In this lion's opinion...!

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I must HUMBLY ask for help again....
Still out of work since end of July. Been selling fursuits and even some of plush collection to get money. But can't always be assured of buyers with way things are for "everybody". I was hoping to get unemployment, but got the official letter in yesterday's mail that I'm refused. "Damn".
I am still able to do my character shows when they come, but that's the trouble, they have virtually died for the bad economy. If I get one, two, or three a month now I'm lucky. I'll certainly take them, but that's way too few to live on.
I applied for and did get food stamps and that helps some but can't pay the rent with those...sigh.
So, long story short, if you can and would be so kind to help, bless you. I am trying my best here, but "it's not enough", you know what I mean. Hugs. My Pay Pal account is my E-mail address mefurry@verizon.net Your kindness will not be forgotten, I promise you, thank you! --Henry

Current Mood: scared

Being very serious, "lion" need help again...
A little more than a year ago I bluntly, begged for financial help. I so thank those that did come and give me some of their money. But things have been very tough this whole time since and right now, no matter how hard I'm trying, I am short several hundred dollars for this month's rent absolutely due by the fifth. If not paid by that date, well you know the drill.

This truly "kills" me to do this, but I so humbly ask again for your pity and help please! Please know I am grateful beyond words for those than can and will. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Know that you will be keeping a "lion" alive by helping. Send any amount you can to Pay Pal, my e mail is my account-- mefurry@verizon.net HUGS!

Current Mood: worried

ANOTHER "MAGAZINE" COVER FOR THE SUMMER!

(However, in truth, this was at FC in January. Zoe enjoying the poolside on Monday as the con wound down.)

Current Mood: silly

MY FURRY TALES--STORIES FROM 20 YEARS IN THE FUR # 15
Every once in a while things happen that cause our everyday ordinary lives to cross or touch with those of the well-to-do. I suppose it happens to more than a few times to many who work in the children's entertainment industry of which I am a part of. Even famous people need clowns and characters for their children’s birthday parties. Or, in my particular case here. What I am going to tell you about now. Is, or was rather, a need for a birthday “telegram”. The funny thing is, it probably was a combination of what I have in my stable of characters and just plain old dumb luck that got me the gig.

The phone rings about nine-thirty am on a weekday morning. It’s one of my “agents”, calling if I could do a five character telegram in Hollywood at twelve noon that day. They wanted a beaver, which I didn’t have, but my squirrel was substituted for that. A raccoon, elephant, toucan and moose were also added to make the five character total that was wanted. I was told to go to what’s known as the “old” lot movie studio lot in Hollywood, the old Warner studios lot, and I would be pre-cleared at the gate to come in and do my thing. I was being hired through my agent’s company by Angelina Jolie to do the telegrams for her current boyfriend, Billy Bob Thornton. They had yet to have gotten married at that time. I guess you could say they were still “dating”. This was actually for his birthday.

In my being at home and getting the call, that is what I mean about dumb luck. Had I not been home, someone else would have been called and almost certainly would have gotten the gigs, even if they didn’t have the variety of characters that I do. This was to be in a few hours, so there was no wait-around, gimme a call-back time. I do know that.

Well, kind of rushing a bit, I got the fursuits all together and loaded them into my car and drove off to Hollywood. I got there and was expected as had been promised. I was directed to go to a particular building where, I think it was the production manager’s office, was to check in as use as my staging area. Billy Bob was on set filming. This was that Las Vegas movie he was making at the time. He was breaking for lunch and had about an hour free before going back to filming. It was decided that I would probably not have time to do all five after all. So it was decided to do squirrel first then toucan and finish up with moose. I got dressed and walked over to the nearby stage where he was.

When he came out I was there to greet him. We played around a bit and then I left to go back and make a quick-change. Donning the toucan I went back out but he was in process of going over to another building to apparently catch a quick nap or something. That’s what I was told by staff. I followed him all the way to the other building, kind of hounding him but in a nice way. Hey, this is my job, you know. After he went inside I was given a quick ride on a golf cart back to the office that I was using as my changing room. I got into my moose and went back over to the set where the filming was.

