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iPad Connection is Not Private
Posted a month ago...ugh! My iPad just updated and for some reason, I keep getting this warning when I go to FurAffinity and other sites. I click the "go to website" button which allows me to go to the page...but every single image is blocked! They're just tiny, blue, question mark boxes. I did all of the troubleshooting things:
• checked internet connection
• checked the date and time
• cleared the data/cache
• restarted the iPad
• tried launching a different web browser
• updated the software (which is why all of this is happening!)
...and nothing works. *cries pitifully* Interestingly, I also can't use certain apps like Bluesky and Disney+. Does anyone know how to fix this? None of this was an issue literally 3 hours ago. >_<;
• checked internet connection
• checked the date and time
• cleared the data/cache
• restarted the iPad
• tried launching a different web browser
• updated the software (which is why all of this is happening!)
...and nothing works. *cries pitifully* Interestingly, I also can't use certain apps like Bluesky and Disney+. Does anyone know how to fix this? None of this was an issue literally 3 hours ago. >_<;
Thank You, Carole
Posted 2 months agoI just heard about Carole Curtis, the co-founder of :usershandafa: and its many fantastical works. Sadly, she has passed away. I never got to meet her in person, but if I could tell her one thing, it would be, thank you. I will always be grateful to her and Mike. I know that she's resting in peace and though she may be gone, her memory and the impact that she made to those that were able to briefly step into her world will never be forgotten.
Who's Your Favorite Muppet
Posted 5 months agoI was just lying in bed the other morning, the cat harassing me to get up, and this thought drifted into my mind:
Who is your favorite Muppet?
Mine is actually Oscar the Grouch. I don't know why I love him, but he is by far my favorite character in the entire Muppet roster!! I think I just like his sass and his, "I'm done with all of you" attitude. ^_^ After him, it would have to be, Pepe the King Prawn. This guy wasn't even on my radar until I watched Muppets from Space. He consistently made me laugh throughout that whole movie and he became one of my favorites after that. I really can't decide on a number three, though. I need to let my thoughts marinate on that one.
At any rate, who is your favorite Muppet?
Who is your favorite Muppet?
Mine is actually Oscar the Grouch. I don't know why I love him, but he is by far my favorite character in the entire Muppet roster!! I think I just like his sass and his, "I'm done with all of you" attitude. ^_^ After him, it would have to be, Pepe the King Prawn. This guy wasn't even on my radar until I watched Muppets from Space. He consistently made me laugh throughout that whole movie and he became one of my favorites after that. I really can't decide on a number three, though. I need to let my thoughts marinate on that one.
At any rate, who is your favorite Muppet?
Tonsil-free!
Posted 6 months ago...so, this has been a rough couple of weeks for me. I got my tonsils removed about two weeks ago and...the recovery was a struggle! The doctor had warned me that I was going to be in for a painful recovery, so I THOUGHT I was prepared...but...no...I was not. It was two weeks of constant pain, hunger, and exhaustion. It was a challenge I don't think I could have ever really properly prepared for.
...but, with all of that being said, in a weird way, I am grateful for the experience. It REALLY made me appreciate simple things that I take for granted, like being able to talk and eat. Some people can't do those things and others can't do those things on their own. But, I'm blessed that I can do both. Even so, I'm VERY glad that all of it is over. The doctor told me that it was good that I had them removed, though. I used to have chronic sore throats and other things, and when he took my tonsils out, he told me that they were pretty "ratty". They were unquestionably the cause of my constant sickness, so I'm looking forward to a better quality of life, moving forward.
I am so relieve that I can talk and eat without pain, again! My energy is back and I can get back to doing regular things. I hadn't really been doing anything like writing or drawing, but I picked up my tablet and started to get back into it. I'm still largely uninspired, but I hope something sparks...something in me soon. I guess we'll see. Anyway, I'll be around a bit more.
OH! If you want to follow me on BlueSky, I post random things over there, too.
https://bsky.app/profile/kittmouri.bsky.social
...but, with all of that being said, in a weird way, I am grateful for the experience. It REALLY made me appreciate simple things that I take for granted, like being able to talk and eat. Some people can't do those things and others can't do those things on their own. But, I'm blessed that I can do both. Even so, I'm VERY glad that all of it is over. The doctor told me that it was good that I had them removed, though. I used to have chronic sore throats and other things, and when he took my tonsils out, he told me that they were pretty "ratty". They were unquestionably the cause of my constant sickness, so I'm looking forward to a better quality of life, moving forward.
I am so relieve that I can talk and eat without pain, again! My energy is back and I can get back to doing regular things. I hadn't really been doing anything like writing or drawing, but I picked up my tablet and started to get back into it. I'm still largely uninspired, but I hope something sparks...something in me soon. I guess we'll see. Anyway, I'll be around a bit more.
OH! If you want to follow me on BlueSky, I post random things over there, too.
https://bsky.app/profile/kittmouri.bsky.social
Norovirus SUCKS!
Posted 7 months agoY'all, it's been a long week and a long last week! It started with some intense drama with a relative and their ex, then that just sort of wafted into my niece getting a stomach bug on Thursday into Friday, then my nephew getting it on Saturday, then on Sunday, guess whose turn it was to get infected!
...hint, it wasn't the dog or the cat...
Yup, it was me! I was down for about two days and am only now getting back on my feet. The sad thing is that the weather on Tuesday was SO NICE that I was going to go to the zoo and get some work done outdoors among the animals. I was going to sit right in front of the merry-go-round which is right next to the lion/tiger exhibit. *sighs* But, do you want to know that CRAZIEST part of this whole norovirus thing? Their mother, my sister, the one that spends the most time with the little disease carrying goblins (I say that lovingly) HAS NOT GOTTEN SICK AT ALL!!!!!
HOW?!!!
*cries pitifully and painfully*
Anyway, I can eat solid food again and although my tummy is very...bleh...I'm keeping everything down, at least for the moment. But, my sister informed me that the doctor said that this strain of the virus can be reacquired! ...so...there's that. I spent the morning cleaning and sanitizing everything. I hope it keeps the diseases at bay because, as the title says, NOROVIRUS SUCKS!!!!
...hint, it wasn't the dog or the cat...
Yup, it was me! I was down for about two days and am only now getting back on my feet. The sad thing is that the weather on Tuesday was SO NICE that I was going to go to the zoo and get some work done outdoors among the animals. I was going to sit right in front of the merry-go-round which is right next to the lion/tiger exhibit. *sighs* But, do you want to know that CRAZIEST part of this whole norovirus thing? Their mother, my sister, the one that spends the most time with the little disease carrying goblins (I say that lovingly) HAS NOT GOTTEN SICK AT ALL!!!!!
HOW?!!!
*cries pitifully and painfully*
Anyway, I can eat solid food again and although my tummy is very...bleh...I'm keeping everything down, at least for the moment. But, my sister informed me that the doctor said that this strain of the virus can be reacquired! ...so...there's that. I spent the morning cleaning and sanitizing everything. I hope it keeps the diseases at bay because, as the title says, NOROVIRUS SUCKS!!!!
Class Presentation
Posted 7 months agoThis is a tutorial on illustration that I presented to my nephew's class on Monday. I had a lot of fun with the kids and it was wonderful yo see them getting so excited about being creative. It made my heart happy. ^_^
False Alarm
Posted 11 months agoSo, it's been well over 63 days, yet Mellow has not had her kittens. She had a follow-up vet appointment yesterday to resume her vaccination treatments. I brought it up and the vet, a different one from last time, said...
...no, she's not pregnant. Her belly is a little round, but that might actually be worms.
...*epic facepalm*
*sigh* I suppose it's for the best. Even though I was prepared to keep one and my niece and nephew wanted one, if she had more than two, I would have needed to find homes for them. That would have been something that had no guarantee of success. It would have meant that I would have to find a no-kill shelter to care for them and they're often full. So, yeah, this is better.
The vet gave her another round of dewormer and the remainder of second round of vaccines, then we were off. She has an appointment to get spayed next month along with her final vaccines and microchipping. Then she'll never have to leave the house again. ...which is a good thing, because she really isn't fond of the pet carrier. She's always relieved to be home. ♡ ...the home isn't so relieved to see her, though. ^_^;
...house, the kitten phase will pass, I promise. She will be a cat, eventually. Just give her 6...9...months. ...maybe a year. ...or 2. BUT! ...it definitely won't take more than 5!
...probably. >_>
...no, she's not pregnant. Her belly is a little round, but that might actually be worms.
