Yesterday one of the great ladies of motion pictures passed, Olivia de Havilland. She evidently passed away in her Paris, France residence at the age of 104.

She was always wonderful to watch, and over the years, she was real Hollywood class, IMO.

Ms. de Havilland, and Maureen O'Hara I just adored in my teenage years (okay... Maureen O'Hara a bunch more.... it's the Irish bloodline in me). But, it was Olivia de Havilland who I feel was classic!

Rest well dear lady.

I was able to join in, and listen to a 45 minute presentation by Hershel "Woody" Williams, the very last surviving Medal of Honor Recipient via the Freedoms Foundation. While we didn't get a chance to ask any one-on-one questions (he's 97 by the way... and looks DANG good too) it was just wonderful!

In March of this year a US Navy ship was christened with his name, and is now in service. As a US Marine, Hershel "Woody" Williams served in WWII, and due to heroism at the Battle of Iwo Jima, was awarded the Medal of Honor. He was wearing it proudly!

Gave me goosebumps! My own family fought in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican/American War, the Civil War (for the North), the Spanish American War, WWI (in France), WWII (a great uncle, in the European theater on the crew of B-17's and B-24's), in Korea (same great uncle, but not sure what he flew in that war) and in Vietnam (again, same great uncle, who was a Col. by that time). Others in WWII were in civilian support of programs at Alameda Naval Air Station (and what they did was NEVER discussed).

So,... Dang it was a great honor for me! Had not the Covid-19 been here to be our national pain in the butt, my employer had planned for that meeting to be live at Valley Forge!

Well, next to my summer from 8 years ago (when I was just recovering from prostate cancer treatment) this is going to be a very VERY odd summer.

A) We're getting a roof on the garage at our Lake Tahoe family cabin replaced. It's the original 40 plus year old wood shingle roof, and it's shot!

B) We're looking at getting the entire cabin deck replaced (not patched like one older family member's insisting on... REPLACED!). After over 60 years of snow, weather and general wear & tear it's gone to hell; totally rotted beams and supports. Trouble is our first quote is $40,000 !! That's just nearly $45 / square foot! I hope we can go lower with another few quotes. YIKES!

C) My free time's being taken up with "professional development" classes as part of work, and it's online only. And, since the cabin at Lake Tahoe has nearly no Internet to speak of... I'll be spending most of the summer at home for the connection.


There's one or two other things making this summer weird, but I'm hoping to work through them. Lastly my employer gives use paid time off, between June and the first of August. I don't mind blowing my summer, but... the raise I was hoping to see is now on perpetual hold due to the "Shelter in Place" crap we've just come out of. That, in itself, may keep me from looking for, and buying a house of my own (I've been staying with 🙄 other family members).


Shoot! I guess all I can really do is vent!

“We’re BACK!

Well, as the locals get geared up for summer, and hopefully without this virus, I look forward to some long overdue tasks.

1) Since the virus caused a cancellation of my annual astrophotographers camping trip (4 days of non-stop astronomy) it'll give me a chance to finally sit down and process last years photo's.

2) Same as #1, but also a chance to upgrade my astronomy gear.

3) Do more oil painting! Last ones I did were for Further Confusion (GOD I hope that's not canceled....). So, maybe have some nice pieces for that show in 2021?

4) IF the Realtor outfits open up again, perhaps resurrect my house hunt. I don't mind hanging out where I am, but a house of my very own would be nice.

.... I'm keeping it simple.

I may likely catch up on a ton of reading too (Including finishing up that reading for James Todd Lewis' Thurian series ... an author I truly recommend!).

Today is the 62nd anniversary of my folks getting married; I came into the world 2 years later.

The other anniversary was on Friday, with the 8th anniversary of my treatment for stage 1 prostate cancer.

Eight years a survivor... a great thing!

Well, like everyone else, I'm working from home. I've been doing this now for 2 1/2 weeks.

* I telecommute via Google Meet.

* I collect the work of scholars via Google Classroom (Oh ... yeah.. THAT'S FUN!!)

* I'm getting cabin fever! You know.. the kind where if you're cooped up (like snowbound in a blizzard) you want to go full DONNER Party!?

* Family is staying with me, to ride out all this ... crap... and their bickering is now making me short fuzed and sharp tongued.


I was just a young squirt, when we had German Measles AND the Hong Kong Flu (that's right I said Hong Kong!).

