Hello FurAffinity,

Been a while, I guess. I’ve been bad at keeping up with things here. I have three topics I want to cover today.

Topic the First:
I will be at Anthrocon again this year, like every year. Uniquely, I have managed to secure a room relatively early on. In fact, I even have space for one more guest. So if you or someone you know still needs a place to stay for Anthrocon, please get in touch! The room is in the EVEN Hotel, check-in Thursday and check-out Monday. Preference is for someone I know, or someone you can personally vouch for.

Topic the Second:
I once again have a backlog of commissioned art that I am behind on posting. My policy has (almost) always been to post my art in the order I received it, but the next piece in the queue requires an accompanying story and I just don’t have that written yet, and that’s been holding up progress. It’s a banger, too, and I want to do it right. So I’m going to skip that one (and maybe another) for now and move ahead to the art pieces that are ready to go to get my backlog down. Look out for an artdump in the next week or so. I will have to come back later to any I skip over.

Topic the Third:
I am more active these days on Twitter ((at)Kinto_M with an underscore) and BlueSky ((at)Kinto-M with a hyphen). I put less stuff on Twitter now, though. All the juicy personal stuff goes on my BlueSky: you can see (most) art there as soon as I receive it, follow in real time as Astor becomes my dominant fursona, and see my musings on my own gender and sexuality.

Absently yours,
Kinto M.

Hello FurAffinity,

First order of business, I will once again be at Anthrocon this year, and, because the 4th of July holiday is Tuesday and thus I do not need to be back in the office until Wednesday, I will be making an extra-long weekend of it. I will be arriving Thursday and leaving Tuesday; Monday – after the end of the con and before the holiday – I intend to be a tourist in Pittsburgh. If anyone else is staying over and is potentially interested in hanging out I would hate to be a tourist all by myself. Even if you’re not staying over, if you’re familiar with the city and have any suggestions of places to visit let me know!

Second order of business, to remain in compliance with the newly updated FA policies I have sanitized my gallery accordingly. Certain stories have been redacted. The full, original texts can still be found in my gallery on InkBunny, and I encourage you to visit me there.

Compliantly yours,
Kinto M.

Hello FurAffinity,

Going to bare my soul a bit here and ramble on about personal things.

Pride Month always makes me a bit depressed and anxious, and that’s because I don’t know where I fit in. I don’t feel like I belong anywhere. I don’t know what my flags are. I don’t have anything to be Proud of. And I feel like if I haven’t figured that out by now I never will, and may as well give up.

My identity is a tangled mess of inhibitions, bottled-up feelings, ingrained Catholic upbringing, and lord knows what else. I pass as cishet easily enough, I think. But I don’t know if that’s accurate.

Like. I’m a guy, a boy. I like being a guy. I like my penis. The alternative seems like a lot more work. But I’ve been experimenting with a female fursona and I really like her. If you haven’t met her yet, this is Astor:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/43671829/ (I love this outfit for her)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/45563522/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/46883398/
She’s petite, and cute, and gets to dress up pretty. My main fursona, Kinto the wild ass – https://www.furaffinity.net/view/37522095/ – is more like me as I exist in the real world, except furry. I have never thought of myself as “sexy”. (If I don’t think of myself as attractive, I can’t think of anyone else finding me attractive, so why bother even trying to date?)

Astor and I are, in some ways, still feeling each other out. For example, Astor is definitely female gendered, but she hasn’t told me what’s between her legs; of course, in furry there’s no reason it can’t be swapped around at will. The idea of Astor being trans tickles me; it certainly is a possibility. But I hesitate to use the descriptor ‘trans’ for myself; it’s a big word. (And am I allowed to make Astor trans without being trans myself?) But, if I could wake up tomorrow as Astor in a furry world, I think I would like that. However, I can’t see myself as female in this human world. Sometimes I think I would like to be less binary, more androgynous, but I am afraid. I have always known that if I ever got a fursuit, it would be a female character, and I’ve never thought of that as odd; if I spent that much money on something, I would want it to be attractive, and girls are attractive.

Most of my characters are female. Most of my stories have female protagonists. Is it attraction and or is it jealousy?

I know a lot of trans folks in the furry community, and I admire them, and honestly envy them sometimes. I don’t know how much of my uncertainty is actually me, and how much is the influence of spending so much time around furries. I feel like there are a lot of signs there that I’m choosing to ignore.

Then there’s the matter of sexuality. I have described myself as theoretically straight but experimentally untested. It’s embarrassing to admit, but I’ve never been in a relationship. I could be asexual, but I’m afraid I don’t have enough experience to actually know, so I’m reluctant to use that descriptor for myself. It would be like saying I don’t like bananas without ever having actually tasted one. I do enjoy masturbation, but have difficulty envisioning myself actually engaging in sex with another person. Some sexual acts just strike me as repulsive. (There’s that ingrained Catholic upbringing coming into play. (Was it too successful? I only did what I was taught (that might be autism, another descriptor I hesitate to use for myself, and yet another can of worms).)) Early on in my furry writing career I felt it was necessary to include explicitly sexual content because I thought that was what was expected; then I realized I didn’t have to write sex stuff if I didn’t want to.

I think it would be nice to be in a (romantic?) relationship, maybe; but, again, I’ve never tried it, and if I haven’t figured it out by now, I probably never will. And I don’t want to inflict my inexperienced self on someone else.

I bottle things up inside. When anyone tries to get close, my instinct is to pull back.

There’s a lot more I could say, and wanted to say but have forgotten to say, and things I may have said too much about, but that’s some of where my head is at this month.

Unidentifiably yours,
Kinto M.

P.S. Still have a bunch of commissioned art that I want to upload to my own gallery, including those pieces of Astor. No idea when I’ll get to those.

P.P.S. I have obtained a room for Anthrocon. See y’all there!

Hello FurAffinity,

Anthrocon is fast approaching and it’s time for me to find a place to stay. I would prefer to stay with a mutual, if possible.

I am planning to arrive Thursday, June 30, and depart Monday, July 4. The closer to the convention center the better, but I’ll take what I can get.

I am vaccinated, quiet, non-drinker, and non-smoker, though I do usually get back quite late at night. When I do get back late, I try to be as quiet as possible. I can provide a sleeping bag for myself if necessary.

