Meme time!

Q: Where are you staying?
A: Crown Plaza

Q: When will you be arriving and leaving?
A: Thursday night, leaving Monday early as hell for work. (though returning at night)

Q: Who will you be rooming with?
A: Bravo, and possibly Nevermint!

Q: Where will you be most of the time during the day/s?
A: ALL OVER. Seriously, foxes are hard to find! Gonna be suiting, doing panels, airport shuttling, foodie runs, arting, etc!

Q: What/where will you be eating?
A: Hard 8 BBQ, Kenny's Woodfired Grill, Freebirds, and Chicken Express for the Foxy Chicken Bonanza night.

Q: Will you be having a room party?
A: Those get messy and vomity so probably not hosting one.

Q: Will you be drinking and/or getting drunk?
A: Drinking a hair, but likely not more than a beer before 9pm if any due to driving,

PERSONAL STUFF:

Q: What is your gender?
A: Male

Q: How tall are you?
A: six feet

Q: If I approach you, will you chat with me?
A: I usually try to say hi and spend time, though am really ditzy and all over so forgive me if I wander or am running between things.

Q: If I see you, how should I get your attention?
A: Anything other than punching please.

Q: How many furry conventions have you attended?
A: Lost count!

Q: Do you own a fursuit?
A: Yes, but can you really own anything or is it a conformist ideal?

PERMISSIONS:

Q: Can I hug or snuggle with you?
A: Sure! Just please realize I have a very sensitive nose and can smell anything. It's a blessing and curse socially.

Q: How can I find you?
A: Loud, obnoxious, and red-headed with blue glasses. Just like my fox.

Q: Can I buy you drinks?
A: Sure! Though due to driving others please ask me first if I've anywhere planned before doing so. I'm really a stickler on drinky and drivey.

Q: Can I look in your sketchbook?
A: If I remember to bring one, sure!

Q: Can I draw in your sketchbook?
A: Same as above!

Q: Can I take your picture?
A: Where are you taking it? That's my picture!! Get back here you!

MISCELLANEOUS:

Q: Do you do do free art, trades, commissions, badges?
A: I usually do a few random badges for people I 100% know are committed to going to cons I attend. Just don't be upset with me if I didn't get to you. Also I will do drawings, but am really fucking slow. X3

Q: Do you have a table in the Artist Alley / Dealer's Den or a panel in the Art Show? If so, what are you selling?
A: Nyet

Q: Do you plan to volunteer?
A: I want to enjoy cons, so not likely. However I will be running errands for folks so kinda volunteering.

Q: What's your goal for the con this year?
A: Suit a bit, get snugs, and eat lots of chicken.

Okay well here goes my list...

1. STOP BEING A FLAKE. I gotta communicate more and follow through things.
2. Finish art. I owe a shitload and way overdue. Dunno how yall put up with me.
3. Lose weight. Getting tired of being my weight. After FC, I'm going to lose 50 by the year's end. Won't be easy, but gonna.
4. Be meaner to wolves, and occasionally mean to a few other species as I've been told it's getting a bit old which means I need to branch out more to keep up the fun.
5. Draw daily. Even if a crappy doodle. Draw.
6. Cave in and learn to use a tablet some. I suck as I have poor pressure sensing due to biological issues IRL, but maybe I can overcome it.... Not likely, but I'll give a few attempts.
7. Fix my suit some, get new paws, and do dance comps at cons with actual rehearsing.
8. Repair some old friendships I've lost touch with.
9. Make some merchandise. I need to be active somehow. Shirts, or something. Still irked as years ago I was going "Bitches where's my scritches?" and now a similar thing gets some cash. (Not saying it copies, just if you idle on ideas, people eventually get similar ones and may not be lazy with it)
10. Get over depression. May get back on my zoloft. Haven't used in ages, but I think it's time.

Also, I'm probably going to cut back on cons for 2014 until I build up more finances or find outlets for extra income. I don't want to be the broke furry guy.

I can sense there will be a few fun things this year, a LOT of work, and probably one or two shitty life events I'm not expecting and will not enjoy that come with my age. Ah well. Here's to making 2013 work.

Rugs.

That is all.

Okay yes I am going.

Also thank you all for the recent watches! I need to get back to drawing and posting now so gonna keep this short. Thank you all <3

Not saying a fox will be there, and if I am, it might just be Sat/Sun due to work pewp unless I have told you specifically otherwise.

Soooo, just a general concensus seeing who all is going so I can be jelly if I don't make it, or punt in the butt if I do.

Also, TFF is coming up soon... so if you go to that I will love you forever. If not, I will mail you angry bees. Shitloads of them.

Just wanted to say thank you to all the new watchers the past few weeks, and also to all the old ones as well! ^.^

I'll be posting a good bit more here as this time of year is my dead time for the next few months. Also, the annual funk isn't purveyant this go around.

