This is not a bitch journal. I'm just confused.

Ok so we got a new server, we upgraded the software, and we upped the bandwidth right?

So why am I constantly getting time outs and 404's when browsing the site? Or did I miss major pieces of information like this hasn't happened yet?


I'm using a 15mbps dedicated connection, and I only get the issues on FA with both firefox and IE.

So I was in direct contact with the land owner for Furnation:Dragon and Dystopia as recommended by friends and prior journal commentors. However for some reason the owner has decided to keep the ban in place and has told me to stop contacting them. As such I've created a ticket with Linden Support. A friend linked me a page on Secondlife.com that states first offense is a warning, second is a suspension, and then 3rd is a ban. Not ban on the first. So hopefully Linden will intervene, if not I have one final course of action to fix the issue myself ;D

So I met alot of neat people when I was up in Canada and then off to AC and a few of these peeps play Second Life. I figured I might install it and play to keep up with them. So I install the client with help from one via MSN, and learn how to navigate and start doing basic things. After a few days I figure out how to fly/run/teleport and start buying things and using them. (I got real frustrated when I couldn't since I didn't know I had to go to certain areas to unpackage them......)

Wanting to fit in, I figure lets get an Avatar made of the scalesona. So I arranged it with an artist here on FA. We met in game and chatted about particulars, and we worked out an agreement.

So all this going well, I'm getting the hang of things, and figure lets buy something fun. So I hit a few area's where there are lots of things for sell and I find this gun shop. I picked up a hand gun (6 shooter revolver)that had a taunt setting and this suicide option which is actually rather funny to watch. So I go through a couple areas and show people my new cool taunts. Everything's going really well and people laugh when I do the suicide option so I figure lets upgrade. I found another area to buy the bigger badder looking toys.

I pick up a set of M14A1 Carbines that I can't get to work right, so one of my friends log in, and they wind up getting one of his friends to log in we get this bad boy working. So after playing with it on dummy targets they log off and I start running around playing with it.

So I'm shooting having a blast, there's like no one on anymore and all of a sudden I get some weird IM from some guy standing off further away "lose the guns or leave, this is the nice warning" So I figure I must have shot in his direction and he was mad for some reason, so I stopped shooting and started walking away. So like 10 minutes later I get a message from the client saying I'm being teleported. I'm like huh?

After I was teleported I got the "You are banned message" for Dragon. Shocked I minimized the window and started googling bans in Second Life. My jaw literally dropped when I saw all the crap that came up. Seriously, you get banned in this game for farting in a crowd! To confuse matters there are apparently 3 different area types general, mature and adult. And things you can do in general can't be done in the other two and vice verse. Then there are apparently additional restrictions on each independent area based on who owns it.... Back to the point. SO like after I'm done googling I PM the guy that helped me get the gun working and he logs on and I teleport him to me. Apparently the guy that sent the one line demand/warning was the same one that did the ban and my friend talked with him for a bit, he admitted to warning me in an assish fashion and told me friend to teach me to play the game.

I got a "you are banned from this area" for Dystopia when I tried to teleport back there today to wait for the artist that was designing my avatar. I'm like totally going WTF at this point.


So in a nutshell I was banned from Furnation - Dragon even though I complied to a demand by a complete stranger when it was given. Apparently the ban also hit the neighboring area Dystopia even though I wasn't shooting there. And now I'm an asshole for having bought a firearm and running around playing with it. I got one singular line of text from one person telling me to lose the guns or leave and wham, I'm banned from two areas not just one..... for compliance! I got banned and I haven't even been playing more than a week at this point.......

So I sent a PM to the artist who was offline, telling them that some arse banned me and I can't meet them at their area anymore. When she logs in she tells me I was correct and that the deal was off. So seriously, I'm in here learning the ropes and now I'm not just banned from two areas over something ridiculously trivial, now the artist is backing out of the avatar commission over it too, and treating me like I'm a 9 year SL veteran and knew better. Is this honestly how you expect to get new people to play and be part of the community? I'm not saying I didn't do something wrong, I'm saying I didn't know and a bit more consideration toward my side here would be freaking awesome.