...*epic facepalm*
*sigh* I suppose it's for the best. Even though I was prepared to keep one and my niece and nephew wanted one, if she had more than two, I would have needed to find homes for them. That would have been something that had no guarantee of success. It would have meant that I would have to find a no-kill shelter to care for them and they're often full. So, yeah, this is better.
The vet gave her another round of dewormer and the remainder of second round of vaccines, then we were off. She has an appointment to get spayed next month along with her final vaccines and microchipping. Then she'll never have to leave the house again. ...which is a good thing, because she really isn't fond of the pet carrier. She's always relieved to be home. ♡ ...the home isn't so relieved to see her, though. ^_^;
...house, the kitten phase will pass, I promise. She will be a cat, eventually. Just give her 6...9...months. ...maybe a year. ...or 2. BUT! ...it definitely won't take more than 5!
...probably. >_>
This Is Why We Create
Posted 11 months agoBecause, in our minds and in our dreams, we can create realities that may never come to pass in the one we exist in.
In the worlds we create, we can imagine that the ideals we strive to achieve and fight to maintain are akin to the air that one breathes. They are considered basic tenants of existence, not rights that need to be argued or disputed. They simply...are. That's why we create.
In the worlds we create, pain and suffering are concepts, not parts of life. In the world you create, these struggles can exist to tell a story, to make one stronger, or, in its absence, can paint of picture of pacifism and paradise. It's up to you and that is why we create.
In the worlds we create, we get to tell stories that would otherwise go unheard. We can tell the tale of the "little guy", sharing the big world they live in and the even bigger impact they had within it. We can tell the story of the lost and forgotten, giving them a voice that will be forever documented as a fable or a legend. Legends, though transfigured with the passage of time, are never truly forgotten. That's why we create them.
But, perhaps more than anything else, the reason why we create is to give ourselves and those that enjoy what we do, a chance to escape. When reality is too much to bear, sometimes we need a place to retreat to, if only for a moment, to rest. When reality is wonderful, we can lose ourselves in a fantasy to make that experience even greater. When life is mundane, a fantastic journey can shine light into a dimly lit space making it glow with a warmer, more inviting hue.
Simply put, we create because it gives us pleasure and we hope to share that enjoyment with others. When something is shared, it multiplies. And when creativity is multiplied, it touches the hearts and minds of those that bear witness to it. It's through our creations that we express ourselves and do our part to inspire others, even if it's just a little bit. By creating and sharing the worlds of our dreams, we contribute to the betterment of the world we live in. So, keep dreaming big and keep sharing your creativity with the world we share. ♡
In the worlds we create, we can imagine that the ideals we strive to achieve and fight to maintain are akin to the air that one breathes. They are considered basic tenants of existence, not rights that need to be argued or disputed. They simply...are. That's why we create.
In the worlds we create, pain and suffering are concepts, not parts of life. In the world you create, these struggles can exist to tell a story, to make one stronger, or, in its absence, can paint of picture of pacifism and paradise. It's up to you and that is why we create.
In the worlds we create, we get to tell stories that would otherwise go unheard. We can tell the tale of the "little guy", sharing the big world they live in and the even bigger impact they had within it. We can tell the story of the lost and forgotten, giving them a voice that will be forever documented as a fable or a legend. Legends, though transfigured with the passage of time, are never truly forgotten. That's why we create them.
But, perhaps more than anything else, the reason why we create is to give ourselves and those that enjoy what we do, a chance to escape. When reality is too much to bear, sometimes we need a place to retreat to, if only for a moment, to rest. When reality is wonderful, we can lose ourselves in a fantasy to make that experience even greater. When life is mundane, a fantastic journey can shine light into a dimly lit space making it glow with a warmer, more inviting hue.
Simply put, we create because it gives us pleasure and we hope to share that enjoyment with others. When something is shared, it multiplies. And when creativity is multiplied, it touches the hearts and minds of those that bear witness to it. It's through our creations that we express ourselves and do our part to inspire others, even if it's just a little bit. By creating and sharing the worlds of our dreams, we contribute to the betterment of the world we live in. So, keep dreaming big and keep sharing your creativity with the world we share. ♡
Alley Cat Blues?
Posted 12 months agoSo, over the years, I have had exactly 4 cats: Azul, Diego, Nami, and Mellow. They each came to my home in different ways.
Azul: given to me by my sister that had adopted him from a shelter, but later decided that she didn't want a cat. I kept him until he died. He was a wonderful cat.
Diego: literally left in a box at the door of my apartment building with a litter of his siblings. He actually looked like Oliver from Oliver and Company. But, my house was too small for two cats, so I found him an owner that was really interested in getting a kitten and he found his forever home.
Nami: I fostered her from a local group that needed people to foster animals since they were a very small organization. No one ever came for her, so she stayed with me for about 4 years. When I moved to Maryland, I had to rehome her. As it turned out, a friend of mine had an older friend whose cat had just passed away and, as it turned out, again, the cat that she had was another Russian Blue. When she saw Nami, she nearly cried. That made me so happy, even though I was brokenhearted about giving her up.
Mellow: A different sister has a large cat colony in her neighborhood. Her roommate kept feeding the cats despite my sister telling her that her husband is allergic. The cats got used to the roommate's constant feeding, stayed around the house, and kept having babies. Finally, my sister asked me to PLEASE take one of these kittens from her porch. I wasn't going to, but she was persistent. When I came and saw the kittens, she was incredibly affectionate, let me pick her up, snuggled against my chest, and was just a general sweetheart. So, I took her home.
Honestly, after Nami, I wasn't even going to get another cat. I was that upset over having to give her up. But, over time, that staunch opposition to the idea softened a bit. Frisbee (my dog) is very old, so I know I'm not going to have him forever. As he gets older and has bouts of scary sickness where I fear for his life, I'm forced to face the painful realization that we may have only a few years, or even a few months left together. We have been together for over a decade and it's painful to think of the day that we will inevitably have to say, goodbye. That's why I was slowly open to the idea of getting a cat. I was hesitant and didn't really think that I was going to have any luck when I went to visit my sister. I thought they would be a bunch of rambunctious kittens that I would have to chase down to even see. But, not Mellow. She came right up to me and even let me pick her up. She had been well socialized and was unafraid of people. Even my 6 year old nephew is very fond of her. He can pick her up and one night when he slept over, I woke up in the middle of the night and looked over at him. And wouldn't you know, she was snuggled up right against him. She sleeps beside me all the time, but I was really surprised to see that she was comfortable enough to completely let her guard down and sleep beside him.
...especially since my sister's son, my 4 year old nephew, terrorizes the cats by chasing them, attempting to touch them. Think Elmyra from Tiny Toons. That's him. He's a sweet boy, but doesn't understand that animals have personalities and feelings. They're cute and fluffy, but they're not toys. If they don't want to be near you, they will run away from you and that's fine. I have to give this exact lesson to my niece (also 4) and my nephew that's 6, the one that Mellow is fine with. He learned the lesson and respects Mellow, so she doesn't mind being handled by him. And, that's how she integrated into my household. It took a little while for her to get along with Frisbee, but Frisbee is fine with cats, so he generally ignored her. She, on the other hand, recognized that dogs are threats. One of the neighbors actually unleashed their pitbull and gave it the command to attack the cats that came into their yard. Mellow and her two siblings were lucky to have escaped a terrible fate. So, her wariness of dogs was justified. But, now she actually sits next to Frisbee and even rubs against him. So, they get along.
Out of all my cats, Mellow is the only one that I picked up as a stray. The others were either abandoned, or ended up in a shelter, though they themselves had not been strays. Azul and Diego have both been integrated into the Sweet Shoppe storylines. They were both mentioned in the Great Flood arc. I had also planned on adding Nami and now Mellow at some point, too. But, as I think about it, Mellow would actually fit more into a story series that I had conceived, but never actually pursued; Alley Cat Blues. Her story is actually exactly the premise that I would have used to create that storyline. I was thinking about it randomly the other day. Alley Cat Blues, like Aoi: Blue Sun, are stories that exist outside of the universe that Sweet Shoppe, Hybrid, Lion Paws, and Bella Mariposa exist in. So, basically, Sweet Shoppe cats and Alley Cat Blues will never crossover. I don't really like the idea that Mellow would not be with my other kitties. Heck, even Frisbee can appear in Sweet Shoppe, eventually. ...of course, he could also be in Alley Cat Blues, but still. I don't know.
Anyway, I'm just rambling. This is how my brain works. Welcome to the chaos that is my mind, folks. ^_^; Sorry! I'm going to head off and get some work done. See ya!
Azul: given to me by my sister that had adopted him from a shelter, but later decided that she didn't want a cat. I kept him until he died. He was a wonderful cat.
