Yep! I finally found the time to plug in the 4x5 Wacom tablet Sil got me for Christmas!

I've quickly figured out that I can not trace over unscanned pencil sketches since the cursor on the screen doesn't line up with anything on the drawing area.

Tracing over scanned, hand drawn sketches is a tad easier once I get the hang of setting the image on the screen so I can draw a line without it running off the end of the drawing area on the Wacom.

Folks have told me this is going to take some getting used to. I just hope I'm not learning bad habits in trying to figure it all out.

Just figured I'd post an update as I've fallen behind on my monthly FA submissions.

Be well!

Swift

We had another great time at Morphicon this last weekend. If you were local and weren't there you missed an awesome opportunity to get art commissions from some prime talents, meet and make friends in a small, laid back environment, and just plain have a great time with furs.

But here are a few highlights of the weekend:

Celebrating eleven years as Silaria's husband on Saturday, among some of the best people in our lives, with this commission by  kamilya
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1311778/ (Bottom left corner)

Our star party got rained out on Thursday night, but we had good seeing on Friday night. We shared views of Saturn, Luna, Mizar & Alcor, and Abireo with a half dozen convention attendees. Thanks Manny!

I picked up most of the writing track panels to keep that line of programming alive after some last minute issues kept the fur hosting those panels from being in attendance for the entire con. They turned out rather successful even though I ran most of them "off the cuff."

Ashes got out and about for about an hour or so on Friday, not at all on Saturday, and on Sunday for the Fursuit parade and MotorFur Photo Op, and once again, late Sunday night with Tora and Reynard from Indiana.

Saturday's three, 30 player, games of "Are You a Werewolf" was completely insane in a fun and silly way. Kudos to Xavier, Javi and Caddie for the assistance! Beware the Baby, Diviner of Werewolves! Also, the "Lynching Phase" now happens between the two "Huzzah Phases." I love running AYaWW for Furries. :) There's joy in being able to spontaneously invoke a roaring "Huzzah" anywhere and at anytime by the end of Morphicon.

The Babyfur Milk and Cookie SIG was another resounding success with 18 attendees with varying interests sharing their point of view of what activities or objects help them to "get into the role" of their little selves. There was some discussion toward the end about why there aren't more "Babyfur Room Parties" at some of the smaller cons. In the end, I'm excited to say that Tamaria the collie-foxtaur is considering planning a Littlefur party at next year's Morphicon with light snacks, drinks and kids games.

I got to do a little ad-libbing against Ginny with Quatro, my fox puppet, before performing the puppetry duet together for the Puppetry Contest. We were the only ones in the competition though, which was unfortunate. We were awarded the prize for the Master's level anyway and were treated to a wealth of new suggestions to use to improve our puppeteering.

Lastly, making the time to sit down with Reynard and discuss some of the tangled up mess that is my spirituality and relationship with Fox right now. We sat out on the patio, and later Ramseys joined us, in suit talking with each other. Listening and watching a Primal Vison's fox suggest to me what I might do to re-center my life and get it back on track was a spiritual experience in itself at times. I can suspend belief too easily at times.

But what is best, I got to meet and interact with lots and lots of my friends, including a few that I only get to see at Morphicon. I won't name them all for the sake of brevity, but you each know who you are. I also think I have made a few new friends in Tora, Fox (in a Box), Havoc, Aiden and Reynard.

I'm heading up Morphicon's Programming for 2009. Big thanks to all the folks who have already spoken to me and shared their suggestions. If you've got suggestions or observations you'd like to share, feel free to post them here or e-mail me at swift AT swiftsden.net

For right now, however, I am feeling run down. It's almost like being hung over. Sil and her mom are in St. Louis today sight-seeing and will be heading down to Branson some time tomorrow for a few days. Foxie is without his unicorn again, but Caddie is keeping me company…and out of mischief and trouble.

*Hugs*

Swift Fox

I’m proud to announce the Western Pennsylvania Furry Weekend, http://www.wpafw.org, is being held the weekend of, October 3-5, 2008, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This year’s “Featured Artist” is the artist and illustrator MehndiX who is a great friend and one of the regions local talents.

