Not any more it isn't..


My faithful steed lost her oil pump last night, and at a well worn 339K miles, I'm done; I'm a mechanic, not a miracle worker..

Long story short, priorities beckon, I now need a new car. Barring some sort of miracle, Anthrocon is officially off the table for us this year. FA:U is still a distant possibility, as it's much closer to home, and thus less of an expense, but I'm not counting my foals just yet.

D'ymkarra

We'll be without internet at the apt. for an undetermined amount of time; I can still get to most things through my phone, but still gonna be a pain at times finding service. If anyone needs to get a hold of me, you all pretty much know where to find me..

D'ymkarra

Where will you be?
All over the place; Likely around the Dealer's Den, and various panels.

Where are you staying?
The Omni (Weds/ Sun), Westin (Thurs-Sun)

What day are you getting there?
Wednesday, leaving Monday

Who will you be rooming with?
 Ryuuyouki mara~chan  mechsae  ~Kria~

Do you do free art?
Most all my art is free; I"m usually so busy being a social pony at cons though, I rarely draw much of anything.

Do you do trades?
See above.

Do you have prints/CDs?
Nope.

Do you do badges?
Rarely. Usually by request for friends :)

Will you have art in the Art Show?
Someday, maybe.

What are your limits to drawing?
I'll attempt to draw most anything, doesn't mean I"ll succeed at it

Can I give you lots of money?
Oh hell yes! Seriously though, only if it's owed for something; gifts are always appreciated though :)

What is your gender?
Female

How old are you?
Greymuzzle. 'Nuff said.

Are you taken?
Yep.

Can I touch you?
Hugs are most always welcome, even moreso from friends. Get too grabby though, and you may lose an appendage >:)

Can I touch your friends?
I wouldn't advise it. Unless you don't value your fingers.

Can I invite you out for food/fun/etc?
Always.

Can I come with you for food/fun/etc?
So long as the rest of the group doesn't object too loudly, sure :)

Can I talk to you?
I love talking to people at cons, though I may be a bit random/ easily distracted by so many people pulling me in all directions :)

Can I give you stuff?
I like stuff. I love useful or collectible stuffs as well.

..is not good.

I've been trying for a long while to get my thoughts down on paper/ in type, but my mind has been exceedingly random, increasingly dark/ lucid, and my attention span decreasing exponentially lately. Long story short, for likely the last year, possibly longer, I've been battling some demons..chronically depressed/ angry all the time; What scares me the most (which is NOT an easy thing to do) is the worry I may have an inherited bipolar disorder, courtesy of my good old mother..It's a legitimiately frightening prospect, knowing how she gets; And I do NOT want to become anything like her if I can so help it. Fortunately for me, Kria has been observant enough to not take my moodiness personally, and finally realize something was indeed amiss; she has also seconded my suspicions that more professional help may be required to nip things in the bud, should I show signs of getting worse.


I've been wanting for a long time now to say a HUGE thank you to all my friends here; from the DMFA/ CMF forums, EFM, and Furcadia alike. You've all lent me an ear and a hug or two when I so desperately needed them (despite your own stresses), honored and amazed me with heartfelt gifts of both kind words and spectacular artistic creations. When I come to local meets and cons, you've helped me forget about the real world for a while, and remind me why I so love this fandom: I can always be myself, never need feel self concious to flaunt my tail in public, my arts are always enjoyed/ appreciated (no matter how bad they are), and age..is just a number. There are some of you who have gone well above and beyond to help me through my rough spots these last few months; My only hope is that I can return the favor in kind someday, should the need arise.



D'ymkarra

As this year's party is being hosted by my mare and I, we just wanted to lay out a few ground rules/ pointers to ensure that everyone has a great time:

*Food and drinks are being handled pot-luck style, so everyone is encouraged to bring a favorite dish/ concoction for all to enjoy; It is not required, but greatly appreciated. As with last year, this is a DRY party; for obvious reasons, and open to all ages of furs/ non-furs :)

*When you arrive, come to the kitchen/ rear side door on 3rd St.. The porch light will be on/ door open, but we ask that you wait to be let in by one of us; Kria's Maine Coon is an escape artist, and will make a run for it if the door is held open too long.

* SunilY has been gracious enough to offer up her PS3/ XBOX for us to hook up here during the party, so if you have a favorite game, by all means, bring it along; An extra controller, etc. would also be helpful as well for some of the multi-player platforms.

