i'm 29 now
wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Not sure what our follower overlap is like, but just as a heads-up - there's someone impersonating  desiredfor55 /Yasker on Discord. Keep an eye out for their username - the impersonator's username is __zawn__. They tried messaging me after I left a comment asking about pricing on Yasker's current YCH, so be wary.

are the regular FA banner and adult content warning label for posts missing for anyone else lol

hi fa how's it going

we're here
we exist
we are valid

stay safe y'all ♥

is picarto just totally busted for anyone else lately? for the past couple of days it's been nearly unusable for me - stream pages take FOREVER to load if at all, and more often than not the stream itself either doesn't load period (black screen) or won't actually play (stuck on a preview image forever). it's like this on every stream i've tried, not any specific users

yeah okay
after using the modern layout for a while, i... really don't like it. navigating the classic layout is just too deeply ingrained in me to adjust to the new layout.

sooo the question from that last journal is still open - does anyone know if there are any alternatives to filteraffinity out there?

i do not recommend getting hit with a huge dose of self-loathing over having hearing issues thanks to a poorly-edited video the night before planning on going to a convention where there are going to be lots of people
it's a pretty miserable experience and a good way to kill your enthusiasm hard (it took me at least two hours to get out of bed today)

will update this journal if i do decide to attend vf after all, but today definitely wasn't a good day for it

So! Vancoufur 2025 opens tomorrow.

Am I gonna be there? I, uh, I'm not entirely sure. I've not been at 100% over the last week, and I'm feeling pretty high-strung today, if I'm honest... but I am pre-registered, so.

Keep an eye out for a 6'1~2"-ish guy with long brown hair, a blue Kass hoodie (, and this badge! Just... please be understanding of my hearing sensitivities and anxiety, heh. ^^;

so, yeah, display names. neat, but uh, they also totally broke filteraffinity, which is kind of a huge bummer because i used that for blocking content i don't want to see because i'm on the old layout and just don't jive with the new one at all. :/

anyone know if there are any other browser extensions/plugins (for chrome or opera specifically) for blocking content via tags/usernames/whatever on the old FA layout?

EDIT: okay scratch the layout bit, because as far as i can tell even the tag blocking on the new layout doesn't allow you to block posts by usernames. anyone know of any solutions?

im almost an hour late shhhhhhhhhh

but yeah! happy new year!!!!!!!!!! i would say i'm gonna try and draw more in 2025 but i'm so incredibly bad at keeping to that resolution lmao

wowowowow i feel like it's been a while huh
what have i even been up to...

I guess I'm at the tail end of the initial recovery period for my eye surgery now? I've got an appointment coming up to make sure they're still healing alright, though last indications were very positive. I'm not required to wear sunglasses when outside for very much longer, though with how much more sensitive they are now I likely still will for a while. Either way, the results were definitely worth it. I think my eyes dry out a bit more easily than they used to, but the upsides definitely outweigh that.

Between that and general motivation problems (I still don't think my ADHD meds are doing what they're supposed to), I haven't done much drawing I'm afraid. I'm still sitting on an idea for a Halloween pic that I wanted to get done, but despite having it for at least two or three months prior... welp. And I know I've still got a trade pending from, like, June or July as well, oops. Hopefully I'll be able to buckle down and get back into the groove this month.

I've been spending most of my time lately working on my Source ending modding endeavours. I've still been plugging away at my Black Mesa mod (which is coming along very well, if I do say so myself), and more excitingly, I've joined the development team for FUBAR, an upcoming fan remake of Half-Life: Opposing Force. I can't say much, obviously, especially since we're only a few months into development, but I'm very excited about what we're doing. :3

I've also been working on some VN writing on the side. I still don't have an ETA on that, and I'm hesitant to give one, since there's still a fair amount to finish up as well as QA and polishing work, but that's shaping up quite well, too (if a bit slower than I'd like because I can't focus worth shit OOPS). If you liked All-Nighter, keep an eye out. ;3

I suppose I've also got a backlog of art from other artists (commissions, gifts, trades, etc.) that I should probably upload at some point... Something to get started on, I guess.

So, uh, yeah! Figured it was as good a time as any for a quick update journal, lol. Hopefully more bird shenanigans coming soon.

I dunno that I'm likely to really use it that frequently, but since everyone else is jumping ship from Twitter to Bluesky, might as well link mine here as well, I guess. https://bsky.app/profile/kyuugryphon.bsky.social

Also, I know I'm late to the party, but I finally caved in and set up a Telegram account for myself, too. You can find me at @kyuugryphon. Again, not sure how likely I am to use it frequently/as a regular mode of contact, as compared to Discord, but it's there, so if anyone wants to add me, feel free~

yeahhhhh buddy

Okay, so I'm still only on, like... day four of the recovery period, but my eyes are feeling pretty good already. They're still a little sensitive to the light, and my vision still hasn't cleared up all the way, but they've definitely improved and I can look at my computer screen and stuff without straining them too much, so that's cool.

