Hey y'all, I'm just writing some reflections on my involvement in the fandom this year.

I started off 2015 with a bang at Zane's with my AZ homies! I'M LATCHIN' ON TO YOU!! AHH AHH!!

I published an anthropological paper on the fandom and presented it at 4 conferences. I'm also expanding it into an ethnographic book project that's well underway.

I went to Further Confusion, Biggest Little Fur Con, and Califur. It was super fun considering Penelope_Owl is a badass roomie!

I went to new meets, like the awesomest Club Tail and Silverfox Lounge!

I visited good local furiends. :D Kitsuku, Tor, Jordan.

I visited more furiends in Santa Barbara aka Robbie, Flip Flop, Zingy!
And Enen's cabin trips were so much fun!

I went to Comic Con with Tor, Share, Rokemi. All top notch G-sheps you should know by now!

I went to LA Pride and had amazing weekends with Red, Doug, Koi, Rye!

Super appreciated my friendship with Nev+Rainbow.

Said goodbye to one of my fave besties, SCRUMPLES I MISS U! I'm sending all the success vibes to ya!

I started a new meet in Big Bear with Glitch n friends.

I didn't do as much research through AnthroAnthro with my colleague. I need to pick that back up.

I chose to end toxic friendships with problematic folx that always had drama, but I had enough patience to stay friends with for as long as I did. lmao

I changed my language to reflect the unapologetic me. I'm much more grateful, positive, and happier than I have ever been (especially considering this journal entry from 2 years ago. http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/4389765/)

I made a good furiend at my uni, ala Zeric.

What else?

Oh yeah! I'm not going to FC in a few weeks. Skipping RF was so healthy for me, and I want to use the money I would be spending in San Jose to fund an ecotourist trip to the Dominican Republic. So I'll see everyone at BLFC instead!


Happy New Year, y'all! <3

I'm not going to waste my breathe defending that person who wore it, nor the suitmakers who made the Confederate Flag Fursuit. I see that some of you are. Fuck you. Get called out.

In 2015, after all that we have learned, you should know better. #BlackLivesMatter

Fuck your covert racism. I am for anti-racism.

Put that suit in the garbage where it belongs. No amount of time, money, and effort could ever save it from the horrible white supremacist ideology that is imbued in it.

Disgusting.

I'm glad I skipped RF this year
I am at the cusp of liberation
I can sense it. Freedom.
I am more connected with my people of color.

I am more confident that I will succeed even if I fail.
i am in a better place in life than I was because I understand my struggle.
I hope everyone else is doing well too.

I will get back to art soon. I am incredibly busy fighting for change.

Furries, I love you.
Dog speed.

omgosh, I have a lot to look forward to this week.
BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT BLFC

1) What hotel are you staying at?
GSR

2) Arrival/Departure?
Friday to Sunday

3) Means of transportation?
Honda Civic

4) Are you sharing a room with someone?
Yes

5) Who do you hang out with?
Furries

6) Relationship Status?
Infinite

7) How old are you?
24

8) How Tall are you?
5'8"

9) Are you an Artist?
Liminal

10) Do you have an artist table?
No

11) Do you take commissions?
Not right now

12) Do you do trades?
No

13) Are you a Fursuiter?
No

14) Attending parties?
Dunno

15) Do you drink?
Tasty drinks

16) Can I buy you a drank?
It would mean more to order a tasty free drink for me!

17) Do you smoke?
Do you?

18) Are you attending any panels?
#TalkingPaw: Feminist, Gender, Racial & Furry Intersectionality
Furiday 400pm to 530pm
Seated Room 2

HIV & STI Pawsitive Awareness
Caturday 200pm to 330pm
Seated Room 2

19) Stage or public performance?
No.

20) How do I identify my self to you?
Smile, make friendly eye contact, and signal consent for a introductory hug! Simple. If I am in the middle of a conversation with someone, I can still see ya.

21) Rules of engagement (physical contact)?
As a general rule, sign or ask for consent.

22) How can I find you?
Eventually, we'll run into each other. If you need my attention, feel free and ask to pull me aside for a conversation.

23) Can I talk to you?
Of course. Question is, can you talk with me respectfully? Can you talk as though you are not the center of the world? :)

24) Can I give you lots of money?
No. Please donate that to a charity or Non-Profit.

25) Can I give you stuff?
Give me your soul

26) Can I hug or snuggle with you?
Ask me

27) Can I come to dinner with you?
Reserve a table

28) Can I hang out with you?
Yes of course

29) Can I take your picture?
Please ask in person

30) How do I know if you're not looking to socialize (angry, busy or upset)?
I'll catch up with you later.

