Hello again Fellow FA Friends, Artists, Writers, Photographers, Fursuiters, Crafters, and other highly creative and talented people.

Whenever I visit my brother Sterling and his lady friend Winnie who live in faraway Tustin, I enjoyed seeing the two massive blimp hangars which stood in the remnants of the Tustin Marine Air Station since before WWII. The massive wooden structures were hard to miss being about fourteen stories high and more than a thousand feet long. These massive wooden structures were originally designed and constructed to house large airships like the USS Los Angeles, (ZR-3.) The USS Akron, (ZRS-4.) and the USS Macon, (ZRS-5.) but with the demise of the giant airships, they were still useful in other ways. During the second world war they housed radar and patrol blimps that flew over the coastal areas in search of enemy submarines and other trouble. Of course, the reliability and adaptability of the Helicopter soon spelled an end to the naval blimps but ironically, the structures also proved to be a good place to teach inexperienced helicopter pilots to learn the basics of how to control their technically complex and often "Temperamental" flying machines.

Shortly after the month of November started, the Northernmost structure mysteriously caught fire and burned for weeks, in a spectacular way. What made the fire far too dangerous for the firefighters to extinguish was the threat of burning and heavy timbers falling from the great heights above on those inside and below the flames. The Tustin FD decided to just let the structure burn itself out, but they hadn't considered that the aged, wooden structure was a perfect firetrap and like dry kindling, was just a conflagration waiting to happen. As an added Irony, once again a helicopter-tanker dropped water on the burning structure in a futile attempt to get the flames under control.

I can't clearly recall what event it was... Either a Califur or one of the other Southern California cons attempting to fill the gap ConFURence left behind the late 1990s, but it was a pleasant little con, and since I had signed on as a dealer, I was privileged to get lunch since I was stuck at my table. On Saturday, I opted for a burger, fries and a drink from In-N-Out because I really like their food. Unfortunately, it took the kind volunteer who received our orders and our cash over two hours to get my lunch to me. It arrived cold and the fries had gone flaccid and greasy, and they forgot my drink. I got on my laptop and discovered an In-N-Out almost two miles away, and after the Dealer's Room closed down for the night, I decided to repeat my In-N-Out order for my dinner after a long and interesting walk.

The stroll up Tustin Road led me to a Walmart Supercenter where I stocked up on snacks and treats for the remainder of the weekend and of course the drive back home. Tustin Road T-Boned to a chain link fence blocking off the former Marine Air Station at the time, and I was awed at the sight of the two airship hangars because I had never seen them at this close a distance before. At that time the area was still open fields, and ripe for development. The Naval hospital where my brother finalized his career as a Navy Corpsman had been removed and is now a sprawling shopping mall replacing the former spaces occupied by the barracks and other military structures. I was gawking at the South hangar, and even from a mile away the two hangars still looked HUGE! I finally made it to the In-N-Out and enjoyed my meal in their dining area and then I had to reverse my long walk back to the hotel in the dark, but with my stomach satisfied, the walk didn't seem that arduous.

It was the Northern most hangar that burned and the initial cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but I have a suspicion. Tustin is an area that is rapidly developing, and I feel that there are land grabbers out there who see those US Navy owned structures like a "Roadblock" to future development schemes. With the North Hangar gone, I expect the nearby housing developments will move in, or that the fields where the giant airships once landed will become parking lots for retail establishments. IF The South hangar mysteriously catches fire and burns as well, I would suspect some city-political "Hanky-Panky" was involved. On the other hand, IF the city does decide to turn the South hangar into an air museum, I would be happy with that solution. I'd look forward to seeing the inside of the structure one day, and heck... I might even volunteer to paint the outline of the USS Los Angeles on their parking lot, just to show folks how big those "Giants in the sky" were.

Now I'm suddenly hungry for a "Double-Double" a serving of "Well Done" fries and a Super large diet Coke.

"Peace."

-Or how I deal with my Post-Holiday depression.

Every year I have to deal with a crushing Post-Holiday depression caused by watching my favorite season seemingly come to an end. I can't exactly say why it hits me so hard, but for some reason I just hate to see Halloween switch over to November First. I'm guessing that there were too many times where I faced the sudden transition of "Everything back to normal" as soon as the Calendar was flipped over for the new month. Too many times I had my "Jack O' Lanterns" become Pumpkin Pies as soon as the transfer truck would bang into the loading dock, bringing me back to reality. What made Halloween so special for me? Perhaps because it was the only part of the year where I felt like I truly belonged and could go about in my weird ways and not draw too much notice. Also, the last part of October usually brought on the cooler weather, the promise of rain and days of moderate temperatures where I could enjoy my long walks without the fatigue the hot weather brings.

There was a lot of talk this year about how Halloween has changed over the decades, and I did appreciate the warnings about checking the candies one's children bring home for "Booby Traps" such as straight pins, needles or razor blades hidden in treats, but these cruel and perverse "Tricks" have fallen to the wayside over concerns of giving out treats that contain peanuts, or other allergens that could make children sick. One of the "Radio Personalities" I enjoy listening to came up with a novel solution where he offers his kids cash if they surrender their bags of goodies to him. I can't blame him either, as his concerns are more over Fentanyl contamination where even the fingerprints of a user on a candy wrapper could prove fatal to a child.


But this year I was reminded of my Halloween in 1963 where my parents let me wander the neighborhood by myself at the age of "almost" eight years old. My Dad brought home one of those "Dime store" costumes for me featuring a Tiger mask and a single piece suit complete with a tail. I thought I looked pretty slick but my dad insisted that even though I was wearing a mask, he had to play "Artist" with a burnt cork and added eyebrows, eyeglasses, a curly moustache, and "Whiskers" upon my insistence. "Now only go to houses that have their porch lights on." My mother insisted, and I was also warned to stay off the streets to avoid traffic. I enjoyed playing my role in showing my "Claws" and roaring my best whenever the kind folks at the door asked for a demonstration. I remember that I came away with quite a haul that year too.

I'm not exactly certain, but I believe my dad followed me and stayed out of sight in case of trouble. My little brother and I "Split up the goods" and we shared our "Treasures" for at least a week. That night might also hold a clue as to why I get so depressed when October switches to November. In 1963 the "Innocence" was broken as come the 22nd, President Kennedy was assassinated. I was very young then, but I do remember how that news affected the adults around me. In some ways, I feel that generation never got over that shock, and it's still a topic of conversation Sixty years hence.

"Peace."

Hurry! Don't be late! I can hardly wait! I'll build the darn thing when I get home...

Hello again fellow FA Artists, Writers, Photographers, Fursuiters, Crafters and Model builders!

I already have a backlog of model kits sitting on my shelves, awaiting the time when I can build them, and I also have some of my old, built-up models from the 1990s that need some time and "TLC" to restore them to their former glory. One thing I really need is lengths of piano wire or guitar string to make "Antennas" out of, but I have yet to find such cut in various lengths and no thicker than 1/64th of an inch or just a bit finer. Should I bother a local piano tuner or guitarist for scraps? Yes. I also plan to use stretched plastic sprue to make those tapered "Whiskers" that grace the "Cheeks" of the Arii Macross Regult Tactical Scout.