Apparently other little plans hand been made for a mini-celebration of his birthday as well. While I was waiting there just outside of the set for him to come back, some food was brought up and accordion player arrived. When Billy Bob arrived back he was warmly greeted with happy birthdays and they all started to have and enjoy the food. A cake was brought in and the happy birthday song was sung. I did my thing of interacting with him and the others there but I was respectful of letting them eat as well. I was able to actually have a dance with Billy Bob with the accordion player providing our music! That was fun! Silly, of course, but fun! All in all, I must say that it was as much fun, or more, for me as I hope it was for him!

The dance ended up concluding things. The little party broke up and he went inside the set once again. I walked back to the office. Got out of my moose and then proceeded to reload my suits back in to my car. As I was doing this I was given a large tip! Needles to say that made me even happier! I have done many “telegrams” over all the years I’ve been doing this but that is my only “star” one. But if it remains the only one I can still tell you it was so much fun! I can proudly state I danced with Billy Bob Thornton…well…”Murphy Moose” did…

Semper Furry! --Me Furry

Current Mood: nostalgic

MY FURRY TALES--STORIES FROM 20 YEARS IN THE FUR # 14
(“…besides, you knew the job was dangerous when you took it!” --Superchicken)

“At your own risk.” I’m sure that’s been said to you more than a couple times over your life. I don’t think anything in this life is worry or pain free. Well, this little post will confirm to you that this adage definitely applies to anthropomorphic characters too. Here are three little incidents that show this to be so true.

First off, all three things happened to the same character. I don’t know if that means anything. It’s my big yellow bird, Iggy. I don’t think it does really. Other than in two of the cases, it was the design of the character suit that “allowed” what happened to happen. The third incident could have happened to any of my characters quite easily. In fact in that one regard, its so surprising it’s only happened that once. Given the thousands of shows I’ve done over my over twenty years plus of performing, you’d have thought just once was a impossibility in itself. Yet at the same time, who could ever imagine? Now to detail and explain these three things that happened to you.

At the conclusion of a one-year old's birthday party, Iggy was asked to take pictures with the kids of the party, one-by-one. Not unusual thing there. It doesn’t happen at every party but it does happen a lot. Because Iggy is so big, he usually sits down “Indian-style” with his long legs crossed for more comfortable and better positioned pictures to be taken. When it came time for the birthday child, he was placed in Iggy’s lap just as all the others had been. As pictures were being snapped by both parents and grandparents, a very “terrible” noise is heard.

“BRAAPP!” Is the sound that comes from the birthday child’s back side. We all know what has just happened. There is no doubt whatsoever! And yes, it was loud enough for all in the immediate area to hear it. All the picture-takers sure did! I, as Iggy, don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Most everyone else that heard it is laughing out loud. Yea, yea, sure it’s funny to you, I’m thinking, but he’s in MY lap!

To explain, if you haven’t already guessed it, the baby just dropped one heck of a load in his diaper. This is not good for one poor bird. It’s the end of this party. But I still had another one still to go to that day. If the worst has happened, Iggy’s got a real problem. You can’t go to a party covered in…well, you know…

Well, praise somebody, God, the Higher Power, but there was no mess. Heaven’s knows there should have been! Based on what I heard and even felt a little bit. At the time my legs were a fluorescent orange colored pair of tights with round ringlets placed along the length of my legs. The tights were as my skin and I could feel the energy of the baby’s dropping of his load. Please trust me there SHOULD have been a major disaster here. As Iggy handed the baby back he said laughingly but truly relieved at the same time to the mother…nervously chuckling.

:”I think the diddie held!”

That is my one and only incident like that in all my years of character shows. When I first started in helping Santa, I was told that that was going to happen, it HAD to happen. That was relating only to Santa too by the way. The question was only when. Well, up to that time I guess I led a charmed life. I still think so in one way because as I write this I’m still unsoiled; at least by that way. Now the next incident happened after that particular incident but years later. The one I’ll tell you about after this one also happened years after that. In fact, it was only a couple years ago in recent work.

