I have a Twitter now.
Posted 10 years agoFreshly made, so really empty but go watch it so you can enjoy all the cell phone WIP pics I plan to throw on there. Seriously thinking about updating my social media sites before FA because obvious reasons.
https://twitter.com/Wolfbird_NLCC
https://twitter.com/Wolfbird_NLCC
https://twitter.com/Wolfbird_NLCC
Garrus health update!
Posted 10 years agoWe took him to the avian vet this morning and they did crop and vent cultures. They found bacteria and although I didn't catch the condition's name they gave him sodium benzoate for his water and a broad spectrum antibiotic I have to give to him for 14 days.
He's looking a little more alert today and his medication is easy enough to administer, so I hope our good luck continues!
Hi new watchers!
Posted 10 years agoOK, I think I'm up to like 5 or 6 new faces today? I didn't even post any suits!
But um, hi!! Nice to meet you all :)
Guys, I am not at What the Fur lol
Posted 10 years agoBecause apparently there is some confusion already-- that's Daga! Her eyes are purple, mine are blue :>
I was briefly in the lobby to meet some people and give them their stuff, but nope, didn't stay. Sorry to anyone who wanted to say hi!
:(
Posted 10 years agoI really wish I could have a healthy relationship with my parents.
This sucks :c
No Script to block IMVU content?
Posted 10 years agoI like seeing the artist ads on FA, they're great!
I do not want to see IMVU crap, because they can show me their ugly chat program until the cows come home and I still won't use it. I am a sleeping dog, which is a marketing term for someone who will vindictively NOT buy your product if you shove it in my face.
If I use Adblock Plus, all the good adverts go away along with the bad :( I've bene using ABP for years and while it's great, I do feel bad for all the artists I never find out about because everyone else is so annoying I block everything.
I saw someone talking about how if you run NoScript you can block content from specific websites (ie, block IMVU content only and not FA artists because they're alright) and wow, that sounds pretty cool. So uh, anyone know how to configure it as such? Assume I'm stupid with computers, because I am. Also, Firefox pls.
EDIT: guys I already use Adblock Plus and have FA whitelisted, that part is fine. I just don't want to see IMVU (or BronyCon, I guess) crap because it's bothering my OCD like an out of place tile in a mosaic D: If I can configure it to block certain adverts on a given website, plz tell me with instructions because this computer is not a sewing machine or an oven so it's black magic to me.
FE 2015 memememememe
Posted 11 years agoYoinked from
wolfethane >:D
Q: Where are you staying?
A: The Main Hotel
Q: When will you be arriving and leaving?
A: Not sure yet, probably Thursday-Monday. Depends if we have our friend with us or not because of her job.
Q: Who will you be rooming with?
A:
nephisdragon, maaaaaybe someone else if she can get off work
Q: Where will you be most of the time during the day/s?
A: Roaming around in fursuit or handling for my husband.
Q: What/where will you be eating?
A: Don't they have a Montana's there?
Q: Will you be having a room party?
A: Not in ours, but I'd go to yours. Speaking of which, PM me if we're invited >.>
Q: Will you be drinking and/or getting drunk?
A: If my pregnancy test comes back negative, I will indulge in the yearly tradition of getting so shitfaced I throw up.
PERSONAL STUFF:
Q: What is your gender?
A: I present as female, but really idgaf what you refer to me as provided you're not being a dick about it.
Q: How tall are you?
A: 5'7"
Q: If I approach you, will you chat with me?
A: Sure! Unless I've blocked you on FA, then you can fuck right off.
Also, please don't ask me to help you price your fursuits/art or critique you. It's awkward as hell and I don't like it.
Q: If I see you, how should I get your attention?
A: If I'm in suit, get in front of me and wave.
Please don't yell "Wolf!" at me. Everyone is called Wolf-something-or-other and I'll have no idea you're talking to me. Wolfbird, WB or Carole are much better and more specific lol
Q: How many furry conventions have you attended?
A: This will be #8.
Q: Do you own a fursuit?
A: Yep! I'll likely bring
henmare and
shiatsu. Maaaybe WB, but we'll have to see if her fat ass fits in the car.
PERMISSIONS:
Q: Can I hug or snuggle with you?
A: Yeah, maybe. I'm really big on permission, if you ask nicely and wait for me to respond I'm pretty permissive. Do not act like it's your right to touch me just because I have a suit/you saw someone else do it/I have an AD Twitter. I may sound like an anus for being so harsh, but I am sick of being bad touch'd and I don't tolerate that anymore.
Q: How can I find you?
A: I'll probably be in a fursuit or next to one. My husband may or may not have his new suit by then, you'll now it when you see it. Otherwise look for the armored sergal.
Q: Can I buy you drinks?
A: No, and I will go apeshit on you if you try to slip me one "as a joke" because I might be pregnant. If I can get drunk, I'll take care of that myself.
Q: Can I look in your sketchbook?
A: I doubt I'll have one, but if I do, sure.
Q: Can I take your picture?
A: If I'm in suit, sure! You don't really have to ask, but if I know you're trying to photograph me I'll pose for you <3
Ask if I'm out of suit, though.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Q: Do you do do free art, trades, commissions, badges?
A: Free stuff = never. Trades or commissions = not right now. We're closed until further notice.
Q: Do you have a table in the Artist Alley / Dealer's Den or a panel in the Art Show? If so, what are you selling?
A: I have an Art Show table reserved, but as to what'll be there I can't say because I didn't make it yet huehuehehehe.
If you wanna look at my suits, come see me and I'll pirouette for you.
Q: Do you plan to volunteer?
A: No lol
Q: What's your goal for the con this year?
A: Meet new people, check out my fellow makers' work, spend money, have a killer time.