If you have space for this ass or know someone who does, please contact me here on FA, on Twitter (at)Kinto_M, or Telegram (at)Kinto_M . Thank you!

In other news, I once again have a large backlog of commissioned art that I want to upload to share with you all, because it is beautiful and it should be seen. I don’t have a timeline as to when I’ll get caught up with that, but hopefully soon-ish? The same timeline applies to the story that I have a completed draft for and is in the editing phase.

Conventionally yours,
Kinto M.

Hello FurAffinity,

Busy, busy, busy. It’s been more than a year since my last journal, and since my last full-length story. Back when the whole -everything- collapsed, my function was designated “mission critical” by my employer and I have not lost a day of work, so in that regard I have been very fortunate. Less fortunately, my writing output is still averaging about nil. I wish I had more to offer you in that regard, aside from the usual promise of “It’s a work in progress.”

Furthermore, once again I find myself with an unacceptably large backlog of commissioned art that I want to share with you all. So I’m going to try to tackle that and least make a dent in it. If all goes well, there will be an artdump coming from me in the next couple days.

In the meantime, please enjoy the most erotic thing I have ever seen in the newspaper funny pages: https://i.imgur.com/6aXdAci.jpg

Bureaucratic predation is hot. I wonder what that paper says. I bet the word ‘indemnify’ is in there somewhere. “I, the undersigned (henceforth “the prey”), do hereby indemnify…” Imagine it, captured by a predator, all options for escape exhausted, knowing you are going to die, slowly and painfully; yet before they can kill you you must certify that your own hunt was fair and properly conducted, and attest to your consent to the fatal intentions of the one who hunted you. Your own signature on your own death warrant, the ink still wet, the last thing you will ever see as the coils constrict tighter…

And as a final note, I have a friend in Russia who is trying to get out of Russia, and a GoFundMe has been set up on his behalf. He really deserves better than the fuzzy end of the lollipop that life has given him. Any help would be appreciated: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-dmi.....escape-poverty

Absently yours,
Kinto M.

P.S. Does anyone know what happened to t-tiffa ? If they’re gone for good, or back under a different name somewhere? They still owe me an artpiece.

Hello FurAffinity,

Sorry I haven’t been around. I miss you all.

I really like my job that I started back in August, but it’s also very engrossing. There’s not much space for my mind to wander, so I don’t really have much opportunity to write while I’m at work.

After work – where the heck does the time go? I have a couple major time sinks even after I gave up trying to keep up with FA daily – I am literally 9 or 10 months behind on keeping up with submissions and favoriting and now I don’t know the best way to get back on track – chronologically, or alphabetically by artist?

I have not written anything really substantial in nearly a year now. I really need to prioritize to make time to write, but I haven’t done it. Realistically, I need to quit one of my big time sinks (Twitter, IMCDb, eating dinner…), but I like them too much, and they are important to me. Writing is important to me, too, and yet I feel like if I really believed that then I would block out time for it, and the fact that I haven’t must mean that writing isn’t important to me and I feel like an impostor. Crud.

I still have a backlog of commissioned art that I want to post and share with you all, and I’m going to try and get a big chunk of that up today in an art dump. As I’ve said before, I wanted to write snippets to go with them all, but that seems increasingly unlikely, so I may as well get them up now.

There is also a story that I finished a year ago and haven’t posted yet because of reasons, but those reasons expired months ago and now I’m just holding out because I wanted to get the commissioned art up first, and I want the commissioned art to go up in order, and my aforementioned inability to write proper accompanying text for the art has been holding everything up.

Shinies? Sure I’ll activate those. I don’t really need the money, but I could probably use the morale boost; any shinies are likely to be turned around and redistributed to other artists. I also made a Patreon account for myself, on the off chance I decide to use it someday.

Overwhelmedly yours,
Kinto M.

Hello FurAffinity,

-ITEM 1-

Earlier this month I marked my tenth anniversary on FA. I guess that makes me a senior citizen around here. That is a long time, and yet I still discover something new to love here on an almost daily basis.

Some artists I’ve been following since my first week, some I’ve only personally discovered in the past month, some artists who are sadly no longer with us. This site is an amazing collection of talent and you’re all amazing. It’s been a great ride so far and I’m not going anywhere yet.

Ten years ago, I might have marked this occasion with a raffle or giveaway of some kind, but I’m unfortunately not that organized.

But, if you would like to indulge me, I am curious: What story of mine do you consider the quintessential ‘Kinto M. Story’?

Or just go back through my archive and drop a comment on an old story.

-ITEM 2-

In my last journal I lamented my backlog of uploading to my own gallery art pieces I had commissioned. I have not made any progress in that regard yet, but I still want to share them, because they are all beautiful and wonderful and the artists deserve attention. So until I can put together appropriate snippets to accompany them in my gallery, I want you to enjoy those of them that are already available in the artists’ own galleries:

 Atreya - http://www.furaffinity.net/view/24443688/ (she also has a comic at  Reanna that I recommend)
 CorsacK - http://www.furaffinity.net/view/27556778/
 dojerodesigns - http://www.furaffinity.net/view/28541566/
 MooMooMelons - NSFW http://www.furaffinity.net/view/28551890/ NSFW
 linn_686 - http://www.furaffinity.net/view/28793915/

Yes, they’re all Academy pieces.

Give them looks! Give them faves! Give them comments! Give them watches!

-ITEM 3-

I’m making plans to attend Midwest FurFest this year. Does anyone possibly have room space available?

-ITEM 4-

Guh, I’m more than a month behind on keeping up with my New Submissions.

Anniversarially yours,
Kinto M.

Hello FurAffinity,

First, the good(?) news! I have a job again. You may recall I left my last job more than a year ago, in April 2017. Since then I have been unemployed, save for a brief one-month contract job in March. In the interim I applied to more than 100 positions, resulting in maybe a dozen phone interviews and 3 (three) actual face-to-face interviews. Job hunting sucks. It doesn’t help that my networking abilities are nil. And that all the jobs I’m qualified for I don’t want, and all the jobs I want I’m not qualified for.

Starting Monday I will be working as an analyst, the DC-est of jobs. What will I be analyzing? I’m not entirely sure, and I couldn’t tell you anyway because it’s classified. Is it a job I actually want? Again, I don’t know, but as long as I won’t be answering phones all day it’s a step in the right direction. The pay’s good, though; more than I was expecting to get. I never really did find a satisfactory answer to the question ‘What do I want?’ and eventually I got complacent and kinda gave up on that.

