(AKA 'The Year Shujin Forgot Fuckin' EVERYTHING!')

So, let's start with...

Thursday - TRAVEL DAY!
So, I get everything that's coming with me into whatever containers they're supposed to travel in (clothes in suitcase, computer stuff in roller box, MLP Stuff & sketchbook in bag).... and start loading up the car. Feeling good! A little behind sched, but still doing OK.

(15 minutes away from home...)

(DING) Shuuuujin... you forgot something....

(Blink) "Shut up, Brain... I got everything."

(DING) You forgot something....

"Oh, bullshit! I got my computer, my photography equipment, sketch book, MLP Dupe Stuff... I'm fin...... Where's my suitcase?!"

(Return to house, get 5 minutes away this time.....)

(DING) Shuuuujin.....

"Oh, come on! What the hell? OH! My Kink Bag! (BLINK) NOPE! Its ok, its OH-KAY! Don't need it. It'll be fine. Gunna be busy anyway."

(30 minutes from home / 2 mins before the 65+ MPH highway to Pittsburgh....)

(DING)

"...Oh, HELL no!"

(DING!)

"NOPE! I'm fine! I'M FINE! I got everything! I can see it all! I'm good!"

(DING!)

I pull into the parking lot of Toys 'R Us / BJ's Wholesale Club... get out of the car and walk around, looking in the windows saying, "I have my clothes.. my computer.. camera, lights, backdrop, reflector, two spools of electrical cable, food, books... I'm FINE! I have everything! What the fuc..... (O_o) ....where's my computer monitor?!"

...so I bought one at BJ's and kept the receipt safe to return it on the way home. (Which I did!)

With that, I jumped on the highway and made it to Pittsburgh with no issues at all. 2 hrs behind sched, but that's OK, really.

The beginnings of SLEEPCon2014 begins with :iconwitchiebunny: finishing a 15 hr session at registrations and a new best friend... who has yet to receive a name, thanks to TinyTribble. Expect fan-art of him later.

Friday
Got to spend some time chatting with DJ Ear about video games and comedy and DJing... and got a quick recording for TinyTribble from him... Thank you guy!

Got to see Raj and Verm again - so GREAT to see you guys!

Met up with most of the crew from Second Life at some point or other: Joey, Tau, Katja, Shayla and Dalan.... consumed Maple Bacon Doughnut (There Is Video!)...

As an aside... I DJ for Tau in Second Life on Wednesday & Fridays.. and for Ganador on Monday and Thursdays... they finally met for the first time and I STILL have the jobs! (BTW Spunky? Ganny did it!)

SOOO many people, too many to list.. and brain is slowing down already tonight.

Friday Night
Furry Femme Shoot went GREAT! 15 Suiters this year - still have a few CD's to get to folks, will try to get them out ASAFP. Separate post about that will be forthcoming. CD's burned and labelled for all the suiters, ready for pickup at my DJ recording the next night.

2am SleepCon

Saturday
7;30am I'm in the con lobby with my sign for "Breakfast With Fred" - to get some folks together to have breakfast at Fred Rogers' (Mister Rogers) statue across the water from the con. Its a short walk, really, but not a big deal. Were last year it was me and Joe, this time it was 6 of us... everyone signed the sign, had cereal and juice and doughnuts.... and a good time was had by all. (Video coming soon.)

Rest of the con went well - Ambaaarrhhhgggggg and Kayla and Elrond and 2 and DJ Ear and Lord Foxhole and LOTS and lots of people and stuff.

Got by friend's box set of Darkwing Duck signed by Jim Cummings, so that was great!

Fursuit parade was SWEEEET! 1300+ suiters means it was TWICE the size of Furnal Equinox!

Got to meet Doctor Dook, FINALLY! He who helped design my business cards... which got LOTS of circulation this year! (He is SO nice too!)

PLUS Crion in suit... a Crux? Colour me amazed. (LAUGH!)

Took a stroll to see about dinner before my DJ Session... and found a GREAT pub down Liberty Street, "Sammy's New York Style Famous Corned Beef" ( 901 Liberty Avenue ). The Special Sandwich on the board was JUST the right size - and a GREAT half-pickled pickle... meaning it still had that cucumber taste to it... OH great!

The 'New Zoo'..... uhm.... Just no. Felt like we were in an empty hanger instead of a social space.

Finally got to see Yawg when he came up behind me and stole my soul.... then my sketchbook, and returned it with... (SIGH) a Great and Powerful Crystal Ball.... (Pix to follow).

SleepCon was ALSO a 2AM thing.

Sunday
Got around the artists alley a bit, got Lee Tockar to sign an MLP Collectable Card of "Sea Serpent" / Steven Magnet (one of the characters he's voiced) for TinyTribble (Pix and Vid later)... and Joe got a different card signed - one of Snips and Snails.

Kage 2-Gether was another FUN event - and for charity, no less!

Closing ceremonies was bitter-sweet as always; the numbers were simply jaw-dropping! Well Done Everyone!

Was contacted about doing a photo shoot for some suiters... and why not? That's one reason why I'm there. Not going to say anything more on that shoot except to say I was surprised and honoured to be asked and trusted to do the job. (As an aside, I REALLY need to learn how to direct people into poses.)

DinnerCon with Agent Elrond, Bucktown Tiger, Floppy, Rin, Nyomi & Glelin.... Remember folks, if the nice waiter suggests a level of heat NOT to go over, follow what he/she suggests! (It was JUUUUUST right!)

Said private shoot went well and spilled into the Dead Dog party.. where I was told it wasn't her style of music. (GRIN!) Makes me want to try DJing for F.E. as an 80's DJ maybe next year!

Monday
Saying Good Bye to everyone always sucks - but everyone was looking forward to next year, as am I!

Stopped by the ToonSeum and took the 8-Bit Challenge! Didn't know ALL the 8-Bit characters on the walls... and DAMN they did good screwing with us! What I thought was Spider-Man... turned out to be Spider-HAM! And you thought that was THOR before? NOPE! It was Beta-Ray Bill! WELL PLAYED, ToonSeum! WELL played!

Drive home went well... except for needing to stop for a 20 min nap... then on the road again, return the monitor.. unload the car... and lots of sleep, which I am about to do myself.

SOOO many people I left out - Ahz and Max and Shawnte and gNaw and Arc and.. well, just TOO many to remember since brain going night-night now... but HAD to get at LEAST this much out. Have a GREAT night all!