Back to doodling and trying to get way old stuff done to those who are more than patient and have permission to break my ankles Misery-style *coughSitkuBlaiddeEtc*

Midwest FoxFest was a rather interesting con and was my first time attending. First of all many thanks to everyone I FINALLY GOT TO SEE IN PERSON. Seriously. I had about 50 people I had never met before, some of which I've known almost 15 years. It was enough that I broke my #1 Rule of Furry Cons - Look for no one and wait for nobody. I sacrificed a good chunk of fun by breaking said rule, but to me finally seeing everyone was far more important. Plus, I am intelligent enough to know where there is entertainment to be had and can recognize missed opportunities for reference over dejection. Overall I enjoyed the con and everyone there!

Now to break it up into the lists as the TLDR crowd stopped skimming by now...

PROS:
+Hotel shuttles were very available for all congoers (and big thanks again Xzadfor as the pickup was way more fun!)
+All you can eat bacon if you pay the $20 for the buffet (and the quality was a little above what most hotels seem to have)
+Pre-reg line was nonexistant. Regular did have some technical probs, but pre-reg was roughly 1 minute for me.
+The con security and staff listened and was knowledgable, even moments they should've been cranky. (Looking at you  quasiskunk
+Hotel security at night while a little gruff, were professional as hell. They also had a fast response time in the emergency I saw.
+The elevators in the main hotel were rapid, and glass so I could see anyone holding them up to beat later.
+Dealer den and artist alley splits were reduced congestion and the ass-slamming/shoving I'm used to.
+Everyone seemed to be in a great mood all con
+First taste of Yuengling thanks to the mega awesome even though a smelly wolf  twitchdawoof
+Tons of room to lounge. I didn't even go to the con suite..... yay er... eep... er... yay?
+Dances had music that held a crowd. No everyone running back and forth to the dance floor from 15 min DJ rotations.
+Best dance comp ever. IMHO. Everyone was really good. At the prelims, everybody came able to groove some.
+70's swank hotel.
+ALCOHOL DELIVERY

CONS:
-The buffet and food around was expensive as fuck. No, wait, I could find a cheaper hooker. $16 for a quality Gibson, $20 for buffet, $30ish to order delivery, $6-10 beers, $5 muffins, etc....
-Very little to eat in walking distance. Bum rides and beg for grocery runs.
-The executive wing elevators broke one night and could be really slow.
-Severe lack of TOONY ART. Bigtime sadfaces at everyone but MaryMeeses
-Badgeswapping, while being silly fun and brings a lot of humorous moments I love, kinda isn't nice if you don't return badges. As someone who does traditional badges that can't be reprinted, if you don't give them back, I will curse you with eight metric fucktons of bad juju.
-Seeing a few of the staff not get a gopher or two. I knew some weren't getting help, but to then find out afterwards they missed the couple hours of the con that they had their heart set on hurt. Big thanks to all who devoted their cons so that we had good ones. Again, I don't know how to apologize enough on this one. :(
-Beds.... I didn't want to use them. I wanted to stay up and play, not have my body fall asleep damnit! Replace them with energy drinks somehow.

LESSONS LEARNED:
* blimpwolf is a betch. In the good way. I'd never talked to him before this con really, and we definitely need a radio show. Mostly so they don't have to see his face.
*Every shep is  taikoshepherd
*That  ebonywolf99 is all moldy.
*Some people will pick their nose in public for ten minutes and really go at that shit.
*Draw more. Lots more. Furry needs toony!
*Stop carrying around my satchel like a derp. Didn't open it, and could've left it in the room while looking less touristy.
*Lose more weight, I look fat in suit. XD
*Wrap my knees before dance comp tryouts. I bent the wrong way and resigned from the remaining tryouts to take care of it.
*Alter my suit to dance better in it, and have a cleaner tail!
*BALLSACK. Funniest thing ever from  camohusky
*That  pup1k is the RL version of Roger from American Dad. <3 <3 <3

Soooo much more I could say honestly. I could fill about ten times this with info and all. I saw the potential and how well this con is loved, and if FC is not a total blast in January, I am swapping to MFF from now on with little regret. Thank you again everyone!

Stolen from Ipequey who stole it from Twitch

Where are you staying?
Outside in the gutter, crying and banging on the window while you all have fun inside and I'm let in the snow. That or in the main hotel.

What day are you getting there?
Thursday!

Primary Purpose:
Have fun. Going to be up for most anything and all over the place.

Gender:
Toon.

Preference:
High end chocolates. Trust me, I know my choco, so don't just think a pricey bar equals quality. I'm hella picky.

Fursuiting:
Of course!

Which Costumes:
My foxy outfit!

