Hello!

Well, yesterday morning I woke up to find that my Facebook account has been disabled, including my Kevin Hile, Grubbs Grizzly, and Uncle Bear Publishing accounts, which are obviously all linked to me. This also means that the FB groups I run (Greymuzzles and Silvermuzzles) are probably down too (although I can't check). Sooo.... I went online to try to appeal this (having no idea why my account would be gutted) and there is no way for me to do so via the unhelpful Help Center, which tells me I must login to appeal but I can't login LOL.

A friend tells me that I might be a target of Kiwi Farms, which apparently is attacking furry pages. Someone suggested a tech guy to help, but I got a scam alert on them.

So, now I don't know what to do. I am going to plead here for help.

Can anyone help a poor old bear?

Thanks!

Hello,
I'm seeking to commission an artist who does cute cartoony dragons. I have an idea for a shirt design. I'm thinking maybe a collaboration in which we can both make a little $.
If interested, let me know.
GG

Grrrreetings! Announcing the winners of the 7th Annual Good Furry Awards!

The Good Egg Award: Yappy Slyfox
The Image Award: Thabo Meerkat's "Digging Up Positivity"
The Furtastic Award: PhotographOtter
The Lifetime Achievement Award: Ken Fletcher

To learn more, go to https://www.unclebearpublishing.com.

Nominations are now open for the Good Furry Awards! The GFAs recognize furries all over the globe who give of themselves to the furry community in the spirit of charity and friendship. Prizes will be awarded in three categories:

The Good Egg Award for furries who do charitable and other volunteer work, such as helping out at furcons, raising money for animal charities, or doing work in their non-furry communities.
The Image Award goes to furries who present a positive image of the fandom through the media, including YouTube videos, documentaries, vlogs, podsts, websites and other similar means of communication.
The Furtastic Award for furries doing good works that don't easily fall into the first two categories.
All furries active in the fandom currently are eligible. Winners are voted on by their peers and receive handsome trophies and a $200 cash award.

This will also be the fourth year for the Lifetime Achievement Award, a special award presented by a select committee. Previous winners included Mark Merlino and Rod O'Riley (joint), Reed Waller, and Steve Gallacci.

After the nominations close on July 31, voting will begin, and the awards presentation will be in mid September.

Two changes have occurred since last year. The web pages for the award are now hosted on our sponsor site, Uncle Bear Publishing. Also, the award ceremony is being moved from Biggest Little Furcon in Reno to Another Furry Con in Ontario, California.

You may nominate as many furries as you wish. Simply fill out the GFA Nomination form! https://www.unclebearpublishing.com.....-awards.html#/

I have over the years learned a number of things from family members on what NOT to do with one's life. As follows:

1. My mom taught me to take care of my teeth so I don't lose them like she did; she also taught me not to marry someone because they meet the qualities your parents want (if she had married the sergeant she loved and not the captain she didn't, she would have been much much happier--although I would not exist); and she taught me to be careful whom I pick to give medical power of attorney (she gave it to my sister, who disobeyed her explicit wishes with horrible consequences).
2. My dad taught me that if you are a dictator to your family, they will leave you and you will die alone.
3. My sister taught me that alcohol turns you into an asshole--it literally changed her from a loving, kind person into a hater. Do not go down that path.
4. My current husband, Michael, has taught me not to let fear run your life; he now has many regrets about the things he didn't do, and now it's too late to do them because he is almost 77 and unable to walk or work or pursue his interests. It makes me cry. I am doing my best to bring him job--I am taking him on a cruise in August. I took him to his first ever concert a while ago (Elton John). I try, but I can't make up for seven decades of remorse.
5. My late husband, Jim, taught me to take care of your body, especially what you eat, because not doing so will kill you. Also, get regular doctor check-ups, even if you feel fine.
6. My late friend Todd Brown taught me that if you no longer have anything in your life that you look forward to, you will literally die of boredom. I found him dead in his apartment a few months after telling me he no longer had a passion for anything in this life.

I wish I had not learned these lessons in this manner, but I thank them for teaching me important things NOT to do. I will not live my life to please others; I will endeavor to keep myself healthy by eating right, exercising, and not indulging in booze or drugs; I will do the things I want to do now because there may not be a tomorrow; I will not live my life in fear; I am getting regular medical and dental check-ups.

I hope I have taught you some things before I die. Don't wait to live your life. Stay healthy, active, and BE WHO YOU ARE UNASHAMEDLY AND WITHOUT FEAR!!!

Oh, and take naps. Naps are very nice.

Blessed Be.

A bear.

