Austin J Ferret

Sadly, I did NOT make it to Anthrocon as I planned. And the reasons for such have completely shattered my confidence in myself.

I have been doing so much traveling this summer, it's insane. First, I went to my first ever furry convention, Rocket City Furmeet, last month. Hell of a lot of fun, and the source of a few entertaining fursuiting stories, as well as over 100 photos of the fursuit games. ;)

Then, just last weekend, I went to Cancun for my cousin's wedding. It was pretty fun, never been out of the country before. Went deep-sea fishing, jetski driving, visited some Mayan ruins, and snorkeled on a reef. Oh, and attended a wedding and got drunk three nights in a row. Got lots of cool photos. :)

And finally, I'm leaving for Anthrocon tomorrow! Very excited about that, even though it's made me absurdly busy this week. Gonna party with some other weasels this weekend!

I've been working on a lot of projects lately, but today I realize I'm not making much progress on any one of them. I'm pretty sure I'm spreading myself too thin, but I'm not sure which project to concentrate my energy on. I know I need to stop putting effort into the projects that I can't actually finish right now, and instead concentrate on one I can (or at least, make significant progress on). So, as far as I can see, I have three options to concentrate on until I either finish them or burn out on them. They all also happen to correspond to interests you can find listed on my profile page. So, in no particular order:

Writing: I've got some stories I've been working on for a while, but still haven't finished. This is probably the fastest one to complete, and definitely the cheapest, as I don't have anything I need to buy to complete any of them.

Foreign Languages: I've been wanting to learn a language very different from English for a while now (partially to base a conlang off of for one of those stories I mentioned). I'm also hoping to study abroad for the major research project I need for my major, and if I know in advance what country I may be traveling to, studying the language beforehand might be useful. Unfortunately, none of the languages I'm REALLY interested in are offered at this university, and so I'd have to learn on my own.

Computers: I've recently gotten the idea into my head to build a gaming computer and a website. This is probably the most expensive option, and also probably requires the second-most learning after the foreign languages. However, I CAN take courses here at the university (and maybe even get some sort of computer science minor out of it), and I've also already got quite a few book resources on hand.

Not really sure why I'm putting this up. Kind of wanting advice, also kind of wondering what my friends want to see me produce the most.

Wow, I've really neglected this journal for a while. I've got some pretty good reasons, though.

Anyhow, today I went to the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History to complete an assignment for my Historical Geology class. I happened to run into some of my classmates there, and we worked on the assignment together. The interesting part, however, was what happened when we ran into the museum's resident paleontologist.

She helped us with a particularly tricky question about fossils, and then decided to let us visit the paleontology lab, where she'd been restoring a mammoth skeleton for something like 10 years. Apparently, mammoth, mastodons, giant ground sloths and all those other cool Pleistocene megafauna that were in 'Ice Age" all lived in this area of Texas! I got to find out quite a bit about how to preserve fossils in the field than I ever thought I would (wrap them in TP, not newspaper!), and got what could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see an actual paleontology lab! Of course, I'm a geology major, so I might end up seeing a lot more, but it was still pretty cool.

Also, later today I visited a pet store and got some cute sleeping ferret photos, and bought a shop vac at Home Depot so I can clean my dishwasher (don't ask).

This has been an exciting week! The weekend of the 5th, my parents helped me move into my new apartment on campus here in Corpus Christi. Although me and my dad bickered a lot, we got it all moved in and taken care of. Corpus is a pretty cool place, if it wasn’t for the buildings in the way I could see the ocean from my balcony. However, even though a lot of people would LOVE to go to school on the coast, I’d rather be attending a college in the mountains (like some ferrets I know *cough cough*).

 

I've decided to take this opportunity to start me on some new good habits, particularly regarding keeping my living area clean. So far, I think I’m doing a pretty good job of it, although cleaning the dishes today was a bit of a chore. Speaking of dishes, I’ve started cooking for myself, and although my first attempt at making grilled cheese in my toaster oven was a borderline disaster, the chili I made on… Monday, I think, turned out a lot better.