*We have crash space available for 7, possibly eight people, I'm attempting to get my hooves on an air mattress; Drop me a note if you need to do so, and don't forget a pillow and sleeping bag/ blanket!

*If you need directions/ are concerned of getting lost, by all means, note me for a contact #

***Fursuits/ tails/ ears are highly encouraged!!!...The time has come to eat, drink, and be furry!***

There's probably something I'm forgetting, so if you have any questions, comment here or note me :)




We look forward to seeing you all there!

D'ymkarra/ Kria U U

We'll be rockin out with our hooves out at Furstivus!!!!!

What: We bring you Furstivus, a new year's eve furry convention! End your year with fantastic fabulous furry fun and ring in the new one with even more!!!!!

When: The weekend of New Year’s (12/30/11 - 1/1/12)

Where: Crowne Plaza West in Philadelphia, PA (For my fellow greymuzzles out there, this used to be Anthrocon's main overflow hotel!)


LOADED WITH:
Panels
Artist's Alley
Art Shows
Auctions
Traditional Festivus Activities
Nightly Dances with awesome DJs by Protocollie
Shy Matsi's Con Suite
AND MUCH MORE!!


Pre-Reg starts 11/28/11!!


Basic membership: $40, includes con bag and access to the convention for the duration of the weekend
Sponsor membership: Price and incentives to be determined
Furstivus Miracle membership: Price and incentives to be determined

Single day passes will be available:
Festivus pass: $25, for access on Friday only
New Year’s Eve pass: $25, for access on Saturday only
Dead Dog pass: $25, for access on Sunday only


Rock in the new year with your paws, hooves, and tails in the air..at Furstivus!

*Huge sigh*

Yep, it's that time again: The mare and I are prepping our Christmas card list.

We had such a wonderful response last year, I'm making an open offer to any and all of my furry friends, who would like to be added to our list for this year. Note me with a name (real or furry) and an address, and we're gonna card you, pony-style!...It's that simple.

I'm also hoping to continue the tradition of collecting greetings from our fellow furs; If you'd like our address in kind, again, just send me a note :)

D'ymkarra

1) What's your character's name?
- D'ymkarra Sinclair, though most just call me D'ym.

2) How old is he/she?
- 452 years

3) Is your OC a boy or girl?
- Female.

4) What's his/her race species?
- Clydesdale/ Dragon Incubus

Appearance

1) If this character were to suddenly become part of the real world, and ended up in a heavily-populated area, how many stares would he/she get?
- Quite a few. I'd imagine a 10'7" talking horse walking around would turn some heads.

2) Is your character considered normal in his/her own world?
- Yes, though they are highly misunderstood.

3) What would be his/her most recognizable feature(s)?
- Most would say her half-bat headwings; I'd go with the kilt, or deep red eyes.

4) Would you consider your OC as attractive?
- Somewhat.

Personality [Note: while Dym's personality is very much my own, some traits are exaggerated IC'ly as a quirk of his species/ race.]

1) Temper?
- Highly tolerant, but easily annoyed; slow to anger unless directly threatened.

2) Does your character ever get depressed?
- Chronicly so at times, but a few loyal friends, and a loving mare have helped keep her on track..

3) Leader or Follower?
- Can be either; but usually follower.

4) What is the main aspect(s) of his/her personality?
- Calm, logical, thoughtful, generous.

History

1) Did your OC have a family of any sort? If so, are they still alive?
- The offspring of a Scottish red drake and a Clydesdale succubus, she is one of only two known surviving members of her clan (Siar); Her father was forced to kill her mother; when he refused, both were slain by the elder dragons; Two sisters were also massacred as a result of a blood feud between the two families/ races.

2) Is your character out on his/her own?
- Yes.

3) Has he/she encountered any traumatizing events?
- Only one..that in the grand scheme of things, is fairly common to the point of being a right of passage.

4) What was probably the best time in his/her life so far?
- One word: Kria - A 'cubi in love has no rival in passion or devotion.

Romance

1) Single?
- Married.

2) Has your OC developed any romantic relationships?
- In four and a half centuries, I'd say a few.

3) Virgin?
- No.

4) Does your character like flirting?
- Yes.

Symbolism

1) What animal would you associate your OC with?
- He's a horse, that's more than symbolic enough.

2) Musical Instrument?
- Guitar, piano.

3) Element?
- Fire.

