Hey, a lot of my posts are turning into Friends-Only.  Just post a reply or add me as a friend, I will add you to my list.

So, not many people might know this, but I had a serious problem about a few years back. I was extremely addicted to heroin. Sure, I was a stupid kid (20) and figured, why not, let's get it a try and see what everyone says this stuff was so great. All it really took was one night, and I was hooked. All I wanted was to get home and use it as much as I could. Slowly, personal relationships started taking a backseat to my addiction, even my work performance started declining.

Well, after I moved to Europe, I decided to go cold turkey and quit. I started using other drugs as a distraction, and while they were good and fun, they just didn't give the same rush as it did when I was using heroin. Well, a few years when past, and the urges always popped-up every once in a while. I decided to try it again, some time last year, but luckily, nothing much really happened from it. I just wasn't feeling it, and dropped it again and didn't look back.

A few months ago, I met a new guy, and him and I started to become really good friends. Well, I found out that he used the stuff, and quite a bit as well. He reminded me of me back in 2005. Well, one night, I decided to go to his place and sit around and chill. And, that's when he said that we should start using heroin. In fact, he made it so easy for me, that I decided that I'd give it another chance. And, well, it was like that magical night so many years ago. I knew it wouldn't take long to get hooked on the stuff again.

Well, we used it together for a few nights in a row, and I swore to myself not to get hooked. I swore that I'd only use it with him, and so far I've been able to keep to my word. At least, so far. I do know that I can't wait to get home and use it some more.

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Now, I'm sure someone is thinking, 'OMG, I never knew you had an addiction!!!" Well, I do. I have a massive addictive personality, however, I'm not stupid enough to even think about using heroin. Heroin was just a metaphor (a very fitting metaphor), the real story is this...

( Read more... )

It seems like a silly question, right? But, it seems to be one that is always in the background of the fandom.

( Is Now A Good Time to be Furry? )

The Unrelenting

Complete 30 days-in-a-row at work without taking a day off.

Completed by Fawks Beaumont on 20 Oct 09

Title Reward: The Soulless

So, Friday, as I was leaving work, I was snagged by the women in charge of Personnel in the hallway.  She told me that my extension was denied.  So, as it stands right now, I will be leaving Belgium sometime in January, and my final working day is December 30.

But, does the story continue... I'm not sure.  But, at least the news of me leaving this place put a huge smile on my face.

So, I must say that the timing for this was perfect considering the journal I made yesterday...

( Military Ranting - Beware the DMZ )

Oh well, I'll worry about plotting these things later.  Tonight, my internet at home is going to be shut off as my roommate is finally moving out soon.  And, on top of that, opening night for the theatre is tonight, so I'm a little excited about that.

And, I really need to get a furry military icon... just need to find an artist that'll do it.

So, I've know about this for a while, but I've forgotten to tell friends about this, mostly because people were usually in a really good mood, and I hate to drop bad news.  But, I've been put into a bad mood today, and I can combine the news with a rant.

Well, a while ago, I can't really remember when, but it was somewhere around EF.  Either way, I was notified that my extention had got a disapproval stamp on it.  While this doesn't mean that it's disapproved, mostly because I have a lot of high-ranking officials backing it, it does put a major hinderance on the whole process.  But, it's been over a month now since the paperwork was originally started and I've still not gotten news, good or bad, about the final status of the extention.  However, with the sudden increase of staffing (we will be up to either 7 or 8 by year's end versus 4 around June), it's looking more and more unlikely that it will be approved.  And remember, this is only the first of two parts.

Now, I'm not really upset about this news.  I've learned a long time ago not to get my hopes up about things like these.  But, what's really upsetting me lately is the lack of news.  Since the extention was filed, the DA (Department of the Army) was notified not to place me on any orders until the extention was resolved.  Now, at the time, that was a good thing.  However, since this whole process is taking so long, I'm less then four months from when I need to leave Belgium (65 working days to be exact), and I still have no idea what I'm going to be doing, or even living, after that time period.

This has happened to me a lot since I've joined the military, and it is my biggest annoyance of all.  Right now, as far as anyone can be concerned, my life ends on the 16th of January 2010.  Simply because I have no idea what I'm doing after that date.  Simple questions like 'which cons I can attend next year', or 'when will I be able to travel around to see friends', or more importantly, 'what state, country, hemisphere am I going to be living in', 'when will I be able to see my family again', or, 'in a year's time am I going to be getting shot at'.

