So yeah.

Four years of college, officially over. The ceremony was really beautiful. I'm moved into my summer place and enjoying a little self-TLC before I get serious about my job search.

Until then, I'm going to do crafts until I've completely depleted the creative well I've been filling during the last two semesters of hell :D Guys, have any crafting ideas? Or even... picture ideas? Drawing time~!

Leaving tomorrow at 6 am!

Anyone else going?

I have a pair of adorable female juvenile hooded rats named Andromeda and Liam. I'll try to get better photos, but for now, here's a video of me fishing Liam out of my sleeve.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuiJ.....e_gdata_player

The holiday break between semesters has been exactly what I needed. Last semester swept by, what with my normal course load, an internship, vice presiding over creative writing club, and editing a student magazine. And taking a look at my finalized course schedule for my next and last semester... my life isn't going to slow down anytime soon.

Final course schedule for my last semester:
Ballroom Dance
Science Fiction
Grimm's Fairy Tales
Human Sexuality
Technology, Public Science, and European Culture, 1715-Present
Feminist Theory in Technical Communication: Gender, Technology, and Power
Total Credits: 16

As excited as I am for all of those classes... I better get all my relaxation in before that starts.

Also, my Christmas present haul this year:

Sewing machine + case
Iron + ironing board
A mauve bath scrubbie + bubble bath
Giant hair clips
Earrings (with cat charms)
A blinged-out, pink, light-up compact

I'd make a quip about gender norms... but damn, I love all this shit.

What exciting things did you guys do/get for break?

MFF is this week!

Thank goood, cuz I need a break.

I've heard all the different testimonies of friends coming out to their parents, from the good reactions to the really terrible ones. I'd pretty much convinced myself that I was prepared and could handle whatever reaction I got. I even thought the initial reaction wasn't horrible. Not great, but my mother seemed resigned at least. I could live with resigned.

But she called tonight to tell me that I'd made my very stoic, reserved father cry, and that I was no longer welcome in their house. Also, they said they won't help me if I come down with "any diseases as a consequence my lifestyle choices," and they're debating removing me from their insurance altogether.

It all seems very cliche, but I didn't realize it would be this hard. I know I can survive on my own, without financial support from my parents. That doesn't scare me. It's... I've never been very close to my parents, but getting this kind of response hurts like a sonovabitch.

So yeah... I'm feeling a little shellshocked. Anyone else want to commiserate and share traumatic stories with me?

I stumbled across this and felt obliged, considering the high density of fox in it, to share it with my furry buddies. Besides, it's got wonderful art and the story is keeping me interested so far...

http://www.minnasundberg.fi/comic/page01.htm

Doo dee doo, gettin' stuff done~

The new semester starts in two weeks. I'll hopefully be getting an internship, though I have to get through an interview first. Oh, and I turned 21 a month ago. Alcohol is nasty :/

But most importantly: I have an apartment this semester! It has furniture and a patio. Guess what that means, Ames furries? Party at Kri's!!

And now that I'm getting some art out of the way, I need some inspiration. Anyone, ideas?

Rules:
1. Pick two artists. Make fanart by aug 31st.
2. Keep it clean unless that artist likes art of their character otherwise.
3. Don't be a fanboy. Its not about you. It's not about riding someone else's coattail.
4. If it doesn't look good enough, then try again next year. Whole year of extra practice!
5. If they don't say anything on your piece, move on (or if angry, just stop watching them). Don't Dwell. Don't pester.
6. Don't get wierd about this guys.
7. Don't ask for shipping info, just post and share a link. Asking for private details is a no-no.

I've been seeing this posted around, and I love the idea. I'll be participating once I narrow my favorite artist list down to a manageable two. Or three.

Original Journal: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/2557279/

This is unsolicited giftart to your favorite artists to show that you admire their work and thanking them for giving to the community. Skill level doesn't matter. It's all about the intent.

gogogogogo

Better late than never, right? omg, can't believe it's next week...

Arrival and departure:
Arrival: Wednesday night. Laaate. 14-ish hour car ride, here I come! Leaving sometime Sunday and driving home through the night.

Staying at:
The Westin.

Mode of transportation:
foxsigil's car

Room share:
A certain tasmanian devil is off doing good deeds (deovacuus) so it's down to me, foxsigil, and an assortment of others :)

Major plans at the con:
Suiting, find cool people to draw with, hang out in the zoo, peruse the dealer's den for cute things

Who will I be with:
Whoever I end up with. foxsigil, fuego, other awesome people

Fursuit(s):
Yes indeedy.