Summary, new player buys freely available items at markets and plays with them then gets banned for it..... ?????? There were no warnings when I bought the guns that they couldn't or shouldn't be used. The area I was in didn't warn me about it, and when I got the PM I stopped and walked away as directed. If this is how this game is, then I'm actually glad the commission is canceled because I don't want to waste any money on it. I thought this was a sim to have fun, not ostracize n00bs learning the game.

Name of artist and banner withheld because this isn't supposed to be a drama post, more of a WTF is going on can I get some more information post!

I don't like any of the avatar's available, so if someone knows someone who makes them I'm looking to commission my Iksar as an Avatar. Just have them note me here. Or reply to this journal with contact info's.

Payment in via $L or paypal ;d

I visited Canada again this year to meet up with  shadowkatbt! He's a good friend ;d I also had the pleasure of meeting many of his friends. I hope I made an ok impression on them all, but I'm sure I left a lasting impression on a few ;p Basically spent the entire trip with him :D

Visited Toronto the first few days. We met up with  Canucklehead &  whatsitallabout to hit the Toronto Zoo, which was surprisingly good! Got to watch  mith play a game of hockey :D

I got to meet Fox, Odie and KennethCross as well as silly_wulf. I saw Neo/Sydney while at Mith's place but we weren't formally introduced ;p Ryx came to visit Shadowkatbt and I got to meet him as well for a short period.

There's a few more people I got to meet but names are escaping me at the moment :(.

Did alot of eating and driving around ;d was a very fun lazy vacation. As we neared the end of that trip and got closer to AC, we rented a car and prepped for a road trip down to Pittsburgh ;d I love Canada except for their slow/congested highways and 13% sales tax :(

Seriously, I'm bringing two empty sketchbooks with me to AC and I'm hoping to fill every page of both.

I'm looking for artists who'll be at AC doing sketchbook doodles. I'm hoping to Pre-pay as many as I can so I can just drop the book off to be doodled in, or have the artists just pass it along amongst themselves as they finish.

Primarily just looking for sketches of Ssvanti doing stuff nude, if you ever played EQ1 and are familiar with Iksar monk gear and don't want to do nude/adult then we can work something out.

Other items I'm interested in, are multi iksar sex and for those feeling like fun, I'm still wanting TMNT doodles ;d

I only got a handful of sketches at FC this year and I found it fun so here is to an attempt in expanding this happiness.

So if you are an artist and interested in filling up my sketchbooks shoot me a note with your prices and if you are willing to sketch nude or adult, cause if not, we have to figure out something else ;d

Here's the last help ticket I just submitted.

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When I come here I don't look for the site to change, I just want to view art. I'm tired of having to relearn where stuff is every 3-4 months. When I look at new submissions I want to see the art, not adds, not DA messages, JUST ART! I'm NOT going to pay you a fee just so you can shove more advertising down my throat.

I don't want your tee-shirts, your posters, your cups, your events. I want to look at galleries.

Right now I can't select to view full size images by default, instead I have to click on every single one to see it large....

I want a default option also so when I log in, all of the non-art updates aren't bunched up in a group. Fix this and I'll re-subscribe, till then you aren't getting another cent out of me.


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Honestly I don't expect anything to come of it and there's more than just that that's pissing me off over there but on the bright side I'm saving 30 bucks a year.

So for the love of everything you hold dear, please FA don't go this route!

Yeah I wasn't posting the commissions I'd received back from artists for a bit, I was away schooling and testing for IT certifications. I've been trying to catch up with 2-3 postings a day, but I've been falling short on that also. I'll try to resume this Sunday or Monday night as work has me out of town again today thru Sunday.

I still have a post I've been meaning to make for a while, and I'm going to finally get it worked out on paper then post it. It primarily covers my distaste of attitude and actions of certain artists I've dealt with. This will not be a direct attack on these artists, it will however work as a warning to other commissioners of trends and what to expect if you choose to deal with them.

I still have commissions out being worked on, and some still being figured out with the artists. I also have a few side projects being figured out and worked on, like an Iksar head mask by Fydbac. I'm not really into fur suiting or such, I was however intrigued at the idea of a full fledged Iksar head ;d, another project is body painting. So if I can work out the logistics and get it arranged I'll be commissioning an artist to Iksar body paint me as well.

Shortly I'm going to be looking to commission some sculptures of Iksar and possibly other characters. I'm getting details on material costs and labor rates for sculpting and then I hope to commission some sculptors. So if you are interested in having me hire you to sculpt for me, reply to this journal. Don't note me, just reply here.