Diego: literally left in a box at the door of my apartment building with a litter of his siblings. He actually looked like Oliver from Oliver and Company. But, my house was too small for two cats, so I found him an owner that was really interested in getting a kitten and he found his forever home.
Nami: I fostered her from a local group that needed people to foster animals since they were a very small organization. No one ever came for her, so she stayed with me for about 4 years. When I moved to Maryland, I had to rehome her. As it turned out, a friend of mine had an older friend whose cat had just passed away and, as it turned out, again, the cat that she had was another Russian Blue. When she saw Nami, she nearly cried. That made me so happy, even though I was brokenhearted about giving her up.
Mellow: A different sister has a large cat colony in her neighborhood. Her roommate kept feeding the cats despite my sister telling her that her husband is allergic. The cats got used to the roommate's constant feeding, stayed around the house, and kept having babies. Finally, my sister asked me to PLEASE take one of these kittens from her porch. I wasn't going to, but she was persistent. When I came and saw the kittens, she was incredibly affectionate, let me pick her up, snuggled against my chest, and was just a general sweetheart. So, I took her home.
Honestly, after Nami, I wasn't even going to get another cat. I was that upset over having to give her up. But, over time, that staunch opposition to the idea softened a bit. Frisbee (my dog) is very old, so I know I'm not going to have him forever. As he gets older and has bouts of scary sickness where I fear for his life, I'm forced to face the painful realization that we may have only a few years, or even a few months left together. We have been together for over a decade and it's painful to think of the day that we will inevitably have to say, goodbye. That's why I was slowly open to the idea of getting a cat. I was hesitant and didn't really think that I was going to have any luck when I went to visit my sister. I thought they would be a bunch of rambunctious kittens that I would have to chase down to even see. But, not Mellow. She came right up to me and even let me pick her up. She had been well socialized and was unafraid of people. Even my 6 year old nephew is very fond of her. He can pick her up and one night when he slept over, I woke up in the middle of the night and looked over at him. And wouldn't you know, she was snuggled up right against him. She sleeps beside me all the time, but I was really surprised to see that she was comfortable enough to completely let her guard down and sleep beside him.
...especially since my sister's son, my 4 year old nephew, terrorizes the cats by chasing them, attempting to touch them. Think Elmyra from Tiny Toons. That's him. He's a sweet boy, but doesn't understand that animals have personalities and feelings. They're cute and fluffy, but they're not toys. If they don't want to be near you, they will run away from you and that's fine. I have to give this exact lesson to my niece (also 4) and my nephew that's 6, the one that Mellow is fine with. He learned the lesson and respects Mellow, so she doesn't mind being handled by him. And, that's how she integrated into my household. It took a little while for her to get along with Frisbee, but Frisbee is fine with cats, so he generally ignored her. She, on the other hand, recognized that dogs are threats. One of the neighbors actually unleashed their pitbull and gave it the command to attack the cats that came into their yard. Mellow and her two siblings were lucky to have escaped a terrible fate. So, her wariness of dogs was justified. But, now she actually sits next to Frisbee and even rubs against him. So, they get along.
Out of all my cats, Mellow is the only one that I picked up as a stray. The others were either abandoned, or ended up in a shelter, though they themselves had not been strays. Azul and Diego have both been integrated into the Sweet Shoppe storylines. They were both mentioned in the Great Flood arc. I had also planned on adding Nami and now Mellow at some point, too. But, as I think about it, Mellow would actually fit more into a story series that I had conceived, but never actually pursued; Alley Cat Blues. Her story is actually exactly the premise that I would have used to create that storyline. I was thinking about it randomly the other day. Alley Cat Blues, like Aoi: Blue Sun, are stories that exist outside of the universe that Sweet Shoppe, Hybrid, Lion Paws, and Bella Mariposa exist in. So, basically, Sweet Shoppe cats and Alley Cat Blues will never crossover. I don't really like the idea that Mellow would not be with my other kitties. Heck, even Frisbee can appear in Sweet Shoppe, eventually. ...of course, he could also be in Alley Cat Blues, but still. I don't know.
Anyway, I'm just rambling. This is how my brain works. Welcome to the chaos that is my mind, folks. ^_^; Sorry! I'm going to head off and get some work done. See ya!
Guess Who's Pregnant!
Posted a year ago...it's not me.
But! It is a kitten that I recently adopted. Her name is, Mellow. She was a stray that I took in and have been spending the last few weeks getting her the healthcare that she needs. She had her first round of vaccinations, medication to rid her of worms (which she actually had), and she HAD an appointment to get spayed this past Monday. But, the clinic that I had taken her too had a lot of operations and basically, they were unable to treat her. So, they had to reschedule for November.
Now, I took her home in September and it took a full month to even get her in for an appointment to get spayed. So, I've had her for about a month. When I first got her. She was pretty small. I estimated her age at about 5 to 6 months. It's hard to tell since she was a stray, though. But, I noticed that she was gaining weight pretty rapidly. I entertained the idea that because she was being fed regularly, maybe she was growing a little more normally. However, I also knew that, being a stray, it was possible that she could be pregnant.
Cats can become pregnant VERY early and even though I couldn't tell her exact age, she seemed to be within the range of possibility. The neighborhood she came from had a large cat colony, so...yeah. To make a long story short, I did a little research and discovered that she did indeed have the signs of pregnancy. So, when I took her to the vet today to get her second round of vaccines, I asked the vet I'd they could tell me if she might be pregnant and as soon as the doctor picked her up, she said, "Oh yeah, she's pregnant."
...
So, needless to say, it's been a long day. The doctor said that she will likely give birth in about 4 weeks or so. So, since the earliest she could go in to get spayed is next month...I guess we are doing this. -__-;
Mind you, I don't have any regrets about adopting her. She's a wonderful cat. She is so sweet and affectionate and frankly, none of this is her fault. She was a kitten following her biological design. This isn't what I signed up for, but it is the hand that I've been dealt. So, I just have to do my best to try to find homes for whatever kittens she brings into this world. To that end...
If any of you know someone that would like to adopt a kitten that lives in the Maryland/DC/Virginia area that are interested in adopting a kitten, please send them my way. I can probably keep one, but I live in a 1 bedroom apartment with a dog and my pregnant kitty. I really can't take much more than this already. So, of you guys could share this post, I would really appreciate it.
*sigh*
Well, let me go and get this little mama-to-be home and we can both get some rest. It's been a long day. -__-;
But! It is a kitten that I recently adopted. Her name is, Mellow. She was a stray that I took in and have been spending the last few weeks getting her the healthcare that she needs. She had her first round of vaccinations, medication to rid her of worms (which she actually had), and she HAD an appointment to get spayed this past Monday. But, the clinic that I had taken her too had a lot of operations and basically, they were unable to treat her. So, they had to reschedule for November.
Now, I took her home in September and it took a full month to even get her in for an appointment to get spayed. So, I've had her for about a month. When I first got her. She was pretty small. I estimated her age at about 5 to 6 months. It's hard to tell since she was a stray, though. But, I noticed that she was gaining weight pretty rapidly. I entertained the idea that because she was being fed regularly, maybe she was growing a little more normally. However, I also knew that, being a stray, it was possible that she could be pregnant.
Cats can become pregnant VERY early and even though I couldn't tell her exact age, she seemed to be within the range of possibility. The neighborhood she came from had a large cat colony, so...yeah. To make a long story short, I did a little research and discovered that she did indeed have the signs of pregnancy. So, when I took her to the vet today to get her second round of vaccines, I asked the vet I'd they could tell me if she might be pregnant and as soon as the doctor picked her up, she said, "Oh yeah, she's pregnant."
...
So, needless to say, it's been a long day. The doctor said that she will likely give birth in about 4 weeks or so. So, since the earliest she could go in to get spayed is next month...I guess we are doing this. -__-;
Mind you, I don't have any regrets about adopting her. She's a wonderful cat. She is so sweet and affectionate and frankly, none of this is her fault. She was a kitten following her biological design. This isn't what I signed up for, but it is the hand that I've been dealt. So, I just have to do my best to try to find homes for whatever kittens she brings into this world. To that end...
If any of you know someone that would like to adopt a kitten that lives in the Maryland/DC/Virginia area that are interested in adopting a kitten, please send them my way. I can probably keep one, but I live in a 1 bedroom apartment with a dog and my pregnant kitty. I really can't take much more than this already. So, of you guys could share this post, I would really appreciate it.