Do you speak while costuming:
I'm one of the fursuiters who believe in old school stuff. If I had a moving jaw, then sure, but I don't.

Are you ok with physical contact while in costume:
I should be fairly good. Careful squeezing me too tight and I doubt I'll be doing my usual picking up people this go around as I have to let my back heal a little. X3

Do you have a craft in this community:
Papercraft I guess?

Do you do free art?
I can, though try to get me early as I have a feeling I'll be crazy busy.

Do you do trades?
You can have my tonsils and I'll take that Don Mattingly with the sideburns.

Do you do badges?
I try to get out a couple freebie ones every con as RL time permits. Please don't be mad if I don't happen to get ya, it isn't because I don't <3 you, unless you're a wolf.

Do you do commissions?
Full up and lots of backlog. I'm really bad on this.

Can I talk business with you while at the con:
Sure, but two things: 1. You will probably not enjoy what my business is. 2. If you manage to get me from "fun fox" to "you want to shoot the shit and serious matters fox", I can be a heartless yet objective advice machine who can crush hopes and dreams while getting your head on straight. That ability comes with #1 there.

Can I visit your room?
I doubt I will be in there much if at all other than to sleep and steal covers.

Can you perform repairs:
I'll be bringing a little sewing repair stuff, but I'm not the best.

Can I buy you dinner, gifts, drinks, art or anything to show gratitude:
Sure! Just don't expect it'll go the furthest. Honestly, I'm like a Vegas floozy and telling you upfront.

Can I look in your sketchbook?
If I bring one I guess?

Can I draw in your sketchbook?
Sure if I bring it.

Can I take your picture?
Always if I'm in suit. Out of suit, I ruin every photo and have gotten to where I make it my mission to look hideous in them all.

Are you single or taken:
Kinda single I guess.

Where can I find you if I need something:
Twitter is usually a really good way. That or look for a bright orange fox being mischievous or the redhead with blue glasses. I'm extremely easy to locate.

Are you attending any stage or public performances?
Maybe the dance comp.

Do you attend parties:
I am going to try to make a few. :3

Do you attend the dances:
I will if they play DANCEABLE MUSIC. If not, the music shall be subject to heckling and or jeckling.

Who will you be spending the con with:
Everyone hopefully!

Are you cliquey:
Some say yes, some say no. I usually try to see everyone and hang out a little. HOWEVER, I AM AN ABSENT MINDED DITZ. I really am like a Vegas floozy. If there is something fun, I'll probably follow if I have no other obligations.

Are you approachable:
Very much so, but cons are where I have fun, so do not expect deep and meaningful talk.

murr?:
phy brown?

Who are you rooming with?
 spazzfox and  dingoroo

Can I room with you:
Sorry, but Spazzles needs his night terror thrashy space and Dingo and I shall be warring for blankets.

Running or attending any panels:
Crashing yes. I mean attending.

Dealers Den:
I'll poke my head in some. I'm known to annoy people I like stuck at booths.

Will you be in the "Fursuit Parade":
It is possible!

With Skunktember almost over, this means in just a little over a week the most glorious month that ever monthed is upon us all. I am speaking of the most regal time known as FOXTOBER.

It is the month where foxes are celebrated and should be celebrated by all!

Houses are told to give candy or be faced with mischief. Foxpaw black is a highly acceptable color to wear. Everybody starts to snuggle as it gets colder and scary things are on t.v. Sugar is found in crazy high abundance! Silliness and dressing up are appreciated!

And as I always say, even Mother Nature steps up and recognizes! As a reminder, all trees for the month shall turn shades of FOXES. Cherry red, golden yellows, chocolatey brown, and last and definitely not least fiesta orange!

So get ready to come and celebrate this month of vulpiney mischief with us foxes! Tailfur shall be snugged and ears petted.




*NOTE* Any who dare disagree shall face the penalty of being tossed into a vat of steel and melted down into horseshoes and affixed to the fattest of horses who shall be given tap-dancing lessons on the cold, hard pavement. This includes all who dare speak it as any other month. Doubly to any skunk unless they want to see Sheptember next year overtake their festivities from now on. *cackles and whisker twirls*

Just taking a moment to say I'm now officially a DFW fur again. (Dallas/FtWorthless for all you non-Texans)

I'm living over in Irving just 10 min from the airport and am now moved in for my first night. I still have a couple more trips back down to Temple to make for cleaning, doing the "donation" pile for Goodwill, residual mail, tossing food, and taking back a few snacks I left behind. Already done a lot of work and lots more to still do.

