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Star Day 2026 Recap
General | Posted a month agohOI!!!!!
I'd like to start by thanking everyone who made Star Day 2026 extra special for me. I know that my new job has made me a lot less active on here than I would like to be, but you all remembering to wish me a Happy Star Day / Birthday really meant a lot and brought a smile to my beak. :)
This year was the first year that I had a job where I actually took the day off to celebrate the occasion. It was really nice to not have the stress of a massive caseload to worry about for an entire day. Instead, the day was all about having fun with Lucca and Peep.
For myself, the gift I wanted to most give is the opportunity to start feeling less worried about what may, or may not, happen with my job. I've been allowing myself to sink into quite the pits of anxiety and depression out of fear of not being able to keep up with all that my current employment requires me to do. However, I think I worry more about letting down all those people who are counting on me as their Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to provide them timely Vocational Rehabilitation Services. There is just so much to learn and so many times that I am dragged away from working with one person in order to work with another person who, at the time, may be seen as a priority in order to properly meet the metrics / numbers that the government requires that I make to be considred a successful VRC. So, going forward, I'm going to try harder to live in the moment, not worry about what may come days, or weeks, from now, and keep in mind, as Lucca has reminded me of many times, how I can only do my best and how I am giving this job my absolute best.
Again, I want to thank you all for being a part of my life and for giving me a genuine reason to celebrate my Star Day here on FA. This year's Star Day marks the 18th year that I have been celebrating the occasion and I could not be any more thankful for all the great memories that I have made with so many people.
Your Pal:
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
I'd like to start by thanking everyone who made Star Day 2026 extra special for me. I know that my new job has made me a lot less active on here than I would like to be, but you all remembering to wish me a Happy Star Day / Birthday really meant a lot and brought a smile to my beak. :)
This year was the first year that I had a job where I actually took the day off to celebrate the occasion. It was really nice to not have the stress of a massive caseload to worry about for an entire day. Instead, the day was all about having fun with Lucca and Peep.
For myself, the gift I wanted to most give is the opportunity to start feeling less worried about what may, or may not, happen with my job. I've been allowing myself to sink into quite the pits of anxiety and depression out of fear of not being able to keep up with all that my current employment requires me to do. However, I think I worry more about letting down all those people who are counting on me as their Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to provide them timely Vocational Rehabilitation Services. There is just so much to learn and so many times that I am dragged away from working with one person in order to work with another person who, at the time, may be seen as a priority in order to properly meet the metrics / numbers that the government requires that I make to be considred a successful VRC. So, going forward, I'm going to try harder to live in the moment, not worry about what may come days, or weeks, from now, and keep in mind, as Lucca has reminded me of many times, how I can only do my best and how I am giving this job my absolute best.
Again, I want to thank you all for being a part of my life and for giving me a genuine reason to celebrate my Star Day here on FA. This year's Star Day marks the 18th year that I have been celebrating the occasion and I could not be any more thankful for all the great memories that I have made with so many people.
Your Pal:
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
Talking About Chocobos
General | Posted 2 months agohOI!!!
It should come as no surprise how I am a big fan of the horse-like birds from Final Fantasy. However, I have been recently in quite a phase of enjoying the colorful characters who appear in the series along with their own standalone games.
What really got me to Wark my Kweh back into fixating on Chocobos is last year's Universe's Beyond release from MAGIC: The Gathering that contains quite a number of Chocobo themed cards.
Lucca has been a real help and support as, since I have no physical eyesight, am unable to enjoy these cards without his support. Thanks to Lucca, I have been actively working on the development of two different Chocobo centered decks that, even if not overly practical, would be a lot of fun to play.
Something that I like to think about is how, when I was able to see, I really did enjoy playing Final Fantasy games and MAGIC: The Gathering. Giving the Chocobos a real opportunity to shine with lots of cool artwork and game play mechanics is really cool and really helps me feel cheerful. I may no longer be truly able to play Final Fantasy, or MAGIC: The Gathering, but I can at least still know that my ability to build playful decks is still there and that I still remember all the fun I had in playing Final Fantasy 1, 4, 6, and 7. :)
Another cool thing about Final Fantasy is that it was a series that both my sister, Winry, and I enjoyed. So, since Winry still has some eyesight left, I have been sending her extra copies of Chocobo cards along with cards that I have been able to find from the games we were both able to play before our sight got to where gaming became too difficult to do. (Winry uses a CCTV with magnification and High Contrast / Zoom features to be able to see the cards that I send to her.).
What do you all think of Chocobos? Do you like seeing Chocobos in diapers?
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
It should come as no surprise how I am a big fan of the horse-like birds from Final Fantasy. However, I have been recently in quite a phase of enjoying the colorful characters who appear in the series along with their own standalone games.
What really got me to Wark my Kweh back into fixating on Chocobos is last year's Universe's Beyond release from MAGIC: The Gathering that contains quite a number of Chocobo themed cards.
Lucca has been a real help and support as, since I have no physical eyesight, am unable to enjoy these cards without his support. Thanks to Lucca, I have been actively working on the development of two different Chocobo centered decks that, even if not overly practical, would be a lot of fun to play.Something that I like to think about is how, when I was able to see, I really did enjoy playing Final Fantasy games and MAGIC: The Gathering. Giving the Chocobos a real opportunity to shine with lots of cool artwork and game play mechanics is really cool and really helps me feel cheerful. I may no longer be truly able to play Final Fantasy, or MAGIC: The Gathering, but I can at least still know that my ability to build playful decks is still there and that I still remember all the fun I had in playing Final Fantasy 1, 4, 6, and 7. :)
Another cool thing about Final Fantasy is that it was a series that both my sister, Winry, and I enjoyed. So, since Winry still has some eyesight left, I have been sending her extra copies of Chocobo cards along with cards that I have been able to find from the games we were both able to play before our sight got to where gaming became too difficult to do. (Winry uses a CCTV with magnification and High Contrast / Zoom features to be able to see the cards that I send to her.).
What do you all think of Chocobos? Do you like seeing Chocobos in diapers?
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
Working Through It
General | Posted 2 months agohOI!!!
It amazes me to see all the changes that have happened on FA since I started at my new job. Notably is how journals now require a maturity rating and how private messages also have a layer of protection for content. All good things, I'm sure, but still makes it a bit of a bother when you don't know what to expect when you are 100% blind, relying on a screen reader, and the screen reading software reads you things that were never there before. :)
As you all may have guessed, my new job is still really taking it out of me. However, I am getting a little better at trying not to think about it when I'm not officially on the clock. Though, it is tricky when there is so much involved in helping people through the various stages of receiving government services through BBVS.
One thing that I knew, but really can say that I have had reinforced, is how and why so many people are not employed who have disabilities. The goal of my job, which also drives the metrics that determine whether I am a success, or failure, in being a VRC is finding people with visual disabilities gainful employment. The problem is that a lot of companies are not really aware of what people with visual disabilities can do. There is also the transportation issue of getting to and from a workplace. Lots of people that I onboard into BBVS share how they want to have a job where they can work from home, but these jobs are few, far between, and typically come with accessibility issues that prevent assistive technology software from allowing the individual to successfully perform the job.
The biggest issue that prevents people with disabilities from taking jobs is how doing so causes them to lose very important insurance benefits. Forget what you may have heard about disabled people living off of social security payments. Social security barely pays enough to keep your head above water when it comes to survival. However, Medicare and Medicaid are the best insurance around. In some States, you can merge Medicare and Medicaid to get an insurance plan that, at no cost, will provide you transportation assistance, medical supplies, home refurbishments, and many other amazing benefits that really make living life with a disability a whole lot easier.
There are jobs you can take that will allow you to retain Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits, but they are low level positions that are, typically, part time and barely put the gainful into being gainfully employed. To take on a job, like the one I chose to do, causes you to lose everything, puts you in a position where you have to pay back social security, and have benefits through your employer that are costly and many times inferior to what you got through being on Medicare & Medicaid.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that many people, especially government agencies, forget that obtaining truly gainful employment does not make the disability that someone is afflicted with go away. The extra costs that someone with a disability must burden do not disappear by taking a job that puts all their talent, experience, and education to full use. This is quite unfortunate. It is also what makes making my metrics as a VRC extremely difficult. How do you convince someone to take a job when taking that job would only put them in a worse situation than they are already in? Who wants to work long, stressful hours for insurance benefits that you must pay for that are inferior to what you were getting while you were still eligible for Medicare & Medicaid?
This is all just me quacking on about little things that I learn through the combination of all of my professional working experiences. I do enjoy my current job. However, the loss of those services that I had with Medicare & Medicaid have proven areal hardship. Most notably the transportation assistance that could get me to and from work without having to pay between $20 to $80 to have reliable transportation to and from the workplace I am assigned to be at.
Overall, it would be nice if those of us with disabilities were not punished for taking on employment that would truly allow us to thrive both personally and professionally.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
It amazes me to see all the changes that have happened on FA since I started at my new job. Notably is how journals now require a maturity rating and how private messages also have a layer of protection for content. All good things, I'm sure, but still makes it a bit of a bother when you don't know what to expect when you are 100% blind, relying on a screen reader, and the screen reading software reads you things that were never there before. :)
As you all may have guessed, my new job is still really taking it out of me. However, I am getting a little better at trying not to think about it when I'm not officially on the clock. Though, it is tricky when there is so much involved in helping people through the various stages of receiving government services through BBVS.
