Well, as you all can see, it's been ages since I put anything in my journals here.

I know many of us have been dealing with the craziness going on in the world right now, with COVID-19, protests, the economy... all of it.

I just had a furry friend pass away yesterday due to the pandemic. I had been lucky up to this point that my close friends had been able to keep themselves safe and healthy, and then this happens.

Just remember, if we stand strong together, we can get through this. Please, wear your masks, social distance, wash your hands, and don't touch your face.

Be sure to tell your friends how much you love them. You never know what may happen tomorrow.

*hugs to you all*

Prepping for what's probably going to be a very emotional conversation with family tonight. Wish me luck.

Since FAU is relatively close to where I live, I went to visit today.

I still enjoy the fact that it's a smaller convention, much more intimate than some of the other events I've attended. I managed to show up for the picture and parade, and got a chance to visit with a few friends I haven't seen in quite some time. Unfortunately, my visit was short lived, as I got called by work and had to leave, but I'm glad I at least got the chance to go. I'm hoping financials will be a little more robust next year, and that I'll be able to attend the entire convention in 2020. I'm also really pleased that it's in October now. For the short time I had my suit on, it was really comfortable to walk around outside! :)

Thanks again for the convention, FAU staff!

Howdy, folks!

This has been a bit of a "downtime" year for me. Due to a number of financial issues as a result of a failed relationship, the dragon hasn't had much opportunity to get out and about and have fun. There hasn't been the money to attend conventions, nor the money to work on the new suit I have been planning on making. I hope to have things much more in order by the end of the year, and hope to change all of that. I *will* be attending at least one convention next year, and hopefully more... and if I can swing it, I'm going to get more done on the new suit I've been planning.

Another interesting tidbit (well, maybe to some) is that I'm no longer "Brad" for my characters. I've changed my name to "Drake" (oh HOW original XD) and that will be my standard moniker from now on. The "Brad" name is going to be dropped completely for numerous reasons and is going to be a writ of history. I could go on for hours as to the reasons why, but the most important reason is that the name no longer holds weight for me. Thus, this is the result.

For some positive news... this weekend, the dragon will be making an appearance at a somewhat local picnic and getting out once again. He's been languishing in his tote box for far too long, and the siren's call has been getting far too loud. Time to follow that noise and see what happens!... hopefully something more positive than what happened to sailors before Odysseus' journey! :)

Anyways, I hope things have been going well for all of you, and I hope y'all have a great day! Be well, y'all!

Greetings to anyone reading this!

The dragon hopes you are having a great day, and that things are going your way. If they aren't, the dragon hopes that turns around for you quickly.

Have a good'n!

I haven't been here much recently due to a number of unfortunate events that have happened over the last few months. I'm still trying to recover from them, and I'll going to be dealing with them for quite some time. Just know that I'm not gone from here, but I'm definitely going to be spending significantly less time here as a result.

The dragon hopes y'all are doing well.

Peace out.

First day back to reality after FAU 2018.

This was not my favorite out of all the conventions I've been to in the past. A number of problems cropped up... There was significant confusion with the schedule, and this lead to conflicts between major events in which I was going to participate. Plus, other events that have happened in past FAUs weren't on the schedule at all, much to my surprise. This among another cascade of personal issues just left the convention lacking for me. Hey, at least the cost of my badge went to charity, and it went to improving lives for many animals. Silver lining and all that...

Perhaps next year will be better, they can't all be winners.

Well, I have one more big event before the end of the year in October, then it's back to replenishing the hoard for next years events. I will definitely be attending Anthrocon next year, and I'm going to try and suit more than I did this year. Also, I will be doing FAU again. They mentioned during closing ceremonies that they were going to try and shoot for October next year, which sounds splendid to me. Cooler weather and fursuiting is always a plus. I am also considering DragonCon, and while that's not a fur convention specifically, it looks like it could be crazy fun... besides, it has dragon in the title, and I do have a bit of a bias. Other top contenders are MFF, Megaplex, and FurTheMore. It's time to get planning.

Until next time, I hope life treats you all well.

The dragon is here at FAU.

I'm all settled into the hotel and setting up for a relaxing night before the convention begins tomorrow.

FAU holds a pretty special place in my heart. It was the first anthropomorphic convention I ever attended. Originally, it was going to be Anthrocon in 2007, but due to a long stream of unfortunate circumstances and bogus information from "friends", I did not attend. Several years passed before I was able to pull myself up by his bootstraps, and it was FAU 2016 that I was able to reintroduce myself to the fandom. I have attended every convention since then, and will probably do so until I am unable.