See you there!
wolfethane >:DQ: Where are you staying?
A: The Main Hotel
Q: When will you be arriving and leaving?
A: Not sure yet, probably Thursday-Monday. Depends if we have our friend with us or not because of her job.
Q: Who will you be rooming with?
A:
nephisdragon, maaaaaybe someone else if she can get off workQ: Where will you be most of the time during the day/s?
A: Roaming around in fursuit or handling for my husband.
Q: What/where will you be eating?
A: Don't they have a Montana's there?
Q: Will you be having a room party?
A: Not in ours, but I'd go to yours. Speaking of which, PM me if we're invited >.>
Q: Will you be drinking and/or getting drunk?
A: If my pregnancy test comes back negative, I will indulge in the yearly tradition of getting so shitfaced I throw up.
PERSONAL STUFF:
Q: What is your gender?
A: I present as female, but really idgaf what you refer to me as provided you're not being a dick about it.
Q: How tall are you?
A: 5'7"
Q: If I approach you, will you chat with me?
A: Sure! Unless I've blocked you on FA, then you can fuck right off.
Also, please don't ask me to help you price your fursuits/art or critique you. It's awkward as hell and I don't like it.
Q: If I see you, how should I get your attention?
A: If I'm in suit, get in front of me and wave.
Please don't yell "Wolf!" at me. Everyone is called Wolf-something-or-other and I'll have no idea you're talking to me. Wolfbird, WB or Carole are much better and more specific lol
Q: How many furry conventions have you attended?
A: This will be #8.
Q: Do you own a fursuit?
A: Yep! I'll likely bring
henmare and
shiatsu. Maaaybe WB, but we'll have to see if her fat ass fits in the car.PERMISSIONS:
Q: Can I hug or snuggle with you?
A: Yeah, maybe. I'm really big on permission, if you ask nicely and wait for me to respond I'm pretty permissive. Do not act like it's your right to touch me just because I have a suit/you saw someone else do it/I have an AD Twitter. I may sound like an anus for being so harsh, but I am sick of being bad touch'd and I don't tolerate that anymore.
Q: How can I find you?
A: I'll probably be in a fursuit or next to one. My husband may or may not have his new suit by then, you'll now it when you see it. Otherwise look for the armored sergal.
Q: Can I buy you drinks?
A: No, and I will go apeshit on you if you try to slip me one "as a joke" because I might be pregnant. If I can get drunk, I'll take care of that myself.
Q: Can I look in your sketchbook?
A: I doubt I'll have one, but if I do, sure.
Q: Can I take your picture?
A: If I'm in suit, sure! You don't really have to ask, but if I know you're trying to photograph me I'll pose for you <3
Ask if I'm out of suit, though.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Q: Do you do do free art, trades, commissions, badges?
A: Free stuff = never. Trades or commissions = not right now. We're closed until further notice.
Q: Do you have a table in the Artist Alley / Dealer's Den or a panel in the Art Show? If so, what are you selling?
A: I have an Art Show table reserved, but as to what'll be there I can't say because I didn't make it yet huehuehehehe.
If you wanna look at my suits, come see me and I'll pirouette for you.
Q: Do you plan to volunteer?
A: No lol
Q: What's your goal for the con this year?
A: Meet new people, check out my fellow makers' work, spend money, have a killer time.
See you there!
Hi new watchers!
Posted 11 years agoSo many new faces! Where did y'all come from???
Back from vacation!
Posted 11 years agoWe survived New Brunswick. Christmas with the in-laws was... a thing. I'll leave it at that.
I came back to 50 bajillion messages everywhere, so gimme a bit while I sort through everything lol
OUT OF TOWN! [DEC 21 - JAN 1]
Posted 11 years agoGone to visit the in-laws for the holidays! We're leaving tomorrow and will be back for New Year's.
As usual, I won't have computer access and I won't be bringing any paid work along with me. If you need me, drop me a line wolfbird[at]gmail.com and I'll answer you when I get back <3
Have a happy festivus, everyone!
*** NO MORE COMMISSIONS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE-- please read!
Posted 11 years agoSorry for the scary title, but I need you guys to read this journal, it's super important!
I've been getting a lot of "when will you be open again?" emails and I think it's time to announce something wonderful!
My husband and I want to start a family soon, and I think it'd be a good idea for everyone that I don't have any owed work hanging over us until things are more stable. We've never done this before-- the last thing I want is to be all stressed out about babies and possibly being sick all the time while my queue gets neglected. I mean, everything might be totally fine but it's not something I'm willing to risk! I've had awful baby-ache for years, that we're both finally ready to try for a baby is just the best thing ever.
I realize that this might be disappointing news for those who wanted an NLCC suit, but please understand this is a huge deal to us and we want to do things right! My game plan is to finish up my last remaining costumes and after that I'll be doing artist-designed partials at my own pace until further notice. I have some really kickin' character ideas for them so there's that to look forward to :)
A big thank you for everyone's patience and understanding! I love you all <3
I've been getting a lot of "when will you be open again?" emails and I think it's time to announce something wonderful!
My husband and I want to start a family soon, and I think it'd be a good idea for everyone that I don't have any owed work hanging over us until things are more stable. We've never done this before-- the last thing I want is to be all stressed out about babies and possibly being sick all the time while my queue gets neglected. I mean, everything might be totally fine but it's not something I'm willing to risk! I've had awful baby-ache for years, that we're both finally ready to try for a baby is just the best thing ever.
I realize that this might be disappointing news for those who wanted an NLCC suit, but please understand this is a huge deal to us and we want to do things right! My game plan is to finish up my last remaining costumes and after that I'll be doing artist-designed partials at my own pace until further notice. I have some really kickin' character ideas for them so there's that to look forward to :)
A big thank you for everyone's patience and understanding! I love you all <3
Caine halfsuit for sale!