31) Personality Type?
Let me know what you're basis for categorizing personalities are. Astrology, Myers-Brigg, Big Five, Intersectional? The way that you construct your experience of my being in this short span of time, this brief period of your life, is so much more open to interpretation. Everyone will have different interpretations and form assumptions based on shared representations of being. So rather than trying to figure out what my personality is based on past experienced influenced by hindsight bias, you should just think about what you can do to be you!

32) What's your goal for the con this year?
Mini-vacay! Just being there, leisuring around, reveling in nostalgia. Helping newcomers enjoy what furcons have to offer. I am not spending money on extra stuff. I find zen.

BLFC is fast approaching, and as I listen to something I Gotta Believe In,
I'm strategizing my movements and moments across culturally defined spacetimes.
I can't help but be excited for it. It's an escape to a world we constructed from our imaginations.

This BLFC, if you cannot control your behavior due to binge alcohol consumption,
if you do not respect the social spaces we inhabit for that brief weekend,
if you absolutely, cannot, keep your shit together...

Go back to your room or a silent space where you won't be disturbed,
Breathe. Slow. Deep. Breathing.
Come back when you've recollected yourself.
Figure out that you probably need water and rest.

I refuse to answer any calls to babysit your ass.

Also: I'm facilitating two panel discussions at BLFC2015.

#TalkingPaw: Feminist, Gender, Racial & Furry Intersectionality
Furiday 400pm to 530pm
Seated Room 2

HIV & STI Pawsitive Awareness
Caturday 200pm to 330pm
Seated Room 2


Please educate yourself this BLFC
Resist. Subvert normality.
Exist liminally.
*bass farts*

It was a privilege to be able to attend such a fantastical event, meeting wonderful travelers, and reconnecting with my lovely furry family. Thank you~

A fourth year in a row I go!

Hope to see you all there with bright smiley faces!

-Casmer

Nevaro's 21st Bday
Rainfurrest 2013
Arizona Furcon 2013

They were all great fun and good memories were created.
I'm dealing with some heavy life shit every day.
I love my animuls. You guys + my 2 dogs, 1 kitty.

I am hoping that by writing this journal, it signals the end of this depressive cycle so I can get on with other things again. I'm sorry. I'm such a jerk sometimes. I love my friends though. I don't tell them enough. :C The art block/lack of art/activity. I will end it.

I can and am going to change all these negative things in this journal in my life. It's all I can do.
-Casmer

1 - ONE MONTH LEFT TIL RF - 1
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Where are you staying?
The Holiday Inn Express!

What day are you getting there?
Wednesday Night! Day 0

Who will you be rooming with?
and Phenyx

Who will you hang out with during the convention?
I actually don't know! I'm more of a go with the giant noisy flow kind of congoer.
But I'm most likely going to hang out with 3...2...1...
Flinch, Apollo, Athena, Sparx, Gen, Diggy, Mutt, Kihu, Prat, TipsyThombus, Hoot, Six, Marmar, Splice, SD, Phenyx, RottenRobbie, Kona, Gcan, Serv, Uni, Marfles, Azlan, Sepia, Weeble, Isaac, Chomp, Rei, Felix, Dovne, TJ, Cisco, Jaxis, Makl, Burds, ReyRey, Shavii, Karasu, Wulf, Audi, Luka, Wingo, Yonoa, Saskatoon, Martlie, SHELBY. And then those are the people who I know are going, so I can't wait to see them for sure. I'm sure I'll see everyone like Phor, Tigon, Rod, Daiquiri, Mediarz, Howee, Doryuu, Haku, Phenique, Skroy, WolfpupTK, Benji/Splotchy, and so many more regular congoers! This con is the perfect size and number, and quality of people to meet+greet/party with/foodruns/etc.

Will you be suiting?
I'm gonna be completely honest here. If I cant get the suit done in time, I'll be suiting. If I can't and I have to borrow someone's *cough cough Jello cough* then I WILL. D:< (unleashes the fury)

Do you do free art?
If I'm drunk, then there's a higher probability of receiving free doodles.

What is your gender?
Genderfluid. I'm gonna try to be a little more adventurous this con.

How tall are you?
5’8"

Are you taken? Are you looking for a ‘mate’?
Taken. Not looking cuz I already found him.

Can I talk to you?
Yes! I'm also very impressed by people who initiate the conversations!

Can I touch you?
Don't touch me, peasant.

How can I find you?
Tweet CasmerYote cuz I am super impatient and walk really fast to you! :o

Can I visit your room?
If you have permission and are with one of my roomies then yes.

Can I buy you drinks?
Yes.

