So - big day for me tomorrow. After five-ish years of dealing with this sporadic, almost phantom, pain in my leg, coupled with one spot that had the capacity to make my leg nearly go numb if you touched it wrong...I'm finally going in for surgery.

(I'll skip the rant about the medical community taking complaints of pain seriously.)

In short, to try an answer the questions you might have:
I have a small, likely benign, tumor (most likely a hemangioma) sitting on the peroneal nerve (it's a big one in the lower leg) on my right leg, behind my knee, near the head of the femur. In short, big nerve, small tumor, finally coming off.

The surgery may be as simple as the removal, or may require the nerve to be debrided. I won't be driving for a bit, and will be taking a few days to recover before I'm back at work or rehearsals. I may be on crutches or have a heavy duty knee brace depending on what happens.

This surgery is not life threatening in any way, but I am a bit nervous all the same. My surgeon tells me he'd be concerned if I weren't. He a fine guy and I trust him and his work.

So...being nervous and a bit maudlin, I want to take this moment to say thank you to all of you out there who've been part of my journey. All you crazy furries - you're important. Take care of yourselves, know that you're special and that the universe, both my small one and the much larger one we share is better and brighter for your presence.

See you on the flip side,
Kit

Just thinking out loud - I enjoy the species months that have been floating around (Hawktober, Novembear, Deercember, Munkch), etc. I know there are a bunch of varieties.

So I find myself wondering if any one is / knows of artists who might be interested in a package deal for a tt / post-tf pic each month in those themes, for the whole year.

Crazy idea? Anyone have any thoughts?

So..I've been informed I don't post much (and it's true, I don't), and that I have all this wonderfully cute art that needs to go up. I'm going to be working on posting it over the next few...periods of time.

Consider yourself warned.

*nod*

So...it started as a simple little idea. Pic of me and a friend's 'sonas playing soccer.

 tadcooga was open doing pay what you want/can, and was open. So he worked on it, and his draft pic is very cool looking. But then he had this idea about a full team, or at least more of of full team pic, or, even better, a full on competition between two teams? Denmark (where he lives) vs. the USA (where I live)

So...any sporty type furs watching want in on this? The characters in the original were 10 and 13 year old, see here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6878263

He's asking $10-30 for character slots - the amount you pay affecting whereabouts you'll be on the field, but everyone will get a full body shot out of it.

This should be really cool - so, who wants in? :)

(reply here or note me or Tad. Thanks!)

Before I called myself a furry, I was a hare. I ran with the Long Patrol. I dreamed of crossing swords with the vermin of a thousand seas, and laughing while I did.

Before I called myself a geek, I was a webmaster, running internet clubs for fellow fans of a series of books.

Before I went to college and took classes on psychology and philosophy; when I was just 12 years old , I was told: "The sword is just a sword. It will only be as good or as evil as the one who wields it."

The world has lost a great storyteller.

I do not know what you hoped to find on this next great adventure, Mr. Jacques. But whatever may have called you...whatever spark kindled and inspired your muse...I thank them, and I pray you find all you hoped to find on the other side.

You will be missed.

So  kitncub Kitncub's Pink and Blue universe has been a real blast to play in. He kindly let one of my characters cameo in the finale of his series. With permission, I sat down to write a quick little filler of how Kit Raccoon (who might be based on me, a little ;) got his Cub Scout uniform. 14k+ words later, my 'quick filler' is the longest thing I've ever written on my own.

You can read it here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5031543/

It's been reviewed but the would builder himself and he asked that I post it. He also said loads of nice things about it, which just makes me giddy :)

Things I've learned:
-Editing your own work is exceedingly tiring. It's also hard to stop doing it. I swear I could have kept tweaking this forever.

-Digging into the meat and potatoes of a universe does odd things to your perceptions of it. (Though I was in neck deep already, it's that good!)

-Never stop having fun with it!

Thanks for the ride! To anyone who actually reads this, thank you for your time, and I hope you enjoy.

Kit, the Cub Scout

Presented in the zombie stream on consciousness in which it happened!

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Furfright Recap

It's happened again, didn't it? I have footage to prove it...must have happened. I love Furfright...and it's never long enough, though I can't imagine keeping up the pace for much longer then we do.

Thursday
Finish work. Revel in the fact I have a job and that even as a newbie they're letting me off for a couple of days! Go home. Melt down, feeling like I can't pack enough and I have too much packed and the world generally hates me...and mostly, that I need food. Hop in the car with my ride - get food. (Seriously, if I'm ever grouchy at you don't know why, just give me food. Fixes the problem 95% of the time. If it's the other 5%? Run and hide). Get to the hotel @ 1:30am Friday.

Friday

Discover that my roommate made the reservation outside of the con block. Still not sure why. The intro from the front desk was classic comedy though: "These folks will be around all weekend, we're pretty sure they're going to party. We hope it won't be a bother." Apparently the woman put up with a lot of shit from someone else earlier in the evening. Really unfortunate. Found friends, and unpacked into the room that was as far as physically possible from the con while still being in the hotel. Back hallway, fourth floor. Next year, I handle the reservation myself.