One thing that I knew, but really can say that I have had reinforced, is how and why so many people are not employed who have disabilities. The goal of my job, which also drives the metrics that determine whether I am a success, or failure, in being a VRC is finding people with visual disabilities gainful employment. The problem is that a lot of companies are not really aware of what people with visual disabilities can do. There is also the transportation issue of getting to and from a workplace. Lots of people that I onboard into BBVS share how they want to have a job where they can work from home, but these jobs are few, far between, and typically come with accessibility issues that prevent assistive technology software from allowing the individual to successfully perform the job.
The biggest issue that prevents people with disabilities from taking jobs is how doing so causes them to lose very important insurance benefits. Forget what you may have heard about disabled people living off of social security payments. Social security barely pays enough to keep your head above water when it comes to survival. However, Medicare and Medicaid are the best insurance around. In some States, you can merge Medicare and Medicaid to get an insurance plan that, at no cost, will provide you transportation assistance, medical supplies, home refurbishments, and many other amazing benefits that really make living life with a disability a whole lot easier.
There are jobs you can take that will allow you to retain Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits, but they are low level positions that are, typically, part time and barely put the gainful into being gainfully employed. To take on a job, like the one I chose to do, causes you to lose everything, puts you in a position where you have to pay back social security, and have benefits through your employer that are costly and many times inferior to what you got through being on Medicare & Medicaid.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that many people, especially government agencies, forget that obtaining truly gainful employment does not make the disability that someone is afflicted with go away. The extra costs that someone with a disability must burden do not disappear by taking a job that puts all their talent, experience, and education to full use. This is quite unfortunate. It is also what makes making my metrics as a VRC extremely difficult. How do you convince someone to take a job when taking that job would only put them in a worse situation than they are already in? Who wants to work long, stressful hours for insurance benefits that you must pay for that are inferior to what you were getting while you were still eligible for Medicare & Medicaid?
This is all just me quacking on about little things that I learn through the combination of all of my professional working experiences. I do enjoy my current job. However, the loss of those services that I had with Medicare & Medicaid have proven areal hardship. Most notably the transportation assistance that could get me to and from work without having to pay between $20 to $80 to have reliable transportation to and from the workplace I am assigned to be at.
Overall, it would be nice if those of us with disabilities were not punished for taking on employment that would truly allow us to thrive both personally and professionally.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
Hello & Happy Holidays!
General | Posted 4 months agoHamha!
KAZOOTLES! I think this is the longest that I've ever been away from FA in all 17 years that I have been a part of this community. Thankfully, I have some time off from my job that allows me to come back, check in, and, hopefully, share some new content.
How is the new job? Very challenging. The best way to describe it is you are always playing catch up in an effort to help those who have reached out for assistance through The Bureau of Blindness & Visual Services (BBVS). There is always something new to learn and figuring out how to do everything that is needed to be done without the use of any physical eyesight is quite challenging. I'm getting better with each passing day, but definitely know that I could be doing a whole lot more to be helpful to those seeking assistance if I could understand what I need to understand a whole lot more quickly.
Since it has been over two months since I've been on, I am curious to know how you are all doing? Do you have any art and/or stories that you would like to share that I have missed out on during this hiatus?
May you all have a most awesome holiday! Quack with all you all soon!
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
KAZOOTLES! I think this is the longest that I've ever been away from FA in all 17 years that I have been a part of this community. Thankfully, I have some time off from my job that allows me to come back, check in, and, hopefully, share some new content.
How is the new job? Very challenging. The best way to describe it is you are always playing catch up in an effort to help those who have reached out for assistance through The Bureau of Blindness & Visual Services (BBVS). There is always something new to learn and figuring out how to do everything that is needed to be done without the use of any physical eyesight is quite challenging. I'm getting better with each passing day, but definitely know that I could be doing a whole lot more to be helpful to those seeking assistance if I could understand what I need to understand a whole lot more quickly.
Since it has been over two months since I've been on, I am curious to know how you are all doing? Do you have any art and/or stories that you would like to share that I have missed out on during this hiatus?
May you all have a most awesome holiday! Quack with all you all soon!
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
Duckling's Got A New Job!
General | Posted 12 months agoHamha!
I've been kind of quiet lately for a number of reasons. The most notable is that I have been preparing to start my brand new job as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)!
The short story is that I applied for the job back in February, interviewed for it in March, and was officially offered the job this past Wednesday, April 30th. My official start date is Tuesday, May 27th.
What is very interesting about getting a job as a VRC is that I will be working for The Bureau of Blindness & Visual Services (BBVS) of Pennsylvania! This is the same agency that has helped me to adapt through providing tools and training to enable me to succeed despite the various stages of vision loss I had up until and beyond I became 100% blind. Knowing that I will be able to provide similar services to people with visual disabilities gives me great joy. I feel my personal experiences as someone who gradually went completely blind coupled with my customer experience with BBVS for over 27 years should allow me to provide a level of care and understanding in which will empower all those who are referred to me as their VRC.
The only real obstacle for my new job is how I will get to and from work. There is a bus service that picks up about a 15 minute walk away from my home. However, this bus arrives at approximately 6:30 AM and has been known to completely drive by the bus stop unless you "flag it down". This bus would get me about a block away from where I am to work. The getting home part should be the same, except in reverse, but I have yet to be able to verify this. It does not help that calling customer service for the bus tends to not yield very insightful data on how I can, as someone with no eyesight, successfully utilize the bus as a mode of transportation.
What I am hoping for to overcome the transportation worries is that I am still eligible for a program through Social Security known as Ticket To Work. The Ticket To Work program would allow me to retain all the services I currently have available to me for approximately 9 months as I acclimate to the job. The one service I have that is most notable is door-to-door paratransit services to get to those places I want to go to that are not medical related. I'm currently waiting to hear back from those involved with the Ticket To Work program to see if I will be eligible for the 9 month trial work period. Past experiences with using Ticket To Work point to me being able to successfully use the paratransit service while Lucca and I work together to find more reliable transportation to and from my job. Wish us luck!
Thank you all for your friendship and support. Of all the jobs I have had, I feel the most confident about being able to retain this position as a VRC. My boss is also blind and has a Seeing Eye Dog, which is a very positive sign that my physical condition will not negatively impact how I am treated as I use a variety of tools and services to perform all of my job responsibilities.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
I've been kind of quiet lately for a number of reasons. The most notable is that I have been preparing to start my brand new job as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)!
The short story is that I applied for the job back in February, interviewed for it in March, and was officially offered the job this past Wednesday, April 30th. My official start date is Tuesday, May 27th.
What is very interesting about getting a job as a VRC is that I will be working for The Bureau of Blindness & Visual Services (BBVS) of Pennsylvania! This is the same agency that has helped me to adapt through providing tools and training to enable me to succeed despite the various stages of vision loss I had up until and beyond I became 100% blind. Knowing that I will be able to provide similar services to people with visual disabilities gives me great joy. I feel my personal experiences as someone who gradually went completely blind coupled with my customer experience with BBVS for over 27 years should allow me to provide a level of care and understanding in which will empower all those who are referred to me as their VRC.
The only real obstacle for my new job is how I will get to and from work. There is a bus service that picks up about a 15 minute walk away from my home. However, this bus arrives at approximately 6:30 AM and has been known to completely drive by the bus stop unless you "flag it down". This bus would get me about a block away from where I am to work. The getting home part should be the same, except in reverse, but I have yet to be able to verify this. It does not help that calling customer service for the bus tends to not yield very insightful data on how I can, as someone with no eyesight, successfully utilize the bus as a mode of transportation.
What I am hoping for to overcome the transportation worries is that I am still eligible for a program through Social Security known as Ticket To Work. The Ticket To Work program would allow me to retain all the services I currently have available to me for approximately 9 months as I acclimate to the job. The one service I have that is most notable is door-to-door paratransit services to get to those places I want to go to that are not medical related. I'm currently waiting to hear back from those involved with the Ticket To Work program to see if I will be eligible for the 9 month trial work period. Past experiences with using Ticket To Work point to me being able to successfully use the paratransit service while Lucca and I work together to find more reliable transportation to and from my job. Wish us luck!
Thank you all for your friendship and support. Of all the jobs I have had, I feel the most confident about being able to retain this position as a VRC. My boss is also blind and has a Seeing Eye Dog, which is a very positive sign that my physical condition will not negatively impact how I am treated as I use a variety of tools and services to perform all of my job responsibilities.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
Wrapping Up Star Day 2025
General | Posted a year agohOI!!!!!
I’d like to thank everyone for all of your wonderful Star Day wishes. It’s hard to believe that I have celebrated seventeen birthdays here on FA.
As for how things are going, I am happy to share that I am, once again, looking for work. I recently got a lead on a position working for The Bureau of Blindness & Visual Services (BBVS) as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC). I interviewed for the position on March 19th, which was two days after Star Day, and was called to verify my references on March 26th. I am still waiting to hear back on whether-or-not I got the job, but I am hopeful to be accepted as it is definitely a job that someone with no eyesight, like myself, can do with reasonable accommodations. If I do not get the job, I’ve been told that there are positions working with Unemployment Compensation (UC) that are friendly to individuals who rely on the use of screen reading software that I can try to apply for.
Other things that are going on are that Lucca and I have been very busy getting our house in order. Taking care of household chores and modifications has been quite time consuming and why I haven’t been around on FA as much in recent weeks. I’ve also been still struggling to write stories, but am hopeful that my Writer’s Block will be gone once I have more free time to focus on creative ideas than how to make sure everything IRL is going in a positive direction.
