The Northwest Roadtrip

[furtech]

I'm getting ready for my Consolation Roadtrip* to Seattle and points north. Super low-budget trek to geek out in Seattle with calicougar, kvogel, okojosan and martes, plus various folks in the area.

House-sitter secured. It's good to have a shut-in friend who jumps at the chance to get out of his crowded house. All he needs is a high-speed connection and food. Since he's not a furry, I don't even have to hide the costumes! I just pack the 'fridge with cold-cuts and Diet Pepsi. Unfortunately, I do need to send my plants out to be watered (that's why he doesn't pet sit, either).

The dogs sleep nearby, blissfully unaware of the journey ahead. I'm looking forward to this: it isn't ComiCon or Eurofurence (-sigh-), but even on a budget there will be plenty of enrichment. This will also help to wash some unexpected and unpleasant personal-family business out of my head. Pike Place...forest hikes...wet dogs...food and friends. Best prescription in the world.

We're taking our time getting to Seattle: Calicougar wants to see friends in Portland and I don't want to travel the entire leg of that trip on Labor Day, so we're pushing out of the BArea on Sunday night instead. Stopping in Weed, CA. Yay.

I am borrowing a laptop from a friend in SJ, so hopefully I'll be able to post as I go, rather than do my usual photo-trip dump when I get back home.

Two adults, two border collies and all kinds of junk stuffed into a Prius for eleven-hundred miles. Woo! Adventure!




*Consolation for not making it to Eurofurence, SDCC, etc. I've started saving for next year, though!

Comments

[haamel.livejournal.com]

Hey, if you're heading up here, do you want to try to connect for a meal or something?

[furtech.livejournal.com]

That could be cool! The only time I'll be in Portland will be on Sept. 7th, which (inconveniently) is Labor Day. We get in that afternoon and leave the next morning. Tracy is seeing people that night-- but I'm on my own. If you've got time that day or night (and I realize that the last day of a vacation weekend isn't the best time), I'd love to get together!

[hoshikage.livejournal.com]

*pokes you*

If you're going to be in Portland, think you might have time to grab dinner or something? You don't have to come to us, we would meet you somewhere. :)

Edit: *laughs and points up* Yeah, what he said. ;)

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Haha-- yeah, see above!

Sorry about the odd-timing. If you can't or it would be difficult, don't worry about it. Be good to see you all, though!

[hoshikage.livejournal.com]

Actually, I suspect that it's not as inconvenient as you might think - Kumori-con is ending that afternoon, so I'll be downtown anyway and Mark will be on his way back down from Seattle right about then too. We could get dinner downtown before we head home. :) You have my cell number, right? We can hash out specifics of where and when exactly to meet easily enough, I expect. :)

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Cool! I'll call you Monday morning and let you know where we are and our approximate ETA. If you don't hear from my by noon, call me!

[genjitsu.livejournal.com]

Stop by Penny Arcade Expo! You might see an old friend (besides me) :)

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Wow-- it would be cool to the the "old friend" (I'm amazed you got him there!)

However...I'm going to miss PAE by a whole day, unfortunately. I get into Seattle on the 8th. Why did I think PAE was in mid-August? If I'd known it was that close, I would have planned things better.

[frysco.livejournal.com]

How long are you going to be in the Seattle area for?

Are you going to be making it up to Vancouver at all?

[furtech.livejournal.com]

We'll be up there for almost two weeks: from Sept. 8th to the 21st. No time for Vancouver this trip. I'd like to make a trip up there sometime to hike and explore, but this trip is somewhat owned by Rainfurrest. I'm not sure how much time I'll spend there, but Roz and Tracy will be hanging out at the con most of the weekend.

[frysco.livejournal.com]

Okay... well, I'll be down in the Seattle area for RainFurrest myself, so I might see you there!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Ooh-- yeah! Someone to hang out with! Roz and Trace will be hanging at their dealer's table most of the time.

[vandringar.livejournal.com]

I'll hopefully make it to Eurofurence next year. It may possibly be the only sizeable con I'll make it to for the next few years.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

EF is totally worth the time! It's just a bit pricey if you're a Yank (airfare and a weak dollar).

[penh.livejournal.com]

Dunno what you'll be doing Saturday, but I'll be appearing as Ray the Rhino in Redwood City and KP the Keypoint dalmatian in San Jose that day. If you wanna say Howdy. :)

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure how much time I'll have-- I need to take care of some family stuff and Saturday is pretty much all about a party that a friend is having (Tiki Party!). I'll be back up shortly, though-- maybe we can hang out then.

[desertcoyote.livejournal.com]

Wow- have fun and take care! And tell me if there are any employment opportunities I should know about up there! :D

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I'll keep my ears open-- though steve would be a better source for that kind of info. What kind of work are you looking for, specifically?

[desertcoyote.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'm not totally sure... I'm open to illustration, animation (games or movies) or photography. One thing about the Northwest is there seems to be a lot of game-related jobs up there.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I'll ask around the crew up there. Seattle has a lot of opportunities, but is also suffering the same downturn that everywhere else is. The best thing to do is move to the area, get a temporary job and be ready to jump at any opportunity that pops up. These things appear and get filled -fast- these days.

[eddvick.livejournal.com]

Too bad you're not stretching it another week. You could come to Foolscap.

Give us a yell some time to get together for dinner or sumpin'.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I'm mostly coat-tailing on Tracy's itinerary: as it is, I'm apparently -just- missing TWO cool cons! Foolscap (sounds great) and Penny Arcade Expo. But Tracy wanted to see Rainfurrest and had a limited window. Next year I'll plan better.

I'd love to get together with you and your family. Email me your number (furtechatgmaildotcom) and I'll return you mine.