Hi folks. You know I don't post here very much folks. I usually do not have much to say, and just lurk around the background a bit, sending out Favs and encouragement to others. I'm creating this post because, like many of you, I'm severely disappointed by recent events. However, unlike at least some of you, I have had a week from hell at work (getting waaaaay too much pre-Thanksgiving items into the store and not enough room or manpower to process it all) to already add to my stress. And without going into details I was dealt another blow/disappointment tonight. I am mentally very down right now. No, not suicidal (thank my Mom for giving me a stubborn streak that means I would never quit on anything, including life), just very, very, very, very worn down. What was it Bilbo said, "Like butter spread too thinly over a piece of bread"? That's my spirit right now. This too will pass, and the future will hopefully brighten, but for awhile I might be quieter than usual...

Me and Seaweed got to go see Beetlejuice: The Musical last week and it was an absolute blast. The entire cast was Broadway worthy with not a weak link in the bunch. The story was a bit jumbled toward the end, but the trip through the story was so much fun it's easy to overlook. And yes, the story takes radical departures from the movie while still keeping faithful to the characters and spirit. I'd especially recommend the musical if you were a fan of the old animated series.

Now, there are many memorable and funny songs in the play, but one which struck home for me is Home - Lydia's big number right toward the end of the story. Here are the lyrics:

Home:

Mama, I could use some help here
Tired of talking to myself here
Back at home, you don't exist
So here I am in the abyss
Are you really in this place?
It's like the emptiness of space
I could search for all eternity
And never see your face
Help me out
I'm lost without you

Standing
Stuck on this impossible road
No idea which way to go
Whichever path I choose
I lose, you know
And I don't know which way's home
Oh-oh
I don't know which way's home
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
You always saw life as a game
But since you left, it sucks to play
I'm beaten up and bruised
Confused by rules that alter every day
Where to next?

You left but I'm still standing
Spinning on this infinite road
Terrified of letting you go
No light above and there's no hope below
And I don't know which way's home
Mom, I've got my heart in my hand
Speak to me and I'll understand
One little word to know I'm not alone
And show me the way back home
Oh-oh
Is there a way back home?
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

The nothingness ahead of me
Is this the end you meant for me?
Every living minute
There's no home without you in it
I'm falling, quit stalling
Your daughter is calling your name
I've burned all my bridges and games

Mom?
I don't wanna forget you
I promise
I'm never gonna forget you
I'm gonna go back home
Adam, Barbara, Delia and Dad
It's messy but they're all that I have
I'll make the best of being flesh and bone

Mama, I'm going home
Yeah
Mama, I'm going home
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
I'm going home
Mama, I'm going home




I lost my mother 7 years ago this July. The hole it left in my heart never heals, but if filled by our love for each other and the memories of all the good times we shared. This song speaks to me SO hard it physically hurts. On one hand, I wish I had it when I lost her, but at the same time I am not sure I would have been ready for it then. "When the student is ready, the teacher shall appear." I've learned. I'm living my best life, I'm loving and enjoying as much as I can of what this world allows me to. I'm both going home, and already there.

Thank you for everything mom.

Pandaguy always said no one would think or remember him once he was gone, not after a year or two. Well, it's been 10 and I still have not forgotten. And I still miss you, just as much today as I did 10 years ago.

Ok, why - when I drag my pics over to load them, they are properly oriented, but when I get to the Submission Preview screen everything seems to be getting rotated now? The pics I have loaded up so far worked fine, but I do not want to load up a bunch of sideways pics - but FA seems to want to rotate everything from here on out. If you have a solution let me know and I will post more pics of the con later in the day :)

Just got home from Blue Ridge FurFare, and had a very fun weekend. Aside from one glitch not associated with the con (Seaweed had to get a new CC and it did not arrive in time), everything went pretty smoothly. Between Faboo, Carolina Williams and Timber each going out at least twice, I suited more this weekend than I probably did the last 2 years combines. Plus our furry family grew....but that's a surprise for just a little later. Saw some old friends, missed a few folks I had hoped to hook up with, and made a few new ones. All in all, it was a great con. I did not attend opening/closing ceremonies, so not sure what the figures were. But the Fursuit parade had 225 suiters, so I am guessing attendance in the 1200 range? (If you know the actual number feel free to leave it in the comments). Not bad for a con just one week out from TFF. Plus, got a nice dusting of snow Sat morning that made the weekend that little bit extra magical. Will stop my rambling so I can start posting a few pics. I will try to credit names where and when I can, but I'm rubbish at remembering them and con badges are not always readable in the pics, so I apologize in advance if I post a pic of your suit and do not name drop you. Hugs and well wishes to all!