Once again on the floor in that same exact position. The kids at this party were almost all babies so that was my best way to relate to them. If I stood and be my natural tall bird self, I’s by a giant to these little kids. I sang some songs as I do and as I just finished my songs a little Sheltie collie walks into the room and basically heads right for me. I’m sure its thinking who or what is this thing that’s in my house. It was friendly it didn’t bark at me or act aggressive in any way. I think it was more curious than anything else. The question, even all these years later is how curious was it after all?

You see, he, I am ASSUMING it was a he, went right up to me and proceeded to sniff me in a very sensitive and inappropriate place. Again, I am in my orange tights so I am extremely vulnerable to say the least. If his investigations lead to anything else, I will sure the heck know it immediately! My biggest worry was an investigatory bite or nibble if it were to occur. That will not be something I’ll be able to ignore or shrug off. I might not have to do the falsetto voice any more. I’ll be able to do it naturally.

Thankfully sniffing was all he did do. Iggy made the comment to no one in particular that he did like doggies and they like him. The little dog was gently picked up by one of the adults and taken to somewhere else. I didn’t see him again for the rest of the party. What can I tell you, us furries are so lovable, we are.

The final incident I want to share is one that happened only about a couple years ago. This one gave me three immediate emotions at one time. I felt laughter, though I did not give away any outward emotion whatsoever. I felt real anger, as that "all right, that’s it", even for little kids. And, I also had one of the biggest surprises ever of my whole life! I can tell you I never had this kind of thing ever enter my thoughts as a possibility of any kind. Goes to show you, you DO never know!

For a third time the character is Iggy. The suit is now mine that I’ve had for many years now. The other one had been the company’s that I had been working for. They are similar but still a bit different from each other. The main difference is the lower body leggings. As said, the old ones were orange tights with cloth ringlets you put on over them. Three on each leg. Mine now are made of a short pile, also a fluorescent orange color, plush fake fur with the ringlets a part of the whole body stocking. It has an elastic waist so they’re much like a pair of pants, only skin tight and not loose like a real pair of pants would be. The bottom of the body is open and rounded for slipping over your head to put on just like the other one had been.

Iggy and the kids were playing games with a parachute at a very large kid’s birthday party at about four in the afternoon. As parties go, a count of around fifteen or so is a pretty standard sized number of kids. This party had a number closer to twenty-five if not maybe a few more. All the kids and Iggy were holding the parachute by its little handles along it’s edge and we were shaking the parachute to make a little stuffed toy bunny rabbit go down the hole that’s there in the center of the parachute. This is something I do at nearly every birthday party I do. So it’s true, I’ve done this “thousands of times”, literally.

As Iggy is standing there he feels a kid crawl between his legs. That has happened many times, no surprise there. Little kids being little kids. Iggy doesn’t even give it a second thought really. But then, poor Iggy does have something happen that even to this day he cannot believe that it happened but it did.

Iggy was groped! Plain and simple, no bones about it, no there’s no mistake or misunderstanding about it. The kid's hand reached up and “copped a feel of Iggy’s “jewels”. Yes they were covered by the orange fur, but still. The sweet and definitely innocent bird was just “violated”! As we were shaking the parachute it was fairly easy to catch a glimpse of the “offender” as we played the game with no apparent reaction from me. It was a boy of I’d say of eight or nine years of age. I'll allow him the innocence of childhood still, but, he was old enough to know exactly what he was doing.

So, in a split second I have to decide what the heck to do. Say something, say nothing or say something away from everybody later, heck. I don’t know? I decide that to say anything would literally open up the proverbial “can of worms” that could so easily backfire and end up “biting me in the ass” so I say nothing, do nothing. I go through the entire party with no further incidents. I guess the boy’s curiosity had been satisfied. I did tell my agent who sent me out on the show what had happened. She felt that what I did, or didn’t do really, was probably the best course to have gone.