Posted 11 years ago
is selling a partial suit! Check it ooooout
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/6298680/
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/6298680/
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/6298680/
Caine halfsuit for sale!
Posted 11 years ago
is selling a partial suit! Check it ooooout
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/6298680/
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/6298680/
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/6298680/
Back from Furpocalypse!
Posted 11 years agoOH MAN THAT WAS FUN
I was seriously surprised by how well organized it seemed to be. All the panels were spread out so it wasn't all nothing to do for hours then SUDDENLY ALL THE COOL STUFF ALL AT ONCE LOL (unlike some conventions I know of, ahem). I was really impressed! The "make-a-dick" panel was especially informative and I was happy to have attended it because I learned a lot of stuff about silicone that I can apply to not-dick applications. I got it on film and I'll send it to Frisky Beast people to share with all of you as soon as I can pull it off my Go-Pro (EDIT: actually, the sound came out really crappy and you can't hear the panelist DAMNIT)
I met so many cool people! It was kinda weird at first not seeing many of the usual faces, but the number of people who came up to me to chat made up for it. We commissioned a bunch of new-to-us artists and had a really great time. I even won the "Godzilla likes to Roar" children's book, which will surely come in handy when we indoctrinate our future children with the way of the furry.
Nephis and I drunk-fursuit-danced, which was fun because I never get to dance anymore and he's warming up to it. I had to take my head off though, people right up in your blindspot when it's dark = wtf is going on. WB was ruining the magic, og noes!!
NO ONE CREEPED ON ME THIS CON, OMG. Well, a guy diet-creeped on my husband and but that was okay because it was pretty minor anyway, and I had ladyballs enough to tell him to bugger off when he tried to follow us to the restaurant. I am enjoying my newfound confidence, yep.
Still not convinced that the fire alarm that went off on Saturday was an accident, though >.>
I was seriously surprised by how well organized it seemed to be. All the panels were spread out so it wasn't all nothing to do for hours then SUDDENLY ALL THE COOL STUFF ALL AT ONCE LOL (unlike some conventions I know of, ahem). I was really impressed! The "make-a-dick" panel was especially informative and I was happy to have attended it because I learned a lot of stuff about silicone that I can apply to not-dick applications. I got it on film and I'll send it to Frisky Beast people to share with all of you as soon as I can pull it off my Go-Pro (EDIT: actually, the sound came out really crappy and you can't hear the panelist DAMNIT)
I met so many cool people! It was kinda weird at first not seeing many of the usual faces, but the number of people who came up to me to chat made up for it. We commissioned a bunch of new-to-us artists and had a really great time. I even won the "Godzilla likes to Roar" children's book, which will surely come in handy when we indoctrinate our future children with the way of the furry.
Nephis and I drunk-fursuit-danced, which was fun because I never get to dance anymore and he's warming up to it. I had to take my head off though, people right up in your blindspot when it's dark = wtf is going on. WB was ruining the magic, og noes!!
NO ONE CREEPED ON ME THIS CON, OMG. Well, a guy diet-creeped on my husband and but that was okay because it was pretty minor anyway, and I had ladyballs enough to tell him to bugger off when he tried to follow us to the restaurant. I am enjoying my newfound confidence, yep.
Still not convinced that the fire alarm that went off on Saturday was an accident, though >.>
Canadian fursuit makers-- where do you buy your buckram?
Posted 11 years agoJust looking for a link to the supplier you already buy from-- I cannot find this stuff local and buying online is such a crapshoot.
inb4 "get samples", that's what I'm trying to do. They're not free most of the time so I'm trying to waste as little of my time/money as possible >.>
(also down with buying some of yours, that's cool)
EDIT: got some, nevermind!
Furpocalypse Meme! Now with new questions + answers!
Posted 11 years agoWhich hotel will you be staying at?
-Main hotel
When will you be arriving/departing?
-Arrive Friday, leave Monday. Something like that, anyway.
Who are you rooming/traveling with?
-
nephisdragon and
kanupi on both counts <3Is this your first time there?
-Yes, first American convention, too! I am excite.
Are you shy?
-I can be, but it depends.
Will you be fursuiting?
-Yes! I'll probably be bringing
shiatsu and my new hippogryph http://imgur.com/dsDP1k5 . Possibly also some of my hideous kigurumis because I love those things.If I see you, how can I get your attention?
-If I'm in human-mode, just say hi. Try not to shout "Wolf!" at me because that is not my name and I won't even know you're referring to me. I prefer Carole or Wolfbird or WB.
-If I'm in costume, a tap on the shoulder is fine if for whatever reason I don't respond to a wave or words.
Can I hug/touch you?
-Of course! Just get my permission first, I love friendly hugs <3
-Because furries, I'm amassing a "gross people to avoid at conventions" collection with my GoPro camera so if you creep on me and would like to donate your likeness to my Wall of Shame... um, okay.
Can I take your picture?
-If I'm in fursuit, you don't even have to ask! That's what it's there for.
-If I'm human-mode, please ask. I'll fix my hair first.
Can I buy you a drink?
-Sure, but I still won't sleep with you if that's why you're doing it.
-Favorites include diet sodas, fruit juice and Monster Energy (Ultra Zero preferred).
Can I buy you breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner?
-See previous answer
Can I stalk you?
-NO. In the past I've had people invite themselves to dinner dates or try to come into my room and that shit has to stop. If you have to ask, the answer is no.
Do you do commissions?
-Yes! I am not sure when I'll be open next because reasons, but if you'd like to chat about suits I'm always down for that. I fucking LOVE fursuits, lol.
Do you do trades?