THE SITE IS NOW LIVE!!

Event Pre-Registration is now OPEN!!

Registration for the Furry Weekend covers the Friday night, Saturday morning and Saturday evening’s programming at the Comfort Inn, Pittsburgh North, and the Eighth Annual Fur-b-que Saturday afternoon at Fireman’s Memorial Park in Aspinwall, PA!

Early bird, pre-registration begins now and runs until midnight on June 30!
Early-Bird Pre-registration is $15. (That's a 40% savings of the Basic Registration price!)
Supporter level Pre-registration is $35. (All of the above plus a Furry Weekend badge, front line privilege for food at the Fur-b-que, five Charity Raffle tickets, color print of the program’s cover art, and other swag to be determined.)

After June 30, Pre-registration goes up to $20 for a Basic registration until pre-registration closes in early September.

Hotel Room Block is AVAILABLE!

The Comfort Inn, Pittsburgh North in Harmar Township, PA, just off PA Turnpike exit 48, has afforded the event a spacious room block at a flat rate of 71.99 a night (plus taxes.) Call today and reserve your rooms and don’t forget to tell them you’re with the “Western PA Furry Weekend!”

Some changes from last year are in the works. We gave programming a try last year and it was met with mixed feelings. Many of you asked us where we were taking this annual event and expressed concern that it would lose the easy going, unstructured feel that had made the event so popular over the years and become just another "cookie cutter" convention. We listened and we've decide to roll back a bit of the structure and let the event be looser and more free-formed.

We'll still have a few of the more popular activities scheduled so we have room for them and you, our guest, know where and when you need to be there to take part. So look for Lazer Tag, the fursuit photo shoot, the group photo at the park, Saturday's morning cartoons, The Menagerie, gaming and plenty of time to relax and socialize. Of course, the event wouldn't be complete without the picnic dinner followed by the one of the best Charity Raffles hosted by Mandarin Orange and his associates. Due to the influx of fursuiters we saw in 2007, we'll be setting aside the Cheswick Room as a "Headless Lounge" to encourage their continued support and participation.

This short message by no means conveys all the information available on this year’s event. I encourage you to visit the Western PA Furry Weekend website at http://www.wpafw.org for pre-registration, programming and activities, and lodging just to name a few. I also invite you to sign up for the Furry Weekend Forums where you can get the latest information on the event, pose questions and suggestions, take part in polls and hook up with your friends for room and ride shares.

So mark your calendars and register now to join us in the beautiful autumn clad foothills of the Allegheny Valley and see friends old and new. The Western Pennsylvania Furry Weekend, October 3rd, 4th & 5th, 2008!!

Swift Fox
Director; Western PA Furry Weekend '08
http://www.wpafw.org

Like most folks with too much time on their hands and ignorance they're looking to get a rise out of Babyfurs.

Cute video. Neat message. We already know that we use our fair share of toilet paper. 90% of us don't go for messy diapers anyway and the 10% that do, it's either because they're medically incontinent or only done on rare occasions in private.

My advice?

Ignore it and let the LOL'erz look like flaming, basement-dwelling, "fur-fags." :)

Please pass the word along quietly.

*Hugs*

Be well my friends. We have weathered worse in my day.

Swift Fox

This is an excerpt from the story in progress, "Lessons in Lace; Day 3."

---

With a growl Sheade planted his free paw on Swift's back and pushed him forward with such force that he stumbled and fell to the floor. "You should be more careful with the whelp Russt. What if he had flown the coup?" the timber wolf admonished, "He's not even hobbled and yet you send him alone to answer the door?"

Swift rubbed his ear, fire and anger welling up in his chest at being treated so roughly; but a look from Russt quelled the words forming in his mind. So the cross fox quietly picked himself up and stood close by, watching the two wolves.

"She has no need of hobbles Sheade." Russt retorted, "She has submitted to me."

Sheade let out a long, brutal laugh, "Ha! Just more of his tricks I think. It's only been three days Russt. Three days!" "How long did he elude the Pack for?" The dark wolf continued with only a moment's pause, "Three months and more but now you think you've succeeded in subjugating him in just…three…days?"

