I’m a tad late on this. For some reason I have been very tired since getting back from the convention. I suppose I am just older these days. I’ve gone to every Furry Fiesta since they started in 2009 with only two years I couldn’t go (and COVID-19 caused another cancelation). So I’m pretty regular at this convention.

As per usual I worked the FurPlanet table vending books and comics. I left early and stayed late to help with the inventory and packing up work they needed to do for the convention.

I genuinely believe Texas Furry Fiesta (TFF) is one of the best run conventions in the USA with a very dedicated staff of volunteers and experienced personnel. I think TFF has some great operational innovation. I love the convention every year set up displays and props for fursuit photos using the theme of the convention (people not in suit can use them too). I think the convention has a great streamlined badge system (though there will always be hiccups). I love the new policy of the swap meet space for people to trade around items. It is a great innovation for furry community space and trading of items. Having it near the dealers den and the artist alley to me makes a lot of sense and there are some great things to find in there. Hope they continue doing it. Generally, it is well run and there is a reason (beyond geography and time of the year) why Fiesta is near to cracking 10,000 attendees.

Also I loved this year’s theme of Star Peet (Starfleet/Star Trek) and the convention art was GREAT. Loved the starship bridge set and the transporter set. Very creative and fun work.

I left Wednesday the 25th of March early in the morning for my trip. While Albuquerque on a Tuesday is not a high travel time and so the Sunport (our name for the airport thank you very much) was unlikely to have lines. Still with all the news of travel disruptions I went early. I got through just fine in the regular amount of time. Cooling my heels at the gate was fine as we boarded on time. I slept on the plane and before I knew it we were in Dallas a full 34 minutes ahead of schedule.

I got to FurPlanet HQ with a cab then after settling my bags grabbed Korean BBQ with Ajax as we both needed a lunch after his working all morning and my traveling. I think this was the first time I had Korean BBQ or it was my first time in so long I had forgotten. Ajax knows what he is doing and handled the ordering of food and preparation. It was all delicious and I admit needing a nap after that feast. A great time out.

After that came the traditional loading of stock into the vans. It went smoothly, it just takes time and a lot of effort. We did TGIFridays after that because it had been a hot minute since I had gone there.

Thursday Fuzzwolf went to work, Teiran had to run an errand for the convention, and I read some old World of Darkness sourcebooks while Ajax packed his personal bag. Grabbing some McDonalds Ajax and I headed to downtown Dallas, which meant plenty of traffic and tricky parking.

That is one of the big problems for Furry Fiesta as it has grown it had to move to larger hotels and the new downtown location can be difficult to navigate. All things told I think everyone knows TFF needs to upsize again but Dallas is quickly running out of hotel space.

Well, Ajax and I got there before our room was ready so we decided to unpack the car into the dealer’s room. I had somehow convinced myself set up started at 3:00PM instead of 6:00PM and I argued Ajax into thinking it was that way. Shiva and her staff, and Sairo, were extremely forgiving of my fallacy. Finally getting into the room we unpacked our things. We were both a bit tired by then so we went our separate ways for a bit to cool down. I grabbed a Caeser salad and then helped with a few more bits of unpacking as Teiran arrived with the rest of the stock. Savrin, Kyell Gold, Kit Silver and others helped with set up and unpacking. We did set up then went to the Draft Sports Bar for a snack then off to bed because it was going to be an early day tomorrow.

Friday started a little difficult as Ajax had to drive back to HQ which he did not relish. Teiran and I did more set up but we were both flustered by how quickly opening time was getting to be. I admit being a little grumpy from all that set up stress and perhaps not sleeping as well as I needed to.

Dealer’s room started soon enough and was busy. I wont go into the ins and outs as I am sure most people reading this would find that aspect boring. It was busy Friday and Saturday, like exhaustingly busy and active, which is great but tiring. I ended up crashing out Saturday and going to bed early. Sunday was calmer but that was packing out and taking things down. Really my biggest regret from this convention was the fact I didn’t spend enough time taking photos and wandering. That is more on me and my time and energy management. Anyway I shouldn’t linger too long on the table. I’ll “quickly” go through some folks I saw and some meals. Part of why I work at the table is that everyone knows where to find me and I can see a lot of people that way. The downside is I’m working a table and everyone knows where to find me. So if I saw you and I forgot to mention it here…. SORRY!