Attending parties:
Eh, not much of a partier

How best to find me:
Look for a lynx fursuit (could be one of two at this point). Otherwise, I'm very average. I have purple glasses, very long brown hair, and blond bangs.

Stage performance:
HAHAHAno.

Commissions/Trades/Requests:
Any of the above if you're cute enough ;3 (or just ask politely, I'm a pushover)

Drink:
Not quite of age yet. (Cruel irony: my 21st birthday is the week after AC.)

Smoke:
Definitely not.

Hugs:
Sure!

Talk:
Perrrrhaps. I might be quiet while in suit.

What is your gender?
Female.

How old are you?
20 9/10 :p

Can I buy you lots of drinks?
No thanks. Buy me food, I'm only budgeting in one Subway foot-long a day. (See: po' college student)

Can I give you lots of money?
Sure! But I'll feel bad if you don't at least let me draw you something in exchange.

Can I hug or snuggle with you?
Sure thing!

How tall are you?
5'4"

Are you nice?
Oh yes. Especially to people I don't know. It's all downhill from there.

Are you throwing a party?
Nnnno.

If I see you, how should i get your attention?
Wave, say hi, give me a hug, call out a variation of "HEY YOU" at the top of your lungs.

Are you fursuiting?
Mhmmmm. Hopefully. Gotta work out some kinks on this new suit...

Can I take a picture of ya?
Yes, though out of suit I'm not terribly photogenic.

I HAVE ONE.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

LAYER ONE : THE OUTSIDE
- Name: Kri
- Eye Color: Brown
- Hair Style/Color: Fluffy and brown, goes down to mid-chest. I can almost do the technically-not-nude hair-in-front-of-the-boobs shot :3
- Height: 5'4" ( shooort =-= )
- Clothing style: Supah casual. T-shirts, jeans, the occasional choker.
- Best physical feature: Definitely the hair. I don't do much with it, but it makes me happy.

LAYER TWO: THE INSIDE
- Your fears: Doctors, heights, being lost.
- Your guilty pleasure: Romance novels.
- Your biggest pet peeve: Fangirls. Ee gads.
- Your ambitions for the future: Become an editor/literary agent, perhaps make some money on fursuit-making on the side. Someday... retiring as the crazy lady down the street.

LAYER THREE: THOUGHTS
- Your first thoughts waking up: 6 am shouldn't be allowed to come twice a day.
- What you think about most: My creative outlets. Drawing, webcomic, fursuits.
- What you think about before bed: What I have to do the next day, how comfy my feather down blanky is~
- You think your best quality is: My mind. It's where all my stuff is.

LAYER FOUR: WHAT'S BETTER?
- Single or group dates: Ugh, groups. Single dates are always awkward.
- To be loved or respected: Respected. I have a hard time with the love thing.
- Beauty or brains: Oooooh... brains. A little attractiveness helps, but the brain is the sexiest organ.
- Dogs or cats: PSH. Cats.

LAYER FIVE: DO YOU?
- Lie: Occasionally, but for the greater good. Especially my greater good.
- Believe in yourself: Haha, not really. But I can bluff it well.
- Believe in love: I believe it exists, yes.
- Want someone: Most definitely.

LAYER SIX: EVER?
- Been on stage: Yes ><
- Done drugs: No, thanks.
- Changed who you were to fit in: Mmm, I try never to do that... though I'm sure I have.

LAYER SEVEN: FAVORITES
- Favorite color: Green.
- Favorite animal: Horse.
- Favorite movie: V for Vendetta. Followed closely by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2.
- Favorite game: Psychonauts.

LAYER EIGHT: AGE
- Day your next birthday you will be: July 3rd (right after Anthrocon, dangit!)
- How old will you be: 21 (oh boy :p)
- Age you lost your virginity: Uhm >.> Technically, I've still got that one.
- Does age matter: Not as much as maturity.

LAYER NINE: IN A BOY OR GIRL
- Best personality: Self-confident, ambitious, respectful, funny, intelligent, extroverted.
- Best eye color: No pref, really.
- Best hair color: I like natural colors best, but otherwise... eh, if it looks good.
- Best thing to do with a partner: Joking/intellectual discussion (bonus points if it's at the same time), cuddling, playing games, reading (it's totally a group activity, I swear), working on projects.