As a gray muzzle who'll be a 3-Score in September (that's 60!) I've seen H1N1, Sars (sp?) and Ebola hit our shores.

Now this....

I'm sure we'll survive.. but the ride won't be pretty. And if self-isolation, when you're 100% healthy, is any kind of Human hibernation (or test of it) ... I'd never make it as any kind of Ursine.

Okay... several cool things!

a) I got to visit with  vinci_nicolaides and family during FC.

b) I got to meet Tom Fischbach, creator of TwoKinds. Super nice artist, and I was lucky to obtain two really cool sketches I commissioned him to do (Natani & my fursonna in his style).

c) Got a commission from Cooner... also very awesome!

d) Bought roughly $128 dollars in artwork at the art show. I had my work in the show as well, but nothing sold 😔

e) Bought some artwork from Kenket, Mary Mouse, and a few others.

My room was in the Marriott, on the 20th floor. Great view, but a bit hard to get back to at times. Four elevators, always crowded with fur suiters, and others attending. Then one elevator broke down (I think twice) and I had to actually WALK up 20 flights. OMG did that leave my thighs sore.


Overall a nice FC... Missed most of the panels, but as it turned out, most of them didn't hold any interest for me this year.

One thing I DID do was paint in Oils outside the gallery on Saturday. Very fun for me.

Well if you don’t know what I’m talking about, it’s an old cartoon.

But happy new year everybody. My New Year’s resolutions are as follows:

* buy a house

* build up my retirement package

* do more quality art and astronomy

* find a lady to share my life, interests, and one who could have fun at a furry convention

* buy a Skunks-Butt Rug...

Okay the first 3 are definitely doable..., sad to say #4 is a long shot.

#5 damn near ludicrous.

Anyway, everyone have a great new year..., stay healthy and safe!

Just wanted to wish all a wonderful & merry Christmas 🎄🎄🎄🎄

I’m usually not a big grumpy person, but...

Poor sleep seems to be causing some kidney problems. So now I’m drinking way more water than I used to, and taking melatonin tablets to help me sleep closer to 8 hours.

My left foot, which I broke in 2017 (ironically about November 2017) has never been the same. I still have heal and ankle issues.

My job is still wonderful, but I’m not gonna lie, we switched to a block schedule (and had my class schedule itself all fouled up 2 weeks into the new block) and that’s been a strain.

I now have floaters in both eyes. That’s interesting to drive with, and with astrophotography as a hobby more so.

My dad’s health is so-so. He’s let himself become a couch potato, and his decision to sit and not be active is now putting a strain on my mom and me. Just tried to get him back on his feet the other night when he fell backwards. He’s okay.., but try helping lift a 86 year old weighting in at 220 lbs.

Now my family understands the two reasons I gotta have gym time. A) to not end up like my dad, B) to get released from the stress.

Well I’m just getting over (according to my doctor) a bug I picked up from work. I’d had this racked cough that would suddenly go ballistic with a deep breath (or a lot of conversation). Having had cancer..., well I thought best to get checked.

Thankfully just a cold. But it complicates things. Since very late August I’ve had health issues. It began with a urinary infection (including blood). Thinking the worst (like cancer again) I had it medically checked. Results,... bacterial infection.

Bowel area right next to radiation treated prostate... see where I’m going? Weakness between the two tissue barriers..., and “surprise!” But with this situation, it called for a follow up of blood work.

My blood work was off with respect to kidney function. This was seen before, and could be from the dehydration of two years ago ( where I literally passed out at work).

Or...., it could be nothing & just normal for me.

Or...., it could be something more serious,.... OR.....

Sleep Apnea!

I don’t think I’ve slept well or deeply since the cancer treatment 7 1/2 years ago, and it could be all tied to sleep apnea. So the plan is to check for it.., in two weeks (the cold could mess up the data).

Okay enough for that! ARTS! Maybe some people noticed some things removed.

Well..., one (and I do mean 1) art item placed on FA (ironically the same time I was battling the prostate cancer) was in violation of FA rules. Did I say rules? Try more than one!

Hell! I had NO idea! Seriously I hadn’t a clue. But, someone said it was in violation, and FA staff removed it. Hey again it was a problem..., I wasn’t aware I’d had that problem. Fine !!

But nobody notified me. All I expect is enough courtesy to let me know..., because I’m 100% willing to address a problem.

