What a fucking awesome con.

Really, it was great. Not to mention it gave me an excuse to go into Chicago and see the Shedd Aquarium and eat a pizza pot pie courtesy of the Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Co., which was ASTOUNDING.

MFF itself didn't disappoint either! I got there on Friday and the hotel checked me in to a room of the 4th floor—so within stairing distance of the event rooms, v important!—got my art hung in the show in RECORD TIME thanks to MothMonarch and her friend Alpha (THANKS FOR THE POCKY BTW) and then met up with kittiara where we surprised Moth with a Byzantine Badge of her character—HER REACTION WAS PRICELESS! I also got a leafed and laminated print of my own badge, so I could wear it around at cons (the original is matted and framed and hanging in a place of honor in my home). Bless Kitt, for she is amazing! She also gave us Stracciatella-flavored Lindt truffles, and in revenge I gave her special Shedd Aquarium-themed chocolate.

The giving of sweets seemed to be a theme at this con. catmonkshiro brought us Aero and Mars Bars from Canada, while Moth herself brought three bags of Lindt truffles. Not to be left out, I brought a pound of my local sweet shop's best California walnut and pecan turtles—and some Chanukah gelt, for 1st night on the 6th.

It was a very good-tasting weekend.

Friday night was PANEL NIGHT. I got to sit on two writing panels chatting with Rob Baird and Sparf about world building, and then with Sasuke and Varzen about writing lifestyle. They were two very different panels, but interesting in their own way. I had a blast, and I hope everyone else did too.

I also had a reading that night, which was attended by some people who I had never met before! (This is incredible!) I managed to get through my allotted material with time leftover for questions and an extra "flash fic" which was fun. Though not many people came, I saw many of them afterwards and they all said they enjoyed themselves. This is very gratifying: I've been somewhat hesitant to bring my literary work to fur cons since it's not strictly furry (more general F and SF), so the kind reception is especially appreciated.

As far as panels go: I also interviewed ino89777 about the Dutch Angel Dragons, which was awesome. Ino is a great interview-ee and made my job incredibly easy. Which was just as well since I was pretty pooped from the fursuit parade (and still half in suit!). She also provided one of the highlights of the con for me: my very own Dutch AD hoodie! It is soft and warm and was the perfect thing to keep me from getting chilled in my sopping wet underarmor. THANKS MAMAPHONE!

Anyone who was at the panel and would like to learn more about the Dutchies, check out the website: http://www.dutchangeldragons.com

Also got to sit in the Artist Alley on Sat and Sun; took a few commissions which allowed me to visit with Diana Stein and co while we all sat up working together and eating chocolates and nuts. It was good times.

More good times were had with Kitt and her friends. I got to hang out with some folks I've admired for a long time from afar (HI MANADAGR AND ZEPHYRUE!) (also Qarrezel!) and also some new peeps—keeatah and forgess and gyrhawk and more whose internet names escape me at the moment… (so sorry! I'm bad with names!) It was great.

Sunday I mostly sat in the alley doing brush pen sketches, which was fun. Got floppybelly to make me a pipey Dreidel—which actually worked, amazingly—but scuttled off in the last moments to do some shopping in the den. I was REALLY impressed with lobster-ball's work this year. I mean, she was great back in 2013 but man has she upped her game. So of course I had to get something. :D

One of the best things about this MFF was all the suiting I got to do! AttackTachyon ran around every day, giving out candy (seriously, we had SO MUCH) and being an adorable little shit. We glommed in with a bunch of other Dutchies for the parade and it was awesome. I also got to suit a bunch with monoyasha which was awesome. Woman is a fursuiting MENACE. I think I saw her out of suit like once and that was Monday morning when we were leaving. XD Anyway, rock on you wonderful monster! Perhaps most gratifying however was all the people who recognized Tachyon and came up for hugs and pictures. The response to this character continues to blow me away and I just feel so fortunate that I can bring some cheer and joy into the lives of so many people. If you have any pics or video of Tachyon, please feel free to drop them here or on my FA (AgentElrond) or at AttackTachyon directly.

So many amazing experiences, it was all topped by going out to dinner at Smoque in Irving Park for Sunday DinnerCon with Floppy, Moth, Shiro, and danraccoon. I knew it would be hard to beat the pizza pot pie, but damn if Smoque's BBQ didn't give it a good run. I think it was a tie, actually. Even though we walked in at rush hour the staff was totally friendly and efficient and kindly let us camp at our table after we'd finished our dinner playing spin the Dreidel with the pipey version Floppy made and the leftover candy. Some of us did better than others, of course, but in the end we just dumped all the gelt into the middle of the table and took turns taking a piece at a time, so everyone went home with something.

All in all it was a delightful end to one of the best cons I've ever had. The only low point really was discovering I hadn't sold a single thing in the art show—but hey, at least this takes care of what I'm sending to FC next month!

Speaking of next month: yes, I'll have art in the show at FC, but I will not be there myself. I'm saving my con energies for Anthro New England the weekend after, where I will be (weather gods permitting) dealing and selling prints, books and commissions, alongside my best bud Moth. I hope to see you there!

Tachyon is coming too, of course.

Until next time, happy holidays, stay safe, and take care!

~Rondie