"There is more to this fox than I originally understood or expected Sheade." Russt attempted to explain, "Believe me when I tell you, I have stumbled on some uncanny luck here."

Sheade only half listened to his mate's words. He took three steps and was towering over Swift once more. Those piercing black eyes bore down upon him and he asked the fox flatly, "So. You've submitted to my mate have you?"

"Ye…" Swift tried to answer.

The back of a heavy black paw made contact against the side of his muzzle. The pain was intense and quick. Stars filled his eyes and Swift fell to his knees in a heap. His paws went up instinctively to protect himself against another unexpected blow.

"LIAR!" Sheade screamed at Swift, teeth showing and foam beginning to form at the corners of his muzzle.

"SHEADE! PLEASE!" Russt cried out over his mate's shouts, "Stop! This is madness my friend. What has gotten into you?" The red wolf tried to move to his girl's side to offer some protection, but the larger timber wolf pushed him back away easily.

"You are a weak minded fool Russt." Sheade turned on the red wolf and spat, "And I was an idiot to think that you had the will or the ability to truly break this miscreant. I don't think you ever took what the Pack will do to us seriously and now both our sacks are on the block over this piece of trash for what? A new fuck toy?" The timber wolf swept an accusing finger around and pointed it at Swift as he finished his statement.

There was silence as both wolves squared off. Then Sheade reached down and grabbed Swift's arm without taking his eyes from Russt's and said, "I never should have believed you had the ability to do this job right. I'm going to take over his remedial lessons and you better hope that I can finish the job in the time that's left. Come on whelp."

"No! I won't let you take him! I tell you he's submitted." Russt barked pleadingly.

The red wolf tensed and his muscles coiled when Sheade took his first step, dragging the fox forcibly along at his side. Russt was ready to launch himself forward to wrestle Swift away from his mate.

Sheade had already anticipated an act of desperation, and Russt had literally telegraphed his intention to fight it out. Swift watched on, in seemingly slow motion, as the timber wolf raised his right paw into the air, black claws brandished and poised to strike the red wolf down with all his might.

Both lupines were perched on the edge of a bloody fight over him and it was clear that Russt was at a severe disadvantage.

---

Hope that piqued your interest and slated your thirst for this new chapter of the story.

Sneak previews are available behind filtered content in my LJ http://swift_fox.livejournal.com

Comments are welcome and encouraged.

*Hugs*

Swift Fox

It's been a week or so since I posted an update on how my little girl is getting along. Last report stated that she's taken to eating the Iam's Chunky beef and chicken food and is hit and miss with how well she's been moving around or how much tilt is in her head.

Well, since then she's now able and willing to eat her dry kibble again which makes it easier to get her back on her normal schedule and food intake again. I've been giving her an extra scoop after we get home to help her put some of the weight she lost back on.

She's still hit and miss on how well she moves around. If food or treats are involved, she can will herself to move in straight lines. Otherwise, she's still a little wobbly and tends to drift or circle to the right.

She's back to barking a bit, especially when it's time to be fed, or get her Glucosamine chew or when Edan is gnawing on a rawhide chew nearby.

I tried to take her for a walk yesterday afternoon. She was definitely interested in going for a walk, but she's still somewhat unsteady and the uneven road surface caused her to drift quickly or fall down all together. We walked about a 100 yards down the street and back. While she did lag behind, she never stopped except to get back up or catch her bearings again.

She's still having trouble with changes in elevations, no matter how small. She has difficulty getting out of the 1 ½" step out of the garage. It completely messes her up, like she's anticipating something to step on and when it's not right there, she kinda freaks out and falls down.

But that's the update on the Melody doggie. We're marking improvements by the week and month now instead of the day by day recoveries she was making shortly after this spell.

Hugs from us…nuzzles from Mel and Edan.

Swifty

I'm halfway through the third chapter, halfway through the third novella, of a series of stories I've been expanding upon, and now my mind revolts at doing more than edit what's already been written. Even that feels like a chore.

