*pads in one last time with a big goofy grin* Been a while, hasn't it?

The past few months have been . . . exciting? Enlightening? DEFINITELY interesting, aggrivating, frustrating and some of the best in my life in just how my world has changed and all that.

The Dragon ( phantomgraph) is yes, out on his own out here in the middle of nowhere, approximately four blocks away from me (and I've moved as well, have a house now). He's gotten "the" job I hoped he would at the company I told him he had to bust his hump to try to get into, and he loves it, is doing well enough for himself (bills paid, eating, just enough to not have to WORRY), and I'm lucky that I get to see him once a week now. Big change from living with a person, I'll say that, though I think he appreciates the break. *looks back over his shoulder and throws the blue dracine a raspberry, to which the lion receives back a single arched eyebrow, a snide grin and grumble, and an elbow nudge*

For those of you who have tried calling me, the Dragon has had my cellphone the past several months and thus when I got your messages, it was generally days after you left them, at some odd hour, and we were in the middle of running his errands or something so don't take any offense that I never rang. Yes, I have my phone back now but my schedule is no better; I have a new position at work that keeps me from being able to randomly chat like I used to on weekdays, Saturdays is Dragon Day (and don't anybody DARE get in the middle of my Dragon Day! *snarls* Okay, okay, we're just doing laundry and grocery shopping and hanging out, but its rude to sit and chat on the phone when you're with company, as you know) and Sundays is my day to do housework, spend time with the family, and try like blazes to get this trip to see Swampwulf with Fox and Wolfmonkey organized (another fun headache, I just can't wait until it actually happens this fall!). So I guess what I'm saying is that those of you with my cell are welcome to try ringing me, but my opportunity to chat, or even return calls, is small . . . this itty bitty little three inch space right here, that includes the Chiklets but not the erasers. I.E. You very likely are not going to hear back at any sort of speed, but it is not because of you, its because I simply do not have the time any more. Hell, I barely have enough time to call my own brother once a week if I am lucky!

And as such, and from the title of this, and how long I have been gone in general I think you all know where this is heading . . . I'm done. :) No, not in the sense of OMG I'M LEAVING THE FANDOM FOREVER AND YOU ALL SUCK, but simply I don't have the time any more, my interests have been taken over by my job, family, and this big blue scaley thing that has wyrmed his way into my life *gets the flat side of a spade-tipped tail in the back of the head*, and the five minutes I have here and there, frankly, I just don't feel like drawing furs, looking at drawings of furs, or talking about drawings of furs, because it is really just too draining between the posturing and the drama and all that. A fun diversion when you have the time to kill, but when you don't, just a distraction that you end up feeling guilty over when you can't take part. I can't do it any more, not now.

But like I said, this isn't an "angry at the fandom leaving"; actually I'll probably be hitting a con again in a couple of years (I'm owed one! *nips the Dragon* XD ) just to hang out G.G.-style and hopefully watch the door try to kill people again with BlueHeeler. Gah, oh yeah, they're changing hotels. *sighs* It better have a revolving door. And if I end up doing another trade with the Fox again or something I'm sure the art half will make its way up somewhere. I think I'm as clear as I can be on any prior commitments, if anyone has any concerns or anything please leave me a PM here, I'll check it until *checks calendar* May 7th, but past that . . . well, I had a "get ahold of me" message up since November so I consider that fair notice if there is anything left outstanding. My email is now dead and defunct from lack of time to check it, so make sure you leave a message HERE in PM's, SOON, if I owe you something.

Beyond that . . . well, a few folks here know how ragged I ran when the Dragon lived with me, and I agree with them that I am in need of a good long break now; if I said anything else claiming that I would try to keep in touch or involved with the community, I would have a Dragon sitting on my head to pin me down to keep me from overworking again, or a wolfmonkey trying to pay my way to a beach in New Zealand for a month . . . hmm. I'm wondering why these are bad things, sometimes.

*dragon claws grab the lion by the tail and drag him back a bit to watch another DVD of M*A*S*H* reruns*

*shrugs with a lionish, happy smile*

I'll miss you folks, here. See ya. :)