I still have to clean out my notes and answer back to a few people. I would hate to miss a note due to cleaning them out by accident.

So like work just approved my time off, and I just finished buying sponsor pre-registration!

I'm pretty giddy. I'm planning on heading to the con with some friends, and mostly hanging out with one friend for sure. Should be a good time for sure. I'll post more in a bit.

If you want to meet, watch a movie, hit a panel or otherwise hang out, let me know so I can try to make sure it happens ;d

Going to be looking for more artists, especially since this is the largest con.

Got to meet Meesh, Kadath, Necrodrone, Rukis, Shinigamigirl, FEL, and a couple of other artists. There's alot of artists I wanted to meet but didn't get the opportunity.

Attended a few panels, most were exceptionally well done, fast paced lots of topic covered. There was a panel I attended where I had a mis-preconception about what was being done at the panel*, which detracted from my overall experience in that particular panel. I just kind of wish there were better descriptions on what was going on.

Missed alot of panels I was going to attend, due to bad habit of not keeping track of accurate time, getting lost watching the furries do what furries do ;p and just trying to enjoy watching everyone else have fun.

Panels I did make:

Anthropomorphic Sculpture - Fri 3-430, California
Colored Marker/Pencil - Sat 1-230, Empire
Making Digital Art Cheap - Sat 3-430, Fairfield *
Anatomy and Art - Sun 8-930, Glen Allen
Anatomy and Art (Adult) - Sun 10-1130, Glen Allen

I failed to make:

Digital Zone: Illustrator - Fri 1-230, Fairfield
Figurine Sculpture - Sat 5-630, California
Adult Dragon Panel - Sat 10-1130, Glen Allen
Hightech tools in Artistic Expression - Sat 11-1230, Fairfield
Poses & Expression - Sun 11-1230, Fairfield
Manga Studio - Sun 1-230, Empire

Also missed DJM's DJing at a room party on Sunday night :(

Missed Lilglendoggy in the Creators lounge all weekend, and Shadowkeeper attempted to meet but we never actually wound up being in the same place at the same time.....

Won a super awesome piece by FEL in the art auction, as well as nice pieces by MilesDF and Rukis.

Watched Legion (don't waste your time) and Dr. Parnassis at the Camera 12, which wasn't a terrible theater.

Spent most of the con alone, except when I saw DJM to pick up the comic he made to pass out, and when I was chatting with artists for sketches in the dealers room. I definitely need to have people to hang with for any future cons.

I might have to change my stance on not being here to make friends also, there were alot of cool people at the dealers areas, and people I didn't meet but saw just having fun all over the hotel. I got a real big kick out of seeing furries in costume mingling with people outside the con helping handicapped across the street, taking pictures, acting goofy etc, getting pictures with children and such, it really was a blast. Going to try as hard as I can to make it out to AC, which has been described to me as the biggest of all.

First I have to point out I'm here by myself, so i don't really have anyone to hang out with. So my viewpoint is going to be a bit on the bored side ;p I also don't dance, or drink, so I've already cut out a portion of the available activities.

I intend to be in the dealers room for a good portion of the con harrassing artists ;d

So other than the normal boring flight part, I arrived in San Jose today around 2:30pm! Got checked into the hotel and went to the Fairmont to pick up my badge.

Stopped by Bijan Bakery and picked up $20.00 worth of sweets... mmmmm I'll probably post pictures sometime. Ate them in the hotel room while I waited for 6PM. That place is a bit on the expensive side, but so worth it since there's no type of bakery at all where I live. I even had a sugar high :D

Went back to the Fairmont for Opening Ceremonies but I had the wrong time so I did a little walking around to familiarize myself with the terrain and see if I could recognize anyone. No such luck. Though there were fur suits I saw that looked familiar. I walked in circles and up & down stairs like 4 times before I said time to eat and stopped in at "The Grill on the Alley" and had some Manhattan clam Chowder, Filet Mignon with Roquefort Sauce/encrusted with cheese and spinach garlic mashed potatoes. By the time I got that paid for it was almost the right time for the ceremonies to open and I headed there.

