New Year, New Moon

This past year has been hard on everyone I know, for one reason or another, but we have all endured and greet the coming year with open arms. Thank you, family and friends, for your laughter, love, and support. The New Year begins with a New Moon, a rare and very symbolic occurrence. A fresh start for everyone. Hoping 2014 will be full of light and laughter. Brightest Blessings to everyone.

Parathyroid Glands and Hyperparathyroidism

Something I wanted to share about Parathyroid Glands and Hyperparathyroidism because of things friends of mine are dealing with. Something I probably need to have checked again because I had high blood calcium levels.

Three Wise Ones

I saw the strangest thing on my way home this evening. Traveling down the country highway, I noticed a dirt road turnoff ahead of me. The reason I noticed it was stark white and black fur contrast against the road and surrounding vegetation. I slowed down a bit to get a better look as I passed: Three huge German Shepherds all laying next to each other watching the road. A solid white, solid black, and a black and tan dog. It was such a surreal sight. Considering the searching I have been doing recently, it spoke volumes of symbology to me.

The holiday

Drove across the Lake to spend the holiday with family at my great aunt's. It was real nice getting a chance to see everyone again after so long. She lives out in the country like my grandmother, so it was quiet and smelled of nature. Lots of good food and company.

Merry Yule / Christmas

Wishing everyone a Merry Yule / Christmas ( or whatever you celebrate ). Have a safe and happy holiday!

Winter Solstice

Bright and blessed Winter Solstice.

Snarky wrist

After messing up some sculptures, jewelry, and other art I have tried working on despite my wrist injury, I have grudgingly come to the conclusion I should wait until it stops hurting so much before attempting to work on these things again. Which is highly aggravating because it means people are waiting longer and I was hoping to have them out for Christmas. Typing hurts but I don't care. No amount of using braces, ice/heat therapy, resting it, 'squeeze' therapy, or TENSing it is helping. Doctor says it may take another 3 weeks or more before it heals. I have an ice pack wedged against it as I try and type, and pressure against it agitates it on top of pain. UGH. Is it too much to ask not to feel any kind of pain at all for one whole day?

Raven Dunks Mouse

Have some Raven cuteness. And Ember dog too!

Silly cat

As I was sitting here getting ready for a doctor's appointment, Raven dunked mousey in the water bowl. I tried to catch it on video, but only caught the end result as she pulled it out. Will post it later.

New research sheds light on mysterious fibromyalgia pain

New research sheds light on mysterious fibromyalgia pain

By Karen Weintraub

Special for USA TODAY

"Fibromyalgia affects 1% to 5% of Americans, mainly women, but until recently, scientists had no idea what might be causing its severe and mysterious pains. For decades, doctors told patients their agony was imaginary, the result of emotional hysteria, not a physical ailment.But this year, researchers finally began to get a handle on the condition.

( Find full article at: freep.com/article/20131216/FEATURES08/312160055/Fibromyalgia-research-condition )

"What's happened is in 2013 there's been this absolute explosion of papers," says neurologist Anne Louise Oaklander at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. "The whole view on this has shifted.

"Oaklander published two studies this year showing that half or more of the cases of fibromyalgia are really a little-known condition affecting the nerves. People with this small-fiber neuropathy get faulty signals from tiny nerves all over the body, including internal organs, causing an odd constellation of symptoms from pain to sleep and digestive problems that overlap with symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Neuroscientist Frank Rice and a team based at Albany Medical College also discovered that there are excessive nerve fibers lining the blood vessels of the skin of fibromyalgia patients - removing any doubt that the condition is physically real.

These fibers in the skin can sense blood flow and control the dilation and constriction of vessels to regulate body temperature, Rice says, as well as direct nutrients to muscles during exercise. Women have more of these fibers than men, he says, perhaps explaining why they are much more likely to get fibromyalgia.

"Blood vessel nerve fibers are an important target that haven't been in our line of thinking to date in chronic pain conditions," says Rice, now president and chief scientist at Integrated Tissue Dynamics LLC, a biotechnology research company in Rensselaer, N.Y.In recent years, scans of patients with fibromyalgia have revealed brain changes associated with pain, but the new research suggests these are a symptom rather than the cause of the condition.

This new understanding of fibromyalgia will hopefully lead to better treatments, Rice and Oaklander say.

Right now, most people are treated with the antidepressants Cymbalta made by Eli Lilly, or Savella by Forest Pharmaceuticals, or with Lyrica, a seizure medication from Pfizer - which have all been federally approved for use in fibromyalgia.But these drugs have side effects and don't help everyone."We're looking now to understand more about other features of the pathology that might lead to a more targeted approach and less of a shotgun that causes side effects," says Rice, also an adjunct professor at the University at Albany, State University of New York.

The trigger for fibromyalgia is still a mystery, although stressful events in patients' past have been thought to play a role.

Rheumatologist Richard Chou says there is some preliminary evidence that the nerve damage is caused by the immune system.

"We're hoping some day we'll be able to say exactly how your immune system is causing damage to the sensory nerves that results in fibromyalgia pain," says Chou, an assistant professor at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth in New Hampshire. Researchers don't yet know whether the pain causes the other problems of fibromyalgia - disrupting sleep, for instance - or whether both pain and sleep disturbances share the same cause.

Fibromyalgia's constellation of symptoms is very similar to those of chronic fatigue syndrome and Gulf War syndrome, which Oaklander's group also studies. "If someone has more of one symptom than another they might call it one thing, like chronic fatigue, but it's not clear that these are different," Oaklander says.

She says researchers still have a lot to learn about these conditions, but scientists are taking them more seriously and making real progress for the first time.

Carolyn DiSilva of Maynard, Mass., one of Oaklander's patients, says she was stunned to learn that she had small-fiber neuropathy caused by an overactive immune system, instead of fibromyalgia.

"I think a lot of people, they get a blanket diagnosis as fibromyalgia because doctors don't know what's wrong with them," says DiSilva, 47, who has suffered from unexplained pains for about 14 years. The non-stop agony and the pins and needles that plagued her for hours at a time forced her to give up her work as a hair stylist, she says.

Understanding what's causing her pain has helped her, she says, because doctors and others take her problems seriously, instead of dismissing her as they used to do.

And now that it's clear DiSilva has an immune problem, Oaklander has put her on intravenous immunoglobulin treatments - instead of conventional fibromyalgia therapy - which seem to be making a profound difference in her health.

DiSilva says her pain has dropped from a 10 on a 10-point scale to about a 4."I always hope that someday I'll wake up with no pain, but I'm so grateful that I've come this far." "

By Karen Weintraub

Special for USA TODAY

Source Link:

freep.com/article/20131216/FEATURES08/312160055/Fibromyalgia-research-condition

Last Call For Yule / Christmas Cards

Because images seem to get more notice than text. Email me your address if you wish.

Ember's Short Cut

Ember got a serious haircut today. They did a great job. You can really see her poor toe now.


Before:

After:

Sites For Service Dog Fundraiser?

So, internet savvy friends. Which donation / fundraising sites do you think would be best for me to use to raise money for acquiring my future service dog and expenses related to it?

Service Dog Talk With Mom

Feeling a huge sense of relief. I talked with my mother about eventually needing to somehow find a dog that would take over as my service dog when Ember retires. She admitted she had actually thought about it. She even said she realizes I would be better off with a larger service dog. She admitted she didn't know how we'd afford it, but that she'd back me 100% and help explain the necessity of it to the rest of the family.

