Man, I considered him a friend even though we hadn't really talked in a long while.
I hope Revar (Batbat) is doing ok.

Been a weird time.

Had a bit of a fall that's made it harder for me to draw, but hopefully that will clear up. The spine injury from before didn't like it and my fingers have gone a bit numb and that makes it hard to hold things like a stylus, but the feeling is coming back.

Going back to work at least part time at a comic shop mostly just to get out of the apartment.

You get Furries AND KiwiFarms "working together" to take you out... man, that takes skill to cause happen.

Furries are generally VERY technically literate and skilled people. We have a lot of programmers and IT people in so many core places that run the internet.

And KiwiFarms, most of the people of which hate Furries, did NOT like having their website linked to a Furry site that way and they're great at harassing and doxing people.

And right after Dragoneer's passing away.

I mean... sheesh... I can't even think of something stupider a person could do than this.

So, I've been away from FA for a year or so.

It's been a really strange year.

Dragoneer's sudden passing was a shock that reminded me we're not here forever.

First, I've retired and no longer need to work for a living. That's much weirder than I ever expected. I'm not rich or anything, in fact I'm making quite a bit less now that I did working, but I'm comfortable and still have more than I need.

After 45 years of being a software dev and worse, a software janitor - the schmuck who has to clean up the utter garbage left behind by the hotshot "star" coders... I finally decided to pack it in with this song...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9HyDRpJrsw

I'm currently writing my own apps like a flight editing app for DJI Mini 4 Pro drones called FlightCAD™. If I have to deal with a sucky boss, at least I'm the sucky boss and I can tell myself to f*** off. :)

When I'm not writing code, I'm spending FAR too much time on VRChat hanging out with friends. I also went on 3300km road trip to Edmonton and back just to see old friends and family. That was fun but wow... I don't think I've ever driven that much in that short a time.

My health has been up and down and two old spinal injuries finally kicked in making it MUCH harder for me to draw, which is another reason I haven't been posting much. I've also been getting counselling for emotional issues. On the plus side, still mostly immune to COVID.

I have been drawing occasionally for Mr. Yote, some of which I have posted here in the past and I'll start posting more of that.

That's it for now.

I'm stunned.

He and I weren't like close friends, but I have always thought of him as a friend.

I've been here since the start. I joined in Dec 2005. This was the first place where I had the courage to upload my drawings for others to see and that feeling of safety and community was all him.

It's hard to imagine him being gone. He and FurAffinity - a place that I think of as a kind of home (even if I've not been around much lately) - are forever intertwined and now now he's gone. It's like a thread has been pulled from the reality of this place... it won't be quite the same.

My condolences to his family and the staff of FA.

He will not be forgotten.

When an artist, regardless of their skill, agrees to give you free art keep this in mind: you are using their time and resources for free. It costs THEM their time at the very least.

If you don't get exactly what you want, tough. If you want something specific, either BE specific, or pay for it.

Every artist has strong areas and weak areas - things they will draw and things they really don't want to.

But you do NOT have a right to complain or gripe and become abusive to the artist. Most artists will be happy to hear what you'd like changed and will try to fix it... but again, you aren't paying for the artwork, so you only get to do that so much. The artist in the end decides when to stop, not you.

Also keep in mind that many artists are also doing other things for work - especially the ones who give out free art. They have other commitments and stresses that have to take higher priority than you. And the ones who ARE making a living from their art are LITERALLY giving away their income when they do a freebie for you.

No artist is obligated to draw for anyone, and no artist deserves to be abused because you're disappointed.

Grow up.

I've lost all sense of time. I thought I last logged on here about a week and half ago, but it's been more like 6 weeks!

All the days kind of run together and I really don't have a strong sense of where one day starts and the other ends.

Since I really don't know anyone here, I'm basically stuck in my apartment 24/7 only going out for grocery runs or when cabin fever gets too strong, I get in my new car and just drive, but with gas prices as high as they are, I don't do that often.

I really need a dog for companionship.

Anywho... another Scooby drawing coming up, then maybe some anthro polar bears. :)

So, I don't want to ONLY post whiny negative posts, so this one will have happy news too....