-Maaaaybe. Money is tight ATM but I might consider it (I'm most interested in exchanging my fursuit work for your traditional artwork).
What will you be doing at the con?
-Having a good time, looking at fursuits and exchanging build techniques with my fellow makers.
Anything else?
-Not really! I may come off as a bitch here, but I assure you that if you treat me with respect we'll get on like a house on fire :D
Stuff I stole from
sarahcat's meme that I wanted to answerWhat is your gender?
I present as female, but I'm down with male/female/neutral pronouns too. Just none of that hir/sie or zie/zis stuff, I dun like it.
Relationship Status:
Married! And we'll just say it's closed because it's easier that way :>
How old are you?
29. I had to think about that for a minute.
How tall are you?
5'7"
Which languages do you speak?
French and English (my French vocabulary is not super awesome but I can hold my own so don't by shy if that's your primary language and you want to converse with me in it)
Do you drink Alcohol/Smoke?
Yes to drinking. No to smoking-- in fact, if you light up near me I will get really pissed off because like many ex-smokers, I have this mindset of "I quit, so can you and fuck off until then".
You look pretty tired, are you ok?
Probably just drunk. Don't worry about it, Nephis will look out for me like he always does.
I have a personal question for the convention. May I ask you that?
Depends.
I'm very open about talking about anxiety as it's my crusade to help people overcome it.
I'm very sex-positive so if you want to talk about that sot of thing I'm totally fine with it as long as you're not trying to flirt with me/us. I like education and mature discussion, I don't like ulterior motives.
hurr gettin' married tomorrow
Posted 11 years agoSo the clock just hit midnight over here, bringing an end to my last day "freedom".
In 14 and a half hours from now,
Nephisdragon and I are going to be at ye olde court house and sign our marriage paperwork and make it properly official, then we're going to get fucking sick from eating too much Korean BBQ.
So... yeah. Not going to be online tomorrow, probably not going to be online Sunday. I'm going to enjoy the fuck out of this once-in-our-lifetimes event <3
In 14 and a half hours from now,
Nephisdragon and I are going to be at ye olde court house and sign our marriage paperwork and make it properly official, then we're going to get fucking sick from eating too much Korean BBQ. So... yeah. Not going to be online tomorrow, probably not going to be online Sunday. I'm going to enjoy the fuck out of this once-in-our-lifetimes event <3
I'm damn proud of my husband [IMPORTANT! Huge update]
Posted 11 years agoLook at what he posted, I know this took some real balls to do so.
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/6134635/ (read it first or after, doesn't matter!)
As some of you may be aware, things have not been entirely perfect with all that "life stuff" I keep referencing. I think I owe you guys an explanation, especially now since we're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and if telling our story can help even one person, it'll be worth it.
I've always known my beloved husband didn't love himself the way he should. I hoped things would get better with time if I was there for him enough, but it was increasingly becoming apparent that being a shoulder to lean on was not good enough on its own, but I didn't know what else I could possibly do. Things became really bad about half a year ago when he had a burn-out at school. I felt like I was losing him. We were both miserable.
We went to our doctor and he was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, which is often caused by childhood bullying. You learn coping mechanisms that can get you through being a kid, but these behaviors are not appropriate for adulthood and will drag you down. Our doctor, although she meant well, kept trying to shove pills down his throat, but since the disease of anxiety is defined by being worried about everything all he could see were the (sometimes awful and/or permanent) side effects and he refused them. There was also the shame associated with accepting medication-- you are admitting you are "broken". That's what his anxiety made him think, anyway. He could not deal with this emotionally.
After putting our foot down enough, our doctor changed tack and eventually referred to a cognitive behavioral therapist instead* and...
I have my husband back now.
I'm crying while typing this, I am so happy for him. For us.
It was explained that pills aren't the longterm solution that doctors often say they are-- in particularly bad cases or when you don't have a good support network you can take them to help you get through the therapy because they "flatten" your up and down mood spikes and make CBT tolerable, but the ultimate goal is to reprogram your brain with new behaviors so you can be happy on your own and not be dependent on medication. It turned out he didn't need them after all, and taking them may have done him more harm than good in his case. Maybe he would have considered the problem solved and never pursued the CBT angle further? Maybe he would have been just fine doing both? We'll never know. Every person is different and needs an individual diagnosis by a specialist to maximize their success. Your family doctor may not be that person-- don't be afraid to ask for a referral.
Therapy was going well. It was emotionally painful and awkward, but progress was being made in leaps and bounds. But we were still left with the school thing...
I should explain the school thing more in-depth. Nephis is doing a relatively new program called Business Intelligence (gathering data so you can make predictions) and he chose to finish his schooling with a memoir-- which is sort of like a thesis. He had his subject and started to work, but things were not going half as well as they were supposed to. He didn't understand why, and because he had shitty self-esteem at the time, assumed it was because he was stupid or lazy and just needed to pull up his socks and get the work done.
Meanwhile, I got insomnia in a really bad way around then, which made him even more nervous because we didn't know what was going on. I admit that before either of us knew the details on the school-thing, I was putting a lot of pressure on him about starting a family, which of course did nothing but stress both of us out.
After talking to some of his friends and other professors, he found out that he was being given the wrong kind of work entirely, because his professor is getting old and... forgot. Yes. Nephis is too smart and too hardworking to suspect it was out of his league and tried to do it anyway. And he almost succeeded, too.
Things with the university are much better now-- the senile professor is still there but they brought in a second one who knows what solar system he's currently in. His workload has been reduced to more reasonable levels. Things are getting done.
He is so much less stressed out, and things are increasingly improving. He feels better, he's finally doing the things he secretly wanted to do all his life but was too afraid of. He's stopped caring what other people think. I'm feeling better because the man I love is happy. I feel much more motivated and can focus more on my work, I no longer spend every night worrying about him because he's kicking this thing in the ASS. We have Garrus (our bird) to love in the meantime while we wait for a better moment to have a family of our own.