Something interesting worth sharing is that, as of this recent Star Day, I am officially as old as Mr. Nuthatch! (Those who have followed me for awhile are definitely familiar with this character from Birdz and how his journey within the show played a positive part towards my overall mental health.).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldGwPCHMaYg
Given this journal, albeit over two weeks late, wraps up Star Day 2025, I wanted to share an updated list of all the video games that I have played and completed. Please note that I left out a lot of fighting and racing games since they either had no definitive ending to them, or that I was never able to finish them on the hardest difficulty and earn the best ending.
The 3-D Battles of WorldRunner (NES)
The Addams Family (SNES)
The Adventures of Bayou Billy (NES)
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (NES)
Aladdin (SNES)
Aladdin (PC)
Bad Dudes (NES)
Super Bases Loaded (SNES)
Barbie (NES)
Batman (NES)
Battle of Olympus (NES)
Battletoads (NES)
Bionic Commando (NES)
Blaster Master (NES)
Blaster Master: Overdrive (Wii)
Bubble Bobble (NES)
Bugs Bunny’s Crazy Castle (NES)
Bugs Bunny: Rabbit Rampage (SNES)
Bubsy(SNES)
Castlevania (NES)
Castlevania 2: Simon’s Quest (NES)
Super Castlevania 4 (SNES)
Castlevania: Circle of The Moon (GBA)
Castlevania: Symphony of The Night (PSX)
Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers (NES)
Chrono Cross (PSX)
Chrono Trigger (SNES)
Contra (NES)
Super C (NES)
Contra 3: The Alien Wars (SNES)
Commando (NES)
Crystalis (NES)
Crystalis (GBC)
Darkwing Duck (NES)
Darius Twin (SNES)
Demon Sword (NES)
Dino City (SNES)
Dino Crisis (PC)
Dino Crisis 2 (PSX)
Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest (SNES)
Donkey Kong 64 (N64)
Doom (PC)
Doom 2 (PC)
Double Dragon 2: The Revenge (NES)
Drug Wars (PC)
Dragon Warrior / Quest (NES)
Dragon Warrior / Quest 4 (NES)
Duck Tales (NES)
Duck Tales 2 (NES)
Duck Tales: Remastered (WIU)
Eternal Darkness (GCN)
Faxanadu (NES)
Final Fantasy (NES)
Final Fantasy 2 [IV] (SNES)
Final Fantasy 3 [VI] (SNES)
Final Fantasy 4 (GBA)
Final Fantasy 7 (PSX)
Final Fantasy 7 (PC)
Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest (SNES)
Final Fight (SNES)
Friday The 13th (NES)
F-Zero (SNES)
Ghosts & Goblins (NES)
The Goonies 2 (NES)
Gradius (NES)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (NES)
Heretic (PC)
Home Alone (SNES)
House of The Dead: Overkill (Wii)
Joe & Mac (SNES)
Kid Icarus (NES)
The Land Before Time (GBC)
The land Before Time: Return To The Great Valley (PSX)
The Land Before Time: Great Valley Racing Adventure (PSX)
The Legend of Zelda (NES)
The Legend of Zelda 2: The Adventures of Link (NES)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past (SNES)
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (N64)
The Legend of Zelda: Windwaker (GCN)
Life Force (NES)
The Little Mermaid (NES)
The Lion King (PC)
The Magical Quest: Starring Mickey Mouse (SNES)
Maniac Mansion (NES)
Super Mario Kart (SNES)
Mario Kart 64 (N64)
Mario Kart: Super Circuit (GBA)
Mega Man (GCN)
Mega Man 2 (NES)
Mega Man 3 (NES)
Mega Man 4 (NES)
Mega Man 5 (NES)
Mega Man 6 (GCN)
Mega Man 7 (GCN)
Mega Man 8 (GCN)
Mega Man X (SNES)
Metal Gear (NES)
Metal Gear: Snake’s Revenge (NES)
Metal Gear Solid (PSX)
Metal Gear Solid (PC)
Metroid (NES)
Super Metroid 3 (SNES)
Metroid 4: Fusion (GBA)
Metroid: Prime (GCN)
Metroid: Prime 2 – Echoes (GCN)
Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA)
Mickey Mousecapade (NES)
Milon’s Secret Castle (NES)
Monster Party (NES)
Ninja Gaiden (NES)
Ninja Gaiden 2: The Dark Sword of Chaos (NES)
Out of This World (SNES)
Paper Mario (N64)
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (GCN)
Pokemon: Blue (NGB)
The Ren & Stimpy Show: Veediots! (SNES)
Resident Evil: Director’s Cut (PSX)
Resident Evil 0 (GCN)
Resident Evil (GCN)
Resident Evil 2 (PC)
Resident Evil 3 (PC)
Resident Evil 4 (GCN)
Resident Evil: Code Veronica (GCN)
Resident Evil: Revelations (3DS)
Rygar (NES)
The Simpsons: Bart Vs. The Space Mutants (NES)
The Simpsons: Bart Vs. The World (NES)
The Simpsons: Bart’s Nightmare
Sonic The Hedgehog (SGG)
Sonic: The Hedgehog 2 (SGE)
Star Fox (SNES)
Star Fox 64 (N64)
Star Fox Adventures (GCN)
Star Fox: Assault (GCN)
Street Fighter 2: The World Warrior (SNES)
Strider (NES)
Super Ghouls & Ghosts(SNES)
Super Mario Advance (GBA)
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi’s Island (GBA)
Super Mario Bros. (NES)
Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)
Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels (SNES)
Super Mario 64 (N64)
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (NGB)
Super Mario World (SNES)
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (SNES)
Super Mario RPG (SNES)
New Super Mario Bros. (NDS)
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
Tale Spin (NES)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Arcade Game (NES)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4: Turtles In time (SNES)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4: Turtles In Time (ARC)
Tiny Toon Adventures (NES)
Tiny Toon Adventures 2: Trouble In Wackyland (NES)
Tiny Toon Adventures: Babs’ Big Break (NGB)
Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Loose (SNES)
Tetris Attack (SNES)
Trojan (NES)
Undertale (PC)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (NES)
Willow (NES)
Wizards & Warriors (NES)
Wizards & Warriors 2: Ironsword (NES)
Yoshi’s Island DS (NDS)
Yoshi’s New Island (3DS)
Yoshi’s Safari (SNES)
Yoshi’s Story (N64)
Yoshi: Topsy-Turvy (GBA)
Zanac (NES)
Thanks again for all of your friendship and support over the past 17 years. I don’t know where things will go from here, but I shall forever be thankful for everyone for having given me and my creativity a chance to thrive.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
I’d like to thank everyone for all of your wonderful Star Day wishes. It’s hard to believe that I have celebrated seventeen birthdays here on FA.
As for how things are going, I am happy to share that I am, once again, looking for work. I recently got a lead on a position working for The Bureau of Blindness & Visual Services (BBVS) as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC). I interviewed for the position on March 19th, which was two days after Star Day, and was called to verify my references on March 26th. I am still waiting to hear back on whether-or-not I got the job, but I am hopeful to be accepted as it is definitely a job that someone with no eyesight, like myself, can do with reasonable accommodations. If I do not get the job, I’ve been told that there are positions working with Unemployment Compensation (UC) that are friendly to individuals who rely on the use of screen reading software that I can try to apply for.
Other things that are going on are that Lucca and I have been very busy getting our house in order. Taking care of household chores and modifications has been quite time consuming and why I haven’t been around on FA as much in recent weeks. I’ve also been still struggling to write stories, but am hopeful that my Writer’s Block will be gone once I have more free time to focus on creative ideas than how to make sure everything IRL is going in a positive direction.
Something interesting worth sharing is that, as of this recent Star Day, I am officially as old as Mr. Nuthatch! (Those who have followed me for awhile are definitely familiar with this character from Birdz and how his journey within the show played a positive part towards my overall mental health.).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldGwPCHMaYg
Given this journal, albeit over two weeks late, wraps up Star Day 2025, I wanted to share an updated list of all the video games that I have played and completed. Please note that I left out a lot of fighting and racing games since they either had no definitive ending to them, or that I was never able to finish them on the hardest difficulty and earn the best ending.
