So, I am planning something new here. New for my journals anyway. I'm still sort of swamped with all the stuff I am preparing for MFM, and I need a small break now and again. But my last journal got me thinking of a little something I can do once a week to give myself a break and also hopefully do something fun for myself as well as anyone who actually reads my journals.

And before anyone gets too worried, Yes, I am still planning to do the Ask Wielder Project. That should hopefully start just before or right after MFM. My work schedule has been very hectic the past few months and despite my protests doesn't look as if it is going to get a whole lot better any time soon.

So the future plan is simple, I will post a journal detailing some thoughts and memories of a specific category. And not just thoughts, STORIES...

As in the ones I put in my shows. A written version, possibly fleshed out more, of events I have had to live through. College, Animals, Parents, Conventions, volunteer work, ...

Heck, have a favorite story? Propose what you want to hear on this journal, and we'll see what happens.

All journal posts of this nature will start the same way, "My thoughts on..." And then whatever the topic is. I already have the first one planned and will start writing when time permits. The first one will be ...


COLLEGE.

All those stories of drunken fraternity shenanigans, nudity and what not...

Though... come to think of it, perhaps I need to review the FA rules regarding postings in journals as they may be accessible to all ages...

Well, either way, we'll see how this all plays out.

Love and Relationships:

First off, don’t get too obsessed with what I’m about to write, because some of this may seem at first to be one sided, but isn’t really. I’m a romantic individual. I’ve been in love before and am in love now. I’ve had a relationship build and fall apart, and then built a new one. I’ve had someone I cared for deeply pass away. I’m not what can be called super experienced, but neither am I ignorant of the pros and cons of relationships. Or love.

It’s a powerful emotion that motivates and empowers us to greater and better things. It impels us to become better people and more caring to those around us. It truly is an amazing emotion.

That said, I was shown some internet posts recently, and then started looking more in depth online to discover a sort of cartoon equivalent to romance existing out there. People, lots of them, post cute, almost greeting card style quotes or adorable pictures of romance or romantic involvement. Images of couples cuddling while looking into each other’s eyes, or spooning in bed, alongside adorable quotes. So, consider this a sort of tongue in cheek reality check. Most of what you will read is from first-hand experience.

Yes, a couple spooning together in bed is cute, romantic and the stuff of movies, but they never seem to focus on the other side of this… sure spooning is all nice and adorable as long as one of you… especially the one pointing rear into the spoon doesn’t have to fart. A couple cuddling in bed at night is amazing, especially as you press your cheek to theirs, but this image loses its punch when they start to snore directly into your ears. You wake up and see their face first thing in the morning, next to yours, the first rays of sun touching them is an amazing image worth savoring until they say good morning and you are hit with morning breath. Brushing your teeth side by side in the morning is kind of cute and speaks of well adjusted relationships, right? But that only lasts until you walk into the same bathroom later and hit that invisible WALL. The one you smell first and then realize your mate is on the toilet.

Dancing together romantically at night is kept in check by muscle pains and ointments. Going out on the town for a show and dinner? Don’t forget the enthusiastic discussions on the best way to drive there. Ever see those images of a couple watching TV together? Adorable. But in a real relationship, half the time it’s a compromise on what to watch because one of you doesn’t like the show and you still want to watch together. Long romantic drives together are balanced by getting into your car, only to discover your mate has let the car get nearly empty and you have to fill it up before you go where you planned… and you were already late. Cleaning the house together is amazing… unless you have slightly different views on what cleaning means or how clean something must be. Sharing ice cream? A wonderful romantic way to spend the evening together. Not so much fun is getting up when you have a craving for some and discovering your lover put back the container with only two spoonfuls of ice cream left. “It’s not empty.” They argue.

The picture and the romantic postcards show us teddy bears and kisses. But the other side of the coin is laundry, dirty underwear and bills. One side is hearts and bubbles and ponies. The other is dandruff and picking pimples, toes and noses…

And it’s worth every moment.