But... I went to Disney World with a close friend and when I got back, my right leg was inflamed and swollen. Then the OTHER leg starting showing the same symptoms. The doctors said that I'd picked up an infection in Florida (of course) and it was spreading. Fortunately, after two weeks of antibiotics, the swelling has gone down a fair bit, but it hung in there for over six weeks and my right leg is still not quite right.

The two pinched nerves are getting worse and now my right hand (ie: my drawing hand) is having a harder time with control and positioning. Trying exercise to improve what muscle strength is there.

ANNNND.. I got Covid again and this time since it was six months after my booster (glares at the province for not keeping up) it was a bit rougher than last time and hung in for 6 or 7 days. Still a bit foggy because of that. I should be getting my booster next month.

On the positive side, I got a new Asus Rog Flow Z13 tablet - yeesh... i9 12900K CPU, RTX 3500 TI dGPU, 16 GB RAM 1TB SSD, touch and pen (of course, since it's a tablet). My main goal with this is a portable system for my Oculus Quest 2 to run in Rift mode.

Also, last year the AC died on my 12 year old car and three months ago I decided to buy a new one and that should arrive next week. It's got all the latest tech and has Lane Keeping Assist and Radar Cruise Control - it's like one step away from autonomous driving.

I started a new job that's turning out to be frustrating as hell. 20 year old software in a bunch of languages including FORTRAN (hey, at least it's not COBOL or RPG-II, which I also know...), but the way projects are managed is killing me. I hope to retire at the end of the year.

That's about it for now. Still alive, barely. :)

Damaged the nerves in my back making it hard to draw
Got vaxxed
Caught Covid while getting vaxxed
Kind of went offline
Got second dose
Went to Universal Studios and fell on my face four times
Started counselling for depression
In the middle of changing jobs
Decided to check in and post some drawings.

Yep. That's about it.

So... I'm now fully caffeinated... I mean vaccinated!

My right arm and both hands are still not working that well because of the pinched nerve, so drawing is still slow, but I've taken up drone flying as a way to get out of the apartment (work has us at home for one week then in the office for the other, but that ends next week and I'll be full time in the office, which will help the mood).

Going to Universal Studios Florida in September if all goes to plan.

Hoping life gets back on track soon. :)

Even more annoyingly, right around the time I got my first vaccination (it takes two weeks for it to kick in).

I had one rough night and the next morning I was better than now, three days later, I feel more or less fine... just a little congestion.

If there's no down turn, I should be out of quarantine in a week.

The funny part is that we can't figure out how I got this. I was following all the guidelines and I'm very virus resistant.

Ah well, now I'm vaccinated AND I'll have had the disease so it's like a vaccination and a half. :)

10 weeks ago I developed brutal shoulder pain and paralysis in my right arm and hand.

I waited 2 days before going to the nearest clinic. I got in and saw a doctor in 15 mins.

Doctor did an exam - prescribed NSAIDs and pain killers and requisitioned X-Rays and bloodwork. Picked up the drugs at the pharmacy connected to the clinic.

I go 3 blocks to a lab and get all that done in about 45 mins.

2 days later, the doctor calls me to let me know I need an MRI and that he'll book it. A few days later, I get a booking.

Then lockdown happens because of covid19 and my MRI is deferred.

A couple of weeks go by because of the hospital situation.

The main doctor is checking in with me and renewing my meds and giving me add'l meds to help sleep.

Then over the next two weeks, I get a call from a neurologist, get the MRI, a nerve conduction test, a consult with a 2nd neurologist and a neurosurgeon.

The neurosurgeon is apparently one of the top ones in BC with a two year waitlist. He reviews my case and decide that as I'm improving we should wait 6 months and review.

This morning the main doctor called ME to review and catch up.

Cost? $50 for the meds.

Bastards. /s

BTW, none of this was on a "company health plan." We do have those to cover dental and ophthalmology and drugs. But I had just changed jobs so I wasn't on any private health insurance plan for this.

Just got back for 3.5hrs of nerve conductivity tests...