LAYER TEN: FINISH THE SENTENCE
- I love: sushi. And the ninja turtles. And V.
- I feel: a little overwhelmed by life, but optimistic.
- I hide: how much of a coward I really am.
- I miss: all the free time I had before college.
- I wish: I were a little more suave.

LAYER ELEVEN: I TAG
- Who do you tag?: Everyone. Especially and . DO EET.

I got to suit at Nbowa's little Iowa-furs get together, and what do I do with my time?

Attempt to balance on an exercise ball, of course. Poorly, I might add. And yet people watched me try for, like, 10 minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nshrD_n6Evo

Thanks, , for recording my foolishness <3

Oh, and I never got around to officially posting the last fursuit video, either. Snow suiting is freakin' AMAZING.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WAqIw7WytQ

is doing this lovely little free-sketch challenge thing, and I'm jumping on the bandwagon.

Rules:
1. If you want one, you have to offer 10 free sketches yourself in a journal like this.
2. Nothing extremely complicated -- no groups, and only very simple backgrounds.
3. Can be naughty or nice, but I have the right to refuse in extreme circumstances.
4. First 10 to reply with a reference pic/good description get in. (not that I'm worried this will fill up that fast :p )

Okay, go for it.

1. - DONE!
2. - DONE!
3. - DONE!
4. - DONE!
5. - DONE!
6. - DONE!
7. DONE!
8. DONE!
9. DONE!
10.

Whoa, full up o-O

Happy V-day, guys!
Even if you don't have a special someone to celebrate with, the premise of Valentine's Day is love, and I support this. So those of you who are emoing around in black, go give someone a hug :)

Now, back to handing out Ninja Turtle Valentine cards...

______________
Day One: Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now.
Day Two: Nine things about yourself.
Day Three: Eight ways to win your heart.
Day Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot.
Day Five: Six things you wish you’d never done.
Day Six: Five people who mean a lot.
Day Seven: Four turn offs.
Day Eight: Three turn ons.
Day Nine: Two smileys that describe your life right now.
Day Ten: One confession
_______________

Day Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot.

1) Die in a fire, Mondays. The world needs more weekends.

2) Suuuuuuushiiiiiii.

3) Okay now, when am I going to be able to get THAT done...

4) I would rather be drawing right now. (or reading/suiting/sleeping interchangably...)

5) The weather is amazing. (applicable during every season -- I love the outdoors)

6) Doctor appointments. Ick, ick, ick.

7) Life is so cool.

Day One: Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now.
Day Two: Nine things about yourself.
Day Three: Eight ways to win your heart.
Day Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot.
Day Five: Six things you wish you’d never done.
Day Six: Five people who mean a lot.
Day Seven: Four turn offs.
Day Eight: Three turn ons.
Day Nine: Two smileys that describe your life right now.
Day Ten: One confession

____________

Day Three: Eight ways to win your heart.

1) Give me backscratches o_o I will love you forever.

2) Teach me. I love intelligent people, and I love to learn. About anything. Also... argue with me. Intellectual debate is fun. And, y'know, every once in a while I'm wrong, and someone should tell me :p

3) Entertain yourself. Companionable silence is great. Let's just sit and read books in the same room, or draw together. We don't have to talk.

4) Compliment me. Even if it's not true. I'm a cat; I'm vain. What can I say?

5) (perhaps to go along with 2...) Have a spine. I'm not always the nicest person, and when I'm in a bad mood, I'm foul. You have to be able to give as good as you get from me, or I'll lose respect for you.

6) Have some respect. For me, for others, and especially for yourself.

7) Make me laugh. Who doesn't love to laugh?

8) Give me space. I'm an only child who was homeschooled most of her life -- that's a lot to recover from. Believe me, if I like you, I'll come looking for you. But sometimes? I need everyone to gtfo :3

Day One: Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now.
Day Two: Nine things about yourself.
Day Three: Eight ways to win your heart.
Day Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot.
Day Five: Six things you wish you’d never done.
Day Six: Five people who mean a lot.
Day Seven: Four turn offs.
Day Eight: Three turn ons.
Day Nine: Two smileys that describe your life right now.
Day Ten: One confession

_______________

Day Two: Nine things about yourself.

1) I am a product of California, the land of the fruits and nuts.

2) I own a Madagascar hissing cockroach. His name is Vishous, or just V, and he's my baby.