I've had to given up a lot of 'liberties' in order to live the life that I do.  There are things that you probably do or can do everyday that I can't do even if I wanted to.  I can't have a relationship, I can't choose where I live, I can't have privacy at home, I can't even quit my job.  But, not knowing what I can even do in my near future is the thing that drives me nuts the most.

*sigh* I think I need a nicotine infusion.

So, last night was the first full rehearsal for the stage production that I'm working with.  I've really been wanting to get back into theatre, but I have been slowly been getting more interested in the tech side more then anything else.  Well, since they were looking for a sound guy I decided to help out.

I must admit, I was a little nervous as I wasn't 100% sure what they wanted from me.  So, when I arrived, ran into the director, Dan, and light guy, Tom (whom I've known from when I was still acting) and then met the sound design guy.  Of course, after the friendly hello and such, he started drilling me on questions like what experience I have with theatre and sound.  The conversation went a little like this...

( Can I Put 'I'm a Furry' On My Resume? )

This is mostly a post for myself, because my memory is poor lately, and I always forget all of the webcomics that I'm currently reading.  So, I'm posting the here just in case my Post-It note ever finally disappears.  I'm shocked I've kept the thing for as long as I have.  I really have no idea how I've started reading so many, and I'm sure there are still some I'm forgetting or stopped reading long ago.  Either way, if you're curious, have a peek.  You might find something you like.  I seriously recommend reading at least the first of the "Non-Furry Comics".

( Non-Furry Comics )

( Somewhat Furry Comics )

( Furry Comics )

Time to throw something fun into the mix, shall we?  I been thinking about what outfit I'm going to have for Frappuccino for EF this year.  I've been doing pretty good about making him have an outfit to match the theme of the con he's been too, but this year, Fernel is taking that honor away from him.  So, I've had thing up something different, and I've decided to just do something.. well... different.  This year (hopefully) you'll get a chance to see Frappuccino on his take of the Playboy Bunny.  Well, more like Playgirl Bunny.  He is a guy after all. :D

And, just to throw up a random picture I found on my computer, feel safe, this bunny is on patrol.

( To Save Space On Your Friend's Page )

A clique is an exclusive group of people who share interests, views, purposes, patterns of behavior, or ethnicity.  A clique as a reference group can be either normative or comparative. Membership in a clique is often, but not necessarily, exclusive, and qualifications for membership may be social or essential to the nature of the clique. The term 'clique' may be used pejoratively.

( Dare To Read On? )

EDIT: I should have said this beforehand, this was all inspired from reading furry forums.  I really need to learn to stay away from those.

So, Eurofurence only a couple of weeks away, and as always, I'm excited for it!  The next couple of weeks are going to be insanely hectic for me, full of deadlines and various things that need to be done before the con, but I can't say that I'm not excited all the same.

I must say, this year, I really don't have a plan on what I want to do.  I know a lot of people that will take about which friends they want to see, people they want to meet, art they want to buy, fursuits they want to hug, and beers they want to drink.  But, this year, my plan is just going to survive and not get TOO drunk, which we all know I'm going to fail at.

Conventions for me are all about the people that attend them.  So, anyone that wants to grab me when I'm not busy, feel free.  I'm going to try my best this con to be extremely socialable, so don't be surprised if I randomly pounce (in and out of fursuit) on people and start being talkative, or at least nodding a lot in suit.  This is the big con of the year for me, and the best chance to spend time with people I only see at conventions.  Plus, there are a lot of people I want to get to know a little better, some that I've only met at cons in the past and some I've never met at all.  And, of course, spending time with my best friends in the fandom... even though most of them will end up being busy. :D

If I'm not around the lounge and lobby, I'm probably either doing something in the fursuit lounge, helping fursuiters out somewhere, or getting ready for an event.  By all means, feel free to text me or snag me if you feel up for doing something, as long as I'm not busy.

And, everyone that will be there, I wish you all a great convention!  See ya there.

So, I've been meaning to get some pictures up of my new fursuit, but man, talk about a project and a half just to get the suit on.  It's a partial, but in order to make any partial really look, it takes a lot more work then a fullsuit.  This suit is really the first suit I own that requires two people to put on correctly.  But, I've still managed to get some pictures, and they aren't edited at all.  You'll know what I mean when you see them.