4) Planet?
- Haven't really thought about it.

Showing the Love

1) Do you draw your character?
- I try to draw myself in various styles, but those commissioned from others have turned out better than I could ever do it.

2) Do you write about him/her?
- I'm pondering writing a more detailed backstory..someday

3) Do you use him/her in any RPGs?
- D'ymkarra was my original fursona when I joined the fandom, and has been my main character/ alt on Furcadia since 1998. I tried my hand at a few hardcore MMORPG's but failed miserably at it; I remain on FurC to this day for the social engagement, as well as keeping a promise to a departed friend.

4) What other ways have you appreciated your OC?
- I have a tail right now; I plan to have a fursuit made in his likeness at some point in the future (when I can afford it).

The fallout from the con has pretty much dissipated by this point; A few choice heads were rolled, and a lot of confusion was (hopefully) cleared up among friends (I'd rather they bring questions to me, than speculate amongst themselves). In fact, I'm hoping a few new friendships, both for myself and Kria, come out stronger for it. Admittedly, PCD hit me unusually hard this year; I'm still reeling at how much went horribly wrong, and the aftershocks continue to irk me in real life even now.

We're both trying to get back to normal, and concentrate on more important things; the wedding is less than three months away, and things are coming together nicely, but still insanely stressful. I'm back to helping organize local furmeets, trying to bring my artistic motivations back from the dead, and as usual, work work work. Blargh. Her birthday is coming up on the 18th, so that should definitely be a kick in the tail for both of us, considering the surprise I have planned..mwahaha.

What's really been bothering me lately is that I feel like I've been running on autopilot for the last two months; I'm making vital decisions seemingly without thinking about them, not caring like I used to about my work, and my memory, especially short term, has been m.i.a. It's almost like my head is disconnected from my body, floating above and forced to watch helplessly as I go through the day in super-derp mode. I'm hoping this is only temporary, and not a sign of something more ominous; more importantly, I hope I can get connected again before something catastrophic occurs as a result of my disconnection :(


D'ymkarra

That's right, we're invading the middle ages!

When: Saturday, September 24th, 2011 (Scottish Weekend Woo!)

What: A fantastic furry meet, greet, and romp across merry olde England!

Where: Mt. Hope Estate & Winery, 2775 Lebanon Road, Manheim, PA


I'm putting the word out early so anyone interested can plan ahead. Reply here or note me, and I'll add your name to the list, or if you have any questions; time and other details will be announced closer to the event.
Sorry no fursuits, but tails/ ears are not only welcome, but encouraged! (You can still get $2 off if in period costume); I would highly recommend purchasing your tickets in advance, and if possible online:

http://www.parenfaire.com/​buytickets.html

FAQ: http://www.parenfaire.com/​gen/faq.html


D'ymkarra

It's now the morning after Anthrocon, and first thing I'm going to say is, it has been an experience, both good, bad, and ugly.

The convention itself absolutely rocked as always; the Dealer's room was packed, though I heard pretty much across the board that sales were slower than expected/ usual. I only actually commissioned one piece of art (which still makes me squee everytime I look at it, it's just that awesome), along with my usual T-shirt fixation, and somehow, Kria's own button fetish seems to have rubbed off on me. Seriously. I bought like a dozen of the damn things.

I also finally have my first new tail in almost a decade (tenkyu Jessica!); it felt wonderful to not feel 'naked' at a furcon/ meet for once, though that's a story in itself.

I got to actually hang out with Mab and crew for once; She is one of the most incredible people you'd ever want to meet, and a crazy, super-talented artist. As are her friends, and the people from the forum. As a group however, I still feel like a huge outcast, as I was away from the fandom for many years...I missed a lot of the bonding moments that brought this group together, and as such may never quite fit. Faded blue-collar ponies need not apply I guess *sigh*

We did happen to meet up with Odela (from Furcadia) on the roof of the convention center; It was wonderful to finally put a face to a name, as well as talk nostalgia with another member of the 'old guard'. Her reaction to seeing the two of us was one of the few truly high points of the weekend, and I wished we could have chatted longer.

Kria herself arrived on Friday night, and it was beyond obvious from the word go that she was personally NOT comfortable there. Technically, she's not a furry, and never was; I made the mistake of assuming that since she has a highly artistic background, plus her love of dragons, fairies, and all things mythical would help her settle right in. All I'm going to say is, I seriously screwed the pooch on that one. She wound up hanging out downtown and exploring away from the con; This after being snubbed by several people who I'd have thought would know better than to treat someone's mate like that. Stay classy guys.

