I saw someone share a list of five tips for coping with stress and maintaining mental health with the virus and all else going all around us. The second one was "Take breaks from upsetting content".

Accomplishing this takes a hefty amount of will, I think. The internet has done two things to make it this way: 1) It's enabled us to be aware of all the brokenness that exists moment to moment, more burden than any individual has ever been expected to bear pre-internet (and I would argue, should not be expected to even now), and 2) We feel like if we DON'T keep our eyes glued to the constant stream of pain, that we're just plugging our ears and committing the terrible sin of apathy. With words like these, we collectively enforce each others' slavery to the news feed as we view and even reshare a flood of upsetting content. I've even heard it said that "checking out comes from a place of privilege" which seems much like a chain letter in modern lingo.

Yes, we need to be a healthy amount of informed and work to change things for the better within our ability. But when we stare at problems we can't solve alone and wrack ourselves with anxiety over it, it hurts us and helps no one. I've seen people burn themselves to the wick by stressing out over other people's problems. It likely comes from a place of self-sacrifice. But by doing so they leave themselves in a state in which they have no energy to help others -- the very thing they're trying to do. And they're worse off for it.

One objection I anticipate is, what's the bigger problem? That people are burning out, or that too many people ARE completely checked out and need to be shaken awake? I don't know how to measure that. I think both are real problems. The difference is that there is plenty of content being generated daily to deal with the latter, but very little addressing the former.

So if the internet stresses you out, take a break from it. It's okay. Eat. Nap. The world never depended on you alone and will not fall apart if you look away for a moment. I hope these words heal. If so, feel free to share them with someone who needs them.

Still kicking around Overthinking ideas but I thought I'd get this one out.

So Pillowfort seems to be the thing now! Gonna see how it goes.

https://www.pillowfort.social/hexadoodle

Here's where else I am!

Active on:
Furaffinity: https://www.furaffinity.net/user/hexadoodle/
Telegram: https://t.me/hexadoodles
Tumblr: https://hexadoodles.tumblr.com

Inactive on:
Weasyl: https://www.weasyl.com/~hexadoodle
DeviantArt: https://www.deviantart.com/hexaditidom
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hexadoodles

 alsin did a recording of the song I wrote out in this picture, saving me the effort! Check it out!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1e.....tyR1yX3iCYhEy0

I stream rarely, and when I do, I usually don’t make an FA journal, lazy lazy. To be notified whenever I stream, follow https://t.me/hexadoodles , or subscribe to get emails from Picarto.

https://picarto.tv/hexadoodle

Apr 24th's theme calls for a city scene. That means CAMEOS! If you've wanted to be in one of these pictures this month, now's your chance!

Just link a SFW ref here as a reply on this journal and I'll try to squeeze you in somewhere. I can't promise you'll be heavily detailed or heavily involved in the Thing, you're just gonna be extras for the most part, but I will try to give each character their due personality.

Excite!

THANK YOU and all the four-armed hugs to everyone who bought a commission! You gave me a boost this summer and I'm humbled by the response. I'll stay open for a while, I think! If I do close for any reason, it will be at the end of a month and with a week or two of notice, barring any sudden emergencies.

Note to anyone who is considering a commission: Some of the terms have changed! Check the document here. https://docs.google.com/document/d/.....Yl0iDYJhY/edit

Here is a summary of what's changed:
-Some pricing and details adjustments (Comics and painting)
-Clarified the details of the "multilimbed" and "my character" specials.
-Ordering procedure consolidated. No more form-filling or going between sites; all commissions will be handled via email so that I can keep better track.
-5 slot queue.

And there's likely more to come. Check it out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cBAko92g0Q

A certain genre has been growing on me lately: paperbacks from around the 70's with the scifi cover art, you know the kind. Even if it's newer, something in this spirit.

Things in this genre I have read and enjoyed include Ender's Game, The Mote in God's Eye, Mindswap, CS Lewis' space trilogy... and now I'm getting self-conscious because I grew up receiving the message from my school that your worth as a person was directly proportional to how many books you read and I am way behind. :P

Things I am looking for:
ALIENS. Lots and lots of aliens. Any kind at all, though there are some obvious bonus points for silly, friendly, multilimbed, or otherwise interesting aliens.

Things I am NOT looking for:
Super perfect scientific accuracy.
Nightmare-inducing stuff.

