Grrrrreeeetings Fellow FA Artists, Writers, Crafters, Photographers, Fursuiters and other very creative people.

As I type this it's currently 115 Degrees f. outside and since the office doesn't have Air Conditioning, I'm typing on my laptop, on a wiggly TV table, right next to the downstairs AC vent. It's better than nothing, really, and there's less risk of my burning out something in the Big PC upstairs. The reception is better downstairs too, because I'm set up very close to the router, and things stream a bit faster. During the nights of the heat wave we've sought refuge from the heat by trying to sleep here in the Living Room, but it's difficult sometimes as the place can get a little "Busy" and our cat "Sammy" likes to play "Tomcat" and yowl at the top of his lungs, at all hours of the night, if he sees anything unusual through the front door windows.

As long as our landlord tells us it's okay to run the AC, both my brother and I are grateful for that little luxury. Several large fires have been burning throughout Southern California, and so the air has a bit of smoke in it that irritates the eyes, the nose, and the lungs. Currently, Pasadena is in no danger, but when these wildfire conditions appear, having a "Bug out" plan is always on our minds. My biggest concern is gathering as much information as I can, getting the laptop, and grabbing the cats, then heading down the hill to safety. On the plus side, Fire watches and a neighborhood alert system are in place, so if we get the word to go, we can.

I guess every State has it's hazards. My sister in Texas has faced Tornadoes and thunderstorms, my friends on the East Coast and in Southern Florida face Hurricanes, and of course my friends in the Rocky Mountain States face arctic cold in the winters. Of course this does raise up a quote in my head by the popular 19th Century author "Mark Twain" who once quipped, "A great, great deal has been said about the weather, but very little has ever been done about it." I also believe he once remarked, "Lightning is a great weapon... The trouble is in Aiming it."

With that said, I basically wanted to mention that FA will be going through a transfer to a better sever and equipment upgrade, so the site might be offline for a bit. I just wanted to tell all my friends, fans and fellow artisans here on FA that I look forward to continuing seeing, sharing and showing off our collective works after things settle down. Enjoy a wonderful Labor Day weekend, be well, stay cool, be safe out there, and I look forward to seeing the improvements on the site, plus the new images, art and stories posted on the site in these next few weeks to come.

"Peace."

Hello fellow FA Artists, Writers, Musicians, Crafters, Creative persons and model builders.

Okay... Maybe this music might set the theme to my mood right now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__eZAuc2f-Q

I was really excited to find that there was a re-release of MPC's "Gangbusters" model kit featuring a 1928 Chrysler Imperial which also featured scale figures of a seated driver and what I believe is a figure intended for the scale model motorcycle featured in the kit. Now I had always wanted a copy of this kit since I first saw it in the 1970s, but I could never afford it. Looking at the reviews posted in Scale Auto Enthusiast magazine, the kit appears to be a straight re-shoot with no new tooling. I haven't been able to determine if the re-release includes the bullet riddled windscreen and body panels like the original had, but then again a skilled modeler could replicate such damage with skillfully applied drilling, scoring and scouring. The kit from Auto World costs a bit over $30.00, plus I'll need to add a bit more for shipping, paints, putties and fillers. There's also "Aftermarket" products featuring 1/24th scale tommy guns and such, but those can be a bit pricey.

But as I looked over the model kit, it's description, and parts tree images I started to think things over. As much as I would like to have this model kit and consider the potential of building it, I came to realize my eyes are too weak, my hands are too unsteady, and Time... What I have left is precious and getting shorter in supply these days. A while ago my best friend Jim Alves caught me reading a copy of Fine Scale Modeler magazine and asked me, "Roy? Are you going to Build that model, or are you just going to Dream of building that model?" The realization that I couldn't fulfil my dreams struck me so profoundly that I felt defeated and depressed for days afterwards. I got over it, but another Model building friend of mine told me many years later, "One thing you need to buy when you pick up that model kit is the TIME to build it. I have been chasing that dream for over almost Twenty years now, and I'm afraid I'm way too tired and worn out to carry on.

I also had to decide right then and there that I had better save my money to buy a new pair of eyeglasses and perhaps a better set of Binocular Magnifiers before I invest in anything so expensive and Frivolous.

I feel it's now time to sit myself on a comfortable Bollard and wave farewell to that "Ship" as it sails off into the sunset. This doesn't mean I'll say my good byes to Mister T. J. Foxx, Millie, Lorraine, Captain Crane, the Chief, and all the crew aboard the S. S. Athena, as I will always carry them proudly in my heart. I am at least happy to say that I was a part of that story, through all this time, and I am grateful that you all have been along with me on this voyage through all these years.

After all this, it's best to recall the words in that old sailing song which go something like: Life... Is but a dream.

"Peace".

-Or are you just happy to be here?

Hello again Fellow FA Artists, Writers, Musicians, Crafters, Gamers and other creative type people.

A couple of weeks ago I took my walk into Old Town Pasadena, and I decided to take Green Street West to go to the local Ralph's to get some groceries and something cold to drink during the long wait for the inner city bus. There have been a lot of changes to the bus schedules due to the COVID 19 Restrictions, and the short line route that runs closest to the house up here in the hills now only runs once an hour. I have discovered that if I can get to the stop across the street from the Rose Bowl, at the top of the hour, the bus usually arrives within Fifteen Minutes to Half an hour. I usually take the bus into town to Raymond and Green Street because it's close to the Blick's Artist Supplies, plus it's only a three block walk to the Market.

On my way along Green Street I saw what appeared to be Role Playing and Tabletop games on display in the windows of what used to be the dining room of the old Twin Palms restaurant just a door East of what used to be the old "Rocket Fizz" candy and soda shop. As soon as I got back to the house, I did a little research about the fate of the Game Empire Emporium on Colorado Blvd, Which I believed was closed through the Pandemic as an "Unnecessary" Business, as was the fate of most Hobby and Craft stores. So I decided to re-visit the area the very next week just to find out if the game store had relocated to the Old Town area. I finally returned to the shop the next week about 1:00 in the afternoon, and I had a pleasant chat with the fellow who was there and he answered my questions about the former Game Empire, and what happened to the folks who worked there. I was saddened to find that "Kevin" who was the "Big Boss" of the place had died shortly after the shop was closed, and the stock was relocated, most likely to be "Liquidated" until it was all sold away. "Chad", the fellow who was helping me seemed to be hinting that the new location was only temporary, and they were NOT going to allow games to be played in the store unless they got the proper permits.

So I was kind of disappointed to learn of the demise of the nice fellow who made it all possible so many years ago, but it's also one of those "God doesn't always shut a door without opening a window" type scenarios. Within walking distance to the house up here in the hills I'll have access to the paints, Epoxy Putties, mold making and plastic model building accessories I could use for my projects, albeit temporarily, until they close the doors for good. What about the Ferret, you might ask? I brought a small, plastic toy ferret along with me in the hopes I could discuss methods for casting replicas of the little critter. I was also pondering getting some 1/40 or 1/52 scale plastic figures to modify into 'Morph animal characters, or at least as a source for hands and other tiny details. I didn't get the opportunity to bring up the subject during the course of my conversation with "Chad" but I did pick up some Fresh "Green Stuff" Epoxy Putty. (The stuff has an annoyingly short shelf life.)

I'm looking forward to getting my fingers sticky with Paint, ACC and Casting Epoxies again. Here's to the hopes that my new eye glasses will improve my vision, my hands will not be as shaky, and I'll be able to get those ratios for the two part Flexible mold making materials right every time.

"Peace."

Greetings all you fellow FA Artists, Writers, Musicians, Crafters and other highly creative type people.

Not too long ago I was considering hanging up my creative talents for good as a really bad bout of depression hit me, most likely brought on by the way the Corona Virus and the COVID 19 restrictions have been playing "Whack a Crisis" with the world's collective Psyche. It gets knocked down, but it gets back up again, so it gets knocked down, but soon it's back up a-GaaAAAnnn... (Uh. Sorry. I got off on a "Chumbawamba" kick there.)