So, I have been offered a trip to Brookhurst Hobbies in Garden Grove in the near future, and I was contemplating getting another kit, just for old times' sake, mainly because I built it back in the late 1970s, and with my skills and new equipment, I'd like to take another try at it. Problem is, I'm not certain if it's been re-released, or if it's available only as an overly expensive "Collector's" item. Maybe you experienced model builders in FA Land might be able to help me as my mind isn't too clear on the subject.

The kit is of the M-41 "Walker Bulldog" tank, and it was originally released by Renwal in the late 1950s and it included working features such as rubberized treads, 5 figures plus opening engine deck, and turret top hatches. One of the reasons I like this particular tank was because it was the "Tankiest looking tank" in the arsenal of the time, and it was featured in several of my favorite Science Fiction movies that I enjoyed watching while growing up.

One last thing I'm searching for is a 1:24-1:25th scale model of either a Packard or Allison V-16 engine kit which was available as a standalone until it was re-released in the late 1990s as a "Speed Shop" accessory kit. I know there's a couple 1:32nd scale model aircraft with engines that could be substituted, but there is a difference between 1/32nd scale, and 1/24th scale. Yeah. I have a scale model of a land speed record holder I'd like to try my hand at, but if anything, that monster engine would also look great super detailed and sitting on a stand.

Any clues? Any modelers out there who even know what I'm referring to? If anything, thank you for all your help in advance, and also, a BIG, BOLD THANK YOU to all of you who sent me well wishes after my bout with mild food poisoning last month. I'm feeling so much better now.

"Peace."

I am very glad to see you all, my fellow FA Artists, Writers, Fursuiters and other highly creative persons.

THE DRAGONS WERE RIGHT! Red meat isn't bad for you. It's the grey stuff with little, white squiggly things in it that can cause trouble in us Humans.

Let me explain. Sunday morning I thought I'd try my hand at making Chicken Fried Steak for breakfast, and even though my attempts were partially successful, I failed to notice that the steak I used was half rotten. So, by early Monday morning, I awoke with severe stomach cramps and soon I had both... Well, let's just say I had "Both ends running." Thus I spent most of Early Monday morning dashing back and forth to the bathroom, and come the dawn, I barely had the energy to see that the cat got fed, and I staggered off to bed around 7:00 AM where I slept fitfully between "Bathroom Breaks." Much to my surprise, I slept all day until early in the afternoon. By the early evening, I felt a whole lot better, and I was at least able to take my overnight medications.

I must say that I really didn't like that feeling of "Darn near dying, and wishing I had." Fortunately, around 9:00 PM I felt a lot better, but I have decided that from now on that I will have PROFESIONAL chefs fix my Chicken fried steaks. Rey seemed to realize something was wrong with me and she stayed quiet for the rest of the night. I believe I'll be able to get "Back on track" tomorrow and start the Month of October with a final shopping spree, looking for Halloween decorations and treats.

"Peace."

Hello fellow FA Artists, Friends, Writers, poets, dreamers, Lion Tamers and other highly creative people.

Shortly after my old cat "Charley" died, I swore I'd never have another cat in the house. Then after a "Hurricane" rainstorm created a hole in the ceiling in the dining room, we got plagued with rats that muscled in and decided to make the house theirs. Several months passed, and I did my best with snap traps and spritzing ammonia about to act as a rodent deterrent, but just when it seemed my efforts were losing ground, I got a group email from a friend in San Bernardino who needed to find a home for two young adult cats. Rat problem solved, or so it seemed, but my friend Noah and I had to go through the process of calming down two shy kitties and persuade them that they were welcome here.

"Rey," the little Tabby was the first to warm up to me and so after 12 days she accepted the fact that I was now her caretaker and benefactor who is now doling out the food, water and attention. "Quin," the mostly black male, disappeared into the junkpile and has yet to reappear, but I haven't given up hope yet. After I retire for the night, I hear what sounds like two cats running up and down the stairs, and something is eating the food I set out for him.

But hey. "Rey" is still very much a "Kitten" in personality, and she loves to "Play." She will roll and paw at me if I don't pay enough attention to her, and she has tried several times to climb up on me or leap into my lap. After months of being inside, her claws are extremely sharp and needs trimming. She also likes to give me "Play Bites" too. So, I often caution her that sometimes what she does to me can hurt. She quickly learned to back off if I say "Ow!" and I do my best to try and convince her that behaving gently with me when we play is her idea.

The experience has given me ideas of what my character "Debert, the Wizard inept," must have gone through as he adopted the somewhat tamed Winged Sphinx which he named "Cass," (Short for "Cassiopia.") and tried to train her to behave better in social situations involving humans. In Delbert's phone contacts, I'm certain there are "Hotlines" to friends and professionals who are lion tamers and big cat handlers.

"Peace."

Hello fellow FA Artists, Writers, Poets, Dreamers, Crafters, Fursuiters and other highly creative people.

Good news! A friend of mine had to move into a residence that didn't allow pets, and he needed to quickly find a home for his two pet cats, "Rey" and Quin." Since I had all the food and stuff left over from Charley, I figured it would be a perfect solution to the "Womp Rat" problem I've been suffering through. So far, the cats have been very shy due to their sudden relocation, but after 6 days, they are now getting "Comfortable" with their new environs, and hopefully will soon become happy and loving pets. I now believe a bit more strongly in that old expression, "When God shuts a door, he also opens a window."

Earlier Today, which happens to be the first day of Autumn, and my Brother's birthday, I was watching that old, 1942 Warner Bros. cartoon "Conrad the sailor" and as I was washing the after-dinner dishes, I got to wondering how things would be if I had, just fresh out of high school, joined the US Navy and fulfilled my fantasies of becoming a "Fireman," and then worked my way up to being a Machinist Mate. Of course, the Navy in the late 1970s was a lot different than the Navy in the 1940s, but when the recruiters came around in my Senior year in High School and let me take a preliminary test, I failed badly because of my poor math skills. Still, since in the early 1980s when my brother joined the Navy, he showed me that the Service was a great place to learn a secondary carrier as he worked his way up from becoming a medical technician, then all the way to becoming a Corpsman which later led to his after-service career in the medical fields.

Now as time went by and I grew older, I came to understand that the Navy jobs I was looking into were hard, strenuous, tedious, dangerous and dirty, and there was a lot more to the Service other than keeping one's Uniform spotless and making sure one's locker was in order. As I watched the soap suds go down the drain, I got to wondering if I would be the same person I am now if I had joined the Navy. I'm sure I would have been smoking, drinking, cussing and carrying on like a proper serviceman, but would I have discovered my artistic talents, become a cartoonist and would I enjoy the "Furry" fandom in the way I do now? I even got to wondering if there was an alternate dimension where I could meet and chat with my "Navy Self," and Would I really like me? By the time the dishes were done, I realized I do like the way I turned out, though.

