Friday Night Awesome
What's your passion? You know, that thing that you love soooo much that other people sort of raise their eyebrow at you when they find out how crazy you are about that thing? That thing that brings a smile to your face, even though you know other people maybe don't appreciate it like you do?
Mine? Christmas decorations. But, if you've been here before, you already knew that. I get positively giddy over tacky lighted outdoor decorations, ladders that enable me to reach high peaks for icicle lights, and beefed up fuse boxes. I do it for me, because it makes *ME* happy, but I most certainly do enjoy the fact that sometimes it makes other people smile.
Some people hate my lights. Some people think the lights are a waste of electricity, money, and a neighborhood menace. But for every person who passes judgement and makes a snide remark, there's a little boy who stalks me while I'm setting up the lights and eagerly asks when they will be turned on. When they are turned on, his smiling face glows just as brightly as the thousands of little twinkly lights.
The furries turn me into that little boy. I mean, how can you NOT smile when you see this walking down the street?
SO. MUCH. AWESOME.
Every year I look forward to Anthrocon weekend in Pittsburgh. Usually I'm all about the chance run-in with someone in a fursuit, but this year, I took it to another level.
Oh, yes, I did.
Friday nights I play softball with an amazing group of twitter/blog/IRL friends. This week, some of us shifted plans a little bit and made our way downtown to go hunt some furries. We camped out in the Westin lobby and just flat-out had a blast. We asked questions. We learned more about the conference. We smiled. We laughed. And HOOBOY! did I ever take a lot of pictures.
First, my absolute favorite furry that I saw:
LOOK AT HIS/HER TOES! (Sorry, I learned a lot on Friday, but I didn't learn how to sex a furry.) You know that if I could figure out a way to make my toes light up for Christmas, I would so totally do it.
More favorites:
The tall thing in the middle? Not a furry. The other two? GLOWY EYES! Have I mentioned that I like things that light up? Because I do.
I'm also a fan of pandas. With mohawks.
And blue things.
And things that shove humans out of the way so they can have the photo all to themselves.
And things that I can't even begin to classify.
I just plain love the furries. I don't "get" the whole thing, but they'd probably say the same about my love of all things tacky and Christmasy.
So, what's your passion?
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Reader Comments (30)
Robots. Yep. I love robots.
I have been asked "Just what is it about you and that Bee?" so often this week, I'm considering getting a tee-shirt.
http://www.abeeinmebonnet.blogspot.com/
Even my Sweetie thinks it's a little odd.
Oh the love I have for that pup shoving the guy out if the photo! Terrific capture.
But I hafta ask...are those goggles on its head? Coz if so that picture somehow got a bit better...
Oh my, what a wonderful Friday night. I wonder if we have any furry events in my neck of the woods! As far as my passion goes, I think my interests are always changing. Right now I'm most passionate about food, eating clean and healthy, learning new ways to cook, trying great new local restaurants. In the same vain I am trying to be passionate about running because if you like to eat, you better like to work it off! Ha!
@hello haha narf--Yup, goggles. Bunches of furries had goggles like that.
I just get the heebie-jeebies when I see those. I have no idea why. Cute? Check. Furry? Check. Interesting? Check. I have to go with the fact that it's a bazillionty degrees outside and I'm about to die while in a cold shower, so the thought of someone in a furry suit just takes my claustrophobia to all new levels. I could probably appreciate them a whole lot more in winter.
Hi, I'm Karen. My "thing" is that I'm really, really weird. I'm okay with it.
The glowing eyes are way cool. I just have to wonder if they're still glowing when they take the heads off. Because glowing eyes staring at me in the dark all night might just give me the willies.
Okay. I am so confused right now. Why are all of these people iin furry costumes? It is just a big convention of people who like to get dressed up in furry costumes, or what? What is happening?????
Honestly, they freak me out. ANYONE could be hiding out inside one of those thingies. Creepy. Kinda like clowns. But not THAT scary. Nothing is as scary as clowns. Brrrr.
