Anthrocon 2012 in review

     This year at Anthrocon was another raging success in my book. They just seem to get better every year. I've never written one of these "con reports" so you'll just have to bear with me as I muddle through it, like everything else I do!
     This year, I had the good sense to take an extra long vacation around the convention. I was able to join other members of the Art Show crew for a late dinner on Wednesday, before all the business of running part of the convention started. It was nice to be able to catch up with those I hadn't seen in a year, as well as meet a few other team members that I hadn't been able to meet last year. I had all day Wednesday to do my last-minute packing. I was able to get to the hotel on Thursday without all the stress of the years before. This probably had more to do with not having to deal with the annoyance of my ex who liked waiting till the last second, then rushing. Roomie P and I had less baggage as two women with a fursuit, than I did for Blaze and myself. We thought about how we were getting our baggage to and from the convention, and worked to keep everything compact. I am very proud of the fact that it only took three people to easily carry everything three blocks from where we parked the rental car to the hotel.
     At the Westin, we had no trouble getting up to out room. It was just as nice as we were used to after the last two years staying there. The only hiccup with our room was my fault, and the affected party was very gracious about it. I'll explain that part when I get there. I got checked in with ConOps, then headed out with Sage to socialize on our way to Art Show setup. Unfortunately, two things went horribly wrong on Thursday. We had left Sage's Art Show submission at home, and I had to send Joran on a mission to retrieve them from home. Also, I discovered that for the rest of the convention, I couldn't go anywhere without getting distracted three times along the way. While Sage was hitting the headless zone to cool off, I was supposed to follow her, but I ran into some friends who wanted to chat. We went out for a smoke, but I didn't have time to pick Sage up on the way before I had to check in with Petercat and the rest of the Art Show staff for some refresher training on the cash registers. Thankfully, that was resolved quickly after Sage had physically cooled off enough to understand what happened. Overheated fursuiters are not reasonable beings. Their brains are boiling too much to think reasonably. I need not to let that happen again. The rest of Thursday passed rather uneventfully.
     Friday was moderately insane, but it was the good kind of insane. I worked all morning, and half of the afternoon, but I did get some time to run to the State store to buy some Tullamore Dew, because I had gotten invited to my first room-party. That was an experience I hope to repeat! I had a chance to sit down and hang out with people I would never have met otherwise, thereby feeling more important than I really am. But busy cheetahs (I mean, leopards) don't get to hang out much at cons they help run, and rapping tigers are wild drunks! Afterwards, when I went outside for a cigarette, I ran into a dragon dressed up as a mermaid! So I got to smoke with her, finally! Eventually, I stumbled back to my hotel room, along with Roomie C, who had enough and I didn't feel safe letting him walk back to his hotel alone. That little hiccup? I made him sleep in my bed, forcing Joran onto the floor because queen-sized beds don't comfortably sleep three. At least, I hope I was truly forgiven and that she didn't just say so to make me feel better.
     Saturday was a little bit calmer, and that was good, because hangovers suck! I worked two short shifts, then barely made it to the PA Furries panel that Sage was running. It was amazing to see so many people make it to that. I got to meet a few people that I talk to from the website. It's nice to be able to put a face to the names in the chat window. After that, I took the kittyduck out for a few drinks, had a pleasant dinner with some friends, and tried going to the drum circle, but it was getting late, and I was tired by 11:30.
     Sunday is still a blur to me. I worked the entire day at the Art Show. I got to man the "wall" as we closed the bidding. It's a good time, watching the bidding wars at the last few minutes. Then came the cash-out time. It went on forever! Followed by trying to help with tear-down. I wish I could have helped more, but my feet were swelling so bad, I could barely walk. I didn't even make it to the Shore Leave party. *sigh*
    In review, the good: I had a blast. I got to go to a party and meet awesome people. I helped make this one of the best Anthrocons yet. The bad: I didn't get to hang out with as many people as I wanted to. One of the drawbacks of being staff is that you spend your time allowing everyone else to have more fun than you. The future: I will stay on the staff for as long as they'll have me. I will continue to let everyone else have more fun than me. I enjoy hearing how much they are enjoying the con.

Repeating Patterns and Baby Steps

     I've been in a pretty bad "poor-me" funk of late. I'm looking at the holding pattern in my life and seeing myself as being lonely, and apart from the world. I've been feeling miserable and thinking there is nothing I can do to change it. Then something small happens to remind me that I am moving forward. I am not lonely, I am alone. I set myself apart from the rest of the world, because I am remembering what a wonderful person I am.

      This song came on the radio at work last night. It helped, like it always does. Also, an old friend from my attempt at college managed to find me on Facebook. It seems like every time I get into this pattern, a new person from my past surfaces to remind me that I'm doing good.
     So today, I'm going to tell myself how good I'm doing! In the last six months:

• I'm getting so much better at my knitting. Now that I'm not being yelled at for wanting to knit, I can just sit and enjoy my time playing with yarn.
• I'm getting healthier. I can afford to go to the doctor, and pay for medications that are prescribed for me. I also eat more than once a day, and have time to relax.
• I'm not really a slob. Admittedly, I probably could be better at housekeeping, but the reason my old place stayed a mess wasn't all my fault. I have a floor at CNFH (Creatively Names Furry House)! And clean clothes every day! All it took was having access to a washer/dryer and roommates who are willing to do their share toward keeping a nice house.
• I learned that my friends are around me because they want to be, not because they have to be.
• I am learning not to be a doormat. I like doing things for other people, but I will not be taken advantage of anymore.

     That's a pretty decent list, if I do say so myself. Now, I'm going to go transfer my bedsheets from the washer to the dryer, go cook some lunch, then get a shower before I resume knitting for the rest of the day. Because after doing chores, I deserve to play with my pretty yarn! Oh, and here's a pic of the Midsummer Night's Shawl I'm working on:

My year 2011 in review

     I think I'll join the rest of the world in a brief look back, before I begin looking forward again. 2011 has been quite a year for me.

     In a moment of weak-mindedness, I thought it would be a great idea to be on the Anthrocon staff. OK, so it was a good idea. I got the chance to meet a lot of great new furries. I don't get the chance to enjoy the convention in the same way as I'm used to, but who really needs to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day or more while sitting on the sidewalk? I never really went to a lot of panels. And I get to meet so many artists!

     Actually, I took it upon myself to start getting more active in Pittsburgh's local furry community. In the fall, roomie P and I took over organizing the local furmeets. I enjoy being able to ensure at least one furmeet I can actually get to. I had the opportunity to get closer to acquaintances that I managed to turn into friends. During all that time I was being told no one cared about me, there was a group of people wishing I could find the time to hang out with them. And boy was I glad to know these people were around!

     Because in August, I'd had it. I was just DONE with Blaze's crap. I was finished with not being able to pay the bills. I was finished with having to come home from work, do all the shopping, try to get the apartment clean, take care of myself, feed the lazy fox who would rather complain about being hungry than cook food that was in the pantry. It was too much to want to be able to knit or play XBox. I didn't need to pursue any hobbies. I just needed to do everything for him... </rant> Yeah.... So when certain good friends told me there was an extra room in the apartment they were moving to, I actually seized the opportunity, and moved the hell out. I had every intention of starting over with one suitcase of clothes, and nothing else. But I not only got almost everything I needed, I actually have a pretty decent life now.

     So with this year coming to a close, I can safely say that while it was a rough one, at least it was a good one. My resolution for the coming year is to remember to think of myself. I resolve to put myself first more often. I will not worry about taking care of others to my own detriment. Here's to hoping that 2012 is a little smoother for us all.