Well, talk about a weird few months. Life never gives warnings, that's for sure. Just as I get my hand back into working condition, everything around me is changing. The latest thing was my father informing me that he got confirmation for a job he wanted in the oilsands... confirmation as in he's going to be on a plane tomorrow morning at 10, and should be back in a month or two. Not what I was expecting, but hey he's excited. I'm finally getting used to him coming and going now though, so it should go smoothly.

On a high note wcb finally stopped asking questions and accepted my full claim for missed work. I have a distinct feeling my Physiotherapist had a bit to do with them smartening up. Her name is Angel (seriously) and judging by what I heard while she was talking to my case manage on the phone... they won't be bothering me anymore. Little french girls can be terrifying when they want to be ^^;

It also looks like I might be opening my own Uechi Ryu Karate club sometime early next year, and I'm presently working on getting everything organized to see it happen. It's not going to be easy, but I've got the best motivation I could ever hope for.

This new year is going to bring a lot of changes. I plan on hitting it at a dead run.

I rather dislike doctors. They have this annoying habit of telling me what I'm not allowed to do. Them being right about it most of the time is besides the point! X3

My hand is down for the count it seems. I had been hoping that it was a fracture, they at least heal fast, but it seems I ran out of luck this time. Soft tissue damage doesn't heal well, or quickly. The nice ladies at the physiotherapy clinic in formed me that it's not a matter of "when" it will fully heal, it's a question of "if" it will fully heal.
Ah well... gotta say it's nice getting the bad news from a beautiful young female doctor rather than some old guy for once. Softens the blow a bit, even if she didn't mince her words: "your hand's f**ked"

So I'm off work, and they have told me to stop training and teaching karate. Training, yeah I'll slow it down a bit to try to let this heal. Teaching, no way in hell. If anything I'm going to do more teaching now. I have the time, best to put it to use for the club.

On a side note, anyone ever tried to type with their right hand's second and third fingers strapped together? Or using chopsticks left handed? Try it! It's an interesting little experiment to say the least! XD

Roll with the punches and never stay down. It's the only way to survive life.
Laugh when you can, especially at yourself. It's the only way to stay sane.
And never, ever, stop smiling. They hate that.

I'm the grinning dragon, and there is no way life is keeping me down. This might well be what I need to move forward, something to force my hand and overcome my hesitation.
No worries.


I gotta learn not to write when I'm tired >>;

Well, just spent the weekend at a sci-fi con. It's given me a whole new perspective on fur cons, and other furries in general. I learned a lot about us, and I gotta say I'm damn glad to be a fur.

This con was extremely foreign feeling to me. They really take things at a different pace at sci-fi cons it seems. The energy just wasn't there like it is at a fur con, which I think was mostly do to the age difference. There were a lot more older and really young people there. That rush of energy and excitement seemed to be missing, making it feel more like I wandering through a crowd rather than being part of one.
There also seems to be a lot more attention given to writers in this fandom, and far less attention to artists. I mean, they LOVE their old school sci-fi artists and prop-makers, but they really don't seem all to interested in new concepts. They want steam-punk trinkets, and old fashioned clothing, and accurate replicas of movie props... but nothing new. It's just an odd realization as to just how much we cherish our artists compared to other groups out there.
And the dance... that was the oddest thing I have ever seen. They had epic music, but a tiny dance floor and only about 5 people on it. Of those five, four were couples who were trying to slow dance to Electro-trance. The most active person there when I stopped by was the old blind lady dancing away with a cane in one hand (I wish I was making this up...).
All in all V-con was an interesting experience, but one I don't think I'll be going to again. Not enough energy for me to feed off of, and I'm really not to interested in sitting listening to an author reading a chapter to us from their new book.

There were three highlights though: watching the Rocky Horror Picture Show on the first night, getting to try my hand with swordplay (real swords too), and playing human battle ship!