I’m nervous. Fifteen months is a long time to be out of work. And I got this job after a single phone interview that was conducted when they called me unannounced one morning before I’d even had breakfast, and at the time I was under the impression the position paid a lot less than the offer they ended up sending me; consequentially, it was not a very good interview. Although I don’t know who else they talked to, and I do at least have some good references.

On the upside, I did win the DC commute lottery again. They’re only 10 minutes away from my home.

Thankfully, I never had to dip into my savings account, though my checking account was getting dangerously close to being a three-digit number. As much as I like being unemployed, it'll be extremely nice to have an income again.

Second, I have a backlog of art that I’ve commissioned dating back to Anthrocon 2017. I want to share them with you all because they’re beautiful and the artists deserve to be recognized for them. However, I usually feel obligated to include some kind of story snippet or vignette with them, and despite being unemployed I never got around to it. Oop. Should I just go ahead and post them without stories?

Occupationally yours,
Kinto M.

P.S. Follow me on Twitter (at)Kinto_M

P.P.S. Anthrocon 2018 was fun! Sorry I never got around to posting a summary as has been my tradition.

Oh yeah, I should do one of these I guess… This will be my 10th or 11th Anthrocon.

Where are you staying?
The Westin

What day are you getting there?
Arriving Thursday, going home Monday.

How are you traveling?
Bavarian rocketship (anyone looking to carpool from DC area, I still have space)

Who will you be rooming with?
Sodalite and other people whose names I don’t even know

How is the best way to find you?
I dunno. If you really want to meet, I suppose we can exchange contact info. Ping me on Twitter (at)Kinto_M or Telegram (at)Kinto_M

Are there any panels you might be attending?
I won’t know which ones until I look at the schedule, but I want to make it to the “Can You Read It?’ one if they’re running that this year. Also Story Hour definitely and the Dance Competition is always entertaining.

What do you look like?
I am naturally invisible. Probably not as fit as I should be, but not obese. Dark blonde hair in a ponytail, gray eyes, glasses, goatee. Clever t-shirts, jeans. I will be wearing my tail and badges that say ‘Kinto’ on them. I look kinda like this guy: http://imgur.com/BXkfnOm

Will you be suiting?
No.

Do you do free art?
All my art is free. Do I do requests? Not so much.

Do you do trades?
Contact me once Free Agency opens up.

Do you do badges?
Not that kind of artist, sorry.

What is your gender?
Male

How tall are you?
5’6”-ish

Can I talk to you?
Please do.

Can I touch you?
Nothing below the belt.

How can I find you?
Like I said, I don’t know. I move around a lot. I have a Twitter – (at)Kinto_M – though no idea how often I’ll be broadcasting my activities. I will be wearing my tail and my badges (my gallery isn’t that big, you can find them).

Can I visit your room?
Probably not.

Can I buy you drinks?
I don’t drink alcohol. Or coffee. Generally speaking, I buy my own refreshment.

Can I hug or snuggle with you?
Do I know you?

Are you nice?
I try to be. I’m not much of a conversationalist, and am socially inept.

Do you have an artist table?
The world is my table (That’s a no)

Will you be going to parties?
The nightly dance parties, likely. Maybe an FBA party if such a thing materializes.

If I see you, how should I get your attention?
I respond to smoke signals, carrier pigeons, and targeted drone strikes. Also to “Kinto.”

Can I come with you for food/fun/etc?
It’s far more likely I’ll be asking you that. I don’t like eating alone, but it inevitably happens every year. If you want my company, by all means, join me.

Can I look in your sketchbook?
This year, I actually have one. As of right now, it is mostly empty, but one of my goals is to change that.

Can I draw in your sketchbook?
If you’re an artist, sure! I’ll even pay you! I’m intending it for Bulconian Academy sketches, but I might end up with other subjects in there too.

Can I take your picture?
I guess?

What's your goal(s) for the con this year?
“Not be miserable” is my main aspiration. Also, commission more art!

Hello FurAffinity,

The fifth round of voting for my audience participation series of stories is up on InkBunny:

https://inkbunny.net/j/277651-Kinto.....pation-round-5

Voting will close tomorrow evening!

If you have an account over there, I encourage you to participate.

Yours by popular demand,
Kinto M.

Hello FurAffinity,

Back in June I said this:

I want to go to What The Fur at the end of July, but given my current situation a weekend trip to Canada may not be the most responsible thing to do.

But you know what? If being unemployed with no scheduled obligations means I can't jet off to Montreal on a whim, then what's the point?

I've never been to WTF before, and I don't know that much about the con. The main reason I want to go is because one of my favorite artists is the Guest of Honor.

Right now, I have a hotel room just for myself. I would like to share it with someone to split the costs, so if you or someone you know is looking for room space at What The Fur, please hit me up. Be aware that the room I've booked is at the cheaper Comfort Inn next door to the con hotel.

I am flying up, but to further save money I'm taking Amtrak home. Less expensive, but much slower. It'll be an adventure!

Quebecoisly yours,
Kinto M.

I spent 4 hours Wednesday fighting a stripped screw so I could put my new license plates on my car, and that threw my schedule off.

Left home about noon Thursday.

Stopped in Breezewood for lunch at Taco Bell.

Made good time.

First stop, registration to pick up my badge.

Fawned over Dave, the convention center’s standee donkey fursona.

After a bunch of back and forth, established I could not get into my hotel room until the person whose name the room was under -  KittMouri - arrived. They were coming by Amtrak and would not be in until around 8.

Had a lasagna wrap at Fernando’s for dinner.

After Kitt arrived, got my room key, unloaded my car, and regrouped. I staked out a corner of the room with my sleeping bag.

Thursday night dance.

Got back to the room sometime after 2.

Someone was sleeping in my sleeping bag. Someone not me. I slept on the armchair/ottoman.

Friday morning, I set my stuffed aardvark on watch on my rolled up sleeping bag with a sign warning “Guaardvark on Duty.”

Opening ceremonies.

Hung out in tabletop gaming for a while. Played Superfight. Can anyone beat Mr. Rogers?

Met  Herr-Wozzeck for lunch; we went to the new restaurant Condado Taco. Very good.