3) I have a sad obsession with the Ninja Turtles. My Ninja Turtle shrine includes all of the movies (except three, which was an abomination against God), two of the original action figures (back when their bandannas were all red and they actually had personalities) and several of the original comics, a handmade Donatello charm, two caricature cards, one of the video games, a "turtle troll"(http://www.buzzfeed.com/turtlefeed/.....tle-trolls-ruc), six shirts including one I designed and screen printed myself, a hat, a Snuggie, a key cover, a wallet, knee-high socks, and my newest piece, Ninja Turtle panties. Hellz yeah.

4) I'm very assertive with men, but somewhat submissive around women.

5) I would much rather give birth to a litter of kittens than a regular baby.

6) Bacon.

7) I still sleep with my baby blanky. Don't judge.

8) I'm a closet romantic. *points to romance novel collection*

9) I hate coffee and tea.

I love memes, and I'm desperately avoiding studying for finals. This is stolen from el  deovacuus

Day One: Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now.
Day Two: Nine things about yourself.
Day Three: Eight ways to win your heart.
Day Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot.
Day Five: Six things you wish you’d never done.
Day Six: Five people who mean a lot.
Day Seven: Four turn offs.
Day Eight: Three turn ons.
Day Nine: Two smileys that describe your life right now.
Day Ten: One confession
____________________________

Day One: Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now.

1) Duuuuude... I want my book back.

2) I may seem like a slacker, but it's really that I don't believe in you.

3) How are you so cool? Is it hereditary? Secret meditation-under-waterfalls kung fu techniques? Maybelline? Share your secrets. I need some of that badassery about now.

4) You're too cool to break; please don't keep hitting on me.

5) Stop talking about the bills. I know money's tight, but I've got enough stress. It'll all work out.

6) Be honest now: Are you a furry? I gotta know.

7) Why is it now I'm not the bitch I was in high school, we can't be best friends anymore? Did we only ever bond over being cynical, or was I just that in awe of you?

8) You smart boys. Why are you so sexy and unattainable?

9) Yes, I'm a much different person than you tried to raise me to be. But frankly, I love who I am, even if it's not what you want, and you certainly can't change me now.

10) My life would have been better if I'd never met you.

Procedure went off without a hitch; the spiky ball of crystallized evil has been neutralized. Already feeling better than I have in two weeks.

The Kidney Gods seem to be appeased for now :3

Going into surgery at 7:30 tomorrow morning.

I so do not want to go. But I'm so ready to have this kidney stone shit resolved.

I should go to bed and not think about it. But then it'll be here that much faster.

I wish I had a bad habit to fall back on when stressed, like smoking or writing bad poetry.

FML.

I hate updating journals, but that last one was starting to mold.

Midwest FurFest. It was awesome. Met a bunch of great people, despite there being no place to hang out like AC's zoo. And I got to take my suit out for the first time amongst other furries, and I didn't catch anyone going the long way around to avoid me. Suiting is addictive. I wish I had more stamina for it. And maybe a little acting talent. But those come with practice, right? Sooner or later, I'll get some suit pics up ^ ^

MFF couldn't have come at a better time. I was so ready for a break from this hell semester.

And then I ended up in the hospital with a kidney stone the size of Texas the day after I got back from Chicago x.x What is this, body? WHAT IS THIS.

On the bright side, I got a whole week to relax and recover, and a bottle of vicodin. Mmm, vicodin.

In completely different news... I'm planning to upload more of my work. Fo riz.

Maybe. Gotta work on this cowardly streak that's cramping my style.

All right, we're done here, carry on, sir.

AC was freaking amazing.

In every way.

I miss it already :c

But still, I got to meet and hang out with a bunch of artists, like  Niis, Dr. Bored,  lavadog (who's suit is pretty frickin' adorable! still need to draw for him...), and  Padunk and her boyfriend James, who's cowboy hat is now immortalized on paper :p

Atrists' Alley was a lot more fun than I was expecting it to be, terrified as I was to go for it. Niis and Dr. Bored made it awesome. Thanks for being super cool, guys.

Also got to hang out with  fuego and co., who are all such awesome people ^ ^ Seriously made my weekend.

Now, off to upload some pictures :3

I'm super excited, zomg. This will be my second year, and I'm planning to try to be in Artist's Alley ^-^

Anyone else going?

Also, I'm working on a few pieces as samples of my work, possibly to sell, I was wondering if there was anything any of you like to see?

Specifically, could you name some of your favorite anthro species/poses? So far I have a coyote girl, a cute mutt dog, and a minotaur/bull anthro. Even if you aren't going, I'd love some suggestions :3