What else can I say? That IS one for the books! As stated at the start of this little tale, “…besides, you knew the job was dangerous when you took it!”

Semper Furry! –Me Furry

Current Mood: amused

STILL HERE, HANGIN' IN, HOLDIN' ON, BUT BARELY....
Here's something to make you laugh and maybe go awww....

Current Mood: drained

WELCOME TO A NEW FURIEND IMAPUP/SNOWBALL
De' white lion gives you endless hugs! TO ALL my furiends, please welcome him! Huggies!

Tis will be him when he can "afford it" (That's a feeling we all know all too well, especially right now...)

Current Mood: loved

A "SWINE FLU" OBSERVATION...
I think nothing else need be said....

Current Mood: mischievous

I is still here, sorta....
Lion had birthday yesterday, the 24th, am 57 now. Nothing special really, just spent day with my closest furiends in the world. I again apologize for being pretty mush away from LJ but life is very hard right now and I have more bad than good to report. I know as my furiends, you would care, but I don't really want to subject you to "the whine of the day". My hugs still go out though to any and all who want them. Hug, hug, hug!

--Me/Henry

Current Mood: blah
Current Music: none

Hey, I gotta show off a little!
Here's our skit we did for "FNL" at Further Confusion. Kind of a parody, homage to the movie "Roadside Romeo". Hope you like!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkzS-3FNjD0

From the movie itself....

Current Mood: accomplished

GOING TO FC!
Once again, before anything else, my profound apologies to all my LJ furiends for being away and inactive. Life has been hectic and stressful. Christmas season was about half of what would normally expect. I am hanging in and surviving. But as with so many right now, the economy is too far down the crapper for a "got no worries" attitude,

BUT! The con fee is paid, the shared room is set and taken care of as well. I leave with my close furiends, Matt/Scatterpaws and Chris/Viperman, tonight, Tuesday night/Wednesday morning about midnight. If you are going, PLEASE COME AND SEE AND SAY HI TO THE WHITE LION! If your not going, I wish you well and sincerely wish that you could come as well. This IS my ONE "activity" for the whole year! I may eat "Ramen" from now till whenever, but I have to go and be my furry self!

Matt, Chris and I and one other will be sharing a room at the Doubletree hotel.

Current Mood: enthralled

Of Note!
This comes from Bluewinkle of my So Cal Furs group site. I pass this on, both for the laugh and for the truth in it... "Semper furry!" --Me/Henry

An Obituary printed in the London Times... Interesting and sadly rather true

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend,
Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be
remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
Why the early bird gets the worm;
Life isn't always fair and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.

Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;

I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

R.I.P.

Current Mood: contemplative

I'm alive, but "just barely."...
Things are as they have been for most of this year, mainly badly. Almost no character work and my crappy night janitor job isn't very much. It literally only covers my apartment rent, leaving nothing else for other bills. The on-going stress is simply making me almost non-functional on focusing on anything but work and survival. I have to admit I haven't even looked at LJ now for close to about 3 months now. I do still treasure all my LJ friends, I mean no dismissial of any of you...HUGS!

I was sent this by a friend and it made me laugh so I'll pass it along in hope to spread some little bit of cheer.

The following is from the Washington Post Style Invitational contest that asked readers to submit "instructions" for something (anything), but written in the style of a famous person. The winning entry was The Hokey Pokey (as written by William Shakespeare).

O proud left foot, that ventures quick within

Then soon upon a backward journey lithe.

Anon, once more the gesture, then begin:

Command sinistral pedestal to writhe.

Commence thou then the fervid Hokey-Poke,

A mad gyration, hips in wanton swirl.

To spin! A wilde release from Heavens yoke.

Blessed dervish! Surely canst go, girl.

The Hoke, the poke -- banish now thy doubt

Verily, I say, 'tis what it's all about.

-- by "William Shakespeare"
Written by Jeff Brechlin, Potomac Falls, Maryland, and submitted by Katherine St. John.