Also this leans more toward the obscure. I'm not opposed to the popular stuff such as Star Wars, but I'm a tougher sell there. For proof, I'm a walking catalog of multilimbed media and I learned just last week that Solo had a four-armed character... from a lady at church.

Anyway, recommend me stuff!

This year's novel is in the bag. I'm really happy with how it turned out. As with any first draft, I know that it's got grammar mistakes and plot holes and will need revision, but I'm satisfied with the basic story and characters. Read it if you like! I will keep the document up through December, and take it down afterward. (Today and maybe in the next few days I'll be making some very small additions and tweaks.)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/.....it?usp=sharing

In a modern Mediterranean melting pot, humans coexist with centaurs, selkies, and other races. Seneca, 15, is a centaur who aims to defy the stereotypes about his kind: he is studious, celibate, and rational, and shows great promise in his goal to become a psychiatrist. But violence against centaurs forces Seneca's family to move away from Athens, three years before Seneca was set to graduate from the renowned Chiron Academy. In a new town and new school, Seneca meets many students that, by his standards, are all in need of mental help. But in particular, he has his eyes on Bryn, a Selkie girl who is unable to control when she transforms between seal and human, and has a host of other issues besides. Seneca wants to help her. So does her language teacher. So does a seal-spirit who meets Bryn in the night. But all three have different perceptions of the problem and the solution.

I'm starting Nano early. I'm keeping my novel in a google doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/.....it?usp=sharing

Feel free to come watch words appear on a screen in real time!

Why can't
The message be sent?
I guess my man's
Fallen out with my head

Hex's head has fallen off and won't reattach! His usual powers seem to be muted. For the month of October I'm drawing a series of sketches seeing how he adapts.

These can be found on a new Telegram channel I've made: https://t.me/hexadoodles

Hexadoodle (or Hex) https://www.furaffinity.net/view/32217999/ is a bouncy and toony strawberry poison frog! See the image for basic info about look, personality, and abilities.
I typically only RP with the right person, and even then, only when the planets align. If it turns out that I'm not enjoying RP with you, don't take it personally; it's pretty typical and it just means we're not compatible.

-SFW only.
-No RPers or characters under 18.
-I will match your detail level, anywhere from casual to descriptive.
-I will try to match your frequency, just make sure I can keep up. If you have to run, that's fine, just let me know. I'm fine with continuing the RP later.
-I prefer simple stories and adventures if any. Pre-planning not required. I like surprises and anything on the list below is a safe bet!
-I'm not a big fandom / media consumer so if you introduce yourself as a specific Pokemon past gen1, don't expect me to know what you look like. Visual refs are preferred especially if your design varies significantly from what a google search reveals.

Here are some of the frog's favorite things to do, have, be, interact with, or inflict on others! Mix them up for endless combinations. Otherwise I'm pretty flexible. If something's not on this list, as long as it's SFW (I know the definition varies between people), don't be afraid to ask if it's okay. These lists are in no particular order and not exhaustive; I love discovering new ideas!

MORE LIMBS
Multiple arms
Multiple legs, centaur, taur, other configuration
Multiple heads, mouths, voices
Multiple bodies, clones, splitting

LESS LIMBS
Modular (detachable at joints)
Mouthless, faceless, headless
Missing limbs or whole sections

MINGLING
Swapping/rearranging limbs, heads, etc
Swapping brains, bodies, roles, lives
Blend merge (blend of design, personality, body control, etc)
Conjoinment merge, any configuration (side-by-side, catdog, etc)
Localized merge (i.e. TF into body part. Hand, foot, tongue, etc)

TEE EFF
Macro, micro, growing, shrinking
Magic paint, pencil, eraser, ink
Digitization, robot, reprogramming, drone, null
Costume, plush, pooltoy, statue, or other inanimate

OTHER STUFF TO DO
Conflict, games, competition
Limitations, removal of powers, hypnosis, mind control
Tickling, casual or torment
Toon feet/paws: snuggle, smoosh, tickle, lick
Toon logic: hammerspace, reality bending, portals, dimensions, infinity
Toon magic: stage, unseen TF, magic TF hoop, mirrors, invisibility
Toon violence: slapstick, fighting, squishing, stretching, pummeling, flattening

VORE: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/61212645/

So today was pretty much the best day ever for a lot of reasons, but best of all, I won the Battleblock Theatre arena level design contest!