What's worse is the storyline itself is paused in my mind. I can see the exact scene in my mind where I stopped writing and the ideas for where it wants to go from here are still fresh in my mind.

I'm hoping that if I give it a few days to recover that the vibe will catch me back up again and I'll be able to resume.

I have a feeling, however, that there's more to it than just taking a cool down period. I think there's some mental blockage that's kicked me in my inspirational jewels.

First and foremost, there's no good reason to be a writer in the furry fandom. I don't think I need to expand much on that thought.

Second, I'm about halfway through this novella and I have no clear concept of where it will lead. Lead it must for while I don't have a short term "goal" the long term goal of the whole story is clear. My quandry is whether or not to force another two, or three, 50 page stories full of the same or similar material; or consolodate those two or three into a chapter and concentrate on wrapping up the series with one more work?

Third, It could be that the carefree days of January, February and March have given way to buckling down for another busy spring, summer and fall of cons, travel, housework, running around, meetings, meets, etc, etc, etc. This may be why I don't have the creative resources or presence of mind to be creative most of the year. :(

Either I need time to let the imagination cool down a bit, or I need to come to terms with the future of this series.

I guess I'm just venting a little to get it out of my system.

Thanks to all of you who have shown support thus far and have taken pains to dispell "reason #1" above. :)

*Hugs*

Swift

When she's good with the Rimadyl, she's able to walk in pretty much a straight line. Although when we get home from work she'll move a few steps forward then walk in a circle, get her bearings, walk two or three steps forward then circle again. She made it half way across the garage before giving up and walking back to her bed and rug. So I carried her out to the lawn to do her business.

She expressed an interest in the softened/prepared wet food when I put it down and even took a few licks of it when Sil added a bit of the gravy from the hamburger helper to it. Mel has been hovering around and in the kitchen while we've been cooking the last couple days. Sil said yesterday that the moment she lifted the lid off dinner to stir it, Mel was there. So, she is interested, what we need to do is make her dog food palatable to her. I'll see if she's interested in honey by trying to give her a little to lick off my finger. If she likes it, I'll mix in a little with her chicken and rice food.

In the end, she licked off all the good stuff and left the food behind in the bowl, so I had to revert to syringe feeding her again last night.

In another step forward, this morning Mel took her Rimadyl and a Glucosamine chew right out of my hand and ate them both. I think she also had a BM this morning as there's a definite difference between when she squats down to urinate and when she's got her tail raised and is moving around in circles on the lawn.

I think Edan knows Mel is feeling better cuz he's not cutting her any slack or giving her some distance any more. More often than not he's just plowing into her or around her, or under her head. He has absolutely no respect for his elders. :)

So as the title says, we're all moving forward.

*Hugs*

Continued thanks to everyone for your support and for following along.

Swift, Sil, Mel and Edan.

Slow progress this weekend, though she did revel in the extra attention from several friends who were over for the Spring Fling party and the WPAFW Planning Meeting.

We finished up the last of the A/D food yesterday afternoon after combining a quarter of that with about 3 ounces of Iams ground chicken and rice. I have to really water that down a bit and I've added some oil to help it move in the syringe which has been getting stuck during feeding. Mel totally does not like getting fed by syringe. Either it's the food itself or the method of delivery, or a combination of each, but she tires of it quicker. I'd add honey, as Jean suggested, but I'm concerned that'll gum up the works.

She licked a daub of maple syrup off my finger tip Sunday morning, but she just couldn't deal with a piece of pancake or the plate of left over syrup when held out for her. She was interested...I'm just not sure what is keeping her from taking the next step. Both Sheri and I mark her eating on her own as a major milestone in her recovery.