Leaving Anthrocon to me has always been like leaving a far off world or even another planet; as you drive away, the signs of 'our' little civilization fade from view, and eventually all you're left with is the empty blackness of space, or in my case, the PA Turnpike. That kind of loneliness would drive anybody down, that's why there's a thing called PCD, and it hit me hard this year..... In my case, overall, this year's AC was a megawfulnormous (thanks Mab) failure. I have completely lost my motivation/ inspiration to attempt new arts, felt like I was in someone's way all the time, and had an even bigger social/ emotional wedge driven between my mare and I, on top of all the other crap we're handling in real life. It's at the point even an old greymuzzle like myself, has been driven to the point...I'm pondering hanging up my tail for good...

D'ymkarra

Do you know where your towel is?...

First thing I absolutely must say...Is that I have been having waaaay too much fun with this MLP theme; Both works have turned out beautifully, despite a lot of room for improvement in the future :-/

Which brings me to the circle.

Back in 1997 when I stopped drawing Fraxxured, I thought I'd easily be able to pick it up in a year or two, once I had learned to balance a full time job, friends, possible vet/ art school, and my involvement in the fandom. But alas, this was not to be the case; I was working as much as I possibly could to support my roadtrips and FurCon habits, and getting online sucked away what free time I had left. I discovered places like FurryMuck, alt.fan.furry, all the related usenet groups, and most infamously, MMO's such as Furcadia. I started focusing more on the social aspects of the fandom, and without realizing it, I let drawing time fall by the wayside. Even after meeting Kria in 1997, any creative sparks I had were only directed towards her, in the form of cutesy little romantic gestures that my uber-cartoony style fit with perfectly. I was happy at that point just being a fan and admirer of others' works, rather than a creator of my own.

But with the sudden shift/ desire to rejoin the fandom in the last year or two, came this wave of creativity; ideas were rushing forth like water through a broken dam. Hanging with other local furry artists, and seeing the progression of their works and abilities, made me realize just how lacking my own skills are, relative to my age; There have been times when I've quietly admitted to myself that some of my best works of late could probably be bested by a ten year old with a box of Crayolas and an attitude...It's been more than disheartening at times. If I could sit down for an entire day, completely uninterrupted, I'm sure I could churn out some truly beautiful pieces; I've done it in the past...Right now I feel truly pathetic calling myself an artist at all.

My new furry friends, especially the locals, have been both very motivating and inspiring, though at times their words feel much too kind. I've been trying to make the most of the small bursts of creativity that manage to break through the stress of real life...This pony wants so desperately to break free of the ring, and come at life again at a full gallop. *SIGH*

D'ymkarra

ganked from  clyderyde

[] You meow/bark.
[] You find pets toys amusing.
[] You get hyper by the smell of catnip.
[] You growl/hiss when someone gets too close to your food.
[] You growl/hiss when someone you dislike is too close to you.
[] You purr/shake your leg when someone shows you affection.
[] If someone tosses a ball, you chase it and bring it back.
[x] You make horsie noises.
Total:1

[x] You love to be scratched behind the ear.
[x] You love fish/meat.
[x] You like to stick your head out trough the window of a moving car.
[x] You like when people pet your head.
[x] You like to flaunt your mane and /or tail
[] People can make you stop doing stuff by hitting you on the nose with a newspaper.
[x] You think feathers are fun to play with.
[x] You have horsie mannerisms.
Total:7

[] You sleep a lot during daytime.
[] You enjoy scaring birds.
[] You lick peoples faces to show you like them.
[] You bite people if they annoy you.
[x] You tend to stomp the ground in excitement or when totally bored.
[x] You tend to steal food from your friends/family's plate when you have eaten all of yours.
[x] Milk or water is your favorite drink
[x] You love apples, carrots, and/or mints.
Total:4

[] You own a collar and you enjoy wearing it.
[] You own a leash and enjoy wearing it.
[X] You own animal ears/tail/paws or a fursuit.
[X] You have equine accessories you wear.
[X] You enjoy long walks in the park.
[] You meow/bark when you see something you want.
[X] You own a harness and love it!
Total:4

