28 August 14:15
Olpe, Germany

I must say that the overall quality of art here is outstanding. Anthropomorphic art is apparently much more highly respected here than in the U.S.. I still do not understand why my silly line drawings are in such high demand. I suppose I should not look a gift horse in the mouth (haha!). So far I have finished eleven sketches, not counting the freebies I have given people.

Since my arrival I have met people from Germany, Holland, Denmark, Finland, the UK, Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, and Sweden. It is still the Englishmen that I have the hardest time understanding.

Dinner and breakfast are exactly the same fare: cold cuts and bread. I found out to my dismay that the dark brown stuff I have been eating is blood sausage! Ugh!

A lot of fursuiters are out and about even though it is threatening to rain. Kchierath is outside at this moment being chased by a wolf costume. I do not want to be too much of a fanboy so I will leave him to his fun. The wolf looks very well done, even though his arms show a little between the costume's sleeves and its gloves. Actually, I believe that the wolf is the same one whose sketchbook I am about to start working on. I can use him for drawing reference now.

I have an invitation from some of the Germans to join them after dinner for a bit of Absinthe. I am a little reluctant, considering everything I have heard about it. It is supposedly a hallucinogen, said to be the drink that inspired Edgar Allen Poe to write. Apparently it is banned in most countries but these folks can still get it from one of the former Eastern Bloc countries. They keep telling me, "You must try it!" I may try a little just to be polite. First, though, I have got a pile of sketchbooks to take care of, starting with that wolf's.