She's moving much better on her own now. She's been able to manage getting across the vinyl floor in the kitchen now and even took herself for a walk down into the ravine mid-day Sunday. We kinda have to give her more time to get into position to do her thing when we put her out. She's not moving far or fast normally, so we can set her on the lawn and then go back inside to take care of a chore for five minutes and then go back out and find she's only circled around in place. Well the Laundry took a little longer than expected and drifted into taking care of something else and when I went back out...Mel was gone. :(

I called out the troops to help me look for her, figuring she hadn't gotten far. Caddie found her trekking along the bottom of the ravine. When I navigated myself down to her she was all happy, panting, having a good time taking herself for a walk. I carried her back home and set her down to have some water. Silly pup...bad foxie. :(

We mark that as an improvement and now know that she's moving well enough to wander off. So we'll be keeping a closer eye on her again. This week, I'm going to put some softened food in her bowl and give her the opportunity to figure out how to eat from her bowl again. If she doesn't take to it in 15-20 minutes, she gets fed with the syringe. She won't begin to eat on her own if we don't give her the opportunity to do so.

*Hugs*

Thanks for the advice, the encouragement and the prayers all!

Swift, Sil, Mel and Edan

As March draws to a close, I realize that I have been remiss in presenting something creative here in FA as I had resolved to do in January.

Therefore, I respectfully submit to my watching audience, that my creativity flourished this month in the remodeling of the "guest room/Swifty's room," which was shared with you in my gallery.

I do admit, I did put pencil to paper, or at least tried to, at the monthly fur meet. But I discovered that environment is not condusive to my creativity.

So I ask if you'll accept a little Interior Design project as my finished, creative contribution for March?

*cute foxie eyes*

Swifty

I'm a fox, and while I should know better than to tease a unicorn, there are times when I just can't help it. I always over look how hard those cloven hooves are. :)

>*bops you on the head* "I am NOT a My Little Pony!"

*Swifty staggers back and forth, tail frazzled, tongue drooping out the side of his muzzle, ears splayed to the side, and stars swirling around his head.* "Y...y...y...yes Uni!"

*giggles*

*hugs*

Swifty

Yes, after relative silence in the den since Saturday morning, sans a lot of whimpering and moaning, we arrived home to the sweet sound of Melody barking in the vestibule.

Yeah, normally I'm yelling at my "queen barker" to shut up, but this was music to my ears.

Aside from that slow progress.

She woke me up with a couple barks this morning to go out and she did her business. Then she wouldn't leave me alone until I gave her the anti nausea meds. She's moving around quicker this morning. More confident in her steps. Though 5:30 this morning was no time to be up on a company holiday so I pulled her close, laid down on the floor and held her. We both fell asleep until 9 when Sil got up.

So, positive news.

One of Sil's co-workers had a similar problem with their dog and told us it took him a good week before the vertigo went away completely. So, we're watching and waiting.

*Hugs to everyone!*

Melody and her family

Sil and I had to leave Mel home unattended yesterday while we went to work. We "Melody proofed" the vestibule between the house and the garage, blocked the stairs with child gates and hoped for the best. She was on our mind all day and it didn't help that I was pretty much dead in the water from 10am on because the entire network was down.

But we found her sprawled out on her "bed," just about where I left her. She'd thrown up and urinated, but those were on the foot mat and the bed and easily cleaned up.

Progress isn't what I had hoped, but she's not back sliding either. Her ability to stand and move around unsteadily seems to come and go. She spent as much time laying down as she did standing up and moving around. She's good with drinking from her bowl, but not ready to eat out of a bowl yet. She's definately not fond of being fed via the 3oz syringe. Sil says I need to be more steady in my resolve.

She's getting somewhat gaunt and I struggle to get food into her. Over the past two days she's had about 6 oz. of food, plus an ounce this morning of the two ounces I had prepared.

When I can get her outside, she'll squat down and urinate about 50% of the time. The other 50% I have no idea what she wants. :)

I called off from fire school to stay home with her last night and she laid beside me on the floor of the living room while I began unlocking stuff on "Burn Out 3." (Yeah, after two years I finally took the plastic wrap off and opened it up.)

We brought the walk off mat up and set it beside the bed and gated Mel to that section of the bedroom at night. She woke me up about 12:30am and she was covered in plushies which she had knocked off the shelves. She had to go potties also and so did Edan when I let them both out.

I have my doubts that the pill form of the anti-motion sickness drug is as strong as the injection she got on Monday as her eye movements were more pronounced yesterday and this morning.

So in the end, a small bit of progress is better than a steady decline.