The apartment seems nice other than finding a meth pipe in the bushes. It's a quiet spot, and most amenities are 10-15 min drive max. Also my workplace is about a mile down the road, literally. I think it'll be a nice place, especially as the 7-11 clerk said she felt safe in this city and never been robbed in 20+ years.... (sad it happens to clerks, but I know what she meant)

One odd thing though is I'm definitely a minority here. Signs are frequently bilingual, I counted about seven ethnicities while about, and there was only ONE other caucasian couple in Target, yes TARGET. (obviously they were gay too! Lawl!) It's not a bad thing, though not something I'm highly used to.

Once the apartment is set up and the net hooked up, this will be a cozy little furry pad. Wheeee! Back to unpacking and sorting....

Today I had my last day at my current job, said bye to workers, and a lot of things dealing with moving. However this journal will be over another lousy piece of news I received today..... City of Heroes will be shutting down by Nov 30th.

This is one of those things which hit all of Paragon Studios by surprise, along with the entire playerbase. Even moreso as the game had been doing fairly well and was one of NCSoft's only profitable and definitely longest ventures. However, the company as a whole lost $6MM in Q2, and everyone is thinking they're trying to lessen the current shortage with cutbacks.... even to good games.

This news hurt me really badly today. CoH was my very first MMO, and I've stuck with it all eight years it has been around. I've seen the various iterations and changes they've made of the years, content patches, and had well over 30 characters I dearly love. Several times I had royally shitty days, and a good place to escape was there. The playerbase was fun, quirky, and known for an odd sense of humor and being helpful. I did try out several other MMOs over the years including WoW, AoC, Aion, Tera, Rift, Tabula Rasa, and a couple others. Every time though I would eventually find faults and end right back up with my home on City of Heroes. It was really like a home too. You could go for a few months away, and come right back into welcome arms and find most of your friends were still playing.

The developers after States left decided to begin doing innovative and new approaches to MMO design. They realized maybe the players weren't a bunch of idiots and an open dialogue was established. Bugs were found much faster, concerns were addressed in patches instead of the WoW "We know best and tested it ourselves so STFU it's fine, but will retract everything at the end of the expansion as you're right" approach. It was a constant tweak in progress, but you never felt like you were talking on deaf ears. Also, they found several good compromises to difficult situations.

The game was rocky at the start, but had all sorts of great and unique features they experimented with. As far as I know, they were the first game to add the now staple of Achievements. They had an insanely great character creator. They allowed players to create their own content for others in game. You could switch factions. Things were in place for group bases you could personally customize. Decent incentives were given for running old end game content. You could -EARN- things through hard work, even if the random number generator was being an ass to you. You set your own difficulty level in case you wanted more challenge. Level pacts had been added so close friends would never be outlevelled. Also you could play with your friends by sidekicking them so they could run higher level content with temporarily boosted levels. Plus RAGDOLL PHYSICS.

I could go on all day about the innovation, but the game had heart. Here are some things I'll never forget:

*Holidays in the Pocket Dimension Dance Club had the DJ hero create a little ski lodge with ramps and gifts.
*Feeling bad for the NPCs, so even in low level zones, my 50s would stop to help them out if they were in real trouble.
*It was common courtesy to help lowbies in trouble. You'd toss heals, buffs, or even a chunk of game money to make sure they could have a smoother ride.
*A player going by "Coyote" was helpful and assisted people in beta. He passed away before the game launched though. They added his character as a trainer in the tutorial as a memorial to him. No Make A Wish foundation required.... They cared for their players.
*Being a "badge whore" and spending some time doing little tasks for in-game achievments.
*Seeing line ups for costume contests where people loved each other's work enough to give prizes and have fun.
*Being able to go around as a 50s housewife with a shotgun, and be loved for it.
*Holiday events were meaningful and added to yearly.
*Finding a building on fire, nobody around, and strapping on an extinguisher and helping save the day.
*Finding the secret developer lounges. Never forget "Moon River" sung in the bathroom.
*FREEM!
And hundreds of little quirks more.

To all my friends there over the years, Cal, Gno, Inf, Icy, Reebo, Red, PP, LL, 7, Ant, Ankle, Sylv, Zooty, and others, thank you for being the most awesome people in an MMO.

To say I'm sad and feeling like I'm losing a good friend is an understatement. For those of us who stuck with CoH, we know we're losing a little community who all will ride it into the sunset, knowing we fought to be good people, even to digital npcs at the end of the day. I'll miss you, and there will never be anything like you again. At least the devs finished the main initial story and plot for the game. I helped to save the world from a parallel dimension, help recover the world from the loss of it's greatest hero, and fight back an evil creature lurking behind the shadows all game. I hope the best of luck, and hugs to any of you who also have very fond memories of this great game.

The past few weeks I have put in my notice, scouted for work, gotten a new job, signed a new apartment lease, etc.

So I'll be really limited on net for another week or two. Time Warner in DFW takes a few weeks to get you up and running. :(

I'm not dead, I don't hate many of you (hehe), and once settled in will be back to posting.