It still makes me cringe when the scene comes up in the cartoon where Daffy switches Corad's mop bucket with a can of #250 red antifouling paint, and the poor "Swab" has to deal with the mishap before that little "Admiral of the Fleet" walks by.

I blame my interests in ships and my love of the Sea on my Dad who'd take me deep sea fishing, ever since the time I was strong enough to hold up a rod and bring in a barracuda. The boats we'd charter would leave out of San Pedro or Santa Monica, and I'd see the sad, rusted, decrepit remains of the ships being salvaged in what was left of the yards built in WWII. With this Journal I salute my Brother, my friends who served or still are in the Navy, and all those who have sailed and still love the sea.

"Peace."

Hello fellow FA Artisans!

My friend Richard Pina, the artist and illustrator is in a jam and needs to sell his art collection in order to make the rent. He asked me to see if I could find anyone who'd like to buy the entire collection in one shot, or buy separate, original art images. Most of his "Erotic" works are in charcoal and were drawn from live models when he worked at a strip club in Los Angeles. Aside from those, Richard also offers a selection of images on a variety of subjects which could appeal to anyone needing to add a spot of interest to a wall or fill gap in a collection. Here's a link to his current website.

https://richardpina.com/

My big problem is that I have no idea how to sell such art in the "Modern" way. Richard is not set up for Paypal, and can only accept payments through "Standard" means, not electronic transfers.

So, what would be the best way to handle this? I'm still not ready to open a Paypal account myself, but this might be a good excuse for me to finally start. Would it be best to start with a good sum on one of those "Refillable" credit cards? I'm still wary of cyber theft, and I'd much rather play it safe.

Thanks for all your help in advance.

"Peace."

Hey all my wonderful friends and creative people here on FA!

Yeah! It's 10:30 PM, August 25th as I type this, and I'm up on a sugar free RockStar high, and feeling great. I wish I felt this way more often.

Some serendipitous notes that get me to believing that things are in our collective control, but there's also a side to it all that says we must accept the good times in moderation. It all started with a FB friend of mine posting images of really cute baby dragons that looked like something Dreamworks and Pixar would create to promote a line of toy figures or stuffed animals, and I got into a dragon drawing mood. I thought I'd go into town and see if they had any interesting Dragon toys at Target, but instead I decided to visit Vroman's on the spur of the moment. Now, I hadn't seriously shopped at Pasadena's most prodigious bookstore since last December, and I remembered they sold miniature dragon figures there.

Right away I found a copy of "Wizardology, The Secrets of Merlin" as if it had been sitting there, waiting for me as I saw it before the Pandemic. I was also delighted to see that B. Dylan Hollis' "Baking Yesteryear" made it to number three on the bookstore's best seller list. I had been following Mr. Hollis on FB for about two years now, so it was great to see his recipes finally out in print. I also found me a tiny Playmobil figure of a Red Panda, but Alas! no decent dragon figures were to be found. I Did find a rather stunning Papo "Mutant" Anthropomorphic tiger in a battle stance with sword and axe at the ready. I guess I'll have to wait until the Dinosaur Ranch in South Pasadena re-opens after they make water damage repairs after last winter's deluge and the recent troubles with the remnants of Tropical Storm Hilary adding to their misery. They had pre-ordered a clockwork dragon toy figure for me before their problems started, and hopefully will reopen soon. Either that or I might just end up biting the bullet and attempt ordering the toy figures from an online source.

(Sigh.) All in the name of artistic references, right? I'm just delighted that firms like Safari Ltd., Papo and Schleich are now producing toy fantasy figures. Sooner or later, I hope they'll create a feather winged Sphinx or a "Mutant" anthropomorphic lioness.

Speaking of bullets... I recently found a miniature taxicab keychain that I plan to send to my nephew in Texas, but the batteries had long ago gone flat. I figured I might be able to revive it if I could find the proper sized batteries, and after three weeks of searching, I finally found substitutes, but unfortunately, the tension spring in the tiny battery compartment is really strong, and all three grain of corn sized batteries sprang out at me like a Jack in the box and went clattering to the floor. I found all but one, so I resolved to sweeping the floors around my workbench to see if the errant cell would show up. Much to my surprise I found what appeared a "Short" 9mm shell in the sweepings, and all I could figure that in the past, my little office-room once served as a "Gun room" and Ol' Granpa must have dropped it decades ago. For safekeeping I placed the shell in my chest pocket and continued my search. Later that night, as I had given up and decided to buy more cells come the dawn, I was getting ready to bed down and I felt the shell in my pocket and removed it.

And it Tinkled! Somehow, the errant battery had landed in my breast pocket and had rolled into the shell after I put it in there. -Somewhere, somehow... I figure a baby dragon is laughing.

I know I'm gonna "Crash" hard come the dawn, but it was worth it. I hope you enjoyed my story.

"Peace."

Don't Panic.

Grrrrreetings Fellow FA Artists, Writers, 3-D printing enthusiasts, Crafters, Fusuiters and other highly creative persons.

It seems that situations have been forcing me to consider opening up a "PayPal" or some other such digital account so I can openly trade with other artists who are selling their wares here on FA, and of course make purchases at retailers who accept digital transactions only. For myself, things have been kind of like a seeing a Ferret with a hand grenade, and one wonders how the critter got ahold of it, and Heavin help us if he knows how to use it. There are so many wonderful things I'd like to get, but unfortunately, it's either that the artists I'm interested in prefer to make digital transactions, or I have to deal with foreign exchanges for exotic items from other countries. If anything, I have been wanting to commission some of my favorite FA artists for original art, or at least buy a print or two, and of course buy model kits and supplies I can't readily get at the local hobby shop.

(Okay... I'll be honest with you all. Even my getting to the close by Burbank House of Hobbies it's something of a "Logistical," problem for me. -thus the "Ferret with a hand grenade" reference.)

So... Would it be a wise idea to create a digital account separate from my savings that I can "Feed" a few dollars a month to, strictly for electronic purchases, and also get the provided security in order to protect my other accounts? One of the reasons I've been reluctant to use my credit cards for online purchases is because of the abundance of cyber-fraud situations out there which can, for at least the unwise, make internet purchases a veritable "Minefield" of deceit.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

"Dook-a Dook-a Dook? Pretty! Shiny Ring Thing! I STEAL IT! No one will ever know!!"

"Peace."

Greetings once again fellow FA Artists, writers, Photographers, crafters, fursuiters and other highly creative people.

No more time to be Sad. No more of this suffering and wallowing in my sorrows. Sure, the heat here has been bringing people down, but I feel I'm back on the mend, and I'm pleased to announce that the abrasion on my Right Shin that landed me in the ER is now healed, and I can get back to wearing my compression socks and long pants again. When I started writing Journals here on FA I didn't want to bore my readers with my tales of woe and misfortune, and I resolved to cry out ONLY if I truly needed help. All I can say is that quite a few of those who have followed me and responded to my comments have sometimes provided me with a good shoulder to cry on, or a sympathetic ear that helped me get through my trials. I appreciated it when others helped me figure out how to fix my computer and car problems, and I really enjoyed sharing my stories with the others who've had similar experiences and gave me guidance and emotional support.