Cruised the dealer’s den with Herr, ran into  Fraddas while we were there. Hung out with them for a while.

I got to pet a goat.

Later, back to Tabletop and more Superfight. Can 50 basilisks swim in the burning wreckage of an oil platform in the midst of a bearicane???

Played Betrayal at House on the Hill. That ran long, and by the time we finished I had to choose between catching the end of Floor Wars or eating a late dinner.

Dinner at Subway. Sorry, Floor Wars.

Hung out at the Friday night dance for a while, but did not dance much (digesting).

Went to what I thought would be “Can You Read It?” but there was an error in the printed schedule and that panel was actually on Saturday night.

Back to the dance.

Back to the room. The guaardvark earned her keep and I got to sleep in my sleeping bag.

Saturday morning, wandered over to the car show but there were only a couple people there so I left.

Got inside the convention center right before the downpour hit.

Hit the artist’s alley soon after it opened. I’ve never made a habit of getting commissions at cons, but I had decided in advance to give it a go this year. I even printed out references for the Academy uniforms.

Got pieces from  Slipstreme,  luzdeluna (Ally), and  Atreya I was not familiar with the work of Ally nor Atreya before the con, but I liked what I saw on their table, so I went for it.

The piece I got from Ally is adorable and beautiful and I will have to show it to you all later.

The piece from Slipstreme is also pretty great, even if it is not exactly what I had in mind at first.

I also got a beautiful sketch commission from  Keedot in the dealer’s den.

Checked out the art show.

Bought tickets for the charity raffle.

Watched the fursuit parade.

Dinner at Condado Taco.

Pandez/Alkali/Kage comedy show was wonderful and hilarious. The Saga of Doug O.

“Can You Read It?” (for real this time) with Herr.

Saturday night dance.

Got back to room hot and sore. Cold bathroom tile floor feels wonderful against my back.

Sunday morning, cruised the artist’s alley and dealer’s den.

Watched the dance competition. Spectacular as always. Nobody doesn’t love Strobes’s butt.

Back to the dealer’s den. Ordered one more commission from  Crazyzombie Total for the weekend: 5 commissions ordered, two of them take home (I will be receiving them later).

More Betrayal in Tabletop. In a sudden twist, I was turned traitor in the same turn I completed the antidote, just as we were about to be kicked out of the room anyway.

Closing ceremonies are never the end.

Got a personal pepperoni pizza from Pizza Parma for dinner.

Hung out in the Zoo for a while. Played Joking Hazard.

Monday morning, said goodbye to my roommates who I barely ever even saw to begin with, heh.

Left Pittsburgh about noon after a couple wrong turns.

Took the quick way home instead of the scenic way because I needed to maximize my time at home.

Got home and fell asleep for four hours – I did not get much sleep over the weekend.

Monday evening and Tuesday morning, whirlwind of last minute details.

Tuesday July 4 afternoon, wheels up for Slovenia with my dad.

And I just got home Thursday July 13 and now I’m trying to get caught up on everything.

It’s that time again! Those of you with good memories may recognize much of this journal from last year and the year before.

Where are you staying?
The best hotel! The Courtyard.

What day are you getting there?
Arriving Thursday, going home Monday. And then fleeing the country Tuesday.

How are you traveling?
Bavarian rocketship (anyone looking to carpool from DC area, I still have space)

Who will you be rooming with?
KittMouri and other people whose names I don’t even know

How is the best way to find you?
I dunno. If you really want to meet, I suppose we can exchange contact info. Ping me on Twitter (at)Kinto_M or (new!) Telegram (at)Kinto_M

Are there any panels you might be attending?
I won’t know which ones until I look at the schedule, but I want to make it to the “Can You Read It?’ one if they’re running that this year. Also Story Hour definitely and the Dance Competition is always entertaining.

What do you look like?
I am naturally invisible. Probably not as fit as I should be, but not obese. Dark blonde hair in a ponytail, gray eyes, glasses, goatee. Clever t-shirts, shorts. I will be wearing my tail and badges that say ‘Kinto’ on them. I look kinda like this guy: http://imgur.com/BXkfnOm

Will you be suiting?
No.

Do you do free art?
All my art is free. Do I do requests? Not so much.

Do you do trades?
Contact me once Free Agency opens up.

Do you do badges?
Not that kind of artist, sorry.

What is your gender?
Male

How tall are you?
5’6”-ish

Can I talk to you?
Please do.

Can I touch you?
Nothing below the belt.

How can I find you?
Like I said, I don’t know. I move around a lot. I have a Twitter – (at)Kinto_M – though no idea how often I’ll be broadcasting my activities. I will be wearing my tail and my badges (my gallery isn’t that big, you can find them).

Can I visit your room?
Probably not.

Can I buy you drinks?
I don’t drink alcohol. Or coffee. Generally speaking, I buy my own refreshment.

Can I hug or snuggle with you?
Do I know you?

Are you nice?
I try to be. I’m not much of a conversationalist, and am socially inept.

Do you have an artist table?
The world is my table (That’s a no)

Will you be going to parties?
The nightly dance parties, likely. Maybe an FBA party if such a thing materializes.

If I see you, how should I get your attention?
I respond to smoke signals, carrier pigeons, and targeted drone strikes. Also to “Kinto.”

Can I come with you for food/fun/etc?
It’s far more likely I’ll be asking you that. I don’t like eating alone, but it inevitably happens every year. If you want my company, by all means, join me.

Can I look in your sketchbook?
This year, I actually have one. As of right now, it is empty, but one of my goals is to change that.

Can I draw in your sketchbook?
If you’re an artist, sure! I’ll even pay you! I’m intending it for Bulconian Academy sketches, but I might end up with other subjects in there too.

Can I take your picture?
I guess?

What's your goal(s) for the con this year?
“Not be miserable” is my main aspiration.

P.S. As mentioned above, I do now have a Telegram: Kinto_M

Hello FurAffinity,

Life continues apace.

Despite what it says on my resume, there are some things I am very slow to learn, especially things that are social in nature. So here I am, asking for advice from those who know, again.