 
I’m also starting up a regular exercise routine. So far, things are looking promising, although part of me keeps worrying that my lack of running endurance is from asthma instead of being a bit out of shape.

 
I spent quite a bit of time on Wednesday just exploring the campus. Even though TAMUCC isn’t a particularly big university, to someone who’s been attending a community college it feels HUGE. I spent hours walking around, and I know I still didn’t see everything. (In fact, there’s entire buildings that are open to students that I didn’t visit.)

 
Finally, today I managed to make contact with a local fur over AIM. That would be nikawkiene, who I still have yet to meet in person. I’m going back to Houston over the next two days, so it’s gonna be at least that long before I get to meet the local furries, but I’m looking forward to it (as well as visiting some of my Houstonian friends tomorrow).

 
Next update will have photos! Well, if my camera’s working by then.

Well, it's been an interesting 11 days since my last post. Visiting my brother in Dallas was pretty cool, and even has me considering a possible change in my college major. Got to sleep in a recliner, play Halo 3 into the wee hours of the morning... Sadly, my casual search of his apartment turned up nothing furry-ish. Zip, zilch, nada. Guess we can say goodbye to there being two closet furs in this family.


After that weekend, we went back home to Houston, and as I suspected, I barely got a moment to myself with everybody home. Christmas was spent with both sides of the family as usual (since most of both sides live in town), visiting my grandparents on my mom's side first, and my dad's side in the evening. Got to play on a Wii for the first time (me and my dad got a draw in Wii Sports Boxing). Had a great time with all my family, overall. Also got lots of stuff for my future apartment on campus, a toaster oven from my grandmother, a tv, a laptop and a digital camera from my parents (although the last two are secondhand), and even a lava lamp from my other grandparents! (Thanks for that suggestion dex01!)


New Years Eve was also a goodbye party for me with the Houston furs, since I move to Corpus Christi on Saturday. Hung out at jesper_f's place, "Team Drunken Weasel" kicked ass at Taboo (even though I actually drank less alcohol than I expected to). Saw "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" on TV, and another Wii (does that mean Jesper's a Wii-sel now?). And, of course, got to see some people I might not see for months (although tonight I got some information that means I might make a quick visit back sooner than I thought).


Right now, though, I'm busy cleaning my room and packing up for the move. Also, on a more personal note, New Year's Resolutions:

1) Finally decide what I want to do with my life, and go for it. I can't really put it off any longer now.

and

2) Get a fursuit.


And one more thought for the New Year:

It turns out that sometimes, all you need to start feeling better about yourself is to ask the right person the right question, although I still have a long way to go. I can't say the details here, but you know who you are, and again I'd like to say thank you for helping me feel like I'm not alone.

Wow, I don't update this journal all that often, do I? I didn't even mention my trip down to Corpus Christi to check out the campus I'm gonna be attending next semester, or the furmeet at Moody Gardens right after that. I guess it's because I update most people by IMs.

Anyhow, later today I'm gonna be driving up to Dallas to see my brother, and then we'll both drive back here Saturday to be with family for Christmas. Now, my brother has, or at least had, "pre-furry tendancies," particularly A) owning most (if not all) of the Redwall books up to that time and B) having what can best be described as a tiger fursona as a kid. So, I'm gonna ferret around in his apartment to see if there's any hint of fandom involvment.

"But AJ," you say, "why not just ASK him?" Well, two reasons. One, I'm a sneaky little weasel, I only directly ask people things as a last resort. Two, there's some... "history" in my family that makes asking that sort of question a lot more complicated.

Anyhow, I probably won't be online much, if at all, between now and after Christmas. See you all later!

What the-? I thought I posted this 2 days ago! Oh well, better correct it now.