Another random surprise to bring lots of smiles

My aunt hasn't put up her Christmas tree for many years because it is an older, huge tree ( have to insert *each branch* ), and it is too much for her. So I went and got the one Mike and I have out of storage, and surprised her with it when she got home this evening. She was all smiles and thanks.

Adorable Scottish Fold cat in a bag

Pokke the male Scottish Fold cat decides to hide in an empty McDonald's takeout bag for a game of peek-a-boo. He really seems to love watching his owner from the comfort of the bag until a treat catches his eye.

http://www.wimp.com/bagcat

A crow does tobogganing using a mayonnaise lid

A crow does tobogganing using a mayonnaise lid.

http://loiter.co/v/a-crow-does-tobogganing-using-a-mayonnaise-lid

Help others

There needs to be more kindness, consideration, and caring like all of this in the world.

 http://www.interestingfunfacts.com/this-video-made-the-whole-world-cry-must-watch.html?h=2

Wasabi gave me a massage this morning!

I woke up with a sore hip this morning, and grumbled about it to Ember and Wawa. He meowed and proceeded to walk across my back and hips, stepping so that pressure from his paws were hitting *just* the right way. It felt like a massage. He did the same thing while kneading at the spot. He did this several times purring up a storm and nuzzling me as he did, and I couldn't help but laugh and thank him, upon which he sat on me with a satisfied look.

To the women who choose not to have kids, I have one thing to say: thank you

"Thank you for not having children" isn't something one hears every day (believe me), but after reading this post, I'd just like to say: You're welcome.


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To the women who choose not to have kids, I have one thing to say: thank you.



To The Women Who Choose Not To Have Kids

By Abby Rosmarin

http://thoughtcatalog.com/abby-rosmarin/2013/12/to-the-women-who-choose-not-to-have-kids



To the women who choose not to have kids, I have one thing to say: thank you.

You probably don’t hear it enough. In fact, you probably don’t hear it at all. What you do hear is an array of pro-childbearing responses, such as, “You’ll change your mind someday,” or, “Doesn’t your mother want grandkids?” or, “You’ll never find a husband if you never want to have kids.”


All things considered, “thank you” is probably on the opposite end of what you hear.

But seriously: thank you. Thank you for recognizing that childrearing isn’t for you and being true to who you are. It doesn’t mean you hate kids. It just means that raising one is not part of your path in life.

Thank you for not succumbing to the societal pressures. I’ve known far too many parents who had kids because that’s what was expected of them. Working in childcare, you see more of this type than you wish to see. The resentment is almost palpable. They love their children — at least, they have no choice but to love their children — but every single movement seems to scream, “I wasn’t meant for this.” I’ve known too many people who grew up with at least one parent who harbored that resentment, who let that resentment dictate how they parented. I’ve seen how that influenced the way these former children are now as adults, or even as parents themselves.

Thank you for not trying to compromise who you are in an effort to keep a partner around. Thank you for being honest and open and refusing to apologize for who you are. Everyone has different values. Everyone wants something different in life. It takes a lot of guts and confidence to say, “This is what I want in life. It’s not the orthodox way, but it’s my way.”

Thank you for not trying to silence that feeling in your gut as a means to validate your life. There are too many people in this world who cannot figure out their path — or have stumbled while walking down said path — and decided that maybe having a child could provide that meaning and definition instead. You understand that down this path lies vicarious living and hurt emotions and you recognize that there are so many other ways to find love and meaning and joy in your life.

Raising children is a difficult, onerous, frustrating, and disappointing gig. It’s tough enough for those who want it. It is a rewarding and loving gig as well, but it’s not something one should go into while focusing only on reward and love and societal acceptance. In this day and age, with a booming population in almost every country, it makes no sense to pressure every person to have a baby. But we’re sticklers to tradition, ritualistic to a fault.

So thank you. It’s not easy to stand firm with your belief. Honestly, truly, and genuinely: thank you.

FDA Approves First Generic Versions of Cymbalta

OMFG YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!

FDA Approves First Generic Versions of Cymbalta


http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/fda-approves-generic-versions-cymbalta-21184401

Ember fuzz

One of Ember's misplaced fur growths. I found it stalking this Kong not long after I vacuumed.

It was nearly as big as Wasabi!

So Long to Sales Tax (on Art)

Massholes and Connecticutians now have a new reason to head to the Ocean State: no sales tax on art. That’s right, the 7 percent price increase is gone. No more. Dead. And may it forever rest in peace.

Of course art purchasers benefit most from this abolishment, as they no longer have to pay, for example, an extra $10.50 for a work worth $150. But the question a lot of economists (and residents) are now asking is this: will it be good for Rhode Island as a whole?

“I think the answer is yes,” said Ed Mazze, professor of business at URI. “But more importantly, for Rhode Island, the art community — defined very, very broadly — is a very important economic engine. When you look at the state, we have the Rhode Island School of Design, we have various and sundry art programs from all of the colleges and universities, and many of the communities in RI have art festivals.”

Self-described as “the guy who did one of the studies on the motion picture tax credit” and “involved in the theatrical tax credit,” Mazze knows a thing or two about the Rhode Island’s artistic community — especially when discussing how that community benefits the state’s economy. And according to him, the lack of tax on art is in fact a boon for all Rhode Islanders, artistic or otherwise.

What it comes down to, he argues, is “sustainable competitive advantages.” Every state is known for industries or assets “that really are used to attract or keep people, or to attract and retain businesses.” Massachusetts has its technology industry. Connecticut has its aircraft, guns and nutmeg. Now, Rhode Island has its arts community. “But it’s definitely not the only sector,” added Mazze.

He points to Pawtucket’s revival as an example: “Pawtucket, which has already received all sorts of attention for being a community encouraging the arts — and also one of those zone areas where there was no tax in art — has really brought a lot of good attention to Rhode Island.” The destruction of sales tax on art serves only to broaden this attention by creating more artistic bastions similar to the Hope Artiste Village or Tiverton’s Four Corners, which reinvigorate and revolutionize nearby economies.

“The arts community, it’s more than photography and painting. It involves woodcraft, glassblowing, all of these other things that are really being taught at RISD and other schools. [The sale tax abolishment] is a way to keep these young people in the state, because they see a future as an artist here. It’s basically a vote of confidence in the creative arts community.”

That last bit bears repeating, as it’s the takeaway of this whole economic shift: the death of the sales tax is the local government’s “vote of confidence” in its growing arts community. It’s the bureaucratic way of saying, “Keep up the good work” and “Way to go, kid.” With this kind of change, the arts are allowed that much more financial room to flourish, and thus that much more room to attract artistic entrepreneurs and independent artists from nearby states (and beyond).

“For a lot of businesses, there’s no question that they look at [a state’s] education and medical facilities,” said Mazze, “but they are also concerned with theater and art — all of the things that make one’s life more enjoyable.”

And that is now one of Rhode Island’s sustainable competitive advantages: a humanities-minded environment in which artistic talent is nurtured and encouraged to metamorphose into financially successful creative careers.

Only time will tell if it actually works.

- See more at: http://motifri.com/so-long-to-sales-tax-on-art

Ember's Toe

Because several people were concerned and asked, I figured I would explain.