I'm just so happy and proud of him, I'm beyond words.
Thank you, Nephis.
I hope our story inspires someone living like he did to reach out for professional help, because it is so very, very worth it. Sometimes talking to your friends isn't enough on it's own, but not many people know that and I keep seeing this "cure" being offered as if it's the only option other than pills. Sometimes therapy isn't even mentioned unless you specifically ask for it, and how can you ask for a thing you don't even know exists? There is NO shame in going to see a therapist when you are unhappy. There is also no shame in taking medication if it's appropriate for you, but know that there are sometimes other options out there if they make you uncomfortable. No one would ever mock you for breaking your leg or getting sick and seeing a doctor, this is no different. If you don't feel this way but know someone who does, please please tell them so they may be inspired to start their journey to recovery and learn to love themselves.
*Minor correction: I completely forgot he had TWO referrals. The doctor referred us to someone with a ridiculous waiting list, so he ended up making a secondary appointment with his university's psychologist who referred him to the CB therapist he's seeing now.
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/6134635/ (read it first or after, doesn't matter!)
As some of you may be aware, things have not been entirely perfect with all that "life stuff" I keep referencing. I think I owe you guys an explanation, especially now since we're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and if telling our story can help even one person, it'll be worth it.
I've always known my beloved husband didn't love himself the way he should. I hoped things would get better with time if I was there for him enough, but it was increasingly becoming apparent that being a shoulder to lean on was not good enough on its own, but I didn't know what else I could possibly do. Things became really bad about half a year ago when he had a burn-out at school. I felt like I was losing him. We were both miserable.
We went to our doctor and he was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, which is often caused by childhood bullying. You learn coping mechanisms that can get you through being a kid, but these behaviors are not appropriate for adulthood and will drag you down. Our doctor, although she meant well, kept trying to shove pills down his throat, but since the disease of anxiety is defined by being worried about everything all he could see were the (sometimes awful and/or permanent) side effects and he refused them. There was also the shame associated with accepting medication-- you are admitting you are "broken". That's what his anxiety made him think, anyway. He could not deal with this emotionally.
After putting our foot down enough, our doctor changed tack and eventually referred to a cognitive behavioral therapist instead* and...
I have my husband back now.
I'm crying while typing this, I am so happy for him. For us.
It was explained that pills aren't the longterm solution that doctors often say they are-- in particularly bad cases or when you don't have a good support network you can take them to help you get through the therapy because they "flatten" your up and down mood spikes and make CBT tolerable, but the ultimate goal is to reprogram your brain with new behaviors so you can be happy on your own and not be dependent on medication. It turned out he didn't need them after all, and taking them may have done him more harm than good in his case. Maybe he would have considered the problem solved and never pursued the CBT angle further? Maybe he would have been just fine doing both? We'll never know. Every person is different and needs an individual diagnosis by a specialist to maximize their success. Your family doctor may not be that person-- don't be afraid to ask for a referral.
Therapy was going well. It was emotionally painful and awkward, but progress was being made in leaps and bounds. But we were still left with the school thing...
I should explain the school thing more in-depth. Nephis is doing a relatively new program called Business Intelligence (gathering data so you can make predictions) and he chose to finish his schooling with a memoir-- which is sort of like a thesis. He had his subject and started to work, but things were not going half as well as they were supposed to. He didn't understand why, and because he had shitty self-esteem at the time, assumed it was because he was stupid or lazy and just needed to pull up his socks and get the work done.
Meanwhile, I got insomnia in a really bad way around then, which made him even more nervous because we didn't know what was going on. I admit that before either of us knew the details on the school-thing, I was putting a lot of pressure on him about starting a family, which of course did nothing but stress both of us out.
After talking to some of his friends and other professors, he found out that he was being given the wrong kind of work entirely, because his professor is getting old and... forgot. Yes. Nephis is too smart and too hardworking to suspect it was out of his league and tried to do it anyway. And he almost succeeded, too.
Things with the university are much better now-- the senile professor is still there but they brought in a second one who knows what solar system he's currently in. His workload has been reduced to more reasonable levels. Things are getting done.
He is so much less stressed out, and things are increasingly improving. He feels better, he's finally doing the things he secretly wanted to do all his life but was too afraid of. He's stopped caring what other people think. I'm feeling better because the man I love is happy. I feel much more motivated and can focus more on my work, I no longer spend every night worrying about him because he's kicking this thing in the ASS. We have Garrus (our bird) to love in the meantime while we wait for a better moment to have a family of our own.
I'm just so happy and proud of him, I'm beyond words.
Thank you, Nephis.
I hope our story inspires someone living like he did to reach out for professional help, because it is so very, very worth it. Sometimes talking to your friends isn't enough on it's own, but not many people know that and I keep seeing this "cure" being offered as if it's the only option other than pills. Sometimes therapy isn't even mentioned unless you specifically ask for it, and how can you ask for a thing you don't even know exists? There is NO shame in going to see a therapist when you are unhappy. There is also no shame in taking medication if it's appropriate for you, but know that there are sometimes other options out there if they make you uncomfortable. No one would ever mock you for breaking your leg or getting sick and seeing a doctor, this is no different. If you don't feel this way but know someone who does, please please tell them so they may be inspired to start their journey to recovery and learn to love themselves.
*Minor correction: I completely forgot he had TWO referrals. The doctor referred us to someone with a ridiculous waiting list, so he ended up making a secondary appointment with his university's psychologist who referred him to the CB therapist he's seeing now.
