Alright - this is it... i am in the final stages moving to my new place... albeit since December.

Been dealing with an awful lot including losing my car's transmission, losing my car, juggling jobs, juggling rides, dealing with the flu, getting next to no help from family or anyone... pretty much been doing it all.

There's just a LOT on my table (juggling jobs - rides, still looking for a decent cheap car, unboxing and starting life anew... etc.). So it will be a while til i get service at the new place and get back to my friends and family here... please bear with me!

Til then ~ *with huggles and hopes*

This has been a year of progression, but more so - just what feels like falling back. I'm trying.,. i've tried, but suffice to say - i'm not going to miss this past year at all.

Not that it was all bad... no. Every year has its ups and downs, but man oh man...

Guess first and foremost was losing my dad and feeling the brunt of that. Strangely enough, despite the sorrow there has been a comfort... reflecting on the humor we shared, much different than when i lost my mom in 2002.

We also lost Richard - something i can't shake off... it was too sudden, too unexpected - just extremely unfair. In a very large part - befriending him brought me to you. i would not be here now if it wasn't for Rapid T. Rabbit and a could never be more grateful.

i also found out i had lost a good friend the year previous - deep down, a part of me had an idea... i knew Steve was suffering, i just couldn't come to terms with facing the inevitable.

I had friends loose their stepdad, their mother, their grandfathers, their brothers, cousins.... can 2017 just ease up?

Then what was going on with the world? What is happening with our government? Good grief...

The weather? The horrible hurricanes, tropical storms, the blizzards, the earthquakes...

And people turning on each other and just the amazing disregard of life in general... okay 2017, stop.

Back at home - things have been awkward to say the least. Having run into a few man problems myself. Meeting an adorable local guy and finding out he's going to become a missionary. Another trying to befriend and connect with online - stupid me seeming forward and having it backfire.

Then there's the sliver of hope - the new apartment. Finding one after how many months? Signing the deed and still, as yet have to fully move in... it has been one problem after another... a big one is finding the time, coordinating the move with friends... but that's not the half of it...

Two weeks after i signed the apartment lease - my car's transmission started to slip (incorrect gear shift ratio). i took my Accord to a garage that came highly recommended and found out that the "much needed" transmission flush that Valvoline was pushing on me (due to the car's high mileage) basically withered the transmission. The garage did a flush with the right fluids and i gingerly drove myself - things were looking good.

In the meantime - i did what i could to get the ball rolling with the apartment. Had the hardest time trying to get a day to borrow my sister's van to get stuff out of my room and out of storage over to the new place... i succeeded a couple of times.

Then there was the foot... one Saturday walking to work - i felt a slight snap in my left foot. A few hours later i developed plantar fasciitis. Some days have been okay - others you can hardly move. Luckily my sister knew what i had and got me a sleep support brace which is seeming to now do the trick. I learned some exercises too... been doing that.

With the problems with my car, with my foot and with moving - after talking it over with a dear friend, i realized i had to cancel my trip to MFFFFFFFFFFFFF. Did not want to - but really had no other choice.

MFFFFFFFFFFFF weekend, Friday morning - i headed to work, my car began to smoke from the engine, a heater hose had melted off and my friend  Ratchet_pup fixed that; but, in so doing - blew HIS chances of going to MFFFFFFFF - which i can't forgive myself for. That said, a few days later the gear shift started slipping again and the shift display began flashing... now i was presented with the following options...

* find a wrecked Accord with the same transmission - replace it and have a 50/50 chance it will work a few months or not at all

* get the transmission overhauled for $2,200 - a couple of mechanics have said with a car over 200K miles on it - it is not worth it

* find a new cheapie

Between juggling my 3 jobs, the plantar fasciitis, doing what i could for the holidays and trying to move - I'm looking. And i'm cutting it close. With the holidays as they've been - i haven't been able to borrow my sister's van (save 1 time) to get to work and have nearly spent $400 getting a ride just TO work. There is no public transportation available for the time i need to get to work, And even if i WERE at my new place, i'd have the same issues and still wouldn't be able to get to work on time.

On top of that - Marriott had me work over at the Starbucks they run at University Hospital... now i'm fighting something between a cold and the flu.

Another year ~ so much for kissing a special someone at midnight. *siiiiiiiiiiiiighs* >.<



But there is hope - I'm holding on to it... things could be worse.... SO MUCH WORSE, and i'm grateful. Grateful to you - my family and furiends who will always be with me. Here's hoping i can get my stuff settled... get a car... finish my move and carry on! And may the New Year bring you blessings in abundance ~ happy times for all!!!

In 1999, I met Richard  rapidtrabbit via a phone call - within a few weeks, I found myself creating illustrations and graphics for his public access show in Manhattan.

A year later Richard was made Guest Of Honor at the very first Midwest Furfest at the Sheraton Arlington Park and I was invited to escort and help film segments for his show and anniversary special.

This being my first trip by myself, Richard introduced me to Tyger  mideonwerewolf who pretty much placed me under his paw and started the ball rolling. Through Tyger, I met  stickfpuppy - we became good friends and were soon on our way to Chicago.