The opening ceremony went ok, even though i couldn't hear but 4 words of what the speakers said. I definitely picked the wrong seat in the back, as I had no idea they didn't have a microphone. I gather by the chuckles, hand claps and general cheering that all was going well. Then they stopped chatting at the podium and everyone seemed to continue grabbing food and chatting about. After they started setting up stuff on the stage and it appeared there'd be no more announcements I went ahead and left.

Nothing too big to talk about yet. But hey it's my first furcon so we'll see ;d

If you see me around go ahead and say hi, I tend to look angry for no reason, it's just me.... i'm not really angry. If you see my face flush red and my eyes changing colors and I'm gritting my teeth and making fists then I'm angry ;p

Looking forward to blowing money and possibly meeting new people even if they aren't artists ;p

http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/1143369/

DJMixer is looking for work, Lets all help him out! If you need a DJ for your Room Party at FC get in touch with him! See the referenced journal above for info!

So what should I put on my do list while there? I will definitely be looking around dealers tables and artists areas. But are there any activities that I shouldn't pass up? I don't dance, and I don't have a fursuit, probably will never have one. I do aspire to one day get back into doing art though. I love to eat especially with others during good conversation.

Just updating watchers who care, these are the outstanding projects as of right now. Feel free to compare to prior lists.

Commissions fully paid

Faint 1 piece - since 16Jun09 (+1 Completed)
GeminiSaint 4 pieces (3 are done)
Grisser 1 piece - since 03Nov09
Homeskillet 1 piece - since 06May09
Iceheartedlion 1 piece - since 30Apr09
Negger 1 piece - since 23May09
Nek0gami 1 piece - since 08Mar09 LGD
RFTigermode 1 piece - since 06May09


Commissions partially paid

Homeskillet 1 project - since 15May09

Commissions or requests not paid for yet - Waiting on Artists to respond

Aazhie 1 piece
Chokodonkey - 2 pieces
Grisser 1 piece
Homeskillet 1 piece
Monalisa 1 piece
Negger 1 project
Neo123 1 piece
Todex 1 piece


It's been a pretty good run so far, paying reasonable prices for quality art and being able to share that art with others. It's wonderful.

Only a few people have made me frown with being extremely late and basically making no communication about amends. Then there are a few who are just slow but at least give progress. Hoping this new year has more great art in store for all of us and less grief ;d

I've even had the pleasure of some artists asking if they could do art for me. I appreciate the offers, and I have actually accepted a couple ;d

Just got back from spending a few days in California, I really love that state. Got to meet a friend there, in person. I had a freaking blast ;d

Only downside was the airlines and the time of year for travel. I actually wound up getting held overnight on the way out because of mechanical issues. Then they delayed me another 4 hours on the way back. But other than the airline fuck ups again, it was great:D

Watched Avatar in 3D Imax
Ate out at a few places, got to try some new foods.
Spent a good amount of time just relaxing. Something I don't really do often.
Got to see alot of artwork as well as hard to get stuff

Really kind of looking forward to FC later this month :D

Well I think it's probably about time I post some of my thoughts on things here, since I've been posting them on other peoples submissions/journals.

First let me say while I appreciate a shoutback, any shouts on my page that simply say "Thanks for the watch" will be deleted as soon as I see it. I have been doing this for some time. I only keep meaningful shouts. So if you wonder why your shout dissapeared (which I doubt most don't even realize) that's why.

Censorship. I hate it, I detest it, and I say Fuck Censorship. Down with those that support it.

Blurs/censoring art - well, you can see the line above this one. But also, why waste the time to ruin a good peice of art? Seriously. I'm against this too.

Paysites. If you participate with or run your own paysite, great, keep it there. Stop the incessant advertising on your free site accounts over and over, post once about it and leave it to people to figure it out themselves, PLEASE!

I'm not here to fit in, or make friends, however, if I happen to make friends, and I have made a few... GREAT! I'm here for the art, not the drama, not the paysites, and definetly not the censorship.

I like to commission many of the artist with accounts here. I like quality in depth art, and I'm definetly willing to pay artists for their time/supplies. While most of what I tend to commission is mature or pornographic in nature, I enjoy most all art, I just tend to pay for the harder to get stuff.

Subjects I enjoy to commission at the time of this journal are:

TMNT
Iksar (SoE Everquest Lizardmen)
Rikuo(Aulbath darkstalkers)
Firebrand (Red Arremer ghost n goblins/demon crest)
Brooklyn (Gargoyles)

I do have some other interests that I just haven't found the right artists for yet. Hoping to rectify that soon.