*Hugs*

We all appreciate the comments, the thoughts and the prayers. We do get to read them, and they bolster our spirits, even if we don't have the time to reply.

Be well!

Swift, Sil, Melody and Edan.

Mel is back on her feet and fairly stable again. Before her balance was a little off and she was prone to toppling over onto her side. But last night she wandered back and forth in the room, panting and squeeking and all around getting Edan all worked up so he was moving around all night in bed.

But it's good to know Mel is moving through stages she was in back on Saturday night.

I got a few ounces of food in Mel yesterday using a large syringe and a warm gruel of soft dog food and warm water. She's not real thrilled about the arrangement but she's being a real good sport about taking her food, water and meds that way. But mostly we let her just relax.

She's urinated for me now a hand full of times outside, but I have to carry her in and out.

This morning she took water out of her bowl thanks to a sample carpet square I put down on the linoleum floor so she'd have some purchase. She's spending the day in the vestibule between the house and the garage which Sil dilligently "puppy proofed" so she doesn't hurt herself. I suspect we'll come home to see more improvement.

So that's kind of the fragmented report of how Mel is doing. I've got to share that with the vet today and I'm sure she'll be just as thrilled. It made us feel good when she remarked at how long we're able to give our pets uncommon longevity.

*Hugs*

Thanks from Sil, Edan, Melody and I for the continued support, thoughts and prayers.

Swift

Big hugs to Jean for the info on Vestibular Disease and to me for listening to my heart and postponing any action until we could get her in to see our regular vet.

Mel was correctly diagnosed with Vestibular Disease this morning. She's been given an injection of some high test Dramamine which should help quell the vertigo she's currently experiencing.

The disease runs it's course in about 72 hours, so the good news is, we're halfway through it. We'll be feeding her via syringes for food, water and medications to help her through this rough time. There's still the off chance that she won't respond to this and the meds requiring us to hospitalize her so she can get IV's and stuff to pull her through.

The head tilt may persist for a few weeks to a couple months though. No one is really sure why that condition tends to persist, but most dogs work it out within that time.

This appears to be a common occurrence in older dogs right around the coming of Spring and Fall.

So, a big thanks to everyone who responded to my posts yesterday and who found the time to come over and spend time with us and Melody. I'm glad it was a "false alarm."

We'll keep you updated over the next few days.

*hugs*

Thanks again.

Swifty

...at about 2-3pm yesterday afternoon.

We're going to the Vet's office first thing Monday morning and using the time we have left to be with her. She won't eat or drink, she staggers through the house very slowly, a step at a time, and her head is twisted about 90 degrees. She responds to touch, and calling her name, but other than that, I think she's kinda spaced out/confused.

If you'd like to come over and see her, to be with her a little while and find closure, give us a call. We'll be home this afternoon after a round of grocery shopping.

Sil, Melody, and I appreciate your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.

*hugs*

Swift

Per NASA’s web site:

March 10, 2008
The rotating service structure has been rolled away from space shuttle Endeavour in a major milestone leading up to launch. The liftoff of Endeavour on the STS-123 mission remains on schedule for 2:28 a.m. EDT Tuesday, March 11.

Weather reports look favorable for launch!

Friends down in Florida and the Southeast, be sure to set an alarm for a quarter after 2am. For everyone else...there's the cable news networks.

*Hugs*

Swift Fox

Those of you who have been following my FA Journal, as well as my LJ Journal, know that I have finished up the story, "Lessons in Lace; Day 2."

"Lessons in Lace; Day 2" is a Babyfur story containing M/m, forced regression, diaper domination, diaper use, sissification, humiliation, & yiffy scenes.

It's my readers on LJ are getting sneak previews of the story while I'm busy editing it into something more cohesive and correct than the initial draft.

I was wondering if there's an artist on my +watch list who'd like some extra exposure and take a stab at a few scene illustrations for the story. They'll be inserted into the final .pdf of the story posted to FA, my website, and other locations where the story will find an interested audience.

B/W sketches or rough line work is acceptable. The pics just need to convey the scene.