Recently, an incident made realization dawn on me that despite all the trials and tribulations I've been through these past twenty years that got me here to Pasadena once again had a seemingly special purpose in mind for me, and I have been grateful to have survived to carry out this celestial plan that the Fates have outlined for me. You understand, that ever since the near fatal automobile accident in 2021, I have been so shaken up by the ordeal that I stopped driving and I'm still reluctant to get behind the wheel again. Because of this, I ride the local transit buses to get around. True, the system has its limitations and I lose a lot of time waiting for the buses to come by. However, it's better than nothing, and I do enjoy riding to my destinations and only having to walk a few blocks to the next stop or station. That's one of the ways I get my "Daily" exercise.

So... There's that saying about how "it takes a Village to raise a child," and I've discovered that sometimes A bus can become a miniature "Village" unto itself. Each day I get on the bus I see quite a few of the same people, so I tip my hat to the ladies, and of course smile or nod to the gentlemen I recognize. Recently, one of my "Bus Buddies" met with me at the bus stop, and we got to discussing our art projects. Earlier we met at another stop, and my friend had several large pieces of cardboard sitting next to him. Later as we chatted, I found out that he attended and eventually taught at the Art Center School of design not too far from where I'm living now. I found out he's an "Old Style" illustrator, and he used to work at Chippendales in Hollywood, where he perfected his skills at drawing, painting and photographing beautiful women, and the occasional Male dance performer.

Recently, our conversations took on a surreptitious tone as my friend admitted to me that he was considering jumping off the Colorado Street Bridge. We discussed the dark subject and I tried to persuade him to find a way to get through his depression and told him that I'd really miss "Talking Art" with him, if he carried out his dark plan. So, Thursday, we got together and just talked. We spoke of our experiences, how we learned and of course how we were raised in our families. Of course, we looked over each other's artworks and my friend didn't know about the "Furry" fandom, Anthropomorphic Animals or even the Comic Book "Game," but he seemed to appreciate the skill and craftsmanship in my works as I respected his. So, I left our long conversation feeling that I had given him a chance to carry on, and hopefully a way to deal with the little problems that would bring him down. As we walked back towards Schirm's house in the 100 degrees + heat, my friend found a fluffy feather on the sidewalk. He told me that he considered finding feathers a sign of good fortune. I'm certain he will add it to his collections.

Talk about things being in the right place at the right time. You know? I'm starting to believe this stuff about Angels. I feel that every day I'll see my friend will be another "Little Victory."

Mister Foxy... Life Saver?

"Peace."

Dear Fellow FA Artists, writers, crafters, fursuiters, photographers, and other highly creative people.

I did a BAD thing, I did. I felt that my friends and followers would enjoy seeing my "Millie At Home" cartoon ideas here on FA, but because of the standards set on the site, I was asked very politely to remove my images. So, it looks like both the "At Home" and "How I became a teenage furvert" series are now "Scuttled."

Drat. And on top of that, my cat "Charley" died last Sunday, mainly of "Old Age." My feline home companion who might have been more than 16 years old, and under my care for these past nine years passed away in his favorite snuggle box, under the citrus tree in the front yard where the cat would enjoy watching the birds through the front door windows. Shortly before he died, I skritched him just in the area between his head and shoulders and he arched his back and managed to purr. a few minutes later he "Took his 100 breaths" and passed on. He's now buried in Wildcat Canyon, near the stream that runs when it rains and amid a small stand of scrub oaks.

There's not much more for me to say about both situations, so I'll save that for any comments others care to share. I now fully understand the reasons why the administration drafted the rules of submission as strictly as they are, and I'm truly sorry that it has led to this misunderstanding.

Carry on FA. Carry on in promoting Anthropomorphic Animal art and images with humor, reflections on society and current trends, and above all with a modicum of good taste and style.

It's time for this old "Fossil" to face his "Extinction."

"Peace."

-About New York City.

Grreetings fellow FA Artists, writers, crafters, photographers, chefs, musicians and other highly creative people.

As I have been recounting my adventures during my visit to New York City, (Gads! I can't believe it's been more than a month already.) one thing I find curious is that most of my friends I've shared my stories with first ask me if I rode the subways. Well... One can travel almost anywhere in the city using the subways, and with my friend Eric acting as my guide, I rather enjoyed riding the subways. On our first journey out to see "The Museum of Illusion" Eric suggested I look over the edge of the platform to catch a glimpse of a Subway Rat, which are quite common in the undergrounds. I didn't see one, but I believed his tales of seeing a few specimens that were as large as housecat's or larger. I believed him because when I was a Janitor, I encountered several large rats, with one we trapped which was as big as a loaf of bread. (Minus the length of the tail.) I had to admit that I became a decent "Ratter" in my times behind the broom, but there were always individuals of the species that proved far craftier than I.

Usually, the second question was "Are the trains dirty?" Well... Yes, they are but one has to consider the number of passengers that use the trains daily, and of course how the seats get used and sometimes abused. I only noticed one car that had been vandalized and showed the patina from uncounted numbers of hands and other human contact. Compared to the BART or the Gold Line that runs through here in Pasadena, most the cars seemed clean and well kept up. The steel wheels running on steel rails throw tons of black Iron Oxide dust all over everything, especially on the tracks and the spaces under the platforms where it has to be collected once in a while, as it can become flammable under certain conditions.

Then I'm usually asked, "Are the trains crowded, and full of weirdos?" Naturally the trains are crowded. Manhattan Island is very limited in its space, and it doesn't have the room for great, eighteen lane highways like we have in California. The crowd situation varies from hour to hour, so sometimes the cars were very crowded, and at other times it was easier to find a seat. Eric and I encountered only two "Weirdos" during our travels, one being what I call a "C Car Commander" who was an elderly lady who started ordering everybody she encountered around on where to sit or not to turn the pages of their book too loudly. And there was a "Preacher" who from his upturned trunk of a pulpit started "saving souls" and asking for donations to his church of "Me." It seemed to me that most everyone I encountered on the trains were mainly interested in just getting to where they wanted to go without delay or interruption.

And then I've been frequently asked, "Did you get mugged?" Well... DUH! IF I got mugged, would I be here to write about it? I mean not a week goes by over here in Southern California without the news reporting on an assault, robbery, a stabbing or a shooting going on somewhere on the rails in the Los Angeles area. (Personally, I feel dependence on the Automobile is what keeps the local train ridership down. The local media just makes it look and sound bad to sell the news.) Truthfully, the worst crime I saw was a fellow "Jumping the fares" by forcing his way past us through the exit gates as we left one station. Truthfully, I never felt threatened or in danger, but I had the advantage of Eric serving as my tour guide, and it's always better to be traveling with a friend who's also a "Native" of the city. The only time in California where I feared for my life was back in 2009 when I had to take the BART back from Millbrae where I had to await my transfer at the Fruitvale station to Rockvale, two days after the shooting of Oscar Grant. Riding on the BART well past midnight compared to the daytime New York subways was like "Child's Play."