But, Beaumont V3 (just how I refer to him) will be at EF.  He is, as some have coined the phrase, "me with fur".  Seriously, look at my normal icon I've always used when you see the pictures.  Now, I just need to find a way to smoke, and I'll be fine.

( Less Text, More Pictures! (+2) )

He was made by magpiebones , please check out her site!

So, yesterday, I was lucky enough to snag a commission from Lizardbeth because she is trying to raise money to buy herself a new computer.  I stumbled across her work because I love digging through webcomics, and Broken Plot Device is one of the few furry comics that I actually read on a regular basis.  Either way, onto the art...

( It's A Sammich of Deliciousness! )

Just a random train of thought here, it will probably derail (just a fair warning).

So, this is something that I noticed while watching the CF video.  Most of the time, the subjects of said video had a drink (or two) in hand.  Now, I'm not going to lie, I was pretty much drinking non-stop at the convention, and I do have a regular habit of drinking every night at every con, with a lovely hangover the next morning sometimes.  And, it's not just me.  Look at the Kage vs. 2 show at EF, they are completely blitzed by the end of the show.

But, I'm wondering... does all of the exposure of alcohol to say, younger furs that are attending cons for the first time, actually make them want to drink to be social.  Everyone knows that alcohol is a social drug, in the sense that it makes it easier to loosen up and freely talk to anyone about anything... and loosing the ability to shut up at times.  Should cons maybe put in a mention about the dangerous of excessive drinking the same way that the EF and RBW promoted safe sex?  I know at last EF I had to look over a couple furs that drank WAY too much, and I know I've seen plenty just passed out in random places.

Mind you, this is just mainly food for thought, but comments are very welcome.

Poll #1431004 Ardennes Weekend
Open to: Friends, detailed results viewable to: Friends, participants: 8

Which option would you be more interested in?

When would be a good time for this?

So, this was an idea I had last year, but due to some logicistical missight on my side, it never really happened.  However, I did get a lot of positive response about people wanting a camping/outdoor furmeet.  So, this year, I'm thinking about planning a furmeet that will happen post-EF.  And, I have two major options right now that I'm bouncing around, and I'd like some input about what others would be more interested in.

Camping around Rochefort

This is the cheaper and less-structured option out of the two.  Basically, it would involve meeting up on Friday night, throwing up some tents and relaxing around a campfire.  Saturday, we have some options in the surrounding area of places to visit, such as the Han-sur-Lesse Grotto or the castle ruins in Rochefort, all of them are inexpensive and easily accessable, and don't require too much physical activity.  Saturday night will have us returning to the campground to relax and sleep for the night to wake up Sunday, break-down, and head home. 

Total cost is ~20-60 Euro per person (depending on activities), food + drink not included, and you must provide ALL of your own gear.  With this option, there wouldn't be a rush to run around to make sure we made timetable, and would result in a relaxing weekend with friends.  We can choice what food everyone wants, and grill it up (think American steaks here. :P), and don't have to worry about waking up early in the mornings.  Fursuiting is also a possibility with this one.

Durbuy Adventure

This is the more expensive, but all included adventure package in Durbuy.  It would involve meeting up at Durbuy on Friday night or Saturday morning, and would be non-stop physical activities to include hiking, biking, kayaking, and many more.  All meals are included (you'd have to bring your own beer though. :P) and heated tents are already provided AND set-up.  All you'd need is your sleeping bag, and for those that don't have one, one can be rented. 

Total cost ~100-150 Euro per person, but once again, everything is included.  However, all of the packages have very set timetable, and would require everyone to wake up and be ready early in the morning.  Also, there isn't any cookouts or BBQs because all of the meals are prepared for you.  Fursuiting isn't a viable option with this one.

In reference to what is going on with Num8, I have two things to say.

-Don't forgot about all the great things the furry community (yes, a lot of us are a community) did to help him out with what he wanted when we all thought that he was dying.

-Don't be afraid to ask the tough questions, sometimes the unbelievable is actually unbelievable.

Please, nobody snap to conclusions right away.  This is either a really good hoax that is perfectly timed and executed to get someone want that wanted at the expense to whom he considered friends.  Or, this is a horrible joke to be playing on someone for some unknown reason.  We aren't all naive, so don't act that way, please.