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I haven't updated for almost 2 weeks. Blame the flurry of getting ready for a con, going to the con, recovering from the con. I refer to Indy Fur Con (Indianapolis) which is smallish yet, but showing the makings of something that will endure and grow. They need a little more finesse in allowing programming to balance itself, and some fine tuning on the con suite management. The hotel was adequate, and of course a small group (less than 500) has to take what it can get in order to have space for the usual con events. In that respect they did well, with dealers, artist's alley, art show, charity auction, photographer, parade, a zoo and a game room in addition to the con suite (something FCN needs to learn, as their con suite becomes unusable when it is permanently occupied by social groups playing cards, etc.) I can't speak to the dances as I avoid them, but I imagine they went well enough. Certainly I heard no complaints.
Elevators, as always, were an issue. This was aggravated by sharing the hotel with a boisterous and very conformist college fraternity convention. The frat boys (and alumni of some years) in their blazers or preppy shirts were amused or offended in turns by the presence of the fursuiters. I did not witness direct confrontations, but apparently some did occur. Police were summoned in one instance of which I'm aware. Overall, though, I give IFC 2012 four of five possible stars. (And I'm not easy to please, as yuo can tell.)
There's something to be said for a gathering where you can actually talk to people and get to know them, or exchange pleasantries without knowing them, and everyone keeps smiling. The suiters were delightful, the non-suiters tolerant at least, and things seemed to happen pretty much on schedule. Support the regional conventions when you can. They're working hard for you.
On the home front, it finally has rained. Twice this week, a half inch each time which may not seem like much but as dry as this summer has been that's significant. The grass has greened up already. Unfortunately we're scraping the bottom of our hay supply and I don't know what we're going to do to keep the horses fed for perhaps a month or more until another cutting comes in. So far all the suppliers we've tried are coming up empty. Our regular guy promised us 500 bales earlier, and still says he can deliver but not yet. We can get through the winter on 300, or make it to the first cutting next year on 350 or so. A stockpile of 450 would be comfortable, 500 almost ideal. Right now I'm worried about getting a couple dozen bales and what I'm going to have to pay.
Elevators, as always, were an issue. This was aggravated by sharing the hotel with a boisterous and very conformist college fraternity convention. The frat boys (and alumni of some years) in their blazers or preppy shirts were amused or offended in turns by the presence of the fursuiters. I did not witness direct confrontations, but apparently some did occur. Police were summoned in one instance of which I'm aware. Overall, though, I give IFC 2012 four of five possible stars. (And I'm not easy to please, as yuo can tell.)
There's something to be said for a gathering where you can actually talk to people and get to know them, or exchange pleasantries without knowing them, and everyone keeps smiling. The suiters were delightful, the non-suiters tolerant at least, and things seemed to happen pretty much on schedule. Support the regional conventions when you can. They're working hard for you.
On the home front, it finally has rained. Twice this week, a half inch each time which may not seem like much but as dry as this summer has been that's significant. The grass has greened up already. Unfortunately we're scraping the bottom of our hay supply and I don't know what we're going to do to keep the horses fed for perhaps a month or more until another cutting comes in. So far all the suppliers we've tried are coming up empty. Our regular guy promised us 500 bales earlier, and still says he can deliver but not yet. We can get through the winter on 300, or make it to the first cutting next year on 350 or so. A stockpile of 450 would be comfortable, 500 almost ideal. Right now I'm worried about getting a couple dozen bales and what I'm going to have to pay.