The 3-D Battles of WorldRunner (NES)
The Addams Family (SNES)
The Adventures of Bayou Billy (NES)
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (NES)
Aladdin (SNES)
Aladdin (PC)
Bad Dudes (NES)
Super Bases Loaded (SNES)
Barbie (NES)
Batman (NES)
Battle of Olympus (NES)
Battletoads (NES)
Bionic Commando (NES)
Blaster Master (NES)
Blaster Master: Overdrive (Wii)
Bubble Bobble (NES)
Bugs Bunny’s Crazy Castle (NES)
Bugs Bunny: Rabbit Rampage (SNES)
Bubsy(SNES)
Castlevania (NES)
Castlevania 2: Simon’s Quest (NES)
Super Castlevania 4 (SNES)
Castlevania: Circle of The Moon (GBA)
Castlevania: Symphony of The Night (PSX)
Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers (NES)
Chrono Cross (PSX)
Chrono Trigger (SNES)
Contra (NES)
Super C (NES)
Contra 3: The Alien Wars (SNES)
Commando (NES)
Crystalis (NES)
Crystalis (GBC)
Darkwing Duck (NES)
Darius Twin (SNES)
Demon Sword (NES)
Dino City (SNES)
Dino Crisis (PC)
Dino Crisis 2 (PSX)
Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest (SNES)
Donkey Kong 64 (N64)
Doom (PC)
Doom 2 (PC)
Double Dragon 2: The Revenge (NES)
Drug Wars (PC)
Dragon Warrior / Quest (NES)
Dragon Warrior / Quest 4 (NES)
Duck Tales (NES)
Duck Tales 2 (NES)
Duck Tales: Remastered (WIU)
Eternal Darkness (GCN)
Faxanadu (NES)
Final Fantasy (NES)
Final Fantasy 2 [IV] (SNES)
Final Fantasy 3 [VI] (SNES)
Final Fantasy 4 (GBA)
Final Fantasy 7 (PSX)
Final Fantasy 7 (PC)
Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest (SNES)
Final Fight (SNES)
Friday The 13th (NES)
F-Zero (SNES)
Ghosts & Goblins (NES)
The Goonies 2 (NES)
Gradius (NES)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (NES)
Heretic (PC)
Home Alone (SNES)
House of The Dead: Overkill (Wii)
Joe & Mac (SNES)
Kid Icarus (NES)
The Land Before Time (GBC)
The land Before Time: Return To The Great Valley (PSX)
The Land Before Time: Great Valley Racing Adventure (PSX)
The Legend of Zelda (NES)
The Legend of Zelda 2: The Adventures of Link (NES)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past (SNES)
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (N64)
The Legend of Zelda: Windwaker (GCN)
Life Force (NES)
The Little Mermaid (NES)
The Lion King (PC)
The Magical Quest: Starring Mickey Mouse (SNES)
Maniac Mansion (NES)
Super Mario Kart (SNES)
Mario Kart 64 (N64)
Mario Kart: Super Circuit (GBA)
Mega Man (GCN)
Mega Man 2 (NES)
Mega Man 3 (NES)
Mega Man 4 (NES)
Mega Man 5 (NES)
Mega Man 6 (GCN)
Mega Man 7 (GCN)
Mega Man 8 (GCN)
Mega Man X (SNES)
Metal Gear (NES)
Metal Gear: Snake’s Revenge (NES)
Metal Gear Solid (PSX)
Metal Gear Solid (PC)
Metroid (NES)
Super Metroid 3 (SNES)
Metroid 4: Fusion (GBA)
Metroid: Prime (GCN)
Metroid: Prime 2 – Echoes (GCN)
Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA)
Mickey Mousecapade (NES)
Milon’s Secret Castle (NES)
Monster Party (NES)
Ninja Gaiden (NES)
Ninja Gaiden 2: The Dark Sword of Chaos (NES)
Out of This World (SNES)
Paper Mario (N64)
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (GCN)
Pokemon: Blue (NGB)
The Ren & Stimpy Show: Veediots! (SNES)
Resident Evil: Director’s Cut (PSX)
Resident Evil 0 (GCN)
Resident Evil (GCN)
Resident Evil 2 (PC)
Resident Evil 3 (PC)
Resident Evil 4 (GCN)
Resident Evil: Code Veronica (GCN)
Resident Evil: Revelations (3DS)
Rygar (NES)
The Simpsons: Bart Vs. The Space Mutants (NES)
The Simpsons: Bart Vs. The World (NES)
The Simpsons: Bart’s Nightmare
Sonic The Hedgehog (SGG)
Sonic: The Hedgehog 2 (SGE)
Star Fox (SNES)
Star Fox 64 (N64)
Star Fox Adventures (GCN)
Star Fox: Assault (GCN)
Street Fighter 2: The World Warrior (SNES)
Strider (NES)
Super Ghouls & Ghosts(SNES)
Super Mario Advance (GBA)
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi’s Island (GBA)
Super Mario Bros. (NES)
Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)
Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels (SNES)
Super Mario 64 (N64)
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (NGB)
Super Mario World (SNES)
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (SNES)
Super Mario RPG (SNES)
New Super Mario Bros. (NDS)
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
Tale Spin (NES)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Arcade Game (NES)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4: Turtles In time (SNES)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4: Turtles In Time (ARC)
Tiny Toon Adventures (NES)
Tiny Toon Adventures 2: Trouble In Wackyland (NES)
Tiny Toon Adventures: Babs’ Big Break (NGB)
Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Loose (SNES)
Tetris Attack (SNES)
Trojan (NES)
Undertale (PC)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (NES)
Willow (NES)
Wizards & Warriors (NES)
Wizards & Warriors 2: Ironsword (NES)
Yoshi’s Island DS (NDS)
Yoshi’s New Island (3DS)
Yoshi’s Safari (SNES)
Yoshi’s Story (N64)
Yoshi: Topsy-Turvy (GBA)
Zanac (NES)
Thanks again for all of your friendship and support over the past 17 years. I don’t know where things will go from here, but I shall forever be thankful for everyone for having given me and my creativity a chance to thrive.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
Fond Gaming Memories (Star Day 2025)
General | Posted a year agoHamha!
As part of celebrating Star Day, I wanted to make a list of all the video games that I’ve played through to completion. This is not a complete list, but one that highlights those video games I finished that either were from start-to-finish and/or achieved 100% completion in.
Do any of these games bring back memories for you?
The 3-D Battles of WorldRunner (NES)
The Addams Family (SNES)
The Adventures of Bayou Billy (NES)
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (NES)
Aladdin (SNES)
Aladdin (PC)
Bad Dudes (NES)
Super Bases Loaded (SNES)
Barbie (NES)
Batman (NES)
Battle of Olympus (NES)
Battletoads (NES)
Bionic Commando (NES)
Blaster Master (NES)
Blaster Master: Overdrive (Wii)
Bubble Bobble (NES)
Bugs Bunny’s Crazy Castle (NES)
Bugs Bunny: Rabbit Rampage (SNES)
Bubsy(SNES)
Castlevania (NES)
Castlevania 2: Simon’s Quest (NES)
Super Castlevania 4 (SNES)
Castlevania: Circle of The Moon (GBA)
Castlevania: Symphony of The Night (PSX)
Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers (NES)
Chrono Cross (PSX)
Chrono Trigger (SNES)
Contra (NES)
Super C (NES)
Contra 3: The Alien Wars (SNES)
Commando (NES)
Crystalis (NES)
Crystalis (GBC)
Darkwing Duck (NES)
Darius Twin (SNES)
Demon Sword (NES)
Dino City (SNES)
Dino Crisis (PC)
Dino Crisis 2 (PSX)
Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest (SNES)
Donkey Kong 64 (N64)
Doom (PC)
Doom 2 (PC)
Double Dragon 2: The Revenge (NES)
Drug Wars (PC)
Dragon Warrior / Quest (NES)
Dragon Warrior / Quest 4 (NES)
Duck Tales (NES)
Duck Tales 2 (NES)
Duck Tales: Remastered (WIU)
Eternal Darkness (GCN)
Faxanadu (NES)
Final Fantasy (NES)
Final Fantasy 2 [IV] (SNES)
Final Fantasy 3 [VI] (SNES)
Final Fantasy 4 (GBA)
Final Fantasy 7 (PSX)
Final Fantasy 7 (PC)
Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest (SNES)
Final Fight (SNES)
Friday The 13th (NES)
F-Zero (SNES)
Ghosts & Goblins (NES)
The Goonies 2 (NES)
Gradius (NES)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (NES)
Heretic (PC)
Home Alone (SNES)
House of The Dead: Overkill (Wii)
Joe & Mac (SNES)
Kid Icarus (NES)
The Land Before Time (GBC)
The land Before Time: Return To The Great Valley (PSX)
The Land Before Time: Great Valley Racing Adventure (PSX)
The Legend of Zelda (NES)
The Legend of Zelda 2: The Adventures of Link (NES)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past (SNES)
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (N64)
The Legend of Zelda: Windwaker (GCN)
Life Force (NES)
The Little Mermaid (NES)
The Lion King (PC)
The Magical Quest: Starring Mickey Mouse (SNES)
Maniac Mansion (NES)
Super Mario Kart (SNES)
Mario Kart 64 (N64)
Mario Kart: Super Circuit (GBA)
Mega Man (GCN)
Mega Man 2 (NES)
Mega Man 3 (NES)
Mega Man 4 (NES)
Mega Man 5 (NES)
Mega Man 6 (GCN)
Mega Man 7 (GCN)
Mega Man 8 (GCN)
Mega Man X (SNES)
Metal Gear (NES)
Metal Gear: Snake’s Revenge (NES)
Metal Gear Solid (PSX)
Metal Gear Solid (PC)
Metroid (NES)
Super Metroid 3 (SNES)
Metroid 4: Fusion (GBA)
Metroid: Prime (GCN)
Metroid: Prime 2 – Echoes (GCN)
Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA)
Mickey Mousecapade (NES)
Milon’s Secret Castle (NES)
Monster Party (NES)
Ninja Gaiden (NES)
Ninja Gaiden 2: The Dark Sword of Chaos (NES)
Out of This World (SNES)
Paper Mario (N64)
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (GCN)
Pokemon: Blue (NGB)
The Ren & Stimpy Show: Veediots! (SNES)
Resident Evil: Director’s Cut (PSX)
Resident Evil 0 (GCN)
Resident Evil (GCN)
Resident Evil 2 (PC)
Resident Evil 3 (PC)
Resident Evil 4 (GCN)
Resident Evil: Code Veronica (GCN)
Resident Evil: Revelations (3DS)
Rygar (NES)
The Simpsons: Bart Vs. The Space Mutants (NES)
The Simpsons: Bart Vs. The World (NES)
The Simpsons: Bart’s Nightmare
Sonic The Hedgehog (SGG)
Sonic: The Hedgehog 2 (SGE)
Star Fox (SNES)
Star Fox 64 (N64)
Star Fox Adventures (GCN)
Star Fox: Assault (GCN)
Street Fighter 2: The World Warrior (SNES)
Strider (NES)
Super Ghouls & Ghosts(SNES)
Super Mario Advance (GBA)
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi’s Island (GBA)
Super Mario Bros. (NES)
Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)
Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
Super Mario 64 (N64)
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (NGB)
Super Mario World (SNES)
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (SNES)
Super Mario RPG (SNES)
New Super Mario Bros. (NDS)
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
Tale Spin (NES)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Arcade Game (NES)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4: Turtles In time (SNES)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4: Turtles In Time (ARC)
Tiny Toon Adventures (NES)
Tiny Toon Adventures 2: Trouble In Wackyland (NES)
Tiny Toon Adventures: Babs’ Big Break (NGB)
Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Loose (SNES)
Tetris Attack (SNES)
Trojan (NES)
Undertale (PC)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (NES)
Willow (NES)
Wizards & Warriors (NES)
Wizards & Warriors 2: Ironsword (NES)
Yoshi’s Island DS (NDS)
Yoshi’s New Island (3DS)
Yoshi’s Safari (SNES)
Yoshi’s Story (N64)
Yoshi: Topsy-Turvy (GBA)
Zanac (NES)
As you probably noticed, I left out most of the Fighting, Party, and Racing games that I played through. The reason there are some on here is that these titles are ones that I can verify there was no higher achievement to achieve beyond what I accomplished through playing through them.