Anyways, two of the five dragon sonas are here, and will be wandering around when everything kicks off. If you're here, feel free to say hello if you see them. They're pretty chill. :)

In four days, I'm heading off to FAU for a weekend of fur and merriment.

This will be the last convention I'll be attending this year, since I have to replenish the hoard to cover whatever events I'll be attending next year.

If you're going and you see me there, feel free to say hello!

No matter where you go... there you are.

Nothing new on the front, still waiting for the parts to arrive to make my first attempt at a dragon head. Picked up a new adopt, because I loved the colors. One day, I hope I can get my body as toned as that art. I'm working on it.

Hope y'all have a fab day!

I'm still coming down from the Anthrocon buzz.

That was, without a doubt, the most fun I've had in years. Seeing pictures of the event is all well and good, but being there is just fabulous! I got to see many beautiful and amazing suits, had the great opportunity to participate in the menagerie photo and the parade, and just had an all around incredible time. It was fun seeing characters in person that I had only ever seen online! I will be attending next year. Oh yes.

Sad news, though. After some serious reflection, I have decided to retire the silver dragon suit. It served me well over the last 16 years! I visited many conventions and functions wearing that skin. But now, it's time to let it rest. I plan on getting a mannequin and putting it in the suit, and preserving him for posterity. I may bring him out on special occasions, or perhaps when nostalgia hits. We'll see.

The good news is that I'm actively working on the replacement. My hope is to make something that's more interactive, has a better range of mobility, and *hopefully* lighter than the original... that suit is *quite* heavy. :) Ideally, if I can sit down in the new suit, that would be perfect... but I'm not going to hold my breath on that last one. I'm currently reviewing fursuit makers and making some more revisions on the reference, but if I play my cards right, I should be able to have him by mid-next year, hopefully by Anthrocon 2019! Oh, and as always, any recommendations on fursuit makers is always appreciated.

Well, that's all for now, y'all have a good one!

Well, I've been looking at tutorials, and looking at resin masks... I think I might take the plunge and try to make a head of my own. If that ends up as a successful endeavor, then I'll try the next steps and attempt a tail and feet. If it's not, well, at least I tried.

Aside from that, just trying to get through the next month saving up as much cash as I can for Anthrocon... though certainly setting some aside for FAU in August.

Here we are, two days after FurTheMore, and I can't wait until next year for the convention to come back.

I won't hesitate to recommend this convention to anyone in the fandom.

Next up on the docket: Anthrocon. Hurry up, July!

The dragon has just settled into his room for FurTheMore. If you happen to be here, and see any of my dragons out and about in the convention space, feel free to say hello!

Time to get my badge, registration is opening up! Huzzah!

In less than one week, the dragon is going to be at FurTheMore. In his mind, he's already there.

Also, the results of the bet have been posted, per the betting arrangement. Enjoy, or don't, I'm not going to tell you how to live your life... :)

*happydance*

I got word earlier today that WIPs of some of the artwork I've commissioned have been sent to me, and they have indeed been received! The unfortunate thing is that my phone doesn't want to display them for me, so now I gotta wait until I get home from work to view them. I'd check them out on my office computer but the security policies here are rather draconian... if it ain't work, it's a no-no!

On another tangent, the new dragon in my stables got a chance to wander around at the VA Comicon in Richmond. It was a good chance to test it out, and there are a few adjustments I need to make in order to make it fit better, but for the most part it was a successful run! Having a moving mouth really made it so much more interactive than my other suits, and brought it to life. I'm looking forward to the next local event I can attend after I've made all the appropriate adjustments to give it another test run, and see how long I can keep it on before having to take a break.

The other option is just wearing it around the house... of which I would have no problem doing so. ;)

Have a good'n, y'all!

Howdy folks!

New art is expected soon, part of it stems from a bet the dragon lost. Also, a NSFW picture is in the pipeline... an artist offered up a YCH that I doubt I would have ever jumped on in the past, but somehow, this one seemed intriguing due to its nature. Now, I doubt the dragon would ever participate in this endeavor outside of art, but sometimes, he's just gotta try something new.

The new partial is going to get some outside time tomorrow, as he'll be attending the Richmond Comi Convention for the day. You'll have to excuse him if he's still a bit stiff, especially since he hasn't had much practice in the suit. This should be a good test run for him.