Anyway, I started clearing out my room and my studio of all the extraneous junk I didn't need any more, but I had a box full of little, half finished miniature figure sculptures I had made years and years ago in my hand and poised over the trash can and I was ready to consider them "Permanently Unfinished". I don't know what it was, but I looked at those little in process forms and I heard tiny voices in my head crying out, "Wait! Give us one more chance!" On the other paw, I was able to get rid of a LOT of old files, bank receipts, holiday and birthday cards, plus old sketches and art images I had no desire to work on anyway. My efforts ended up just about filling the Recycler bin three quarters full but I decided not to try and do it all in one day. The bins will be empty next week, and I'll take another crack at my "Lifecleaning" efforts. Speaking of re-organizing, I recently have added a second set of bookshelves to the one Schirm gave me back in December, and got rid of a lot of old books and magazines that I didn't need anymore. I still have about five or six large boot box sized boxes full of my "Little Treasures" safely stacked aside to repopulate the new shelves as soon as I get the time to re-shelve them.

Most troubling of all through this time of personal turmoil, I found I had no desire to sketch or draw at all. To complicate matters, my friend Sherry commissioned me to design, draw and print out several cards and images for her, but I just couldn't get motivated to do anything artistic wise. My brother Sterling persuaded me to keep at it though, considering how through these past few years the ways Sherry has done so many nice thing for us, and it would be a good gesture on my part to do something nice for her. I got through it, and her Niece and husband liked their card, so it was "One down, two more to go." Whew.

I'm still getting back, bit by bit these days. I've changed my habits by sleeping through the day to beat the heat, then getting up after sundown, and often working through the night, often retiring well after Two or Three O' Clock in the morning. It's almost as if I get a new mind after midnight as the creativity really gets going in those wee hours of the morning, and I also can enjoy listening to my favorite music through headphones. It was a habit I got into while I was living in the "Old Folks Home" more than Fifteen years ago, so I guess my body remembers those good times and those practices again. It seems so strange to have to resist the urge to layout and sketch "Just one more page" before I finally decide to call it a night and return to bed.

Oh yes... And the Dodgers games are back on the radio. Things are returning to something close to "Normal," but it's still apparent things will never be the same again.

For now... Let's revel in the harmless, and occasionally humorous aspects of the insanity. Let's make a reason to look back on these dark days and share a little laugh.

"Peace."

Hello Fellow FA Artists, Writers, Crafters, Musicians, Movie fans and other creative people.

One of the movie features I was eagerly awaiting since before 2019 ended and the effluent hit the propellers, was the Tom Hanks WWII CGI dominated movie titled "Greyhound". One of the reasons I was excited about this particular release was because most of the action took- (Takes?) place on a Fletcher Class destroyer, and I've always been interested in those "Tin Cans" mainly because my friend Ed served on one through WWII in both the Atlantic and Pacific campaigns. Now I must confess that I'm not an "Expert" on Marine Engineering, or Shipcrafting, but Ed told me of his many own adventures while serving aboard the USS Gillespie, (DD-609) and so I've always a "Soft spot" in my head for the Fletcher, and Benson Class Destroyers.

Now the Trailer is exciting enough as it is, but there are several things in that short 2 3/4 minute trailer that really bother me. One... Each time a sub broaches the surface, a loud "Arrogah" claxon horn sound effect goes off. Secondly, A LOT of the German U-boats in the trailer have large, garish pieces of artwork painted on their sails, and third, they use that "Cavitating, high speed propellers" sound way too much. Okay... That said, I also find the idea of A US Destroyer and a German U-boat duking it out a close quarters similar to a "Pirates of the Caribbean" broadside kind of hard to believe, but it's mentioned that the story is based on "Actual Events", so I'll take those battle sequences with a depth charge sized grain of salt. It might just be possible that if the destroyer was turning in a tight circle to intercept the U-Boat, the anti aircraft guns could be lowered enough to give the upper decks and the sail of the Submarine a good pasting.

But I digress. One of the reasons why the U-boats in both World Wars were so effective was because of their stealth. Most the times it wasn't clear to ships on the surface, (Except to those with advanced Sonar and Radar of course.) where the Enemy was exactly. Thus, if a Submarine was to surface and bellow out with a Klaxon Alarm, the U-boat would almost be inviting enemy fire toward it. Also, in almost every armed conflict in the 20th Century, both sides learned real quick that bright spots of colorful artwork or fanciful numbers also proved great targets to shoot at. (Now mind you I am not critical of the practice of festooning battle machines with morale raising "Nose Art", as I have several books on the subject myself.)

But it's that annoyingly over used "Cavitation" sound that gets to me. I'm guessing that in the trailer, their intent was to use some sort of sound to represent the noise that torpedoes or high speed surface craft propellers made. I can go with that, but it reminds me of the tales my Dad told of being aboard a troop transport ship in the closing days of the Pacific war. He told me that one ship he was on got caught in a storm, and when the ship would enter the rise of a storm driven wave, the propeller would dig in, but when the ship broached the crest of the wave. the stern and prop would be lifted clear of the water, and the engines would speed up dramatically. It took quick action of the engine room crew and mechanics to help keep the machinery from tearing itself apart. THAT's why that particular sound bothers me -It induces sea-sickness.

Still, I'm really looking forward to seeing the feature and I've noticed that's it gotten good pre-preview ratings of 5 stars or more. Even though the feature has gone straight into online showing on Apple TV, most likely because the Movie Theaters were closed because of the COVID 19 Pandemic restrictions, let's just say if that service is offering a month's free viewing, it'd be a dandy reason to sign up.

ARRRRRROOOOOOO-GAAAAAHHH!

Okay... Cut that out.

"Peace"

Hello again fellow FA Artists, Writers, Musicians, Crafters, Other creative type persons and Friends.

Thursday last week, I decided to see if I could take the local bus down town and visit the Target store where I get my Prescriptions filled, and do a little sightseeing. My first stop was the local Supermarket to pick up my Monthly Donut for "Breakfast" and enjoy it while I waited for the #10 Bus to take me East. Perhaps I was a bit too excited in seeing things getting back to a state close to "Normal," but the first indication that there were still flaws in the COVID 19 Pandemic recovery effort was that the plain glazed donut I bought was extremely stale. -Completely inedible! I ended up tossing it in the trash, and regretting that I didn't buy a bottled water to wash that awful taste out of my mouth with. The trip to Target was without incident, and I spent several hours just cruising the sales floors looking for things to use at the house. I lucked out and found a single roll of paper towels, and much to my delight, I discovered a variable speed Moto Tool at a great price, plus it came with well over 200 accessories. I cruised the Toy sections almost all to myself, and noticed that the Lego, board games and Jigsaw Puzzle sections were pretty well cleaned out. I find it somewhat comforting in knowing folks are finding more "Tactile" ways to pass their time while in isolation, and of course constructing items from plastic building blocks or assembling large puzzles is often a good lead in, (Or "Gateway Hobby".) into building models or inventing things.

Once I got out of the Target zone I walked half the block West to Vroman's bookstore to see how they were doing as I had read on their website that they were open again to limited browsing. Now I had been waiting for the place to open again for these past three or so months, so I was excited with the prospects of just being able to enjoy an afternoon "Cruising the stacks" and of course finding interesting greeting cards or science toys in their upstairs sections. I was greeted... More like halted, at the entrance door and given a brief lecture on the new "Bookstore Etiquette" required of their patrons. Now since this was just a bit after 12:00 Noon, I seemed to be one of at least five or six other shoppers, which was okay by me, as it gave me a way to practice my "Social Distancing" more effectively. Most annoying and I believe difficult to enforce or practice was following the "Arthur Murray" path of stickers of arrows or footprints instructing patrons on where to stand as they waited in line to make their purchases or inquire about their orders from the help desks. Now I could understand at how this system would work best IF the store was packed with customers, but I found the signs instructing patrons with (Or without.) small children to keep the little ones from touching things to be a bit excessive. As a precaution I had my facemask on, plus my blue rubber gloves, but I'm actually more concerned about keeping others safe as opposed to furthering spread of the disease. Stopping the Virus in it's tracks is nearly impossible, or at least it takes a lot more than a few drops of hand sanitizer.

