle that I'd like to buy that would run afoul of TSA, or be abused and broken by baggage handlers. Namely, a few bottles of whatever Northwest coffee/alcohol/Washington-Canadian soda that I'd like to bring back with me as a souvenir.

Ended up getting caught in the rain while walking back to the hotel from a nearby 76 gas station, where I found out they sell Pepsi Throwback. I hope that, unlike Midwest Flu Fest, that I don't end up with Northwest Flu Fest as a result. .___.;;;

And really, do I want to waste everyone's time trying to describe how awesome the con was. I should be catching up on sleep and sorting out all the photos I've taken. And with that, I bid you good night. *Snore...*

I'm home. I survived Rain Furrest and everything. I have quite a lot of photographs to process and upload, too. If my estimates are correct, I'd say I had about 32 GB of raw photos to sort through.

Expect uploads and a link to my Photobucket account within about a week or two. Why that long? Because right now, I'm in the middle of having to sort through all my RF photographs, moving, and getting ready to attend Antheria, which in itself is quite a bit of work.

Borrowed from  LittleMushu

1. Will you be attending?
*M. Bison voice* OF COURSE!

2. Staying at:
At the official con hotel, the Hilton.

3. Arrival and Departure:
Arriving Wednesday evening, and departing Monday evening. :P

4. Mode of transportation
By plane. Flying up Wednesday night, and flying back down on Monday. Having driven to both Rain Furrest (once) and RMFC (twice), I'm pretty much dead tired to driving to any conventions. This, given the fact that I've driven really long distances from my home base of operations in San Diego, it's been killer to both my car and myself. The only conventions I'll find myself driving to at al are Further Confusion and Antheria. After that, what incentive would I have to actually drive far distances.

5. Rooming with:
Just me, myself, and I. First time, really, since Rain Furrest I, that I've managed to have a room to myself. And first since MFF 2010 that I get it again. Oh, what to do with myself during that time. :D

6. Con Plans:
Taking photos of the con during the day. After that, it's simply a matter of what to during once it comes down to chilling and winding down during the night.

7: How can I find you?
First sign of how to spot me: The Canon T2i with a flash and battery grip. After that, I might have a few other signs, such as having a shirt that reads something along the lines of 'Antheria 2010 or bust'.

8. Do you do free art?
I can barely draw, but may if you ask me right (ie a bottle of Pepsi Throwback, or some pocket change XP). But I may be willing to oblige you with a free picture/photo/portrait, fursuit and non-fursuit alike.

9. Do you have prints/Cds?
Only if enough people are intrested in my fursuit, occasional cheescake pinup, photos. Otherwise, no.

10. Will you be fursuiting? if so: What suit(s)?
No, not really. I'd like to bring up my suits with me, but I think I might leave them behind for once.

11. Will you be going to parties?
Maybe. It's just a matter of what comes around through the randomizer.

12. Will you be performing?
Nope.

13. Smoke?
No, not really.

14. Drink
Water, Pepsi or Mountain Dew Throwback, and even Mexican Pepsi, if you manage to bring it one American border to another. :P

15. Gender
Male

16. Can I hug you?
As long as you’ve showered and are generally clean.

17. Can I talk to you?
You can. But the more relevant and important question is, 'May I talk to you?'

18. Will you be at any panels?
Maybe. There's one panel that I should hope to attend, namely the photography panel. After that, it's just a matter of what happens the rest of the time.

19. Can I touch you?
Depends, really, on whether you've followed the 6-2-1 rule, and whether you're willing to follow certain personal boundaries. Real personal boundaries.

20. Can I buy you drinks?
Sure. Drinks are cool. Just see Rule 14.

21. How old are you?
30. Old Soviet Husky is old. :P

22. Can I snuggle with you?
Maybe.

23. If you're pissed off, should I approach you?
Depends on how pissed off I am.

24. Are you nice?
I'd like to be nice. :D

25. Cliquey?
Sure, okay. Homey can play that game.

26. How tall?
5’3”

27. Can I Take pictures of you?
Taking photographs of the photographer? This is madness//THIS...IS...RAIN FURREST!!!

28. Will you get anything commissioned?
I'd like to. Depends on the money situation.

29. How can I get your attention?
John Connor, John, Brandy, Brandy Wine, Sexy Kitty, Sexy, 'Get down!', The Dude, Hey You, Man, Hey Man, and all that jazz.