One toe on Ember's hind leg now twists sideways. You can see it if she stands the right way or sits, or walks on it funny. I noticed her hip was swaying differently when she walks. I did notice changes when she first started having issues with the drain/grate objects. But I thought it was more with the avoiding behavior. I want to kill whoever at Petsmart grooming caused it. But it explains why she's so afraid of drains now, because she ended up with a physical injury we were not aware of.

I have been paying more attention since we discovered it a while back. She does walk funny on it at points and it has effected the way she walks or shifts her weight, which in turn effects how she stands and tries to do the tasks I ask of her when bracing or counterbalancing. A few times it has made her lose her footing or bump into me.

I just wish we would have seen it sooner. The doctor didn't even see it the first time. Ember had a checkup just to make sure she looked okay and didn't have any obvious injuries when all this first happened upwards of probably a year ago. They manipulated everything and said she was okay. With her full coat and fuzz feet you couldn't clearly see it. Ember's fur was juuust long enough over the toe.

This time around the vet's groomer offered to do a full cut and trim it all back since she knew we were moving to a warmer area, and that's when we realized it was twisted. The doc looked at it before we left town and manipulated it and said it was an injury that had healed and may have been fractured but was hard to tell without xrays. We couldn't afford them, so he said to keep an eye on it because it could give her problems if it developed arthritis, somehow became reinjured, etc.

My worry is sometimes I think it does hurt her, and she is just very good at hiding it. Animals in general are good at hiding signs of injury or illness. She is also a high drive dog. She's worked herself to exhaustion and near heat stroke playing in our yard when she was younger, because she just keeps going. She wants to please so badly, and I have to slow her down and stop her and make her take breaks. So it really makes me wonder how driven she is to work despite pain and discomfort. I know other people who have dogs as driven, who kept working despite pain and injury that wasn't physically obvious.

We'll wait and see.

Trying

Trying so hard to do things despite the pain and fatigue. The animals are all extra clingy and following me from room to room any time I get up. Have so much to do, stuff around the house and commission and art stuff. I get so frustrated because I want to do it and need to do it, but I start hurting so much and energy is zapped and I can't get anything done. Hard to even sit here very long. I get up and try to move around a little and that hurts too, and I start feeling weak. Trying to sculpt or paint is failing because my wrist and shoulder hurts so much. Laying down doesn't help. Pain meds are doubled and not working. It's been getting worse all week. It's just one of those days I guess, but I'll keep trying anyway.

New Service Dog Will Be Needed

I have been doing a lot of thinking about service dog things recently. One of the things that keeps crossing my mind, is what will happen when it comes time for me to get a successor dog, when it is time for Ember to retire. I'm at a loss.

When we were in Minnesota, and had access to Can Do Canines, it was pretty certain how I'd come by a successor dog, and that was years in the future, having the help and support of their amazing and knowledgeable staff and network, as well as having an amazing network of dog training and canine behavior people around me in Rochester. Even if I trained my own dog again like I did with Ember, I had the right mixture of professionals surrounding me with their awesomeness to help along the way.

Being back in New Orleans after being gone 8 years, I don't have a clue who is still here and who is reputable in the dog training and behavior field locally. I also have no idea what assistance dog organizations are around local. It doesn't seem like there are any remotely like Can Do Canines, and I am not sure if I trust the... largeness... of some of the organizations that say they offer placement nationwide or can help get a field trainer close to you.  Because such places normally have an outrageous waiting list for dogs. To go through the whole crazy process of applying, and then waiting, all over again. It could take another year or two. I am not even certain where I will be then. We sure didn't expect to have to leave Minnesota, but doing so changes everything.

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Bigger Is Better

If I choose to train my own service dog again, I have to go about finding the right dog. I need a larger, stronger dog for mobility assistance. I love Ember to death. She is the most amazing, smart, crazy Golden Aussie mix I could ever ask for. She has a great personality and her work ethic knows no bounds. But because she is a medium sized dog and petite, she is limited in what she can do for me without risk of injury.

We work well together as a team, but there are some things I am finding I need help with now, or know in the future I will need, that she cannot do. Up until now we have been able to find... creative... ways around it, modifying things and improvising a lot. We manage, but sometimes it takes a lot out of both of us.  The older she gets, the more difficult it will become.

There are certain breeds or mixes I have considered. Overall I would be most inclined toward a working line German Shepherd, or a German Shepherd mix that had more of the GSD characteristics. I'd also consider a Rottweiler for many different reasons. Golden Retriever would be another option. As much as I love Labrador Retrievers because of all the awesome labs I know, I don't feel that I would want one as my next service dog. Not a pure bred anyway. They are overbred and sometimes overpriced here because of popularity with hunting. I would probably lean more toward a Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever mix. I'm normally more inclined toward mixes simply because they tend to be less prone to health issues in the long run. I'd have to find a dog that wouldn't risk developing hip dysplasia and other such issues, so OFA checks on hips, elbows, and knees would be a must.

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Puppy or Adult?

Which is where the next difficult decision comes in. Do I get a puppy or very young dog, or do I get a dog at least a year old? Do I find a good breeder and hope they'll work something out with me so I don't have to pay an insane amount? Or do I go through the local rescues and hope I can find a dog that doesn't have any existing behavior concerns and hasn't come from a situation of neglect or abuse? Either way, there are pros and cons to both.

Getting a puppy or very young dog, I have the ability to start training as soon as I get the animal, and better chances of shaping desired behaviors and proper socialization, and exposing the dog to all sorts of different situations and stimuli so they would be comfortable in all environments, and have the general sort of demeanor needed in a service dog. Getting a dog at least a year old means I may have to reshape undesired behaviors like I did with Ember, but I have a better idea of how large the dog would be and if it would be able to meet my needs. Either way, have to wait for the growth plates to settle before doing direct weight bracing.

Normally I wouldn't even give looking at the local shelters and rescues a second thought. If the dog I intended to get was strictly going to be a pet dog, and I didn't have to worry about public access issues. In fact, that's normally what I try and encourage others to do. But the dog I would need to find is one with very specific behavior criteria and stable background.

The benefit of getting a puppy or yearling from a breeder or from a private owner is that theoretically they would know the entire life history of that dog, and the parents, and underlying health risks, etc to a certain extent. Whereas getting a puppy or yearling from the shelter or rescues, it is possible that there would be no known history on where the dog came from, or what kind of treatment it had experienced to that point in life, unless it was born at the shelter.

Many assistance dog organizations will try and find good candidates for training from the local shelters and rescues, but coming from that environment it is hard to find a dog that can make it through the training. Most dogs flunk out for one reason or another, and have to be 'career changed' because they wouldn't make a good assistance dog. Which is a reason why many assistance dog organizations have started their own in-house breeding programs, selecting dogs with certain key traits to produce sound puppies with those same traits.

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Time To Decide

Sure, certain things can be overcome with a lot of work and dedication. Ember had plenty of quirks when we first got her, and we had to work through them simply as pet dog owners. It was even more important when we started training for service work. By then she was about 3yrs old. She will be 6 years old at the beginning of 2014. For her breed type and size, average life expectancy is around 11 years. Obviously I hope she will be with us far longer, but by then she likely will not be able to work anymore. There is also the issue of her twisted toe that will likely effect her ability to work.

It could take at least two years, maybe more, to train a new dog for service work. That comes after all of the general obedience and advanced obedience skills are learned and proven.