Yes most of the art I have commissioned up to this point is gay. I'm not against hetero art, and I do intend to include some in the future, I just haven't found the right artist yet, or come up with what I beleive to be solid ideas for commisisons with male/female yet.

I seriously do not like paying out money for commissions and not getting back art in a timely fashion. More than 3 months puts me in a very bad mood. I've had a few artists drag me along, several with almost no communication whatsoever on the status of my commission for quite some time. Becuase of this from this point forward I won't be starting any commissions with artists at all, without a deadline. I guess I just had to learn the hardway. The other option is that the artist does the commission, shoots me a low quality small scale thumbnail and then I pay in full for the full piece.

I don't think I've pissed anyone off seriously yet, and I actually hope I don't. But again. I'm here for the art no the drama ;d

New artist/project commission list coming, and I have more new art to post shortly.

I will be attending my very first furry convention at FC this year. I got time off from work, room/travel arranged and paid for. So I WILL be doing some artist hunting while I'm there!

I'm also hoping to meet any of the artists I have had the pleasure of having work made for me.

Also hoping to maybe get some commissions done while I'm at the con!

Just updating watchers who care, these are the outstanding projects as of right now.

Commissions fully pre paid

Carnivaldog 1 piece - since 09Jan09
Faint 1 piece - since 16Jun09 + 1 piece - since 14Sep09
GeminiSaint 4 pieces (2 are done)
Homeskillet 1 piece - since 06May09
Iceheartedlion 1 piece - since 30Apr09
Negger 1 piece - since 23May09
Nek0gami 1 piece - since 08Mar09 LGD
RFTigermode 1 piece - since 06May09
Verias 1 piece - since 04Jul09

Commissions partially paid

Homeskillet 1 project - since 15May09

Commissions or requests not paid for yet

Aazhie 1 piece
DJ Mixer 1 Iksar Icon (canceled by DJ)
Homeskillet 1 piece
Negger 1 project

25 July 2009 Saturday - Day 3 of the Con

Day again, starts with the cleaning ladies banging and slamming shit at 7am. Since I couldn't get back to sleep I just browsed internet for a while and tried to think of things I might have missed doing.

Headed to the con, walking as usual. Got to the con and immediately went to find ballroom 20 so I can partake in the V and Fringe panels, 3 hours early. Now keep in mind I read the Con Guide book they hand out to every attendee. In the book it states in black and white, that tickets would be required to get in until 8:45pm, at which time tickets no longer guarantee a seat in the masquerade, and everyone is allowed in. Becuase I went to the V and Fringe panels, I couldn't get a ticket since they handed tickets out during both those panels. I planned according to the information put out to us attendee's I should be good for the masquerade, and still get to see V and Fringe.

So I head up and I see a long ass line bending like a snake down 1/4 of the buliding's length. I decided the line was too long and immediately went back to the hotel via bus. While I was on the bus I remembered the last time I was here, and how that line worked. So I decide not to get off at my hotel, but rather ride back to the con, stand in the line and wait to get in. Which I did, and the line had gotten even longer, going down the stairs in the back of the center. So about 2 and a half hours standing in the sun waiting to get seated, hopefully in time to see V.

Even if I had left V, right after the 45minute pilot was over, I would have had to get back into a 1-2 hour line which would have made me completely miss the Fringe panel.

So yay, I got to see the pilot, and then see the hilarious antics of the Fringe cast. Josh made several lude jokes, incest and beastiality included, John made several as well. The whole cast of actor/actress and writers/producer had some neat trivia questions for free shirts too. Only one question stumped the audiance, and that was which german airline was in one of the first episodes (not the way they phrased the quesiton but you got the gist of it). They also gave very wonderful in depth character analysis, some of which was expected and already known, but it's a panel ;p.

Panels were awsome on both accounts.

Missed most of the previews prior to the masquerade due to idiots running staff and staff not knowing a goddamn thing. There were several rooms set up for overflow, but no one could tell me if they'd show movie previews also.

I had stopped by the Heavy Metal booth but too long of lines, and Adrian Paul and a producer were there for signing also.