Last Saturday, I organized my first furmeet, at a laser tag arena. Despite a few snags (like getting lost on the Gay Roads - "because they are definitely not straight!"), the meet was a hit, with 9 furs showing up. We only got to play one game, but everyone seemed to have fun (particularly when we all fortressed up in one corner of the arena). Afterwards, we all hung out at a nearby mall, which was actually kinda boring aside from the furries (stupid arcade full of broken machines...). I then got to take both Cam and Alex home (Alex rode up with me), which was interesting, since they live on opposite sides of Houston. Didn't get home until LAAATE that night.

The next day, I picked up Cam and Alex and took them over to Jesper's to make him a duct-tape dummy. Ate pizza, wrapped a fur in duct tape, and watched AMV Hell on YouTube. Also got a very funny photo out of it:



Say hello to Jesper the Space Ferret! (Sadly, we didn't think to get the gloves until AFTER we cut the duct-tape off...)

After that was even MORE driving, a stop at a gas station for drinks that took WAY longer than it should have, and idle discussion of a furry road trip. After that, bed.

OK, so I've kind of gotten behind on my journal. That's because of a big event that happened Halloween night (that most of you already know about), as well as several smaller ones. I'm not posting about any of those, though. No, I'm posting about the furmeet today!

Today was the second of my lonestarfurs.org furmeets. Picked up SilentPhantom/PhantomFox, a fur I met recently, and drove us to a Cici's Pizza near the center of town (OK, it's more like "nearer to the center of town than we are"). Alex had arrived before us, and acted as the fur-beacon since he was the only one wearing a tail. Then we had... Vifyfox? I think that was the name, show up (he's definitely in the "stealth fur" category), followed by "Random Dragon" (furs on motorcycles! Woo!) I forget who showed up next, but by the time it was all said and done, we had something like 14 furs taking over the Cici's.

After the pizza, most of the group headed to this place called the "Chocolate Bar," which had all sorts of sugary treats (although I didn't have any due to being full of pizza). I managed to steal Pat's chocolate cake not once, but TWICE. Best part was when he blamed Phantom instead of me...

After the Chocolate Bar, an even smaller group of furs (including myself) went to Dave & Buster's for some videogame goodness. Unfortunately, I ran out of cash early on playing Crisis Zone (man, that game is HARD), and so spent the rest of the night sneaking up behind furs and surprising them. Yes, I'm an evil little weasel.

Oh, also managed to meet two old friends there, even though neither of them recognized me until I told them who I was.

I hate my coworkers.

I hate my job.

Heck, for that matter, I hate college.

But most of all, I hate the fact that I work weekends while the rest of the Houston furry community is planning all their events on those very same weekends. I wish I could have a normal schedule, but that doesn't look likely for at least two years, and odds are I won't be living in Houston then for one reason or another.'

Bleh.

Here's some pictures other furs took at the meet that I felt like sharing:



We saw this guy when we all met at the gate.



Hey Audience! It's the Ded Bob Sho!



Pink Unicorns DO exist!



Furs carrying my stuff I won at the Pirate's Auction. What's really funny is that I'm actually in this picture, but I'm hidden by other people.



One of the MANY Jack Sparrows we saw.


Oh, and a belated birthday shoutout to dex01!

Yesterday was quite possibly the highlight of this year for me, since I went to my first furmeet in years... and not only that, but at the Texas Renaissance Festival too! I met 5 new furs, scored lots of swag, and had an incredible amount of fun (and spent a LOT of money, but that's not important).


Overall, this meet has me excited for the future, and I can't wait to find out what the next event I can attend is gonna be.
 

OK, we're all furs here (probably), so we've all heard of "phantom tail syndrome," where you feel like you've got a tail coming off your rear either because you've been wearing one so much you start feeling it even when it's not there, or because of some random reason or another no one can really explain.

dex01 told me over Skype today that he woke up this morning with a phantom tail, and had been dealing with it all day. Now, I'd heard of "phantom tail syndrome" before, and had even experienced a very weak version of it a few times in the past, but Dex's sounded much more... rich than any of mine had been. He could feel it, move it, pinch it in a door... while I'd never had anything more than a vague "swishy" sensation that never lasted much more than 5 minutes.