Sure I don’t know ANY furry artist out there who will draw BOTH sides of a romantic relationship. There is a reason we focus on the nicer stuff. But it’s there. It’s part of every relationship, good or bad. You cannot escape it, and if you don’t see it, you may be the one doing the majority of it, but in the end, love means accepting them.

For all that they are. Suffering from depressions? Anxiety disorders? Likes to drink from cartons? Forgets your friends are over and walks out naked? Moves your stuff around so you cannot find it? Steals the covers? The lists go on and on. And you take all of that in with the good stuff.

It reminds you why you are in love in the first place. Not because they are pretty or handsome, or because they are nice or poetic. But you take it all in, good and bad and when you suddenly wake up one day and realize you have been together for years, you find yourself cherishing the good… and the bad. And when they leave you for whatever reason, you’ll remember it all.

So post your happy pictures of romantic moments. By all means, relish the good moments. But never forget the other side of the coin… it’s always there, waiting like the dirty underwear in your laundry.

reliable, reasonable, and willing to do kink/erotic imagery.

Oh yea, the catch... I cannot use paypal. So they have to be willing to work with other options.

Any recommendations?

So lets try looking at some positives...

Missed the annual trip to New Orleans because of work. But got to hang with friends and saw Jurassic World. Made Roux for my gumbos, and started making a new batch of my homemade spices. cleaned house and got to enjoy quiet time.

It rained a lot. And I couldn't get in the pool. There was a spider in it. I know. I KNOW. It was a DEAD spider at the bottom of the pool. But I am that bad about them. It was also a BIG spider. And after that giant bug incident on my door a few days ago... I'm done with things having more limbs than me. :P

Guys are home today. Work is stressful. Well more than normal anyway. But New York is only a couple of weeks away. NEW YORK!

Gonna see the Statue of Liberty!, the Guggenheim! Musicals and Central Park! Very excited.

And as down as I get, I get to come home from a long day to my family. they are here and I am home.

So the guests have finally all gone home and I'm going to crash and get ready for bed. Work tomorrow.

Overall, pool party was a success. Over 50 people showed. Stopped counting. Movies were a hit. Had some games playing. And the pool was a smash. So all in all, a lot of work getting things ready and maintaining but well worth the effort to have everyone have a good time. And best part... over 50 furs and NO DRAMA!!! Woo HOO!

We put out feelers for a future meet that would be monthly. The Movie and Table top Night. Once a month regularly. A movie and then a table top game of some sort for about a 4 to 5 hour meet. Still have to wait for my work schedule to iron itself out. If/when it does, then things will be easier. Then maybe back to some art projects that are furry related among other things.

Just having trouble sleeping.

I should probably draw or something, but I am just so tired. It's been hell on me the past few weeks. Manager got sick and was in hospital recently. Which meant trying to cover things I normally have limited or no training for. All this while working with a coworker who is, as they say, 'not the sharpest tool in the shed'. He managed to get himself fired for doing something VERY stupid. And on the day before my manager returns to work. So, first day back, he's informed he's short staffed and needs to hire someone. And for bonus points, I was working all day yesterday filling in when employees kept coming to me to inform me why this employee got fired, but then reminded me we were not supposed to be discussing it. Yeah, it was rather scandalous and stupid, but why are they telling me if we are not supposed to be discussing it?

This is why rumors about me find their way back to me. I think there is something about me which just exudes an aura of 'we can tell Wielder!'

So I am exhausted, sleepy, and a tad cranky. Small bit of my depression came back to smack me in the face too.

I have a ton of my friends belongings sitting in my room, waiting for me to mail them to the people he left them to after he died. Which is slowing down my drawing as my spaces for such are occupied. Bad part is I spent months clearing the first drop off of his belongings. And was just getting into things being proper when this happened.

I had this large design commission that completely fell through at the contract stage. So no con money coming from that. But at least I didn't do all the work.