30. Can I ask you to dance at the raves?
Perhaps. Although I may or may not be inclined to dance.

~~~~~

Anyway, that's the score with Rain Furrest. Which, coupled with Antheria the following week, makes for the pretty insane kitty that is me. Especially since, if things go according to plan, I may end up being the official con/fursuit photographer for that convention.

Hurray, me. I've already got the equipment I need to do the photography, in the form of a few studio lamps. I've been trying them out, seeing how to get them to work. Long story short, I solved a problem with trying to get the exposure to work. Let's just say that using the camera flash to trigger a set of strobes doesn't necessarily work out as easily as you'd think they would.

But yeah, to quote the famous yellow square philosopher, 'I'm ready!' Are you? :D

Three billion human lives ended on August 29, 1997. The survivors of the nuclear fire called the war Judgment Day. They lived only to face a new nightmare, a war against the machines. The computer which controlled the machines, Skynet, sent two terminators back through time. Their mission: to destroy the leader of the human Resistance. John Connor; my son. The first terminator was programmed to strike at me, in the year 1984, before John was born. It failed. The second was sent to strike at John himself, when he was still a child. As before, the Resistance was able to send a lone warrior. A protector for John. It was just a question of which one of them would reach him first.



Had to put it out there.

Okay, now that RMFC has been taken care of, and no longer face the threat of having to babysit my dad as I head to an out of town convention (which is all of them), I can now face attending both Rain Furrest and Antheria. And you know what, Rain Furrest this year will be the first one since 2008 that I will attend where I get the whole room all to myself. And the first since MFF 2010, too.

Not to get down on anything and anyone, but sometimes I'd like to just chill in my room for a bit before going back down to the convention. With furries, it's not really an issue, or a big deal. But when family's involved, well, I've finally decided that whenever I go on vacation, I'm not going anywhere when family's involved. I've wasted too many vacations as it is trying to keep everything together whenever I go anywhere with family. And if RMFC has proven anything, is that I really don't need the worry of having to get back to the room at 3 in the morning and try to desuit while not wanting to wake up sleeping family. Especially when I'm pretty random about the frequency and length of time I spend in suit.

So, from now on, I'm not going to take family with me on vacation, and definitely not to any convention ever again.

On a positive note, there is this script I wrote for a short film. Short, in the sense that I'm planning on shooting it now, and if I happen to actually write enough to turn it into a feature length film, I plan on shooting that as well. It's by any means a pretty broad comedy. I feel hesitant about calling it a furry comedy, because I really don't want to feel like I'm limiting its appeal to the furry fandom. The 'furry' aspect of it is merely a topical part of it, but I don't want to write it with the sole bend of having it appeal to just furries and the furry fandom. If anything, I'd like to take sort of a similar approach to the Star Wars-style movie "Fan Boys", in the sense that yes, it covers the furry fandom, but I'm aiming on writing and filming it based on the strength of the characters that move the plot of the film forward.

If anything, I feel inspired by films like Rocky, Stranger Than Fiction, 8 Mile, Up In Smoke, Raising Arizona, and Born in East L.A., among others. I only wonder if I can get things started as quickly as possible. I would like to film this using the Canon 5D MKII, but seeing as how the economics of my situation aren't great enough to allow my to film using that specific camera, I'm going to have to save my money, shoot on a more affordable camera. Unless, of course, I got family to help cover those costs, which will never happen knowing my family. So I won't worry about that one bit.

And finally, I bought a pair of flash units recently. Alien Bees B800 lamps, to be exact. http://www.paulcbuff.com/pkg-beginnerbee.php And knowing what I'll be using them for around the late September and early October time, I'm prepared.

Speaking of which, since I do have the capacity to now shoot portraits using actual lamps, I'm curious if anybody would be interested in having their picture taken. I'm willing and capable of traveling throughout the southern California region, and probably as far as Las Vegas, NV, and probably even as far as Arizona, if necessary. I see this as really a bipartite solution: the person having their picture taken gets a few free portrait photos taken, and I get to be able to practice my portrait photography skills a bit more. Even if you don't need your portrait taken, someone you know might, and it would be great to have the word spread out about that.

Outside of that, it's now simply a matter of trying to get things to go along smoothly. So, how're things going on your end?

