15:50

This is insane! I thought that I would make $150, or possibly $200, but I have already earned enough to pay for the whole trip with some left over. More and more people are lining up and offering me money to draw for them. I have already sold out of the prints and CD's I brought along.

There are more than two dozen fursuits here. Gregor was out in the Kchierath costume for almost the entire afternoon. It is amazing that he does not drop dead from heat stroke. I gave him the picture that I drew of him after lunch. He acted very excited and his ears came forward and he said in his catcoon voice, "This…is me? You draw?" I nodded, and he rubbed his cheek against me and got as cuddly as a cat who knew I had a can opener in my pocket. There must be a fan or somesuch in the nose of his costume to help keep him cool. The placement is perfect, because the hum of the fan makes it seem like he is purring and the air coming from his nostrils gives the illusion of actual breath. Here we see true German engineering in action! As part of the costume he wears a loincloth and a leather vest, giving him the look of a primeval hunter. Tied to his belt are some stuffed toy rats, his "catch." When I told him he could keep the drawing he took one of the rats off of his belt and offered it to me. "You…take?"

"No," I said, laughing. "No charge for the picture."

He made a little "mew-rowr" sound and hung the rat on his belt again, then said, "Thank…you…much!" and gave me a tight hug.