I lucked out in terms of healing quickly, I think - the expected recovery timeline I was given was to have good vision for days 1 and 2 post-op, foggy/blurry vision on days 3 and 4 as the epithelial layer of my corneas healed over, and improving vision starting on day 5. I found that my eyesight was fogging over on day 2, and here on day four, things are pretty much back to normal.

Overall? Definitely worthwhile, though I wish I'd managed to time it a bit better. It's been too hot to just lie around doing nothing for the past couple of days, but until today my eyes haven't been good enough for me to really do much of anything. I was kinda starting to go a bit stir-crazy, lol.

So, uh, yeah. That's how that's been going! Feels pretty good, lol.

First off, thanks for all the birthday wishes! That means a lot to me, really. <3

Anyway, more pressingly - I've been wanting to get laser eye surgery for a long time due to how much my glasses irritate me, and I've finally got an appointment booked for next week. I'm going to be getting the surgery done on the 3rd.

I don't know how I'm going to take to the recovery process, so there's a non-zero chance I'll be out of commission for a little while. I'm not sure if I'll be able to focus enough for drawing or anything like that... not that i do anywhere near as much of that as i'd like to lmao

Just as a heads-up, I guess.

yuppppppp
wild huh

how's it hangin

I've been trying to figure out what to say for hours here, but I'm still speechless. While I'm no stranger to clowning on FA for its technical issues, or for things like the AUP update from last May, I'm incredibly grateful for both FA as a site and for all the friends I've made through here.

Words fail me right now. I don't think I can express myself adequately, but nonetheless - Thank you, Dragoneer, for all you've done in establishing and managing this site for the community. It's made a huge difference in my life, and the lives of countless others. Rest in peace.

y'all know what to do

uvu

So, uh, yeah. Thaaat didn't quite work as planned.

Long story short - got up to the hotel, headed over to register in the morning, met up with  PitchBlackProductions (total cutie ps)... and promptly realized that it was 1. too warm, 2. too loud (and my earbuds didn't quite work as hoped, unfortunately), and 3. retreating to my hotel room to try and recharge energy just didn't work (too far from home + no privacy). As much as I would've liked to have stuck around, it was just too much for me to handle right now.

In the long run, though, it was probably better to get back home early - I've heard the smoke and heat have gotten worse in Edmonton, as have the forest fires in central BC (and the smoke was already bad enough that I had trouble handling it on the drive back). It would've been nice to hang out for more of it, but ah well.

Moving forward, I've got a better idea of what to expect from longer-distance furry cons. There's still Howloween coming up in early November, which is pretty close to me, so odds are good that I'll be attending that, at least. This also gives me a pretty reasonable long-term goal: working my way up to attending Fur-Eh! 2025. Having a better idea of the challenges I'll face means I'll be able to prepare for them better, y'know?

Hopefully Fur-Eh! was fun (and not too hot!) for those who stuck around for it. :> Here's to making it through next year's~

Soooo... I dunno how much people still do this, but I've always thought those convention meme journals were a good way to get information across, even before going to a con was something even remotely feasible for me to do. I'm gonna take a page out of  SabreDragon's journals here, let's go!

---

Where are you staying?
Delta Hotels Edmonton South Conference Centre (the overflow hotel)

What days will you be there?
I'd have to double-check my reservation, but I believe we're planning on arriving sometime on the 17th and leaving the morning of the 22nd.

How are you traveling?
Road trip! Also gives us a good opportunity for some birdwatching away from home on the way up. It's a win-win!

Who will you be rooming with?
No one, technically...? Because of disability and anxiety-related reasons I'll be driving up with my dad, but I'm attending the con on my own.

Who will you hang out with during the convention?
 PitchBlackProductions <-- this cutie~

How can I find you?
I'll be wearing this badge, at least! If it's cool enough (lol) I might also be wearing my Kass hoodie (it's one of the Yetee's older designs, IIRC - sky blue with an abstract Kass design on the back. I can't find a picture online, note to self: get one later)

Are there any panels you might be attending?
Not sure yet! I'll need to take a look at the schedule.

Are you attending any stage or public performances?
If I do, it'll be strictly as an audience member. This bird doesn't do public performances 🐦💦

Will you be suiting?
No, I don't have a suit. Maybe one day...

Do you draw?
I'm gonna err on the side of caution and say no, because I'm strictly a digital artist.

How old are you?
27!

How tall are you?
About 6'1", 6'2"-ish?

Can I talk to you?
I won't say no, but please understand that 1. I am an extreme introvert with social anxiety, especially when it comes to talking to new people, and 2. I have sensory processing disorder which makes it very, very hard for me to maintain conversations with any level of background noise. I'll do my best to engage, but please understand if I struggle with it.

What’s your goal for the con this year?
To have a good time, mainly! And see how well I handle a con away from home, for future reference.

Are you nice?
I try to be, at least...! Too much for my own good, to be honest...

Where will you be most of the time during the days?
Not sure yet! This'll be my first time at Fur-Eh!, so I dunno what to expect yet.

What/where will you be eating?
I'll, uh, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Thanks to my SPD I'm very restricted in my food intake...

Can I come with you for food/fun etc?
I don't see why not...? I'm not entirely sure about food, for reasons stated above, but provided I'm not feeling too overstimulated/tired I might be down to hang out and chat for a bit!

