I am back home from FWA... Well, it was relaxing... I went expecting awesome and got “meh”... I did not get to hang out much with anyone, did not get invited to any parties, and accomplished nothing. The new hotel while a Sci-Fi architects wet dream with very posh rooms is badly laid out for a furry convention and was from my observation not conducive to the social aspect of most furry cons.

The elevators were a nightmare with wait times as much as 1 hour to get to the lobby, and twice that to get to the con suite. Using the stairs is not a good option, the hotel has 72 floors. The con-suite was on floor 66 (took me 30 minutes to get a soda going from my room on 17 and back by elevator). I did not suit and felt sorry for those that did for the excessive waiting at the elevators. The schedule booklet was 2 pages, and explained nothing about anything and had numerous time type-o's.

Most of the events were spread across 4 floors, while the only real place to sit and hang out with anyone was not on any of those. The Artist Alley had no air and was a bit cramped, as a result it was hot, humid, and stank of pencil shavings and body odor. The Dealer's Den on the other hand was open, well lit, nice, and comfortable. On Sunday EVERYTHING was shut down at 5pm. No game room, no artist alley, no nothing for those who stayed for any dead dog activities. This was a change from years passed.

All I did all weekend was wonder around, and roam the dealers den and artist alley, and play board games. On occasion I ran into someone I knew for a few minutes in the halls. I had a $50.00 bottle of scotch with me and drunk none of it. It was relaxing, but not very exciting. Next year, it may be better as they settle into this new hotel.

The good parts: The local food was amazing, the beds were stellar, the rooms were posh, I got to see my brother (who lives in the area), and I found a board game I LOVE, Battle Wizards. Its like super jail with magic.

I am still a bit jet-lagged from the trip, and recuperating from that more then anything.

Ryngs D. Ratt