For those who keep up with the news or like seeing some creative video editing, there is AutoTune the News:


Anyone want to make a furry version? :)

I was able to get a trip to AC quickly setup as I needed the break after a crappy 3 weeks at work.

Good points were:

• Just relaxing and seeing friends again
• Having little expectations for the con other than holding another Invincible Gear party
• To fursuit a little
• Playing hockey with a few furs

Bad points:

• I bought too much beer for the Gear Party
• I need to fix my fursuits

oh, and

• Perro's Iphone getting stolen

It was overall fun. Keeping expectations low does help when going to AC.

I was at dinner with a few friends tonight where 2 of them got new Iphones, and I decided to make a quick statement:

I DO NOT HAVE AN IPHONE AND I'M OKAY WITH THAT!

Long live the Blackberry. ;)

That is all.

First off, I really appreciate all of the support off- and online from many of you. It does mean a lot.

Unfortunately, my boss has made it worse since I told him I'm resigning. In the last 48 hours, he has been changing schedules and screwing this around.

We had a new work schedule that started July 1. However, most of my on-call duties would start in September (after I would have left). Since that is not considered "fair", I agreed to have some on-call duties moved into my last two months. Because of some of my colleagues were not being responsible, we had gaps in our coverage scheduled which pissed off my boss even more. So he started the new work schedule 2 weeks early. Of course, that requires me to cancel everything else scheduled in those 2 weeks which again pisses off more people.

But what is frustrating me and many others is his lack of listening. Since it difficult making changes so quickly, I suggested that we use as planned in July but I'd help cover in June in the mean time. He didn't care and basically told everyone to deal with it.

Then he made another last minute change but he contracted himself on the emails. Even after I brought it up, he still contracted himself. When I pointed out with email quotes, he didn't bother to respond anymore.

Finally, when I asked for help because of these new changes, he told me to be creative and essential deal with the added work load.

This is my first time dealing with "management" and now realize what other people have to deal with. You have my sympathizes. Its amazing how my friends at work all know that my boss is brilliant in his field of interest but an awful manager.

But not furry fandom.

I told my boss that i'll be leaving after Labor Day. I've been at my current institution for 4 years but got an offer from a nearby institution to join them. This new place is closer to home, better facilities, and pays more.

Unfortunately, my boss was totally surprised by my announcement. Not surprising, he was seemed upset.
Hopefully, he won't make my life too uncomfortable until my last day.

*crosses paws*

Once again, my weekend was consumed with food and drink related activities. I'm gonna get fat because of it. :P

Friday:
I met up with a few friends at "The Bank" in downtown Wheaton (suburb about 25 miles west of Chicago). As usually, the beer was as good as the company.

Saturday:
In the afternoon, I met up with a few friends and went out to the Two Brothers Brewery out in Warrenville. They were releasing its "Hop Juice" brew at a "street" party on the grounds of the brewery. The beers were good, but cost $6 each. You'd think it'd be a bit cheaper as there was no middle man to pay.

At night, I went out to ThePublican Restaurant with a friend. We share two dozen raw oysters (yum!), a platter of thinly sliced specialty hams, and a perfectly cooked piece of pork belly. Along with the Belgium beers, it was very tasty and at a decent price.

Sunday:
This was the low key day. The only food related part of the beer and pizza at the bar in the hockey rink I play at. My team won 9-0 which made it easy for me to stay and have a few brews.

This past weekend was a total blast. The highlight was seeing my wonderful BF, nitropup.

How can you beat a weekend that includes:

• Tons of people in gear and leather with a sex market that can't be beat
• Hanging out with great friends (esp out of town friends Oryx, Rocket, Reddy, Jet, RubberTroy, NovaUA, and others I just can't remember)
• Fursuiting a bit at the Gearblast
• Hockey practice and scrimmage with other gear fans
• Quick boat trip around Montrose Harbor with Woody and company
• BBQ at the felines

Things will quiet down a bit until my trip to NYC for a hockey tournament.
Need to rest up!

So I went back to my first anime convention in 9 years this past Saturday. But 10 years, I was at the first Anime Central in Rosemont. It's grown quite a bit in size now but the anime fandom is not dominated by teenagers and young adults. Oh well...

One of the other reasons for gonig to Anime Central was to suit as Master Chief again. By the time I suited up, it was around 4pm. Apparently there was a green Master Chief around but left before I got there. It was funny hearing, "Oh, you're a better Master Chief" or "So much shinier" or "You got a weapon!".