Get in, and am so exhausted that I don't feel tired. Dork around online. Have a soak in the /giant/ tub. (huge perk there!). Finally crash around 4:30am. Deal with a roommate thrashing around the bed and end up sleeping on the floor. Up at 7:30, clean up, and grab my badge, etc. Dig through trashcans and find breakfast. (Actually, I think it was McDonalds). Go to opening ceremony. video. Video some more. Go to the dealers den, throw money at my favorite artists. Video more, wishing I was an actually zombie and had an excuse for feeling the way I do.

Catch Colley and give him the present I've had for him for years. The look on his face when he saw the Power Ranger wrapping paper was worth it, to say nothing of what was in the box. Checked to see if our fursuits would fit for the Trick or Treat gig we had planned. They did! Most excellent.

Went down to the sponsor/staff/dealer dinner. OmNom. Best one yet. The hotel's food was excellent. Got the worlds best tea from Watcher. Wish I remember what all was in it...I don't, just that I've never had anything so tasty (and I don't even usually like tea), nor that woke me up so well. Had a brief meeting with my video crew. Both great guys and totally on the ball. Made me look good and made my job easy.

Hung out and helped with the game shows. How far is Furfright willing to go to ensure your experience? They had me, overweight and balding, playing Vanna White...ah Furfright...sparing every expense. Tried to help with the Match Game, but mostly got in the way. Ah well. Fun was had by some, I think, though it got draggy by the end. Was a total zombie by that point. Went up...changed and headed out for the midnight Ritual of the Ancestors.

After a bit of a melt down, got things set up and running. My deepest regret from the con was not stalling long enough to get Silvermane back in - we tried leaving the door open, but Jaws was pretty overwhelming.

The ritual went remarkably well. I hate doing these things unprepared, and I was /totally/ unprepared on this one. So I went with the flow and trusted spirit to go where it would. The ceremony ended up powerful and moving and far more intense and personal then I'd expected. Thank you to everyone who attended, for participating and keeping that space so open and supportive. I'm in awe. It'll be back next year. Tried to set up a time to do a ritual for Silvermane - it never happened, sad to say.

Roommate and I futz with music to see if we have anything for the Masquerade. Nothing really gels enough that I'm willing to perform it, but it's ok. I got the Bear's choice trophy last year, and I'm still deeply honored by it. I can swing backstage work, this year.

Saturday

Up early again. Work schedule is seeping into my con life. head around to see stuff. film random events in the hallway. Get commissions, and throw more money at people. Check in on the Masquerade and offer to play backup MC/Stage Manager. Do my best to maintain the Bears sanity.

See Brendan, who brought me a badge of Kit dressed as Toothless. Total win in a laminated package! Video random crap in the halls. Set up early for the parade, and shoot it to the best of my ability. Security is awesome, but I wish they'd let me break the rules a bit when it comes to finding a good spot to video. Shoot the parade, and the subsequent mess outside the hotel. LOTS of suits.

Back to the room. Shower and dress for the masquerade. MC's are pirates, after all. Pirates with Ninjas as a stage crew. Next year my costume will not suck. Video the By Blood Alone concert. I more or less liked it. Just louder then I really like.

Checked in masquerade acts. helped run stuff backstage, and kept an eye on a secondary camera shot. Great masquerade this year! Helped hand out awards. Went back to the room, changed out of costume, went back down to tape the dance. It looked great.

Went to Rocky Horror. Waited 45 minutes for the hotel to fix their equipment. Has a blast once it got going though. Left with almost no voice, which is always a sign of a great Rocky.

Roommate had a friend over - no, not like that. We chatted about musicals (Assassins!) and made some tentative plans for a performance next year. Eventually I played the asshole card and threw him out so I could sleep.

Sunday

Up for the best worst event to video...the Fursuit games! Forced my lucky crew into the danger zone and shot some wide angles. Missed seeing Nekomon there, for all the jokes about him. Hope he makes it back next year! Got to watch the Red bandits win again! Can't say I mind - sort of consider myself an honorary member after helping out last year.

After the games I went through the dealers den and picked up some last minute stuff, and said goodbye to some of the artists who bailed early. Caribou did a pic of me and Colley together that captured the big/little brother vibe perfectly. I'll post it after I'm sure it's ok.

I helped with some of the stage tear down, and made plans for sushi with the bear - sadly there was a miscommunication about where we were going, so we ended up at a different restaurant. Unfortunate, but good sushi was had by all anyway! Got back and headed off for the reverse trick or treating with Colley. He and I swapped suits, added costumes over them and then proceeded to give out candy when we knocked on doors. Shame it only lasted 45 minutes. (Also proved I need to get some work done on my fursuit head so I can stay in it longer.)

Headed to closing, taped, was brought to tears by the generosity of our community. (And Belic, if Bios hadn't gotten you, I would have!) Sprinted to the pool, much to the annoyance of security, to get set up to tape the plunge. Ended up with a poor angle, but hopefully it'll be useful.

After that...just vegged in the Garden with Brendan and Colley and watched the arting going on around me. Quote of the con: "Maybe I'll just replace you with a Magickarp." Eventually returned to the room, packed up as much as I could and crashed.

Monday

Packed up, said goodbye, and drove home. Starting counting down to FF 2011.