Moving sucks. Going across Texas is like moving out of state. :(

Took a nap and woke up feeling a little... funny. *sniffsniffs and hops around a little*

OH JEEZ.

>:C

Well, I bowed out of this year's FFFF fursuit tourney thingy, but I know several people who have been in it this year.

Not doing anything special like last year (and owe a certain folf something special he'll see later), but the people in the finals are all CANIDS!!!

So, it is almost over for the quarterfinals, but if you haven't voted I just wanted to say I know Clementine and Howee are both amazing people and awesome suiters worth a vote

http://fursuittourney.livejournal.com/143618.html

Though for Skroy vs Duke, I <3 you both and you're both damn good performers with cute suits, so I abstained from that one.

Sorry, I had to make one of these posts and should be my only one this year so no being mad at me!

Added bonus... if both move on.... I'll be nice to wolves tomorrow. (Was bribed by an anonymous party that was not participating with a large reward)

Okay, in my job field I've been working and have a suck choice time. I have three prospects which popped up I could apply for and oddly enough have really good (like 75%+) chances of getting. All three would be offering about $5 an hour which means $10,000.00 a year MORE. That's foldin' money. This would be a huge upgrade to me, though sadly it means I may have to work out vacation stuff all over, or may end up losing some depending. Plus each has good and bad sides to them....

So my choices are as follows:

1. Stay in my current job for TEN GRAND LESS THAN ELSEWHERE. I do way more than my job description, but the work is easy for the most part, and they may retitle me so I get credit for everything I'm doing but I doubt it.

2. Take a job back in DFW. The doctor I work for now resigned and is going up there to be with a private practice group. Their tech just up and quit so they need someone badly and he'd love me to work there. It'd be a raise, someone I like working under, and in an area Bravo could find work and transportation easily. The problem being it'd start really quickly and I'd have to shell a few grand to move and for a new apartment.

3. Apply to a hospital down the road a little ways, for more money, no moving, and easy as hell work. I was told they process 150 blocks a day and have like 5 staffers which is a crazy light load and they're having trouble filling it. I have a big inkling the techs aren't licensed/experienced histos (common issue around the country) so me being there would be a big boon to them. They're so desperate they hired the hospital I work for's supervisor as a regular tech at her supervisor payrate. The problem though is with her and me the work would get done hella fast so they might let people go or make them part time and I'd be the low man....

4. Where the supervisor left, apply for her old position at the hospital. The lab director said they'd be looking to see if anyone in house would want it, and only one person I know of there would possibly consider it. I could likely keep my planned vacation and benefits as I'd be shifting departments. This one would be horrifically hellish work in understaffed and deplorable conditions, along with me needing to be locked in for 3-5 years which is the common timeframe needed for supervisory experience to apply elsewhere. Big thing though, histo supervisors usually make $60-70K a year. This would be $50-55K probably, but after way more than I get with the other two options.

So.... what to do? I'm really at a loss. I'm thinking though maybe moving back to DFW as that helps Bravo the most.

As you can clearly see:

http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/3638739/

Though some people think it is me in the suit, I've never suited anonymously or swapped suits before as all of you can clearly attest.

*foxy halo*

I'm getting a little annoyed at people in the fandom as of late going "Fucking furries!" or some variation of it on twitter, FA, tmblr, etc.

They complain about primarily:
*Hygiene
*Social awkwardness
*Stupidity
*Lack of job/money and yet the person spends constantly

If anyone is kvetching about these things, I instantly know you have neither worked a single day in a medical field nor visited a Wal-Mart in your life.

I would like to say that while yes, we do have members with these issues, it is no moreso than the regular population and isn't some magical "Furries Only" issue. So cut the shit, as all it does is make you bitter and reaffirm others who are being dorks about it. In my opinion, the fandom is far and above some things I have seen over the years in my work.

With non-furries in the past month I've dealt with:
*Cleaning a room because I was the only one who could handle the bio-stank as someone in there was covered in CAT SHIT.
*People so filthy and uncaring they have maggots eating sores on their flesh. (Not kidding)
*Someone asking the hispanic nurse "Shouldn't you be cleaning my house?" when she came to help him.
*Several indigent people with gold chains and teeth on gov't program insurance. Nice cars too, but they can't pay a copay.

And I could easily go on for hours, no joke.

The point is next time you want to say "Fucking furries", check yourself. It isn't furries. It's everyone out there.

I remember this cartoon as it has three really important things to note:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoKA2OLJ8hs#t=4m00s


First of all, it has Wile E., which is always good.....

Secondly visors are cute as hell on coyotes.

but most importantly...




HE'S LEFTHANDED!


So southpaws such as myself, here is the evidence for you that Doug was not the only toon out there who had our gift. :3

So just trying to get a feel of it but, who all is going to MFF? If you're a fox, you should extra especially tell me.