THEY STUCK NEEDLES IN ME AND GAVE ME SHOCKS!
THAT WAS NOT FUN!
But it was fascinating!

I got to hear the PCM signals that run my neural system.

Alas, there seems to be a mix of arthritis and disk degeneration... so... not so good. They're referring me to a spinal surgeon and we'll see where that leads.

Did have a fascinating conversation with the neurologist about AI taking over the world, machine ethics and the idea that the universe is a simulation.

They're gonna stick patches on me and zap me for science.

He got the MRI results and yep, I need surgery. He's trying to arrange hospital time and a neurosurgeon. He has two in mind, but with the apocalypse, elective surgeries are on hold at the moment. They're talking about opening them back up within two weeks, but he's suggesting that he'll ask to have it considered urgent as the issues with my right hand seem to be getting worse.

Still, progress of a sort. :)

MRI done! Surprisingly relaxing although now I have the headache I get when I do an MRI. No alcohol for 24hrs. :(

Hopefully hear back from the neurologist next week with next steps.

愚蠢的該死的手臂... 現在我像白人一樣用筷子吃飯。

MRI scheduled for Sat after next.
In a pandemic.
For $0 out of pocket.
Remind me again about how bad Canadian health care is? :)

Now, hopefully won't get postponed again by a sudden outbreak. Then again, the previous appt was at 5am... so. :)

Did a phone consult with a neurologist today who agrees it's a pinched nerve. He's requesting an MRI asap and hopes it won't require surgery, but I suspect it will since I have disk problems (yes... I have crashed disks). The pain has gone down, but my hand is really achy and I get bursts of shoulder and back pain. Hopefully he can push this through the covid 19 delays. We have lots of spare hospital beds here.

On related news - I've been trying to draw with a Wacom tablet connected to my regular PC and wow... I can't eye/hand coordinate that way anymore. I'm so used to drawing on glass so the pen is right where the 'ink' is that I do that 'move hand over here and the line happens over there' thing anymore!

Still in bad shape. My right hand is partially paralysed. I was supposed to go in for an MRI and then treatment, but now that Covid-19 has shut everything down, that's all on hold.
I'm in week five of restive recovery - it can take 6-8 weeks... and even if that doesn't do it, the trunk nerve is still probably ok and surgery to relieve pressure will still work if we can get to it within a few months.
Hurts like hell though. Just my luck to pinch a nerve right before the apocalypse.
Ah well, I guess going to have to practice drawing with a bad hand.

Damaged a nerve in my back that has messed up my right arm ... So no drawing for a while.

I actually want to draw something tonight.. but I can't visualise anything interesting.

I think I have artist's cramp.

It's like an artist's block, but more localised and annoying.

I'm having troubles with the last few Disney Foxes, oddly because they're actually more or less cartoon feral foxes. With Anthros, it's easy to just stick them in a cute pose and let their.. ahem.. assets hang out without making it too beefcakey... But with a feral.. it gets trickier because most animals already have their bits showing, so that's not exceptionally innovative.. and they don't have the sexy bits out unless they're getting ready to do it - but these are solo pics.

When I draw something, I like to try and imagine the story around it so even a still has come sense of context.. and that's been getting harder to do as I move along from a character like Robin Hood, who could easily be dreaming of his Maid Marion in a naughty way.. to.. well, Honest John.. who's evil and is showing off just to make people uncomfortable... I went with a similar idea for Foxy Loxy (and yeah, ended up with another cigar joke).

Zuzo and Todd are going to be realllly difficult. I have a good pose for Zuzo.. but giving him a reason to show his stuff is tricky because I don't know the character that well. I know Todd, but the best I can do there is to have him think of his mate (or.. possibly of Copper.. we'll see... :) ) but that takes us back to Robin Hood.

I think while I'm trying to come up with something.. I'll do a more 'realistic' Legosi...

Zuzo and Todd...

Then a bunch of other requests...

I've been playing Beat Saber a lot. :)

So, next four drawings of Disney foxes.

- Zuzo
- Todd
- Finnick
- Katy Dodd

Not necessarily in that order. :)
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