However, I felt rather uncomfortable, if not a bit insulted when I got lost trying to find the way out, and I started to inquire at the "Front" doors where to find the exit, and even before I could finish my sentence one of the clerks told me rather harshly to "GHO TO TH' FROONT UF TH' STOORE!" Now before this COVID 19 business all started, I had dealt with and seemed to be on friendly terms with the clerks at Vroman's, especially that Lady with the nice "Oxford" accent, but in that moment I was reduced to feeling like some stupid, disease laden Filth that had just wandered in from off the street. As I made my final exit, I decided I would not visit the place again until this COVID 19 Pandemic Panic has eased up a bit more. Now granted. I do understand that there is potential in that the Virus could be spread by mere contact, but sometimes there are others out there who are most likely weary of dealing with having to wear PPE in public and take the extra precautions to check the disease. However- This is no excuse for being rude.

Maybe Lamplighter Books Just a few blocks East of Vroman's might be open again. I consider this incident just another "Trip" along the Flagstone paved path to recovery. Until we know for certain that there will be a cure, and the rest of us need suffer no more, the road will still be an uneven one, full of little missteps along the way. Keep those those masks on in public, keep clean ones in close supply, and don't be afraid to wear clean rubber gloves in any retail environment. That way, one is not only protecting one's self, but it also helps protect the clerks that work there as well.

"Peace".

Greetings all you wonderful Fellow Artists, Writers, Musicians, Crafters, Friends and Fans.

These past three months cooped up during the COVID 19 Quarantine had taken their toll on my sanity, but I had noticed that when my Brother and I would drive into town to to pick up my prescriptions or go grocery shopping, I had seen subtle signs that showed life is returning to Old Pasadena again. Restaurants are placing tables on the sidewalks once more for outside dining and stores that had been boarded up are cautiously having the cladding removed and are doing Business like "Normal", allowing people to browse but also being cautious in keeping to their customer occupancy restrictions and requiring masks or other cloth face coverings. It was something of a personal thrill for me to be able to actually go into the local Michael's arts and crafts store and look for items that I needed for my various art projects. Even though there are advantages to the new methods of "Cyber Shopping", I still feel it's not really shopping if one can't see the merchandise up close, touch it, and read the packaging in order to help make a shopping decision. I have gotten into the habit of wearing disposable rubber gloves and using hand sanitizer while shopping these days, so I'm doing my best to check the spread of infection and more likely preventing infecting others from the Novo Corona Virus if I happen to have it.

These past few days though have been so lovely, clear and on the "Cool" side, that I decided to take the risk and walk into town last Friday. Recently I was delighted to see the COVID 19 testing and Quarantine area near the Rose Bowl being dismantled, and the "Promenade" Open once again with local folks running, jogging, cycling or walking their dogs on the route, all trying to keep to their "Social Distancing" rules of course. I caught the commuter bus at the Aquatic Center and rode the usual route to my favorite drop off corner of Green Street and Raymond Ave. and walked over to the Blick's art supplies and found them open and letting folks in to shop, despite the post-apocalyptic appearance of their front windows being boarded up. Walking up to Colorado, I took notice of the stores trying to re-open, those which were still boarded up tight, and unfortunately, those which "Didn't" make it. I was saddened to see the "Neon" Retro arcade closed and emptied, but then later on as I walked along Union street, I saw some of my favorite little restaurants open again and doing business. Unfortunately, some of the restaurants set to open along the new "Restaurant Row" in the Spring would never see their grand openings and were closed up, appearing abandoned. I finished my journey by walking to the local Ralph's supermarket and picked up some groceries, and I even bought my first donut in four months.

I returned to the house in the hills feeling fit and healthy, if not actually elated that I had gotten out and moving again. I decided to return to my weekly walking regimen again, mainly to watch the city return to "Normal", help some of the small shop owners I visit frequently get back into commerce again and more than anything, work off the extra "Notch" in my belt caused by the "Quarantine Fifteen" I had accumulated during my months of near inactivity. Another advantage I've found to walking over riding is that I get treated to seeing the views of the Colorado Street Bridge, the Rose Bowl and other interesting sites Twice during my commute.

Stay safe out there friends. Be well, and as always,

"Peace".

Hello again Fellow FA Artists, Writers, Crafters. Friends, Fans and other creative folks.

While driving to the big Target store Downtown, to pick up refills of my meds yesterday, I noticed that the barricades sealing off Salvia Canyon road were gone, and there were signs that the commuter buses might be running up to the Art Center, to town and back again. My brother and I drove through the Rose Bowl area on the way back, and it appears that the COVID 19 testing, processing, (And holding.) Center was being dismantled. Still... there's a newer, larger and similar Coronavirus testing center up and running in the Dodger Stadium parking lot. In any case, it did my heart good to see some of the restrictions that many of us have had to endure these past three months are being lifted one by one.

I was so excited to see these little signs of normalcy returning, I started planning on taking my weekly walks into town again. Even though most of the paths and hiking trails I take as a "Short cut" into town were still sealed off with green fabric covered chain link fences, I decided to wait at least another week before venturing into town. Also, the re-opening of the "Promenade" surrounding the Rose Bowl and golf course has seemed to have lightened the moods of the local residents. It's great to see others going about the track, Running, Jogging, Cycling, Strolling and walking their dogs again. Also I've heard tell that with the restrictions going into "Stage 4" of recovery, that the various Flea Markets, Swap Meets, and other outdoor venues will be allowed to go back into operation again. I'm all for that, even though I believe it might be a bit too soon for the Pasadena City College Flea Market and even the Big Rose Bowl Flea Market to run again in June. I believe I can hang on attending either venue in July.

Baseball is still "On Hold" though. The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes were making noises about playing a game on Memorial day, but that event was scrubbed due to concerns of lingering Corona Virus infections. Still, there is some comfort in knowing that I might still be able to enjoy watching a Minor League game, enjoying the evening with my Brother and friends sometime soon, at least before the Season is declared over. I'm certain I'll get my hot Kettle Corn or Crackerjack "Fix" Sometime before this year is through.

Be safe and stay well. There's a slight glimmer of hope on the distant horizon.

"Peace".

Greetings fellow FA Artists, Writers, Designers, Crafters, Dreamers and other creative type people.

I'm just curious. The news feed has been repeating over and over that there's a possibility that the Quarantine period for the Corona Virus might be lifted at the end of April at the earliest, or perhaps at the end of May. I'm guessing the end of May or early June for the way things have been going out here in Pasadena, and in the heart of the city of Los Angeles though. Anyway, it was really kind of sad and spooky to drive by Chavez Ravine about five days ago and seeing Dodger Stadium's parking lot bereft of cars in early April, and even more troubling was NOT being able to hear the local games being broadcast on the local Sports Talk Station. Oh, My Brother and I have been getting our seasonal "Baseball fix" by watching that series of documentaries by Ken Burns, but after the "Ninth Inning" we might have to rely on those two "Extra Innings" out there to catch up on Baseball history past 1994. It's not quite like going to a REAL game, but what the heck. I still need to get up and move around and pop some popcorn to munch on during the second half of the video, very much like the "Seventh Inning Stretch".

But I digress. My brother and I as well as our Landlord Schirm have been cooped up in the house up here in the hills for well over five weeks now, and we're getting a little... Well, forgive the term, "Antsy". We are able to at least go out once a week for groceries, and every time we venture out into the "Social Tabula Rasa" that the local supermarkets have become during Quarantine, we both have to learn, and re-learn these new rules and regulations concerning preventing either catching or transmitting disease, and of course dealing with the new "Social Distancing" courtesies. In a way, I kind of appreciate being able to shop in the big stores without having to scrabble over the goods we need to add to the shopping trolley, but there are a few other shoppers who "just don't get it" and run through the store at a good clip unmasked, and seemingly believing that everything is just the same as it was not but three months ago. Of course this makes buying our weekly groceries something of an adventure, but I have a feeling that things have now changed somewhat permanently, very much in the way that our way of life changed after the Terrorist attacks of "9-11" did. Hopefully they'll be able to lift the wearing of masks in public rules soon, and I can go back to wearing a scarf or bandana around my snoot instead. Then I would not have to have that little check box for "Face Masks" affixed to my shopping list.