Thank you for reliving some fun memories with me. Have a super happy day!
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
As part of celebrating Star Day, I wanted to make a list of all the video games that I’ve played through to completion. This is not a complete list, but one that highlights those video games I finished that either were from start-to-finish and/or achieved 100% completion in.
Do any of these games bring back memories for you?
The 3-D Battles of WorldRunner (NES)
The Addams Family (SNES)
The Adventures of Bayou Billy (NES)
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (NES)
Aladdin (SNES)
Aladdin (PC)
Bad Dudes (NES)
Super Bases Loaded (SNES)
Barbie (NES)
Batman (NES)
Battle of Olympus (NES)
Battletoads (NES)
Bionic Commando (NES)
Blaster Master (NES)
Blaster Master: Overdrive (Wii)
Bubble Bobble (NES)
Bugs Bunny’s Crazy Castle (NES)
Bugs Bunny: Rabbit Rampage (SNES)
Bubsy(SNES)
Castlevania (NES)
Castlevania 2: Simon’s Quest (NES)
Super Castlevania 4 (SNES)
Castlevania: Circle of The Moon (GBA)
Castlevania: Symphony of The Night (PSX)
Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers (NES)
Chrono Cross (PSX)
Chrono Trigger (SNES)
Contra (NES)
Super C (NES)
Contra 3: The Alien Wars (SNES)
Commando (NES)
Crystalis (NES)
Crystalis (GBC)
Darkwing Duck (NES)
Darius Twin (SNES)
Demon Sword (NES)
Dino City (SNES)
Dino Crisis (PC)
Dino Crisis 2 (PSX)
Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest (SNES)
Donkey Kong 64 (N64)
Doom (PC)
Doom 2 (PC)
Double Dragon 2: The Revenge (NES)
Drug Wars (PC)
Dragon Warrior / Quest (NES)
Dragon Warrior / Quest 4 (NES)
Duck Tales (NES)
Duck Tales 2 (NES)
Duck Tales: Remastered (WIU)
Eternal Darkness (GCN)
Faxanadu (NES)
Final Fantasy (NES)
Final Fantasy 2 [IV] (SNES)
Final Fantasy 3 [VI] (SNES)
Final Fantasy 4 (GBA)
Final Fantasy 7 (PSX)
Final Fantasy 7 (PC)
Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest (SNES)
Final Fight (SNES)
Friday The 13th (NES)
F-Zero (SNES)
Ghosts & Goblins (NES)
The Goonies 2 (NES)
Gradius (NES)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (NES)
Heretic (PC)
Home Alone (SNES)
House of The Dead: Overkill (Wii)
Joe & Mac (SNES)
Kid Icarus (NES)
The Land Before Time (GBC)
The land Before Time: Return To The Great Valley (PSX)
The Land Before Time: Great Valley Racing Adventure (PSX)
The Legend of Zelda (NES)
The Legend of Zelda 2: The Adventures of Link (NES)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past (SNES)
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (N64)
The Legend of Zelda: Windwaker (GCN)
Life Force (NES)
The Little Mermaid (NES)
The Lion King (PC)
The Magical Quest: Starring Mickey Mouse (SNES)
Maniac Mansion (NES)
Super Mario Kart (SNES)
Mario Kart 64 (N64)
Mario Kart: Super Circuit (GBA)
Mega Man (GCN)
Mega Man 2 (NES)
Mega Man 3 (NES)
Mega Man 4 (NES)
Mega Man 5 (NES)
Mega Man 6 (GCN)
Mega Man 7 (GCN)
Mega Man 8 (GCN)
Mega Man X (SNES)
Metal Gear (NES)
Metal Gear: Snake’s Revenge (NES)
Metal Gear Solid (PSX)
Metal Gear Solid (PC)
Metroid (NES)
Super Metroid 3 (SNES)
Metroid 4: Fusion (GBA)
Metroid: Prime (GCN)
Metroid: Prime 2 – Echoes (GCN)
Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA)
Mickey Mousecapade (NES)
Milon’s Secret Castle (NES)
Monster Party (NES)
Ninja Gaiden (NES)
Ninja Gaiden 2: The Dark Sword of Chaos (NES)
Out of This World (SNES)
Paper Mario (N64)
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (GCN)
Pokemon: Blue (NGB)
The Ren & Stimpy Show: Veediots! (SNES)
Resident Evil: Director’s Cut (PSX)
Resident Evil 0 (GCN)
Resident Evil (GCN)
Resident Evil 2 (PC)
Resident Evil 3 (PC)
Resident Evil 4 (GCN)
Resident Evil: Code Veronica (GCN)
Resident Evil: Revelations (3DS)
Rygar (NES)
The Simpsons: Bart Vs. The Space Mutants (NES)
The Simpsons: Bart Vs. The World (NES)
The Simpsons: Bart’s Nightmare
Sonic The Hedgehog (SGG)
Sonic: The Hedgehog 2 (SGE)
Star Fox (SNES)
Star Fox 64 (N64)
Star Fox Adventures (GCN)
Star Fox: Assault (GCN)
Street Fighter 2: The World Warrior (SNES)
Strider (NES)
Super Ghouls & Ghosts(SNES)
Super Mario Advance (GBA)
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi’s Island (GBA)
Super Mario Bros. (NES)
Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)
Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
Super Mario 64 (N64)
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (NGB)
Super Mario World (SNES)
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (SNES)
Super Mario RPG (SNES)
New Super Mario Bros. (NDS)
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
Tale Spin (NES)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Arcade Game (NES)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4: Turtles In time (SNES)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4: Turtles In Time (ARC)
Tiny Toon Adventures (NES)
Tiny Toon Adventures 2: Trouble In Wackyland (NES)
Tiny Toon Adventures: Babs’ Big Break (NGB)
Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Loose (SNES)
Tetris Attack (SNES)
Trojan (NES)
Undertale (PC)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (NES)
Willow (NES)
Wizards & Warriors (NES)
Wizards & Warriors 2: Ironsword (NES)
Yoshi’s Island DS (NDS)
Yoshi’s New Island (3DS)
Yoshi’s Safari (SNES)
Yoshi’s Story (N64)
Yoshi: Topsy-Turvy (GBA)
Zanac (NES)
As you probably noticed, I left out most of the Fighting, Party, and Racing games that I played through. The reason there are some on here is that these titles are ones that I can verify there was no higher achievement to achieve beyond what I accomplished through playing through them.
Thank you for reliving some fun memories with me. Have a super happy day!
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
Seeing Eye Studies With Nugget
General | Posted a year agohOI!!!!!!!!
The Seeing Eye has been around for over 95 years. It's purpose is to provide those who are blind, or visually impaired, with a service dog who is capable of replacing the need to use a white cane. The training is quite intense, but worth it for the amount of confidence, wisdom, and freedom a Seeing Eye Dog provides.
***
Please allow me to apologize for having been so quiet this past week. Training at The Seeing Eye starts at 5:30 AM and does not end until after 8:00 PM. During this span of time, you are caring for the dog, training in travel on how to safely navigate various types of routes one may travel to get from a Point A to Point B, shown how to work the dog in stores and other types of places you may travel to, sitting in on lessons on all aspects of caring for, loving, and providing for the Seeing Eye Dog you are partnered with, etc. Downtime is brief, but I will try and get on when it is possible to see what you all have been up to and/or have had to share with me. :)
***
The interesting thing about The Seeing Eye is that, for me, it offers a chance to meet others who are blind, or visually impaired. This is both good and bad as it is nice to talk to others who have struggled with losing their vision while also making me quite jealous of those who still have usable vision left compared to my total lack of physical eyesight. Often, I forget to not compare myself to those who still have partial vision. There is just a jealous duck-butt who really misses being able to visually appreciate anything and that duck-butt is me. :)
***
As for my writing, I am thankful for all the great advice that you all have provided to me. For now, I think I will stick to really short stories while simply enjoying the stories and art that you are all putting up to be seen by the community. I have some ideas for longer stories, but nothing that feels ready enough to write. There is also the fact that, even after I finish my studies at The Seeing Eye, I have to work to successfully transition the new Seeing Eye Dog, whose name is Nugget, so he is comfortable at home and with the travel routes I typically take while exploring the city I live in.