If we could get World Leaders to work as fast and diligent at fighting climate change as furry artists did in cranking out art/porf of the Big Bad Wold from the new Dreamworks The Bad Guys trailer, we'd have it licked in a year.

Just a quick one to toss out there, since I had not heard anyone else touch on this theory yet.

Commercial #1 - Toaster = Power
Commercial #2 - Watch = Time
Commercial #3 - "You read my mind"/Hydra brainwashing soap = Mind

Will the next commercial point to Soul, Reality, or Space?
Was hoping for confirmation this episode, but will have to wait til next week...

I have to spend at least another 4 days trapped with my Trump-loving Covid-denying sisters. I honestly do not know how much more I can bite my tongue for the sake of getting through Dad's funeral peacefully....

Thanks to everyone who has sent their love and condolences, whether it be here or in private message. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas, a happy New Year, and much more. I've spent the last 2 months in the bargaining/anger states, so I'm already well into acceptance. That doesn't make it any easier though, especially at this time of year. Me and Seaweed will celebrate when we get back home, so our Christmas is not cancelled - just delayed. But I will be lying to you if I said I did not dread the upcoming days.

Please keep my family in your prayers.

So, I have waited to update til I had substantial news to report. Dad is recovering, they seemed to have finally licked the pneumonia and he's looking better than he did back when they sent him home on Thanksgiving. But of course, issues still persist. He still needs physical therapy to get his strength back. His doctor talked to my older sister yesterday and was appalled to learn they still had him in Covid isolation.....40 days after the initial diagnosis. He said there is no reason he could not have had visitors the last few weeks. So, my sis got to see him yesterday before they transferred him to the rehab center. Now, cue Yakkity Sax.....

Sis had not heard from him later in the afternoon so she called the RC to check on him. He had not been admitted. She called the hospital, and they said he was being sent to an isolation RC for those infected with Covid. My sister had to explain to them he was past that point, and had to call the doctor who confirmed they were sending him to the wrong place and her and the doc began playing phone tag trying to get him routed to the other RC. Meanwhile, he was in the back of the transport riding around because some paperwork had been misplaced and they were trying to locate it. They finally got a hold of the driver, AFTER dad had been dropped off at the Covid RC. So the doc had him immediately separated and quarantined to keep him from being re-exposed to those with possible still active Covid until today when they were going to try to get him transferred to the proper Rehab Center. Still waiting on an update.

So yeah, there ya go. He is doing better, but thanks to incompetence at the hospital he has now possibly been re-exposed. The good news is his recent bout means he is far less likely to contract it a 2nd time, but still, I wish it was possible to bitch-slap an entire hospital system....

But hopefully they got him isolated in time, they'll get him to where he should be today, and he will begin rehab and be home soon. *keeping fingers crossed*

Thanks to all who have sent me their prayers and well wishes. Right now no news = good news, so all we can do is hurry up and wait on this end.

Well, as some of you may be aware dad is back in the hospital. He voluntarily went back in right after Thanksgiving because he felt he was not improving at home. He hoped they could put him into rehab to get his strength back up.... Yesterday his oxygen crashed again. The Covid is out of his system and he is clean of that, but the pneumonia he got from it is still hanging on and the doctors just cannot seem to get rid of it. And it's kicking his ass. He has a history of lung problems I won't go into here, so needless to say this is the one area he's the most vulnerable. My older sister called last night (she's usually the more optimistic one) and told us that while they are not ready to cart him off to a Hospice just yet, if they cannot get the pneumonia under control it doesn't look good. So yes, I'm rattled and stressed, and apologize if I have not been around or chatty lately. I'd say this next week or two is critical, so just keep us in your prayers. Thanks.

Dad did up going into the hospital, and he's just come home in time for Thanksgiving. He's still very week, but he's home and doing as well as could be expected. My Bro-in-law is recovered and home as well, so I really do have something to be thankful for this holiday....

My dad is in the hospital with Covid. He's apparently had it for 5 or 6 days now, and had been getting better until he started running a fever last night. He has been admitted into the hospital and is being given steroids and antibiotics, but so far a respirator is not necessary. The next few days will be crucial to how long he has to stay and how his recovery (we hope) will proceed. My brother in law is even worse shape and hospitalized, and I suspect he's where my dad picked it up from. So if I seem distracted or quieter than normal over the next week, you know why.

Hye folks! Next week, Boone the Raccoon will be in the neighborhood, and trekking to help raise money for Give Kids the World. For the furs who have not heard of it, go check them out at https://www.gktw.org/ - they do a MUCH better job of explaining what it is they do than I ever could. This is a charity both me and Seaweed helped out with during our old Orlando days, and they hold a special place in our hearts. Soooooo....