Green?
Wtf? Marijuana? I think Green is just a color, but if the meme writer is talking about marijuana, then yes. I am going to partake in that activity.

Can I hug or snuggle with you?
Yes. But try not to be sweaty.

Are you nice?
Duh! Unless I don't like you.

Do you have an artist table?
No

Will you be going to parties?
No. I'm going to be sad and alone in my room. Woe is me.
The real answer is yes.

Will you be performing?
Dance competition

If I see you, how should I get your attention?
Casmer! CAS. Castazel!

What/where will you be eating?
Denny's, Subway,

Can I come with you for food/fun/etc?
If you're invited.

Can I draw in your sketchbook?
With expressed permission.

Can I take your picture?
With expressed permission.

What’s your goal(s) for the con this year?
To find items, places, people, and ideas that make me smile continuously throughout the convention and beyond.

The nation is angry. It's bitterness is dwelling deep inside it's heart. People seem to think they can remain neutral, but there is a point to this tragic tale in America's history.

The system is broken.

We all know that no system is perfect. However, that is a sad excuse to allow the same mistakes to happen again and again. The people progress ever so liberally as their populations grow, their minds become more educated, their morals become ever so defined. So, in the cities, as people are increasingly exposed to more diverse customs, cultures, behaviors, (and countless others different in ways they know, more alike than they could dream), trials and tribulations will continue to teach the people what we really know about ourselves as a society: our systems and flaws. Moving from generalities to specificalities, we see that our laws are behind the progress our people have been making. We seek justice in terms compatible with our new-found moralities. We seek it, but we still do not take action.

Florida. Protector of the "Stand Your Ground" Law. It is a law designed by a historically racist, uneducated people and their elected officials to defend would-be victims of criminal abuse. It is a deterrent. A preventative measure which vindicates a society entrenched in protection of their right to carry and use weapons. The society of the State of Florida rests easy in the comfort of owning the ability to shoot anyone they deem to be hazardous to their personal safety if they see fit. That is what the Stand Your Ground law protects. The firm idea that you are justified in our legal system if you maintain the sanctity of rules of behavior written by a people long forgotten by the progress made in other parts of the nation. The Florida law is behind the progress, the progress made in our morality, our nation's healing spirituality (terrorized by 9/11), and new laws more progressive populations have made in other states. That much is certain.

George Zimmerman walks a free man. A free man that is capable of murder. There was apparently enough reasonable doubt by a jury of six, who thought that a murderer did not murder for the sake of murder, but thought that he should be protected by the law for enacting his own self-defense. These are the facts. This is not the Truth.

The truth is that if you take away the bullshit. Take away ALL the bullshit. Florida's hilariously backwards laws, the race card, the guns, hoodie, the wanna be cop, the character, the labels (suspect), the little cultural things. Take that shit all away. Look at the picture.

Person 1, guarding hir territory calls the paid for law enforcement officials. A police dispatcher warns hir to stay in hir safe spot (car), to not approach Person 2. Person 1 ignores these warnings and approaches the Person 2. It doesn't matter what xe was seeking or thinking. Person 2, according to Person 1's "physical evidence" was on the verge of defeating Person 1.

That could have been it. Person 1 could've gotten beaten up for making xir's decisions through no one's fault but xir's own.

But we know Zimmerman, an obese, cowardly, disgusting, putrid, vile, trigger-happy, fair-skinned, untrustworthy faced, piece of shit, criminal murderer can walk a free man, despite being the initial aggressor, and loser in a fight in the dark against a child.

RIP Trayvon Martin. He deserved a better world and a better outcome than what Florida could offer him. Blame is appropriately placed on the Prosecution for not doing a good enough job at proving their point, but at the same time, our systems do not enact Justice as well as they should for allowing a murderer to walk free.

Our systems must constantly be improved. Our world is constantly changing. It is up to us to make a better and better world for future generations. We cannot allow for this to happen again.

-Casmer

Commission List:

- Angela & Trey: Finished.
- Witt: Finished. Needs to be laminated and mailed.
- Maxi: In Progress
- Sparx: Not Started

Opening a few Badge commissions at Califur for Con work only on Saturday.

BLFC2013

I'll be returning to BLFC in 2014. It was a great first con. I loved the hotel/resort. I loved the people I met and befriended. I had such a good experience, I know I'll be returning. I urge some of you to go, especially if you are above the age of 21. I hope the con breaks 1000 attendees.

May PS

It has come to my attention that the PS is growing exponentially in size and newcomers. I don't have hard data to this fact, but I do believe it's time for some of us to shy away from overcrowding the neighborhood and household before we become too problematic. We need to organize a new outlet for a mass amount of furries to reach and enjoy their time at. Almost like a mini-con for free and we need an after-event that provides food and alcohol to above 21 year olds and not designated drivers. I might put more effort into organizing that.