*sigh*
Well, let me go and get this little mama-to-be home and we can both get some rest. It's been a long day. -__-;
Up to Interpretation
Posted a year agoThere are many things in my series that I deliberately keep ambiguous and I sometimes wonder if people notice what those things are. I don't just mean with regard to storytelling, but with the characters as well. Some characters have backstories that have yet to be revealed. Some characters have personality traits that are questionable, for one reason or another. And there are some people that have relationships that are undefined. I don't think the reader always knows exactly what's going on and that there is a bit of mystery that entices them to continue with the story.
In the interim, it leaves the unanswered questions up to interpretation and speculation. It's always interesting to see the rabbit holes that people dive into, as well as the theories and speculations that people come up with.
...I really don't know why I'm saying this. I feel like I'm rambling. ^__^' I guess I just wanted to share this random thought with you guys.
In the interim, it leaves the unanswered questions up to interpretation and speculation. It's always interesting to see the rabbit holes that people dive into, as well as the theories and speculations that people come up with.
...I really don't know why I'm saying this. I feel like I'm rambling. ^__^' I guess I just wanted to share this random thought with you guys.
Another Memory - Mr. Jones
Posted a year agoWell, this is very meaningful to me. Today, we lost yet another incredible person that has had a massive effect on my personal life. Just last month we lost Dragoneer, and today we lost James Earl Jones.
Thanks to Dragoneer, I have been able to become a part of a community that has meant so much to me over the years. I've been able to find a place to build a career, but more than that, I've found a place filled with like-minded, creative, wonderful people. The fandom has so thoroughly woven itself my life experience, that I really can't imagine what my world would be without it.
...and then there is Mr. Jones. He was a man of accomplishment, strength, and the very voice of my king. I don't say last part lightly. The Lion King had been my favorite movie ever since it came out. Apart from the movie just being amazing, it's had a particular effect on me, because it was the last movie I saw together with my mother before she died. I took a lot of comfort from this movie because Simba and I had a shared experience in losing one of our parents and immediately having to move away to an unfamiliar land. But, it was the voice of the greatest king of the past that reminded us to remember who we are. Things are hard, but if you keep moving forward, you're bound to get to a better place. Not only that, but even though your family may be broken, it's still whole. Thank God I had siblings and a surviving parent. But, this film really helped me through a very painful time that I still struggle with even now. And that's why I'm so grateful.
Mr. Jones helped me through a time when I just wanted to give up and give in. I know he never knew that, but I would like to think that I wasn't the only one that felt like this and that, perhaps, someone had imparted such words to him at some point. That would be nice. But, if not, then I hope my thoughts can somehow reach him, now. I guess I just want to say, thank you. I'm happy that I was able to meet Dragoneer and say those words to him, but even though I could not say them to Mr. Jones, I want to believe that he knows.
Thank you both for everything.
Thanks to Dragoneer, I have been able to become a part of a community that has meant so much to me over the years. I've been able to find a place to build a career, but more than that, I've found a place filled with like-minded, creative, wonderful people. The fandom has so thoroughly woven itself my life experience, that I really can't imagine what my world would be without it.
...and then there is Mr. Jones. He was a man of accomplishment, strength, and the very voice of my king. I don't say last part lightly. The Lion King had been my favorite movie ever since it came out. Apart from the movie just being amazing, it's had a particular effect on me, because it was the last movie I saw together with my mother before she died. I took a lot of comfort from this movie because Simba and I had a shared experience in losing one of our parents and immediately having to move away to an unfamiliar land. But, it was the voice of the greatest king of the past that reminded us to remember who we are. Things are hard, but if you keep moving forward, you're bound to get to a better place. Not only that, but even though your family may be broken, it's still whole. Thank God I had siblings and a surviving parent. But, this film really helped me through a very painful time that I still struggle with even now. And that's why I'm so grateful.
Mr. Jones helped me through a time when I just wanted to give up and give in. I know he never knew that, but I would like to think that I wasn't the only one that felt like this and that, perhaps, someone had imparted such words to him at some point. That would be nice. But, if not, then I hope my thoughts can somehow reach him, now. I guess I just want to say, thank you. I'm happy that I was able to meet Dragoneer and say those words to him, but even though I could not say them to Mr. Jones, I want to believe that he knows.
Thank you both for everything.
Do OC's Pass Away pt. 2
Posted a year agoWell, I wanted to ask you guys something, not for any particular reason. I just wanted to see what you guys think and get your views about how you handle your characters. So, what I wanted to know was: do your characters die? I mean, do your main characters die? Not the villains or side characters, but the main characters that are the center of your stories, or that make impactful impressions on the story. Have you ever made the decision to write them out of your stories through having them die off, permanently? I know people will kill off a character, then later bring them back. Do you guys ever do that? I'm just curious. This is what happens when my mind wanders a bit.
I was thinking about this over the last week or so. I was thinking about Night and Mhina and the story I wrote a while back, "The Afterlife of Wolves and Lions". In the story, they discuss what happens when they die and the beliefs of their respective species. In the end, they make a promise to meet each other in the afterlife. Whichever one passes away first, the spirit of the other will faithfully wait for the one that is left behind. When the living partner eventually dies, the spirit that awaits for them in the world of the dead will hurry to them and guide them to the eternity of the living spirits where they will never be separated again.
Upon thinking about this, I came to the conclusion that Night would be the one to die first. Mhina is the one that would be left behind and forced to deal with living in a world without the physical presence of someone she has been so passionately in love with for nearly all of her life. I think he would die somewhat unexpectedly from an illness. She will be with him in the hospital the moment his time comes.
Shade, being acutely in touch with the spirits, would know the impending death of his brother, because the spirits of their parents would come to him and tell him that they are coming to bring their son home. He would go to join Mhina and Night at the hospital and tell Mhina that Night is going to slip away from them before the day is over. Obviously, Mhina is heartbroken, as is Shade, but it cannot be helped. Shade is there when his mother and father come for Night. He can see the moment when they reach out their hands to their firstborn child and he tells Mhina that they are here. Mhina begs for them to give her just one more moment to tell him one last thing. She presses her brow to his and weeps, painfully. But, she manages to say, "Do not forget our promise. You promised to wait for me, we promised we would wait for each other. So...please wait for me. Wait for me...and then never let me go, again."
She holds his hand to her cheek and sobs. With his lingering strength, she feels his fingers gently fondle her hair and caress her cheek. He barely manages a whisper of a smile, then sighs, and the hand she held against her furred skin goes limp...and he's gone. The monitors that had been steadily chiming with the beating of the wolf's heart suddenly become an alarm and Mhina knows she's no longer embracing the man that she loved so deeply. She is simply holding on to the shell that housed his beautiful soul.
Shade watches his brother's spirit rise from his body and into the welcoming embrace of their mother and father. He turns to his little brother and says something to him to which Shade tearfully replies, "How can you ask that of me, now?!" This draws Mhina's attention to her oldest child. She knows that he is not talking to himself, as the familiar aura that surrounds him when he engages a spirt has cloaked him in its warm glow. He's angry, but as she cannot hear the voices communicating with him, she does not know why.
By now, the doctors have rushed into the room at the sound of the alarm from the monitors registering Night's inactive vitals. They start the normal procedures to resuscitate their patient, but after a moment, Shade tells them that it's alright and that his brother is not coming back. The doctors look up to protest the obviously grieving wolf's statement, but they notice the ethereal glow around him and quickly realize the situation and who...or rather, what they are speaking to. "...you're a seer." one of the physicians say.
Shade doesn't answer, but there is no doubt about Shade's supernatural abilities. The doctor has seen it before, though it's very rare to see it. Still, he has never seen a medium with such overwhelming power as the possessed by the man he sees before him, now. He knows that magic still exists in this world and before his eyes, he's bearing witness to it. Quietly, he walks over to the machines and turns them off, silencing the disturbing screech of their distressing cries, ushering a mournful din of silence. He urges the other doctors to exit the room and allow the grieving family their needed privacy.
Shade continues to talk to, who Mhina assumes is the ghost of her beloved. It's an uncertainty to her, as she still cannot hear the voices that her son can. She notices pings, or flares of light emanating from various places on his person. It's a telltale sign that he has come into "physical" contact with a spirt. The light shines on either side of his face, then his brow, and he is unable to hold back the tears from flowing from his eyes. Mhina knows for sure that it's Night that he's speaking to, now. Shade has seen the spirits of his parents many times and his reaction was not this mournful. In fact, it was usually jovial, or comforting. But, now, there was only pain. She finds herself gripped with anguish and chokes on her misery. She buries her face in Night's still warm chest, and cries, painfully. Even though he had been ill for quite a while, the idea of him leaving her was not a manifestation of thought that she had permitted to take root in her mind. ...and now, here she was with that thought no longer a possibility, but instead, it was her reality. All she could do in this moment, was weep.