So, I was quite surprised when Eric asked me if I had used public transit before. I admitted I still do as I frequent the busses that travel throughout the city. In fact, the line I use most of the time has become a small community of riders with a group of Hispanic women who often get together and "Cotillear"or quietly swipe away on their smartphones. Most the ladies smile and nod when I tip my cap at them, and I guess they find that old fashioned greeting and show of respect amusing. I recognize several of the riders as they're picked up too, and it appears they recognize me. I recall a scene in "Moscow on the Hudson" where Yakov Smirnoff was advised while riding the subways to "Either act tough, or crazy." After unsuccessfully trying to intimidate the fellow sitting next to him, his companion advised, "Better act crazy." I figure with my overly long hair, my sideburns-moustache combination facial hair, and my somewhat shabby "Pasadena" clothes, I felt like I fit right in amongst my fellow New York Subway riders... In a "Crazy" sort of way, of course.

"Peace"

Sorry Fellow FA Artists, Writers, Photographers, Crafters, Fursuiters and other highly creative people.

I know that you nice folks out there in FA Land know that I just got back from a "Whirlwind" two-week trip to New York City, courtesy of my friend E. O. Costello,  EOCostello but I still don't feel right. Some say it might be "Jet Lag," but I feel it's more like "So much happened at once." I'm feeling overwhelmed, but sooner or later I will write something, and I plan to post more images I took during my trip. So please be patient.

"Peace."

Hello again Fellow FA Artists, writers, crafters, musicians, poets, dreamers, fursuiters and other highly creative people.

I still have trouble getting the courage to ink my art after such a long hiatus and of course being so badly out of practice. I know I can usually clean up things in the computer, but I truly miss being able to use Photoshop, and unfortunately, the "eMachine" the program is on was infected by a "Takeover" virus that some hacker was using to gain Wi-Fi access to the account my landlord was using for the whole condo in Upland. The "Pant" program and "Paint 3D" are easy to use, but limited because there's no such thing on them that can make pencil lines or black lines darker. I'm also still muzzing over switching over to a tablet if I can find a nice unit that is sturdy, and portable, and not some silly toy.

So anyway, one thing I have been enjoying here on FA is that I've been following a few artists and cartoonists that write and draw their anthropomorphic animal characters as people with their own back stories, culture, and history. it was this kind of "Science Fiction" style writing that attracted me to the Fandom in the first place. As time has progressed, I have enjoyed following the artworks of others as they developed their drawing and writing styles with the encouragement and support of others with like interests here on the site.

No "Vulture" I, but I do appreciate good work and talent when I see it. I like the stories where the Dragons, Werewolves, or those that seem like "Monsters" are actually the "Good guys" with their own culture, beliefs and observations about nature. and getting out of the situation the characters find themselves in. So here's a few briefs I'd like to discuss.

. Are Sergals people, and not just targets to be mowed down? Is there anyone writing or publishing stories about them? Are there any other video games out there where one can negotiate with the other characters and learn from them? I'd be happy if there were more video games that would allow the player to Fix things and get things running to their advantage.

. In the next MARVEL based "Guardians of the Galaxy" feature, it is rumored that there's plans to kill off Rocket Raccoon who is one of the characters that kept me interested in those "Live Action Comic Books," in the first place. I get hints they might introduce Lady Lylla as another character, which I feel would make the series a bit better, but I worry that it might cause trouble in the "Gurdians" fanship as the die-hard comic fans wouldn't want the series to become "Another 'Furry' thing."

. I Liked what happened with Disney's "Zootopia," but I haven't seen much more interesting things done with it. The stories seem to center around the characters Nick and Judy, but hardly anyone seems to want to tell stories about say, a mouse Barista who works in a coffee shop in "Smalltown" and is considering trying to find a safe way to make a Capuchino for the more "Larger" customers. Stuff like that. Looking through the design sketches, I got a good laugh out of seeing the ideas sketched out for the motorcars on the streets of Zootopia, as the cars were designed to appeal to several, unique species.

. Keep up the great work those of you busy building your own worlds, societies and "Cities of dreams." Out here in the hills above Pasadena, even though I have moved downstairs, I can hear the coyotes call in more detail. The deer are thriving from the lush, green grass, and once again Baseball Season is upon us. My favorite team, the LA Dodgers are off to a shaky start, but it's still very early in the season. I hope to take a cross-country trip soon, and hopefully that will give me something else to write about.

"Peace."

Grrrreetings Fellow FA Artists, Writers, Crafters, Photographers, Fursuiters and other highly creative people.

I heard a saying among photographers recently that says, "The best camera you can have is the one you've got right at hand." Last Thursday, I found out that is all too true. Occasionally I take the bus home from downtown, and around 5:30-6:00 PM the line 51 switches over to line 52 and drives an extra few miles to pick up passengers at JPL. Unfortunately, that line only runs three times daily, to help with the "Overflow" of passengers that miss the line 177 that goes to and from town, and of course Students going to La Canada High School or Art Center. For me, it's a little bit of a treat because I can sit back and relax because the ride is often quiet, and the bus driver is really nice. So last Thursday, I found myself headed home on the '52, just as the recent series of winter rainstorms started moving in. In town there was hardly any rain, but as the bus got further up into the hills, it was evident there were places where it was coming down in buckets. As we approached the Highland Street Bridge, the setting sun was just in the right position and a glorious Double Rainbow arced over the Devil's Gate dam reservoir and the Hahamongna Watershed with it's grove of aged California Oak trees.

The buss rolled on through hardly any traffic at all, and it seemed the driver was slowing down, and taking things easy to enjoy the colorful spectacle Nature was providing for us. Through the bus windows, which served as a perfect way to frame up the scenes, I saw images that would have been "Perfect keepers" IF I happened to have a camera on me. There were times when the whole of the JPL campus and the surrounding hills were framed by the rainbows and would have been a "Postcard" perfect image to promote the campus. Also, the surrounding communities of La Canada-Flintridge, sparkling in the newly washed afternoon sun appeared colorful and inviting each taking turns acting as anchor points for the weather-related phenomena. Still, the greatest thrill for me was seeing the bolder of the two rainbows terminate in the empty reservoir which had been recently hard panned and graded flat and seemed to erupt like a colorful fountain from the bare earth. I mused about sighting a pot of gold, or maybe some leprechauns enjoying a bowling match in the multicolored light.

As the bus returned to the hills and the afternoon light dimmed, I noticed several folks had stopped on the bridge to take pictures of the rainbows which were quickly fading. Now for some reason I felt there might have been more to the situation than just sunlight refracting through a rainstorm. For one thing, it lasted more than ten minutes, and was very intense in color. It was most likely the closest I have ever come to "The End Of the Rainbow" and I got to wondering about those who had chased rainbows in the past had believed the phenomenon might have been tangible objects. After all, from where I was sitting, the rainbow appeared to be like a curtain made of light and could easily have been a magical doorway to another place or time. When I came to my stop, I thanked the bus driver for her special "Little gift" of driving so carefully so we could both share this experience, and I couldn't help but recall the Biblical story of God's message to Noah who built the Ark that the rainbow was the sign of God's Covenant to all life on earth.