However, a few minutes after he logged off, I went out to buy some shampoo (ran out last night), and as I drove up there, I started getting uncomfortable in my seat. And as I got out of my truck, my rear felt "heavier." At this point, you can probably figure out where I'm going with this.

Actually, even though this WAS the longest and fullest PTS event I've ever had, it wasn't quite what I was hoping for. For one thing, I never really got any sensation from it, and there was only one brief moment where I could "move" it. Also, it never really felt like it was long enough. More like a weasel's tail than a ferret's. Even so, there were plenty of phantom sensations that came and went at various times over the next couple of hours. Pretty cool overall.

Also, if any of you weasels reading this have a PTS experience later, let me know. We might have a contagious mustelid strain running around. :)

At least, that's how I feel after doing an analysis essay on "The Lowest Animal." Seriously, it feels like a well-written, 19th-century version of one of those "hyoomans suck!" rants I see from time to time in corners of the furry fandom. I can't help but wonder what his fursona would be if he were alive today...

Obligatory linkage, even though it's not the full version: http://smashboards.com/archive/index.php/t-17966.html

Oh, and Happy Birthday to tahoe!

...you and your friends get excited about finding all of "Animalympics" on YouTube.

On Thursday, dex01 made the above discovery, and so on Friday we got friends on Skype, and had our own "Mystery Furry Theater" session. One of the most fun things I've ever done on the internet, even if coordinating everyone's viewing was a pain.

Interestingly enough, I'd never seen Animalympics other than a few brief clips here and there up till now.

What happened to mtdewhusky's LiveJournal? I log on this morning and it's been deleted!

Vietnamese food is good.

I'm needing to write one of those admission essays where you tell the admissions board (or whoever) about yourself so I can (hopefully) transfer to a 4-year school in the spring. The problem is I can't think of anything about myself that puts me in a positive light. I need to talk to some relatives or something...

I remember how this aired shortly after I first got into the fandom, and how many furs (including myself) freaked out about how much damage this would do to the fandom's image (I've got a much better sense of perspective now, thankfully). I'm not actually watching it (seen it plenty of times before), but coming across it while channel surfing reminded me of my LiveJournal ,so I'm posting here.

School's actually going a bit better, I've improved in concentrating on my assignments over the last couple of days. There's a girl in my Physics class that I've taken an interest in since she wore a SPCA shirt (hey, gotta start somewhere with common interests). I'm also still sore in a couple of spots from that workout on Monday.

Speaking of Monday, I had my first friending by someone I didn't friend first. Thanks, thepeebz! Also, I think I made a small difference in a young fur's life by letting him know that he's not the only fur to ever deal with problems he's having with his parents. Gave me a nice warm fuzzy feeling.

And in other news, a tropical storm's set to hit Houston this evening. Probably won't be a problem, the college hasn't even canceled classes for tomorrow, at least that I know of.

It's been over a week since I last updated this. Fortunately, I've got some actual stuff to post today!

Today's lesson in my Fundamentals of Music class revolved around rhythm. The prof asked me (along with a few other students) to make a noise that we'd use to illustrate rhythm. So, I made my impersonation of a ferret's "dook" sound. Apparently it's funnier-sounding that I think it is, since most of the class had to stifle a laugh.

Later, I got my first essay assignment in Composition. I'm gonna have to analyze either John Stuart Mill's "What Utilitarianism Is," or Mark Twain's "The Lowest Animal." Since the latter has Twain comparing humans to other animals, I'd probably have to turn in my fur-card if I didn't write about that one.

Finally, to anyone who has a physically-demanding job: if you start an exercise program, don't assume that you can "skip ahead" because your job gives you lots of exercise already. Because the muscle groups that DON'T get worked out on the job will not be happy. Learned that lesson the hard way this evening.