Hi, folks,

This is not an ad, promise. This is a free service that I think people are no longer aware of and I just wanted to remind people I'm still here....

"Ask Papabear" (www.askpapabear.com) is my free furry advice column that I have been running since 2012. I have noticed that letters to me have diminished significantly, and I think it is for two reasons: 1) new furries coming on the scene are not aware of it, and 2) furries--especially the younger ones--are mostly enamored with online video channels now like YT and TikTok, so they don't do much reading of text online.

To address these items, I am going to try to have more of a presence on social media, and I am also going to start a YouTube channel.

In the meantime, if you would like to write to me at https://www.askpapabear.com/write-me.html please do. I offer advice on everything from furry questions to more mundane issues about relationships, school, career, and life in general. Remember! "The advice is nice and well worth the price!" LOL, it's free, folks. I've had a lot of happy "customers" (https://www.askpapabear.com/testimonials.html).

Thanks for reading!
Papabear Grubbs

Update on Michael Crisci (aka Dineegla Moose, Kristiaan Michells): I spoke with his very kind-hearted and generous neighbor Karen Garvin, who is the one who took in his two elderly dogs, Tawny and Sadie. She is also helping with the preservation of the art and paperwork of both Dineegla and MuscleWolf. But she could really use our help. If you have any spare change and feel charitable, a bit of money to help pay for the dogs' food etc. would be appreciated. Karen Garvin and perhaps me and his friend Marv Bero may set up a GoFundMe.

Anyway, you may befriend Karen on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/karen.garvin.967 and chat with her. I told her I would be sending out messages to as many furries as I could, and I hope some of you will help.

Thank you!
Grubbs

I just talked with Moosie's friend Marv Bero, who is in Michigan but is in contact with Dineegla's neighbors and such in the Chicago area, and he told me that one of Dineegla's neighbors took the dogs and found temporary houses for them, so they are alive! Secondly, all his art and the art of his husband have not been thrown away (phew). Another neighbor said that Dineegla's friend in Colorado might archive them; if no one can be found, I gave Marv my information so that the materials can be shipped to me and stored for a while. So, looks like the art of MuscleWolf and Dineegla Moose, as well as the stories, will be preserved. Awoo!

Hi!

[Update on the below: Dineegla's very wonderful neighbor Karen has arranged to have the dogs put in a rescue home, so they are safe for the moment. Some donors have helped with money to pay for food and vet bills. If you would like to help, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-.....o-a-new-family and thank you!]


I don't know how else to do this, so trying to get the word out. As some of you know (and if you don't, you will), Dineegla passed away this week of apparent natural causes at his home in Niles near Chicago. He had been living by himself after his husband, MuscleWolf, died two years ago.

Anyway, Moosie had a couple of dogs. I do not know what might happen to them, but when my friend Todd died, they were going to kill his cat, but I took his cat in until I could find a home for him. I am praying that someone did the same for Dineegla's dogs. If not, I hope someone will! Also, he had a BUNCH of art by both him and MuscleWolf. This is original furry art that is irreplaceable, and I fear someone will come in and just chuck it all in a dumpster.

Does anyone reading this live in the Chicago area? Can anyone help? I'm in California. I also do not know how to contact any family or friends he has in the area. If you can help with this, please do! I have his address if you need it. Text me at 760 619 8882

I'm pleased to announce the winners of the 6th Annual Good Furry Awards:

The Good Egg Award goes to Shutter Karelian for his work running Ohio Fur Events
The Furtastic Award goes to Spottacus Cheetah for inventing the green light heart monitor that helps save lives
The Image Award goes to Finn the Panther for his excellent YouTube video series about the fandom
and
The Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Steve Gallacci for founding Albedo Anthropomorphics, probably the most influential early comic book furry anthology in the fandom's history

To learn more and watch a couple of videos, go to https://www.askpapabear.com/2024-winners.html

August is the last month to nominate people for the Good Furry Award https://www.askpapabear.com/good-furry-award.html

If you know a furry who deserves some love and recognition, please fill out the form here https://www.askpapabear.com/goodfur.....ationform.html

Voting will start on September 2 and end September 30.

The winners will be announced at BLFC in Reno in October.

Good Luck!

Not that I'm dying anytime soon (hope not), but for some reason I've been thinking on this. Two ideas are in my head. The first is that I kind of want Grubbs to go with me, and since I am being cremated, I would burn the fursuit as well. Because, you know, he's me. On the other hand, perhaps the fursuit might do some good? What if I gave it to someone to auction off and then any funds raised could go to charity. Do you think anyone would want to buy it for charity?

I just don't want him thrown in the trash like garbage, so I want him either to come with me or to bring some joy to others.