And I have a pool party coming up which is being hampered by other dramas beyond my control. Including work. I mean how bad will it suck if I have to work on the day I planned this!? As it is I may have to cancel my New Orleans trip in a couple of weeks because of work. But if it comes to it, cancelling New Orleans will such, but in the end not cost anything. But my New York trip this summer? That is not getting cancelled. Too much money and I've been to New Orleans, but never New York.

Well, at least I have my dreams to keep me company. Literally. My dreams at night have been off the grid in weird lately. As in Rocket Raccoon and Tony the Tiger moving in with us Weird. FUN. But odd.

So in a weird twist I've been getting emails asking me why I don't make art anymore.

I was reading them thinking to myself, 'I'm making all kinds of art! What are they talking about?!'

Then I realize they mean FURRY ART!

Lately I've been swamped with personal/family art demands, like face painting at my nephews and grand daughter's birthday parties. Which I had to make 30, yes THIRTY, little hats for the kids. Each one different. And also, I have to make a poster of a cheshire cat for a version of pin the tail on the donkey!

And because I'm kinky... I also have some body painting at the adult BDSM parties too... :)

I have a large commission I'm working on that is REALLY big. I've been painting canvases. (A LOT of canvases!) I've been constructing personal AC units to help deal with Texas heat. I started with one... but my husbands saw mine... (I painted it with wolves.) And they each wanted one too. :P So I had to make more.

I'm also trying to get a new fursuit body started as well as get my Pup cage/bed built. And then on top of that, I have quilts to make for the summer charities.

When you look at it... I manage to have a LOT of art stuff on my plate...

Just none of it is furry. And I AM trying to change that. I have the special list of drawings I want to do, not to mention the new Ask Wielder Project. Which is still an active project and I REALLY want to work on.

So... if I can just get caught up, I can start to work on things. It's been a rough year in some ways.

Oh, and if you are artist and want to trade some art for a painting I did, let me know. :) I have over 15 canvases from my painting experiments that need a HOME! Willing to TRADE!

And soon, maybe my muses will hush enough so I cna SLEEP! Let me sleep!

:)

No really. You see I generally make two cons a year, but due to new work situations, I was not able to make my usual con of Texas Furry Fiesta last year or this year. Last year I went to Megaplex as a make up con. I still make it to my regular convention/furmeet of Mephit FurMeet. Been going strong to that one for more than ten years.

But I'd like to increase my convention options for next year when schedule and money is more stable.

So if you had to recommend a convention, which one and WHY?

I go to MFM for the small environment, the spontaneous nature of it at times and the family like feel.

I go to TFF for the humor, the party atmosphere and the larger network to allow me to hang out with people I rarely see.

I've been to FWA once and would reconsider it.

I've also been to Furfright once. But that's gone now.

But I'd like to get some feedback on which cons others would recommend and why so I can start thinking about where I may be next year.

So Junior, the nickname we've been giving the regular raccoon visitor stopping by my house, trying to get in my room, joining people in the hot tub, and rummaging in trash paid me another visit last night in the rain. Sitting outside my window on the ledge looking in. Opened the blinds and instead of running away he seemed to look inside for a bit and then sat there waiting. I half expected him to beg me to let him in. I didn't. Unfortunately, as cute as coons are they can be a pain if they get too friendly with your home. But things are much better around the house lately.

So... Mates and I had a fight. Pretty bad one. How bad? So bad I got Angry. Not upset, not really upset... actually mind-numbing angry, which makes this the fifth time this has ever happened in my life. How can I tell? I can't feel anything. When I get angry the odd thing is my emotions sort of go on overload and I loose the ability to feel anything for a while. Which in many ways is actually rather useful.

But I noticed my computer seems to be ENTIRELY too aware of my searches and preferences.

I start looking for things and it prioritizes for me. Porn and pictures of naked men, with pup play and pup gear a darn close second if not occasionally taking the lead and then mixed in at different places a ton of Origami, crafts and quilting stuff. I'm not sure what a stranger would do if they looked at such things over my shoulder. I imagine I come across as a poster child for a multiple personality case of some sort.