The other thing to consider is getting funding for expenses related to acquiring a successor dog. From the adoption fee/purchase of the dog if I can find one locally, to beginning veterinary expenses with vaccinations, heartworm treatment and flea/tick prevention, OFA xrays needed to ensure the dog is physically sound just as we did with Ember, costs for obedience training classes ( exposure to other dogs and people in these classes being the key benefit ) and costs for general supplies that will be needed. The flipside is if I am able to find an organization who can provide a dog, I likely will still have to pay many of these expenses, and pay for hotel and travel expenses to their facilities, or travel out of state for acquiring the dog, from breeder, rescue, or organization.

These expenses would be out of my pocket, but are a necessity either way I look at it. The only factor is how long it will be before I need the money. A friend of mine told me I should start now to be safe. Start some sort of donation campaign or something like the service dog organizations do, to help raise the money. Since I am unemployed and limited in my ability to work, and looking to apply for disability assistance, I'd have to find some way to get financial support.

With all of these things in consideration, should I start looking for a successor dog candidate option now? I almost feel guilty thinking about a successor dog because Ember is my first service dog. It's not something I am trying to rush in to. As evident by me typing all this, I have been giving it a lot of thought.

I still have a lot to think about.

Zap

Who knew running jolts of electricity through yourself could feel so good? ::Cranks it up::

Wrist Woes

I made my left wrist angry at some point last week, and it is still bothering me. Only hurts when I bend it 'just the right way', but of course that seems to be when doing anything at all. It's making sculpting, painting, and typing quite a challenge and slow going because I need to keep taking breaks to rest it and wear a brace. On the bright side, feeling is slowly returning to my right hand and fingers and the numbness and tingling is returning to the 'normal' amount I experienced before the injury a few months back. Want to buy new body.

Service dog blurb

Worried about Ember's twisted toe and how it is going to effect her working ability long term.

Inside The Pound

Please note, this is in reference to city run animal shelters ( aka the pound ).  There are rescue groups that exist, some of which are fortunate enough to have their own no-kill shelter space, or others that are foster-based, funded solely through the support of their volunteer networks and public support, who do their best to try and save animals from these high population kill shelters. Unfortunately, they can't save them all.

The very sad and harsh truth. This is why I have spent so many years in animal rescue, rehabilitation, and educating the public as much as I can. The brutal, honest truth is what most people need, because far too many do not value the lives of other living, breathing, thinking creatures, and this is the result.

= = =

Written by Al Ramirez – Facebook: AlleyCatALF

I think our society needs a huge “Wake-up” call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all… a view from the inside if you will.

First off, all of you people who have ever surrendered a pet to a shelter or humane society should be made to work in the “back” of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would stop flagging the ads on Craigslist and help these animals find homes. That puppy you just bought will most likely end up in my shelter when it’s not a cute little puppy anymore. Just so you know there’s a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it’s dumped at? Purebred or not! About 25% of all of the dogs that are “owner surrenders” or “strays”, that come into a shelter are purebred dogs.

The most common excuses: “We are moving and we can’t take our dog (or cat).” Really? Or they say, “The dog got bigger than we thought it would”. How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? “We don’t have time for her”. Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! “She’s tearing up our yard”. How about making her a part of your family? They always tell me, “We just don’t want to have to stress about finding a place for her. We know she’ll get adopted, she’s a good dog”.

Odds are your pet won’t get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn’t full & your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats & sleeps. It will be depressed & it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don’t, your pet won’t get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door & the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose.

If your dog is big, black or any of the “Bully” breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door. Those dogs just don’t get adopted. It doesn’t matter how ‘sweet’ or ‘well behaved’ they are.

If your dog doesn’t get adopted in 72 hours & the shelter is full in most cases, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn’t full & your dog is good enough & of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long. Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week & are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment. If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles, chances are it will get kennel coughor an upper respiratory infection & will be destroyed because the shelter gets paid a fee to euthanize each animal, & making money is better than spending money to take this animal to the vet.

Here’s a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being “put-down”.

First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk happy, wagging their tails. Until they get to “The Room”, every one of them freaks out & puts on the brakes when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it’s strange, but it happens with every one of them.

When it all ends, your pet’s corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed, waiting to be picked up like garbage.

What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? Or used for the schools to dissect & experiment on? You’ll never know and it probably won’t even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right?

I hope that those of you who still have a beating heart & have read this are bawling your eyes out & can’t get the pictures out of your head, I deal w/ this everyday. I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes & start educating the public. Do research, do your homework & know exactly what you are getting into before getting a pet.

These shelters & humane societies exist because people just do not care about animals anymore. Animals were not intended to be disposable but somehow that is what they are these days. Animal shelters are an easy way out when you get tired of your animal & breeders are the ones blamed for this. Animal shelters & rescue orgs are making a hefty profit by keeping this misconception going.

Between 9 & 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters (Humane Society of the US estimates 3-4 million) & only you – as a pet owner can stop it. I just hope I maybe changed one persons mind about taking their dog to a shelter, a humane society, or buying a dog without researching. For those of you that care— please re-post this to at least one other Craigslist in another city/state. Let’s see if we can get this all around the US and have an impact.

THINK before your selfishness begins to take over.

The Shedding Situation

Since we got to Louisiana, Ember's level of fur shed has reached epic proportions. She is an Australian Shepherd / Golden Retriever mix, and her coat type is a blend of both breeds, and makes her more prone to shedding. In Minnesota it was bad, but we had carpet to 'trap' most of it for the weekly vacuuming. My aunt's house is all tile floor except for one room. The clumps of fur frolic and dance down the hall, mocking you as you chase after them.

I am having to vacuum every other day, sometimes every day, having to get behind nooks and crannies and finding 'dust bunnies' big enough to make new animals hiding. Even sometimes after I have just finished vacuuming, I will turn around and see a freshly shed clump fly off of her as she wags at me, and mock me as it rolls across the floor.

I have no problem with vacuuming, it's that I am not always able to do it as constantly as it needs to be done because my body can't keep up with the physical demand, which is making my body angry. Thus I am considering getting Ember a very short haircut, where she'll probably end up looking more like a lab. I hate doing this because I absolutely love her feathering, but there's not much else we can do. She gets regular baths and brushing at home ( normally bi-weekly ) with shed control and skin stuff to moisturize, she is on a healthy diet with fish oil, and she has gone to the groomers regularly for years.

I intend to have this done by a professional groomer. My concern is messing up the way the fur grows back out. I have heard and read some people with Goldens refuse to cut them short for a number of different reasons, but I have also seen people who decided to try it despite having the same worries as mine, finding once it was done, they had no problems at all and their dogs' fur grew back normal as ever afterwards if they decided to let it grow long again.

I was thinking more along the lines of a "puppy cut" or "summer cut", but I'm not sure if that's the correct way to word it. Ideally I'd like to get it as close to normal Labrador length as we can.


One comment I came across by a groomer said this:

-----
"In my area, a lot of Goldens are prone to hot spots in the summer, so a lot of owners have them shaved down. If you decide to do this, I usually find that a #4 or 4F blade works best on most Goldens, taking them short enough to avoid the hot spots but leaving them a little bit of fur for protection from sun and insects. I also use a #7F on the ears and a #1 or #0 clipper comb on the tail. The result is that he looks like a yellow Labrador. If you give these instructions to a groomer they should know exactly what to do."
-----


And this site showing before and after images and comments from the owners:

http://maxthegoldenretriever.com/2008/08/11/max-the-golden-retriever-summer-cut-before-and-after


So fellow dog people, thoughts or feedback on your own experiences with grooming Goldens, Aussies, or dogs with similar coat types?