There, I met a 6 foot tall rabbit, a 7 foot tall tiger, a plethora of other anthropomorphic creatures, like minded individuals... and some really cute guys. In a few short days I was welcomed into what would pretty much become my second family, the furry fandom. What felt like a lifetime of searching for - I finally found myself and cried all the way home.

Over the next seventeen years, Rapid and I would touch base with each other. He had me create more graphics, illustrations and even a few Christmas cards. He even took part of a vacation down to Cincinnati. We traveled to Coney Island, Kings Island and even over to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

Richard dealt with so many trials and tribulations these last few years... living through 9/11, losing both his parents in a few short years, losing his job at Time Warner... I don't know how he did it ~ but he continued to persevere... with his rabbit in tow.

If I never took that step to meet Richard, I would have never encountered the furry fandom... (okay - at least for probably another 10 years or so). I would not have found *myself*... nor would I had become the critter that I am today - and for that, I will be forever grateful.

I can only hope you have finally found some peace, my friend... I hope somewhere in the clouds above, among the starlit horses and carousels - a big rabbit's hoping happy.

my Dad passed away early Thursday morning. pretty unexpected, given my dad's improving condition and (as always) upbeat attitude. He had just turned 80 at the beginning of January.

diagnosed with COPD a few years ago - a recent bout with pneumonia and low blood oxygen levels sent him to the hospital in early April.

i will always remember my dad for his creative artistry, skilled carpentry, great sense of humor, abundant love of nature and his amazing spirit.

thank you all for the good thoughts, prayers and support these last few weeks - they are truly appreciated.

yes, its been a while... have some things here to post!

thanks to family and friends always for their concern and for checking in on me... and thanks to Zootopia for some needed inspiration!

^,,,,^

Last week the critter was left alone at home (with the family dog, Maverick), while my sister and her family took a vacation to Destin, FL. After nearly three weeks of work, I finally got a day off last Thursday.

Things started off nicely, meeting with my good friend Deyna Otter for brunch over at Frisch's. I then walked Maverick and pretty much chillaxed the rest of the afternoon.

That night, I decided to take Mavvie with me and go get some dinner at one of my favorite local spots, Richards Pizza in Hamilton.

It was raining... no less then three minutes away from our destination... heading westbound on 129, when a police cruiser started crossing the intersection (they had the red light)... no sirens or lights and hit the Taurus. Mavvie and I were shaken, but okay. The cops were okay as well (and did admit fault). However, TaurTaur didn't fair so well and looks to be totaled. I'll get the lowdown Monday.

I am very grateful - more so for Mavvie's sake than anything (he's a strong doggie); things could have been so much worse!

Suffice to say - I now have to juggle the complexities of getting a rental (a debacle to say the least), find a decent new used car (in about four days); all the while continue working both at Macy's and Staples and who knows what all else I'm going to have to deal with these next few days out!

Keep me in good thought, send up some prayers, wish me luck or offer some sage advice... all will be greatly appreciated! >.<

Well... last Monday I received an eviction notice... the whole building actually did.

As some of you know, my place has been in disrepair for the last few years. I've been lucky enough to live on my own now for as long as I have; but things finally came to a head last week. The building was sold to new owners in June... we knew changes were coming... just didn't think it was going to happen like this.

Don't honestly know what all is going to happen these next few weeks or months out... I'm feeling my prospects and doing what I can.

There's a lot on my plate... with a broken tooth, a slew of car repairs, some commissions to finish, not too mention juggling my life between Macy's and Staples... feels like I suddenly need a break again!

More than likely, I will be moving in with my sister and her family for a few months - till I can get everything squared away. Life's going to have to be put on hold... and I'll certainly miss some of my freedom... having friends come over to visit, sleeping with my cuddle friends (plushies) and just having that *independence*.

Its always something, isn't it? *sighs*

Oh-kees... I'm updating this thing just to let friends and family know I'm still around. No, I'm not a ninja - but if I were... call me Donatello!

Long story short, I've basically been working two part time jobs since last spring ~ *trying* to keep up with the bills and other whatnot. I'm a part time copy & print lackey at Staples (not so easy) and flex support at Macy's (you know - the place that eradicated hometown institutions like Kaufmann's, Filene's and Marshall Fields). Its taken up a considerable part of my time.

Been drawing infrequently, but I'm still working on that comic I hope to bring to life one day. In the last few years, I've focused some of that creative energy into audio clips with Audacity; doing all sorts of strange silly things to them... for better or for worse. I'm sure a lot of you would listen and say "please don't quit your day job"... no worries, I won't.

Thanks to Cajun, I got a long, overdue break and traveled to MFMFMfm. Met up with friends I haven't seen in a long while (sorry), got some rest, had some good food, watched a cool channel that had nothing but vintage everything on it, took some good pictures and got plenty of good huggles! Yepyepyep!

And now I'm back to the ol' mundane bump and grind... hoping to get to Chicago come December! *squee*

Well... I've got just about two years of work finally loaded up.

The delay couldn't be avoided - there was just no way I could get back into the system here. I want to thank a few friends ( in particular Shy and Runtt ) who vouched for me and to Dragoneer who personally helped me get back in.

I apologize to those for seeming like such a nimrod... and to my friends who continue to love and support me, I thank you heartily... *huggggggggggggggles*

Have a few other things to go through and hope to continue updating my gallery in the future.

With thanks...

chris ^_^