And now... Ice Cream.

So... fridge broke. yay...

Lovely gag for April fools day. And I got a raise today too. Which actually makes TWICE in my life that I've gotten significant raises on April first. from differnt jobs, but that's almost like a theme. Insomnia is also acting up.

So, no fridge, got a raise, can't sleep, and a raccoon keeps trying to break into my room, but ONLY when I'm in there. Possibly the same one that got in the hot tub with me. I'm starting to think there's something going on here.

And it may just be sleep deprived halucinations... but I swear the fireflies are spelling out words... well not really. :) But at this point, I'd probably roll with it even if they did. Just as long as they weren't trying to set me up on a date with the raccoon.

However, I finally reached a huge accomplishment today and got my room fixed after more than a month and a half of utter chaos living in it. I have room to move and DRAW again! YAY. Which means I can get to my Ask Wielder project among others as well as a non furry commission project.

Oh... and if you read this... and you go to MFM... let me know. Was thinking of introducing a new panel/gameshow to the line up and would like feedback from people who have been or go to this particular con.

Now that the memorial is out of the way I'm sending out a reminder concerning the Ask Wielder Illustrated project.

Check this link for the details and posting your questions.
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/6434361/

I am planning to start this after the first of March. And I will not be answering questions in order necessarily, so there is no telling when I'll answer what, but if I do answer your question, there will be a response post on the journal to your question, linking the image.

For those that came to the memorial, THANK YOU! You helped me deal with something in my life that took me by surprise.

Last night a friend of mine passed away. Ursapater, or Larry to those who knew his civilian name. :) Coroner isn't sure of cause of death yet. So this is fresh news to me. But it did sort of just blow me out of the water.

I was in the process of forming a small meet for him and his mate to come over in a month. It was going to be a very small social meet where they were going to have a collaring ceremony. He was even talking of having a handfasting since they cannot legally get married yet.

So I am sitting here, feeling numb and odd and uneasy about death and all its quirks. And yet I find it warms me to know that just a few days ago I sat with another friend for a couple of hours discussing exactly what this man had done for me and how he had probably saved my life.

I was with my ex at the time. The relationship was abusive. I was trapped in a depression spiral with a man who had his own issues and ultimately was destroying me emotionally, psychologically and socially. Then one night I had enough and called a friend and asked for a place to stay. He met me and led the way to Larry's place where I stayed the weekend and tried to recover. A year later, I would come to the edge of suicide and Larry intervened when my ex refused to send me to a doctor or let me speak with my parents. Larry called them and told them what was going on and they arrived the next day and took me to doctors and back to their home. The abusive relationship I was trapped in was cracked at last. I'd officially end the relationship a few weeks later. But Larry was the one who showed up when things went south.

He was there for me when things were at their worst for me.

And he asked for nothing in return. That's how you can tell when you have a good friend. We'd become closer over the next several years.

He was a good man who like all men had flaws and faults. He was also an EMT. So mine wasn't the only life he touched and helped. He was loyal and steadfast in his commitments. We had lots of similar interests and I hope I was at least as good a friend to him as he was to me.

I just keep forgetting how easy it is to wake up one morning and find a friend is gone like this.

So, now that work has let up some for a bit, I've decided to revisit a project I did once before.

Ask Wielder:

That's right, ask me whatever you want and I will attempt to answer your questions in illustrated form. Look to my scraps folder for previous examples.

So some basic rules:

1. Limit your questions to one with at most a followup to the main question. If you ask too many, I'll likely pick the ones that I feel I can best answer.

2. It's pretty much whatever you want to ask, but some questions may be too personal for me to post answers about. If that is the case, I'll send you a note and let you know.

3. There is no time limit on these. So don't worry if you see this after a few months and feel it is over.

4. Post your questions as a reply on this journal note so I can keep them in one place.

5. Have fun.

6. EDIT: Revised rule. Since folks did this last time and already on this turn. You may also ask questions of any of my original characters that you've always wanted to know about.