Warming

Louisiana, one of the few places in the US where you can now listen to frogs, crickets and other night symphony in December. In my childhood I remember having frost and it being in the low 30s, sometimes lower this time of year.

New Species of Cat Discovered in South America

Not an ocelot, margay, or oncillas.

This newly discovered species, dubbed Leoparda guttulus was believed to have been the same species as L. tigrinus, a cat that looks incredibly similar with a nearby range that are also known as oncillas. Genetic testing of the mitochondrial DNA of oncillas in the northeastern and southern regions of the cats’ range has confirmed that they are two distinct species who do not interbreed. In fact, they have not interbred for thousands of years.

See more at:

http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/new-species-cat-discovered-south-america

Random thoughts

The whole 'vibe' of this 'consumer driven' nonsense has me in a very sad place. I am thankful for the little that I have. Thankful for the fact we managed to scrounge up another $270 just so I could afford *half* of my monthly medicine. While others are soooo happy about those *must have* electronics and entertainment things they stood in line for hours to get and spend hundreds on, that they really don't *need*. Just tired of struggling to afford necessities while other people are frivolously spending.

Support Small Businesses

A friendly little reminder I made.  Tons of amazing small businesses and gifts to be found on Etsy.

http://www.etsy.com

Giving Thanks

Wishing everyone a wonderful day. I have plenty to be thankful for, and I am full of gratitude every day. Thankful for the inspiration and support I find every day, and for my ability to share those things through my creativity and artistic expression. Take the time to be thankful for the things you do have, even if it doesn't seem like much. Be thankful for being alive today. Live life to the fullest, laugh often, love passionately, create divinely, and share these gifts with others. Love and brightest blessings to you all.

The Cake Is A Lie

Back on that topic of random surprises that make people smile, this is one of those things I was plotting. I went and bought a cake the other day to celebrate ( belatedly ) mom's, grandma's, and my aunt's birthdays.  I needed somewhere to hide it for several days. The only place was the fridge.  I 'cleaned the fridge' since mom and grandma were bringing stuff for dinner and we needed room anyway. I hid the cake behind everything on the top shelf. I managed to keep it hidden the whole time, and just surprised them with it.  Hiding in plain sight, at it's finest.

Squee

I love plotting random surprises that make people happy and full of smiles.

Items Up For Grabs

I uploaded pictures of all the items my aunt is wanting to sell, to this directory on my site:

http://www.leopardwolf.com/yardsale


There were too many to code image tags to every single one for multiple sites, so I did it this way to make it easier.

If you want to buy anything, please let me know.

Get them now before I list them on Etsy, eBay, and CL.

** Louisiana / Mississippi locals** - I am willing to meet you for delivery ( especially for larger/heavy items ) so you don't have to pay for shipping. Otherwise buyer is responsible for shipping costs.



My aunt is letting me keep half of the profits for helping her with the photography and online listings, which is basically my only source of income right now besides art sales.

Feel free share the link with anyone you know who might want something.


Below is a written list of each item for easy identification.

= = =

Sofa Set ( locals only )


Benedictine & Brandy Liqueur Tin

Beaded Neck Shirt

Beeswax Candle

Big Red Candle Set

Bike Santa Ornament

Black Beaded Purse

Black Mesh Clutch Purse

Citrus Express

Dandy Frog Wax Carving

Darts Kit With Case

Darts Pack

Deco Beaded Purse

Deco Grape Platter

Emergency Flashers, 2 sets of 2 each

Fish Décor, ceramic figure / candle holder?

Fragrance Lamp Kit

Friends Forever Frame

Frog Cling Figure

Harley Davidson Leather Chaps

HBO Sex And The City Game

Holiday Tin

Lemon Tree Vase

Little Woven Basket

Mayan Family Dolls

Pewter Spoon

Memo Tree

Platter And Bowl Set

Pumpkin Bowl

Purple Vase

Reed Diffuser

Reindeer Plate

Santa Diffuser

Seashell Dish

Small Flower Pot

Small Metal Dish

Squirrel Nutcracker Dish

Spa Finder

Stationary Set, floral

Suede Skirt

Tealight Décor

Tiffany Vase

Toad Cling

Topiary Décor

Welcome Frog

White Beaded Clutch Purse

White Beaded Purse

Woven Willow Purse

Lh-who?

Very aggravated that some popular artists are using names nearly *identical* to my own distinctly special soul name that I have used for years upon years, and finding that is has likely repeatedly caused confusion. Especially since one of them has a character that started off very similar to my soulself ( wolf, feline, draconic ). Seems they became more active under those alias after Hurricane Katrina, in the time that I was not online for a long while.

I had someone see my name recently, think I was the uber artist and go OMG WOW UR SO AWESOME and I had no clue what it was about, and upon trying to clarify, when they realized I wasn't that person they lost interest. Which feels pretty shitty, let me tell you. Me and my art cannot compare to theirs.

Way back in the early days when I first started going by that name, I actually did web searches to be sure there wasn't any combination of the letters showing up for any popular things or other artists, so mine would be unique to me if it was something of spiritual nature I would identify myself with.

Now multiple people are using altered versions to identify themselves, and there is something about the name related to LotR?  UGH. Just very... frustrating.

Is nothing sacred anymore?  Of course not. There is no such thing as originality anymore.

Vintage Items Going Up For Sale Soon

Spent most of last night and all day today photographing items my aunt wants to sell. Planning to list some things on Etsy and some on eBay. Figure I would just use my own accounts to make things easier. A lot of the stuff is retro or vintage, and some holiday themed items. Some of them are larger glass pieces, a platter for instance. I know the stuff would sell well, it's just a matter of shipping for some of it might run close to the asking price, which is frustrating.

Otherwise the thought was to just have a yard sale, which is fine because there is some clothing and general items not worth listing online. Which might help for some of the larger glass items, but yard sales are so iffy because people generally seem to expect prices to be very low. So the question is, this time of year, is it even worth doing so after Black Friday? Do some holiday shoppers still try to find good deals at yard sales? Or is it more likely most people have finished their holiday shopping?  Here in Louisiana, we're still in the 60s and 70s, so it's fairly perfect weather for outdoor activities.

I'll be making a list and another post about it before I list them online, for anyone interested in getting first dibs at them for yourself or anyone you know who likes vintage things.

Holiday Cards

It's that time of year again!  Many people, myself included, moved since last year. So I need to make sure I have updated addresses for everyone!  Please send an email to me at leopardwolf@gmail.com with your current mailing address if you'd like to exchange cards and snail mail.

My PO Box address:

Brittney Steptoe
PO Box 740354
New Orleans, LA 70174

If you'd like my home address instead, please email me and ask.

Lhunie Smash!

Smooshing clay in violent fashion. Very therapeutic.

Art And Commissions

Managed to track down most of my important art supplies after the move, and have them at hand. Busy working on stuff, drawing, sculpting and painting. Will be updating Etsy shop soon. Commissions are open!  Place your orders now to have your gifts in time for the holidays!

http://www.leopardwolf.com/commission.htm

A bump in the night

So, I heard a loud thud in the kitchen. Found the garbage can upside down on the floor ( thankfully it was emptied earlier ) out of the cabinet it is kept in, and was about to yell at Raven or Wasabi for doing it. I picked up the can and started to pick up the handful of tissues, popcorn bag and a paper towel that had fallen out... And out scurries the biggest roach I have seen since I got back to Louisiana. It escaped before the cats or I could attack.