CF2013

I'll see you all there on Saturday. I don't think I'll be able to make it after a wedding I'm attending on Friday. That should be going on till 2AM. I'm really not sure what's going to happen this year. I expect to see a lot of people there though!

The hummingbirds have laid eggs by the door,
Ready for spring, hungry for more
Flowers growing from the vine o'erhead.
Better left unsaid the eggs are cold.
Spring has arrived, so I am told.
I am the groundhog getting out of my bed,
Depressed and sad, my heart goes dead.

-Castazel

You know, I could be out with friends drinking and enjoying some quacky conversations about our lives, but I chose to stay at home with my family tonight. I didn't think it would be anything special. However, we all set outside to our balcony upstairs, rope lights wrapped around the white fence, and sat down on our pillowed swing chair. I lit the fire pit, set up my Jawbone Big Jambox, synced my Samsung Galaxy S3 and we all watched the first episode of Season 2: The Walking Dead in amazing crispness and clarity while eating a large vegetarian Papa Johns pizza and drinking a glass of chardonnay in perfect 58F temperature as the white smoke gently rises to the West Coast stars.

The End


Thank you for not judging my seeming pretentiousness and obvious market branding. :3 The decisions we make enforce and reinforce our own personalities. In my case, family comes first over selfish desires, and I can still find pleasure in that gain.

You know, there's times I think of suicide and death and stuff. You might never know if you met me briefly. I seem like a cheery person, and in the face of my friends, I am. But when I'm alone, I'm just as depressed as the rest of America and the fucked up regions beyond our borders, beyond the streets our homeless call their homes, beyond the walls of our homes. It happens when you contemplate your life too much and you don't have anyone to talk to in person. Friends distract you from your own thoughts. I love them for it. I will never be sad around my friends.

However, when it comes to my own personal ideals of when I die, I'm reminded of when I was born. I was born with my parents. It was not my choice to be born. Does a baby really have choice to be pulled from the warmth and protection of its mother's womb? Not in my opinion, no. But then we grow and mature as all humans should and do. We grow up with this great and powerful philosophical idea of choice...and how we have it. It's ours and work to express, achieve, and protect it. We can choose to do with our lives what we please. But we do not choose to die. We can choose to postpone death, to control it and bring it closer, but it takes a lot of guts and courage to face it on your own.

When I die, I hope that it will be from age; the frailness of my body too weak to continue the massive quantity of cellular processes that hold me and my thoughts together. I can accept death. I do want to postpone it for as long as I can, like most civilians, with a lifelong practice in healthy habits, preventative care, and calming meditative efforts for my mental well-being. But if technology and medical science cannot bring humanity closer to the achievement of immortality after the Singularity occurs (trust, it will occur), then I will die just like every human before me.

It all comes back to what we learn as we grow: choice. How will I choose to die? I wish to die the way I came into this world. Not alone, but with individuals who cared to keep me in this world with them. I want to die at the side of someone I know and love by my choice. I don't know how many people, and I don't care. I just know that my life would not have been fulfilled to my wishes had there not been someone to say I love you as lose the ability to speak and to look into a person's eyes silently communicating that I loved them from the moment I met them.

This is my way of current thinking. It helps to postpone suicidal thoughts, a danger to my mental health for sure. I hope that posting this journal to be seen helps in some way. I know I'm not alone in this thinking. My views may change, but I hope the reasons surrounding this thought process from choice to death are not so altered by the future stresses life brings to us.

But hey, for now, I should just be happy I'm alive and have friends. So simple a concept. So hard to achieve. You could say it was easy if you already are happy, but then you should already know, happiness is a shared fundamental emotion brought on by biochemical processes in specific, and numerous measurable neurological pathways in response to external stimuli and internal memories reinforced by external stimuli. You can't be stupid and not realize how important social interaction was in the face of the evolution of sentience. DON'T BE A STUPID HOE. I LOVE YOU, NICKI! <3

End rant by Casmer.

There is a reason as to why I had so much gold at FC2013!

https://soundcloud.com/2-deep/2deep.....ino-x-djr-gold

All Gold Everything
Moombahton + Trap = Trapical
Okay!?
Trinidad James
Popped a molly, I'm sweatin'.

Furry Conventions. Why do I like them so much?