This is a drawing exercise and it's good practice. I'm currently engaging in other art practices and such and this will help me get my skills tuned before I get back into my furry porn stuff.

Not normally my forte. I'm not big on praising artists for the sake of helping them make money. Mostly because, by the time I find them, they are already massively well known and I don't really need to help.

But this guy...

If you are REMOTELY a Five Nights At Freddies Fan, or you like comics, or if you LOVE humor, you should give this guy a peak.

http://www.furaffinity.net/user/karrnade/

His comic is quite entertaining, And if you have some money to help support, it might be worth it.

Today... is the first day in almost 4 weeks when we have not had guests in the house. I got off work early and am off tomorrow. It's just me as mates are at work. Just me for a few glorious hours of absolute QUIET!

Tore of my clothes, threw them across the room, ran around the house like a crazy naked madman and sat down in front of my computer to watch some movies. And now art.

It's the little things...

That prove I'm on the verge of being committed.

This one took me by surprise and directly affects many of the meets I host as this is a great way for me to make new contacts and new friends. If you want to take some time from your day to help us out, we'd really appreciate that. And me in particular. I don't even get to make these picnics regular due to my work schedule working me many Sundays, but I admit, I'm a little upset today my be the last one I can ever attend. (Also, for those not of the area, wondering why we don't just move, Harris county covers ALL of Houston. We'd literally have to move the meets WAY outside the city limits before we could fine a park not affected by this rule.)

I have friends who travel to Houston and stay with my family. And we do take them to the picnics. So this is something that affects so many people.

**********************

http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/6395285/

**********************

So, with the seasonal job I took back in October, combined with my regular job and the busy holiday season, I just cannot wait for the end of the year, so I can have a regular schedule again. Busy season where I work is the holidays.

Every year, my mates and I throw a special New Years Eve party. We have friends come from quite literally all over the world. The house fills up and I get to hang out with people who I see only once or twice a year at most.

Except... my work schedule means I won't really be there for it. A weekend long party at my house and I won't be there. I'll be there for a couple hours on Saturday, and then I have to go to a friends house to stay the night. See, my schedule has me up at 5 am on sat... so No point staying in a packed house if I have to be in bed by 9. Then work all day Sat, get in and can hang out for a few hours Sat before going back to the friends house to go to bed early again. So this year, for the first time, I've separated myself from the entire invitation process. No point in my personally asking someone over who won't see me but four hours the whole weekend.

But it SUCKS!

:) Price of having a job I guess. Could be better. Has been worse. I look back on last year and the year before and how bad things had gotten. I don't exactly talk about what happened except with close friends, but people I know suffered as I did. I have holes in my memory. 2013 and 2014 there are moments at cons, at furmeets and in those I know I did certain things, fun, good things. Things worthy of being remembered... but the holes ate the memories. I have nothing but photos and vids that help. Feels terrible to think my friends are out there, thinking I just forgot them, forgot what those times meant. But this year, I've been getting better. My health and my memory. I can look back on everything I did at the cons I visited this year and I can remember everything!

And given how bad thing got, that is amazing for me! I remember Megaplex, bowling with furries, watching a lombax straddle a lane while a lion pressed suggestively against him from behind while a fox rolled the balls between their legs. Gutter ball. :) I remember the bad food. I remember the good food. The candy, the squeals of delight as I hugged folks with my vibrating fursuit. I remember being pounced at the dance. I remember the massage I gave and the way it got ... intimate and yet didn't feel wrong or inappropriate. I remember the parties and my first Megaplex show. And I remember MFM. The ball pit, the pouncings... Actually... there were a LOT of pouncings... now that I think about it. Was it the vibrating suit? Or have I suddenly become well worth tackling? :)

I regret the pieces of lost memories and the gaps that they create with my friends. But now I can build new ones.

So I guess I'm being kind of introspective tonight. But these are words needing saying for some time now. It's a bit difficult to sit down with everyone and explain I was having a really hard time, and I was in far more pain than I let on in public.