The results: http://blog.thebehemoth.com/2014/08.....rena-features/
My entry: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfil...../?id=300582061

Still can't believe it! So excited. :D

I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season. I love the time off and spending time with my family. This year I also have the privilege of playing piano for my church's Christmas Eve service, which I am excited about.

Local friends, I've known you for one year, and I want you to know, I LOVE you. I mean that from my heart. In 25 years, this is the first genuine social life I've ever had. You're the first group of people I have wanted to hang out with just to hang out. All of you are interesting in your own way, and I look forward to every Friday night. I love listening to your stories and jokes and what matters most to you, and I continually want to share what matters most to me, but I often feel like I can't - not because of you, but because of me. Especially in the past few months I've felt worn out in sharing the gospel with you. I'm afraid of offending, afraid of saying the wrong thing. Even now as I'm writing this note, my stomach churns. On the surface you all look like you have your lives figured out. But I think this just shows how little I still know about you. As afraid as I am, I'm more afraid of missing this opportunity to talk about why I love you.

Everyone, some say our deepest need is to be loved, to be understood. God can, and longs to, extend that love to each of us, like a father to his estranged children. But he doesn't just talk about it, he demonstrates it. What we celebrate at Christmas is the Incarnation: God putting on a human costume. More than that, he took on a human identity, and adopted the norms of a human culture. But he didn't just do this for fun and games. Jesus didn't come as a king, but as a peasant. He likely went to bed hungry every night of his life. He experienced the joys of humanity, and the many, many pains. He was rejected by his hometown, harassed by religious hypocrites, and in agony, he died a criminal's death on a cross.

Whatever you are going through, Jesus has known it. There is far more to the gospel, and I've shared it in the past, but it is no less than this: Jesus is Immanuel, God with us.

I hope you will find comfort in that this season. Stay warm, stay safe on the roads, and Merry Christmas. :)

My relationship with books has been rocky. I once liked reading, and even writing small stories of my own. Elementary school clocked that love of reading over the side of the head with a plank made out of Accelerated Reader quizzes, and high school kicked it in the gut with a steel toe made out of symbolism. But I won't fault school entirely. I know that a passion for reading and writing would have overcome even these obstacles; I've always eaten up math no matter how badly it was taught. So while my love of writing found little place to grow, it was there, in the form of oddball scifi stories that I never got around to finishing.

On October 27, 2007, an online buddy mentioned National Novel Writing Month to me. On a whim, I tried it. I've now written five novels which all sit on my shelf. None of them are published or even revised; they're proof copies, prizes for accomplishing the sole goal of Nanowrimo: write 50000 words in 30 days. I've discovered that I'm very good at writing 50000 words. (Even though most of my attempts turned out to be thinly-veiled 300-page political rants.)

I have pondered a career many times. But each time the thought was shot down by my reluctance to read. I could feel it looming over me like a bad combination of a mentor I once had, a girl who hated me, and Stephen King, telling me in a deep voice, "You don't read, and you want to write? For a LIVING? Pitiful."

For a while, Nanowrimo founder Chris Baty's sheer enthusiasm was enough to let me kick that glowering ghost in the face. I defiantly churned out book after book, hung out with our local writing group at Borders (the whole month is worth it for the inside jokes alone), and just felt full. Even if I never sell a book, I thought, I'm doing Nano for life. I don't care if I don't read enough.

And yet, in a roundabout way, I am growing that passion for books - their art, structure, message, and magic. I missed the point when I choked down books like dry meatloaf, to score points or build author karma. I never thought I would love reading for its own sake, and that through writing. And I have grown to love the fact that when God spoke... he spoke in a book.

I invite you to write with me this November. Whether you're bookish or not, whether you're creative or not, whether you have a thousand ideas or zero (All I had walking into my first novel was a first sentence) - it doesn't matter. You don't need permission. You don't need an English degree. Just bring yourself. Nano is a total joyride, and I want as many friends as possible to come along.

For those curious, my story will take place in Dicewood, carrying on the tradition of putting multiarmed creatures in absolutely everything.

Big thanks to all who have recently watched me and faved my work! I haven't gotten to everyone, it's been a busy time at work, and I haven't felt much like drawing lately either, but hopefully next week I'll doodle some stuff.
Still open for commissions too!