Just curious if any of the rest of you out there have one? I have a foxpaw black one, though mostly use it for my regular DS games as I only have like two 3DS ones: Blaez Blue and Devil Survivor Overclocked. Though have like 20+ regular DS games XD

Anyhoo if any of you others do have it, my friend code is 1032-1410-8436

*crossposted from my LJ*

Yesterday while on my lunch break, I ran into a rather scary moment. I had gone into the nearby Dairy Queen to get a small ice cream as I've been extraordinarily good on my diet lately. I went in and waited for the man in front of me to place his order, then put mine in and stepped aside to get a spoon and napkins.

The man who had been in front of me was a balding 40-something African-American man in blue shirt and shorts, with two large gold earrings and a rather large amount of cologne on. He was also aside and began to talk to me. Seeing as I was in my scrubs, this is really, really frequent. Everyone talks to medical people and chit chats for some odd reason, but it is part of the job.

He asked me about my hair color and what I used as he said it was a unique color, and a few other minor questions. After speaking a moment, he quieted down a hair and asked "I'm just curious, and no offense, but are you gay?". I shrugged and nodded lightly saying that I was. A little odd to ask, but the man was pretty noticably gay himself despite also having two gold teeth and neck tattoos. Frankly, matching tops and bottoms and asking about my color explained it before he even asked.

After I confirmed it, he says "Oh, come here just a second, I want to show you something." and walks towards the back of the restaurant. Red flags go up some, however I reluctantly walked over. I was expecting he was either going to ask a number, offer drugs, or the likely-to-medical-personnel ask me an embarrassing question about a medical issue.

None of the above.

As soon as everyone looked away, he slid into the open bathroom door and I hear a quick "zzzZZZZIP!" as down goes his fly and his hand goes right for he penis. He was about to whip out his manhood to which I stepped back and said "No no no no, I'm not going to and I'm in a relationship anyways."

He looked at me going "Aww come on man! It'll be fun! It's okay!" and began to walk towards me.

Thankfully I heard the worker step around the corner with my food, and I ran, grabbing ahold of it and making my way out to the man behind me going "Awww, now you're going to make me sad!".

I hightailed it across the street and didn't look back. This was the first time I've ever run across an honest-to-goodness pervert. In retrospect I probably should've said something to the store worker, or not gone towards the back in the first place. Still, I won't lie that this was a totally new experience for me. I like thinking I'm cute enough people want me, but am a fair bit unnerved that a stranger wanted to do such in a fairly public place. Not to forget if he screws strangers, what kind of diseases is he full of?

So this week I'm going to be Speedbump so I can roll into an armored ball and not come out. D:

Recently I'm sure a good majority are aware of the issues of a restaurant near AC called Fernando's. For those of you who aren't here is a quick summary:

*Restaurant well-loved by AC attendees was going out of business.
*Lots of furries did a donation drive to keep it open until AC (or longer).
*They raised a pretty amazing $20,000.00+ which would more than work.

Sadly it does not mean he will stay open forever, as a lot of restaurants fail if they don't constantly adapt or get really damn lucky. Watch the European Kitchen Nightmares and you'll see how even opening an eatery is a financial death wish. It's hard work and crazy difficult.

This is still a very nice gesture to a non-furry and his employees which is something nice to see. Furries stepping OUTSIDE THE FANDOM TO HELP. How often does that happen? Not a lot. The AC crowd felt he's done a lot for the Furry community, and making our social group a lot more welcome to others. It's like at FC where Psycho Donuts helps get some of us to mingle in the city and the regular folk see we're not a bunch of sex-crazed baby eaters. Well, okay the dingos are baby eaters, but that's another story.

Anyways.. The point is, it was a charity, and not a totally worthless one. All of the money went to Fernando's, and none to operating expenses like it would if you tossed a few bucks to the big worldwide named ones. It helped others who could use a hand.

Now I've been seeing a lot of shit from others about them doing this. They say the food wasn't great, it's failing anyways so you're an idiot for helping (tell me when you next tell a cancer patient that please), there are better things to spend money on, and even there are more worthwhile charities. All of this shit is pure salt and shameful to see. It is pure bitterness leaking out and realize it spreads and does no one any good.

Honestly, people's money is theirs and they earned it. Therefore they can choose where they spend it. If they buy a stick of gum they don't need, nobody gives them shit about it, so stop gritching when they use it to freaking help someone instead! Also, charities are not there for battling. Any cause where someone could use help in life is worthwhile, and sadly there are too many out there for people to only do the most dire at any given time. Sure he makes sandwiches and there are cancer patients, but there is also pathogen research, feeding kids, helping people on the streets, locating missing puppies, etc. Just because we help find that missing puppy doesn't mean we hate the cancer patient. It is sad too, and I'm sorry some feel if they aren't helped then nobody should be.