Signal boost -- Looking for a new roommate [Montreal]
Posted 11 years agoMy buddy
has an available room.Basic rules apply-- pay the rent, don't be a jerk, if you smoke do it outside, and no cat hoarding (limit 1 per customer).
Other details:
Upper duplex, 5 min bus from Cote Vertu metro, 2 blocks from Place Vertu mall, most major banks nearby.
Base rent is $300/month.
We also have like, every console from Arari to last gen (save for dreamcast) and 20mb/s unlimited interwebs.
The room is available as of Sept 30th
Go talk to him, I ain't your secretary so don't leave me comments here lol.
Whoa, new Quebec convention! You should totally go.
Posted 11 years agoSince ComicCon Montreal was such a hit this year (wtf 51,000 people attended), there's now a Quebec City version!
http://www.comicconquebec.com/en/home/
It's their first year, so we should all totally go and hang out together!
TIL that disabled people don't matter.
Posted 11 years agoAccording to the Palais des congrès de Montréal, anyway.
We paid extra (compared to the other lots available) to park in the convention center's underground garage but OOPS those dickheads decided that today was a good day to lock the elevator's ability to go up to the con space, forcing people to go through a detour that involved stairs and/or pouring rain. Able-bodied people not wearing bulky and/or water-soulable costumes probably find this mildly annoying, but who do you think also parks in the attached garage? People with strollers. Or people in wheelchairs. Or people with walking aids. Or people with cosplays that have electronics or paint that'll get fucked up in the rain. Or people with giant, bulky costumes they can barely walk in or see out of.
I am so fucking mad. My husband is, too. You'd think that it's bad enough having a degenerative joint disease that makes your legs hurt all the time without having people looking down their noses at you because GASP! you expect their convention center to be handicap-friendly like they advertized. Isn't that like... completely reasonable?
I wonder if that guy with the mech warrior cosplay ever found someone to help him carry all his things. He was pretty mad when we found him shouting his displeasure in the car park. I don't blame him-- he spent a lot of time making it and he didn't have the mobility to walk through the surprise! detour. Imagine that, spending all that time and money making your costume only to find this out.
Bloody, bloody PDC. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Kinda mad.
Posted 11 years agoI got my sewing machine back from the shop the other day. It runs like a dream now!
But I also just got back from the emergency room and I am mad as shit. I threw my back out on Saturday at Otakuthon (doing nothing, I was handling for Neph the whole weekend), and Dr Cunt over at the Jewish General goes and writes me a script for over the counter medication that I already have and didn't work why would I need more of that I thought you went to med school and were supposed to be smart, plus the world's shittiest opiate. Fuck opiates. Why would you give a dependence-creating drug to someone if it's not even appropriate for their problem?
Thought on EZCooldown vest? + Fursuit meme!
Posted 11 years agoMy husband was thinking of picking up one of those EZCooldown vests. Does anyone here own one and have any feedback for us?
And now for the meme that maybe a few people will read lol XD
Stole it from
8bit-fluff
How did you discover fursuits/Fursuiting?
I've been into costumes since I was a little kid (I had a dress-up box!!) and when I was 15 I discovered the fandom. Until a few years ago when I started seriously making suits, I read LJ-Fursuit cover-to-cover and any other webpage I could find in preparation for when I would try to make my own XD
What made you decide to get/make a suit of your own?
I was sick of not having one! I was jealous of all the ones I saw online and I made a few attempts. Some of them were downright terrible, but I think the first properly serious head with actually good materials was this one: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1673055/ I wore it for Halloween and at the time it was awesome. Now it lives in a landfill somewhere, lol
Did you make your suit or buy it? If bought, who made it?
I only have suits I made myself :( I would really like to buy/trade for one someone else did one day :3
Currently I have--
rorybird - the head and tail were made in 2011, the other bits from 2013
Wolfbird - made in 2012
Freyjaenergy - made in 2013
shiatsu - made in 2014
and shhh.. the last one is a secret for now. You'll meet her at Furpocalypse!
Why did you choose this maker if bought?
N/A
If you could have anyone make your next suit, who would it be?
I would love to hire
jill0r for
owlfeets >.>
Best suiting experience:
I cried my eyes out like a little girl while wearing Rory-- WTFur 2011 awarded me "best construction" and as it was when I was starting to think of going pro it really meant a lot to me.
Worst suiting experience:
WTFur 2014's fursuit games, specifically the musical chairs event.
Describe your first suiting outing:
I think the first time I wore anything suit-like in public was when I took Zau's old partial out to the mall on Halloween. We were with my man's friend, who really doesn't like furries and had no idea. We told him it was cosplay, and since it wasn't cute he totally bought it and told me he thought it was cool. Cosplay is okay, apparently.
What is your favourite part of your suit (a detail that's special, or something you feel was executed perfectly)?
I'll refer to Shia-- omg she is crazy comfy to wear. I only wore WB at the WTFur parade this year because I was so spoiled by not being all sticky XD
What would you change about your suit if you could?
On WB, I'd redo her head. I love her eyes and ears, but idk wtf I was thinking when I carved her muzzle.
How long did it take to save up for your suit -or- how long did it take you to make your suit?
Not sure... I usually get some parts done between my paid work, then cram right before a con to finish the rest.
What does fursuiting mean to you?/why do you fursuit?
I enjoy the attention. I like being able to go out and either entertain people with my antics, or get buttpats for having made them myself. I guess other people have fun too, so that's always good XD
lol brutal honesty
If you had to choose a maker from an opposing style to make a version of your suit in their style, who would you choose (Between toony and realistic)?
I think I'd go for realistic, but I don't know which character. Can I answer I'd prefer an artistic liberty suit from someone else, then? Maybe
mordrude, she's got mad attention to detail
Do you prefer suiting at cons or at public events/places?