So, I wonder. Has anyone out there in FA land planned on what to do once the socializing restrictions are lifted? Are folks looking forward to attending sporting events, dining in "Sit down" restaurants, Cycling or running through their neighborhoods again, or perhaps shopping once more in those "Non essential" stores to pick up some arts and crafts items or just enjoy getting a good haircut? Will there still be some Furry Cons to go to during the Summer Con Season? On the plus side, I've been able to have a few of my Springtime Seasonal pleasures fulfilled recently. I at least was able to enjoy Trader Joe's "Grand Slam" caramel popcorn and nuts treat that is kind of like "Crackerjack" on steroids, and a recent visit to the local In-N-Out burger restaurant to indulge my taste buds with a 'Double Double" burger and a tray of "Well done" fries. These little treats help to remind me that things might be very different now, but sooner or later, things will return to "Normal" and hopefully soon, we'll be able to get our lives back on track again.

Even the Griffith Park Railroad has been dropping hints that once the Park opens up again they might be able to hire both my brother and I back on to help with the upcoming Summer season. If anything, I wish you all out there continued good health, and may that job you had before this all started still be waiting for you when you get back. I especially thank those of you out there who remained at your posts through the Duration, keeping things Running, Secured, Delivered and Up to Date through these difficult times. As always...

"Peace".

Greetings fellow FA Artists, Writers, Photographers, Crafters, Musicians and other Creative type people.

Well... Friday, March 27th was supposed to be the re-scheduled opening day for Dodger Stadium, but concerns over the spread of the Corona Virus put the "Kibosh" on that event. I think I'll still wear my favorite Dodger blue sweater anyway, because it's a nice day out, and the cheerful color might make things seem a little brighter.

There's folks on the radio that suggest it might be better for us all to "Take a break" from the news coverage about the COVID 19 outbreak this weekend as it's been making folks act a little more crazy than usual. So I'm switching away from the news radio station and tuning to a good "Oldies" Rock station for the next three days or so. Perhaps I'll be inspired to even do a little more sketching and drawing if the mood should hit. Pulling up the shades seems to make the office up here seem so much more bright and cheerful. At least these past few days I've been treated to a view of the nearby hills all fresh and green looking from the earlier Spring rains. The far off San Gabriel mountains even got a light dusting of snow, making a "Postcard Perfect" backdrop for views of the Valley cities.

The ammonia soaked rags in a bowl deterrent and several "Snap" jaw traps have helped bring the Nuisance Rodents under control. I have gone more than 27 days without hearing any gnawing noises in the walls of the room I'm sleeping in, and the traps have sat five days straight baited and set without being disturbed. I caught one large female about a week ago, which might have been the one that got caught in a jaw trap and shook it off. On the plus side, this female did not have nipples visible, so hopefully that means no little ones were orphaned. I at least have a little respect for my "Enemy" Vectors.

To pass the time my brother and I have been in Quarantine, and to make up for the delay of Baseball's Opening Season, Sterling and I have been watching Ken Burns' "Baseball" and enjoying learning the history of the sport, it's legends, traditions, Scandals and Heroes that made the sport "America's National Pastime." Of course the series ended after Nine "Innings" in 1994, but Sterling tells me that there are "Extra innings" available that bring the series a bit more closer to date, and at least into the 21st Century. That's good because I would like to see the Documentarian's take on the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series in 2016. I still owe a Chicago fan friend an LA Dodger cap in losing that bet.

One thing I have noticed is that a lot of Artists here on FA are using their time off to catch up with their art projects, post new and old images and generally keep in touch with the "Furry" Community on the website. I've been doing a LOT of sketching, but not much finishing. I believe the reason for my lack of creating new "Presentable" artwork to show and share here on FA is most likely because I have become too critical of my own images. I have friends I chat with almost every afternoon who encourage and support me in my efforts, but I'm still lacking the motivation to ink and finish any new images, and I can't understand why. My biggest problem is that as I sit at my drawing desk, I start nodding off or I fall asleep. One thing I've read on the computer news blips is that constant nodding off is a sign of depression. I have no Idea what I have to be depressed about, but perhaps if I try switching from the desk in the bedroom to the office, the change of environment might do me some good.

As Always, Be well, Stay safe, Wash those Paws, Mitts, Hooves, Claws and Talons, and above all...

"Peace."

*And other odd accents.

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

For well over a year now I have been enjoying chatting with several other FA members in the afternoons, and the exchanges have proven to be a great way to generate ideas and build new story lines for the characters we write of or draw. Now I must admit, I enjoy trying to phonetically spell out sound effects and also the accents of some of the characters who don't quite pronounce English words in a proper manner. My personal favorites are the Elfin Vulpines that speak with a comic German accent in Vulpitania, which gives me a chance to not only practice a bit of my High School German, but also be a little creative in writing dialog that the readers might find comical. "Zo vhat doss dis have to dho mit Der Bhig Enghines?" For example. If anything it does give me a chance to throw some "Fachsprache" around and learn a few new words at the same time.

I've drawn a little criticism concerning my foxtaur characters the Garetta and their strange "Pijin" English, inspired by the languages used by the Southern Pacific Islanders in Papua New Guinea in the Solomon Islands. I had the idea that the fox like Garetta would adapt words and phrases from the Human crews of the colony ship they arrived in and use a cobbled together language that they could easier pronounce through their vulpine mouths and voice boxes. Unfortunately, it was the Star Wars character Jar Jar Binks that put the kibosh to the whole sub genre. Still, I find it amusing to speak a few Garetta words and phrases upon occasion, especially if I'm wearing my wide brimmed "Shaman's Hat." During a walk in a rainstorm last Saturday I was "Stalked" then overtaken by a young lad on a little dirt bike on the Prominade around the Rose Bowl, and he startled me out of my walking contemplation. "Heyyo Hoowie Cubbasah!" I found myself blurting out. The kid stopped and looked at me, but I came to my senses and switched back to Human Speak. "Be a bit more careful, okay?"

I've also been inspired upon occasion to switch into "Fudd Speak" when recalling gags and dialog from Old Warner Bros. Cartoons featuring the "Wagged, Wugged Owtdowah Spowting Man" who was often foiled by a "Wascally Wabbit." I have been known to call certain tools by odd names like "Hamwahs, Winches and Skroodwivahs", and Most folks find that last item humorous. However, the folks at "The Acme Consolidated Screwdriver Company" didn't. I believe I hadn't heard anything of them since that Gary Larson, (Far Side.) cartoon came out.

Thank you all for the helpful hints and advice on controlling the rats in the attic of the house I'm staying in. The most effective cure I've found thus far is to soak rags in ammonia and leave the sopping bundle in the areas where the rats are known to run. It's kind of satisfying to hear a rat start out crunching away at the wall, only to give up and scamper off. Yes, I know I have to recharge the ammonia at least every two weeks, but if anything it does buy me a little time until I can get to plugging the holes the rodents have made, and secure wire and apply "PUF" (Expanding Urethane Foam.) around the openings.

Be Safe Out There, Friends. Keep in touch, (Here on FA at least.) and stay informed. Above all...

"Peace."

Hello Fellow FA Artists, Friends, Fans and other highly creative people.

Sorry for being quiet for far too long. January saw the end of my temp job at the Griffith Park and Southern Railroad, and the crew and I celebrated a sort of bittersweet end to the year's Festivities on the 5th, where we all took that one last ride in the night, and enjoyed the glow of all those beautiful lights and displays. I did get called back in a couple weeks later though to help take down Christmas lights and stow away props, but I had a bit of a scare as I was bending over and standing up repeatedly when taking the lights off a low fence, which raised my blood pressure and I got dizzy and felt like I was going to pass out. My Brother drove me back to the house where I got some rest, and on the plus side, they hired him back the very next week. Sterling and our housemate Noah put in the good word for me, and there might be a chance I could go back, as the Railroad is hurting for manpower, and there's still a lot yet to be done, getting the attraction ready for the Summer, and ultimately the next Festival of Lights coming up in December of 2020. News is that they need some restoration work done on props, cast concrete figures, and touch ups on the buildings around the attraction. So they might rig me up a bench I can work at in the shop, or give me jobs that I don't need to bend over a lot at. As long as I can get a good set of rollers and a pole, painting the buildings in the "Ghost Town" will be a breeze.