Think of this, my friends as you dabble and dazzle with your colors, either as you create images through traditional means or by digital rendering programs. I also can't help but smile knowing those of you out there creating those Anthropomorphic Animal character costumes are choosing fur colors and textures that will make these characters stand out and say, "take a look at Me! I'm HERE!!"


"Peace."

Hello again and Thank You Fellow FA Artists, Writers, Photographers, Musicians, Crafters, Fursuiters and other highly creative people.

Sorry for dropping out of sight these past couple of months, but it took quite a while for the injuries in my Right Shoulder to heal, and only in these past couple of weeks have I been able to draw and type without pain in my upper arm or the elbow joint locking up. I thank you all for your well wishes and words of encouragement, plus I appreciated the ways at how those of you who know how to work the Social Media kept me informed and up to date with what has been going on in the Fandom in my absence. I'm pleased to say that both my scraped knees and injuries to my ankles have healed, and the massive bruising that ran from the top of my Right Bicep, all the way down to the joint of my elbow, and somewhat resembled a map of Chile, have all cleared up.

So where were we? I made it through the Holidays in good order, and I found out that it was far more fun to give that it is to receive, and as a result, I have accumulated a few bagfuls of extra treats, small toys and goodies that I still have to mail out to friends and share with others. This has helped to extend my Holiday cheer, and in a way, helped make up for the time I lost during my recovery. As it is, I try to keep the "Glow" of the holidays in my heart all the year around, which helps me get through the darker days until Baseball Season and the warmer days of Spring roll around.

I'm not certain if I ever mentioned that I've been trying to develop a transparent modeling material that can be formed like clay, and will hold its shape and eventually be baked or hardened after it has been formed. Now I have seen crystal clear casting materials, and I know there are some methods which combine 3-D printing using transparent resins, But I'm looking for something that might work with Polyform clays or epoxy resin materials. I have had limited success experimenting with materials such as "Liquid Glass" but there are drawbacks to using that material which is classified as a "Putty" because it can only, at best hold its form for a matter of a few minutes.

This "Thinking Putty" is also kind of therapeutic for me because working the materials helps to give me something to keep my mind busy, and it also strengthens my fingers and keeps my hands nimble. As I was shopping the Holiday clearance aisle at a local drug store, I came across a cylinder of multicolored, transparent "Putties" that were in separate "Petri dishes" in the "Roy G. Biv" spectrum of colors. I had to carry my shopping in my backpack during the bus ride home, and the cylinder got tossed about a bit. much to my dismay, I discovered that the Purple, Blue and Orange containers had leaked a tiny bit each, inside the cylinder, which I was able to salvage from the inside of the main container, giving me a ball of mixed colors just about the size of a large marble. I played withe the multicolored blob a bit, but I noticed that the resulting color was a transparent orange with a twinge of purple very similar to what I have been imagining what the gel like "Protoflesh" of my mythical "Syl" characters are made of.

A Happy accident? Coincidence Maybe? But if anything, the experience has told me to keep on trying until I get things right, or at least close to the way I want them. My recent visit with the pharmacist has been encouraging too, because he told me there might be a drug that could help steady the tremors that have frustrated my drawing efforts through these past two years or so. I'll keep you folks posted on the results, of course.

"Peace."

Hello Fellow FA Artists, Writers, Sculptors, Photographers, Crafters, Costumers and other highly creative people.

On Tuesday, November 22 I tripped on an upraised section of concrete sidewalk and went flying about three feet or more. I landed "Flat like a lizard" with my arms and Left Knee taking the brunt of the impact. Fortunately, there were two construction workers close by who helped me get back on my feet, and I made it back to the house okay. I slept well through the night, but in the morning the pain in my right shoulder was more intense, so Schirm offered to drive me over to Verdugo Hills where my injuries were treated. X-rays showed no signs of broken bones in my Right shoulder, and prescribed Tylenol for the pain. After Five Hours I was released, and both Schirm and Noah helped me get about for the rest of the evening. I was very grateful Noah was there because while trying to retrieve a book, I got wedged in between the bookcase and the bed with nothing to grab onto to help pull me up.

It seems the impact put further stress on the muscles in my Right arm which were badly bruised in the auto collision I was in back about 2021. So, my Right "Predominant" arm suffers considerable pain just below the outer bicep, and it makes typing or drawing quite difficult. I'm afraid I'm going to be a little more "Quiet" than usual until I regain full mobility of my right arm again.

So, on this day of Thanks, I want to thank all of you for your outpouring of kind thoughts and well wishes from my previous journal. I wrote the "Important Lesson Learned" journal during a bad depressive episode, but I felt at the time I had to write something to keep in touch with all of you wonderful friends and fans. Although I'm a bit banged up, I'm still thankful for all of those out there, plus my friends and family who are there for me when I need them.

May this day, and all of your days to follow be filled with the happiness and joy the Holiday Season may bring, and may you enjoy good times with your families and friends though to the coming of the New Year.

Thank you all, and "Peace."

Hello fellow FA Artists, Writers, Photographers, Crafters, Fursuiters, Programmers and other highly creative people.

I had to learn a very important lesson recently that took quite a bit out of me. So, forgive me for this "Short and sweet" Journal entry.

Good friends are like healthy teeth. If you don't pay attention to them, they fall out and go away.

Thanks for hanging with me for these past sixteen years and more.

"Peace."

Hello again all you highly creative people, especially those talented in working in plastics, Acrylic, or 3D printing.

My online friend " EOCostello" introduced me to the Lalique hood ornaments which were used on automobiles in the 1930s and pre-war 1940s. Even though I'm intrigued by this art form, I'm not too certain if folks would want to have a gadget on their automobiles that can cost more than $300,000.00 to a collector. So, I was wondering if a facsimile could be made from cast acrylic resin, carved out of a block of Lucite, or even 3D printed in translucent resin? I know some of these modern materials do not take to the weather well, and I've had a couple examples of 3D printed figures dry out and crumble into powder in the garden. There are some plastics, however that yellow and discolor with age, and these might work great in replicating the "Uranium Glass' of the 1930s with its foggy white clouding and rich orange staining.

Now I told you that to propose this. Eric and I were throwing around the idea of creating facsimile hood ornaments, but with an anthropomorphic animal twist. I kind of like the idea of a stylized running stallion's head with the mane details trailing behind similar to the Pontiac Indian Chief, or a stylized, winged wolfess or stalking cat for the "Rolls Royce" of that particular realm. I'm not ruling out magical spell symbols or icons that might be useful in warding off danger or protect the "Spirit" of the automobile and its occupants. (Yes. I'm referring to my "Magimechanics" ideas I drew in my early days illustrating in the sub-genre.)