Depends. Cons are nice b/c you can escape and there's usually water and fans. Not at cons because normal people who have never seen anything like us before have the best reactions. Not being able to escape if you need a break is a real bummer, though.
Do you prefer suiting indoors or outside?
Depends on the weather. I'm from Canada so Fall-Winter I love being outside in suit. The rest of the year, indoors is better!
Do you talk in suit? Why or why not:
Unless they're really young kids, I'll talk. I don't always have a handler with me and people often want to talk to me. Kids don't seem to mind at all. Besides, WB is me and I talk so why not? :D
Is your suit your fursona a representation of you or just a character to play?
When I'm at a fur con I'm just me in a suit and I don't bother acting, I just interact with people and hope they don't let me being a giant talking dog get in the way. When I'm around normal people I adopt a more traditional costumed-performer role because that's what people expect.
Did your character’s personality change at all after getting a fursuit?
Not really... WB has and will always be me :3
And now for the meme that maybe a few people will read lol XD
Stole it from
8bit-fluffHow did you discover fursuits/Fursuiting?
I've been into costumes since I was a little kid (I had a dress-up box!!) and when I was 15 I discovered the fandom. Until a few years ago when I started seriously making suits, I read LJ-Fursuit cover-to-cover and any other webpage I could find in preparation for when I would try to make my own XD
What made you decide to get/make a suit of your own?
I was sick of not having one! I was jealous of all the ones I saw online and I made a few attempts. Some of them were downright terrible, but I think the first properly serious head with actually good materials was this one: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1673055/ I wore it for Halloween and at the time it was awesome. Now it lives in a landfill somewhere, lol
Did you make your suit or buy it? If bought, who made it?
I only have suits I made myself :( I would really like to buy/trade for one someone else did one day :3
Currently I have--
rorybird - the head and tail were made in 2011, the other bits from 2013
Wolfbird - made in 2012
Freyjaenergy - made in 2013
shiatsu - made in 2014and shhh.. the last one is a secret for now. You'll meet her at Furpocalypse!
Why did you choose this maker if bought?
N/A
If you could have anyone make your next suit, who would it be?
I would love to hire
jill0r for
owlfeets >.>Best suiting experience:
I cried my eyes out like a little girl while wearing Rory-- WTFur 2011 awarded me "best construction" and as it was when I was starting to think of going pro it really meant a lot to me.
Worst suiting experience:
WTFur 2014's fursuit games, specifically the musical chairs event.
Describe your first suiting outing:
I think the first time I wore anything suit-like in public was when I took Zau's old partial out to the mall on Halloween. We were with my man's friend, who really doesn't like furries and had no idea. We told him it was cosplay, and since it wasn't cute he totally bought it and told me he thought it was cool. Cosplay is okay, apparently.
What is your favourite part of your suit (a detail that's special, or something you feel was executed perfectly)?
I'll refer to Shia-- omg she is crazy comfy to wear. I only wore WB at the WTFur parade this year because I was so spoiled by not being all sticky XD
What would you change about your suit if you could?
On WB, I'd redo her head. I love her eyes and ears, but idk wtf I was thinking when I carved her muzzle.
How long did it take to save up for your suit -or- how long did it take you to make your suit?
Not sure... I usually get some parts done between my paid work, then cram right before a con to finish the rest.
What does fursuiting mean to you?/why do you fursuit?
I enjoy the attention. I like being able to go out and either entertain people with my antics, or get buttpats for having made them myself. I guess other people have fun too, so that's always good XD
lol brutal honesty
If you had to choose a maker from an opposing style to make a version of your suit in their style, who would you choose (Between toony and realistic)?
I think I'd go for realistic, but I don't know which character. Can I answer I'd prefer an artistic liberty suit from someone else, then? Maybe
mordrude, she's got mad attention to detailDo you prefer suiting at cons or at public events/places?
Depends. Cons are nice b/c you can escape and there's usually water and fans. Not at cons because normal people who have never seen anything like us before have the best reactions. Not being able to escape if you need a break is a real bummer, though.
Do you prefer suiting indoors or outside?
Depends on the weather. I'm from Canada so Fall-Winter I love being outside in suit. The rest of the year, indoors is better!
Do you talk in suit? Why or why not:
Unless they're really young kids, I'll talk. I don't always have a handler with me and people often want to talk to me. Kids don't seem to mind at all. Besides, WB is me and I talk so why not? :D
Is your suit your fursona a representation of you or just a character to play?
When I'm at a fur con I'm just me in a suit and I don't bother acting, I just interact with people and hope they don't let me being a giant talking dog get in the way. When I'm around normal people I adopt a more traditional costumed-performer role because that's what people expect.
Did your character’s personality change at all after getting a fursuit?
Not really... WB has and will always be me :3
HOW TO MAKE FURSUITS
Posted 11 years agoEver wanted to know how? My friend
mordrude is doing an Indiegogo for her new book, which focuses on realism! BUY IT, I know I will rofl
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/.....nimal-costumes
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/.....nimal-costumes
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/.....nimal-costumes
Get to Know the Artist Meme
Posted 11 years agoStolen from
jupiter_fox!
Name: Carole
Nickname: Wolfbird, WB
Location: Montreal, Canada
Age: 29
Height: 5'7
Zodiac sign: I don't believe in fairy tales so I won't dignify this with a proper response
Any pets: two starlings, a ball python and a bearded dragon
Favorite thing about yourself: My self-esteem doesn't suck. It sounds like a stupid thing to love, but it's really not. Trust me.
Worst habit: I'm a really shitty housekeeper.
Fun fact: I tried to get married today but we lacked sufficient documentation and witnesses to have any useful progress done.
Identity, Sexuality & Personality
Gender identity: whatever I feel like that day.