Given the recent change in the AUP, any and all new non-furry related photography (ie fursuit) will now be uploaded to my Google Blogger accounts. As for my personal fursuit photography, that shall also be uploaded up there as well.

Non-furry photography:
http://krisholcomb.blogspot.com/
OR
http://kristopherholcomb.blogspot.com

Personal fursuit photography:
http://furandskritchinginamerica.blogspot.com/

Furry photography on Live Journal:
http://furskritchusa.livejournal.com/

I'll be uploading photographs from furry conventions on here occasionally. Though, that may dwindle down in the forthcoming months, as I'll be focusing on taking my ASE's, my CACC courses, and the smog 2011 update class. Probably won't end until April 2012 at the earliest. Meaning that, Rain Furrest and Antheria aside, I probably won't be spending what little free time I have in the fandom. Further Confusion is still up in the air for me. Meaning I'll have to find someone to crash with during that weekend. Of course, if everything goes well, I may very well make Anthrocon the next con I attend as a reward.

Yes, I survived RMFC 2011. And my dad invited himself to go with me.

Let me just say, this'll be the first (and last) time I ever go on vacation with my dad anywhere. Simply put, I spent more time acting as his babysitter than anything else. Plus, I spent more time and money going out to eat with him and see the city of Denver than I did hanging around the con, or even trying to get a badge done or something, at least. That, and it was funny to watch him think I didn't know how to run around a convention (ie 'Wear a tail around "these people" so they can accept you a lot more easily' :P)

That aside, I didn't really have that much time to run around and do things on my own. Could have shown my dad the Bad Dragon panel, but that could have either way. Either he makes a public spectacle of everything, or stay totally quiet and things become awkward.

The drive up to Denver, and back to SoCal, took too damn long for me. No penis-shaped clouds for me this year. D: I also had made the decision to either take the money I had and either save it for gas and eat, or save it for gas and get stuff from the dealer's den. Let's just say I was tricked into going to Denny's.

Incidentally, from now on, any con that I will fly to any con that happens to be outside of SoCal (Further Confusion aside). Because a) it takes too damn long to get there, b) I don't want the engine to boil over, given what nearly happened several times this year, and c) what if I get the misfortune of having to drive with family again. I don't want to drive to long or too far and have to deal with them. And no, I did not get to take Brandy with me. Would've raised too many questions if I'd asked my dad to help zip me up. D:

Also, I was switching between using my old XTi and my new T2i, because I was still trying to fill up as much of my 8GB memory card on the XTi as I could. Unfortunately, things came up. D: That, and I had a lot of images on my T2i that I hadn't uploaded onto my computer yet. Oh, noes!

---

Anyway, now that I have said what I needed to say, I need to now plan ahead for Rain Furrest and Antheria. Haven't even yet bought tickets to RF, but I need to. I also need to reserve my room for Antheria, which I have to get on top of.

I need to do quite a few things to get ready for Antheria.

I bought a couple of photography lamps (a pair of Alien Bees AB800's) for fursuit photography. Now the only thing left to do is to get a couple of triggers for them. Either Pocket Wizards or Paul C. Buff triggers. I figure I might only get two - one for the camera and one for one of the lamps, since the PCB lamps can be triggered either with a sync cord or optically (meaning that they'll flash the instant they see another flash go off).

I would used an external flash to trigger the lamps, but I've had problems with trying to use my EX430II to do that, since bother cameras I've tried that on have given me weird exposure levels. Not so much trouble with the pop-up flash, but I don't want to take chances with that, since repeated use of it has given me even longer recycle times and been known to drain the camera's battery even faster.

Which reminds me, I was thinking of doing portraits, both regular and fursuit portraits. I'm looking for a few volunteers. It won't hurt. Much. But seriously though, I was thinking of doing portraits, and would be looking for people to have their portraits taken. So far as I can tell, I would only be able to do so in the Southern California region, from San Diego to about as far north as Santa Barbara. I might be able to go as far north and east as Las Vegas and probably the Phoenix/Tucson region of Arizona.

Why such a limited geography for now? Because travel is expensive, and I don't want to spend time and money in a hotel room any more than I need to. Also, I might only be able to do it on Sunday, maybe Saturday if things work out for me on that day.

That's about it for now. Anyway. What's up?