I know that in the 1950s and early 1960s that illuminated hood ornaments were popular, especially with the "Bolt on" crowd. (After the Boulton Automobile/engineering catalogs... Get it?) I remember a 1956 Chevy "Spaceship" that had small lights representing its engines and canopy, and of course my Dad's 1955 Pontiac Chieftan hood ornament that glowed a beautiful "Sunset" amber when the headlights were switched on. (Well, it did until my dad got too lazy and didn't replace the tiny light bulb in the fixture. "It burns out the Battery." was his excuse.)

Ideas, suggestions and observations welcome.

"Peace."

Hello Fellow FA Artists, Writers, Crafters, Photographers, Costumed Performers and fox fans everywhere.

I just found out this morning that according to Procyon Wildlife, a Canadian Wildlife preservation organization, that September 17th is National Fox Day. So, show your appreciation for all things Vulpine, and celebrate your favorite foxies in any way you choose for the day. Draw, sketch, write, sculpt, or share photos or stories featuring foxes and their friends. Go a little wild and depict these furbearing canines in the forests or the city, or perhaps enjoying a night on the town. (Pray that the gibbous moon will give enough light.)

I've always thought that it was more than a coincidence that Red Foxes are always decked out in Autumn Colors all the year around. How perfect for hiding amongst the ripe pumpkins or standing in a pile of freshly fallen leaves. A quick splash of Auburn against a gray, rain wet street, or something gray, red and black hiding amongst the woodpiles might hint a fox is about. Also, look to the trees for the Gray foxes. They're the only species of canines that can rotate their front paws, which comes in "Handy" for climbing trees.

Consider the Arctic foxes and their color changing abilities. (No. I haven't forgotten about Meg Alopex.) Let's celebrate the species of canines that have adapted and thrive in almost every environment in the known world. From the diminutive, large eared Desert Fennec to the giant "Foxes on Stilts" misnamed the "Maned Wolf" that live on the Pampas of South America. Maybe even that favorite stuffed toy fox sitting on the bed or the couch. However it is done, find some time to appreciate these Various Vulpines today.

"Peace."

Hello again fellow FA Artists, Writers, Crafters, Jewelers, Costumers and other highly creative people.

Recently I discovered a new product by Coca-Cola, called "Dream Flavor" which comes in those cute little cans like they use in airliners. The light blue cans don't say much else, except "Dream Flavor," so out of curiosity, and strictly for the experience, I bought a 12 pack. The soda itself looks pretty much like "Regular" Coca-cola, being brown in color and fizzy, but there is no strong "Cola" odor, and only until one takes a sip does the drink's very powerful "Peach" flavor tickle the tongue.

Much to my dismay, I must confess... I hate peaches! Now don't get upset. It might have started when I was a very small child, and I most likely grabbed a "Rotten" peach out of the fruit bowl. I imagine that the Coca-Cola marketing folks discussed what "Dreams" could taste like, and they most likely based their selection on the fact that biting into a good, sweet, fresh, juicy and properly chilled peach can evoke memories of warm Summer days, or the good times after the peach harvest has been brought in. So, I'm disappointed with the "Peach" flavor, and now I have to figure out what to do with the remaining ten cans.

Nowhere on the box or cans does it mention "Diet," so I figure I'm getting the full dose of sugars one might get from similar sized serving of the "Regular" Coca-Cola. If anything, I could offer the remaining cans to friends who can drink sugary sodas and enjoy eating peaches. for now, I'll stick with my Diet Coke and the fruit flavored "Sparkling Ice" drinks that are carbonated and sugar free. Of course, for my overnight (Trying to be...) Artistic sessions I have to switch to Ice Water so I can get to sleep easier, and not have my slumbers interrupted by frequent trips to the bathroom.

We finally got some rain in the hills above Pasadena. It was steadily drizzling all through Friday night and into Saturday morning. Very welcome relief from the over 100 degrees f. Temperatures of the previous ten days. I finally got a good night's sleep on Friday night and enjoyed an overnight session of high creativity into Saturday Morning. Sooner or later, I hope to get back to drawing again.

"Peace."

Hello fellow FA Artists, writers, musicians, crafters, fursuiters and other, highly creative people.

My friend and contemporary, "The Major" plus a few others who understand computers and electronics better than I do suggested I get a USB sound "Dongle" to replace the sound card which I burned out in my PC. During a quick visit to the Micro World in Tustin, I was able to find the device and I finally installed it. (Ironically there was a sound card that would fit my PC in its box right next door to the USB devices.)

It works like a charm.

Thank you all who offered advice and kind words in this situation. One thing I admire about the fandom is the way we watch out for each other.

About two weeks ago my friend Jim and I went for a "Guy's Day Out," Hobby shopping and just spending time together. We both needed a chance to unwind and chat about some of the situations we've been through recently. One big thing we needed to discuss was my upcoming "Retirement" as "President" of The Jedi Knights Club, which has been listed as one of the oldest Star Wars related fan clubs in existence. After the recent death of one of the founding members, it appears the club might be breaking up. I assured my friend that although I am through with the "Politics" of the club, it means I haven't quit the club entirely. I like the friendships and comradery we have developed over these many years, and I still want to be involved. Due to transportation issues, I won't be able to attend as many meetings as I did before. I will be turning in my "Gavel" at our next meeting and wishing the next administration the best of luck.

I also bought a couple plastic model car kits and some scale figures to go with them. Along with the wooden "Puzzles" I have on hand, I have plenty of things to keep me busy. I'm considering modifying scale human figures into anthropomorphic animal characters again, but one prime source for "G" scale figures seems to be a site called "Etsy" which is kind of like a hobbyist's "eBay." Now I have heard mainly bad things about this trading site, so I might have to seek alternatives. Any suggestions, or at least some positive experiences out there?

Also, the Pasadena City College and Rose Bowl flea markets are open again. Once the weather cools down, I plan to add a little "Swap Meet" Picking and Trading to add to my daily walking exercises.

"Peace."

Are you ready, FA Artists, Writers, Photographers, Musicians, Crafters, Fursuiters and other highly talented and creative persons?
(Shout "Aye, aye, Steamfox!")
I CAN'T HEAR YOU!
(No need to shout again. I really can't hear anything on my PC.

Let me explain. When I moved into this little downstairs bedroom, I "Inherited" a large pair of Sterling brand speakers. Curious, I plugged them into the surge protector, then plugged the jack into my speaker port on the back of my PC. The result was a thunderous "BZZZZZONT!!" and my PC has remained silent ever since. My first thought was that I might have burned out my sound card, but the computer keeps merrily functioning away as if nothing has happened at all. The sliders still slide, and running a diagnostic gives me no clue if anything is wrong with the sound or not. I did get some sneaky pop-up ads suggesting I download new drivers, but I don't want to play that risky game. If Fry's electronics, had its big box stores still open, I would know right where to go to find the parts to make the replacement-repairs, but Alas! Those stores are now as extinct as the Dodo, and I'm reluctant to try online sales.