***
Well, the break is over and more schooling to become perfectly partnered with Nugget is about to begin. If anyone is interested in what a Seeing Eye Dog is, I encourage you to either ask me in a comment below and/or watch the following video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmossob3sgM
Your Pal:
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
The Seeing Eye has been around for over 95 years. It's purpose is to provide those who are blind, or visually impaired, with a service dog who is capable of replacing the need to use a white cane. The training is quite intense, but worth it for the amount of confidence, wisdom, and freedom a Seeing Eye Dog provides.
***
Please allow me to apologize for having been so quiet this past week. Training at The Seeing Eye starts at 5:30 AM and does not end until after 8:00 PM. During this span of time, you are caring for the dog, training in travel on how to safely navigate various types of routes one may travel to get from a Point A to Point B, shown how to work the dog in stores and other types of places you may travel to, sitting in on lessons on all aspects of caring for, loving, and providing for the Seeing Eye Dog you are partnered with, etc. Downtime is brief, but I will try and get on when it is possible to see what you all have been up to and/or have had to share with me. :)
***
The interesting thing about The Seeing Eye is that, for me, it offers a chance to meet others who are blind, or visually impaired. This is both good and bad as it is nice to talk to others who have struggled with losing their vision while also making me quite jealous of those who still have usable vision left compared to my total lack of physical eyesight. Often, I forget to not compare myself to those who still have partial vision. There is just a jealous duck-butt who really misses being able to visually appreciate anything and that duck-butt is me. :)
***
As for my writing, I am thankful for all the great advice that you all have provided to me. For now, I think I will stick to really short stories while simply enjoying the stories and art that you are all putting up to be seen by the community. I have some ideas for longer stories, but nothing that feels ready enough to write. There is also the fact that, even after I finish my studies at The Seeing Eye, I have to work to successfully transition the new Seeing Eye Dog, whose name is Nugget, so he is comfortable at home and with the travel routes I typically take while exploring the city I live in.
***
Well, the break is over and more schooling to become perfectly partnered with Nugget is about to begin. If anyone is interested in what a Seeing Eye Dog is, I encourage you to either ask me in a comment below and/or watch the following video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmossob3sgM
Your Pal:
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
An Unbelievable 2025
General | Posted a year agoHamha!
Kazootles! 2025 is definitely quite the year for this dino-duck. For starters, I am set to begin my training with my new Seeing Eye Dog on January 6th. This will mean that I will be away in Morristown, NJ for approximately three weeks getting reacclimated to the proper techniques for using a Seeing Eye Dog. It's a pretty intense program at The Seeing Eye, but the reward is great and, if I'm lucky, I'll end up with another great pup who will aid in my travels for just as long, if not longer, than Uri / Buddy did before retiring.
Oh, speaking of Uri / Buddy, he is really enjoying his retirement with Winry, Flynn, Owlbert, and Mrs. O'Ducky. He has really taken to my sister's son / my nephew, too. When he is not trying to play with Owlbert, he is following Winry and Flynn around to make sure he is always keeping an eye on someone before he finds a good place to take a long nap. He may be doing a lot of sleeping now, but he does still have a lot of energy he can bring out when playing with my sister and her family.
The only downside to my forthcoming adventures at The Seeing Eye is that I'll be missing out on being present for my son's 18th birthday. :( Golly, gee, kazootles can I remember thinking how far away 2025 seemed when my son was born in 2007. Now that time seems to have just flown by at warp speed. I do believe this is why people will always tell you to not rush the experience of being a parent. Kids just grow up so fast. However, I can certainly say that I am proud of my son, his accomplishments, and the goals he has set forth for himself after High School.
Double yikes! My son is graduating High School this year, too! I remember being in disbelief when I finished High School. Knowing I had spent over 13 years navigating preschool, primary, and secondary school seemed like quite a lot. Now my Peep has done the same. However, unlike me, he is set to graduate with over a 3.7 GPA with plans to attend college in the Fall to pursue a career in Art. Art is a tricky field to succeed in, but I know he'll find a way to maintain his love for the arts no matter what professional career he finds himself in post college.
***
In other news, I am hopeful my time at The Seeing Eye will help jumpstart my writing once again. This writer's block has been a total pain to deal with. I have the desire to write , but just don't know what to write about. Anybody have any suggestions? I have thought about updating some of my stories that I've written over the past 16 years, but really don't know what to do to truly create new and enjoyable content at this time.
***
I wish you all a very happy and prosperous 2025! Lucca and I have some pretty big plans for the year, too. However, I'll share more on these as we get around to making them into reality.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
Kazootles! 2025 is definitely quite the year for this dino-duck. For starters, I am set to begin my training with my new Seeing Eye Dog on January 6th. This will mean that I will be away in Morristown, NJ for approximately three weeks getting reacclimated to the proper techniques for using a Seeing Eye Dog. It's a pretty intense program at The Seeing Eye, but the reward is great and, if I'm lucky, I'll end up with another great pup who will aid in my travels for just as long, if not longer, than Uri / Buddy did before retiring.
Oh, speaking of Uri / Buddy, he is really enjoying his retirement with Winry, Flynn, Owlbert, and Mrs. O'Ducky. He has really taken to my sister's son / my nephew, too. When he is not trying to play with Owlbert, he is following Winry and Flynn around to make sure he is always keeping an eye on someone before he finds a good place to take a long nap. He may be doing a lot of sleeping now, but he does still have a lot of energy he can bring out when playing with my sister and her family.
The only downside to my forthcoming adventures at The Seeing Eye is that I'll be missing out on being present for my son's 18th birthday. :( Golly, gee, kazootles can I remember thinking how far away 2025 seemed when my son was born in 2007. Now that time seems to have just flown by at warp speed. I do believe this is why people will always tell you to not rush the experience of being a parent. Kids just grow up so fast. However, I can certainly say that I am proud of my son, his accomplishments, and the goals he has set forth for himself after High School.
Double yikes! My son is graduating High School this year, too! I remember being in disbelief when I finished High School. Knowing I had spent over 13 years navigating preschool, primary, and secondary school seemed like quite a lot. Now my Peep has done the same. However, unlike me, he is set to graduate with over a 3.7 GPA with plans to attend college in the Fall to pursue a career in Art. Art is a tricky field to succeed in, but I know he'll find a way to maintain his love for the arts no matter what professional career he finds himself in post college.
***
In other news, I am hopeful my time at The Seeing Eye will help jumpstart my writing once again. This writer's block has been a total pain to deal with. I have the desire to write , but just don't know what to write about. Anybody have any suggestions? I have thought about updating some of my stories that I've written over the past 16 years, but really don't know what to do to truly create new and enjoyable content at this time.
***
I wish you all a very happy and prosperous 2025! Lucca and I have some pretty big plans for the year, too. However, I'll share more on these as we get around to making them into reality.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
The End Of An Era
General | Posted a year agoHamha:
More than seven years have passed since I got my Seeing Eye Dog. As of tomorrow, he will be officially retiring from being my sighted guide.
***
Uri / Buddy was originally set to retire back in July of this year. However, The Seeing Eye did not feel my home was quite ready to bring in a new service dog. Fortunately, the delay worked out in allowing me to find the perfect place for Uri / Buddy to spend his golden retriever years. This being with my sister, Winry.
***
In other news, my mom recently had both of her knees replaced. It's amazing how such a procedure to reenable one to be comfortably mobile again can be done over the span of three months. (My mom had to put in a lot of effort to get to her first surgery to repair her knees, but all her hard work allowed for a quick turnaround on having the first knee fixed on September 6th and the other being repaired on December 6th.).
***
I want to thank everyone for your support in my last journal. I was so worried about feeling alone after people started leaving FA that I totally forgot about just how many friends are still here. I'm still struggling to get my Writer's Block to go away, but I have been enjoying going through posts from pals to see all that everyone has been up to. I've also been happy to learn of friends to whom I forgot to follow and, now that I am, I am finding my submissions folder being filled with delightful content for me to enjoy as I find the opportunity to do so.
***
Back on The Seeing Eye Dog, I am set to get my new one on January 6th. All necessary documentation and prerequisites have been completed with only having to pass a COVID test on January 3rd standing in the way of me and my new Seeing Eye Dog. Never will any Seeing Eye Dog replace Uri / Buddy, but it will be nice to have a young pup who is eager to go for long walks while Uri / Buddy enjoys the easy life of being able to enjoy the life of a non-working dog by spending his days with my eighteen-month old nephew, Owlbert, Winry, and Winry's husband, Flynn.
***
Happy Holidays!
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
More than seven years have passed since I got my Seeing Eye Dog. As of tomorrow, he will be officially retiring from being my sighted guide.
***
Uri / Buddy was originally set to retire back in July of this year. However, The Seeing Eye did not feel my home was quite ready to bring in a new service dog. Fortunately, the delay worked out in allowing me to find the perfect place for Uri / Buddy to spend his golden retriever years. This being with my sister, Winry.
***
In other news, my mom recently had both of her knees replaced. It's amazing how such a procedure to reenable one to be comfortably mobile again can be done over the span of three months. (My mom had to put in a lot of effort to get to her first surgery to repair her knees, but all her hard work allowed for a quick turnaround on having the first knee fixed on September 6th and the other being repaired on December 6th.).
***
I want to thank everyone for your support in my last journal. I was so worried about feeling alone after people started leaving FA that I totally forgot about just how many friends are still here. I'm still struggling to get my Writer's Block to go away, but I have been enjoying going through posts from pals to see all that everyone has been up to. I've also been happy to learn of friends to whom I forgot to follow and, now that I am, I am finding my submissions folder being filled with delightful content for me to enjoy as I find the opportunity to do so.