Wound up eating at TGY Friday's Newyork strip with shrimp, potatos and shrimp coctail for appetizer. Added Vanilla bean cheesecake and chocolate peanutbutter pie, each with a scoop of icecream mmmmmm. None of the other resturuants I want to eat at are open till late evening, or cost too much, specially for how much I eat.


26 July 2009 Sunday - Day 4 of the Con (last)

Again I swear if I stay here any longer I'm going to kill those cleaning ladies.

Hit the Heavy Metal booth first thing, Saw Kevin in the back of the back of the booth, asked if he was doing signings, got told to start a line. A guy just bought a 25th anniversary book from the booth, and we basicly started it on him. I got video of Kevin autographing and sketching in the guy's book, both of my copies (1 for a friend) and the first issue reprint that Peter Laird signed and had given out at the Shellebration event the night before.

Walked around the con one last time, getting some video in the crowd, trying to get a sample of just how big the place is, and some more photo's.

Then went out to hunt for food again, again everything was either closed, not serving what I wanted to eat, or was waaaaaay to pricey for my habbits. Wound up back at TGI Fridays as I was starting to develope a fairly bad sunburn( I hate sunlight!). Ordered Mozzi sticks (looke more like cheese version of a flattened fishstick), Prime Rib Strogenoff, and the Oreo Delight desert.

Watched Blood at a theater, went back to the shitmotel666 and then went back out to see harry potter. Hit up Wendy's on the way back here. Now I'm just waiting for my flight back home.

Ok so I was going to keep it all in the one journal but it's getting rather lengthy.

24 July 2009 Friday - Day 2 of the Con

Got up to the usual sound of housekeeping going around banging on shit, letting doors slam shut and beating on my door until I told them to goaway becuase they didn't get the idea when I double locked the door so they couldn't get in anyway.

Got Dressed, headed down to the con, found RedJ from deviantart over at the image booth like he said, and bought prints of all his TMNT stuff ;d. Revisited the Heavy Metal booth but kevin wasn't there and there was another freaking line of fangirls..... Probably lining up for the Adrian Pual signing for the new animated movie "War of the Worlds: Goliath" he voice acted in.

I headed back over to the club stripes booth and actually got into the area so I could actually see what was for sale. No artists present but the two exhibitors there were nice and friendly. I picked up "Best of Club Stripes", "Love can be Different" been wanting it in comic format for some time now, and Gideon's "Beastiary" Which I did not think was worth the $20.00 I paid for it, I think $10.00 would have been a more accurate pricetag for it, but the art inside was quality. The other two seemed appropriate for thier pricetags.

I then headed back to the hotel to drop off the new purchases, and prep for the TMNT panel in 6DE. On the way back to the con I stopped at a neat place called Whisky Girl, as the other places I wanted to eat at were either WAAAAY to freaking pricey (70 bucks a entre) or weren't open yet. I had the Ribeye with mashed potatos misced veggies and a piece of chocolate cake/icecream. I also had the Taterskins for an appetizer. It was lush.

I made it back to the con around 3:30 and headed to the line for the TMNT Panel. I had to wait to get in till they found open seats but i started video recording when I got properly seated between two people giving off more body heat than a space heater in a 3x3 cubical. Of course 5 minutes into recording the commentary (and mostly stuff Kevin had said the previous day at his panel) security proceeded to tell me no videotaping allowed. WTF. Then of course all the juicy info starts coming out about the new TMNT movie, the selection of a writer (and I can't remember his freaking name) and the questions opening, that ended with Ernie Reyes Jr. making a suprise appearance.

Headed back to the hotel, freshened up, and headed to the Shellebration at 615 Broadway, where about 300 of us got to see the new TMNT animated feature (70minutes in length) before it's public release. This was truly a spectacular event. It was humorous, they had prizes, food, and even special guests.

Laird couldn't make it, I didn't see Kevin there, and I never heard anyone say he would be but that doesn't mean he wasn't and I'll just pretend like he was. After the raffles they started the flick and it was well worth the time and wait.

They literally combined 1988-1996 Wolf/Swanson cartoon with the 2003 4kids cartoon and then spun it even further with the Comic versions (TAILS AND ALL!). It was actually well written and the way they did it, one thing just kept leading right into another. It was hiliarious, it was serious, and it was a comibination of eras in the turtles 25 years, a real tribute, to TMNT and to all who've worked with them to keep them successful. (yes there were some pretty corny parts too but all were forgiven for the truly awesomness that was this feature!)