Current Mood: lethargic

Writer's Block: Your Username

Why did you choose your user name? Is there any special meaning or story behind it?

Submitted By lilbananapie

View 502 Answers

As I have been a costumed character for over twenty-two years I am furry both in vocation as in avocation. By the way, I was furry long before I became a character so I guess I finally became in reality what I always was. Well, anyhow, I had a California custom car license plate for years of "BKY BRN", Bucky's Barn, which is what I call my character business. When I purchased my first brand new car in something close to thirty years, I decided to retire the Bucky's plate and do something else.

It actually is a indirect homage to Stitch! In the original movie as he is being chased and told he'll be made less fluffy next time he shouts back, "I like fluffy!" Now I did think that "fluffy" might be just a tad too "girly" for a guy's license plate. But it did inspire me and as being the silly furry I is with sometimes using malaprop speech in the way I does talk...viola..."Me furry" was born!

By the way, "I'm furry" was already taken when I applied for the custom plate in 2004. You have to submit three choices in order of preference in case what you want has been taken. Really, my plate should read "KIMBA" cause that is my number one toon and my personal fursonna. The picture below is of "Romantic Rudy" in front of the plate before I put it on the car. Semper Furry!

Current Mood: indescribable

You are weirder than 78% of other LJers......(Not surprised there!)

So, mefurry, your LiveJournal reveals...

You are... 10% unique (blame, for example, your interest in zig zag skunk) and 5% herdlike (partly because you, like everyone else, enjoy music). When it comes to friends you are popular. In terms of the way you relate to people, you are keen to please. Your writing style (based on a recent public entry) is conventional.

Your overall weirdness is: 37

(The average level of weirdness is: 27.
of other LJers.)

Find out what your weirdness level is!

(The average level of weirdness is: 27.
You are weirder than 78% of other LJers.)

Current Mood: weird

"First it came from "FA", now it terrorizes "LJ"...
1. Post these rules.

2. Each tagged person must post 8 things about their self on their journal.

1) It is my belief that I am a "old" soul and have been around this thing called "life" many times. I "know" I was a lion and that's why I relate so to all lions and to "Kimba" especially.

2) I was born furry I was always "that" way, just didn't know what it was or what to call it.

3) Although a male, I fully admit that I have many feminine traits. I have emotions that are easy to stir and I am a big furball of a softy for things like sad stuff in movies. I cry a bit every time I ever watch "Bambi" or "Born Free".

4) Gawd help me but I am a "tail" lion.... You know like there are those who like legs or breasts and such. The fluffier and furrier the tail the better! Just give me a skunk tail or a malamute husky tail and I'll happily "die" in the fluffy goodness!

5) My heart belongs to "Kimba"! Nuff said!

6) If I had the proverbial one wish, it would be to be the lion I am. I don't care about the "complications" that would arise out of that decision.

7) I guzzle coffee, for better or worse. Usually all day long most days.

8) I am both adult and cub at the same time. I pride myself on my maturity an good ol' common sense but I have kept inside me the little cub of I think seven years of age that is fascinated by everything. I think that is what makes me so good at doing my costumed characters. I AM who I'm in fur as, honest!

3. At the end, you have to choose and tag 8 people and post their icons on the same journal.

I tag (on FA):
bradhound
brown_wolf
flyingfox17
foxer421
giantstitch712
haystack
hellwulf
magnusdiridian

4. Go to their pages and send a message saying you tagged them.
5. No tag-backs.

"Me done!"
Each tagged person must post 8 things about their self on THEIR journal.

Current Mood: silly

A furry wedding of a dear malamute and cheetah I know and love so well!
Saturday the 15th of August was a very good day for them and for me. I do sincerely hope that such a day may yet happen to this middle-aged white lion. "Are ya' listenin' Higher Pow'a?"

( Here's all the details... )

Current Mood: envious
Current Music: "Born Free"

For what it's worth...