A lot of us grew up with exposure to talking animals and cartoons with eccentric personalities in our lives on paper and on screen. With our imaginations, we believed and trusted characters, and perhaps told them our secrets. My personal story could be that I grew up going to Disneyland all my life, and the harsh reality of my medical conditions and social interactions were suspended whenever I behaved well enough to visit my favorite talking characters in the park. Even as I type this, I know that the kid inside that loved Disneyland is still there in my heart. But how do I reach out to it, the past of my life when I was inexplicably happy? FURCONS! DUH. You know, FC is a lot like Disneyland. Happy, tolerant people in happy, animal costumes doing funny, silly things...that's all that furcons need. The fact that there is a strong LGBT presence in the furry community tolerant and friendly to those with less is secondary to the fact that the people who go just want to have a good time in whatever way they can. Some use alcohol and drugs and they do not harm anyone. Those people getting fucked up are having all the time and space in their worlds to enjoy what's right in front of them. If you don't like it, that's your problem, not society's. Some like to get dirty with dem bad dragon dildos, and frankly, you shouldn't give a fuck. It's just fun to different people. With colorful lights, cameras, strange fashions and accessories, you really have to try to be a stick in the mud not to imagine that you can do anything like talk to towering fuzzy animals. So, I like furcons because they are what they are, and I get drunk and entertained the same was if I were a kid again. Don't Hate. Tolerate!

Foreword.

I was separated from the internet mostly the whole con, and I loved it. It was very refreshing not thinking about online responsibilities. There were some people I thought would be friendly, but instead, there were times that they were very cruel. I did not expect such distant body language, and I know when I am not wanted. I don't know what their reasons were, but if they were good ones, then I'm sure I would have understood if they were communicated to me. I did not want to cause drama and so I did not return their negativity.
Most of the con, I dressed much nicer and more colorful than I normally do in real life. I live in a conservative household, and anything but black and white is considered too gay too wear around my parents. I loved the dream-like quality of the con, where I could just do anything I wanted ((so long as I was not hurting anyone else)). I got to play my trap music with my Jambox, wear colorful pants, rock a gold scooter, wear ridiculously flashy sunglasses. XD I got to experience the same convention with some really inspiring and cool people, and I enjoyed listening to how happy everyone was to be there.

Day 1: Thursday - Arrival and Lady Gaga Concert ((Sober))
I drove up Thursday morning with Amtrack and his friend from LA to San Jose. When we arrived, I didn't have a single doubt that I wouldn't be happy at this con. I had already seen Nevaro, Vey, Dog-Bone, Doug, Spyke, Rei, and Rawk outside while circling the con for parking, and the first two to see me walk through the convention doors were Prawst and Hoot. I was holding back tears the whole time. Carrying all my luggage with me to find Yonoa, I also ran into Holo, Tigurpaw, Flipper, Milo, ack! So many friends! I found Yonoa, dropped off my stuff, and went back downstairs refreshed and clean after the long drive. I saw many more friends before leaving to the HP Pavilion to go catch Madeon and Lady Gaga with a friend from Anime Expo. The Lady Gaga show was amazing. Her set was a ginormous opening/closing castle and her theme was space alien human unicorn monster I don't fucking know. The highlight of her set was Born This Way, when a giant inflatable vagina and open legs were revealed by the opening castle and dozens of naked dancers spilled artfully onto the stage as Lady Gaga gave birth cuz baby we were born this way. ((lol I'm so lame!)) SO, I came back with my friend to the con, and we got drunk with two other Gaga showgoers, one of which was a newly-21-year-old pharmacy student! I stayed up till 4:45am, until I had to pass out and bid my friend goodbye.

Day 2: Friday - The Blur
Around noon, I met up with LF, Quillz, Daninsky, Tavi, and Tuler to go have lunch and play bowling! We played two rounds, grabbed some insanely funny pictures, and headed back to the con.
Fuck! I don't remember much of Friday night. I know I hung out with friends, that's all I wanted.
Dingbat 40 Hands: Attack of the 24 Flying Dingbats
Sleep.

Day 3: Saturday - Pop, Drop, and Disco!
The dealer's den was wicked cool! So much talent! SO MUCH TALENT1!#rk fasjd;fgklsadj;fsg
Poppin' bottles and candy! Saturday night was just an insane everything. I found the colorful lights room I was searching for since the beginning of the con. I hung out with Nevaro and Skippy. I went to Kihu's set. He threw down so hard. I mean. Seriously! His set went so hard! I danced like a mofo! XD Kihu went so far as to spray champagne over us. In that instant, I was reminded of Day 0 at Rainfurrest, when I bought a bottle of champagne to celebrate the start of the con. Happy memories came flooding back, and that might have been one of the most intense rushes to the peak I've experienced yet. I couldn't handle all of Kihu's set. There were no pauses or breaks for a breather or slower dancing. I had to leave the dance floor, but I ended up hanging out with Phor, Phenique, and Mystic! And then after that, I don't recall. I just know that I got sleep eventually.