1) Sketchbooks – I’ve never brought a sketchbook to a con before with the intention of getting it filled with commissions. Recently, I bought a sketchbook with the goal of changing that. I understand that themed sketchbooks are a thing? I’d like to start a Bulconian Academy sketchbook, filled with art by different artists of girls in Academy uniforms (now that I have a proper reference). If I show up at an artist’s table with a reference for an outfit but not a character, is that weird? The reference would also include text with a list of species and suggested poses/activities, and the artist would be free to choose. Is that okay? I am always mortified of violating some unwritten law of commission etiquette.

2) Telegram – What is it? I guess it’s just an instant messenger, like AIM or Skype? Why is it so popular, and what is so great about it?

3) Tumblr – In my unemployment, I’ve considered starting an in-character Tumblr for the Bulconian Academy. I even know which character would host it. But I know hardly anything about how Tumblr works. Would the best way to learn be to just jump in and do it? I’m hesitant to start an account on another website that will demand my time and attention.

I appreciate any input.

Ineptly yours,
Kinto M.

P.S. Audience Participation Round 5 voting is still open on InkBunny through the end of June: https://inkbunny.net/journalview.php?id=277651 If you do not have an InkBunny account I am accepting votes via FA private message.

Hello FurAffinity,

In my last journal I mentioned that I would very likely be unemployed after the end of April. And that happened.

This is how I described my job last time I mentioned it:

I was hired under the title “records manager” and so far it has not been what I was expecting. For one thing, I have no idea what definition of “records” they are using. Somehow I ended up on the HelpDesk answering phones and doing something akin to tech support – which is not what I want to be doing at all, nor what I am qualified for. I’m not even sure who I would air my grievance to, because I was hired by Recruiter A to work for Company B who is actually contracted by Company C to do work for Government Agency D.

After 6 months, my obligation to Recruiter A was up and I was hired directly by Company B. All fine and dandy. In September, Company C (and by extension Company B) lost the government contract and the contract was taken over by Company E. I left Company B to continue doing the same job for Company E. Then in April, Company E was blindsided when Government Agency D told them they would not renew the contract with Company E and they were instead giving the contract to Company F.

I had the choice to continue doing the same job with Company F (same pay but a worse benefits package), continue working for Company E on a different project, or just leave. I was already two employers removed from the ones who originally hired me as a “records manager” and I had no desire to keep going deeper down the rabbit hole of IT. It was an opportunity to make a clean break and I took it.

Smart? I don’t know. But I have time to write again! I’ve completed two stories in the time since I quit. And if I’m being completely honest with myself, not having any time to write is one thing I liked least about that job.

So now I’m looking for a job again. I’d like to get something more in line with what I actually went to college for – I majored in environmental science. My search is complicated by the fact I don’t know what I actually want. Seven years of experience have mainly taught me what I don’t want. I want a job that I actually want to do, and not one that I work simply because they’re the ones who hired me.

I have talked with a career counselor, and probably will again.

I have contemplated going to grad school, but I want to be sure it’s worth it before committing the time and money.

So that’s where I am in life. That’s nothing you need to worry about, I am more or less on top of it. I never moved out of my parents’ house after college, for one thing.

In happier news, let’s talk about my summer plans.

Anthrocon! I will be there this year again, arriving Thursday and leaving Monday. If there’s anyone in the DC area who might be interested in carpooling, I have space in my car.

Immediately after Anthrocon, I will be going to Slovenia again for a week. Longtime followers may recall I went there in 2010. The ancestral homeland is a beautiful place and I’m excited to be going back.

I want to go to What The Fur at the end of July, but given my current situation a weekend trip to Canada may not be the most responsible thing to do.

Summarily yours,
Kinto

P.S. Keep up to date with me on Twitter (at)Kinto_M

P.P.S Audience Participation Round 5 voting is still open on InkBunny through the end of June: https://inkbunny.net/journalview.php?id=277651 If you do not have an InkBunny account I am accepting votes via FA private message.

Hello FurAffinity,

1. Fur The 'More. I'll be there. It's my local con, so I will be staying at my own home and commuting, though not in the Cougar until I get the slow-but-progressively-getting-faster leak in my tire fixed.

2. I will probably be unemployed after tomorrow. So. Yeah. I'll elaborate more on that later if it does come to pass.

3. If I am unemployed, maybe I can start writing again.

4. More Jev and Clover art! http://www.furaffinity.net/view/23322955/ somewhale does beautiful work. I will post it in my own gallery once I finish writing a scene to go with it.

Stay furry,
Kinto

So I’ve been thinking about the Academy’s formal uniform underdress ( http://www.furaffinity.net/view/20646104/ upper right), and I’m trying to figure out the best way for fur-covered species to put it on without terribly mussing their fur. The underdress is tailored to be as close-fitting as possible, and comfort is not a top priority, but having fur perpetually rubbed against the grain I imagine would be unnecessarily irritating and would conflict with the noble practice of good grooming.

It doesn’t matter if the method is fussy, complicated, and impractical, it just needs to be plausible that a girl could do it without assistance. I have a couple options, and, not having any personal experience with dresses, would like some opinions on which is the best way to go about this:

1. Just pull the underdress on over the head like a big sweater. No seams, no fasteners. This is how I always used to envision it, and it would probably work fine for humans who don’t have to worry about a full-body bad hair day, but I’m worried that it would inevitably uncomfortably muss the fur of other species. I think pulling on tightly-tailored sleeves this way would pull the fur against the grain, which I envision naturally goes towards the wrists. Can there be a plausible way it wouldn’t muss the fur? Should furred species just shear their armfur really short? Or would armfur eventually adapt so that the grain goes in the ‘proper’ direction?

1a. While we’re on the subject, is this even plausible for the overdress, where the only fur that would be mussed is on the head (which is easily groomed once the dress is on)? Assume the overdress has enough elasticity to squeeze the head through the collar. Maybe tighten the collar with a drawstring or ribbon once it’s on?

2. Put the underdress on from the bottom up: Pull the skirt up to the waist, put arms into sleeves like legs into stockings (roll them on from inside out, wrist to shoulder, pinning the fur flat in place), and then close the bodice tight with a system of fasteners or laces up the back (or front). Any fastenings would be covered up by the overdress anyway.

3. Pull the underdress on like a sweater, but the sleeves are open or loose and are fastened or laced tight once adjusted into position.

4. Dammit, Kinto, why can’t you fantasize about naked girls like a normal person? It doesn’t matter. Just skip those paragraphs to get to the good part.