The big bit was Kosh of Bear and Beagle Stickers https://bearandbeagle.store/ was helping at this convention table this year. Kosh is a great and dedicated sort as well as being charming. Good to hang around and very helpful at the table. He also got to hand out his stickers to commissioners so that was a plus for him. Really though he went above and beyond helping out and it was good to see him. Probably should have spent more time just hanging out but I, as noted, let myself get a bit stretched out. We did get lunch on Friday at the hotel restaurant which I prefer to the sports bar (too many tvs in the later)

Kyell Gold had a new book out a follow up to his Dangerous Spirits series that looks fascinating called Azure City ( https://shop.sofawolf.com/product-page/azure-city )

Grabbed dinner at Uno Mas, the really good tex-mex place in walking distance, with WuWei, Buck, and Teiran. WuWei had been helping at the table which was nice of him. Buck was doing his usual work for the convention.

Jakob Fox came by the table Saturday and we had a few good chats. We talk in telegram plenty but it is nice to say hello. Saw Walden and got some of his new and lovely stickers. Saw Donryu busy at his table. Buddy Jean got to come over briefly to say hello as well. The artist Cameron Hops had his new Team badges everywhere but he stopped by the table too which was nice.

Saturday dinner I hit the Exchange a foodcourt/food hall like the one I enjoy at Further Confusion. It was a bit of a walk but pleasant. Went with DarkEnd (who had a new book out The Modern Pleasure Mage https://bsky.app/profile/dark-end.b...../3mhrkoui6ac23 , Utunu (who also had a new book out the sequel to Far Flung titled Tethers Torn https://mapakuvillage.com/books/tethers_torn ), Jeff Eddy, Teiran, Buck, Kyell Gold, and Kit Silver. While a nice place and having great options I was out of it by Saturday night and too tired to really converse which was a shame. Oddly on Sunday I was much more awake and aware all day and thus did better. I hit the Exchange again after walking around by myself.

I think Sunday was a good reminder that perhaps I need to take a break before dinner and rest especially after how busy Saturday was in the end. The table close up went well and everything was packed up quickly. Kosh was a big help there but it was a big team effort.

Monday was packing up the hotel room, done easily enough, and then wrestling with all the bags and the very cramped elevators. I eventually got sick of waiting as the hotel infrastructure was clearly over taxed. So Since I was only on the sixth floor I took the stairs with my bags. I did abandon Teiran but I didn’t want to stand by the elevators and I figured one less person with bulky bags was better.

I was staying an extra day to help with unloading so Teiran and I went to the restaurant Awake where we met Jeff Eddy, Ajax, Fuzzwolf, Kit, and Kyell for a pleasant brunchy breakfast. I got a brisket eggs benedict. Then I helped the rest of the team unpack the cars of all the product. Many hands make light work. Took a nap and hung out with the large gathering of folks at FurPlanet HQ talking shop (I had little to add there). We did dinner at Maggianos (a tradition for Furry Fiesta trips at this point). Had a lovely evening conversation with FuzzWolf as we both got excited for Bubonicon.

Tuesday I was flying out at 6PM so I spent the day with Ajax helping him with logistics and counting product. We did a little lunch at the crepe place and Ajax took me to a local Korean bookstore to look around where he gave me a new craft addiction of RoLife booknooks. Curse the dog! Well it was a nice birthday present.

Soon enough I had to leave (and I left early at that) and said good bye. Hard to say good bye to friends but they did need to get their home back and not have a weasel napping on their couch. The flight home while bumpy was uneventful. It was a little sad coming home to a house without Momo in it. My Parents though were largely well (though my mother was struggling with the tail end of a spring cold) and now things have settled down here. I admit sleeping in my own bed was nice but I need to work on fixing my sleep schedule.

I’m posting this on Easter as I finally got around to writing this. I do procrastinate.

Things to remember:
Take time to wander Fiesta.
Take a break before dealer closes to nap
Always make sure to hit Maggianos.
Get Ajax addicted to another time sink in retaliation.