Unfortunately, through the whole month of February I have been affected by a disorder which I have labeled "R. I. S. D." which is short for "Rodent Induced Sleep Depravation" A Rat, or a series of rats has been gnawing on the walls just inside the doorway that leads into the room I'm staying in. I have tried spraying the baseboards with strong ammonia scented cleaners and pine sol, but that only drives the rodents away for maybe a night or two. I have even gone so far as to don heavy clothes, knee pads, breath mask, cap and headlamp to confront the creatures in the attic space, but unfortunately the area where the critters are chewing is under heavy floorboards that I might have to pull up to get to the affected area. So each night, it's kind of like the Oriental Water Torture where I lay in bed, waiting to hear the dreaded scrape of rodentine incisors against wood. Sometimes I won't be able to get to sleep until almost dawn, but the critters usually strike just after Midnight, and after pounding on the walls. yelling and spraying some more ammonia I finally wear myself out and get some sleep.

Of course this has also proven to be disruptive to the sleeping habits of my housemates as well. Noah has taken off and is staying at his Lady Friend's place, and my Brother's room is on the opposite end of the house. On the mornings after the assaults, I make an effort to apologize to my housemates, and we've been discussing methods seen on YouTube about deterring rodents and driving them away. My major concern about using baits that cause Rodents to become Hemophiliac is that the Roof Rats will retreat to the surrounding grounds during the day, where there's a chance Schirm's cat "Alex" or the wildcats in the canyon might eat the poisoned rodents and thus get sick as well. Using Kill Traps will be my last resort, as I've had some success with that. These Norwegian Roof Rats are pretty clever though, and have upon occasion used sticks or pieces of paper to trigger the traps and steal the bait. It would be difficult to rig up electricity into the attic space for electronic "Squealers" that use high frequency sounds to drive rats away, but in the past I've had success with that method too. Unfortunately, I can somewhat sense a disturbance in my middle ear that can give me headaches when the devices are on.

I have read someplace that Bay Leaves are poisonous to rats, but they'll eat them anyway. Anything that will save me from crawling into that attic space again will be more than appreciated, and it might smell a bit better than Ammonia cleaners. All I need is a good night's sleep, and once rested, I might come out of this Sleep Depravation induced depression, and maybe even get back to drawing again.

"Peace."

Hello again all you Fellow FA Artists, Writers, Crafters, Sculptors, Poets and Creative type people.

Yeah. The Holiday Season is fast upon us, and I find myself often wondering where all my time goes. My Brother and I are pulling in three to four nights a week working at the Griffith Park & Southern Railway, mainly helping the Photographer and the resident "Santa" in the photo area. It was even kind of exciting to get our first "Call In" recently, as it is something of a comfort in knowing we're needed, and useful. My Brother Sterling has commented about the long lines, and huge crowds who come to ride the trains, get their family pictures taken with Santa, and see all the pretty lights. I get the impression that the miniature railroad is something of a hidden "Treasure" for the Los Angeles area as I have heard folks chatting about how they've visited the site every year for at least three generations. Kinda like the Griffith Park Merry Go Round, which is another family attraction where folks have been taking their children for rides ever since the late 1930s. Of course the little trains have only been in operation since the early 1970s, and is a relatively "New" attraction, but it's nice to see that the Park's Visitors still enjoy it, as the prices are very reasonable.

My Birthday last Monday was kind of a "Bummer" because I had to re-schedule the appointment with my Eye Doctor from the previous Wednesday to the following Monday. I was just expecting an eye exam and setting up of appointments et-cetera, and believed I'd be in and out of the office in fifteen minutes, Right?

Wrong.

The Doctor discovered two swellings which indicated to him that there was the potential for the blood vessels in my retina to burst, and I could lose the sight in my Left eye if that should happen. So, he started treatment immediately. I had to wear an eye patch for two hours, and after about fifteen minutes it was sheer, absolute TORTURE as the eye really started to itch and become painful. It was such a relief to peel the cussed thing off and add the prescribed eye drops after. My vision wasn't badly affected, but it remained blurry for a few hours. Nevertheless, my Brother and I cooked up a big Birthday dinner featuring Scalloped potatoes and ham, with a hot apple pie and ice cream for dessert. Scrirm, Noah, my Brother and I shared a delightful dinner and conversation, and thanks to my friends Jim, Carol and Sherry I had a couple presents to open.

So these next few days have been really busy for me. I still have to assemble the bookshelf unit Schirm gave to me as a Birthday-Holiday present, THEN transfer all the books, art tools and knick-knacks onto the new unit. I have four major Holiday packages to mail, at least twenty cards to fill out and send out, and of course there's parties and gatherings coming up that my Brother and I have to attend. The only plans I really have for Christmas day is to get up early and cook breakfast for my Brother, Noah and Schirm, then open a few presents, and Maybe play "Laser Chase" with the cats a bit. Hopefully, Sterling and I won't be too worn out after working Christmas Eve at the Railroad.

Yes. The days go so much faster this time of year, and it sort of works to my advantage. I'm just too busy to go Crazy. May the Holiday Season bring you brightness and Cheer, and here's to a Happier, Healthier New Year.

"Peace."

Greetings fellow FA Artists, Writers, Crafters, Musicians, Watchers and other Makers of Magic.

My brother Sterling and I recently landed ourselves a Holiday gig working at the Griffith Park and Southern Railway and so far we've been assigned as helpers dealing in "Crowd Control". We seemed to have gravitated into helping out the Company's Photographer as he takes pictures of children and their families, who want to take photos with "Santa". For the most part, the crowds have been friendly, and in a holiday mood, and I get the impression that folks have been enjoying riding the little trains for several generations. Of course among the crowds it seems there are a few celebrities who are taking their friends and families out after dusk just to ride the trains and see the pretty lights.

Of course there's several "Perks" that come with the job, such as free train rides, Cocoa and Chirros during breaks, and I've also been developing important new social skills in dealing with the crowds. The engines are propane powered Internal Combustion miniature 2-8-0 locomotives with a four wheeled "Pusher" unit in the back. There's a little air compressor that supplies pressure for the brakes and just a little left over to toot the whistle. I believe the back unit is hydraulic powered because the all too familiar to me scent of hot "Forklift" oil greets my nostrils whenever I visit the engine shed. There's also a "Streamliner" that looks like a scaled down EMD "F" unit, but currently it's enjoying a "Retirement" in the shed awaiting parts. I get the impression that folks enjoy watching the drivers flashing up and down anyways.

But the real attraction to me is in seeing the clever and creative ways the "Regular" full time workers have set up the displays and lights which are mostly simple, but eye catching, using strings of lights and LED displays, most of which are available at "Big Box" stores like Walmart. My favorite displays so far are the tunnel of lights that are synchronized to flash different colors on all three sides, and this one "Psychedelic Bunny" display that changes it's light patterns constantly, creating everything from simple, rabbit shaped "Chaser" outlines to crazy figure 8 patterns.

Yeah... I've joined the "Dork" side it seems, but for now it's been a lot of fun, and I learn something new every four hour a night shift. Let's hope it'll lead to better things.

"Peace."

Hey fellow FA Artists, Writers, Crafters, Musicians and other creative people.

Don't mind me. I'm just in a post Halloween-Return to Standard Time, It's just too hot for Autumn, too many fires breaking out, Printer, Scanner Copier broke down mild state of depression. I mean... It used to be that the stores I'd visit during my walks through Pasadena would have after Halloween discount sales at least until the Tenth of November, but it wasn't even the fifth when I visited the Target and the local 99 Cents Only store that I found all the spooky, scary stuff gone and the shelves now stacked with Christmas and end of the year decorations and gift items. Is this a "Thing" now? I mean it was bad enough when the stores would play Christmas and Holiday music over their PAs in August and September, but heck. Can't these retailers at least give us the time between Halloween and Thanksgiving to let us consumers catch our collective breath?

Sheesh.

Oh... We've been very lucky up here in the hills above Pasadena through these past few weeks of unseasonably hot Autumn weather. With temperatures in the high eighties and into the ninties with the "Santa Ana" winds blowing, there have been spot fires that have erupted all over the tri-valley area, but on the plus side, the fire fighting crews and water dropping aircraft pilots have been able to keep the flames under control, and have reduced the loss to property up in the grassy high grounds up in the hills. It's kind of exciting to catch a glimpse of a flying fire truck of a modified C-130 or one of those yellow and red "Super Scoopers" flying by, but it's also a bit concerning to understand why we're getting a "Private little Air Show". (I kinda like watching those big Sikorsky "Skycrane" water dropping helicopters in action too, because it still amazes me at how those aircraft fly.)