Or do you have some solution I haven’t thought of?

P.S. Vaguely contemplating a Bulconian Academy Tumblr for brainstorming and random thoughts. Yea/Nay?

I never met Felixpath. I don’t recall that we ever interacted at length. I’m not sure he was ever aware of my own existence beyond one of the many furs who would comment from time to time. Maybe he was; the furry snuff community is not large.

He did draw me once: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/9950883/

The very first story I posted on FA, I credited (or blamed) him as an inspiration; I don’t know if he ever saw it. But that’s who he was to me. I looked up to him. I found him a decade or so ago on VCL. He was one of the first artists I watched when I made my FA account.

I’m still finding it hard to believe, to figure out how to react.

I’m not a normal person. Neither was he. Furry does not usually attract the normal. But we are together in our abnormality, and that makes us feel normal.

I’ve been diagnosed with depression, but I don’t like to talk about it. I feel like I’m a fraud because compared to others mine seems so minor. It is rarely crippling, usually well-controlled with medication, and even at my worst I’ve never once seriously felt suicidal. I’m too selfish. The world is too interesting to me; I want to see What Comes Next, even if it turns out to be catastrophic.

I’m sure this is not how I’m supposed to react. All I can think about is how this affects me, because I’m self-centered. And the thing is, I thought his life was better than mine. More popular, more loved, more successful.

I don’t feel emotions in the way I think the world expects me to. Interaction does not come easy to me. I am a spectator, an observer. In the game of life, I’m in the grandstands. I don’t even know if I should be saying these things right now. My instinct is to stay in the grandstands, and let everyone else say what needs to be said.

But I want it on record. Felixpath was an inspiration.

I’m sorry I can’t say more.

I will miss Felix, because I will never get to see what he would have created next.



P.S. Writing this, the first time I’ve cried in years.

This was a darn good con for me this year. I actually never really felt all that lonely or depressed, so that’s a win.

In rough chronological order:

Drove up Thursday. Stopped at Taco Bell in Breezewood for lunch.

The drive was uneventful. Using the method I discovered by accident last year, I went past the exit for 376 and got off at the next exit, avoiding the traffic that I always used to get stuck in on 376. You also get a really nice view of the Pittsburgh skyline coming in that way.

Parked the car, hauled my stuff to the hotel – the Courtyard by Marriott, also known as the Best Hotel. Their hotelfursona is named Mary. Mary Otter.

My roommates –  Sookta  Keedot  SpartaDog  Kitsunia and  Hanmonster – were all in the dealer’s den setting up but Sookta came to my rescue and let me in

Went to registration. Very glad I pre-registered.

Went to the Westin. Hung out in the game room for a while playing Red Dragon Inn

Dinner was a quite terrible gyro from the little hole-in-the-wall across from the Westin

Thursday night dance. I always love the Anthrocon dances, and the lighting this year was out of this world phenomenal. I want to be a koala just so I can give them 4 thumbs up.

Late at night a ghostly apparition silently crept into the hotel room, took a shower, and disappeared inside a sleeping bag

Friday morning, Opening Ceremonies

Went to the gaming room while; I understand the dealer’s den can be quite hectic when they first open

Moseyed down to the dealer’s den and browsed

Lunch at Fernando’s. The taco wrap was bland, but you don’t go to Fernando’s for the food so much as for the atmosphere.

At some point I ran into  Fraddas in the Zoo and we hung out for a bit

2’s Rant

Caption Capture – Miss Universe Loves Hyenas. Physically.

Subway for dinner

Whose Lion Is It Anyway? Until I got bored and went to the Friday night dance and channeled Sluggy Quaatsch until I was pooped.

Also got my best photographs of the con, remind me to post those later.

Return of the showering ghost

Saturday morning, Furry Text Adventures. I got us shot almost immediately.

I didn’t see the car show in the schedule this year, but maybe there was? I don’t know. If there was I missed it.

Moseyed down to the dealer’s den and shopped (Friday is browsing, Saturday is shopping. If I see it Friday and still want it Saturday, I buy it)

I had four prepaid gift debit cards that had between $1.58 and $11.00 remaining on them; I used the whole dollar amounts to buy tickets for the charity raffle and donated the remaining change – because what else am I going to use a gift card with $1.58 on it for?

Fursuit parade – 2100 suits! I was booped by Telephone.

Lunch with Fraddas and another at Subway

Story Hour

Dinner at Tonic. I really needed a burger by this point, and they hit the spot. By chance, I sat down next to a name I actually recognized from FA:  Shaytalis We talked while we waited for our burgers and it was great; it felt like I was not eating alone.

Tipped generously because why the heck not?

Went to the Saturday night dance but didn’t dance much because the burger was still digesting

Readings in Terrible Fiction aka “Can You Read It?” I can.

Sunday morning, ate my Pop-Tarts down at the riverfront

Sadly, I did not win anything in the raffle

Dance Competition was excellent as ever. Whenever I hear that song now I think of Gale and Strobes, and that makes me happy. Whisper Banshee also stands out in my memory.

Wandered around for a while. As I did for most of the weekend, when confronted with downtime I went to the game room. I made a lot of Bad Decisions this weekend.

Closing Ceremonies never mean the end of the con

Migrated to the Zoo in the Westin.

Started to do some writing when I saw some people carrying “Betrayal at House on the Hill.” Asked if I could join them. I love that game and this is only the second time I’ve gotten to play it.

Walked to Parma Pizza for a personal pepperoni. Took it back to the Zoo and then devoured it. I was hungry. Also I had not had any soda all day.

Was drafted to take a picture for some of the security volunteers

Hung around the Westin late into the night until nothing really seemed to be happening anymore. Returned to the Courtyard.

Monday morning. Time to pack up, I guess. I don’t really want to go.

My roommates complimented me on my ghost-like qualities and my lack of snoring, and invited to room with them again next year.

I debated taking the scenic route home again this year, but decided against it. Probably a good decision; it rained nearly the whole way home.

Also, I must say that there are a lot of cities that have furry conventions, but no city /hosts/ a furcon like Pittsburgh does.

Things I did not do this weekend:
Play Cards Against Humanity, and actually I didn’t miss it
Hear “Try Everything” even once, and that was disappointing

It’s that time again! Those of you with good memories may recognize much of this journal from last year.