Y'all have all the happies, talk to you soon!

Once again, I've been a slacker and haven't been around here much, but I'm here now. (insert cheering or crickets, whichever you prefer)

My dragon army is growing... I think I might have an addiction... and I have no desire to cure it. ;) At the rate things are going, I might have to change my name to MrRainbowDragon, so many colors in my fursuit army!.. and I guess for other reasons as well. XD

For those interested, I've got my convention schedule all laid out for this year.

In April, I'll be attending FurTheMore in VA.
In July, I'm going to be at Anthrocon.
Finally, I'll be at FAU in August.

If you happen to be at any of them and see me, feel free to say hello!

Of course, when things seem on track, there's a twist in the line and things just fall apart.

Looks like the new suit is on hold. It's disappointing, but life is a horrible pain in the ass that likes to beat you into submission. Maybe next year, when stuff isn't so insane.

Damn it all.

Yeah, I know.

I haven't put anything new up here in months. I'm a slacker.

There isn't really anything new currently, save that I've been busy as heck with work and trying to save up for Anthrocon next year (as well as FAU and FurTheMore), and it looks like everything is on target for getting my new suit early next year. I still need to do repairs on my other suit, though it's probably going to be retired. I'm thinking of putting it on to a mannequin, but right now it's only a thought.

I still need to get a badge for the partial... I haven't settled on an artist yet, though I have been looking through the artwork here to see if anything jumps out at me and screams "YES! THAT'S THE ARTIST!"

Anyways, time to get back to the drudgery of work. The Internet never sleeps... though it's probably gonna get slower after the vote today ><.

Later y'all!

It's a multi-step process to understand the journal header... but anyways...

Suit is paid for, now I just have to wait for it to be built.

It is possible that I will have it by FurTheMore, which might be its debut. If not, Anthrocon will be its unveiling. Now, to see about losing some weight for a better shaped duct tape dummy. I'm sure the health benefits would be a good thing, too.

Doesn't look like I'm going to be making any more conventions this year, unless a huge windfall comes my way. I will probably just be doing small local events (well, within a 3 hour driving range, as it seems many of my furry friends are right on that travel fringe XD) and meets. Also looking to commission someone for a badge for the partial, and possibly feet for that guy as well. Maybe gloves. We'll see.

Have fun, folks! As much as you can. :)

In one week, FAU begins. I have been waiting for this since the one last year wrapped up. I had a marvelous time last year getting the dragon out and about, and I'm eager to do it again! I hope I get on a lower floor this year, but even if I don't, it's still going to be a great time.

I'm not going to have "big and shiny" out this year, since he still needs to be repaired from his unfortunate accident at FurTheMore, but I will have my new-ish partial so I won't be completely mundane. Also, I hope NutCaseArt is there again this year. She did my badge at FAU last year, and I'd love for her to make the badge for the partial.

On a completely unrelated note, I have finally put in the deposit for my next suit. If all goes well, I will hopefully be able to do the reveal next year. I have decided to go with "Mon and Ster Creations" as the builder. It's going to be a full digigrade suit, and once building begins, I hope to share WIPs with y'all.

Anyways, that's it for now. Stay furry, my friends!... or scaly... or whatever you see fit!

The convention is a little over 2 weeks away.

The dragon is not ready for it yet.

He better get his tail in gear.

41 days until the convention. It feels like an eternity.

Enjoy your day!

It pleases me greatly that many of my friends will be attending Anthrocon this weekend, and it sounds like it's going to be a wonderful time. As much as I'd like to go this year, it's just not in the cards, but for certain next year I will be attending (barring some terrible tragedy that prevents me from going, but we're just not going to think about that, are we?)

I've been researching some more on possible vendors to produce my next suit, but I still haven't settled on any particular designer yet. I'm also pondering a bit more adjustment to 2.0's design... while I like the overall image from the ref sheet, I'm thinking I may want to add more embellishments to it, perhaps additional horns on the face, a bit more depth in the color scheme (perhaps some chromatic color schemes) and maybe using some laser etched fabrics like the old suit has currently.

Regardless, I am hoping to be able to reveal 2.0 next year at the next Anthrocon, so I'm doing my best to get my backside in gear to make this happen. I'm going to do everything in my power to make it mind-blowing, but will settle for awesome. XD