WDYT?

Hi,

I'm seeking an artist who is good with bear drawings to make me a special badge. It will say, "I identify as a Bear. My pronouns are Huff/Gruff"

Contact me if interested.

Thanks!

I'm seeking an artist who has a good cartoony style (think Warner Bros) and would be able to draw a color book cover. The artist who is selected will receive $500.

Contact me if interested at

contact[at]unclebearpublishing.com

Okay, just for fun, gonna let off some steam on furry artists.

Yo! The anus of any animal or furry species should be DIRECTLY below the tail, not halfway down toward the scrotum.

Yo! Yo! Bears have FIVE toes at the front of their paws, not four.

Yo! Yo! Yo! Female breasts should not sit atop the collar bone. They hang WAY lower than that, even on young vixens with perky breasts.

Yo! Yo! Yo! Yo! A tail does not protrude out of the anus!

Okay, thanks for letting me rant. I return you now to your regularly scheduled programming.

Being in love does not necessarily equate to being happy. And happiness is, conversely, not dependent upon being in love.

Just wanted to clear that up for you idealists and romantics out there.

So, I woke up at 4 this morning after having a horrible zombie dream. I lay in bed for a while, pondering why I had such a nightmare, and then it occurred to me. Living dead. They are a symbol of my life, which currently is a living death. I have no life; I can't go anywhere or do anything because I'm taking care of Michael. All I do during the day is work and take care of him and the house, and at night I watch TV with him, and it is driving me crazy--literally. I have major cabin fever. His daughter, Jennifer, was supposed to come and visit us for a couple of weeks in October or November, and I was going to take advantage of that and have her babysit him while I go visit some friends and get out of the house, but she canceled. Thank God that Michael likes going to Reno for BLFC. It's about the only time I am able to get him to leave the house. I SOOOOOOOOOOOO NEEEEEED to get my furry on and cannot wait to be there. I'm going to be a presenter at two talks: cohost on a fun one on how to make friends in the fandom and a second one by myself called "Is It Furry?" I will also be doing some volunteer work and, of course, fursuiting!

Never have I needed to go to a furcon more than this time. It's for the sake of my sanity.

By the way, I am sorry that my journals here are rather sad. I don't post things like the above on Facebook or other social media because Michael would see them. One of the hardest things about my situation is that I can't talk to Michael about it because of his severe PTSD and low self-esteem. I know if I dumped my emotions on him, it would hurt him badly, and I just can't do that to him. He's very fragile emotionally and mentally after decades of abuse from previous spouses and his family. I have made it my goal to do whatever I can to bring him happiness in the time he has left (he is 75 and no telling how long he will stay on this plane of existence). So, I journal here. It's more for my benefit than it is about asking for help or sympathy. You don't have to comment. I'm really just venting. Michael is a sweet and loving man, and it's not his fault he is in the condition he's in. I blame this country for putting him in Vietnam, getting him bombed, shot at, and poisoned with Agent Orange, and ruining his health. Not only that, but his children and grandchildren have had health problems, and I'm sure this can be attributed to his unwittingly passing along the poison to his descendants. Fuck war and fuck this warmongering government of ours.

End of today's rant. I feel a little better.

Last year at this time, I was in Paoli, Indiana, where Michael was recuperating from a broken ankle. I was staying with his daughter and her family a few miles away. It was a sad birthday. No cards, no gifts, nada, and a husband who was in for a long recovery. Yippee.

This year, I expect about the same. I'm sorry, but a "happy birthday" on Facebook isn't much of anything. I'm not saying anything to my relatives; I doubt they will make an effort. Michael said he ordered me a gift, but not optimistic as to what it is. Poor thing is lousy at picking out gifts. If I want a birthday cake, I will have to buy it for myself. My sister doesn't bother giving me gifts or cards anymore.

I'm sorry, this sounds selfish. Birthdays used to be special. Now, it seems nobody gives a shit to bother going out of their way to wish me a happy birthday. I'll probably get a card from my insurance guy at State Farm.

Yay me.

fml

Hi,

I am leaving Twitter, so I just created a Mastodon account. You can reach me there at

@grubbsgrizzly@home.social

I created a group for Uncle Bear Publishing on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/1193763761470084

Hi,

Well, as some of you noticed, Michael and I were planning a move to Indiana to live closer to his family.

That plan is now off.

The death blow came with today's SCOTUS decision. Ain't no effin' way I'm gonna live in a red state now. Yes, California is expensive, but at least we aren't nutbags (except in Bakersfield, of course).