In scouts and ROTC, there were several times I helped out at the food banks and homeless shelters. Afterwards, I even went and donated free time to help at one of the night shelters with some other folks. We ended up helping for a few months doing face painting for the kids, and working with some of the battered and homeless women there as well. Eventually some of the people running the shelter complained that those of us showing up did not do enough. Why not spend our money on birthday cakes too for the kids, and even more clothes, and why spend time with other locations helping out when this one needs more?

Can anyone guess what happened next?

Let's just say instead of the group going all opening their pockets, they closed them. Completely. I stopped going as nobody else wanted to go, and a single male coming alone to the shelter was frowned upon. I miss doing it, and I really hope the people all got out of there and their lives picked up after.... but they did so without some of the charity they were given.

If you gripe at people who are actually being nice and helping, they'll stop that. Nobody wants to negativity for kindness. It's very hurtful to receive and it deters future chances for it to happen. So please stop being asshats about Fernando's before you make nobody want to do charity anymore.

The booze is kicking in a hair so I'm going to stop rambling here. Go out and be nice people.

0. We all know what we call you, what about the folks at home? Whats your name?
Dick

1. How tall are you?
If I stand up straight, 6'0". However I slouch and move a bit due to my joints. X3

2. Natural hair color? (if you can remember it)
WHITE! Er... technically "grey" but it's that white kind. Though it was red until I was about 10.

3. What about eye color?
Blue.

4. What orientation are you?
I'm not oriental, I'm caucasian! (Totally gay, but I do find some women cute or awesome too in various non-sexual ways)

5. Are you single, taken, or undecided?
Open, but not wanting a permanent thingy.

6. What do you do in your spare time?
Play games, draw, study, be silly.

7. What's your job?
I'll just say "histo" here as I don't know a non-scary way of putting the horror of my specialties.

8. What's one thing you like about yourself?
I have freakish visual abilities for anything in my sight range. Also I'm an adept knife thrower! (like near circus level!)

9. Alright, now what about something you dislike about yourself?
Either my failure to do things in timely manner, or if this means physical trait then the constant pain I'm in.

10. What's some things your friends noticed about you when they first met you?
I'm extremely close to my character IRL, and cause people to act up bigtime.

11. Of what faith/religion are you(if any at all?)
Native American shamanism. (pre-furry)

12. Do you drink?
I hope so, otherwise I'd have a hard time with osmotic pressure and living.

13. Do you smoke?
Very highly rare occasions. I royally hate the smell of 99% of cigarette tobacco as it sticks to everything.

14. What are your fears?
I don't really have any other than being allowed to focus in isolation. My brain then goes into fully-working mode and it is extraordinarily unhealthy and unpleasant for me.

15. What are your dreams/goals?
Learn to be a better artist. Lose weight. Possibly elevate from my multiple associates degrees to bachelors.

16 .Ever had any crushes/ex's in the past/present?
DUH. I always have crushes.

17. Who's your best bud?
Bravo! Though have a few secret friends that mean a heck of a lot to me.

18. Alright, you got the cravin' for munchies, what'cha reachin' for?
Rice cake for healthy, Skor bar for unhealthy.

19. Favorite drink?
I'm actually incapable of having favorites as I enjoy various aspects of things so for these, I'll give a few I like or hate.... Drinks.... Beverly, Moxie, Cheerwine, Duvel, etc.

20. Favorite color?
ORANGE! Also white, black, yellow, etc. I love all colors.

21. If you had any super power, what would it be?
Elasticity like Plastic Man.

22. Favorite movie?
About 1000 films. ..... X3

23. Least favorite food?
Mustard! Only because I can't eat it or I'd need an epi pen. Though even food I hate like "century eggs" I wish to try and enjoy them and see why others love them.

24. Quick! You have only one meal left before you die!!! What is it?
MY FOOT. Double cheeseburgers, chicken strips, Velveeta sheels and cheese, Rotel dip, and Dolfin chocolate are also acceptable.

25. What do you drive/wish you drove?
I wish I had my Plymouth Neon again. I miss that car.

26. Most disliked bug?
CRICKETS. I really don't like them. Camel crickets gets a tie in second place with roaches. Too many bad experiences. Give me spiders, lots of spiders to hug and eat the bad stuff for me.

27. Most hated pet peeves?
People who are honestly cruel for their own amusement.

28. Dislike in life?
See above answer. They're very rare in life thankfully, and sadly they usually don't realize how shitty of people they are.

29. Most annoying?
Babies. I do not like any children until they have the ability to communicate and control their own excretions.