She feels her son touch her shoulder, then wrap her in his comforting embrace. However, she cannot tear herself from Night's slowly cooling body. Even the nearness of her child is not enough to pull her from her grief. In her mind, she knows that she needs to comfort him, too, but the weight of losing her soulmate is a weight that's pulling her down like a stone shackled to her feet, pulling her down into a sea of unfathomable darkness. Shade, at least, can still see his brother, a precious gift that she had not been blessed with. Though, she was not envious of her child. She was glad that the process of healing would be facilitated for him, even if just a little bit. But, for her and the rest of her children, there would only be the memories...and sorrow.
"I'm sorry." Shade whispered. "It feels that it is far too soon, and yet, it is also my time. Even so, I never wanted to leave you. By your side is where I always want to be. For now, though, we must be apart, but only in this way. We are one, so we could never truly be parted."
Mhina gasped. Though she was hearing the voice of her son, they were the words of her beloved. She looked up at Shade who was still shining like the pale moon light and knew that he was relaying a message that was meant for her. "Until we can be together again," Shade continued, "you must let me go. You must live. Our boys will need you now more than ever. Beyond that, there is so much more life in you and so much more life that you have to see. So, please live and know that I have never forgotten the promise we made so many years ago. I promise to be there. I promise that I will be waiting to hear your song."
It was a moment of peace and closure that was denied to very nearly everyone in her position. Only those blessed with the gifts that Shade had, or that had been gifted with the presence of a person like him in their lives, could ever hear the imparting words of a cherished loved one that had already left their mortal form. She was fortunate beyond words, and that was why words had failed her. All she could do was nod meekly through a veil of her own tears. She had heard the translation of her lover's vow, and though his declaration was comforting, it could not alleviate the emptiness she felt in the moment.
She wrapped an arm around her child and patiently rubbed his back, just as she did when he was just her little boy. The small gesture of affection reaffirmed their bond and reminded him of the day his parents were laid to rest. It was the day that she told him that they were a family and that she and Night would always be there for him and Blaze. Though their family was smaller now, they were still a family. Death would not change that. It didn't change it then, and it would not be broken, now.
Slowly, he reached out his hand and the tangible glow shone in his palm. Gently, he pressed his hand onto his mother's dampened cheek and watched her expression quickly switch from turmoil to surprise. For a fleeting moment, through her miracle child, she could feel her love's warm hand upon her. For the briefest of moments, she was able to feel the unmistakable feel of his touch. Then, it was gone and all that was left in its departure was a sad, sweet smile adorning the still mournful face of his beloved mate. She would be alright. They would be alright. That was the unspoken promise she made to him and the silent permission he needed for his spirit to move on. Not fated to be a lingering apparition, Night had gone to join his parents to patiently wait for the day that he could touch his beloved, again. Not for a moment, but for a lifetime. He would be waiting.
I was thinking about this over the last week or so. I was thinking about Night and Mhina and the story I wrote a while back, "The Afterlife of Wolves and Lions". In the story, they discuss what happens when they die and the beliefs of their respective species. In the end, they make a promise to meet each other in the afterlife. Whichever one passes away first, the spirit of the other will faithfully wait for the one that is left behind. When the living partner eventually dies, the spirit that awaits for them in the world of the dead will hurry to them and guide them to the eternity of the living spirits where they will never be separated again.
Upon thinking about this, I came to the conclusion that Night would be the one to die first. Mhina is the one that would be left behind and forced to deal with living in a world without the physical presence of someone she has been so passionately in love with for nearly all of her life. I think he would die somewhat unexpectedly from an illness. She will be with him in the hospital the moment his time comes.
****
You don't have to read the rest. It's just something that I wrote on the spot as I was typing this journal entry. It's how I think this moment would take place. It's a death scene, so you may not be in a particular mood to read it.Shade, being acutely in touch with the spirits, would know the impending death of his brother, because the spirits of their parents would come to him and tell him that they are coming to bring their son home. He would go to join Mhina and Night at the hospital and tell Mhina that Night is going to slip away from them before the day is over. Obviously, Mhina is heartbroken, as is Shade, but it cannot be helped. Shade is there when his mother and father come for Night. He can see the moment when they reach out their hands to their firstborn child and he tells Mhina that they are here. Mhina begs for them to give her just one more moment to tell him one last thing. She presses her brow to his and weeps, painfully. But, she manages to say, "Do not forget our promise. You promised to wait for me, we promised we would wait for each other. So...please wait for me. Wait for me...and then never let me go, again."
She holds his hand to her cheek and sobs. With his lingering strength, she feels his fingers gently fondle her hair and caress her cheek. He barely manages a whisper of a smile, then sighs, and the hand she held against her furred skin goes limp...and he's gone. The monitors that had been steadily chiming with the beating of the wolf's heart suddenly become an alarm and Mhina knows she's no longer embracing the man that she loved so deeply. She is simply holding on to the shell that housed his beautiful soul.
Shade watches his brother's spirit rise from his body and into the welcoming embrace of their mother and father. He turns to his little brother and says something to him to which Shade tearfully replies, "How can you ask that of me, now?!" This draws Mhina's attention to her oldest child. She knows that he is not talking to himself, as the familiar aura that surrounds him when he engages a spirt has cloaked him in its warm glow. He's angry, but as she cannot hear the voices communicating with him, she does not know why.
By now, the doctors have rushed into the room at the sound of the alarm from the monitors registering Night's inactive vitals. They start the normal procedures to resuscitate their patient, but after a moment, Shade tells them that it's alright and that his brother is not coming back. The doctors look up to protest the obviously grieving wolf's statement, but they notice the ethereal glow around him and quickly realize the situation and who...or rather, what they are speaking to. "...you're a seer." one of the physicians say.
Shade doesn't answer, but there is no doubt about Shade's supernatural abilities. The doctor has seen it before, though it's very rare to see it. Still, he has never seen a medium with such overwhelming power as the possessed by the man he sees before him, now. He knows that magic still exists in this world and before his eyes, he's bearing witness to it. Quietly, he walks over to the machines and turns them off, silencing the disturbing screech of their distressing cries, ushering a mournful din of silence. He urges the other doctors to exit the room and allow the grieving family their needed privacy.
Shade continues to talk to, who Mhina assumes is the ghost of her beloved. It's an uncertainty to her, as she still cannot hear the voices that her son can. She notices pings, or flares of light emanating from various places on his person. It's a telltale sign that he has come into "physical" contact with a spirt. The light shines on either side of his face, then his brow, and he is unable to hold back the tears from flowing from his eyes. Mhina knows for sure that it's Night that he's speaking to, now. Shade has seen the spirits of his parents many times and his reaction was not this mournful. In fact, it was usually jovial, or comforting. But, now, there was only pain. She finds herself gripped with anguish and chokes on her misery. She buries her face in Night's still warm chest, and cries, painfully. Even though he had been ill for quite a while, the idea of him leaving her was not a manifestation of thought that she had permitted to take root in her mind. ...and now, here she was with that thought no longer a possibility, but instead, it was her reality. All she could do in this moment, was weep.
She feels her son touch her shoulder, then wrap her in his comforting embrace. However, she cannot tear herself from Night's slowly cooling body. Even the nearness of her child is not enough to pull her from her grief. In her mind, she knows that she needs to comfort him, too, but the weight of losing her soulmate is a weight that's pulling her down like a stone shackled to her feet, pulling her down into a sea of unfathomable darkness. Shade, at least, can still see his brother, a precious gift that she had not been blessed with. Though, she was not envious of her child. She was glad that the process of healing would be facilitated for him, even if just a little bit. But, for her and the rest of her children, there would only be the memories...and sorrow.
"I'm sorry." Shade whispered. "It feels that it is far too soon, and yet, it is also my time. Even so, I never wanted to leave you. By your side is where I always want to be. For now, though, we must be apart, but only in this way. We are one, so we could never truly be parted."
Mhina gasped. Though she was hearing the voice of her son, they were the words of her beloved. She looked up at Shade who was still shining like the pale moon light and knew that he was relaying a message that was meant for her. "Until we can be together again," Shade continued, "you must let me go. You must live. Our boys will need you now more than ever. Beyond that, there is so much more life in you and so much more life that you have to see. So, please live and know that I have never forgotten the promise we made so many years ago. I promise to be there. I promise that I will be waiting to hear your song."
It was a moment of peace and closure that was denied to very nearly everyone in her position. Only those blessed with the gifts that Shade had, or that had been gifted with the presence of a person like him in their lives, could ever hear the imparting words of a cherished loved one that had already left their mortal form. She was fortunate beyond words, and that was why words had failed her. All she could do was nod meekly through a veil of her own tears. She had heard the translation of her lover's vow, and though his declaration was comforting, it could not alleviate the emptiness she felt in the moment.