Samhain Spirit

"We're drinking out of these tonight!" declares my aunt. I had coffee, she had a mixed drink.

Happy Samhain / Halloween

Nox and Tox hope you have a bloody good time!

http://leopardwolf.deviantart.com/art/We-re-All-A-Little-Mad-Here-Pt-2-410288119

Medicine blurt

Apologies to anyone if I seem out of it or overtly snarky or emotional in any way. I had to half my dose of Cymbalta ( SSNRI ) and I am in a lot of pain. I am almost out of the supply I had, and I don't have $500 to refill my prescription for another month's supply. So I am trying to make it last as long as I can.

Since we were forced to move I lost the MN state health coverage I had that was helping pay for the prescription, and haven't been approved for any state medical aid or anything here yet. I sent a request to the pharmaceutical company for their "help affording medicine program", but that normally takes over a month to process and ship if approved, and by then I'll have long since run out.

Cymbalta works through accumulation over time. The reduced amount of medicine in my system means it is not effectively controlling my symptoms. My Fimbromyalgia and facial nerve pain are coming on strong, so if I seem a little miserable, that's why.

The memory remains

Settling in and unpacking. It feels somewhat strange, surreal even, to be back in New Orleans. Yet at the same time, it feels so right. You begin to realize just how much you miss a place, and how much it means to you to finally have a chance to return. Yet the familiarity isn't quite what it used to be. Things changed so drastically after Hurricane Katrina, and the losses we all suffered here left a lasting impact that will probably never fully heal. Memories and wishing for things to be the way they used to be.

What is harder is not having my mate by my side, but instead separated by such a vast distance. The distance we fought so hard to overcome in the early years of our relationship, only occasionally getting to visit each other during holidays. Otherwise all our interaction was online, or over the phone.

When we were finally able to move in together 8 years ago, we didn't want to look back on the time we were forced to be apart. We never thought we'd eventually end up right back where we were, through no fault of our own and not for lack of trying our hardest to prevent it from happening. Yet here we are again. Me in Louisiana, Mike in New Jersey.  While there are certain good things about being home for both of us and being able to see family again, they do not realize there were unspoken reasons that we originally left home in the first place. I really don't think any of them can comprehend how deeply this has effected us.

We'll hope for the best as we journey down this road.

New Mailing Address

This is my new and most current PO box.

Brittney Steptoe
PO Box 740354
New Orleans, LA 70174


I love getting random snail mail from friends and customers. :)

= = =

*** Please do not send anything to the Mississippi box from this point forward.

If you did send something, please let me know so I can make sure I get it.

Moved To New Orleans

I have moved back home to New Orleans. Despite my family's best efforts to help with temporary living arrangements with the camper, it turned out to have too many unseen issues. It was a safety risk and would cost more than it's worth to fully update, modify and deep clean it to make it safe.

I have moved in with my aunt for the time being, and will go back and forth between here and Mississippi as needed. I owe a huge amount of gratitude and thanks to my aunt. Despite being allergic to cats, she is letting me and the animals stay here. It will be a trial basis at first, to see how her allergies respond. So far, so good.

Mike is still in New Jersey, hoping to hear back on some job prospects. I too might have something lined up next month. Waiting to hear back on details.

I am just getting my computer set up again. I have not had a stable, reliable internet source since we left Minnesota, so apologies if I missed anything. I have a lot of things to read and respond to and a lot of catching up to do. I plan to also get back to work on commissions this week now that I have access to my supplies and tools and have a place to set everything up and work.

Hope everyone is doing well, and look forward to catching up.

In Limbo

In limbo. Still not settled in. The camper I was originally supposed to move in to has had too many problems and is a safety and health concern, so we are considering alternative options, which are rather limited. This whole situation has been an exhausting and emotional roller coaster of doubt and uncertainty.

Mississippi Conversion

Got car registered, new plate and Mississippi license, handicap hangtag extension, and got a PO box today. Also managed to move the queen size convert-a-bed couch out of the trailer. And drag it down to a storage shed. All by myself.  ::Flexes.  Dies:: Didn't have anyone else who could help move it. Been waiting days to get it out, finally got tired of waiting. My body will hate me for it later, but at least it's taken care of and no longer in the way. It was heavy and cumbersome and took up too much space in the little space I have, so it needed to go. Need more room for artistic endeavors, afterall.

Neuro-blah

My middle finger on my right hand has been numb and tingling for over a week now, and the sensation has spread to almost all my fingers and palm. I get numbness and tingling frequently, but it normally occurs and then stops and returns to normal. This numbness and tingling has been constant. Worried because it is my dominant hand, and it has been effecting my ability to grip objects and manipulate them. I thought maybe I strained it somehow during packing and moving, but I didn't do anything that hurt it badly or should have caused injury. I tried using a stabilizing brace and see if that helped any, but no luck so far. Yay neuropathy.

Camper hamper

The camper my family got for me to live in had a lot of damage and defects they were not aware of, including leaking roof, water damage and other things that have been found along the way and prevented me from being able to move into it. Having more work done tomorrow. Then a ton more safety and cosmetic repairs need to be done, and a very aggressive series of deep cleaning attacks to get rid of any lingering nastiness. The whole situation is rather meh, but it's a place to stay, once it's all fixed.

In Mississippi

In Mississippi. Having repairs done on the place I am moving in to. Looking for a storage place, and trying to get everything else sorted out. Net access will be very sporadic because I am using my smartphone. Bare with me, I'll respond to everything as soon as I can.

Almost there

Driving through the Ozarks. Beautiful countryside. Should arrive in Mississippi sometime this evening.

On the road

On the road. Stayed a day in Cedar Rapids. The hotel staff was kind and helpful. Ate at the Southgate Perkins, which is probably the nicest Perkins I ever went to. The staff was amazingly awesome, and my waitress Karin went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed ourselves. We chatted a bit about cats and our travels. She said she was glad we met, and felt things would improve for us going forward. Fingers crossed. It all made a huge difference, probably more than any of them may ever know. Onward.

Mississippi

Moving to Mississippi.  Probably won't have reliable internet access out there. Will do my best to get online to post updates when I am able.

Thank you everyone

Thank you to my friends here in Rochester who made the last few days here brighter and more bearable. Thanks to Mike's mother for coming to help with the move. Thanks to my family for their love, support, and understanding. Clara, Ashley, Pam, thank you guys sooooo sooooo much for helping with the vet stuff and comic relief and assistance while packing and running around like a chicken with no head. We met so many wonderful people and animals while living in Minnesota, and were thankful to be so welcomed in the community. You guys are all amazing, and I am extremely blessed to have met each and every one of you!

Thank you to everyone for their continued support and kindness offered to us through these hard times. I haven't been able to respond to everything yet, but I have read and appreciate everything.  Love and hugs to all of you.

Not there yet

Numb and broken. The trucks were loaded with almost everything. Mike and his mother just left. I still have a few fragile odds and ends left to pack and load. My stupid body just couldn't handle all the physical activity over the past several days. It kept giving out due to overwhelming pain and fatigue. I had to keep stopping to rest and it just slowed everything down too much and made me feel utterly useless. I hate myself for it. Ran out of time, wasn't fast enough. Having a friend stop by tomorrow and hoping the two of us can manage the rest by ourselves.