***
Back on The Seeing Eye Dog, I am set to get my new one on January 6th. All necessary documentation and prerequisites have been completed with only having to pass a COVID test on January 3rd standing in the way of me and my new Seeing Eye Dog. Never will any Seeing Eye Dog replace Uri / Buddy, but it will be nice to have a young pup who is eager to go for long walks while Uri / Buddy enjoys the easy life of being able to enjoy the life of a non-working dog by spending his days with my eighteen-month old nephew, Owlbert, Winry, and Winry's husband, Flynn.
***
Happy Holidays!
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
The Struggles Of Being A Blind Baby Fur
General | Posted a year agoHamha!
Some may have noticed that I have been quite a bit slow when it comes to posting and replying online. The reason is that I have been feeling unsure of what to do now that so many friends and folks I follow have migrated to different places as a result of all the drama that has befallen both Fur Affinity and Twitter.
***
Since September 3rd, 2008, I have been a part of the furry community here on FA. I have made lots of friends and learned how to be a better person both online and off. I have also become so enlightened by the creativity of everyone who has allowed me to participate in their creative efforts both before and after I lost my physical eyesight…
…However so much has changed in the furry community since I decided to open myself up to it. The biggest part is how a once accepting community has begun to shame and drive away those who share what it is that they feel is worth sharing about themselves.
I am a [Baby Fur]. I enjoy animated, animal characters doing cute and cuddly activities in their diapers. I also enjoy being able to freely explore parts of myself that do not pose any harm to myself, or anyone else. For years, this has not been a problem. Unfortunately, recent events have shown a lack of tolerance for those of us who are trying to cope with our lives through the arts.
There are those who know of how, prior to discovering the baby fur community, my greatest fear was for people to misjudge me for an interest I never asked to have in the first place. I have used my writing to try and make sense as to why I enjoy diapered cartoon animals and have greatly appreciated those who have aided me in my journey of self-discovery. The recent actions that have been taken against baby furs has brought back a lot of trauma that I experienced prior to joining FA. Most notably how my ex-wife reacted when I told her of how I had such interests. She shamed me constantly for what, no matter how hard I tried, I could not make go away. She even made it a point to state how I needed professional help with my problem. (Fun fact is how, as I began to lose the rest of my eyesight, I did ask my therapists about my affinity for animated animals in diapers. None told me that I was ever doing anything harmful to myself, or anybody else.).
I will always remember how my ex-wife put me down for something that had been a part of who I was since for as long as I can remember. I did not choose this interest as much as it chose me. I know many others also did not choose to have an interest in something that is as misunderstood as liking cartoon characters in diapers. Who in their right mind would ever want to bring upon themselves teasing, shaming, and being perceived as a horrible person who would do horrible things?
***
Since I lost all my physical eyesight on December 15th, 2016, I have struggled to find something to feel happy about. So many aspects of our world are visual. This includes web sites and phone apps. Most of which do not work well with the screen reading software that is made available to those who have little, or no, eyesight.
So, as I write this journal, I feel like a kid who is walking all by himself to an empty playground. If I was not blind, I know I could easily follow everyone to where things are a lot more friendly to baby furs, but my physical disability and lack of accessibility make this extremely difficult. How can one feel inspired to write, comment, or do anything positively productive when they feel like nobody is there to share in the fun of being creative while not feeling all alone for who and what you are on the inside?
***
Sorry for this journal being so long. I just really needed to write out my feelings to better understand why I just don’t feel like getting on the computer anymore. It’s a lonely world when you are blind and it is even more lonely when you feel like there is no place for you to find any amount of happiness without having to struggle and/or feel like you are going to be assaulted by close-minded, judgmental people who assume over attempting to understand.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
Some may have noticed that I have been quite a bit slow when it comes to posting and replying online. The reason is that I have been feeling unsure of what to do now that so many friends and folks I follow have migrated to different places as a result of all the drama that has befallen both Fur Affinity and Twitter.
***
Since September 3rd, 2008, I have been a part of the furry community here on FA. I have made lots of friends and learned how to be a better person both online and off. I have also become so enlightened by the creativity of everyone who has allowed me to participate in their creative efforts both before and after I lost my physical eyesight…
…However so much has changed in the furry community since I decided to open myself up to it. The biggest part is how a once accepting community has begun to shame and drive away those who share what it is that they feel is worth sharing about themselves.
I am a [Baby Fur]. I enjoy animated, animal characters doing cute and cuddly activities in their diapers. I also enjoy being able to freely explore parts of myself that do not pose any harm to myself, or anyone else. For years, this has not been a problem. Unfortunately, recent events have shown a lack of tolerance for those of us who are trying to cope with our lives through the arts.
There are those who know of how, prior to discovering the baby fur community, my greatest fear was for people to misjudge me for an interest I never asked to have in the first place. I have used my writing to try and make sense as to why I enjoy diapered cartoon animals and have greatly appreciated those who have aided me in my journey of self-discovery. The recent actions that have been taken against baby furs has brought back a lot of trauma that I experienced prior to joining FA. Most notably how my ex-wife reacted when I told her of how I had such interests. She shamed me constantly for what, no matter how hard I tried, I could not make go away. She even made it a point to state how I needed professional help with my problem. (Fun fact is how, as I began to lose the rest of my eyesight, I did ask my therapists about my affinity for animated animals in diapers. None told me that I was ever doing anything harmful to myself, or anybody else.).
I will always remember how my ex-wife put me down for something that had been a part of who I was since for as long as I can remember. I did not choose this interest as much as it chose me. I know many others also did not choose to have an interest in something that is as misunderstood as liking cartoon characters in diapers. Who in their right mind would ever want to bring upon themselves teasing, shaming, and being perceived as a horrible person who would do horrible things?
***
Since I lost all my physical eyesight on December 15th, 2016, I have struggled to find something to feel happy about. So many aspects of our world are visual. This includes web sites and phone apps. Most of which do not work well with the screen reading software that is made available to those who have little, or no, eyesight.
So, as I write this journal, I feel like a kid who is walking all by himself to an empty playground. If I was not blind, I know I could easily follow everyone to where things are a lot more friendly to baby furs, but my physical disability and lack of accessibility make this extremely difficult. How can one feel inspired to write, comment, or do anything positively productive when they feel like nobody is there to share in the fun of being creative while not feeling all alone for who and what you are on the inside?
***
Sorry for this journal being so long. I just really needed to write out my feelings to better understand why I just don’t feel like getting on the computer anymore. It’s a lonely world when you are blind and it is even more lonely when you feel like there is no place for you to find any amount of happiness without having to struggle and/or feel like you are going to be assaulted by close-minded, judgmental people who assume over attempting to understand.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
Life Updates, Story Commissions, and Indigo Park
General | Posted a year agohOI!!!!!
I wish to start by thanking everyone for their suggestions and support as I plot a course to where I may try to go if FA ever gives me the boot. Currently, Babyfur.Me is showing promise through being fairly accessible to my screen reading software. However, as not all of my friends are ‘Baby Furs’, I may do my best to establish myself over on Ink Bunny. IB appears to have the most people to whom I follow on it and I definitely want to keep in as much touch as I can given my physical limitations, my ability to interact through adaptive software, and the best chance for what I post to get noticed by anyone who is my friend, or may be interested in becoming friends.
***
Now that I’m feeling a bit more comfortable about what to do if my days on FA ever come to an end, I would like to see if anyone out there may be interested in one of my Story Commissions. The price is $30 for a simple story of up to 2,000 words with longer, more complex stories being $50 with a minimum of 5,000 words being used to tell your tale.
The way my Story Commissions work is that I communicate with you through Direct / Private Messages to get an idea of what you’d like to have your story be about along with what characters will be in it and how you’d like the characters to act and interact with the world around them. Once we establish the story that you would like written, I will get to work and send you regular updates to make sure you are happy with the story. If you require any additions, subtractions, or modifications to make it more enjoyable to you, I will do my best to make it happen.
***
As for how things are going outside of the internet, I am still finding it hard to no longer be able to play video games. However, in a very kind gesture, one of Lucca’s friends took the time over Discord, which was set up by Lucca for me to use just for this purpose, to listen to a play through of Chapter 1 of Indigo Park. The friend who did this was very descriptive of what was going on in the game and, as a result, I felt like I was able to enjoy the game in a way that felt like I was playing it myself. (Molly McCaw is my favorite, of course..)
***
May you all have a most wonderful day! I look forward to sharing new stories, or writing a story for one of you, very soon.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
I wish to start by thanking everyone for their suggestions and support as I plot a course to where I may try to go if FA ever gives me the boot. Currently, Babyfur.Me is showing promise through being fairly accessible to my screen reading software. However, as not all of my friends are ‘Baby Furs’, I may do my best to establish myself over on Ink Bunny. IB appears to have the most people to whom I follow on it and I definitely want to keep in as much touch as I can given my physical limitations, my ability to interact through adaptive software, and the best chance for what I post to get noticed by anyone who is my friend, or may be interested in becoming friends.
***
Now that I’m feeling a bit more comfortable about what to do if my days on FA ever come to an end, I would like to see if anyone out there may be interested in one of my Story Commissions. The price is $30 for a simple story of up to 2,000 words with longer, more complex stories being $50 with a minimum of 5,000 words being used to tell your tale.