Day 4: Sunday - Finale
Lots of blurs by this point. By nighttime, I was playing beerpong in the luxurious Hilton suite with Skippy and Nevaro, getting high with Vey. Kendoro and Prawst ran into the room, took a hit each and left for the Youtubaloo panel. I followed soon after. The Youtube panel was glorious. Absolutely glorious. I'm awaiting video of the experience since all I remember was crying tears of joy, joking, and laughing along with so many good friends. From there, we headed to the main hall for DJ Rawkz0rz and DJ Barksquads' most amazing sets! Seriously, I couldn't have enjoyed a better dance to better music. These two rocked my night and blew the floor away. I had even sobered up with the dancing!

Day 5: Monday - Dead Dog
It was the last day of the con. I was dead tired. I hung out with Hike and grabbed some hilarious video of Yoshinomi, a japanese shiba fursuiter who seriously made my Monday Night. Amwulf was djing the hallway behind the DeadDog dance! He totally played my favorite tracks of the trap genre! His shit was tight! I couldn't believe so many people missed out on it. I think he should really apply to DJ at the FC dances next year!

Day 6: Tueday - Go Home Casmer
Dead. I was all ready to go home! I said bye multiple times to whoever I could. Many people had left the con already. I grabbed lunched with Kihu, Rei, Rawk, Kona, and GCan before we left to catch our Megabus. We had just missed the bus upon arriving at the train station, so we constructed our new home at the Caltrain station before heading back to the Marriott to drop off our stuff and have a picnic in the park! We waited at the station again and caught our bus back home before arriving at 3am at the Union Station in LA.

Friends. I hope to see you again soon. Without my fond memories of you all, I don't know where I would be. ((of course there's no order of importance))
Nevaro
Dog-Bone
Vey
SD
Gen
Doug
Tigurpaw
Sparx
Rei
Rawkz0rz
MuttMonster
Santamoose
Prawst
Hoot
Kona
Kihu
Duckee
Six
Jello
Scrumpet
ReyRey
Dasa
Serv
Uni
Marfles
Azlan
Aquachem
Hakuya
Felix
Kenny
Koi
Trip
Spyke
Red
Foxx
Scratch
Pedward
Uji
Tydus
Ray-Ray
Yonoa
Skitch
Toxy
Amtrack
Cisco
Momo
Shavii
Milo
Flipper
Chewy
SHARE
LF
Tuler
Tavi
Eckoh
Aoki
Vee
Anji
Howee
Doryuu
Skroy
Limin
BEN
MarMar
Splice
Dean
Cody
GCan
Leachy
Sephryn
Lazarus
Veyote
Holo
Krizzles
WolfpupTK

To my new friends: I am very glad to have met you. I wonder when and where our futures will bring us together again.
Ill Dingo
Zeni
Ziggy
Skippy
Dovne
Hike
Greyson
Quillz
Daninsky
Mystic
Phenique
Phor
TJKROSS
Express
Tigon
Treble
Bunnymew
RottenRobbie
Skylar

People I met briefly that I hope to meet again!
Apollo
Haku
Duke

And for those who I know, but couldn't make it, and for those that where there but I didn't really talk to as much, please know that I am waiting, here, in sunny California off the 5 and 91 interchange between Knott's Berry Farm and Disneyland on a lonely hill that overlooks from North to South, the West Coast of Los Angeles and Orange County.

FURRIES ARE FUCKING PERFECT. I LOVE YOU.
-Casmer

YUSHHHHHH.
I finished my finals today and received respectable scores of 100% on them all. :3 But fuck that shit. It's past now. I can finally focus on what I've been missing this semester:

-Friends
-Art
-Music
-Dance

I'm so freaking excited guys! There's not much time left in 2012 and this year has been one HELL of a rollercoaster ride! So I decided not to let that ever happen again. So many unorganized highs and lows I wasn't mentally prepared for. I've been planning and organizing what my 2013 year should look like with calendars, charts, and schedules to better accommodate deadlines and whatnots. I've begun to work on my fursuit! So that will be completed and unveiled at FC2013.