I'm back home in SoCal now. I'll be posting up the obligatory journal soon. I will leave you on one note, however. Apparently, bringing in outside food and not eating it in the designated area (ie the ballroom/convention area and not the hotel lobby) is enough to have hotel security yell at you, and give you a verbal warning that doing so is enough of a liability to the hotel to cost them their license. Even though a million people were eating in that area, drinking beverages both bottled and in cups, and even as far as Papa John's pizza being delivered into the Dealer's Den.

And yes, I do apologize for not seeing that memo, despite probably nearly blacking out from hypoglycemia and having to eat my side of rice right there in the con area, lest I pass out and require the hotel to take some sort of action in my particular case.

So, what's new with you guys?

Two years ago, my cousin died. It was in an accident on his quad. I'd heard about the news while I was shooting a wedding in the upper class part of town, and despite knowing I'd be chewed out for not filming the whole thing, I took off. I just needed to take off to console the rest of my family.

I went to the wake the next day, but didn't really approach the coffin or anything. I was afraid of that kind of closure. I heard my sister describe what he looked like, and I didn't want my last memory of him to be like that. Especially all of the things that he'd gone through in his own life, I didn't want to face him in that sense. It wasn't right. Sort of how it wasn't right how I skipped out on the funeral the next day. I just didn't want to go because I didn't want to see him off like that.

There's a point to this argument I'm trying to reach. At least, I hope there's a point, because I don't want to feel like I'm wasting anybody's time. Mine, most of all.

You know the Kubler-Ross five stages of grief and grieving. It's funny, at least to me, how I lingered in the Denial stage for a long enough period of time, skimming through the next 3 steps before settling on acceptance. And it was a difficult thing for me to accept, because he was like my brother.

I would say more, but I don't know what else to say. Except maybe that I thought that things would have changed. That my relatives would have at least sobered up, straightened out. Something. Anything.

Fat lot of good hoping that would happen. But I digress. It's just that it's late, I'm tired, and I need to sleep.

Good night for now.

Cross-posted from my Blogger account - http://furandskritchinginamerica.bl.....011-is-go.html. Go check it out some time, as I expect to resume updates with regards to the furry fandom on there soon. YOU GO NOW!!!

---

I'll be attending Rocky Mountain Fur Con 2011 in Colorado's very own beautiful city of Denver. I've already registered for the convention, and reserved a room as well. I'll probably be rooming with Anji-Kun and Heffboom Konijn while there.

Now, it's simply a matter finding a means to get to Denver. Last year, I made the decision to drive. It wasn't a bad drive at all, really. It was just a really long drive. By my calculations, it took about 20 hours to get there total. 9 PM Pacific start time Wednesday evening, and 8 PM Mountain time. Taking time zone shifts into account, the total trip took about 20 - 22 hours total. This includes pit stops, refueling, and a half-hour rest break.

This year, I'm thinking of flying up there, since I don't really want to face the tedium and the stress of driving through both the I-15 and I-70, or the heat of going through both the I-10 and I-25. Then again, I may, if I had friends to drive with on the way through Arizona and New Mexico. In any case, I hope this year is as great as I hope I remember last year was.

John Connor signing off.

That's right, I'll be returning the the Rocky Mountain's very own Denver, Colorado. What could possibly be taking place in Denver, you may ask? Why, Rocky Mountain Fur Con, of course. I went last year, and while it was small, it was lots of fun to attend.

And, much like a repeat of last year, I plan on driving up there this year as well. Still unsure if I'll either be going up the 15 and through the 70, or eventually getting on the 10 to go up the 25. I'm betting on going up the 15 and 70, since it's highly probably going to be scorching all through the 10 and 25 in New Mexico.

It'd be a bit awkward being at a furry con, given that family might be joining me for the trip to Denver. Guess I'll have to deal with them in an appropriate fashion, then. I can't just let them loose, because the moment they find something that's totally objectionable (from their subjectively moralistic point of view), they'll go blabbering it to family and relatives. And then I'll have my work cut out for me.

But anyway. I look forward to attending RMFC this year. It should work as the perfect antidote for some recent events that I've been going through. At least until I get to go to Rain Furrest and Antheria this year. And you KNOW why I'm going to those two this year.

Anyway, how're you guys doing this year.

Sorry, furries. I won't be attending this year. Something about needing to be in SoCal, in case the State of California just happens to show up at my job, and me having to be at work to answer any questions they may have.