She wrapped an arm around her child and patiently rubbed his back, just as she did when he was just her little boy. The small gesture of affection reaffirmed their bond and reminded him of the day his parents were laid to rest. It was the day that she told him that they were a family and that she and Night would always be there for him and Blaze. Though their family was smaller now, they were still a family. Death would not change that. It didn't change it then, and it would not be broken, now.
Slowly, he reached out his hand and the tangible glow shone in his palm. Gently, he pressed his hand onto his mother's dampened cheek and watched her expression quickly switch from turmoil to surprise. For a fleeting moment, through her miracle child, she could feel her love's warm hand upon her. For the briefest of moments, she was able to feel the unmistakable feel of his touch. Then, it was gone and all that was left in its departure was a sad, sweet smile adorning the still mournful face of his beloved mate. She would be alright. They would be alright. That was the unspoken promise she made to him and the silent permission he needed for his spirit to move on. Not fated to be a lingering apparition, Night had gone to join his parents to patiently wait for the day that he could touch his beloved, again. Not for a moment, but for a lifetime. He would be waiting.
Do OC's Pass Away pt.1
Posted a year ago...this was going to be the topic of this journal. I wanted to pose the question to you guys and share something regarding my own characters.
...then I noticed a headline on this site that delivered the tragic news of Dragoneer's passing. I don't know what to write now. I'm just typing my thoughts as they come along. I am so grateful for everything he has done for the community. I would not be in this fandom if not for this site that he helped to create. I owe him a lot and will never be able to thank him enough for his contribution into my life. I've met some amazing people, made a bunch of wonderful friends, have been able to share the stream of consciousness that is the world that lives in my mind with all of you, and to make something magical the introduce to the world. I had the pleasure of meeting him at FAU a few times and he was a very nice person. My nephews met him, too, and you can always tell a person by the way that children react to him. They laughed and smiled around him. I did too. His passing is not just a name or a face, for me, it's very personal.
I think I'm going to leave this journal here and make another journal dealing with the topic in the subject line more directly. I don't want to compound this message with other things. This journal is to honor his memory and the massive impact he has made in the furry fandom. FA is the go-to site for us. There have been other sites that have tried to accomplish what he has done, but none have been able to achieve what he has managed to bring to us, to share with us, and to allow us to thrive as much as we do. All of that is in large part thanks to him and I am so thankful for the world he has helped to introduce me to. THIS is his legacy. THIS is the difference he has made in our world. He has helped us to make this world we live in to be a little bigger by enabling us to share the bigger worlds that live in our dreams.
Thank you so much, for everything.
Rest in peace, comfort, and know that you will never be forgotten.
...then I noticed a headline on this site that delivered the tragic news of Dragoneer's passing. I don't know what to write now. I'm just typing my thoughts as they come along. I am so grateful for everything he has done for the community. I would not be in this fandom if not for this site that he helped to create. I owe him a lot and will never be able to thank him enough for his contribution into my life. I've met some amazing people, made a bunch of wonderful friends, have been able to share the stream of consciousness that is the world that lives in my mind with all of you, and to make something magical the introduce to the world. I had the pleasure of meeting him at FAU a few times and he was a very nice person. My nephews met him, too, and you can always tell a person by the way that children react to him. They laughed and smiled around him. I did too. His passing is not just a name or a face, for me, it's very personal.
I think I'm going to leave this journal here and make another journal dealing with the topic in the subject line more directly. I don't want to compound this message with other things. This journal is to honor his memory and the massive impact he has made in the furry fandom. FA is the go-to site for us. There have been other sites that have tried to accomplish what he has done, but none have been able to achieve what he has managed to bring to us, to share with us, and to allow us to thrive as much as we do. All of that is in large part thanks to him and I am so thankful for the world he has helped to introduce me to. THIS is his legacy. THIS is the difference he has made in our world. He has helped us to make this world we live in to be a little bigger by enabling us to share the bigger worlds that live in our dreams.
Thank you so much, for everything.
Rest in peace, comfort, and know that you will never be forgotten.
Video Runtime
Posted a year agoHey, all! It's almost convention time and I am as ready as I will ever be. I do think I need to take these next couple of days off, though. My wrist and hand have been a little sore, so I think my body is telling me to take a break. I tend to ignore a lot of health issues as just minor things, but I really need my hands and I will be especially needing them next week. So...yeah, I really need to slow it down a little. I will be wearing a brace for the rest of the week and doing a little light computer work.
So, one thing that I always do at conventions are art commissions. Some of them are in sketchbooks, others are brown badges, and others are assorted pieces that end up being colored. The latter ones I do digitally and something that I wanted to let folks know that in addition to being posted on my art sites, they'll now also be posted on my YouTube account as "Start to Finish" videos. There's a folder for them on my page. But, something I've been tinkering with is the video runtime. Initially, I was uploading the videos at the base speed the art app exported them as, but I think that time is too long. The videos end up being anywhere from 15 minutes to 2.5 minutes. I think the 2.5 minutes is the optimal range for a full video (shorts are about 35 seconds). Still, what do you guys think? Do you guys like longer videos, or do you prefer shorter length videos? The videos have the same content, it's just that the shorter ones are sped up about 4x more than the original. For example, this is the last video that I uploaded and it's just under 3 minutes (that includes the end screen). Let me know what you think.
ALRIGHT! I'm off to go brace up my wrist. *waves*
PS: If you order a commission, I'll let you decide the length of the video.
PPS: YouTube doesn't allow mature content, so if the commission involves nudity, I won't be able to post it. But, I can still make the video and upload it to a Google Drive folder for you to download for your personal viewing or to share on websites that will allow it.
So, one thing that I always do at conventions are art commissions. Some of them are in sketchbooks, others are brown badges, and others are assorted pieces that end up being colored. The latter ones I do digitally and something that I wanted to let folks know that in addition to being posted on my art sites, they'll now also be posted on my YouTube account as "Start to Finish" videos. There's a folder for them on my page. But, something I've been tinkering with is the video runtime. Initially, I was uploading the videos at the base speed the art app exported them as, but I think that time is too long. The videos end up being anywhere from 15 minutes to 2.5 minutes. I think the 2.5 minutes is the optimal range for a full video (shorts are about 35 seconds). Still, what do you guys think? Do you guys like longer videos, or do you prefer shorter length videos? The videos have the same content, it's just that the shorter ones are sped up about 4x more than the original. For example, this is the last video that I uploaded and it's just under 3 minutes (that includes the end screen). Let me know what you think.
ALRIGHT! I'm off to go brace up my wrist. *waves*
PS: If you order a commission, I'll let you decide the length of the video.
PPS: YouTube doesn't allow mature content, so if the commission involves nudity, I won't be able to post it. But, I can still make the video and upload it to a Google Drive folder for you to download for your personal viewing or to share on websites that will allow it.
Can We Talk About X-Men '97?
Posted a year ago...because, I need to talk about X-Men '97. Beforehand, there will probably be spoilers for the show...no, there will definitely be spoilers as of this morning's newest episode. No spoilers from the comics, though! With that said, let's continue.
So, I have watched X-Men and read the comics since I was a kid. I actually had to rewatch the old series recently to get caught to on the animated show. But, I'm caught up, now. And I've been watching the new show and I have to say...I am on the edge of my seat. This is genuinely good writing and fantastic animation. I've always been a fan of 2D animation over 3D, so I am over the moon, right now. A well-written show animated in 2D featuring characters I know and love?! Yes!
But, I'm wondering if anyone else has been watching and if so, what do you think? As I said, no spoilers from the comics, please. Although I did read the comics, I wasn't an avid reader, so there's a ton of arcs that I either don't know about, or only partially read about. I realize that a lot of this is lifted directly from the comics, but I haven't read anything about the direction this arc is taking, so please don't talk about anything beyond the animated series. With all that said, what do you guys think?
So, I have watched X-Men and read the comics since I was a kid. I actually had to rewatch the old series recently to get caught to on the animated show. But, I'm caught up, now. And I've been watching the new show and I have to say...I am on the edge of my seat. This is genuinely good writing and fantastic animation. I've always been a fan of 2D animation over 3D, so I am over the moon, right now. A well-written show animated in 2D featuring characters I know and love?! Yes!