OA, too

Had x-rays done. Found out I have degenerative joint disease ( Osteoarthritis ) and joint effusions.

Meh

Can't sleep. I don't think I've ever seen Michael as depressed as he is now. We're both upset over the whole situation. We've lived together for the past 8yrs. Come Wednesday we'll be separated for an unknown amount of time, and probably won't be able to visit each other anytime soon. Things are pretty dark right now.

Veterinary Funding / Emergency Move

Need to get the cats and my service dog their medical exams and vaccinations before we move this week. Have absolutely no money with moving expenses. Anyone able to spare some money to help out? I'd be happy to do art or craftwork in return after we move. Paypal to leopardwolf@gmail.com please. I also have card readers I can use. Feel free to pass this along. Thanks in advance!

Quick update

Been ungodly busy packing. Looks like we'll be leaving Rochester by Wednesday or Friday at the latest. Stressed to the max and having a Fibro flair. Still not sure where I am going.

Moving

We'll probably be leaving Minnesota within the week worst case scenario, or by the end of the month best case.

With the impending move looming, I might not be able to work on commissions till after the end of the month when the move is (hopefully) complete. If I can keep my supplies out and get them done before we move, I will.

Have a lot of sorting and packing to do and very little time to do it. Could use a few extra hands to do it all.


Minnesota people - There are a ton of you I'd like to get together with and see before we leave. We may have less than a week, may have till the end of the month. Won't know for sure until tomorrow.


Everyone else, thank you for your support and well wishes. I'll respond to comments and messages as soon as I am able to.

Around

Still alive. Had a Fibro attack and it won't go away, so haven't felt up for much. Still feeling pretty crummy, but managed to update information for my current commission pricing, terms of service, and my current work queue. All updates are on my website, DA, and FA.  Will write more later and respond to comments and emails.



http://www.leopardwolf.com

No words

Out of sight.  Out of mind.

I don't even know how to describe with words what influenced this.


 http://leopardwolf.deviantart.com/art/Out-of-sight-391303219

Vent art

Venting.



http://leopardwolf.deviantart.com/art/At-the-end-of-my-rope-389812091

The State Of Things

There hasn’t been much nice to say, which is why I haven’t said anything at all. I haven’t had the heart to reply to much, and for that I’m sorry. I do read, and I do care. Just when my mental state goes where it is right now, it’s best I remain silent and watch.

I’m so sadly disappointed in my art and creative abilities at this point, that the more I think about it, the more I am considering selling off all of my art supplies… all the gemstones and beads and findings I have collected over the years, all the clay and sculpting mediums, all of my fur/hide/bone materials, fabrics, everything.

Just to try and get the money we need, now more than ever. All the majority of it is doing is sitting in supply bins waiting to be used, but due to lack of interest it keeps waiting and collecting dust. I just keep looking at it all thinking of how bad we need the money, and knowing most of it would easily sell and bring in a nice chunk of cash.


When we moved to Minnesota, there were numerous job opportunities. Sadly the employers we came here for keep putting hire freezes in place and laying people off, so the higher paying jobs we need and have the skills for are not available.

You simply cannot survive on minimum wage anymore, with the way cost of living has skyrocketed over the years. Our current situation is proof of that. As soon as we got laid off our Mayo contract jobs, everything went downhill again.

If things do not improve within the next few months, we won’t be staying in Minnesota.  I hate to say that because we have met so many wonderful people, been exposed to so many amazing opportunities and local communities and groups, have access to beautiful wilderness and to so many things we love.


But as for a means to support ourselves and be able to pay our bills, there is nothing left for us here. We’ll probably have to move back to the East coast and stay with family.

Cooking humor

I'm beginning to think our smoke detectors just don't like our cooking. We were broiling steaks, and there wasn't any visible smoke, yet they still went off angrily declaring "Fire, fire!"

Interact and Share

If you'd like to help me, or any artist for that matter, one of the easiest and best ways to help, is to interact with me and share my work on your pages. Comment on the art, +fav / like, and share it on your own journals, feeds, etc. The more people who see it, and the further it goes, the better. All it takes on your part is a few minutes of your time and clicks of buttons.

Struggling

Been busy with work, and in my free time working on art. Encouraged with progress and ideas for the new art techniques. Afraid it probably won't make a difference quick enough. Running out of time to find alternate means to pay everything I need to pay by the end of this month. Need to come up with about $2,000 to pay for my phone, car insurance and yearly renewal ( also need to bring it in for service, past due but haven't had extra money for it ), utilities, and rent is due again, and we still need to catch up being short from last time. Ember is also due to go to the vet ( the cats are too but it can wait a little longer ) and I need to buy a new mobility harness for her to work in. I'm working to the point of making myself repeatedly sick again, and have nothing to show for it. Just more struggling. Keep hoping we'll catch a break that will last, but I have been hoping that for many years now and it still hasn't happened.

Art Challenge

I am trying to step outside of my comfort zone and experiment with new art and learning new techniques. I need to improve on certain skills. I want to be able to better translate anatomy to my work, and draw better what I see in my mind's eye when I imagine wonderful things. More dynamic poses and capture of physical interaction.  I want to learn better digital art techniques and approaches for painting and different coloring and texture styles.

Any recommendations for reading or good tutorials is welcome, or if any fellow artists might be inclined to let me watch them work or let me pick their brains one on one, especially in reference to better using the graphics programs I have, that would be very kind.  Streaming art seems to have become very popular, and is something else I am very interested in.

I also need examples of work for commission references and such.

It means a lot of practicing and drawing, and that's where I need some help.

I have a wild and vivid imagination, but I'd love to hear from other people, what you might like to see me try and draw.

It would help greatly to have people respond with a comment for something random for art inspiration. You can also email me at leopardwolf@gmail.com with the info, if you'd rather. Just put "Art Challenge" or something else obvious as the subject.

Just a short description - "A dinosaur drinking tea", "A mountain climbing critter", "X Y Z eating ice cream at the park", or something similar.

I am even inclined to welcome you to link references to your avatars / characters, and a theme or scene you might like to see them in.

At this time I would rather focus on living creatures and organic things, real or imagined.

I plan to try everything from icon size, up through things that may later develop into art depicting characters and scenery in full detail.  It may be traditional art, it may be digital art, or it may be both.

I make no promises to draw everything that is suggested. I make no promises to offer any estimation in completing such things. I may mix and match suggestions, depending on how they inspire me. I may take a suggestion and run wild and elaborately with it, or I may not.

This will be random creative process in between other art projects and commissions.

If you like the things I come up with, and wish to help by supporting my artistic efforts, tips / donations are always greatly appreciated and can be accepted via PayPal ( leopardwolf@gmail.com ). It helps me pay bills and afford my art supplies so I can keep making neat things.

Off I go to draw!

A fall

Supposed to be keeping track of how often this happens. Fell down the stairs last night. Slid down them, actually. My ankle rolled as I was heading downstairs and I lost my balance and down I went. I was flat to my back, so it was more like being on a bumpy slide. I somehow managed to catch myself, by grabbing the railing I think. Mike and Ember were already downstairs and immediately came rushing in when they heard the crashing thud. I was all sore and swollen, iced it all. The swelling has gone down and been replaced by bruising, but I am still stiff and sore all over, especially in shoulders and entire back, and my right hand is pretty banged up. Seem okay otherwise. Thankful thus far I have been able to get up and walk away from it when it happens.