And isn't it wonderful when the pain stops. :)

So... as of a few minutes ago, I just finished the last in a series of 24 paintings I've been working on for a little over a month now. Takes longer because I can only work on my off days, and holidays have me working unusual schedules. But 24 paintings has me pretty accomplished feeling, but also beat down tired now...

Next project for the holidays, two terrariums, then two to three fursuits... then back to drawing furry pron.

Never let it be said that I need a hobby. I have PLENTY!

So today I baked two homemade apple pies, and four loaves of chocolate banana bread. Also finished the backgrounds of 18 different paintings and have stuff to get ready for a wedding tomorrow as well as two T-day dinners. I'm alone, and yet for the first time in days I feel fantastic. Not depressed even a little. Weird how a little productivity can turn things around.

Also, I do plan to get into drawing again. After the first of the year and after I finish my current art project for myself, which is the 18 paintings.

Of course, I also have that fursuit to make... Or three...

Well, at the moment, I'm working my regular job and the second job at the Halloween store. Which I did get in with finally. So the good news is the money from the job will go towards new body suits for my fursuits.

But I've been thinking about stuff and realized, that due to life, stress, and my depression, my art has fallen by the wayside. And I'm thinking about taking up a new art challenge.

So my question to anyone who reads this is as follows:

What kind of art would you like to see from me?

This can be specific character requests, types of images or settings. Don't think of it as a requests board, just a general theme or character reference. I may use ideas from this later if I take on this challenge I plan to set myself.

So... been having a bit of a bad week. Having some technical problems with some of my electronics, which ticked me off, was trying to get a second, temporary job at a local Halloween store only to get the brush off when I applied, then get a call back and get the brush off a SECOND time. So... I'm done with them. Then I got a text saying that the Ren Fair Camping weekend had to be called off. Which is disappointing as hell. And I somehow injured my knee. Nothing serious, just some pain. So lately I've been soaking in the hot tub a lot to help it.

So yesterday, its gloomy as all get out. Overcast, dreary, and I am spending all day making a king sized quilt. So I take a break and get in the hot tub to help my knee. Well, while in there I begin to genuinely relax. Not something I do easy. I can hear the distant rolls of thunder signalling I can't stay in as long as I want. I can hear the wind rustling the plants, the bugs making all manner of noise, distant traffic noise. And I just reach a state of "F it". That blissful state where you just really don't care anymore about anything.

And then I hear a rustling. I'm on one end of the tub connected to the pool, resting my head on the connector. The water is warm but not crazy hot, just a bit higher than body temp. Opposite of me is the steps to get in. It's a decent sized tub. From where I am at, I cannot reach the steps, even with my feet. And as I am in this state of blissful not caring, the rustling gets louder and a small raccoon walks from around the grasses by the roses. And as bold as you like he marches right up to tub and looks right at me. He (I'm guessing on gender) looks right at me, cocks his head sideways as if trying to figure out what I'm doing and then spends a little time investigating the bubbles. After dipping his paws into the tub more than a few times, he surprises me by jumping in on the first step. As I said, he was a small raccoon, about the size of a full grown cat. So as he now stands on the step, he's submerged up to his head. And then he just sits there, his eyes closed.

I was still in this state of blissful I don't care and just shrugged it off. He wasn't in there long, maybe a few minutes. Just long enough for my mind to conjure mental images of Rocket Raccoon in a hot tub, before he climbed out and walked off. I could hear him shaking and making noise as he departed. I stuck around for a little while before getting out and going inside. It started raining a few minutes later. Honestly don't know what to make of this.

MFM: Mephit Furmeet

To put it simply, I have always felt welcome and at home at that con. And through it I have experienced a lot of firsts in my life. Some good, some bad. But mostly amazing. MFM is where I first started doing my story telling more seriously. First place that let me do a show. First place that ever made me a GOH. and this year it added a few new firsts...