I saw someone walking down the street...looking perfectly normal. With a tail. Different strokes for different folks.
Best.Post.Ever.
They scare me.
If you love it and it doesn't hurt anyone else then go for it.
The glowing eyes are the best but I still imagine the costumes smell a little. They would probably be better off having their convention in the fall.
Mine is Halloween...but I've never been able to fully indulge my craziness. The closest I came was last year I made a panda costume out of fun fur. I'm waiting to get my own house...and not be pregnant. Hahaha.
Also I had no idea about this Anthrocon thing...totally going to check it out next year!
Fireworks. I really, really like fireworks. When I was single, I would drive pretty much anywhere to see them. But, alas, small children and loud, unexplained noises (even WITH pretty lights) don't go together. Sadly, I've watched the PGH fireworks ON TV for the last 7 years. {SIGH} Someday...
As far as this post goes...I bet you're a lot of fun at Disney World!
OMGosh it sounds like such an amazing time. The Furries sound like they are a blast and handled the stalkerazzi quite well! :)
I really have NO IDEA what this post is about. But if it makes you happy I'm happy for you!! ;-P
I got my picture on Saturday night with "Blackberry!"
Ummm...funny, or scary...not sure;)
I definitely don't get it, but hey, whatever makes them happy! I cannot think of any strange passions that I have. How dull. I will have to ask Jim.
Glad you had a blast. you totally caught a picture of my back :3
If you want, you are invited to the North East Ohio Furry Picnic in July!
@haha: yes, those are goggles. That wouldn't be the only one wearing such. Several dealers make them, in anything from modern to yes that's really iron steampunk.
--
The last image is a lop.
The next to last image is a reminder to watch out around suiters because they have no peripheral vision and still somehow spot most cameras pointed at them.
Actually, the last image is a goat, albeit a very long-eared one. If you see her next year ask her to show off her hooves, they're very stompy and she's quite proud of them ;)
@dana, do share!
@Denise
There are furry cons all over the place. Where is "your neck of the woods?" There's a pretty good chance we've got one not too far away!
@Denise
Here's a list of the well known ones.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_furry_conventions
Attendee. I had an awesomely fun time, even though I was working for most of it.
@James Bainbridge: Most fursuiters (can't speak for all of them) take great care of their suits. Most of them go to lengths to make sure they don't smell or feel sticky or sweaty to people on the outside; Febreeze, Lysol, carpet cleaner, etc. Inside, some of them are just foam padding, others actually have complex ventilation systems to prevent heat and moisture buildup so they can wear their suits longer during the summer and not pass out or reek.
Oh yeah, the glowing eyes are done either with LEDs or glowsticks. LEDs can be turned off, and the glowsticks are removed when they aren't needed.
It would be rather creepy to have a pair of glowing eyes staring at you while you slept.
"Honestly, they freak me out. ANYONE could be hiding out inside one of those thingies."
Or behind the names you talk to online, or in the other cars on the street, or in all those other buildings, which you take for granted. Fursuiters are probably safer and friendlier because their main goal is to make you happy. I think anyone trying to hide out would want to be less noticeable.
Okay, I think this is absolutely awesome and looks like a ton of fun for everyone around! My fav pic is the one pushing the guy out of the way for a pic! HA!
One day, I'm going to go to a scifi or comic con. I really am, and I'm going to love. every. second! Also, one day I'm going to go to BlogHer, which is just as odd to many people not in the blogosphere.
Also, I LOVE Halloween. LOVE LOVE LOVE everything about it, and we have a big Halloween party (for adults) every year. As soon as the kids are a little older, we'll expand for kids too.
well if you like furries you might like some of these vids I made.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE5nKh2yrso
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo_5BDVe-Fk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTQ-c07WMR8
More are coming and Anthrocon 2010 will be next.
Glad you took the time to get to know us :)
Come to Further Confusion in San Jose some time, we have an awesome convention!