Sexual preference: Cismales
Romantic preference: Monogamous
"Kinsey Scale" score: 1
Relationship status: taken
Myers/Briggs type: Can't remember, too complicated.
Hogwarts house: Hufflepuff.
Routine
"Early Bird" or "Night Owl": Night Owl. Like, fall asleep at dawn and wake up in the afternoon kind of night owl.
Bath or shower: Shower, baths get cold too quickly. My alt is a lava dragon for a reason, hurrrr
First thought in the morning: THE GODDAMNED BIRDS ARE SHRIEKING AGAIN UGH
Last thought before falling asleep at night: I read before bed, so usually related to the book I just put down.
School/Work
Do you work or are you a student: I work. I don't really make a lot of money, but I try.
What do you do well: I think I'm pretty ace at sewing and carving foam.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years: I would LIKE to see myself as having a few kids and moving away from this shithole province*, but ultimately we're stuck wherever Neph finds work.
*omfg start any language group wank and I will block your ass because I hate that racist shit. I hate the bureaucracy here, not the people.
Habits (Do you…?)
Drink: Only at furcons, which means I drInk until I puke because I have no idea wtf I'm doing. In my youth I drank like a fish and I keep forgetting it doesn't work that way any more.
Smoke: Not anymore (thanks Nephis, for your ultimatum of "quit or gtfo" <3)
Do Drugs: Caffeine is a drug, right?
Exercise: Not really. I love walking but it aggravates my man's joint problems.
Have a go-to comfort food: I don't usually comfort eat. But I just tried a deep-fried candy bar which was like a battered orgasm on a plate with ice cream on top, so we'll go with that.
Have a nervous habit: Not really. When I still smoked I'd flick the ashes of my cigarette way too damn much if I was nervous, but I quit that shit years ago.
What is your favorite…?
Physical quality (in yourself): I have really great tits.
In Others: Penis.
Mental/emotional quality (in yourself): I think I'm pretty ace at communicating my fee-fees to my partner.
Food: I fucking love soup. I rarely meet one that I don't like. I've always wanted to try ciopinno...
Drink: Blue + white Monster Energy, diet Pepsi.
Animal: Birds?
Artist/Band/Group: Daft Punk
Author/Poet: J.K. Rowling, Steph Swainston, Tad Williams (in the context of his Otherland series, I was not half as impressed with his other work).
TV Show: Jackass/Wildboyz, Trailer Park Boys, AVGN episodes.
Actor/Actress: I really like Peter Dinklage, Hugh Laurie and Robert Downey Jr.
Blogger: volwest
jupiter_fox!Name: Carole
Nickname: Wolfbird, WB
Location: Montreal, Canada
Age: 29
Height: 5'7
Zodiac sign: I don't believe in fairy tales so I won't dignify this with a proper response
Any pets: two starlings, a ball python and a bearded dragon
Favorite thing about yourself: My self-esteem doesn't suck. It sounds like a stupid thing to love, but it's really not. Trust me.
Worst habit: I'm a really shitty housekeeper.
Fun fact: I tried to get married today but we lacked sufficient documentation and witnesses to have any useful progress done.
Identity, Sexuality & Personality
Gender identity: whatever I feel like that day.
Sexual preference: Cismales
Romantic preference: Monogamous
"Kinsey Scale" score: 1
Relationship status: taken
Myers/Briggs type: Can't remember, too complicated.
Hogwarts house: Hufflepuff.
Routine
"Early Bird" or "Night Owl": Night Owl. Like, fall asleep at dawn and wake up in the afternoon kind of night owl.
Bath or shower: Shower, baths get cold too quickly. My alt is a lava dragon for a reason, hurrrr
First thought in the morning: THE GODDAMNED BIRDS ARE SHRIEKING AGAIN UGH
Last thought before falling asleep at night: I read before bed, so usually related to the book I just put down.
School/Work
Do you work or are you a student: I work. I don't really make a lot of money, but I try.
What do you do well: I think I'm pretty ace at sewing and carving foam.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years: I would LIKE to see myself as having a few kids and moving away from this shithole province*, but ultimately we're stuck wherever Neph finds work.
*omfg start any language group wank and I will block your ass because I hate that racist shit. I hate the bureaucracy here, not the people.
Habits (Do you…?)
Drink: Only at furcons, which means I drInk until I puke because I have no idea wtf I'm doing. In my youth I drank like a fish and I keep forgetting it doesn't work that way any more.
Smoke: Not anymore (thanks Nephis, for your ultimatum of "quit or gtfo" <3)
Do Drugs: Caffeine is a drug, right?
Exercise: Not really. I love walking but it aggravates my man's joint problems.
Have a go-to comfort food: I don't usually comfort eat. But I just tried a deep-fried candy bar which was like a battered orgasm on a plate with ice cream on top, so we'll go with that.
Have a nervous habit: Not really. When I still smoked I'd flick the ashes of my cigarette way too damn much if I was nervous, but I quit that shit years ago.
What is your favorite…?
Physical quality (in yourself): I have really great tits.
In Others: Penis.
Mental/emotional quality (in yourself): I think I'm pretty ace at communicating my fee-fees to my partner.
Food: I fucking love soup. I rarely meet one that I don't like. I've always wanted to try ciopinno...
Drink: Blue + white Monster Energy, diet Pepsi.
Animal: Birds?
Artist/Band/Group: Daft Punk
Author/Poet: J.K. Rowling, Steph Swainston, Tad Williams (in the context of his Otherland series, I was not half as impressed with his other work).
TV Show: Jackass/Wildboyz, Trailer Park Boys, AVGN episodes.
Actor/Actress: I really like Peter Dinklage, Hugh Laurie and Robert Downey Jr.
Blogger: volwest
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