I have recently found out though that there could be a gadget that might be able to help me hear my favorite music and enjoy watching videos again. It's something like an external sound card, which plugs into a USB port, and can be used for either headphones or small speakers. Going to the local Best Buy yielded no results, and the clerk who helped me told me these units were unavailable at their stores. I left feeling that the days of walking into a retail store and getting exactly what I wanted are dead and gone, but another clerk at another store gave me a bit of hope in saying the retail backlog caused by the pandemic which caused hundreds of overseas freighters to lay offshore at anchor for almost two years is showing signs of recovery, and perhaps soon, more and more retail items might become available again. It's all a waiting game now.

I do want to know if any of you Fellow FA Fans out there have had experience with similar devices, could you tell me if these external sound cards are simply "Plug and play," or would they require additional driver installation for them to get integrated with my old Asus gaming PC? Everything else is working great, but the Signals from the router can get flaky at times. My brother told me this might be because of the location of the house in the hills, and of course that often the "Information Super-Highway " gets jammed up when folks in the neighborhood start their daily routines of checking the net all at once.

I'm also considering that if I do need to replace the old PC, I might just invest with a more powerful laptop and use a tablet instead of pencils, paper and ink. I've gotten a bit "Spoiled" by the ease of drawing artwork by digital means. I'll save my questions on that media, Art Form, for another Journal.

"Peace."

Hello fellow FA Artists, writers, musicians, photographers, crafters, fursuiters, and friends of wildlife.

In Harper Lee's 1960 novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird," The character Atticus Finch tells his children Jem and Scout that they can "Shoot all the blue jays they want, but it is a sin To Kill a Mockingbird." Why? later on the text explains that Mockingbirds fill the air with their music and do no harm. I'm certain Harper Lee never had suffered sleep deprivation because a mockingbird decided to set up shop outside her bedroom window. Remember about a year ago I wrote in my journal about a Mockingbird that would sing all night on the rooftop next to my bedroom window, right? I even went as far as to buy a powerful squirt gun to, let's say "Discourage" the Nocturnal Avian Musical Artist from performing his concerts which started after sunset and continued through the night. To tell you the truth, I never, ever got to use that squirt gun.

I used a garden hose instead.

Apparently, the Nighttime songster had been making "Performances" throughout the neighborhood, and I'm certain the people in my community have dealt with the annoyance in their own ways. However, things are just a little different this year. As soon as the bird spots anyone approaching his tree or telephone pole, he departs the scene quickly. Apparently, this Mockingbird has figured out that people under his tree mean no trouble, but IF they happen to be carrying anything the bird recognizes as a "Weapon," it's time to Fly. So, this year the Mockingbird returned, and it seemed that he'd follow me from room to room as I moved about the house. I finally caught him atop the phone pole, near the kitchen window, and when he saw me approaching with the hose, he "Booked." The bird did however retreat to the high trees in the wild area abiove the canyon, where there are no houses or human made structures.

Don't get me wrong. I appreciate the wild creatures that live in Wildcat Canyon, and the surrounding, semi wilderness areas. But to tell you folks the truth, I have never had my sleep interrupted by the quail, small birds, Blue Jays, Woodpeckers, Squirrels, Raccoons, and I make an exception with the Coyotes. I have never lost sleep because of the little, Whitetail deer that roam the hills above the area, either.

Have a safe and wonderful Fourth of July my friends. For the best results, do try to attend Professional fireworks show. No sense setting yourselves, or the world for that matter, on fire.

"Peace."

Hello again fellow FA Artists, Writers, Musicians, Crafters, Fursuiters and other highly creative people.

I awoke on Friday, June 3rd and heard over the radio that it was National Donut Day, and since I have fairly well recovered my health, I figured this was a great excuse to walk into town and re-establish a ritual I hadn't enjoyed since late 2019. I decided to take the bus and get off on Green street, then walk the five blocks back to Ralph's Market to get my weekly donut. When I got to Raymond, I decided to walk up and visit the Blick Artist supplies and pick up some pencil leads, and check out if they had anything else of interest at that place. I decided to buy one of those rectangular boxes with twelve leads instead of my usual "Tube of two", and I'm most likely now set up with enough "HB" leads for the rest of my artistic career. I then made my way West along Green street, feeling a bit less "Woozy" than I did on earlier hikes, and I caught my "Second Wind" after I had covered three blocks. It was at the corner of Green and De Lacy where I saw a street map listing the local businesses, and I was reminded that there was a place I wanted to check out the next time I was in that neighborhood.

A few years ago, I had read a review on the Old Pasadena Pharmacy, and I remembered the photo in the article showed it was a "Retro" style drugstore with glass cases and "Nostalgic" style candies and other goods on display. I was a bit disappointed to find that the entire store had recently been remodeled, and now is pretty much like every other Pharmacy, but I did appreciate their "Chiller" counter with it's variety of cold juices, snacks and waters. I ended up buying a tube of Glucose Tablets, (Which I had recently run out of.) And a "Babybel" Cheese along with a bottle of water to restore my energy for the remainder of my hike. Refreshed, I continued my way back up to Green Street, and discovered something that made the long hike along Green Street all worth while.

Around the corner and up the street a bit, was the newly installed "Gamology" that was most likely installed and finished after the Pandemic, and might have been established from the gaming store that tried to open directly across the street in the old "Sahara" Restaurant about three years ago. The place was clean, modern, well lit, and chock full of games, books, maps and Role Playing figures for almost every RPG Genre of interest. There was also a great selection of paints, brushes, finishes and other items to make the tiny figures "Unique" to every player. The clerks there were polite and knowledgeable, and they even helped me find and order a winged sphinx figure which I had been looking for. I even bought a "Booster" pack for my "Jedi" club's favorite game called "Munchkin." This pack, "Half Horse, Will Travel" introduces Centaurs and hexi-limbed lizard folk into any of the other Munchkin games through a series of cards. I'm really looking forward to seeing how those cards play, considering how I had drawn many "Centauroid" critters and characters in the past.

I finally got to the Market after finishing off my bottle of water, and I did a little grocery Shopping as well. I finally got a couple donuts, A plain Glazed, and a chocolate Devil's food with chocolate frosting, which I hoped to enjoy while I waited for the bus to take me back to Raymond Street. I had to abandon that Idea though because a "Homeless" person was "Camping out" in the shelter I'd usually wait at, so I decided to walk to the next stop. Seeing the bus I hoped to catch roll by earlier, I decided it might be better to just keep "Hoofin' it" all the way back to Raymond, and the bus stop about two blocks North of Colorado Blvd. I made it okay, and caught the "JPL Express" bus with a Driver who had worked with me before, and she kindly obliged to let me off at Lida. I was a bit less worn out as I was from a hike I took two days previously, but getting back up Schirm's long, steep driveway still proved to be a challenge in the early Summer heat. Still, I enjoyed the adventure, and knowing the Gamology is now in "Old Town" Pasadena, it gives me new incentive to continue my walks, and regain my strength.

Now all I need do is start building up my paints again, and mix up that special shade of "Lady Lioness Tawny Yellow" for future Sphinx sculptures and figures.

"Peace."