So, to be as proactive as possible I choose to remove other things that could spontaneously become the next problem. And, before I ever post anything else I’m gonna triple check the rules. I really want to do right by our hosts.

I greatly appreciate FA. It’s the first furry community site I ever joined. I continue to support it.

Making sure I m removing out-of-date stuff, or repeating items from my gallery.

I’m also working to uphold FA’s posting rules....

So if something suddenly vanished that was favored..., that’s why.

I’m set!! Got my hotel room the day the block of rooms opened, and had my reservation for the con paid well beforehand!

After 1,314,864 seconds, or a traveled circumference of approximately 939950334 kilometers = 292,167,873 miles I've begun celebrating my birthday! Yes, I've officially completed 2 score and 19 years (that by some, means I'm starting 3 scores years of Human Primate life)!

Yes.. despite the fact my fursona online (here and elsewhere is part Kodiak and part Polar Bear) I am indeed a primate known as Human.

Human
Homo sapien
A form of "Great Ape" Yes folks... Humans, Mankind, Homo sapiens are indeed a evolved (well physically... not sure of socially) Great Ape.

We reproduce like any other mammal.
We, like all Great Apes, have no tail.
We, like all Great Apes, have females who (in most cases) only are pregnant with one offspring at a time.
We, like all Great Apes, have grasping paws.

However, we DO differ from the Great Ape line in terms of technology, written and spoken language, etc. But, we're apes. Face it! We're apes.


So now all that out of my system, what will I do this day?

Not a clue... But 'Banana's" isn't one of them.

OMG.... I bought a company made Potato Salad ..., just ghastly!

The product had Cheddar cheese AND Sour Cream added to it.

Hasn’t made me sick, but what sick puppy thought THAT combo would taste good 🤢?
I’m gonna return to making my own from scratch.

(FYI- it was Costco)

I just read a news feed stating actor Rip Torn passed away.

He was 88 ( a surprise to me frankly). I loved his comedic rolls.

RIP, Zed.

As of this posting it’s officially the Summer Solstice!

You know what that means?

* fewer hours of night & and longest day of the year!

* it also means the days will soon be getting shorter 4 minutes each day.

Boy my Mom is gonna be pissed!

Sent from my little brother... https://youtu.be/2VN2D7Rxs14

Enjoy

I broke a front tooth,.., more specific it broke on me.

What began as a small chip cascaded into the disintegration of the top part of the front lower incisor.

It can be fixed, but the big question is, will an epoxy patch do, or is this more of a crown? Thank goodness my employer secured great dental insurance. Still it’s an expensive thing (copay stuff).

Monday they look at the tooth. I just hope it doesn’t get worse.

*Groan!!* one more bill.

Holy shit!

The house I'd been working to fix up and sell, where I used to live sold! In one DAY it sold!

That's step #1

And step #2..., pay off the loan from that house.

Step #3... find a new house. I don't mind relatives, even when I have my own bed & bath, but (a) I have no privacy; (b) I have not enough privacy if I ever wanted to *cough* entertain a lady; © I want to stay on speaking terms with my relatives.

So here's to the TON of screwy paperwork, California home sale hoops I jumped through, and a seller's market.

Well some good medical news... so far.

a) The "Gout" my podietrist felt was in my left ankle, my new (and frankly more detail oriented) GP say's is NOT Gout. All the blood work is normal!

So... what's with the ankle pain? December of 2017, when the outside foot bone of my left foot broke, was in a foot cast for 6 months, and presumed to heal right... it's out of alignment (most likely). In short it didn't heal straight.

I don't yet know what the solution is, but... I have a bad feeling of surgery and pinning the bone back at the right orientation.

b) The chronic cough I had since a bought with a cold/flu in January... it's my blood pressure meds! Seems a cold/flu makes me go into a semi-allergic reaction now to that med. Solution... med now changed and coughing is 95% plus gone! Yay!

Like I say, thank goodness for this new (and more thorough) GP.

Daylight Squandering Time is back.

Swell👎🏽

Tell me, Ben..

Why Gout!?

Yeah I maybe suffering from Gout. The tests are being run, but it is being assumed to be the reason for a sore ankle I’ve had since FC.

Dandy!

Yeah... thanks you fellow co-workers.

Love working with you... just not the stuff that gets passed around.

Well... Heck when you work, basically, in a germ factory, it's expected.

Remedies:

Hot Tea!

Decongestants and Advil!

RUM & Coca Cola... when not on the Advil that is.

And some sleep!