Tired now... did not sleep much these past few days.
*thud*
*zzzzzzzz*

So yeah, really odd week since Rainfurrest.
Came home, had two days of surprisingly unproductive work... as in something really weird was causing the glass bottles we work with to explode at the slightest impact. Not sure what it was, bad batch perhaps, but we lost a LOT of them. I also smashed my hand badly enough to end up off work by doctor's orders, and walked into an ongoing storm between management and workers when I came back to pick up my pay cheque.
On the other hand: I now have time to play with a few little projects I'm working on, and even get to go to another con this weekend! Sci-fi this time X3

And you know what? Of all things my mother might be finally changing her view of furries. She's been rather freaked out ever since she google imaged searched it with filters off... mind you I can't really blame her for that >>;

Well, time to get some sleep and get ready for tomorrow. Should be back by monday at the latest.

All in all, a rather good week.

Well that was a hell of a lot of fun! Got some awesome badges and sketches (will be posting them as soon as I get the scanner working), managed to come out of the art auction with a signed Goldenwolf print, and got to hang out with friends I hadn't seen in over a year not to mention make a bunch of new ones.
Still tired from the dance, and will likely be for a while yet XD That was the most fun I've had in ages.

I wasn't nearly as shy as I was at AC last year (hell of a choice for my first con eh?), and was able to relax a lot more this time around.

Bring on the con crash, it's not gonna bring down this grin! (though the sinus cold is slowing me down a bit ><; )

I've been defeated by a milk jug.
Went to pick it up and just about blacked out from the flash of pain that shot up my arm XD

Seems there is a nerve jammed in my shoulder, likely from repetitive motions at work, and I just happened to stretch it at the wrong angle when I picked it up. Doctor has sent me in for x-rays and it looks like it's going to require a round of physiotherapy to get all back in place. Also get some bloody strong pills to try and take down the inflammation.
Really did not need this, but at least it should give me the time to get my sleep pattern back on track. Ah well.

Oddly enough, as long as I keep my body in sanchin I don't feel any pain and the weakness in the arm goes away. Guess it's a good weekend to train kata ^^;

That's it... I'm right about at the end of my stress capacity. I'm tired of the stupidity and greed of my bosses, I'm tired (literally) of getting less than 5 hours sleep a night from stress induced insomnia, and I'm freaking tired of being taken for granted. So you know what? It's time to bite that hand. I'll either get fired, or they will learn to flinch whenever I make sudden movements.

They refuse to hire more workers, fire people rather than give raises, and won't listen when we try to bring things up that would help with worker retention. I've had easier, less stressful, and less injury inducing jobs with twice the pay. Basic labour my ass. We're getting nearly 10 cases of wcb claims requiring time off each month, workers (new and old) are quitting in droves, and they still refuse to humor any of the recommendations the workers are bringing forward.
I made the mistake of streamlining our production line allowing us to pump through 1.5 times their pervious maximum capacity. Know what the idiot did? He fired everyone who couldn't work the line at the new pace. So now it's a drastically smaller crew, working at breakneck pace, and with no reason to do it besides not being fired for falling behind. No raises for those who can hold the new speed, no incentives for achieving this new goal, and a nice fat income boost for the company. We are all burning out, fast. And all this for just above minimum wage.

Time to bite the fucking hand. If they refuse to find a middle ground, the two of us who are the keystones to the new system might just have to get sick for a week.

Taking me for granted is one mistake I am always ready to make them regret. Actually it's a mistake I will make anyone regret. Especially in this mood.

And here I though life was out of things to throw at me.


Time to go find some ice cubes to chew on. Crunching things makes me feel better.

Well it's finally coming together. After two hours searching through hardware stores, and then another three spent in my garage modifying what I found with a butane torch, disk sander and pipe-flaring assembly, I think I finally have a working base model for my tail vertebra. Now to put it all together and mount it to the harness.
Should have a working core prototype by the end of the week. If it works, I'll be able to add fur and have a fully articulated natural feeling tail.

Started all this well over a year ago (or was it two...). V1 failed, V2 was the first working model (way to heavy and cumbersome, but looked good), V3 and V4 each only got half completed before I discovered massive improvements to each, and now I'm onto V5. Far lighter than the first two, more flexible than the third, and cheaper to build than the fourth. Here's hoping!

edit: Wow this glue is strong... gonna take me a bit to detach this little piece of pipe from the side of my hand. It only made contact for a second, but it is good and fused XD. Don't mess with industrial strength epoxy, you will not win.

Camp Fur was awesome! Great food, lots of furs, and tones of areas to hike. Rained a bit, but that was nothing a good hot campfire couldn't fix.

Can't wait to do it again next year!