But, I'm wondering if anyone else has been watching and if so, what do you think? As I said, no spoilers from the comics, please. Although I did read the comics, I wasn't an avid reader, so there's a ton of arcs that I either don't know about, or only partially read about. I realize that a lot of this is lifted directly from the comics, but I haven't read anything about the direction this arc is taking, so please don't talk about anything beyond the animated series. With all that said, what do you guys think?
Married at 16? (Not political, I promise!)
Posted a year agoSo, as I am going over certain story ideas and floating random thoughts, I realized something about a few of my characters: a lot of them have partners that are older than them by a few years. Mostly, it's adults meeting other adults, getting married, etc. But, in one case, it's two characters that were friends since they were little. There's a 3 year age gap between them, so when he's 18, she'll only be 15 (granted, in my universe, you are not recognized as an adult until you are 20 and the minimum age for marriage is 17). So, this got me curious. In the context of the story, while they're children (under 12 or so), it's not really noticeable. But, as they grow older, it starts to be a little more obvious as the changes in their bodies become more apparent. I thought this would be a problem because in our society, this is considered a crime (for an 18 year old and a 15 year old to be romantically involved). So, I wondered, "Well, should they break up when he becomes an adult and just wait for her to catch up? That sounds like the logical thing to do, right?" ...until I remembered a little story called, "The Little Mermaid".
In the Little Mermaid, Ariel PROUDLY proclaims that she isn't a child, she's 16! Throughout the movie, she falls for a man (he was 18...and also my favorite Disney prince), he falls for her, they fight a monster, they win, and they get married all in the span of like...a week. So, Ariel is still clearly 16 at the start and conclusion of this story. Subsequently, shortly after their marriage, she has a baby. So, clearly this is acceptable to some extent in our society. Heck! My mother married my father when she was 16, so it was definitely acceptable at one time in this country, as well as other countries...if not EVERY other country. ...so, what to do in the case of fiction?
As I mentioned, there's a 3 year age gap between these particular characters. There are a few other characters with a wider age gap, but they are both adults when they enter the relationship. These are the only two character (off the top of my head) that have this division when they are romantically involved as young adults. They do have the advantage of being children for an additional 2 years over us, which means that when he is an adult (20), she will have just reached the age for marriage (17). Prior to that (when they're around 18 and 15), they do get a little angsty, as he wants to do certain things with her, but feels that she is too young, so he has to wait. It causes a bit of confusion and a few arguments until he just tells her what he wants...then she feels awkward. At 15, she knows about THOSE things and has even thought about what it would be like. But, now that she's actually faced with the prospect of him wanting to do those things, it's a little...unsettling. But, he does tell her that he will just wait until she is ready. They have all the time in the world, so there's no rush. He just needs to be patient and respectful of her and the fact that she is still younger than he is. They grew up together and as such, have been together nearly all of their lives. He cares more about her feelings than he does for his natural desires. So, nothing happens at that time and they do remain a couple. Of course, it really didn't help matters AT ALL that her father overheard their argument, but that's a whole 'nother story for a whole 'nother time. This could come to an end by simply having them marry as soon as they can, but I don't think that will happen. They would most likely marry when she becomes an adult 3 years after him.
Anyway, I'm babbling again. Sorry about that. But, I am curious about what you guys think of fictional characters marrying young. I'm also curious whether or not you or someone you know got married when they were young. Were they childhood sweethearts? Did they meet perchance? What's the story?
In the Little Mermaid, Ariel PROUDLY proclaims that she isn't a child, she's 16! Throughout the movie, she falls for a man (he was 18...and also my favorite Disney prince), he falls for her, they fight a monster, they win, and they get married all in the span of like...a week. So, Ariel is still clearly 16 at the start and conclusion of this story. Subsequently, shortly after their marriage, she has a baby. So, clearly this is acceptable to some extent in our society. Heck! My mother married my father when she was 16, so it was definitely acceptable at one time in this country, as well as other countries...if not EVERY other country. ...so, what to do in the case of fiction?
As I mentioned, there's a 3 year age gap between these particular characters. There are a few other characters with a wider age gap, but they are both adults when they enter the relationship. These are the only two character (off the top of my head) that have this division when they are romantically involved as young adults. They do have the advantage of being children for an additional 2 years over us, which means that when he is an adult (20), she will have just reached the age for marriage (17). Prior to that (when they're around 18 and 15), they do get a little angsty, as he wants to do certain things with her, but feels that she is too young, so he has to wait. It causes a bit of confusion and a few arguments until he just tells her what he wants...then she feels awkward. At 15, she knows about THOSE things and has even thought about what it would be like. But, now that she's actually faced with the prospect of him wanting to do those things, it's a little...unsettling. But, he does tell her that he will just wait until she is ready. They have all the time in the world, so there's no rush. He just needs to be patient and respectful of her and the fact that she is still younger than he is. They grew up together and as such, have been together nearly all of their lives. He cares more about her feelings than he does for his natural desires. So, nothing happens at that time and they do remain a couple. Of course, it really didn't help matters AT ALL that her father overheard their argument, but that's a whole 'nother story for a whole 'nother time. This could come to an end by simply having them marry as soon as they can, but I don't think that will happen. They would most likely marry when she becomes an adult 3 years after him.
Anyway, I'm babbling again. Sorry about that. But, I am curious about what you guys think of fictional characters marrying young. I'm also curious whether or not you or someone you know got married when they were young. Were they childhood sweethearts? Did they meet perchance? What's the story?
Stuck in a Rut...
Posted a year agoWell, I've finished a lot of my prep for this year's Anthrocon, including one of the biggest things in finishing the second issue of Sweet Shoppe. I know I talk about burnout a lot, but it's hard to overcome it when you complete a major task, especially if you don't take a break. Although this time, I had actually planned on taking a break, but that sort of fell through.
My birthday was last week and the plan was to drive up to New York for my niece's christening, then I was going to visit Niagara Falls the next day, and finally return home on the following day. Everything was set, my bags were packed, and when I went to pick up the car that I had rented, they told me that they couldn't accept the insurance I had purchased for the trip, because of some undisclosed company policy. To make a long story short, I was able to borrow my sister's car to drive up for the day and came home that same afternoon. The dog and I did not go on our little road trip, in fact he didn't even get to come along with me. So, I've been getting technical things done for the convention in the meantime, like purchasing supplies, getting posters for the table, etc. But, creatively, I've been kind of stumped.
It's been cold and rainy over here where I am, so the dog and I haven't been able to take any good walks, recently. There's a park nearby with streams, winding trails, wildlife, etc, but it's been so cold and wet that we can't even do that. I still want to go to Niagara Falls, so maybe we'll try to plan that again and this time, we'll spend a few days up there when the weather is nice. Busch Gardens will be opening soon, so maybe we can plan a little weekend trip to Virginia where I grew up. My big summer plan this year was to go to San Diego, because I REALLY want to see the zoo and also they have orcas in Cali. Although I would actually LOVE to drive cross-country, I don't think that would be the best thing, because then I'd have to drive back. ^_^; Honestly, I just want to go somewhere away from home that isn't the library.
...anyway, now I'm just babbling. I need to try and get some drawing in. I think I need to work on my Sweet Shoppe girls. I have no idea what I want to do with them, though. Maybe I'll work on a bit of fashion for them. I think I drew nightgowns for them once, but maybe I'll figure out what each would wear for swimsuits, or maybe ballgowns. That way, I'd have to change their hair, too. I don't think I can get anything done right now, though. I think I'll play Stardew Valley for a while and think on some ideas. Maybe something will come up. Of course, if you guys have any ideas, please feel free to share them with me. Also, if you have either Steam or a Switch and want to play Stardew with me, just let me know. ^_^
My birthday was last week and the plan was to drive up to New York for my niece's christening, then I was going to visit Niagara Falls the next day, and finally return home on the following day. Everything was set, my bags were packed, and when I went to pick up the car that I had rented, they told me that they couldn't accept the insurance I had purchased for the trip, because of some undisclosed company policy. To make a long story short, I was able to borrow my sister's car to drive up for the day and came home that same afternoon. The dog and I did not go on our little road trip, in fact he didn't even get to come along with me. So, I've been getting technical things done for the convention in the meantime, like purchasing supplies, getting posters for the table, etc. But, creatively, I've been kind of stumped.
It's been cold and rainy over here where I am, so the dog and I haven't been able to take any good walks, recently. There's a park nearby with streams, winding trails, wildlife, etc, but it's been so cold and wet that we can't even do that. I still want to go to Niagara Falls, so maybe we'll try to plan that again and this time, we'll spend a few days up there when the weather is nice. Busch Gardens will be opening soon, so maybe we can plan a little weekend trip to Virginia where I grew up. My big summer plan this year was to go to San Diego, because I REALLY want to see the zoo and also they have orcas in Cali. Although I would actually LOVE to drive cross-country, I don't think that would be the best thing, because then I'd have to drive back. ^_^; Honestly, I just want to go somewhere away from home that isn't the library.
