Hey there. I apologize for my extended absence from DA. This is due largely to an excess of school projects and papers, which have occupied the majority of the time the past few months. I am currently enjoying my summer break, so hopefully I'll be able to get some more artwork done in the near future.

At any rate, I am very pleased to announce that I will be attending Anthrocon this year! I will arrive Thursday, July 2nd in the evening, and I shall be there until Sunday, July 5th. I am very excited, as this is allegedly the biggest furry convention in the nation, and quite possibly in the world. Nearly 4,000 people went last year...wow. This is my first time going, so I am really pumped for it. If any of you are going to be attending the convention, I'd love to get a chance to meet up and say hi in person. Reply to this message or send a PM if you want to arrange a meeting. Anyway, that's what I have on my horizon. Here's hoping it's every bit as exciting as I hear it is! ^_^

OMG. One week to go...Morphicon is almost here. For those of you who don't know, Morphicon is a furry convention that takes place in Columbus, Ohio. I have to admit, I'm pretty damn excited...this is going to be my first furry convention. I have been to one anime con this year (Ohayocon), but I get the feeling that I'm going to enjoy this one a whole lot more. I'm not entirely sure what to expect, but I'm really looking forward to it anyway. I should be there all day on Saturday, and [maybe] Friday night and [maybe] Sunday morning. Maybe I'll see one or two of you there...?

:3

Let me begin by saying I'm not generally a huge fan of holidays. This is not to say that I think they're all a waste of time, nor do I really consider myself to be the Ebeneser Scrooge of Christmas, or whatever the equivalent may be for any respective holiday. I actually find them as a refreshing change of pace, a nice way to meet up with friends or family, and they tend to be fun and interesting. But what I really hate is when the holiday ceases to be what it was intended to be, no thanks to commercialism. Christmas is the worst, but that's an entirely different rant for another time. But really, the underlying idea to any holiday is that you're supposed to be celebrating or commemorating something...and they're supposed to be happy. So why is it that holidays are increasingly becoming so damned stressful? When I'm living with my parents, I see my mom's mood deteroriating the few days leading up to a major holiday, because her daily routine is now infected with preparations for the impending family get-together. Everything has to be big and perfect. My questions is...why? Why purpose does stressing yourself out serve when in the end the products of your efforts are ultimately taken for granted to some extent? The holiday meal doesn't have to be big and fancy...the day is not about the food, it's about the togetherness. So don't make anything else the priority.

Valentine's Day has never been a favorite of mine. It's really good at nothing more than inducing misery in everyone. If you're single, all it does is remind you of how lonely you are in the world, how no one loves you and/or how you're a failure at finding a partner. Because, obviously, that's super important because it merits its own holiday. I say, screw that. No one has to have a significant other, and it's possible to lead a happy and fulling life on your own. This idea that you absolutely have to settle down with someone is so stressed in culture and the media that its kind of sickening. It instills the wrong kind of feeling and emotions in everyone. There is nothing wrong with wanting to have someone, but Valentine's Day kind of rubs it in your face if you don't. I'll admit that this in itself is not a serious issue, but to some extent I'm sure it has an effect on people. Even if it exists in a momentary sense of disappointment or lack of self-confidence.

On the other hand, if you're single on Valentine's Day, you're lucky. This is because your troubles end here. But if you're in a relationship, you're in for a whole new slew of problems because, once again, the holiday and culture in general expects so much from you. If you have a partner it's customary to exchange gifts of some sort, or treat the other to dinner, or have a romantic evening. Something like that. And if you fail to do anything you're a terrible person. Personally, I think it's great to do something nice for the one you love. But I don't like the idea of being told on what day I have to do it, or else. If you really love someone, you shouldn't need a holiday to remind you to get it into gear and do something special...you should be able to just do it. If that's not what's happening, then there is something wrong. Love is not bound by the dates on a calender...so don't fall into that trap.

