We are taking a road trip to San José, California to attend Further Confusion, aka Furcon, one of the largest anthropomorphic events in the US.

Furcon has dances, criterlympics, parades, games, panels, art exhibits, costuming workshops, writing workshops, performance opportunities, and more, and is involved in a number of animal-related charity projects.

Thousands of ambassadors of furdom explore their own visions of sensuality with Fursuiters on Parade, art shows, dances, a furry masquerade ball, furry performances, and an eclectic assortment of seminars: “Buddhism Panel”, “Created Species”, “How to Write dialog that Doesn’t Sound Like You Wrote It,” “Business Practices for Artists”, and “Norse Spirituality”.

We are here to enjoy the festivities and hang-out with all the beautiful critters. 🙂

Ya’ gotta be nuts to work here.

Ya’ gotta be nuts to work here.

An industrious squirrel is working the membership booth.  If you like big, green eyes, this is the squirrel for you!

They're grrrrreat!

They’re grrrrreat!

I’ll bet he’d like to put a tiger in her tank!

This fellow could use some dental work.

This fellow could use some dental work.

A few costumes border on grotesque, and we wonder if the mask is a representation of the person’s true self.

Don't judge a furry by its fur.

Don’t judge a furry by its fur.

Were we wrong, or what?  That’s one wolf we definitely would not kick out of grandma’s bed.

A kitty cat conga line forms because, why not?

A kitty cat conga line forms because, why not?

We wonder if they have a problem with static electricity.

Fursuits on parade.

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Look at the size of those hands!

Look at the size of those hands!

Fortunately, abominable snowmen are not ticklish.

Ummm, my eyes are up here…

Ummm, my eyes are up here…

He had an extra portion of Eat Me cakes.

A happy puppy.

A happy puppy.

Everyone loves doggies!

Sonic and friends.

Sonic and friends.

What you see is what you get! Just a guy that loves adventure!

I’m not sure Walt approves of this.

I’m not sure Walt approves of this.

Technically, that’s a Minnie-skirt, right?

Shakin’ tail on stage.

Shakin’ tail on stage.

Why is that fox wearing pants? Well, gang, it looks like we have another mystery on our hands.

Furs dancing at the Furball.

Furs dancing at the Furball.

Techno-critters having a ball.

Having fun with friends.

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Yours truly, dancing with the other furs.

Yours truly, dancing with the other furs.

No, we don’t have fursuits, but who doesn’t have tails and ears as an easy substitute? 

Pretty maids all in a row.

Pretty maids all in a row.

Some furries are domestics.

Talk about your Cling-ons!

Talk about your Cling-ons!

Klingons do not… pursue relationships. They conquer that which they desire.

I'm all ears!

I’m all ears!

What do you call a Bear without an ear?    B.     😛 

Her makeup bill must be beastly.

Her makeup bill must be beastly.

Even more fun with friends.

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Posing with the great Stalking Cat.

Posing with the great Stalking Cat.

Hmmm, this reminds me of the very first time we met Stalking Cat.  Sherman, set the WABAC machine to 2004….

Cabaret Fur Le Danse

Stalking Cat body-painted us once, a long time ago, for a dance performance called Cabaret Fur Le Danse. (Cabaret Fur Le Danse Program.)  We were members of Myths and Legends Dance Troupe, which included many of the same members (including us) of Tribe Roman Morga.

All Cabaret Fur Le Danse photographs are copyright of Juli vonKleinSmid or Chris Laudermilk (www.chrislaudermilkphoto.com)

Stalking Cat being Stalking Cat.

Stalking Cat being Stalking Cat.

Stalking Cat is in the process of taking a blank canvas and turning it into a work of art.

Body painting and face makeup transformation.

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“But tonight, you will all be transformed from dead-eyed suburbanites into white-hot grease fires of pure entertainment!”  —Llewellyn Sinclair, A Streetcar Named Marge.

The menagerie.

The menagerie.

The cast of critters pose before the performance.  Can you tell which critters we have morphed into?

Publicity photos of the performers.

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“All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful: the Lord God made them all.” —Cecil Frances Alexander

Menagerie Erotica, performing "All My Lovers" by Black Tape for a Blue Girl.

Menagerie Erotica, performing “All My Lovers” by Black Tape for a Blue Girl.

The result was a spectacular performance!

Bringing “Cabaret Fur Le Danse” to life.

“I think the actor has a tribal role as the archetypal story teller.”  —Ben Kingsley

The tattooed arm of Stalking Cat as he paints me.

The tattooed arm of Stalking Cat as he paints me.

Stalking Cat was a gentle soul. He will be missed

Foxy fan art.

Foxy fan art.

This artwork was gifted to me.  The artists loved my foxy fox outfit and said this creature personified my inner foxiness.  I agree.  😎

Swimmin’ with Wimmen

Of course, that’s not the only furry event we furballs have performed in.  Being critters who like both women and water, we took the opportunity to combine the two at Further Confusion 09.  So let’s take that time machine back to the Further Confusion!

Gotta get that mustache purr-fect.

Gotta get that mustache purr-fect.

The process of becoming a critter begins with makeup.

A cute, button nose... thick wavey locks... taut, round buttocks?!

A cute, button nose… thick wavy locks… taut, round buttocks?!

Lots and lots of makeup.

The flower adds an "island" look.

The flower adds an “island” look.

Hours later (really), a tigress is born!

My, what big...eyelashes you have?

My, what big…eyelashes you have?

These two came from the same litter, I think.

Foxy!

Foxy!

And we are finally ready to go!

A couple of cool cats.

A couple of cool cats.

But first, a few publicity shots. Snarl for the camera!

Somehow, they still look cuddly.

Somehow, they still look cuddly.

Cheesecake photo op!

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And now it is time for the show! 

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This is us, live.  Are we great, or what?

Bow wow!

Bow wow!

What did the skeleton say to the doggie? Bone Appétit!

We have many more photographs, and we offer these as a tease.  If you ever get the opportunity, be sure to visit your friendly neighborhood furry convention.  “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”  — Anatole France

awa Travels Tip: We never quite outgrew “playing dress-up”; it taps into imagination, playfulness, and innate innocence. Being at costume events, whether it’s Halloween, Mardi Gras, a Renaissance Faire, or a Furry Convention, is always fun.