Timber will be joining Boone for his hike, with Seaweed filming the proceedings and taking pictures for everyone's amusement. So, you ask, what does this have to do with me? Well, not many folks have chipped in to Boone's pledge page, so I'm hoping to score him a few more by giving him a signal boost here.

https://give.gktw.org/fundraiser/2819728

I know $$ is tight for everyone, so I'm only asking folks donate what they can - $1, $2, $10.... whatever you can spare. You'll be helping make a lot of kid's lives a little brighter.

Thanks for humoring an old wuff. ^^

Thanks to EddieBear, I finally got to fulfill a (rather modest) dream of mine. I saw the classic Creature from the Black Lagoon.

...in 3-D.

As a fan of the movie I've regretted not being born into the proper time period to have seen it in its original 3-D presentation, and having seen it now it did not disappoint. It's out of my budget, but now I REALLY want a 3-D tv and player : p A dream for another day I reckon.

In return, we watched our copy of 1917, which he seemed to really enjoy. So yay!

Otherwise, work is still work, and the world spins on. Secret project #1 is stalled until the folks I spoke with get back to me, but secret project #2 may be inching forward in a few months. No rush, will be next year before any cons start back up again anyway. So I bide my time.......*insert evil laugh here*

And PS, Secret Project #1 is another 'bucket list' item. You've been warned....

Ott is groggy, but home. Apparently you can remove a gall bladder through about 4 1-2 inch incisions in the tummy,,,,

Just got word, she is out of surgery and appears to be doing fine, they expect about an hour to recover. Gotta go pick up a prescription for her soon. They removed the gall bladder, since she had a very large infected gall stone and it was, to quote the doctor, 'gangrenous'. But they got it out and cleaned away the infected area and tissue, so hopefully I'll have her back here in a few hours.

Well, in about an hour Seaweed will be having her gall bladder removed. I'm stuck at home waiting for the call to come pick her up because of the Covid crap. On edge right now. Apparently they are doing it as outpatient and it's a routine procedure, but of course I am nervous...

Heading home in the morning. Nice turn out for a 1st year con, and despite some growing pains I had a blast. Hopefully lessons will be learned and applied to next year.

Fri/Sat everything was normal, but today we had to limit events to under 100 people due to CDC recommendations. Not horribly hard for a small start up con, but something AC or MFF would never get away with.

Seaweed finally got a griffin head for her griffin character she's had for 18+ years, so expect to see pics of that coming up soon.

Will post pictures in a few days, until then, love to all!

Heading off soon to a new fur con in Asheville, NC. Lovely town, so know I'll have a decent weekend no matter what, barring mishaps. Just one last 'screw you' to the Corona Virus before panic causes the whole freaking country to shut down.

Sorry for not posting more often, but for the most part there's not been a ton to report. But having just returned from the theaters, I feel moved to expound my views upon the masses.....or the 3 people who might actually read this.

1917 is the reason why movies exist. I mean, the physical act of going into a darkened theater, watching a giant screen, and losing yourself for 2 hours. Movies like this just won't have the same impact at home, with the lights on, where you feel SAFE.

The plot is as simple as can be - 2 soldiers are tasked with delivering a message to troops behind enemy lines to avoid a trap set by the Germans. One soldier in particular is chosen because his brother is part of said troops. And for the final element, the whole movie is filmed to look like one continual shot. What comes off as a gimmick in movies like Hardcore Harry instead places you as a silent partner of these 2 as you make your way with them, racing the clock with lives on the line. This is where being in the theater is a HUGE plus, it puts you into the middle of the story with them. It's very easy to lose yourself in the moment, and that is a sign of a truly great film.

There are big names in here (Andrew Scott and Benedict Cumberbatch to name 2), but they are merely transitory as the story laser-focuses on the 2 young (extremely well acted) heroes. The score knows exactly when to build tension, when to fade into the background, and when to let loose to full triumphant glory. The cinematography is just as exquisite, contrasting the horrors of trench warfare with the beauty of unspoiled patches of countryside. Magnificent desolation is a term coined to refer to the moon's surface, but it could also just as well apply to this film as well.

All in all, I strongly recommend seeing this film in theaters if you get a chance to. I don't think anyone reading this will regret the decision.

...and a Happy New Year to all!

Me and Seaweed stopped at a local Sprout's Supermarket. (Think Whole Earth Food-like) While there I picked up a Hansen's Natural Cane Soda, Cherry Vanilla flavor. Me and her agreed, drinking is was like drinking the insides of a chocolate covered cherry. I'm STILL wired. Now pardon me while I run around the block a few times....