On the upside, I might be starting filming on this untitled film that I'm writing the script for, which is already halfway finished. I hope to start filming by the time Anthrocon rolls around in two weeks. I already have most of the story fleshed out, and I just need to format it properly when I get to the actual script part of it. It's at this point I'm looking for any regional furries on the southern California region (and perhaps Arizona, since I know of at least one who may be interested) who're interested in being on film, which can be pretty much described as a broad comedy. Sort of like the television show 'Titus', Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke (sans the drugs), and maybe the Star Wars-themed film, Fan Boys, if I ever get around to watching it.

Lastly, due to scheduling conflicts, I won't be at the PS party this month. I'll either be over in Simi Valley, or Los Angeles, visiting family, depending on where it's decided we'll all meet.

---

One more thing, before I forget. You know that fursuit head that LV's selling over on Ebay, right? The fox head? I was thinking of placing a bid on it. Not for personal reasons. I just thought that, if I were to make a second film (after the first film wrapped up) that I could use that partial suit as the main plot point for the film.

I'm not saying. I'm just saying.

For once, I took a whole bunch of notes on my Ipod while at Califur this year. However, I'll be saving those notes for my Gonzo-esque memoirs, which I'm aiming to publish through Rabbit Valley during Q3 of 2012.

So, I'll give you the abridged version of my weekend of Fur and Yiffing in Irvine: A Savage Journey through the Heart of a Southern California Convention (Version 2.0)

June 3, 2011

Woke up at 5 am on Friday morning to drive from home, just south of Chula Vista, to pick up  Brown_Wolf in Vista, and then straight on the 5, and switching up to the 405 and off at MacArthur Blvd. Arrived at the Irvine Marriot without incident. After seeing that the registration line was going to take a while, due to the constant running hilarious theme that CF registration was facing technical difficulties, I decided it was best to just check-in and move everything into my room while waiting for the system to go back on-line.

As it turned out, it was a new server (which was an unnecessary upgrade to start with), and none of the printer drivers had actually been transferred over from the last server. I've been seeing this happen since 2008. I think it's safe to say that this would be one issue that'll face the Duke Nukem Forever treatment - put off resolving it for as long as possible, and hope people will forget it was ever a problem to begin with. We all know how well that worked for DN:F. (Little hint: It didn't) And to actually contrast this buggering SNAFU to other, better cons that I've attended is totally unfair to the other cons I've attended. So, I'll spare us all the drama and waterworks, because I'm tired of complaining about an issue I could very well avoid from now on. That, plus it would've been nice that I had to ask registration WHY I hadn't gotten my AUP in the e-mail yet, when I probably could've checked the correct box while registering.

Hooray for asking ahead of time.

Seeing as how this would be the last con in which I would be taking photographs with my Canon Rebel XTi, I tried to fill up the entirety of my 8 GB memory card. Even shooting in Raw (and eventually in Raw +Large), I still couldn't fill up more than half of it. I still have a good ways to go before filling up the card, and perhaps also a 2 GB card that a fellow fur named Charizard had given to me.

The Ice Cream Social was okay. Probably wrecked my diet, but meh. Also, I'd met a fursuiter I hadn't seen in quite some time. Remarked that he was amazed that in the time since we'd last met, I'd lost a considerable amount of weight. I said it was simply because I cut out HFCS. It was a bit encouraging to hear that.

June 4, 2011

It turns out that, if there's any noise loud enough, I really am a light sleeper. Yep. But it didn't really bother me. I just sat there and enjoyed my breakfast (actual food from Albertson's, and not some cheap gas station food, either.

The tension regarding registration's foreseeable trouble's from the previous day seemed to have died down quite a bit. Which was a good thing. It was also good that people were allowed to attend the Dealer's Den and certain panels while registration was trying to get back up. Incidentally, the Meet the GoH's/Opening Ceremonies started a bit late (by 15 minutes) and didn't seem all that satisfying. It seemed a bit short, and it would have been nice to learn what the con charity was for that year, and how to donate to it.

I was also tasked with taking the official Made Fur You photo. Took it at about 2:00 - 2:05. A few suiters showed up, which was better than no suiters at all. It was entertaining seeing one of the suiters dressed up as a princess and holding a piece of cake. Also, the fursuit parade was soon after, which I attended and took both video and photos of it, which was a first for me. I should have done that starting with my first convention.