30. Most disliked TV show?
Perfect Hair Forever.

Who stopped by my stupid doofus stream for even a second! <3 you all!!! :3

Back in 1999 I attended my first furry con. It was Anthrocon and I had tons of fun. Before I went though, I wanted to try and be like several other of these "furries" I had seen on tv and talked to online for a while. So I did what many younger furries do and I tried to make a fursuit.

I put a lot of effort into buying material, trying to piece it together to look like my foxy self. I ran into several snags of how to line fabric, how to make heads, how to get eyes in, etc. Hot glue was plentiful and I don't think I still have the hang of that crap. It didn't help I had little serious drawing exposure so my ability to judge forms sucked donkey balls. I also ran into things like not knowing how to do hair on a suit so I used actual hair. I even made a moving jaw as I wanted to perform magic in it for the variety shows.... (well I tried it just moved craptastically) Frankly, it was a shoddy mess I poured my heart into so I thought it was okay and passable. Plus it wasn't a store bought like a Marlyns, so that was a bonus. Sadly though I couldn't figure out paws with a damn so I wore shoes.... Hell I was a toon, so that's fine, right?

At Anthrocon I went around and had fun, got a few okay comments and more. Back then, there was no real reference on how to construct a suit and most everyone's was in similar skill level. The only one who made suits that stood out I recall being Bearclaw who made Yappy's beautiful suit. So if you weren't him, your suit was going to have mesh eyes that probably didn't match, faux fur stock from WalMart, and a muzzle built like a mailbox. If you were like me, it was more about getting in costume and having fun, and you had to go really out of your way to come off scary. Fursuiting was about performance (aka that "magic" stuff that is now hip to bag on). My costume however over years entertained many adults and children despite being frankened together by a low end artist.

Later suit quality got better in the fandom and I wanted to keep up. I made a new head and tried it out, but sadly it wasn't what I wanted and I really hated it beyond belief. I gave it to someone who was to take it apart as it was so big they could un-fabric it and shave down for a more proper head for someone else. (It ended up getting played around with and my feelings got hurt badly instead, but that's long in the past and resolved).

Finally I came to grips that my artistic skills at the time sucked. That hurt me to say and feel that way about myself, but it was true. I went to others for help being happy. My mom sewed a new fursuit body for me as I lacked the skill with a surger. Dogz made me some new hand and feetpaws. I commissioned Brokken for a lovely new head as I adored his suits. This fursuit I loved a whole lot and is the one I have worn for the past decade and you all see today.

On twitter this afternoon, somebody linked to http://terriblefursuits.tumblr.com/page/4 See that stupid orangey fox there doing the splits? Yup that's me in that first suit that I worked long and hard on. Yes, that suit sucked and now is on a site some of you guys are looking around laughing at and giggling over how ugly people's suits are.

Yes, I am okay. Yes, I admit that my first suit was horribly ugly looking back on it. Does it hurt me that people I know enjoy giggling at crappy suits? I know we all have done it in some fashion or form (I can recall a few scary ones back in 99). Does it sting to see myself up there knowing other furries are out there laughing at me? I would be lying if I said it didn't some. The thought is trying to leave me salty as fuck.

HOWEVER.... to anyone on there or might be there in a few years when we all have better suits, I am not mad and please don't try to be angry if this happens to you.

People always judge and crap on one another in one way or another. I see it all the time in medicine. I see patients with a hemangioma covering half their head like a grape-fleshed growth. Burn victims covered in scars. Old people covered in crusty sebaceous keratomas. Other patients see them and comment, stare, and then some. Honestly, it is who people are and yeah it is crappy of them.

It does not change though circumstances which lead you to where you are not the actions that make you who you are. Does this picture of me being up there in my craptastic suit make me any less of a person, or does it mean I didn't bring happiness to other people at the cost of my time and effort with ZERO expectations of anything in return? No. No it doesn't. Pics of any of us there (I know a few other suits) does not devalue us and none of you should let it tell you that you are any less of a person under that suit, nor does it mean you didn't work your hardest with what talent you have available.

For me, this is a reminder of why I have gotten better at art and performance over the years. You can either stagnate and look around making fun of everyone else, or you can dust yourself off and improve your talents until you are the awesome person you've been chasing after. So go ahead and make a suit that isn't the world's best, you shouldn't have to be expected to be perfect out of the gate. Just work your hardest and have fun, knowing you did your best and if you choose to improve one day you will. Fuck the haters.

To all of you, remember nana korobi ya oki as the Japanese say. Fall down seven times, get up eight. So if anyone wants to laugh at my old suit, go ahead. I know the person who wore it and he's brought a lot more happiness to this world than people who laugh at others all day. He can hold his head up high, knowing that despite whatever suit he has worn, he is going to perform and enjoy it no matter who wants to try and ruin the fun.

*shakes his tail and dances off to have fun as usual* ^.^