Can I take your picture?
I'd prefer if if you didn't, unless you're someone I know. ^^;

So VF 24 was super fun for my first con, and I'd definitely like to make them a more common thing in my life. It's something that gets me out of the house and socializing, which are things I have a lot of trouble with. I'm thinking about looking into Fur-Eh! in Edmonton this July - it'll be the furthest from home I've been in a long time, especially overnight, but not as daunting as being out of the country.

Anyone here likely to be attending it? :3

AAAAAAAAA I WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION AND I JUST MISSED IT

Honestly, wow. I know it's a typical kind of thing to say, but... wow. I never expected to get anywhere near this kind of following for the stuff I do. It's just... wow.

Thank you all so much! Here's hoping I'll be able to be a lot more productive this year in terms of art, lmao. I've got a few small ideas at the back of my mind for some fun stuff, and I'd like to get back to writing soon too. There's also the Rito Link mod that I want to revisit, as well as updating it for ToTK alongside BoTW... And lots of non-furry stuff I want to do as well. WHY AM I LIKE THIS

But yeah, uh, wow. Thanks a lot, really. <3

So! Uh, wow, it feels weird to finally be writing one of these journals. I never really thought it'd happen, if I'm being honest...

This past weekend was VancouFur 2024, which also happens to have been my first ever furry convention. It's been something of a pipe dream of mine for a while now, but it wasn't until just after MFF last year that I resolved myself to actually make it to one (if only because it was a way to distract myself from the FOMO of so many people I know being there). VF's local for me, literally just a 20-30 minute drive from home, so it's ideal, really.

...Except for the part where I can't drive, am not emotionally resilient enough to deal with public transport, don't know anyone else in the furrydom locally, and still live with my parents, so I had to work up the nerve to talk to them about it and get them to drive me to and from the hotel. Honestly, that first drive was probably the most awkward part of the whole ordeal.

I pulled in on Thursday, getting myself registered by about 1PM. The staff and the attendees I worked up the nerve to talk to were all really helpful and nice, and it was great to be able to just talk to some other furries more openly. For the most part, I just spent a couple hours getting used to the con vibes before heading home.

On Friday, I went in earlier in the day, and managed to have a look around. I picked up a VF 2024 t-shirt from the dealer's den, which was pretty slick, and managed to get selfies with a couple of bird suiters, which has planted the idea of getting a suit in my head something fierce someone please stop me. I also met up with my friend Gira, who was there in his own suit, which was pretty cool! We'd met once a couple years back when I was trying to help him with computer troubles, so it was cool getting to see him again, even if I was too awkward/hard-of-hearing to really converse much.

There was a semi-serious Smash Ultimate tournament going on in the afternoon, which I signed up for, only to wipe out in the first match (it was a four-player free-for-all), lol. I daresay I could've done better if it had been one-on-one matches, but oh well. I also got to talk to a couple of guys about Sonic, since someone was playing SA1 on a Dreamcast there, which was pretty great too. That night they also had an introductory panel on rope bondage, which, well, how could I pass that up~?

On Saturday, I arrived a bit later in the afternoon and joined up with a few folks playing Splatoon 3 in the hallway, since there was a Big Run that weekend. It was great getting to play with people in-person and being able to communicate in-person (I shy away from voice chats pretty strongly due to my anxiety and hearing issues). My Switch's battery was running low, though, so I ended up running home to charge it (as well as getting some sleep, because I didn't get home until around midnight on Friday, yikes).

S'mores were being made on the patio when I got back, so I managed to grab a couple there, and while I didn't really talk much it was still great to just watch people having fun and chatting. The atmosphere's just infectious, it's so nice. After that was the after-dark bazaar, which already had a huge line-up waiting for it over half an hour before opening time. It was a bit too crowded and noisy for me, so while I looked around, I didn't end up getting anything.

I was contemplating going on Sunday as well, but after the past few days, I was just too burnt out to bother, so I stayed home instead - probably for the best, since someone had somehow gained remote access to my computer while I was out on Saturday, which is pretty frightening. I've still got some of the ramifications of that to deal with, but I think most of it's under control now, thankfully (even if my anxiety isn't).

Overall, it was a great time! I'm torn between regretting not attending a con before now, and understanding that I probably wouldn't have been able to cope with it very well before this point in my life. I'm a little frustrated by how much of an obstacle my hearing turned out to be, though - engaging in conversations was next to impossible because I just couldn't focus on what anyone was saying with all the background noise. I've got to do some more research to see if I can find some method for coping with that better...

Hopefully, though, going to VF is the start of something good here! I don't know of any other cons on the west coast here until Howloween in November - does anyone happen to know of any? Not necessarily in the Vancouver area, but even down in the US as well (Washington, Oregon, maybe California)? Something relatively close to home like that. I'm trying not to get ahead of myself, but the idea of going to MFF and being able to meet some friends in real life is really tempting... except I probably still have to work my way up to that emotionally, hah.

But yeah, overall - good times! At the very least, I'd love to attend Howloween this year as well. Here's hoping! would be a good excuse to make a werewolf kyuu con badge for that matter, lol