I really can't offer you more than full credit as illustrator in the story credits and any exposure from the work.

If you're interested, PM me and we'll discuss this collaboration in private.

*Hugs*

Swift Fox

Okay, curiosity killed the fox...

Why do you watch my gallery and would you comment more if I drew or wrote __________?

*Hugs*

Just wanted to mention that after nearly a two year hiatus, and a few pokes by fans of the story arc, my muse has struck back with a vengance.

I like to keep my short stories to within 5 chapters. As I finished up the fourth, and embarked on the fifth, I was nowhere near completion. As I closed the fifth chapter and started the 6th, once again it was evident that yet another chapter would be born before I could conclude the story.

As the story stands, I'm finishing up chapter 7 to a conclusion that I can be pleased with. Re-working the story a bit, I realized that chapter's 1 and 2 can be combined into one, reducing the number of chapters, but still maintaining all the content.

I'm in the process of reviewing and editing, reveiwing and editing, reviewing and editing to correct spelling, tense, general flow of the text and adding more imagery where it's lacking.

Look for the completed story to be uploaded sometime in the next few weeks here in .pdf form. In the meantime, I'll be presenting a chapter a week in my LJ behind my Babyfur filter for my main fan-base.

Just wanted to pop something up here to show some progression in my writing as well as my artz. I still haven't forgotten that I need to present some artz for March. :)

*Hugs*

 swiftfox

...that we had a dozen firefighters at the fire station for committee meetings and fitness training.

At about 20:00 hours last night, as myself along with the fire officers and president sat around hashing over changes to the Department's By-Laws, county dispatch sent a set of pre tones across the air and all our ears perked up at who was getting tapped out for a structure assignment.

"Residential Structure Fire, 223 Fourth Street, Borough of Aspinwall."

The tones went off, the whistle blew, but none of us heard any of that. We dashed into the truck room and started to don our turn out gear and make for the apparatus.

I was in the back of Engine 1 when the flurry of tones calling out firefighters from Blawnox, Sharpsburg, Fox Chapel and Millvale out of their homes and stations in support of our incident. Then dispatch gave them the location...

"Stations 102, 265 Truck, 111 Engine, 157 Engine, 191 RIT, Residential Structure Fire, 223 4th Street in Aspinwall, Oven on fire."

Oh. Oven fire. As we roll out of the station with a full crew, we relax some as we buckle up our coats and begin to assemble the hand full of tools and equipment we'll need to clean up someone's "culinary catastrophe." Handlights, Thermal Imager, CO2 extinguisher, SCBA, TNT Tool.

It was a short ride and as we came to a stop, I unlatched the SCBA behind me, slung an arm through one of the straps, grabbed the TIC and a hand light and stepped of the Engine. I paused on the sidewalk to don the SCBA and tighten up the shoulder straps before following my 2nd Lt. into the ground floor apartment. He had the CO2 extinguisher in his hand and I was his back up.

As I reached the door however, I realized that this was no ordinary "oven fire." A moderate amount of smoke had filled the living room and kitchen/dining room beyond. But I could see my surroundings so I headed in. I heard the CO2 being discharged and it was a simple matter now. A 40# CO2 extinguisher should make short work of the problem. When I got into the kitchen though, the Lt. was struggling with this one. He'd knock it down and then it would flare up again.

We called for a hand line and that was being stretched in as the extinguisher ran dry. The smoke was getting thicker, so I donned my mask and went on air. A firefighter without a tank on pushed the nozzle into my hands and quickly exited the building. The fire was being fueled by a ruptured natural gas line behind the stove and was now burning unchecked a few feet away like a small flame thrower. There I stood with a limp hose in my hands, ready, but waiting for water.

It seemed like an eternity, but finally the hose stiffened, I adjusted the stream and knocked down a fire that was, by this point, crawling up the wall, along the floor and across the bottoms of the kitchen cabinetry. I had about 8 square foot of fire to deal with. But the water knocked the fire down enough to shut the line down, step up and pull the extinguished oven away from the real source of the fire which had flared up again. It sounded like a small jet engine, a steady whine, belching fire.