I dressed up as Brandy I believe on Saturday. I suited up, walked around a while, and found out on Monday that I have TWO pictures of me on the KROQ website.

Went to FNL, took some video of it. It was pretty good. It was far better than the Cabaret show, which I feel is just an excuse for 150 horny men, and a few horny women, to sit together uncomfortable close in private hotel and watch men and women dance and sway oddly to bad music, and toss money onto the stage for the sake of charity. It has yet to dawn on the heads of con that they don't need to flash naked people in front of me to donate to charity, whatever it was. A simple donation jar at the con store table in the dealer's den will suffice. There was a jar for a sick, uninsured writer, sure, but not for the official charity. And believe me, I would donate if'n I were to have been simply asked.

But that's how simple my point of view is.

Speaking of viewing the world in weird and bizarre ways, there is but one policy that I call shenanigans on. The 'No photography/videography' policy of the Cabaret. Sure, I get that whole having to protect the privacy of the performers. I don't get, however, the whole policy of actually videotaping the event. Sure, I might believe that they might be giving a copy of the show to everyone that performed. But I couldn't help but notice that there were actual camera operators taking video of the audience. And not just from the back, or from the corner in a discreet fashion. I'm talking about actually walking out in front of the audience while pointing the camera at everyone in the front rows of the audience. I'm sure there must be a good reason as to why the convention is taking B-roll footage of an event for a video that'll get produced but will never see the light of day beyond just sitting on the editor's hard drive.

And, for some reason which I'll never explain in public, I may or may not have seen things that remind me of certain television shows. That may or may not be set in Las Vegas. And another that may or may not star Kevin Connolly and Jeremy Piven. But, as I said, you'd have to talk to me in person, or at least in a direct message, what that particular thing that may or may not have happened as to what it may or may not have been.

Remember, you did not hear that last thing, which did not happen behind closed doors.

June 5, 2011

Sunday was somewhat eventful, but for sake of time and space, I'm not going to get into the gritty details. Abridged version - checked out at noon, at at Wahoo's Fish Tacos at 12:30 pm, and ate at Red Robin at 9:42 pm.

There was fursuit photography on Friday and Saturday only.

Would like to have seen more stumping for donating to the con's charity for this year, but I don't think I saw too much of that. There might have been some of that during the Cabaret, but it wasn't really explicitly stated at the beginning of the Cabaret, or even during the con in general. That may have also been the point of the Pet Auction, but as I said before, it would have been most efficient to, in addition to the Pet Auction and the Cabaret, to have a donation jar in the Dealer's Den. I say this because a lot of people would not have had a chance to successfully bid in the auction, or managed to attend the Cabaret for various reasons, known about either, or even attend either of those at all during the weekend. But that's just my idea.

---

If'n I decide to attend Califur next year, I might consider attending as a dealer. Dealer, in the sense that it's definitely possible, considering that I could very well sell my services as a photographer, and perhaps sell fursuit portrait prints. There's no legitimate reason as to why I can't do something like that. Other than that, I see no reason to go next year to Califur, or any more cons than I can afford to attend next year. I'll be fortunate to be able to get to both Rain Furrest and Antheria this year, given all the things I have to deal with right now. RF, because I find it really enjoyable as one of the smaller cons (in terms of size and number of years running), and Antheria, because let's face it, if I'm going to judge a con in good or bad terms, I wanna go just to see if that's the trend that it's going towards. Other than that...

That's about it. If I missed anything, or l left out, it'll eventually be brought up in my end of year review.

Uploaded all my images to Photobucket (Flickr be damned). Here's the link - http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/.....VII%20%202011/. Remember, it's customary to give credit to the photograper (although it's also cool to drop a C-note as well :D).

I'll be uploading these as time passes by.

Napstered from  MocHi, with a few modifications.

Califur meme:

Where are you staying?
The Marriot

Who will you be with?
Rooming with  Brown_Wolf, and probably a few others, depending on the situation.

Do you do trades?
No, not really, since I can only really do photography, as my drawing skills are horribly crippled at this time. Unless you'd like some portraits done in exchange.

What suits will you have?
Brandy Wine.

What is your gender?
Dude.

How old are you?
30

Can I talk to you?
Sure! Just don't be a freak about things, and it's all cool.

Can I buy you a drink?
Sure.