I was stopped about every 3-4 steps to get photos taken. It took 30 minutes to get across the street to the con registration booths from the hotel. What can I say? I'm an attention whore. Anyway, I did find some pics of the two versions. You can decide:



I went along with Seven, Tozier, and Spork. Thanks go to Littlewolf for getting us in. Also bumped into Duncan, Giza, Takaza, and Linneaus. If I decide to go back next year, I just need to spend more time at the actual con and not just cosplaying around. Regardless, it was fun.

This was a video of someone taking street performers playing and singing to "Stand By Me" and remixing it.
Not sure what I'm more surprised by:
Other people around the world know the song, Stand By Me, or that someone's got enough free time to make this,


Otherwise, I'm just tired from work. :P

Others will put their recaps of Furry Convention North. Ovearll, it was fun but low-key.
I'll just say it was great seeing a bunch of fun people again.

I'll close by saying:
Jelly shots (not Jello) + Booze = Hilarity

Just sharing the video of the incredible story of the unassuming Scottish woman with the incredible singing voice:


Youtube won't let you share it with a preview...

It's hard to believe that kodi_pup  is on his way back to Canada after a "short" sabbatical in the Chicago area.
Fourteen months have already come and gone. Lots of things have happened related to furry fandom / cons, and just life itself.

We all seem to grow as we trudge though life. It's just more fun with friends such as Kodi.

Good luck in your en devours back in Canada. I know you have the will and skills to be succesful.

All of us here won't be surprised to help you move back into a new place in the Chicago area next year.

Stay well!

Supposedly it's a math word problem. Basically, how far do you lower your head so you can see the woman's crotch.

Got to love those Asians...

I flew out to New York / Long Island for a quick weekend with the partner, family, and friends. My brother had already gotten married and divorced, but met a wonderful woman a few years back. They legally got married last summer, but this past weekend was the official ceremony and reception.

She being Jewish, it was basically a Jewish wedding. Thank god those ceremonies are fast. I did have to hold up part of the chuppah (look it up if you don't know what it is). I realize that Asian hair does not work well with a yamaka. The other odd part was that my brother had left his real wedding ring at home after taking it off to get a manicure (because it was free). Now that he was missing a ring for the ceremony, he borrowed one of the rings I gave nitropup  instead. Their dog, a boxer, was the ring bearer.  Ironic...

Because of their love of dogs, they had the obligate furry cake. Yes those are paws on the bottom.

I also got to hang out with Rocket and ReddyWhip out in Long Island. Thanks for housing me.

Of course, I got to hang out with nitropup. He was even welcomed into a number of group photos taken durnig the wedding. We did get to do some ice skating practice on Sunday. He needs it. :)

Overall, my weekend was fun. The FWA programming was a little light but that was expected. Too bad that Atlanta around the hotel is pretty dead at night and the weekends. I got through my training sessions on Saturday and Sunday mornings which was the main reason for being at in Atlanta.

It was great seeing friends as always.

More once I get home.

Just a response from Kodi's post.

I spent the last month gathering documents for my accountant to do my tax forms. Just mailed off about 50 pages to her.
Probably won't get done in time. :P

Extension filing, here I come.

Sorry to be another post about evil_dwagon's funeral this past Saturday, but Perro's post made me think a bit more.

There is no doubt that Furp affected many people in his short life as evident by the large attendance at his funeral.

But the large number of furs who did attend and the respect that they did show to the family and other non-furry friends of Furp, also speaks about this "freakish community":

We are growing up.
We have to grow up.
We get to experience all the highs and lows that everyone else sees.
We are not going to be protected from these bad things.
We can't be naive that they don't happen to us.
We have each other to hold things together.
We can move on with our lives.
We are a dysfunctional family.
Furp is part of this family.
He made our community  grow once again.

Thanks, Furp.

Very shock and sad. *snug* That is all.

Well, Halo Kitty made it okay to FC 2009 and was well received. I was surprised to see TWO other Master Chief armor  costumes on Saturday though. :P So much for me being original.

Overall, FC was more low-key. I couldn't get out to Tahoe to ski because of transportation problems. :P

Otherwise, it had the typical highs and lows. More probably later.

Thanks to all of those that I saw and made it a great con. ^_^