Vent

Fur bristled for many different reasons. Tasted so much blood for biting my tongue for so long, to keep quiet and hold my peace. Tired of being used and seeing my dreams suffer and fall short because of the selfishness of others.

Corvus Caelestis - Celestial Corvids

 This was quite a challenge.

I had to recreate it several times on account of Murphy's Law causing things to go wrong and ruin the foundation as I experimented to try and get it just right.

This piece was a commission for my friend Candee, who asked for a nature-spiritual reflective piece. She wanted something with a pentacle, but something that blended so the average person might not notice it, in the form of woven vines or something similar.  She asked that I include black birds, which have always been good luck for her.

Thus the piece came together in the form of a tree of life with woven branches to form the pentacle, a small scrying mirror to make the moon, then corvids and celestial heavens incorporated into the imagery, with Labradorite stone inlay and glow to finish it all off and make it whole.

 

Viewed in normal lighting, daylight.

Detail of the larger corvid and it's Labradorite eye.

 Detail of the smaller corvid with a good look at it's Labradorite eyes and spirit stone inlay.

Another angle of the smaller corvid.

 Behold, it GLOWS!

Mixed media on wood base with natural bark edges. Measures about 14in x 9in.

Currently accepting commissions.

This and more of my artwork can be seen at my DeviantArt gallery: http://leopardwolf.deviantart.com

 

===

Metaphysical Properties And Symbology

Raven and Crow

Raven and Crow both have strong medicine as spirit guides and totems. Walking between the worlds, gatekeepers between physical and spiritual realms. Seekers of ancient lore, guides on the path. They are normally black with iridescent hues of blue and purple shining on them, depending on the light. Their color is symbolic of creation, of the void or what has yet to take form.

Ravens and Crows are known as keepers of secrets and teachers of mysticism in many cultures, and viewed as symbols of good luck by some.  They teach us about life mysteries and magick. They aid in meditation and communicating with worlds beyond, offering heightened awareness and greater understanding of our consciousness. They carry the power for deep inner transformation.

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Labradorite

I used Labradorite inlays for the eyes, and one has a Labradorite spirit stone set in its back. Labradorite is highly mystical and spiritual, a stone of transformation and change. Labradorite has a calming and harmonizing effect. It purges negativity, bringing well being. It also has pain relieving properties. Labradorite is said to provide quick relief from anxiety, hopelessness and depression, replacing them with enthusiasm, self-confidence and inspiration. It is said to dispel negativity and to bring clear understanding by enhancing clarity of thought. Labradorite is also said to give perseverance, strength and enhanced intuition during times of conflict and change.

Labradorite heightens intuition and enhances psychic abilities, making it great for working with the Third Eye Chakra. Intuition and intellect are balanced by Labradorite. Illusions are dispelled and true intentions are seen more easily with its use. Labradorite is also very protective against negative energies, balancing, strengthening and protecting the aura and sealing it from energy leaks. Labradorite enhances strength of will and feelings of inner worth. It is useful for bringing up and healing old memories, including past life issues. Labradorite can aid in communicating with our highest self and with the creator.

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Space / Astral / Celestial / Glow

Finally, I chose to blend in the mysterious void of space, reflective of the corvids and their coloring, and of the concept of creation being birthed among the stars. The swirling of the nebula seemingly unending.

The glow represents pure spiritual essence within, like a quiet river running deep with the flow of the universe into the astral realms beyond.

Art incoming

Technical difficulties prevented me from uploading and posting art yesterday, so I am doing so today. Will have it posted and share shortly!

Gnostic Reflection

The spirit world is all around us, within us. It exists just beyond the physical realm, through the veil. Ever present, yet unseen by most. Some have the ability to look beyond the surface.


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This is one of the big traditional media pieces I was working on.


A commission for my friend Kyle, of his wolf self wandering the southern swamps and marshes.


This is the detailed line art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a lot of different meaning and symbology in this piece. I tried my best to make it a blend of physical and spiritual essence that exists in everything, and to express the subtle shift between these things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then I took it a step further. I made it GLOW!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It can also be viewed in my galleries at DA and FA.

To art or not to art?

I am a sucker for torture. Sitting here considering working on more art, but the last piece took a toll on me and my body is a bit angry. I have a digital piece I have been working on that I really need to finish already. Just haven't been satisfied with some parts of it.  I also really need to redo my commission info and work on my website. But that involves coding, and thinking.

I really need to do some reading and catching up on posts and comments too. But that also involves thinking. I need spicy brains to fuel me.  Please send help!

Take that, ML

*Finally* finished with both of those huge traditional commissions I have been working on. Had to redo both more than once because of Murphy's Law ruining things.  Waiting for everything to dry and set. One is already uploaded to DA and FA. Waiting for tomorrow to get some decent pictures of the other.

Crunch

I'm still alive. Been busy working on art and commissions, finishing what I had in my que. We are in desperate need of the money. Missing work because of my back injury left us about $300 short for rent which is due tomorrow, so that's a huge stress because we want to stay on good terms with the property management after all the past drama we dealt with and having a feeling they are trying to screw with us again. Currently accepting commissions for art and anything else.

Physical therapy

Had my first round of physical therapy today to help with the back and hip problems, and hopefully knee and ankle too. They used an Ultrasound / Interferential Current (IFC) machine as part of the therapy.

There was mention of some sort of device I might also be able to rent and take home that helps with blocking pain signals for spot treatments of painful areas, and I am wondering why on earth such a thing was never recommended for me before with my Fibromyalgia, if it could offer relief aside of taking more medication that doesn't really fully help anyway.

Sore and stiff from the exercises. Will be doing this for several weeks, maybe longer, building up more as we go along.

Working on finishing two big art commissions. Alternating between finalizing details and painting. Excited to share them.

Dreams dashed

Here, but not here. Kept to myself to sort out negativity that has been gnawing at me and smothering my will. Struggling with conflicting thoughts over many aspects of many things. Some thoughts darker, questioning life and my inadequacies. Wishing some things were different. Thinking back to better days. Childhood memories and dreams of great things and a bright future. Falling short, it all fell apart. Never to be made whole again.

The dreams I held on to for so many years. I still dream of the wonders, but I have come to accept most of them will never come true, no matter how hard I try or how much I believe in them or believe in myself. The determining factors of them becoming a reality are out of my control.

It's a harsh reality for a dreamer not of this world. But I keep dreaming.

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day, dad, wherever you are. Well wishes to all the fathers out there.

Back, Update

I've been away for the past two weeks recovering from a Fibromyalgia flareup after a rough week at work, followed by a painful lower back injury that has severely limited my ability to do much of anything. The doctor prescribed a muscle relaxer to help during recovery, and told me I shouldn't work or drive while on it. Easier said than done. I'm told I may still experience the intense pain for another week or so, and it may be up to six weeks before my back is fully recovered.

I have no earthly idea what on earth I did to cause it, aside of cleaning my aquarium that evening and doing mild housework, things I always do, and am always mindful about how I do so I don't aggravate my conditions to begin with, since excessive physical activities exacerbate them. The first night I couldn't even lift a gallon of milk. You don't really consider how much your back and torso actually do for you, until it hurts to use them in any way.

I'll be catching up on messages people left for me and posts as best I can. If I missed anything you wanted me to see, point me toward it. Apologies if I miss anything.