Guys...guys...You don't know how excited I am for FC this January. I'm going to be able to see and spend time with so many friends, new and old. I'm going to share wonderful adventures and experiences with them. I can't wait to meet soboku! He is my 'kawaii' idol. XD

Some other projects I've been working on are to volunteer my time with some NEW small business owners in Fullerton! :3 I've gotten to talk with a local bakery that opened 9 weeks ago and a gourmet Indian restaurant about helping to run social media campaigns for them. I want to have some resume-building experience in social media marketing whilst helping to improve the influence and sales of some home-grown businesses. :33c

But before I do all this and party tonight, I gotta get to work finishing this flyer and organizing/implementing final stuff for the END OF THE WORLD FURRY CHRISTMAS PARTY I'm cohosting with veydajar and the one and only skitch :D 8 DAYS. Hit me up socal furs! I plan to have all the information sent out before 8pm tonight.

And a shoutout to my new friend and neighborino, Maxi! He recently joined the fandom at the PS this month, and not only has been taking the bus with me for two months, but he lives across my local park from my house. XD Furries!

I mentioned the dance competition in my last journal, but I wanted to make a separate journal with video links so I'd have an easy place to just show my friends when the ask what I did. XD

Angle 1! Enzo

This video is FLAWLESS. Thank you so much to lionking300 for the quick upload and funny commentary. XD

Angle 2! Enzo

This angle shows one side of the dance hall being belligerent! XD I love you, Adventurecru!

ENZO & STEP Dance Off! - Floor Wars Style

I really enjoy this video. So much energy captured in this footage! I especially love the "OH MY GAWD" after I started dancing. XD Kudos to that person! <3

Angle 2 Dance Battle

Sound quality's not the best in this video, but it centers on Step and Enzo better than the previous video and includes the judging. And lmao, rawkz0rz in the backstage setting up for his set with a fog machine. Man. I also noticed I started clapping when Phor said to drumroll. I'm pretty stupid...drunk. XD Hoh boy. Clapcon2012

I'm so grateful fur cons like Rainfurrest/FurTheRecord putting up great stages and dance floors that we can enjoy, and for hosting dance competitions in the first place! Cons like Califur, with little interest in putting on a good dance anything have a ways to go if they ever want attendees to experience what RF allowed for. It was also really frickin' cool that I got to compete and battle against reimeerkat in step. She is a wicked awesome dancer, and I can't wait to step up my game to make her bring out all she can. I'll probably have a song and routine rehearsed a little bit more for the next time I see here. Pulling a last minute "I'M SO DRUNK/WHICH SONG DO I DANCE TO/I DON'T KNOW THIS SONG BUT IT'S BLACK" ain't going to cut it next time. XD

And now for a secret RF 2011 Dance competition video!


Rainfurrest 2011 was my first RF! And what better way for a shy, unknown, barely out of the closet gay furry to embarrass himself? Well, I borrowed my friend denso's huge partial which didn't fit me, didn't know much about how to dance in fursuit, let alone dance at all, and went for it! Knife Party's first EP had just come out a few days prior to the con, so I danced to their signature song Internet friends. Unfortunately, I didn't know I was going to get cut off prematurely before the most insane drop, but I learned that buildups and drops don't make for good dance competition songs anyways. Btw, BIG difference from this year, right? The 2011 competition was tiny and the 2012 one was just HUGE in comparison. XD I'm already looking forward to competing next year.

Last word for any future dancerfurs. I'm still new to this thing, and I definitely plan on continuing to practice dancing because it's becoming far too much fun, but it all started with me just doing it and embarrassing myself. After that initial push over the edge, everything got so much easier, and I built my confidence up a hundred fold. So if you just like moving to music in your room where no one can see you, then GO HARD. No one can see you anyways! That's all it really takes and it's just a lot of fun. :P

#adventurecru <3

I'm going to try not to shake violently or roll around on my bed as I try to remember all the details of this con. Rainfurrest, no joke, was the sickest, baddest ass con I've ever been to so far. Last year I declared it my home con, and it was great returning to Seatac/Seattle to be with people I can't even imagine being out of my life anymore. I'm going to try to keep this journal short, mostly because I'll post a detailed journal on Tumblr later and also because I don't like journals stretching out my profile page.

Day 0 - A group of us from socal arrived at the airport at 4:20pm. I bought a bottle of champagne to celebrate the start of the con. This year was going to go off with a bang.

Day 1 - I picked up a badge in the morning. I didn't know what to put as a fancy badge name, so I randomly typed CashMoneyRecords without even thinking. I think I went suiting in the morning while everyone was still passed out drunk from the night before. Got tagged tagged in the first 5 minutes of walking in the con center. Awesomeness! A group of us visited Dave's Diner for afternoon breakfast, which was awesome since we had gotten lost looking for IHOP. XD Later, I visited Chinatown, Seattle, by rail, visibly freaking out over trees with everyone, and I also got some yummy yakisoba and thai iced tea. Then we got really drunk.