[] You call your hands and feet "paws".
[x] You call your hands and feet as "hooves"
[x] You tilt your head when you do not understand what someone is talking about.
[] You run to the door when someone mentions a walk.
[X] You step over by your harness, when someone mentions they are leaving.
[x] You really enjoy cuddling.
[x] You stretch your body and whimper a bit every morning when you wake up.
[x] You can wake up and go back to sleep right away after looking around.
[x] Your "shoes" are worn on your "hooves"
Total:7

[x] You have your favorite spot besides your bed where you like to sleep.
[] You meow or bark very often.
[] You hide when you get scared.
[] You run to the door to see who it is every time someone comes in to the house.
[] You like to chase flying insects and try to catch them with your bare hand.
[x] You tend to chew on stuff a lot.
[] You like to do tricks to get a treat.
[x] You have a stable/stall for yourself.
Total:3

[x] You own a wearable item/tag with your name on it.
[x] You refer to your self as an animal.
[x] Your username has something to do with animals.
[x] Your e-mail has something to do with animal.
[] If you get a bleeding wound, you lick it to makes it feel better.
[x] You look for edible stuff often.
[x] You have a favorite gait.
Total:6

[x] You often find yourself looking through the window for a long time.
[x] You like to say hi to strangers.
[x] You like to be petted when you have done something good.
[] You like ponyplay.
[] People think you act like a pet.
[x] You growl/hiss at stuff you do not like.
[] You like to eat or chew on grass or hay.
[x] If you get wet, you shake to get rid of the water.
Total: 5
Final Total: (multiply this number by two as well for the score.)

74% Furry...Bout what I expected :D

The Jetta will likely be back in working order tomorrow; a cracked radiator tank derailed things for another day..I can't wait until Sadira is ready to ride again.

On a happier note, Kria and I finally finished our taxes; with the money she's getting back from her tuition, plus what I already have stashed away, we now have our entire working budget for the wedding :)

She's going dress shopping with her mother/ grandmother Saturday, and because she's superstitious like that, I'm not invited :(

I guess I can wait it out *taps a hoof impatiently*


D'ymkarra

Being able to do your own repair work isn't a safety net; It's tempting fate.

Last weekend, the water pump finally let loose on my 1986 Mk1 VW Jetta...As I found out this morning, the ORIGINAL pump, installed by the factory 25 years and 237,846 miles ago. Also as expected, all 10 bolts sheared off, neatly and firmly corroded into the aluminum housing.

Frig.

So after spending the first two hours tearing it down, and eventually being let down, I spent the last three hours of my morning on the phone trying to locate a new housing, Much to my surprise, the local VW dealer had one in stock, but couldn't deliver until Monday.

Double frig.

So here's to possibly another week of waiting to get it all back together, and hoping nothing else goes wrong with the reassembly.

Should have gone air-cooled. Seriously :(

I love my mare dearly; perhaps more than she will ever know...The rest of her family, can step in front of a train for all I care.

Arrogant, hypocritical bitches...the lot of them *snarl*

...to officially extend the weekend to FOUR DAYS :)

Obviously I haven't drawn anything new lately; for the tl;dr crowd, more on that can be found here. Kria's majorly sick right now; we spent last Monday night in the ER, and came away with more questions than answers. We're both massively stressed out, and hoping Tuesday brings a solution to things...



Blargh.

This past weekend, Kria and I took yet another step towards one of our ultimate goals...We booked our venue for the ceremony, the reception, and are consulting with a local priestess to do the handfasting.

She, being the emotional rollercoaster of a mare that she is, cried her eyes out when we left the station; I'm a bit more stoic, but for the first time in a long while, I'm feeling wildly optimistic, as well as genuinely excited :3

October is gonna be here in the blink of an eye...whew!


D'ymkarra

Doubting one of your own, that's one thing...Call my mare of seven years a liar?...Prepare for war you freaking douchebags...

I have got to remember to take pictures of badge commissions before I send them..*facehoof*

One of my closest equine friends, lost a dear friend last night. Devilpony's draft mule, Buddy, passed on last evening after taking ill earlier that day. Adding insult to injury she also received some grave news of a much more personal nature the following morning. She's in an awful way right now, as the last year has not been kind to her; Whether you know her or not, it would be most appreciated if you could send her some kind words, hugs or well wishes...She needs our love and support right now more than ever.

We hoofers look after our own ;)


D'ymkarra

300 views?...Seriously?... Thank you everybody! I really need to get some new work done *gallops off*

*salutes*