They ended the party by giving out hand signed (Peter Laird) Reprints of issue 1 to all in attendance. We'll have the option to get Kevin to sign them if he's around at the Heavy Metal booth. Also raffling off about 30 toys donated by Playmates toys for the event.

I forgot to mention the entire room sang Happy Birthday to the 4 costumed Turtles ;d (I'm really kicking myself for having not video recorded this event)

Hopefully more fun to be had!

Wednesday 22 July 2009 - Preview Night

Attending San Diego Comic Con. Hoping to run into some people, and going to stop by the booths I saw people say they were manning here during the con.

Don't know what else to say other than the hotel I'm in is shit and I'll never stay here again. Had I known what the hotel was like prior to reserving, I never would have. In fact I think if my only option was to sleep here, or cancel attending the con in the future, I'd probably just stay home. Seriously this is a shithole!

On the brighter side, I might get to eat some increadible food, and see movie trailers, buy comics, and maybe get some art in artist alley!

Just going to keep editing this post with updates on my trip.

So I picked up my badge today the lines were longer than I've ever remembered them being, however due to automation and some intelligent choices on the staff/planners of the Con (Kudo's to you all!) the lines ran so quickly I don't think I ever stood still.

That was until I entered the line to hit the vendor floor. I stood there for an hour and a half waiting for them to open the exhibitor floor ;(. There was a line opposite us, for those wanting to attend the Warner Brothers Preview for 3 new shows opening up this fall and supposedly other stuff. I didn't attend that.

So I spent most of the next few hours attempting to snake the isles but never very well as people be damned, just want to stand in the middle of every fucking walkway and chat to eternity. It was incredibly hilarious when two motorized wheel chair carts almost did bumpercars into each other and then they couldn't decide who was going to go around and who was going to back up. Even hating this, and comedy, for the most part attendees were polite, muttering sorry or excuse me when ramming full force into my backpack.

I found several large TMNT displays, I was so giddy! I took lots of pictures. I'll get them up on deviantart when I get back home and link as I don't believe FA was designed to datawharehouse our pictures.

I saw Kevin Eastman at the Heavy Metal booth, he was signing copies primarily of his new 25th Anniversary collected volume of TMNT for fans, and again primarily for fangirls. Gotta love those fangirls, chatty and keeping the line going alot longer than it needed to be, but I excuse them, I used to know most of them over on TMNT-L and #TMNT on Dalnet. So instead of buying a couple TMNT items off of ol Kev, I jumped line when it was apparent it wasn't going to start moving agian for some time and I counted 10 other people I used to know at some point in front of me ;p I'll hit that up again tommorrow when it's slower.

I'm glad I did, I realized I couldn't find two booth handlers who said they were going to be there with TMNT stuff to sell/give away. So I have to keep looking for them. Also saw where Mirage Studios (minus Peter Laird) were set up in artist alley for what I'm guessing will be signatures. Please don't get mad if I'm mislabeling area's I haven't been to the con in a few years due to work always disagreeing with the dates, and I noted that alot of stuff has indeed changed since.

I did find the clubstripes booth, but nothing was up and there was only one guy there chatting with some people shaking hands. So I didn't stop, I'll try them again tomorrow.

Too many merchants aren't taking creditcards this year. I wound up having to hit the ATM and I suspect I'll have to hit it a few more times while I'm here. I don't like carrying alot of cash on my person.

And again this hotel I'm in, I'm never staying in again. I'll tell you all where once the Con's over. I don't even know if I'm going to be able to sleep..... I'm too used to Air Conditioning and that is an open window with a ceiling fan here :(

But against all the downers, I'm having a bit more fun than I did the last time I was here, even though I'm alone, and no one to talk to, eat with, or hunt for stuff with. I'm really hoping to have a friend or two with me next time.

Thursday 23 July 2009 - Day 1 of 4

The con is nice. I've blown around 6oo bucks so far on shit I don't need, but wanted bad enough to issue cash or a card. I collected all 5 TMNT buttons for the scavanger hunt, and got a ticket to attend the Preview of the Turtles Forever Screening, animation special. That happens tommorow night ;d so giddy.