Listen to the recording of the Good Furry Award ceremony on Bearly Furcasting https://bearlyfurcasting.buzzsprout.....55632/10737684

And you can see the slideshow here https://www.askpapabear.com/2022-wi.....-nominees.html

It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to Musclewolf (Mark Carter) who passed away last night. Musclewolf basically founded the musclefur art movement (that is now often called bara) and owned Furocity Gym. https://www.furaffinity.net/user/musclewolf/

My love and prayers to his widower, Michael Crisci (Dineegla Moose)

Hi,

I left Facebook for a break. I can't stay away forever because of the groups I run, but there is just sooooooo much negativity and hate and drama and bad news on Facebook that it was really really getting me down, especially since, as an empath, I'm extremely sensitive to other people's emotions and states of mind.

Anyway, I do have apps like Twitter and Telegram and even Barq. From what I'm hearing, Telegram might be a good place to hang with furries and chat. Barq has seemed kinda quiet. Do you folks use Telegram much?

I just wanna chat with furries and stuffs and avoid all the crap about what's in the news, who's dead, how the planet is ruined etc. etc. I can't take it any more.

Thanks....

Grubbs

I'm seriously considering moving out of California and to ... Indianapolis. There are a number of reasons for this....

Reasons to move:
1) My home value in SoCal has soared to the point that I now have about $400,000 in equity in this house. If I sold it, I could purchase a new, larger home in good condition in Indianapolis for CASH. This would mean no mortgage payments and a savings of about $300,000 for the life of my current mortgage. Money I could put into savings.
2) Michael could put his name on the mortgage; as a 100% disabled vet who served active duty in Vietnam, we would be exempt from property taxes, saving thousands of dollars annually.
3) With these changes, I'd be able to quit the current job I have (and loathe) to focus on my publishing business.
4) We would be very close to Michael's daughter, so he'd be able to see her a lot, as well as her family (grandkids). This is personal reason #1.
5) Expenses in California are getting absurd. Gasoline is $2 a gallon higher hear than in the rest of the country, and water, electricity, and gas utilities are soaring yearly.
6) Business operation fees in California are heinous. The state wants $800 annually from me just to have a business, and the city wants a couple hundred more. These costs would be about 1/10th that amount in the Midwest.
7) I would be within driving distance of cons like MFF, AC, and FWA, which would help me promote my publishing business. Here in SoCal, the only close-by con is Golden State. BLFC is 9 hours away and FC is a good 7. The only con I'd miss would be BLFC, but I could get to AC in 5 hours and MFF in about 2.
8) I am growing very concerned about the water situation in California. This could be the worst drought in 1200 years. And it's not only the water. Low lake levels could cut off hydroelectric power, causing electricity bills to soar even more.
9) Potential for a serious earthquake. I live 20 minutes from the San Andreas Fault. A big earthquake (or devastating drought) could destroy my home.
10) Living expenses in general are cheaper
11) I live next to renters who are very noisy and rude. I will not miss them. One guy really abuses his dogs. It's upsetting, and the local animal control does nothing about it despite my complaints that they keep dogs in a garage in summer.
12) I love my house, but it does have some problems, including tiny bedrooms, virtually no storage, and an awkward living room layout that has been driving me crazy for years.

Reasons not to move:
1) I am very emotionally attached to this home, which is the one Jim and I had together. Also, I've put a LOT of work into this house, and a lot of my own personality. On the other paw, I could buy a move-in-ready home in Indianapolis.
2) I would be moving from a blue state to a red state that is home to Mike Pence. However, Indianapolis is a blue dot and I hear has a pretty good gay community and is friendly to the LGBT community (the city has a law not to discriminate against LGBT people, even though the state doesn't).
3) I adore the weather here. I love seeing flowers bloom all year round. I love the local mountains and that it is close to the ocean (although I have not visited the beach in like 3 years.... on the other paw, FIRES)
4) I'd have to say farewell to some dear friends.
5) Midwest Mosquitoes! UGH! However, the climate here in SoCal is getting more muggy and could mean more mosquitoes showing up here.
6) Potential flooding (but I could prepare for that)
7) The gay community here is ubiquitous, making it very comfortable for me to just be me. In Indy, I'd have to stay close to home and not venture out much into Trump Territory. Kinda feeling like it would be analogous to West Berlin during the Cold War.
8) I swore when I moved to SoCal I would never shovel snow or mow grass again. Well, that ends that promise to myself!
9) Other than Michael's family, I wouldn't know anyone. I don't know if the local fur community would be welcoming or not (although I have had very little luck with furries in my current area)

So, your opinions? If you were in my situation, would you move? I know, I know, it's up to me, but I do appreciate input.

Thanks.