Where are you staying?
The best hotel! The Courtyard.

What day are you getting there?
Arriving Thursday, going home Monday

How are you traveling?
Fully paid-off Bavarian rocketship

Who will you be rooming with?
Kee, Sookta, Spartadog, and a couple others I’m less familiar with

How is the best way to find you?
That is a good question. If you really want to meet, I suppose we can exchange contact info, but I don’t have a smartphone yet – supposed to get one later this summer.

Are there any panels you might be attending?
I won’t know which ones until I look at the schedule, but I want to make it to the “Can You Read It?’ one if they’re running that this year. Also, Story Hour and 2’s Rant. The Dance Competition is always entertaining.

What do you look like?
Just this guy, you know? Probably not as fit as I should be, but not obese. Dark blonde hair in a ponytail, gray eyes, glasses, goatee. Clever t-shirts, shorts. Also, I am naturally invisible.

Will you be suiting?
No.

Do you do free art?
All my art is free. Do I do requests? Not so much.

Do you do trades?
Contact me once Free Agency opens up.

Do you do badges?
Not that kind of artist, sorry.

What is your gender?
Male

How tall are you?
5’6”-ish

Can I talk to you?
Please do.

Can I touch you?
Nothing below the belt.

How can I find you?
Like I said, I don’t know. I move around a lot. I have a Twitter – (at)Kinto_M – but I won’t be able to update it on the fly because I only have a dumbphone. I will be wearing my tail and my badges (my gallery isn’t that big, you can find them).

Can I visit your room?
Probably not.

Can I buy you drinks?
I don’t drink alcohol. Generally speaking, I buy my own refreshment.

Can I hug or snuggle with you?
Do I know you?

Are you nice?
I try to be. I’m not much of a conversationalist, and am socially inept.

Do you have an artist table?
The world is my table (That’s a no)

Will you be going to parties?
The nightly dance parties, likely. Maybe an FBA party if such a thing materializes.

If I see you, how should I get your attention?
I respond to smoke signals, carrier pigeons, and targeted drone strikes. Also to “Kinto.”

Can I come with you for food/fun/etc?
It’s far more likely I’ll be asking you that. I don’t like eating alone, but it inevitably happens every year. If you want my company, by all means, join me.

Can I look in your sketchbook?
I don’t really have one.

Can I draw in your sketchbook?
See above.

Can I take your picture?
I guess?

What's your goal(s) for the con this year?
I dunno. I never set goals. It’s a character flaw. “Not be miserable” is my main aspiration.

Hello FurAffinity,

So what have I been up to lately?

Well, first off, I started my new job in mid-December. I was hired under the title “records manager” and so far it has not been what I was expecting. For one thing, I have no idea what definition of “records” they are using. Somehow I ended up on the HelpDesk answering phones and doing something akin to tech support – which is not what I want to be doing at all, nor what I am qualified for. I’m not even sure who I would air my grievance to, because I was hired by Recruiter A to work for Company B who is actually contracted by Company C to do work for Government Agency D. Every day I have to fill out 4 timesheets. Yay government work! Also, the pay kinda sucks.

The good news is my commute is incredibly short, and this job will probably not give me lung cancer.

Unfortunately, this has once again put me far behind on my writing. I have some of a rough draft for the story I owe for Audience Participation Round 4 but I don’t know when I’ll get to finish it. Unlike my last job, I don’t have much in the way of downtime where I can slack off and write furry porn at my desk.

In happier news, I will be attending Anthro New England 2016 this rapidly-approaching weekend in Boston. I am looking forward to spending a weekend with all the FBA peoples, and I know a lot of you will be there.

Are there any others of you planning on attending that I should keep my eyes peeled for?

Secretly yours,
Kinto M.

Hello FurAffinity,

The fourth round of voting for my audience participation series of stories (see: "Danse Macabre," "No Jumping on the Bed," "Deserts") is up on InkBunny:

https://inkbunny.net/journalview.php?id=203604

There have been relatively few voters so far this round, so there's still plenty of room to influence the outcome! If you have an account over there, I encourage you to participate. The more voters I get, the more fun it is for me.

EDIT: VOTING IS NOW CLOSED

Yours by popular demand,
Kinto M.

This may very well have been my best Anthrocon ever. I felt like for me there was very little downtime, there were plenty of people I knew, and, fortunately, they were relatively easy to find. Do I have regrets? Yes, but not too terrible ones.

In roughly chronological order:

Drove up Thursday. As has become my own tradition, I stopped at Taco Bell in Breezewood for Doritos Locos Tacos for lunch.

Hit a patch of severe rain on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and somehow missed my exit. I got off at the next exit and followed signs on the local streets to Pittsburgh. I think this was a blessing in disguise because I missed the traffic I always hit on I-376.

Parked the car and walked to the Courtyard hotel. Met my roommates:  Keedot  Sookta  Ishaway  SpartaDog  ECMajor

After this weekend, I think the Courtyard is now my official favorite Anthrocon hotel. Incredibly convenient to the convention center, but smaller and with shorter elevator lines than the Westin.

Headed over to registration, waited in the preregistered line about 30 minutes. Could have been worse.

Encountered  ShaneRufus  Arterian21  ffredxiii  Articus-the-tigulf  BenAnderson They were also staying in the Courtyard two floors up from me, and they told me I was welcome to come up anytime to hang out. Their room pretty much became the FBA suite. (Apparently being GM of the Keystones is not enough to get me a penthouse.)

Hung around the convention center for a bit and eventually made my way to the FBA suite, and joined them for a pizza dinner. We hung around, shot the breeze, played games, etc. After a while I left and went to the dance.

Friday, opening ceremonies

Hung out in the tabletop room for a while

Made a preliminary lap of the dealer’s den and picked up my Viking badge from :Keedot:

Went to GOH Kimlinh Tran’s voice acting panel. Kinda eh.

Lunch at Fernando’s, naturally. Finally decided to try the lasagna wrap that everyone always goes on about. Pretty good, actually.

More hanging out in the dealer’s den

All hail the Great Giraffe! Brrrreeee!

Dinner at Primanti’s with  StevieMaxwell and  Nightfirex

Friday and Saturday nights, downtown Pittsburgh was more alive than I have ever seen it. There were people everywhere, and not just furries. It was amazing.