And this brings me down one of my greatest annoyances...greeting cards. I often hear that the holiday was started by greeting card companies, and if that's the case, the whole thing just pisses me off. Why the hell does everything need to be for a profit? A day that supposedly celebrates love is tainted by the desire of financial gain. I can't imagine how many cards, flowers, and chocolates are purchased leading up to that day. I don't have any particular gripes about chocolate, because at least you can eat the stuff. And...common, it's chocolate. But flowers look pretty for a day or two before they start to wither, and greeting cards are just the worst of them all. You read them once, and then they either wind up collecting dust on a shelf or they're thrown away. And I really don't think there is anything you can say in a greeting card that wouldn't be just as meaningful (if not more so) if you were to say it in person. It's a waste of money, and a wasted effort. Bah, humbug.

That said, I'm probably sure you're all wondering how I'm spending my Valentine's Day. Will I mope around, wishing it all away and hating the world, or will I be a hypocrite about it and do it all anyway? Well, I'm definitely spending time with my boyfriend, no doubt about that. But we pretty much only get to see each other on the weekends anyway, so there's nothing terribly unique about that. I'm frequently asked if we have plans to do anything special, and I simply reply, "Anytime I get to be with my boyfriend, it's special." And I mean it. When it comes down to it, Valentine's Day is just another day. I'll cherish the day because we'll be together, not because February 14th has a name. He has told me that he's not sure what to get me. To this, I tell him that he doesn't need to bother. Material objects shouldn't make you love someone anyway. You should love them for who they are. And I do. So in the end, we might invite some friends along and all go out to dinner and a movie together. Not the most romantic evening ever, but why does it have to be on that one particular day? There is always tomorrow, and that day is just as special.

/rant

Hey there people. I know I haven't posted much lately...I'll do my best to draw some more and update with a more detailed journal sometime soon. In the meantime, I have my first ever convention looming on the horizon. This weekend I'll be in Columbus, Ohio at Ohayocon, an anime and gaming con. I plan on being in furry attire, which consists of my furry hat, and potentially a collar and/or fox tail. I doubt many people who watch this account are going to be present at the convention, but if by some chance you are, watch out for me. It's always a treat to meet internet friends in person. At any rate, I'll try to take some pics while I'm there. I'm really looking forward to it. ^_^

Stolen from Emodnet.
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1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4.
"It would have been a book about the art of director, how director Y made X shot with Z lens because he was crafting a homage to Citizen Kane or The Searchers
-- Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex-Drugs-and-Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood, Peter Biskind

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can. What do you reach?
My pillow.

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?
The Simpsons

4. Without looking, guess what time it is:
6:45

5. Now look at the clock. What is the actual time?
6:43

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
My TV

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
About 45 minutes ago, I was out shopping. I bought a $10 Best Buy gift card for a friend's birthday, and I dug Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind out of a $5 bin at Walmart for myself.

8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?
Facebook

9. What are you wearing?
T-shirt and jeans

10. Did you dream last night?
No

11. When did you last laugh?
At work

12. What are on the walls of the room you are in?
Glow-in-the-dark stars

13. Seen anything weird lately?
Heh, I wish

14. What do you think of this quiz?
As far as quizzes go, I rather like this one.

15. What is the last film you saw?
Paris, Je t'aime
Very good. I highly recommend it.

16. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy?
A ton of movies, and a house with a mini theater in it.

17. Tell me something about you that I don't know about.
I...don't know. Who are you exactly...? O_o
Um, I collect stuffed animals.

[b]18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
Legalize gay marriage

19. Do you like to dance?
OMG, no. As an eagle, my talons are meant to keep me rooted in one place. So if I try to dance around...it's just awkward for everyone involved.

20. George Bush:
...no comment.

21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
Alice, or Karen

22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?
I'd need to do some more thinking about this one, but I'm fond of Adam.

23. Would you ever consider living abroad?
I'd consider it

24. What do you want God to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?
I'm not sure I can answer this one. I'm not exactly very religious...