Day 2 - Prat had a speed painting panel that we all thought was going to be party pictionary, so drunken chaos ensued. The dance competition was on later! I hadn't even picked a song, nor was I aware it was that night. XD Rei and Rawkz0rz helped picked Tipsy by J-Kwon all in a rush before the start of the competition. I didn't recognize the song at all, but I knew it was played years and years back. So IDGAF'D MY ENTIRE DANCE IN DRUNKEN STUPOR. lol I guess people liked it, since I tied with Step, which meant there was only one option. Dance battle to Champagne Showers! Heyyyyy!!! So that whole escapade was super fun, and I placed 3rd too. :3 Not bad for not even knowing the song and just winging it. I desuited to try and make Rawk's opening set for the dance. Super awesome fun times. :3 More stuff happened and I was ready to go for Kihu's set at 2:15am. The only problem was that there was forever time to go, and this douchebag DJ Rollballs wouldn't respectly get off stage. Dude was a trainwreck, I swear. I don't know how attractive you're supposed to be sweating like you just got out of the pool, hunched over, cross-eyed, ragged breathing, underwear-only, dutch, fuqit. Dude, you sucked. Don't ever try that shit again man. If it weren't for having good friends with way more patience than I could ever have, you would have been kindly roundhoused off the stage as you were yodeling some gross song. But alas, Rawk got me out of the hell this DJ Rollballs created in a span of 15 minutes. Glad you were in your own world, since the actual one couldn't handle you. And then...I heard it. It was like Jesus's saving grace and Kihu's set had begun. Few words can describe how perfect everything had become. We all went hard and the night ended with Tigon asking Kihu to return next year to DJ. lol but this shit ended at 3AM!! I WASN'T FINISHED YET and so many people hadn't had the chance to experience Kihu's set like I wanted. So my plan was to get Kihu to play again the following night at a more reasonable time.

Day 3 - After suiting in the morning, Muttmonster and I asked Tigon to let Kihu play, and we started getting others to tweet about it. Soon enough, it was a done deal, and the #letkihuplay hashtag that we started did it's job! The #adventurecru and #ganc all attended Prawst's party pictionary panel, and it quickly became a clusterfuck of ridiculousness party animals and angry con staff. XD I think someone abused drugs and ran naked to the pool after ripping someone's face off. Or something...I dunno. Pfft. Furry cons. The dance that night played some cool 80s music that warped me back in time. And around 12:30, Kihu played his encore. Yes. YES. OH MY GOD. I saw so many people. It was just an amazing crowd. It got shut down halfway through because people were going so hard and Adam's (who I can't wait to meet next year) kneecap exploded. D: I have mad respect for that guy now, and I'll be posting a journal to signal boost his situation later. There's already been some great people that have kindly donated to his staggering medical costs. I couldn't keep going after the break. Kihu was going harder than any of us could keep up.

Day 4 - Finally visited Denny's at 1:30 in the afternoon when everyone woke up. I had a massive hang over, so I wasn't in the mood for LOUD OBNOXIOUS RANTING and so a couple tweets gave that away easily. Afterwards, some of us beaner packed Kendoro's minivan to visit Downtown Seattle and its waterfront. Walking through Pike's Place was amazing. The Seattle Gum Wall and adjacent wall of art was rad. Beer tasting had never been better. Ate some of the best gelato in the West Coast. And the oysters!!! SO CLEAN AND FRESH. <3 The Dead Dog Dance that night was awesome with Kona tearing it up! We prepared for dipsetriot in the hotel courtyard, but were shut down. :C AND THE DIPSET RIOT THAT NIGHT. OMGOSH. Legendary riot and shenanigans behind the hotel at 4AM. YESSSS

Day 5 - It was hard saying goodbye to everyone, but I kept in mind that there was no way this would be a one time deal. I look forward to seeing all my friends again soon. :3 <3

Shoutout to you guys! I love you #adventurecruxganc!
kihureimeerkatrawkz0rzciscofurkendorofelixwhuzkieemuttmonstersantamoosesdpurpleweeblehootprawstsparxtastic:linkthewhitefalcon:maklwolfenisaavenzer0kooldownleachydean-murffyjellotigurpawservdoryuugcansixarmedwerewolfyonoaeluned

And moar people!
bakkarsepiaaskroysaskatoonmartliejwolfskyadam and more people who's FA names I do not have yet. D:<

And huge props to tigon, furtherecord, and all the rainfurrest staff! You guys put up an excellent con! 'Til next year!
lol. I couldn't keep this journal short for crap!


AND THEN THERE'S THIS GUY <3  bubby610 <====== This guy