Back to the FBA suite, hanging out, breeze shooting, games.  Fraddas showed up.

Saturday, toured the art show, bought a print in the dealer’s den from an artist I had never heard of and may not even have an FA: ar.gi.bi

Fursuit parade. I was in the dealer’s den when they passed through, so it was not until later that I saw the pictures and heard about the amazing turnout outside. I love Pittsburgh; the relationship between the con and the city is extraordinary.

Made some Bad Decisions in tabletop gaming

Story Hour!

Dinner at Tonic. They were out of the Mac & Cheese, so I had a burger. I heard by the end of the weekend they were out of nearly everything. I heard Ben & Jerry’s ran out of ice cream. Furries are hungry

Back to the FBA suite for Cards Against Humanity

Sunday morning, car show. The highlights for me were the 1954 Dodge Coronet and the 1956 Studebaker Commander.

Brief swing through the dealer’s den. Crossed paths with  EerieSilverfox Ran into the FBA crew again.

Fursuit Dance Competition Finals, amazing as always. Kotto’s performance really stands out in my memory.

Foxes & Fools in tabletop gaming

Closing ceremonies never mean the con is over.

Chinese for dinner in the FBA suite. “The person closest to you is more important than you think” in bed.

Late Sunday evening Shane broke out his Oculus Rift and terrified us all. I got physically dizzy while sitting on a perfectly stationary ottoman. Did not get back to my own room until very late.

Left Monday a little after noon. I think this is the first time I have ever been ready to go home on Monday morning. I was thoroughly conned out.

I took the scenic route home on US 30, which conveniently brought me past the Flight 93 National Memorial. I had to stop and visit. The events of that day are still ingrained on my memory, and being there brought a lot of it back.

Happened to run into a couple other furries there also taking the scenic route home.

Got home around 7 PM.

Regrets? I wish I could bilocate so I could have gotten to spend more time in the dances, or even gone to them nights other than Thursday, while simultaneously enjoying myself with the FBA crew. Same with going to “Can You Read It?,” a panel I have enjoyed in past years and missed this year. Also, I wish I had seen more of my own roommates, because they are awesome people.

The Zoo seemed kinda dead whenever I dropped by, which was only two or three times.

All in all, BEST CON EVER

Anthrocon is coming!

Where are you staying?
Courtyard

What day are you getting there?
Arriving Thursday, going home Monday

How are you traveling?
Bavarian rocketship

Who will you be rooming with?
Kee, Ishaway, Spartadog, ECMajor, and Sookta

How is the best way to find you?
That is a good question.

Are there any panels you might be attending?
I won’t know which ones until I look at the schedule, but probably the “Can You Read It?’ one for sure. Also, Story Hour and 2’s Rant. The Dance Competition is always entertaining.

What do you look like?
Just this guy, you know? Probably not as fit as I should be, but not obese. Dark blonde hair in a ponytail, gray eyes, glasses, goatee. Also, I am naturally invisible.

Will you be suiting?
No. I might be dressed as Nick Wilde at some point, but only because I actually own a short-sleeve green Hawaiian shirt and a blue/green-striped necktie. I will also likely be wearing my Dakota Bikers jersey from time-to-time.

Do you do free art?
Since I’ve been fired and no longer can write at the office… yes, all my art is free. Do I do requests? Not so much.

Do you do trades?
Contact me once Free Agency opens up.

Do you do badges?
Not that kind of artist, sorry.

What is your gender?
Male

How tall are you?
5’6”-ish

Can I talk to you?
Please do.

Can I touch you?
Nothing below the belt.

How can I find you?
Like I said, I don’t know. I move around a lot. I have a Twitter – (at)Kinto_M – but I won’t be able to update it on the fly because I only have a dumbphone. I will be wearing my tail and my badges (my gallery isn’t that big, you can find them), including a new Viking-themed one.

Can I visit your room?
Probably not.

Can I buy you drinks?
I don’t drink alcohol. Generally speaking, I buy my own refreshment.

Can I hug or snuggle with you?
Do I know you?

Are you nice?
I try to be. I’m not much of a conversationalist, and am socially inept.

Do you have an artist table?
The world is my table (That’s a no)

Will you be going to parties?
The nightly dance parties, likely. Maybe an FBA party if such a thing materializes.

If I see you, how should I get your attention?
I respond to smoke signals, carrier pigeons, and targeted drone strikes. Also to “Kinto.”

Can I come with you for food/fun/etc?
It’s far more likely I’ll be asking you that. I don’t like eating alone, but it inevitably happens every year. If you want my company, by all means, join me.

Can I look in your sketchbook?
I don’t really have one.

Can I draw in your sketchbook?
See above.

Can I take your picture?
I guess?

What's your goal(s) for the con this year?
I dunno. I never set goals. It’s a character flaw. “Not be miserable” is my main aspiration.

…I’m unemployed.

Hello FurAffinity,

So yeah, after almost five years at a job I probably never should have taken in the first place, I was shown the door today. It was more or less mutual, in that I had already decided to file my two weeks’ notice next month. I could see the writing on the wall.

I’m not upset about this. I feel like I should be, especially with the job market the way it is right now, but I’m not. For the longest time, the only things keeping me there have been inertia and a misplaced sense of duty.

Also, I never moved out of my parents’ house. Being a live-at-home loser has some advantages. A lot of advantages.

I was good at the office work end of the job; the filing, the data entry, the mailing – I dare say I even found them enjoyable. I was good at certain aspects of the field work; keeping the paperwork up to the minute, sample analysis.

I was bad – oh so bad – at directly dealing with the clients; there have been complaints. Apparently, that part of my job was more important than I thought. I could never really take the job seriously because I never saw my function as important or essential. Sometimes, my manager felt like the personification of the Dilbert Principle.

I loved getting to hang around construction and/or demolition sites. I loved having access to areas of facilities that were restricted to the public.

I hated the erratic and unpredictable schedule. The job was killing me, mentally and quite possibly physically. There was no one else in the office even close to my age. Every other tech they hired quit within a year. The pay was not so great; I'm sure I can find a job that'll pay more.

So, all in all, I view this as a net positive for me.

I never liked my job, and now it is no longer my problem.

Unindenturedly yours,
Kinto M.

P.S. Here’s a map showing all the jobsites I worked at in those 5 years: http://i.imgur.com/QIFhidb.jpg