What's your poison?
Anything Throwback, or some Sierra Mist Natural, and we're cool.

Can I commission you?
If you want, as long as Sharpie Stick Figures are cool with you.

What events will you be attending?
FNL the Cabaret, the Pet Auction, definitely the fursuit parade, and anything else I can squeeze in there.

Can I hug you?
Perhaps. As long as you're Zest-fully clean, we're cool.

How tall are you?
5'3" - Which makes me all the more awesome while I'm in suit.

Are you nice? Or do you think so?
As long as I'm not rubbed the wrong way, sure, I can be nice. :P

Are you friendly?
Okay.

How long are you going?
Friday - Sunday

Do you have an artist table? If yes, what will you be selling?
I wish. I let that sort of thing slip by me, really.

Do you like parties?
Depends on the party, really.

Can I give you a gift?
Okay.

If I see you, how should I get your attention?
Just lay on your thickest German-Austrain accent, and say, 'GET DOWN!!!' Or you can call me the Dude. You know, that or, uh, His Dudeness, or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.

How can I spot you:
I'll be there with my trusty Canon Rebel XTi, along with the external flash, and maybe a flash modification as well.

Anything else?
Be polite, be efficient, have a plan to pose for the camera (in fursuit). Also, I'm going to be taking a lot of pictures this time around, something along the level of the amount of pictures I took at FC 2008, and I took a lot of pictures there. The thing is, though, I haven't really uploaded ALL the pictures I took onto any of my photography accounts (like Flickr or Photobucket) since I keep putting that kind of thing off for no good reason. But this time around, I may just go ahead and upload those with some sort of watermark to signify the photographer. Or, at the very least, some sort of website address to let people know where they might find their pictures.

I just bought a couple of photographic backdrops today. A 10' X 12' white one, and a 10' X 24' dark gray one.

That's the big news from today. After that, I'd just need to construct a means to hang both of them. Nothing too difficult to do, really. Just buy a few supplies over at Home Depot, and I'll have a decent means of hanging them up.

Also, I'm also looking into buying a strobe lamp. I was thinking perhaps going with a couple of White Lightning X800 lamps, based on word of mouth. I'll perhaps buy those a little later on this month.

I've had a few ideas that I wanted to try out, and I figured I'd try and expand on my technique just a bit. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a few personal finances to go through to make this an actual possibility.

First off, before I go into it, some cons I mention well beget drama in my comments section. Anything along the lines of, "Don't go to this one!" or "Why would you want to attend THAT one?" will be met with an "Ignored" reply. After all, the list is pretty much considering all circumspection.

Califur - Yes, yes, I know the drama. But all that aside, I'm only attending because I have nowhere else to go, really. It's either "drama" at home, or "drama" on the road.

Anthrocon - I'm considering attending. All I really need to do is find a place to crash, and the rest shall fall into place.

RMFC - I liked last year. It was great, and I'd like to attend this year. The drive itself was beautiful. Given that this year's theme is 'I need a hero', I should attend.

Which reminds me, I'd like to get started on a fursuit that I've had in mind for a while now. A white wolf, because I've already seen way too many black and gray, black and white high contrast wolves as it is. I wouldn't really be above feedback and critique if'n I was to upload progress shots online. I could, if I had enough motivation, get a partial done in time for Califur, to fit in with that theme. (Drama/waterworks)

Rain Furrest - Sure, why not? I have probably good enough incentive to attend this year, even.

Antheria (More waterworks) - It depends, really, on my schedule, along with the schedule of the con. Yes, yes. I know that last year's initial attempt was a drama of waterworks, but to paraphrase Dr. Manhattan, "One bad convention does not equal a trend." I'd need like three or four poor cons in a row to appease my statistical mind, just to get beyond the standard deviation.

Antheria would be Sunday at the worst, all weekend at the best.

Sorry, no MFF this year for me. I came down with a bad case of bronchitis that took a month and a half to overcome. I don't want to come down with pneumonia for the second time in my life 'just because all the other furries were doing it.

It also means no Comic Con either. And Anime Expo might only be best left for Sunday. However, if things don't go that great for me this year, I might end up only going to two cons this year, instead of the six mentioned above. *cough*Califur *cough*Rain Furrest

So, what have you guys been up to?

(You can begin the drama and waterworks now)

Either way, I need something to do with myself. But, of course, I already have both, so meh. I'll just take advantage of what I have. Funny, too, since I can afford either-or, but not both.

Thoughts, andyone? Pennies for them.