Let's begin at the beginning as they say. Left Thursday at the crack of dawn for a ten hour drive that took me slightly longer than that. Was driving by myself so I took more frequent breaks to recover. I even managed to get lost... twice... (sigh) And this is a drive I know pretty damn good.

However, it wouldn't be my life if something interesting didn't happen and sure enough something did. It was so funny that I had to squeeze it into this year's show because it was just so surreal. As I said, frequent stops. Well at one such break at a rest stop I was getting out of my car and stretching. Right as soon as I did, a woman who was walking a dog in the distance yelled as her dog broke free of her grip and began running straight towards me. Now, given my history with animals... this is an immediate area of concern. There is no way of knowing how this will turn out. Will the dog try to kill me, molest me, or just run into me? The dog runs right up to me, slowing down, tail wagging, rolling over, and showing all the signs of a cute and adorable puppy. I look up and the owner is walking slowly towards us, clearly in no hurry. So I reach down and begin petting the dog who looks like a possible chocolate lab. While I am petting him he goes to lick my face and I speak to him to calm him down. As I do he backs up suddenly and then reaches up and begins sniffing my face very intently. As he does I speak to him again trying to calm him down a bit. As I speak to him he suddenly closes his eyes and falls over onto his side with a back leg quite literally twitching. I stand up in shock as the owner is now RUNNING towards us. I am freaking out. I'm babbling, I don't know what happened, he just fell over, I'm so sorry, I don't know what did that, is he okay?

She quickly tries to calm me down, assuring me everything is fine. She then calls the dog and he gets up and goes right to her as if nothing happened. She then looks at me and asks a strange question. "Have you by any chance had an Altoid recently?" Well in fact, I'd been eating about half a tin's worth because hard candy like that helps me stay awake while driving. "You mean my Breath did that!?" No, she assures me... It turns out her son had trained to dog to play dead when he smells Altoid breath. Among other tricks she failed to elaborate. She assured me the dog was fine and that I didn't hurt it. But all I could think of is, why would someone train a dog to do that... and what are the odds that I'd bump into that dog after an Altoid!?

So... as I said... new story for the book and shows...

I arrived at MFM and met up with my roommate, Jase Husky. Due to cancellations and other issues, it was just the two of us, which was nice as we are both fursuiters and it left more room for all our crap. We went for our room, commenting on how at one con we had gotten in only to find the AC didn't work. Then we opened the door and were blasted by a wave of heat. The AC was not only broken... it for whatever reason was actually HEATING the room! So we went to the front desk and spoke with them. They gave us another room.

New things this year: I introduced a variation of the bucket brigade to help raise money for Tiger Haven. Using a sign offering "Furry Hugs for Charity", which was a sort of vertical banner, I helped get almost $250 dollars personally. I am pretty sure my vibrating hugs helped a lot with that, especially now that the chest vibrates too. I told people I had a Red Bull and 12 Pixie Sticks for breakfast... that or Nipple Rage. Other furs helped with the bucket too... and I really wish they had been acknowledged during the closing ceremonies in some way. But that is a minor grief. I know Tonka and Maximus helped me with a run as well. Which was fun. Posing with those two and anyone who wanted a pic was a great way to spend a few hours. I also took the bucket and banner to the Fursuit games and we did an impromptu photo shoot with all the fursuiters gathered during a break. And the best part is people really did pay for a chance to be in the photo and one guy paid $20 to be in a furpile...

I saw him get buried by all the suiters... but like Five Nights at Freddie's... I don't think he made it. Hehehehehe. So I think that the fundraising attempt went really well, considering it was a first year thing and we really didn't know how to organize it.

The quilt did really good too. I made a Full sized one this year so it was huge, and I think the frame I brought so everyone could see it really helped folks know what they were getting. In the end, it raised at least $350. But I never heard the official final total. Which is a shame. I know about the other amount as that was how much it had when I took the quilt into the auction so folks could buy tickets as well.

