Another year means another Furry Fiesta! This year I took the Amtrak up from San Antonio and had a fursuit for the first time!

1. BEFORE – I’m going to be taking the Amtrak this year, which has me extra excited!
2. Why take the train?
   1. I don’t have to drive.
   2. Parking was lousy last year.
   3. I didn’t have to leave the hotel last year so I don’t really need my car.
   4. I’m leaving on Thursday so there’s no hurry.
   5. Except for having to take a Lyft to the station it’s fairly cost-effective.
   6. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.
3. Having to wake up at 5AM to catch a Lyft to the train station does reduce that excitement just a little, though.
4. Taking my partial fursuit to a convention for the first time, which is making packing…interesting.
   

   #12. Oops

5. Funny thing: Cosplays with a partial fursuit are easy: Wear a jersey: Sports Bear! Wear a lab coat: Scientist Bear! Wear a shirt and tie: Business Bear!
6. It’s going to be hard to split time between fursuiting, taking pictures, hanging out with friends and panels!
7. I’m mad at myself for losing the pre-game podcast audio that Chris and I recorded, have to be sure to not repeat that error after the con.
8. Note to self: I need more T-shirts with bears on them.
9. I said the wrong episode number on the make-up podcast recording. Fuzz it.
10. THURSDAY/TRIP UP – I won’t need them at all but I have my keys. Hard habit to shake.
11. Taking a Lyft for the first time as a passenger. I used to drive so it’s interesting to see it from the other side. Thanks Gregg!
12. Posted a picture of the train and accidentally posted it vertically, which prompted jokes about going to hell, or outer space.
13. When I owned a home, a set of tracks ran behind the house and I could see the trains pass by, including the Amtrak. Even though it’ll likely be dark I’ll be looking out for it.
14. Made a strategic decision to use the men’s room at the station after hearing about the small stalls on the train.
15. Regarding #13: Turns out the track we’re on is different than the one that goes behind my house. Well, poop.
16. We’re going at about 40 miles an hour, neat.
17. Yes, I downloaded a speedometer app to my phone just for the occasion.
18. I keep bumping my head on the luggage rack >.<
19. The self closing doors on the train threw me off at first.
20. I thought the San Antonio station was tiny, but the San Marcos stop was just a shade and some benches!
21. After the San Marcos stop we started booking it to Austin at 70mph
22. Once in Austin, we picked up a bunch of furries and spent the rest of the trip in the lounge car.
23. Pup hoods…. *sigh*
24. The train ride was great!
25. THURSDAY/ARRIVAL – Thing I forgot #1: Aftershave >.<
26. Union Station in Dallas is both impressive and depressing at the same time.
27. I’m on the 7th floor; I figured I’d live dangerously and not ask for a lower floor like I did last year.
28. I know the people in the room next door, yay!
29. Really short fursuiters will never not be cute!
    

    29. SO KYOOT!

30. My fursuit head fan is working out really well; I just have to figure out how to hide the power cable better.
31. I was going to wait for the reg line to die down but said heck with it and jumped in.
32. They quickly ran out of ‘Chaotic’ tags. Not sure if it’s because of the rainbow thing or the chaotic thing.
33. They still had plenty of Evil tags, so I guess that’s a good sign.  I went with Lawful myself
34. FRIDAY – Had to resist the urge to talk in a bad NY accent at the nearby Cindy’s NY Deli. Fuhgetabowdit!
35. Thing I forgot #2: Cash
36. Left my keys in my room and trying to get used to not having them in my pocket >.<
37. If your videogame room has only fighting games, it gets a thumbs down from me.
38. Funny to see cookies being given away in the lobby, that’s all a bunch of furries need: SUGAR!
39. Good job with the Fursuiting at Fiesta panel
40. Good panel idea: Have a raffle to keep people in the panel room ’till the end
41. Character performance how to panel was also good, though I’m irked that they took the entire hour. Leave some time for the next person, mmmkay?
42. Nothing like delaying a bathroom run because you see a line outside the door for the next panel!
43. Someone suggested I should get bear ears for my fursuit since I’m the ‘bear ears guy’ 😁  Bearception!
44. While fursuiting: Why is it getting so warm in here? Oh. The battery for my fan died. BACK TO THE ROOM STAT.
45. Sorry, normie that I squished in the elevator!
46. Another panelist went over their time. Not cool.
    

    5. Scientist Bear!

47. Scary moment: Putting my cell into my back pocket while in suit and then sitting on it!  Luckily, it survived.
48. SATURDAY – Feeling pretty good about myself; I’m usually that guy that takes his backpack everywhere, but I’ve been able to leave it in the room the whole time.
49. Regarding #36: Putting my hotel key in the pocket where my keys usually go has helped with the OMG I DON’T HAVE MY KEYS feeling
50. Thing I forgot #3: Heavy coat
51. Note to self: Check the weather before getting dressed. Froze my tail off walking to breakfast wearing shorts.
52. Cindi’s deli was great except for the ‘rolls and biscuits’
53. Thing I forgot #4: Dark socks for my ‘Business bear’ outfit.
54. Thing I forgot #5: Ears to wear when I’m not in suit.
55. I think Dr. Nuka got a smaller room this year and/or they didn’t have as many chairs. LAME.
56. Between fursuiting and walking I was dead tired by Saturday afternoon and needed a nap.
57. I bet the normies who came to Reunion Tower over the weekend didn’t expect us!
58. Hats off to the guy who sang “The Touch” by Stan Bush at karaoke. That took guts.
59. Darn it karaoke lady, make sure you pick a version of the song with the words! Lucky for me, I almost know “Once Upon a Time In New York City” by heart.
60. I saw a friend walk into into the karaoke room while I was doing my thing. He apparently didn’t think I was the one singing, didn’t bother to look at the stage and walked out.
61. It was wonderful to meet Hollyfox! She’s a sweetie.
62. Yeaah, if y’all could knock off the late night awoos, that’d be greaaat.
    

    52. Those are ROLLS

63. SUNDAY – I had breakfast at Cindi’s each day of TFF. Except for their loose interpretation of biscuits and gravy, this was not a problem.
64. Hey, let’s take the tunnel back to the hotel and get out of the cold…and it isn’t open on the hotel side.  Poop.
65. Had to finish my furscience.com homework on Sunday morning, but it got done
66. The friend I was catching a ride with home wanted to leave early, so we left early
67. I didn’t get to wear my Sports Bear outfit at the con! *sad bear face*
68. Being driven home was nice, got to (mostly) catch up on my sleep.
69. Packing extra clothes for cosplay means twice the laundry to do afterwards. *pbbt*
70. I ended up walking up and down additional 70+ floors of stairs that week according to my Fitbit. and I stayed on the 7th floor. Funny how that works!