The coyotes are lucky. They just move on and find some other quiet place to den for the night. Property values mean nothing to them. The hillsides near the 134-210 Freeway junction, about five miles from Schirm's house were burned recently, but that night the local "Pack" still came in with the night and serenaded us like nothing had happened.

And yes. As I had mentioned above, my Printer, Scanner, Copier "All in one" broke down recently. I keep getting a message saying I should take it in for repairs, but just before the machine quit working right, it gave me a beautiful, sharp print with dark, velvety blacks. I've tried re-installing new drivers, and put the machine through cleaning cycles, but it just won't go into any of it's other functions except for the "Take your machine in for repair" message mode.

I suspect the printer head got damaged or fried. A real pity too, because a new printer head can cost up to $300.00 and the irony is that I only paid $99.00 for the machine. So it looks like a trip to Fry's or Best Buy will be in order in the near future, at least until after the 20th to do some price comparisons and find a suitable replacement.

Hopefully this upstanding state of being "Down" won't last too long. I haven't given up on the old Canon Pixma MX922 yet. I cross forepaw digits and hope the machine might have a few Nice surprises in store for me. It's just that I've become pretty dependent on that machine, and my art has been suffering for it. It might be best if I try to "Unlearn" what I have been doing and become an "Artist" again.

Wish me luck.

"Peace".

Hello again Fellow FA Artists, Writers, Crafters, Musicians and Other creative people.

I've been doing a lot of pencil work recently, and some of my FA friends can't wait to see my rough sketches, and I can't wait to show them what I'm doing. So I have a question about scanning pencils drawn with everything from 2H leads to those rich, dark blacks I can get from those soft Palomino Blackwing pencils which the animators like to use. So… What I need to know is what is a good setting for Microsoft Paint or Microsoft Paint 3-D to scan and give me nice, rich darks? Normally I scan at 300 DPI, but I've had some success with less, and of course anything over 400 I can see the individual grains in the paper under full magnification. (And occasionally a few squished dust mites.)

Also, is there a way to get information from my scanner, directly into Paint 3-D? Microsoft might not be supporting Paint much longer, and I don't want to get stuck with a program I can't use. There has to be a way to do this, but my attempts with clicking on the "New" button in Paint 3-D have not been successful.

Thanks to all of those out there who gave me advice about selecting a new snapshot camera over a new cell phone. I decided to clean and tune up my old Vivitar VivCam 54 which seems to be working better. What the heck... It should work well for taking snapshots of the UP X4014 "Big Boy" as it rolls up the Canjon Pass next week. After all, the adventure will be mostly outdoors, and that big steam locomotive would not be a hard thing to miss.

Thanks in advance for your advice, and as always:

"Peace".

Greetings all you Tech Savvy artists, writers, crafters, Musicians and Nice folks out there in FA Land.

These past two weeks I've had way too many "Drat! I wish I had a Camera" moments as there have been way to many incidents and scenes I really wanted to share with friends, family, and folks here on FA. Last Friday, I visited Vroman's Bookstore and one of the first things I saw after entering their Halloween display was a pair of cast resin busts of a fox and a magnificent stag dressed in "Victorian" looking jackets and ties. The next morning, I fixed breakfast for my Brother, and the local Deer, a Buck and a Doe showed up and we watched them from the kitchen window. They stayed quite a while too, lingering close to the birdbath, and only casually sauntered away when I leaned out the window to toss out some Grapes as a treat for them.

So on the plus side, I got the old "Toy-Otter" re-registered and tagged, and so I've been feeling a little less wound up, and now that those financial burdens are done with, at least until next year, I can relax a bit and look forward to the closing of the Year for a change. So, one of the next big things I'm looking forward to is watching the UP X4014 "Big Boy" locomotive rumble through the Cajon Pass on it's way from Barstow, to Victorville, then Further West to Los Angeles. My "Jedi" friends and I are planning to make it an "Event" to park near the old Route 66 road and watch the train roll by, but we're probably most likely staying away from the Barstow or Victiorville stations as we figure those venues will be mobbed.

Strange how a Locomotive and a train can now have "Superstar" status,

So one thing I would like to know is: Which is better? A small, inexpensive camera, or a new Cell Phone to take snapshots of the train with? I've had pretty good luck with the little Vivitar "VivCam 54" which I've owned for about four years now, but it's electronics are starting to get "Cantankerous." I really like the convenience of the cell phone, especially since I can see how the shot is going to look as I take it, but there's also the inconvenience
of my needing to e-mail my pictures back to me. I'd prefer a phone that acts like a Camera, which I could just plug into my PC and download the images into.

So any advice, information or experiences you folks out there could share with me about the Camera Vs. Cell Phone debate will be greatly appreciated. Also, to any of my fellow FA Railfans who happen to be in Barstow, Victorville, or standing on the road along "Blue Cut", During the 9th or the 12th of October, (Old Route 66 next to the I-15) Look for the Tan colored Steamfox Baseball Cap. Most likely that'll be me underneath it.

"Peace".

-For now.

Sunday, August 25th, 2019, there was a small brush fire that erupted close to the junction of the 134 and 2 Freeways near the Eagle Rock and Glendale areas. Although the main blaze was nearly ten miles away from the house here in Pasadena, we did get a considerable amount of smoke, and some ashfall. By the time I went to bed at 10:00 PM the blaze was considered 25% "Contained" and the evacuation orders for homes closest to the fires had been lifted. Much to the relief of commuters, both freeways were re-opened before dawn, that Monday.

Life here at the house in the hills above Pasadena has pretty well returned to "Normal", but the situation did serve as a reminder of how quickly things can change around here in the communities up in the semi-wilderness areas close to the cities in California. Schirm, Sterling and I discussed evacuation plans, what to do with the cats, and updated our contact lists. The driveway has been cleared so the PFD can get a couple pumper rigs up here if need be.

On the plus side, I was treated to a rather stunning, "Classic" Red Sky at Morning. Even though I'm not really a Sailor, it is good to heed the warning, and stay wary.

"Peace".

I can't say why I ask that as a question. It just seemed so fitting.

Hello again Fellow FA Artists, Writers, Crafters, Musicians and other creative people here in FA Land.

Each day as I visit this site, I am always amazed and astounded by the vast amounts of artwork that end up in my "Submissions" new art inbox, and I am almost always impressed by the imagination and whimsey that goes into almost every image and written story. I admire the sculptors and model builders who can not only create works in 3-D that are purely imaginative. but are also well grounded in this reality. I am always impressed at how prolific some of these artist can be, in creating newer works on an almost daily basis, and I find some comfort in seeing work created by others who I've been following in the fandom for these past 31 years.

Originally I wanted to write about going to the Tanabata Festival in nearby Little Tokyo, but that adventure wasn't as grand as I hoped it would be. Visiting my favorite places in that part of the city was somewhat lessened due to not having much money to spend, and the disappointment of not finding what I was looking for in the Kinokuniya Stationary store or Hobby Jungle Japanese Plastic Model shop. On the plus side though, I did enjoy my little adventure. Watching the Taiko drum demonstration, Learning the legend of the Star Crossed Lovers that the festival was based on, and of course walking amongst the crowds which included lots of Cosplayers that day made the experience, (Despite the heat.) Seem rather "Magical" indeed.

But I digress. It has come to my attention that a lot of my followers and fans here on FA like my interpretation of winged sphinxes, which combine the aspects of Lions, Eagles and of course Human, Feminine charms. For as long as I have been drawing the characters, I have been trying to make these so called "Monsters of Myth" more sympathetic, and maybe a little more appealing and attractive. After all, in these modern times artists, writers and creative people alike have "Gentled" the likes of Dragons, Mermaids, Werewolves and Giants and made them into "People", shall we say? People they are though they are not quite "Human" by normal standards. But they still have their own sets of desires, dreams, customs, languages and lifestyles. I guess that thanks to the Internet we've been introduced to the World a lot easier, and that which was considered most "Mysterious" not more than 40 years ago has now become common knowledge. (-Still working on that turning lead into Gold thing though.)