Thursday was nice. Went to dinner right after we got settled to Osaka's. Several of us, including Maximus, Tonka , Holliehyena and Jase. Had entirely too much sushi, but it was good. Then back to the hotel. All in all Thursday was quiet concerning the con, but was exhausting because of the drive.

Woke up way too early Friday and couldn't get back to sleep. So breakfast and off and running. Getting the lay of the land, putting up my fliers, say hi to EVERYONE! Alex showed me a picture of the baby quilt I gave him last year and how it now hangs in his Daughter's room. Emi, Kengi, Dingo, Calamity, Rama, Blue, And so MANY others! Made it to the dealers den with my puppet Happy Two Feathers in tow. I was taking him to Animecat to look at and see if she could help with some adjustments. But while walking the dealer's den, I ran into a fur who I hadn't seen in a long time, Old Freak! Who just happened to be the Creator of Happy! So he was delighted. It was like seeing a child again after many years. He, Animecat and I talked about puppets for a long time.

Opening ceremonies followed by a quick bite at the pizza feed. Yeah, the pizza was a little tough, but it is free and it was edible. And I've had far worse. Sat down and Mingled and then had to go get ready for my show. During which I was given a gift! During the show, Mythril and Snowcat gave me a rubber duck piggy bank! Right after I did my new bit with the rubber ducks attack. Then it was panel after panel after panel. The GOH dinner was a blast, good food and an amazing drink that made me feel REALLY GOOD! In retrospect, given how infrequently I drink, I probably shouldn't have let Tyger Cowboy mix the drink for me... Ended the panels with the Match game. Then a little fursuiting for the night at the dance. And one of my new Firsts for this year...

I have never been in a ball pit before. Not as a kid or anything. Well I got to be in a ball pit for the first time and I had a blast. though it was a trap. Once you are in, it's VERY hard to get back out as there is no traction on anything! Of course... I also had to contend with bear and wolf attacks as Tonka and Maximus landed on me! I know someone was taking pictures... but if I see them, I imagine all you will see of me is maybe a paw or two. Those are BIG guys! I actually have bruises on my side as a result but it was worth it!

Saturday:
A calmer day because I had a lot less to do. But I did get into the parade, and even did a 4 hour run in fursuit. (For the charity stuff.) And of course the fursuit games. Had fun running around during that, as well as the after dark panels. I actually had a LOT of fun all night and had another first... I was invited to a room party. I've been to room parties before, but only the general invite ones, but this time, someone took to time to actually invite me to one. For me, that was amazing! That never happened before!

Sunday was a lot slower during the day... Took my time with some stuff, bought a few books at dealer's den, and did some more money running on bucket brigade and quilt tickets. Then the charity auction and a group of us went to a barbeque place a few miles away that had REALLY good food. After that, I ran into Rhubarb and Maximus being silly and talented, so I ran and suited up and spent a good part of the rest of the night in suit, dancing, singing, scaring people with my vibrating hugs, and eating ice-cream while in suit.... The dance was a lot of fun too, as everyone was all relaxed and just having fun. I ended up getting picked up by Maximus at one point. I mean LITERALLY picked up and carried over to the ball pit where he pretty much dropped me in. Later he picked me up and wore me as a backpack. I am a small person compared to him...

You know... if you want a good deal on a con, MFM is the only one I know of, where you can get food almost all weekend for a standard membership! Breakfast was free. The con suite had lunch and dinners available. And there was pizza and ice-cream...

And eventually... bed. And then the long drive back home which took longer as I was knackered. And I got lost twice... again... But I am home now. Off from work today, so I can type this and get my suit cleaned and get everything put away.

Just got in, VERY long drive, but home safe... bed now... update on details later

As the days count down, I pack and prepare. As the moment approaches I am ready. You won't see it coming...

Cameras never catch it, still or video it never matters. It's a moment that sneak up on you... All you ever see is their reaction...

Their faces when I hug!

Beware MFM! I am coming and I finally have it all working just right! :)

(Kudos to those who have the remotest clue what I am talking about.) :)