...anyway, now I'm just babbling. I need to try and get some drawing in. I think I need to work on my Sweet Shoppe girls. I have no idea what I want to do with them, though. Maybe I'll work on a bit of fashion for them. I think I drew nightgowns for them once, but maybe I'll figure out what each would wear for swimsuits, or maybe ballgowns. That way, I'd have to change their hair, too. I don't think I can get anything done right now, though. I think I'll play Stardew Valley for a while and think on some ideas. Maybe something will come up. Of course, if you guys have any ideas, please feel free to share them with me. Also, if you have either Steam or a Switch and want to play Stardew with me, just let me know. ^_^
Steam?
Posted a year agoWell, in an effort to try and take a break from working (I am not good at relaxing), I decided to download Steam. If anyone has the app and wants to be friends, here's my Steam friend code:
1693842266
I know for sure that I am going to be getting Stardew Valley, but other than that, I haven't really browsed the selections. If you have any recommendations (games I like are things like Zelda, Pokemon, Animal Crossing, etc) please let me know. I usually take Sundays off, so I'll be able to play for sure on those days. ...ironically, I won't be here this weekend. ^_^; But, I'll be back next weekend and will be itching to play a bit.
1693842266
I know for sure that I am going to be getting Stardew Valley, but other than that, I haven't really browsed the selections. If you have any recommendations (games I like are things like Zelda, Pokemon, Animal Crossing, etc) please let me know. I usually take Sundays off, so I'll be able to play for sure on those days. ...ironically, I won't be here this weekend. ^_^; But, I'll be back next weekend and will be itching to play a bit.
Which Sonic is Your Favorite?
Posted a year agoSo, my nephew and niece have recently gotten into Sonic Boom. I haven't seen it in a while and never really got into it to begin with, but I did enjoy it when I saw it...for the most part. ...I don't like what they did with Knuckles. *sigh*
Anyway, I was thinking about how much Sonic has changed over the years. From the first game, to the cartoon series from the 80's/90's, to the comics, to the 3D games, the animes, the movies, and the 3D shows, there have been MANY iterations of the characters. And I'm wondering, which version was your favorite?
I think I generally tend to lean toward the SatAM series, but that's mostly because of Sally and Bunnie. Although, that was also my favorite version of Eggman and of the world. The Freedom Fighters were pretty awesome and the stakes were dire. The writing was good, the characters were strong, and I don't think Sonic has ever been cooler than he was in that series.☆ But, when it comes to Tails, I liked him better in Sonic X. Knuckles was great in that series, too. That's MY Knuckles! ♡ I also like Rouge. But, with Amy, I think I like her best in Sonic Boom. I don't know if Sticks has ever been in any other series, but I kind of love Sticks! ^_^
So, those are my Sonic favorites. As far as favorite characters: Sally, Bunnie, Knuckles, Sonic, Sticks, Rouge, and Tails. ^_^
Anyway, I was thinking about how much Sonic has changed over the years. From the first game, to the cartoon series from the 80's/90's, to the comics, to the 3D games, the animes, the movies, and the 3D shows, there have been MANY iterations of the characters. And I'm wondering, which version was your favorite?
I think I generally tend to lean toward the SatAM series, but that's mostly because of Sally and Bunnie. Although, that was also my favorite version of Eggman and of the world. The Freedom Fighters were pretty awesome and the stakes were dire. The writing was good, the characters were strong, and I don't think Sonic has ever been cooler than he was in that series.☆ But, when it comes to Tails, I liked him better in Sonic X. Knuckles was great in that series, too. That's MY Knuckles! ♡ I also like Rouge. But, with Amy, I think I like her best in Sonic Boom. I don't know if Sticks has ever been in any other series, but I kind of love Sticks! ^_^
So, those are my Sonic favorites. As far as favorite characters: Sally, Bunnie, Knuckles, Sonic, Sticks, Rouge, and Tails. ^_^
No Art or Stories, But...
Posted a year agoHappy Valentine's Day! I didn't have time to make anything for the holiday, though. I was kind of busy. But, the other day I was thinking about something that I thought I remembered and it turns out, I was correct. So, with that being said, here's a fun song that had a music video that was absolute mainstream furry fanservice! Between this and Roger Rabbit, I think furries should have been/should be more accepted in society, but maybe one day. Anyhoo, have a good day, y'all!
Sweet Shoppe Q&A for Issue 2
Posted a year agoHey, all! As I'm wrapping up this second issue of Sweet Shoppe (I'm just finishing up editing, now. The cover is complete and I should be able to it to the printer this week to get a test copy.), I'm adding a closing section where I answer a few questions and even invite folks to submit fan art, if they like. I had two questions that I answered (why I named the girls the way that I did and who's my favorite character) and wanted to see if anyone had any questions and I could select a few to put at the end of the book. If you have a question, just drop it right here. If you have any art that you'd like to submit, just leave a comment here, too. (I realize it might be a little too late to get fan art into this copy, but if you have something or want to make something, please do. If I can't add it in this issue, I'll try to get it in the next.) I don't know how much I can add to the book, but I'd love to engage you guys. ^_^
See ya!
...back to work!
See ya!
...back to work!
Planning for Anthrocon!
Posted a year agoWell, the particulars are taken care of as of today! I have a dealer's table, I rented a car, and today, I booked the hotel! That is a lot of pressure off my shoulders. Now, I need to focus on what will be on the table!
I finished the second issue of Sweet Shoppe. I need to do the cover, go over it one more time for editing, then get it setup for printing. I really wanted to get the second volume in the Lion Paws series done, but I don't think I'm going to be able to finish before June. I also need to complete a few more designs for those charms that I tested earlier. The other thing that I wanted to do was make another coloring book, but I don't know if I'll be able to make that happen. I sketched out all of the pages, but I don't know if I'm going to have time to finish that and the novel. I'm going to have to pick one and go all in on it.
I think that's about it. If you're interested in knowing my schedule:
Hotel: Embassy Suites (because they offer amazing complimentary breakfast).
Date: Thursday, July 4th to Sunday July 7th.
I finished the second issue of Sweet Shoppe. I need to do the cover, go over it one more time for editing, then get it setup for printing. I really wanted to get the second volume in the Lion Paws series done, but I don't think I'm going to be able to finish before June. I also need to complete a few more designs for those charms that I tested earlier. The other thing that I wanted to do was make another coloring book, but I don't know if I'll be able to make that happen. I sketched out all of the pages, but I don't know if I'm going to have time to finish that and the novel. I'm going to have to pick one and go all in on it.
I think that's about it. If you're interested in knowing my schedule:
Hotel: Embassy Suites (because they offer amazing complimentary breakfast).
Date: Thursday, July 4th to Sunday July 7th.
Ja and Leilani - Start to Finish
Posted 2 years agoStart to Finish. This was the start to finish of that that piece I had attempted to work on during my recent Talk 'n Sketch. I uploaded another one with Marian and Leilani and I have one lined up for Chui...but, I don't want to post that video directly after making two videos featuring children. Chui is...not compatible! ^_^; I'll have to add a different video in between them. I'll figure it out!
Oh! If you do check the videos out and like what you see, maybe consider hitting that like button. ♡
Status and New Video Up
Posted 2 years agoWell, after working on getting the livestream function of my app working, I managed to get it up, but the connection was unstable. It kept disconnecting and reconnecting. I'm not sure if that's an internet issue or not, but I checked out a few videos and others have had this issue. It's the best app for streaming on YouTube, though, so I'll have to keep tinkering with it and hopefully get the bugs sorted.
In the meantime, I did figure out how to record my screen in order to make a video of what was going to be a livestream. It's only the first part of what will be a few videos to come. But, you can check it out here:
https://youtu.be/7-WVTIRnzS0
Sorry about all of this. I hope you'll give the video a look. I actually talk in this one and give a little information about the characters. It's not a time lapse video, but a video of me working on the sketch in real-time. If you're interested, I hope you'll check it out. Thanks a bunch you guys! ^_^
In the meantime, I did figure out how to record my screen in order to make a video of what was going to be a livestream. It's only the first part of what will be a few videos to come. But, you can check it out here:
https://youtu.be/7-WVTIRnzS0
Sorry about all of this. I hope you'll give the video a look. I actually talk in this one and give a little information about the characters. It's not a time lapse video, but a video of me working on the sketch in real-time. If you're interested, I hope you'll check it out. Thanks a bunch you guys! ^_^