Got video of Kevin Eastman talking about Turtles, showing a picture slideshow, and then talking about Heavymetal (new 3rd movie) his magazine and a movie he's helping produce called "War of the Worlds: Goliath" It looks wicked cool, even though I never really liked all the independant and even larger studio produced animated movies anymore. They all seem so freaking stereotypical and full of pitfalls/overused dialog.

I got some TMNT signatures, nabbed alot of TMNT art from artists, and wound up getting some extra's for somebody special ;d

Ate at HardRock Cafe today, the food was worth it. New York strip with cheesey/bacon potatos and broccoli, also had the apple crisp with a scoop of haagandaaz icecream.

Got more sun than I'm used too, starting to look native american indian again..... at least on the arms.

Going to attend the Clown Speghetti Western premier tonight starring Gilbert Godfry (villian) and Ron Jeremy (don't remember who he plays) titled "Crackwood" That is if I can get a seat before they fill up.

Friday 24 July 2009 - Day 2 of 4

To resolve confusion I will iterate here that these are commissions/requests that I am paying artists for. I currently have no personally made art in my gallery or scraps. Most of what I like to commission is TMNT/Iksar related. I love scalies and other humanoid creatures.

As of today commission projects still out waiting for completion are as follows:

Commissions fully pre paid

Carnivaldog 1 piece
Faint 1 piece
GeminiSaint 4 pieces
Homeskillet 1 piece
Iceheartedlion 1 piece
Kadath062 1 Project
Negger 1 piece
Nek0gami 1 piece
Projectblue02 1 piece
RFTigermode 1 piece
Kaji 1 piece

Commissions partially paid

Homeskillet 1 project

Commissions or requests not paid for yet

Aazhie 1 piece
Brelo 1 Collab with Todex and 1 piece
FalconMcCooper 1 piece
Homeskillet 1 piece
Negger 1 project
Todex 1 Collab with Brelo


Piece defines a single page commission.
Project defines multiple page commission or comic.
Collab indicates I'm having more than one person work on subject.

Oh and I had an artist pull out with the whole "OMG I don't do under aged or incest" bullcrap with TMNT again, so I have a project with no artist again. Any recommendations for an artist to render:

Two Ninjaturtles Fleshlighting each other off.

Looks like I'm going, I was wondering if anyone else will be attending. I'm not going to be able to make any furcons this year, but I'm starting to look at planning to attend a few next year.

http://www.comic-con.org/

July 23-26

I'm pretty happy to get to go to this one, since it seems to be a pain in the ass getting time off from work to go to anything.

And of course it's the 25th anniversary for the TMNT. Sure San Diego isn't the main event, that's at the NYCC, but I'm not getting to go to that either. Hoping to get some sketches from artist alley, see previews of upcoming movies, meet some actors/actresses and hopefully meet a fur or two.

I haven't been able to hang out with anyone since my first con in 1998 and I can't seem to get anyone I know where I live to go with me so if someone's in the area and want's to hang for some fun let me know.

So I've bought a tablet before and tried it out. I thought it was unfreindly, hard to use and nothing like a normal pen/mouse. So I set it aside and never looked back, until last night that was.

I asked Nekogami what tablet he used, asked for tips on using one such as which software he preferred. He was pretty helpful in both regards. So I went looking for my old one, and well... I must have thrown it away cause I can't find it.

I went ahead and stopped by the store today while at work and picked up a new Bamboo tablet bundled with junk software. So I'm going to give it a shot again. I'll be buying the model Nekogami recommended later and use it at home. I'll be leaving the bamboo at work for when I have periods of boredom.

I used to love art classes in grade school and high school. I may not have excelled but they were fun. I haven't work on any real art type projects in over 10 years, except asking people to draw smut for me ;p

So while I'm not going to make any promises whatsoever, I might in the future, be posting actual artwork by me. I'll just say now, that if I do, please, don't have any expectations ;p

So if you have any comments/tips/suggestions about tablets and software to use with them drop me a line here!

Possible commission's from:

Curiodraco
GeminiSaint
Iceheartedlion
Jig
Junkyardstray
K-Inukai
Kadath062
Nekogami
Q33

Some returning artists, a couple who are still making progress on older commissions and a handful of new artists :D

Stay tuned for the uploads, after I get them and permission of course!