I hit it again with the stream while a crew went into the basement to shut the gas off at the meter. The fire and fuel gone, I opened the window over the sink, knocked out the screen and vented the smoke using a fog spray to clear the room. Tools came in and we overhauled the wall, cabinets, and cabinet hung microwave to check for extension. The Thermal Imaging Camera showed residual heat in the plaster, studs and ceramic floor, but no fire. We wet it all down again to cool it, and removed the burnt debris to the back yard.

Fans were set up in the doors to further vent the smoke from the apartment, but the bulk of the work was done.

We all agreed, if that had been any other night of the week, that fire would have had a 5 minute head start on us, instead of just two. That would have made the difference between containing the fire to the stove and immediate vicinity, to containing the fire to the kitchen with likely extension in the walls to the second floor and attic.

It hasn't been a week yet since the last fire I was in, and I find myself once again, facing off with the "dragon" and continuing to be nonplussed by it's presence and proximity. In hindsight...it's a little scary how my mind works when in those situations. But on the other paw, the pride of getting a quick knock down and once again proving yourself before your peers is a good feeling.

Now I have fresh Aspinwall smoke to cover up the Etna smoke my gear previously smelled like. LOL

A day in the life of the foxie! Y'all have a great time at FC. I'm courting my dalmatian totem/fursona and having all the fun I need right here. :)

*Hugs*

 swiftfox

Hey folks!

Just wanted to cast a line out there and let folks know that work for 2008's Western PA Furry Weekend is on-going.

The Park and Hotel Space have been reserved and we're in negotiations to utilize all the event space available at the Comfort Inn Pittsburgh North.

I also wanted to share that Silaria and I finally had a free moment, or four or five, to wade through the WPAFW07 Fursuit Photo Shoot pictures and also the pictures Ashes took and get them uploaded to our Picture Archives, presently hosted by Timduru.

If you were in attendance and took part in the photo shoot, I encourage you to take a look at what's there. Considering the equipment and accessories that we had, they didn't come out too badly.

Considering joining us this year at the Western PA Furry Weekend, Oct. 3-5, 2008? Here's a little taste of what you can expect.

Please enjoy!

*Hugs*

 swiftfox
Director; WPAFW08
www.wpafw.org

Just wanted to mention that ONE of my resolutions this year is to make time to draw at least one bit of furry art, finish it and post it, each month. Along with that is the drive to keep trying to flesh out a style that works for me.

Since I made my FA account, I have produced more drawings in 2007 than I have throughout the preceding five years.

I should also resolve to finish a couple stories which are stuck "In progress."

Just thought I'd post this here as well so I have a reminder and folks can prod me to follow through. :)

*Hugs*

 swiftfox

Hello everyone!

Well, this Christmas holiday Ashes got a special gift from Santa Fox. As the little dalmatian puppy opened his gift, Silaria was there to get a few pictures.

Ashes NEW Fireboat

How's it go together?

Christmas was very busy for Ashes and Edan...

My Two Boys

And soon it was time for the little dal puppy to take a nap...

Ashes x2

Ashes and his skulk of foxes

Hope you enjoyed! Be sure to leave a comment and/or +fav the pictures in  silaria account. She got very excited last night at how quickly she was inundated with comments and +favs for these, her first submissions to FA.

Happy Holidays!

 swiftfox

Just a heads up...

I'm not really inspired to continue writing on this story, but several people have inquired into it's progress and I'm "forcing the Muse" to move the story along. I'm hoping that writing will spark some inspiration and things will take off.

"With "little" Swift vixen crying herself to sleep, this chapter will focus more on Russt, hir new red wolf "Daddy" and the little bit of "private" time he affords himself to relieve a little of his own tension while reflecting on recent events in the past."

Just wanted to post that Chapter 4 of "...Day 2" is "In Progress." Now I just need another 3 to 4 more pages of material to give this section adequate length to warrant it's existence.

Haven't read either of the "Lessons in Lace" stories? Well they're posted here, and here on FurAffinity, and in the Story Library on my home page also.

*Hugs*

Thanks for the gentle prodding.

 swiftfox