I have lived with pet cats for most of my life, and so I used those experiences to base the personalities on my Winged Sphinx characters on. I'm not too fond of birds, but I can say I can't imagine the World without them. My grievances against the feathered kind stem from a rather nasty, and foul tempered "Cock" parrot a Sister in Law owned, and the creature just knew how to "Push the wrong buttons" with me. Of course I did discover that most of his crankiness might have been due to his pin feathers pushing through. And yes. I like the idea that my Sphinx characters might very much be like predatory Big Cats in their base personalities, but the Sphinxes being intelligent, (And perhaps a bit wiser.) might want to learn our ways to be amongst us and not be bothered by those pesky "Greek Hero" types.

I see a LOT of this type of imaginative character building and world creating here on FA almost every day, and I encourage you, my fellow Artists, writers, Musicians, Crafters, and other creative people to do the same. Turning dreams, Legends, Myths into reality is hard work I know, but the rewards in doing so are well worth the effort.

Go out there and make Magic.

"Peace."

RrrrAAR Raar RAR RAH-Raarr! And Greetings Fellow FA Artists, Friends, Crafters, Musicians and Other Creative People.

Last Thursday, July 25th, Sherry Patten, my Brother and I visited the Getty Museum near Los Angeles CA to see "The Book of Beasts" exhibit which will continue until the 18th of August. It was the first time I had ever visited this new Cultural and Arts center, so I was very impressed with the place, not only for the art, sculpture and exhibits it contained, but also in the way that the Museum staff handled the masses of people who were there. There was a free Tram that was like a miniature "Gold Line" which shuttled visitors from the Parking area to the center at the top of the hill, and because of the heat, buckets full of white parasols were available. The three of us arrived shortly after the center opened, and so since the crowds were light at that time, we got to see quite a bit in the first few hours. We had gone there to see "The Book of Beasts" Exhibit, which was a collection of ancient books and artifacts which featured images of mythical and magical animals through the ages, with a couple items dating back at least 700 to 500 years. One of the showpieces was the "Tapestry with flowers and animals" which came from Belgium, and dates back to 1545. In fact there was a whole display dedicated to the Unicorn alone, featuring illuminated volumes, nicely crafted water vessels, and ornately carved Ivory and wood panels dedicated to the magical one horned creature. Of course there were lots of other art and images on display, including Lions, Griffins, Mermaids, Centaurs, Giant Birds, Wolves and of course magical foxes.

Even though they charge $20.00 for parking, the admission and galleries are free for the viewing, but I did find it amusing to see that every Gallery and public gathering place had it's own version of a gift shop. I was absolutely thrilled to find a copy of J. C. Amberlyn's new "How to draw Mythological Magical Animals" book in the "Beasts" gift shop as I recognized her drawing style in it's pages, and I couldn't get my wallet out fast enough to pick up a copy for myself. There were also works of art by modern artists depicting fanciful and magical animals at the end of the exhibit, which included a 3-D sculpture of a life sized, resting antelope with a woman's head in place of the animal's head. For some odd reason, even though I had created similar images on my sketchpad, there seemed to be something unsettling about this image. It was like the creature seemed to be watching Us, and as I walked by I noticed the creature's continence seemed to change from hostility to helpless sorrow.

Sherry, Sterling and I then went on to eat lunch at the Café and after we ate enjoyed sandwiches, fries and conversation, we went on to the Bauhaus exhibit where I learned about the roots of the Avant-Garde movement, and discovered how some of my favorite New Age Musicians and performers like David Byrne, Grace Jones and even The Blue Man Group found their inspiration. The continually looping film featuring "Le Ballet Mecanique" by George Antheil reminded me so much of performances by Grace Jones from the 1980s although Mr. Antheil's stage performance and films dated back to 1924. I personally liked the Bauhaus influences on design and architecture, but these subjects were simply glossed over. There was a long list of artists, designers and musicians who were influenced by the Bauhaus movement, and Frank Lloyd Wright was indeed listed among them.

About the time the three of us were finished with the Bauhaus exhibit, the crowds started to get thick, and the heat started to get to us. We ducked into an exhibit featuring the photography of Gordon Parks, but Sherry was disappointed that most of the photos showed only images of War and turmoil to her. She did however enjoy browsing through a Children's gift shop where she found a nice, Stuffed toy Dragon to go along with her stuffed toy hare which she picked up at the Beasts exhibit. I not only picked up the Magical Beasts drawing book, but I also found quite a few interesting post cards to add to my collections and of course send to my friends. There was even a post card featuring the Antelope Woman sculpture I mentioned earlier, and I couldn't resist plunking down the extra few dollars for a special "The Getty" gum eraser. I might just add that item to my traveling art kit, because after all... One never really knows where inspiration might strike next.

I encourage any FA Friends while they're in the Los Angeles area to go see the "Beasts" exhibit at the Getty if they can, but better hurry. The exhibit ends on August 18th.

"Peace".

Hello Fellow FA Artists, Writers, Crafters, Musicians and other Creative persons here on FA.

Officially "Moon Day" or the 20th of July has come and gone, and over here in the Los Angeles area and Pasadena there were all sorts of Celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the day two American Astronauts first set foot on the Moon. I was looking forward to the day with anticipation of "Geeking out" with my tech savvy friends, and recounting our memories of the night when most of the world in 1969 got to watch the event unfold on Television. I was merely 12 years old, going on 13 at the time, and the most I recall of the event was the "Transparent" quality of the televised images, and of course my Dad constantly nudging me awake to tell me, "Better watch this Son. This is History."

MY Dad was working at Aerojet during the Apollo program, and once the Moon Flights ended, he was laid off, but after a little more than a year, he was working at another Aerospace Corporation which helped he and his family get through some pretty tough times. The 1970s seemed pretty depressing as it was with the Recession, The Vietnam War, Gas Shortages, Watergate and all, but it also had it's highlights for myself as well. It was the time when I graduated from High School, Started College, worked my first jobs as a Dishwasher and in a silk screen shop, and the Science Fiction craze started by Star Wars only helped to light the fires of my future ambitions. I really had "Big Stars" in my eyes as I fantasized about finishing College and getting into the Model building industry, either for the Movies, or at least at the Revell plant in Nearby Venice, CA.

I never landed either gig, but I did get a taste for it during my two month Tenure at Pacific Miniatures. There I learned how to prepare large Fiberglass models with Bondo and Spot Putty, and all the sanding I had to do made me very familiar with the contours of the C-5 and the C-130. Because of those experiences I still have a "Soft Spot" in my head for the old "Herky Bird", but I'm very glad I never continued working in those large scales for my hobby building as some of the models had wing spans so wide that it would require them to pay for hangar space.

There is a current trend that really "Bums me out" about this "Lunar Hoopla" though and that is this current denial that the Moon Landing never actually happened. Now I do agree with some of my friends that the whole Apollo program was more like a very expensive "Publicity Stunt" crafted by the US Government to help distract the populations from the troubles and turmoils taking place at the time. Still, I can't help but remember a lot of the folks I grew up with who lived through the time, and those who actually worked in the Aerospace programs of the time. To us then, it was all very real, and if anything, it helped to unite us all for a little while at least.

So once again, the Moon Landing is being used again, but this time as more of a marketing ploy to get American Consumers to buy more stuff. Most amusing to me are the "Moon" Oreo Cookies with their special "Cratered Moon" chocolate wafers and the rather unappetizing grey-purple, marshmallow flavored filling. There's Moon Landing themed Beer, Burgers, Store Discounts, plays and concerts with fireworks going on through the rest of the month, plus the net is full of historic images and videos to entice folks to... (Borrowing a term from "The Coneheads.) "Consume Mass Quantities."

Most telling of all for me though is a Cirque du Soleil show that's going on here at the nearby Rose Bowl. Apollo 11 has constructed an amazing, tent like structure to house the show's stage, and during my thrice weekly walks I watched them build the "Lunar Dome" and fill it with props. Unfortunately, the show has met with lackluster reviews, low attendance and it was criticized for "Not being technical enough" for the Techhie fans, or it was considered too confusing and difficult to understand. I still fancy seeing the "Immersive" Live Show, but with the tickets at such high prices I wonder if it would be worth going to see?

Perhaps it's going to take that "One small step" in the right direction.

"Peace."