HowManyOfMe.com

There are
5,627
people with my name in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

Not exactly profound I'll grant you, but what the hey!
Hugs to all my furiends!
--Me/Henry

Current Mood: good

"ANNOUNCING" THE DRAMA ARRESTOR (Stop the drama in one easy and fast posting!)
Please note that it comes from a posting that was made on the "Southern California Furs" Yahoo group (SoCalFurs) by Vaughan Murray. I am not taking credit for it...only "borrowing" it. ("'Tis the net you know...) Please use and enjoy!!!

--Me/Henry "Semper Furry!"

P.S.: You can check more than one in any column!

Dear:
[ ] Clueless Newbie
[ ] Lamer
[ ] Flamer
[ ] Geek
[ ] Canadian
[ ] Spammer
[ ] Racist
[ ] Sexist
[ ] Troller
[ ] Fundamentalist
[ ] Satanist
[ ] "Expert"
[ ] Wannabe
[ ] Cheater
[ ] Pervert
[ ] Crazy Mother

You Are Being Flamed Because:

[ ] Wanting to cheat in an online game.
[ ] Wanting to hack something that you have no clue of.
[ ] You obviously don't know anything about the topic at hand.
[ ] You posted a 'Top 10' post.
[ ] You posted a 'Religion' post.
[ ] You started a long, stupid thread.
[ ] You continued spreading a long, stupid thread.
[ ] Your post is absurdly off topic for where you posted it.
[ ] Your lack of understanding of the fundamentals is disgusting.
[ ] You stretched the screen, idiot.
[ ] You posted a V.S. post.
[ ] You posted low-IQ flame-bait.
[ ] You posted a blatantly obvious troll.
[ ] You followed up to a blatantly obvious troll.
[ ] You said "X rules, Y stinks" and gave no support for your lame statement
[ ] You make no sense.
[ ] You are spreading info on how to cheat and or do a glitch that harms the game
[ ] You made a post yet failed to say anything.
[ ] Your signature alias/avatar is dreadful.
[ ] Your post contained nothing but psycho-babble.
[ ] You are claiming that you know more than Newton, Ohm, Pavlov, etc.
[ ] Your awful markup made the post unreadable.
[ ] You made a baseless assertion.
[ ] You posted SCREAMING in RANDOM CAPS (OR IN ALL CAPS) for NO REASON.
[ ] YoU tYpEd SoMeThInG lAmE lIkE tHiS.
[ ] You say you're 'L33t liek Jeffk,' or your spelling is so bad that no one can read it.
[ ] You didn't do anything specific, but appear to be so generally worthless that you are being flamed anyway.
[ ] You started a lame thread with a very old and worthless idea thinking it was something new and cool.
[ ] You revived a dead thread, moron.
[ ] You adore/idolize/ love a video game character.
[ ] You made a post containing sexuality, or suggestive innuendos in it.
[ ] You made yourself a troller by promoting unnecessary drama.
[ ] You asked for a release date we know little to nothing about.

To Repent, You Must:

[ ] Refrain from posting until you have a vague idea what you're doing.
[ ] Read every group you posted to for a week.
[ ] Give up your AOL account.
[ ] Bust up your modem with a hammer and eat it.
[ ] Tell your Mommy to up your medication.
[ ] Jump into a bathtub while holding your monitor (monitor must be plugged in).
[ ] Actually post something relevant.
[ ] Read and memorize the FAQ.
[ ] Print your home phone number in your ads.
[ ] Take a reality check.

In Closing, I'd Like to Say:

[ ] Get a clue.
[ ] Get a life.
[ ] Go away.
[ ] Grow up.
[ ] Stop cheating.
[ ] You fail.
[ ] You need to seek psychiatric help.
[ ] Morons like you give ammo to pro-censorship morons.
[ ] Yer momma's so fat/stupid/ugly that etc...
[ ] Take your gibberish somewhere else.
[ ] Go back to school and actually learn something.
[ ] Learn how to post or get off the site.
[ ] Learn to type at a first grade level.

Current Mood: giggly
Current Music: "Holly Dolly" song/Levas Polka