Anthrocon 2009, Day 5 (continued)
It wasn't as big as Saturday, but it still required more than one entry. This is the second (and final) entry for Sunday.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
I arrived at the DLCC well before the Closing Ceremonies began, and fursuiters were all over the place, doing all sorts of things. V, Squeaky, Champ, Frisbee, and Twilight (nerfcoyote) entertained the waiting crowd with some dancing, and others were roaming about, taking photos, being silly, etc. I managed to score a couple shots of Emerson Collie (who I hadn't seen before that time), and I also spotted a very nice-looking bear quad suit.
The ceremonies began sometime after 5:30 PM, and we all filed in to take our seats. The chief staff members took their seats on stage, did the usual closing ceremonies things (talked about statistics, our guests of honor, etc.), I took some photos, and the whole thing proceeded just as I'd expected... for a short while.
Not long after the ceremonies began, Kage announced that he and the staff wanted to say goodbye to Furp, one more time. He asked Furp's mother to come to the stage, and that's when the mood of the event changed. As she made her way to the front, the entire audience gave her (and Furp) a standing ovation. When she appeared on stage, Kage greeted her, and 2 came to the stage to do the same. It was all very touching, and I have to admit I teared up. I never really knew Furp, but it was very obvious, at that point, that he meant a lot to many others.
The ceremonies continued, and were concluded with a feedback segment, where the attendees could talk about the convention things they liked and didn't like. I stuck around for a bit after that, to take some photos and introduce myself to kuddlepup. Aside from a few lines we've exchanged online, I'd never met him. I saw him walking around the Westin and DLCC several times during the con, but he appeared to be very busy, and I didn't want to bother him then. So, when I had my chance, I introduced myself, told him that I appreciated all the work that went into programming and... that was it. He still appeared to be a bit busy, and I didn't want to take a ton of time away from him. Still, I was glad I got a chance to speak to him in-person, even if it was only for a few moments.
I went out for dinner after leaving the DLCC. When I returned to the Westin, I ran into colinft in the lobby, and I took a few photos of him and Duncan. I also spotted tilt_longtail (in his Greifer suit), and I had to get at least one shot of him (I didn't have my camera at the other times I saw him). I saw him and Foxwell together outside, asked for a photo, and they kindly obliged. I wandered around and took more photos for a while, and went back to my room after that.
I wanted to have one last fursuit session during the Dead Dog Party. I put on the fursuit, made my way downstairs, and saw that the first three floors were packed with people and other suiters. Everywhere I looked, camera flashes fired, suiters were goofing off or otherwise doing their things... it was wall-to-wall good times. I stopped into the dance room and danced until I was tired, and made a trip to the headless lounge to cool off for a bit. It was crowded, of course, and we even ran out of water (which was soon replenished) because of that. While I was there, I ran into Swift Fox and we talked for a bit. I also got a hug from yappyfox. :) After I cooled off, I did a little more dancing, and wandered around the first three floors of the Westin, posing for photos and just enjoying the atmosphere.
During that time, I saw a lot of fursuiters that I didn't photograph. I changed my plans; I went back to my room, got out of the suit, cleaned myself up, and grabbed my camera and went back downstairs. I spent the rest of the evening talking to others (including tastyeagle and exile17), and going between the lobby, second, and third floors, taking photos.
I took more photos until the activity and music died down, and went back to my room. It took a while for me to fall asleep, though. The last big day of the con ended, and I knew I'd have to go back home on Monday.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
I arrived at the DLCC well before the Closing Ceremonies began, and fursuiters were all over the place, doing all sorts of things. V, Squeaky, Champ, Frisbee, and Twilight (nerfcoyote) entertained the waiting crowd with some dancing, and others were roaming about, taking photos, being silly, etc. I managed to score a couple shots of Emerson Collie (who I hadn't seen before that time), and I also spotted a very nice-looking bear quad suit.
The ceremonies began sometime after 5:30 PM, and we all filed in to take our seats. The chief staff members took their seats on stage, did the usual closing ceremonies things (talked about statistics, our guests of honor, etc.), I took some photos, and the whole thing proceeded just as I'd expected... for a short while.
Not long after the ceremonies began, Kage announced that he and the staff wanted to say goodbye to Furp, one more time. He asked Furp's mother to come to the stage, and that's when the mood of the event changed. As she made her way to the front, the entire audience gave her (and Furp) a standing ovation. When she appeared on stage, Kage greeted her, and 2 came to the stage to do the same. It was all very touching, and I have to admit I teared up. I never really knew Furp, but it was very obvious, at that point, that he meant a lot to many others.
The ceremonies continued, and were concluded with a feedback segment, where the attendees could talk about the convention things they liked and didn't like. I stuck around for a bit after that, to take some photos and introduce myself to kuddlepup. Aside from a few lines we've exchanged online, I'd never met him. I saw him walking around the Westin and DLCC several times during the con, but he appeared to be very busy, and I didn't want to bother him then. So, when I had my chance, I introduced myself, told him that I appreciated all the work that went into programming and... that was it. He still appeared to be a bit busy, and I didn't want to take a ton of time away from him. Still, I was glad I got a chance to speak to him in-person, even if it was only for a few moments.
I went out for dinner after leaving the DLCC. When I returned to the Westin, I ran into colinft in the lobby, and I took a few photos of him and Duncan. I also spotted tilt_longtail (in his Greifer suit), and I had to get at least one shot of him (I didn't have my camera at the other times I saw him). I saw him and Foxwell together outside, asked for a photo, and they kindly obliged. I wandered around and took more photos for a while, and went back to my room after that.
I wanted to have one last fursuit session during the Dead Dog Party. I put on the fursuit, made my way downstairs, and saw that the first three floors were packed with people and other suiters. Everywhere I looked, camera flashes fired, suiters were goofing off or otherwise doing their things... it was wall-to-wall good times. I stopped into the dance room and danced until I was tired, and made a trip to the headless lounge to cool off for a bit. It was crowded, of course, and we even ran out of water (which was soon replenished) because of that. While I was there, I ran into Swift Fox and we talked for a bit. I also got a hug from yappyfox. :) After I cooled off, I did a little more dancing, and wandered around the first three floors of the Westin, posing for photos and just enjoying the atmosphere.
During that time, I saw a lot of fursuiters that I didn't photograph. I changed my plans; I went back to my room, got out of the suit, cleaned myself up, and grabbed my camera and went back downstairs. I spent the rest of the evening talking to others (including tastyeagle and exile17), and going between the lobby, second, and third floors, taking photos.
I took more photos until the activity and music died down, and went back to my room. It took a while for me to fall asleep, though. The last big day of the con ended, and I knew I'd have to go back home on Monday.