Hello Fellow Fa Artists, Writers, Crafters, Friends and Fans.

It seems to me that the local media is making more of a fuss over the 6.4 earthquake that occurred at 10:33 AM on the morning of July 4th, 2019. Now the creepy thing for me was that during dinner the previous evening, I was joking with my brother about the possibilities of "Something happening, like an earthquake..." as we were planning on giving the house a good cleaning for the guests we were expecting for a Barbeque and Rose Bowl Fireworks watching party. I was outside at that time, throwing stuff into the garbage hopper, and I had turned towards the back door when I felt the vibration, which to me seemed more like someone was sliding a heavy table across the kitchen floor. I simply thought, "What the Hell was that?" and didn't give it any further thought. The house is not far from the 210-134 Freeway, so vibrations caused by large trucks and heavy equipment rolling by are not that uncommon. It wasn't until I turned on the radio that I learned that the shaking was caused by an earthquake.

Now don't get me wrong. I have seen on the MSN news feed of the damage closer to the quake's epicenter near Ridgecrest, with the footage of a house burning down, plus images of a liquor store's wares being spilled from it's shelves and onto the floor. The news station I like to listen to which is located in nearby Burbank reports that they have been feeling minor earthquakes, some as strong as 5.0, and areas around the Mojave desert are still experiencing aftershocks. Oddly, most the residents here in the house in Pasadena claim they didn't feel a thing.


On the plus side, I have yet to hear of any injuries or deaths resulting from the Earthquake. Still, this morning's little "Grumbler" can serve as a reminder that here in California that it's always a good idea to have an emergency kit on hand, which includes at least two day's worth of canned food, and bottled water. Temporary shelter like a tent or even blankets and pillows to make sleeping in the car more comfortable is a good idea.

So have a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July out there in FA land, and I'm happy to report that here in Pasadena, everyone is okay. I'm still looking forward to walking down to the Arroyo and watching the fireworks being shot off over the nearby Rose Bowl. Personally, I like the ones that have "Fountains" in them that trickle down from above, and of course the ones that look like the planet Saturn with the burst surrounded by a ring. The Cubes and Happy faces are "Cool" too.

"Peace."

There... I was alone
In the Target Toy Zone...
And I faced Temptation.

Greetings Fellow FA Artists, Writers, Crafters, Fans and Friends.

Yesterday, while I was on a bus trip downtown to pick up my meds, I arrived at the Target store on Colorado, and discovered that the toy section had laid out all the new merchandise based on the new Disney animated Toy Story 4 feature. Now in viewing the trailers, and of course the movie itself getting surprisingly good reviews in it's first week of release, I imagine that the toys are going to become hot collector's items and they will most likely get squirreled away by others hoping that the merchandise will accrue higher value in a short time.

Hey. It's a big dream ALL Toy Collectors cling to.

Now I must confess that I have become... Lets say, "Charmed" with the character Duke Caboom who plays a dominate role in the new Toy Story feature, and I figure it is because he IS an Action Figure, and the way he's styled and performs, (At least in the trailers.) reminds me of the happy childhood memories I had of playing with similar toys n the early 1970s. So thus was my dilemma. The deluxe figure which closer resembled the character seen in the trailers cost over $50.00, a secondary, smaller and less articulated figure cost $20.00 and of course there was a third, "Representational" figure with Duke actually screwed onto the Motorcycle going for $9.99. -And here I was, with a $5.00 discount coupon burning a hole in my hot little hand too! To add further to my misery, the Marvel Deluxe Squirrel Girl doll was discounted to $6.89 which meant I could have picked it up for a Dollar and some change with my discount.

Then I got to thinking. I live now almost day to day, dime to Dollar, and even though I'm drawing a pension, I cannot really afford to get back into the toy collecting or model building hobbies I used to enjoy. I figured I'd save that discount coupon to help lessen the cost of say, a tube of antibiotic skin cream, a container of Blood Glucose testing strips, or perhaps getting a few 2 liter bottles of my favorite diet soft drink. It has now come to the point in my life that a mere handful of change can make the difference in getting something to eat, or taking the Bus back home.

I figured that it might be better to just leave the toys where they were, as I really have no room to store them, and I'm certain that I'm not going to last another 30 or 40 years for these mere things to become "Valuable". I walked out of the store hoping perhaps that the toys would be bought by adults for their children, and the youngsters could find their own "Toy-Magic" and maybe create future happy memories for themselves. I still have yet to see Toy Story 4 myself, but given the good reviews the feature has been getting so far, I'm really looking forward to seeing it. Besides, I'm curious about the character Bo Peep's back story, as she makes a return appearance too.

"Peace."

Hello again Fellow FA Artists, Writers, Crafters, Friends and Fans.

Sorry for dropping out of the scene for almost the entire month of June. I was going through a series of medical check ups that were keeping me running from Doctor to Doctor, and Clinic to Clinic throughout the Pasadena area, facing two to three appointments per week. These tests and check ups were to determine if I was fit and healthy enough to undergo surgery to remove the cataract in my Right eye and improve my vision. So on Tuesday, June 18th, I had the procedure done, and I've spent these past three days taking it easy on my "Eye-Bulbs", working very little on the computer, and my art to avoid any eye strain. I am happy to report that the operation to replace the clouded lens was a success, and now I can see things much more clearly, and in a fidelity of detail that I haven't enjoyed in a Long, long time.

These past few days in Pasadena have also been cloudy and cool, which made things easy on my vision if I had to venture outside. Otherwise, in Bright Sunlight I was given a pair of sunshades that are intended to protect my eyes from the glare, and help promote the weaker eye's healing process. When I ventured out on Wednesday, I noticed things in detail which made things rather confusing. At first I thought the pavement of the driveway was covered in a fine, gray ash, but upon closer inspection I discovered that I was seeing the individual grains that made up the composite driveway pavement. Pouring a glass of Diet Sprite was like one of those commercials where I could see the bubbles rising through the beverage and among the ice cubes. I've also seen my art and cartoons in a whole different way. I now see every little flaw and jiggle in my line work that tells me I have "Lost my edge" through the years, but I feel that if I practice my inking lines more, these little problems will lessen in time.

Maybe I'm too critical of myself, but there's always those two old illustrator rules that say, "Never show the client the Original", and the newer rule, "That's what Photoshop is for." If all continues to improve, I'll be back at my drawing desk and working on stalled drawing projects again by the end of the month. Now if I can learn to manage my time better...

Thank you all for your staying with me through this time.

"Peace".

Hello Fellow FA Artists, Writers, Musicians, Crafters and Friends.

I've been pondering odd things recently, for example my little Gray Foxtaur characters the "Garetta". which I have drawn and written about in the past. I just realized these "Designed", six limbed Vulpuloids might or should have two pairs of lungs, and perhaps two voice boxes. So... Consider their music and singing if you would? Now I had known about Mongolian throat singing for well over ten years now, and I'm still amazed at the vocal abilities of many of the performers from that region. They can range from a deep. basso growl to a high pitched whistling, all by using their vocal cords and practiced breathing techniques. I'm not exactly certain how they do this, but the music of groups like Shu De and The Hu who mix traditional and modern instruments along with throat singing techniques to create a very different sound.

I used to listen to the likes of Enya and Deep Forest to inspire me while drawing my visions of the planet Tanador where the Garetta live and thrive, but I never gave thought to how my characters would sing, let alone talk. Now considering that the local Coyotes seem to know some vocal tricks where they can sound like they're very close, and yet they're actually quite near. One Coyote who used to range up here in the hills above Pasadena, had the talent of knowing how to mimic his yips and howls to sound like an echo. I'm not certain if it was the acoustics of the canyon, but I felt that if the Coyote was smart enough, he could "Throw his voice" and confuse other creatures.

Enh… Don't mind me. Most folks who are familiar with my interests most likely know I find music in almost anything. From the humming "Mantra" of a High Voltage Electrical transformer to the harmonies of giant diesel engines working in Synch, these are still sounds, and to some, they can be considered musical. So have any of you musicians out there have had any experience in mixing vocals where a single performer can sing a duet by themselves? Would it be possible that since the Centauroid Garetta have a double set of grasping limbs that they might be able to play two musical instruments at once?

Just some random thoughts I thought I'd share with you folks out there.

"Peace."