The way my Story Commissions work is that I communicate with you through Direct / Private Messages to get an idea of what you’d like to have your story be about along with what characters will be in it and how you’d like the characters to act and interact with the world around them. Once we establish the story that you would like written, I will get to work and send you regular updates to make sure you are happy with the story. If you require any additions, subtractions, or modifications to make it more enjoyable to you, I will do my best to make it happen.
***
As for how things are going outside of the internet, I am still finding it hard to no longer be able to play video games. However, in a very kind gesture, one of Lucca’s friends took the time over Discord, which was set up by Lucca for me to use just for this purpose, to listen to a play through of Chapter 1 of Indigo Park. The friend who did this was very descriptive of what was going on in the game and, as a result, I felt like I was able to enjoy the game in a way that felt like I was playing it myself. (Molly McCaw is my favorite, of course..)
***
May you all have a most wonderful day! I look forward to sharing new stories, or writing a story for one of you, very soon.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
A Diapered Duckling's Dilemma
General | Posted a year agoHamha!
The most recent news of people being banned on FA for their content in relation to Baby Fur, Little, Age Regression, etc. has me quite worried. The biggest issue at play is how many of my friends have either left FA or have been banned from the site.
I've seen how many of those I follow are moving to other sites to continue their creative efforts. However, being 100% blind, makes this difficult for me to do so since a lot of sites, like 'Deviant Art' and 'Ink Bunny' are very difficult to navigate using non-visual tools.
'Babyfur.me' claims to have "Accessibility", but I don't see many of my friends flocking to the site. As it would take me a long time to figure out, if it is even possible to do so, a different site for sharing and discussing creative content, I am looking for advice on where may be best for me to take the time to attempt to learn how to interact with everyone outside of Fur Affinity'?
***
Everything I have done here over the past 16 years has never been meant to be anything more than finding a way to better accept, understand, and empower myself within a community of people who share similar interests. First impressions may make some believe some of my work is illicit, but that has never been my intention. Yosh, my OC, has always been a character designed to represent my adult self trying to better understand why I like diapers and cute, diapered cartoon animals. My ex-wife shamed me for sharing this interest and I struggled to feel at peace with myself as, for as far back as I can remember, diapers and diapered, cartoon animals have always been a point of interest. I never asked, nor wanted, to be this way. I'm even more sure that others never just woke up one day and said, "I want to do things that make people think I'm scum!". Nobody wants to feel they are too weird, taboo, etc. to deserve acceptance, understanding, empowerment, and a sense of community with others. The bans, sadly, only make those who struggle with who and what they are harder for individuals who, without doing harm to themselves and/or others, are just trying to better figure out why they are the way that they are while seeing how they are worthy of being loved and appreciated.
***
If anyone has any good ideas as to where I would best try to create a new account, please let me know. I don't want to lose contact with any of my friends and I definitely don't want to miss out on making new ones.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
The most recent news of people being banned on FA for their content in relation to Baby Fur, Little, Age Regression, etc. has me quite worried. The biggest issue at play is how many of my friends have either left FA or have been banned from the site.
I've seen how many of those I follow are moving to other sites to continue their creative efforts. However, being 100% blind, makes this difficult for me to do so since a lot of sites, like 'Deviant Art' and 'Ink Bunny' are very difficult to navigate using non-visual tools.
'Babyfur.me' claims to have "Accessibility", but I don't see many of my friends flocking to the site. As it would take me a long time to figure out, if it is even possible to do so, a different site for sharing and discussing creative content, I am looking for advice on where may be best for me to take the time to attempt to learn how to interact with everyone outside of Fur Affinity'?
***
Everything I have done here over the past 16 years has never been meant to be anything more than finding a way to better accept, understand, and empower myself within a community of people who share similar interests. First impressions may make some believe some of my work is illicit, but that has never been my intention. Yosh, my OC, has always been a character designed to represent my adult self trying to better understand why I like diapers and cute, diapered cartoon animals. My ex-wife shamed me for sharing this interest and I struggled to feel at peace with myself as, for as far back as I can remember, diapers and diapered, cartoon animals have always been a point of interest. I never asked, nor wanted, to be this way. I'm even more sure that others never just woke up one day and said, "I want to do things that make people think I'm scum!". Nobody wants to feel they are too weird, taboo, etc. to deserve acceptance, understanding, empowerment, and a sense of community with others. The bans, sadly, only make those who struggle with who and what they are harder for individuals who, without doing harm to themselves and/or others, are just trying to better figure out why they are the way that they are while seeing how they are worthy of being loved and appreciated.
***
If anyone has any good ideas as to where I would best try to create a new account, please let me know. I don't want to lose contact with any of my friends and I definitely don't want to miss out on making new ones.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
Concept -- Metroid: Cryos Elektra
General | Posted a year agohOI!!!!!!
This is an idea that I've been working on with my son for a number of years now. So, for fun, I'm trying to write a bit of it to see what everyone may think of it.
Cryos Elektra is a most foreboding place. The average surface temperature is below -100 Celsius with -80 Celsius being as warm as it ever gets at its equator.
Yet I am here. If it wasn’t for hearing that Galactic Federation distress call. If it wasn’t for it being my former colleague, Anthony, being the one seeking aid while talking about a threat that should not exist. A threat that I personally made sure did not exist.
Thankfully, the Varia augmentation of my suit allows me to survive in such extreme environments. However, as has been my curse for so many of my other missions, I am incapable of utilizing my full arsenal and abilities due to just how Cryos Elektra is not only located so far away from its star, but it also has a very strong, magnetic field that requires much of my available energy in order to keep my power suit from malfunctioning.
This all doesn’t matter. I have proven that I don’t even need my power suit to deal with the likes of space pirates, bounty hunters, and monsters that still haunt my nightmares to this day. What does matter is how Cryos Elektra has no breathable atmosphere and the outside temperature would flash-freeze me if I were to not be protected by this great gift that the Chozo have given me. I was their “Hatchling”, raised as one of their own, trained in the ways of their warriors, and set out for the stars in search of my destiny.
The distress beacon that Anthony sent is very close to where I landed my ship. Though, to my surprise, there appears to be a structure of some kind that I can see just a short distance away in the opposite direction. There was never any mention of any colony, or even research facility, mentioned when I did my research on Cryos Elektra prior to setting down upon its frozen surface. Could this be another of the Federation’s secret research labs? It really wouldn’t surprise me after what I discovered on The Bottle Ship, or on The BSL Research Facility. Could the Federation, yet again, be trying to cultivate those creatures in which I was contracted to destroy?
I suppose that I should stop asking questions and just go get answers from Anthony before anyone else arrives on the planet. Whatever is in that structure will just have to wait until I verify the safety of my old friend and his crew.
Your Pal:
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
This is an idea that I've been working on with my son for a number of years now. So, for fun, I'm trying to write a bit of it to see what everyone may think of it.
Cryos Elektra is a most foreboding place. The average surface temperature is below -100 Celsius with -80 Celsius being as warm as it ever gets at its equator.
Yet I am here. If it wasn’t for hearing that Galactic Federation distress call. If it wasn’t for it being my former colleague, Anthony, being the one seeking aid while talking about a threat that should not exist. A threat that I personally made sure did not exist.
Thankfully, the Varia augmentation of my suit allows me to survive in such extreme environments. However, as has been my curse for so many of my other missions, I am incapable of utilizing my full arsenal and abilities due to just how Cryos Elektra is not only located so far away from its star, but it also has a very strong, magnetic field that requires much of my available energy in order to keep my power suit from malfunctioning.
This all doesn’t matter. I have proven that I don’t even need my power suit to deal with the likes of space pirates, bounty hunters, and monsters that still haunt my nightmares to this day. What does matter is how Cryos Elektra has no breathable atmosphere and the outside temperature would flash-freeze me if I were to not be protected by this great gift that the Chozo have given me. I was their “Hatchling”, raised as one of their own, trained in the ways of their warriors, and set out for the stars in search of my destiny.
The distress beacon that Anthony sent is very close to where I landed my ship. Though, to my surprise, there appears to be a structure of some kind that I can see just a short distance away in the opposite direction. There was never any mention of any colony, or even research facility, mentioned when I did my research on Cryos Elektra prior to setting down upon its frozen surface. Could this be another of the Federation’s secret research labs? It really wouldn’t surprise me after what I discovered on The Bottle Ship, or on The BSL Research Facility. Could the Federation, yet again, be trying to cultivate those creatures in which I was contracted to destroy?
I suppose that I should stop asking questions and just go get answers from Anthony before anyone else arrives on the planet. Whatever is in that structure will just have to wait until I verify the safety of my old friend and his crew.
Your Pal:
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
Seeking Help For Writer's Block
General | Posted a year agohOI!!!!!!!
I’m officially feeling ‘Writer’s Block’. I feel inspired to write, but I have no clue what to write about.
Anybody got any advice? Should I go rework some of my previous stories? Perhaps I should open up commissions to seize upon my inspiration while I attempt to think of something worthwhile to write about?
Thank you for your time and any suggestions you may have.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
I’m officially feeling ‘Writer’s Block’. I feel inspired to write, but I have no clue what to write about.
Anybody got any advice? Should I go rework some of my previous stories? Perhaps I should open up commissions to seize upon my inspiration while I attempt to think of something worthwhile to write about?
Thank you for your time and any suggestions you may have.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
Life Updates, Goals, And Mr. Nuthatch
General | Posted a year agohOI!!!!!!
I’ve lately felt like a lame duck. So, to help regain my spirits, I decided to try and see if I could figure out how to, through use of my screen-reading software, upload videos to YouTube…
…And I was successful!
MR. NUTHATCH’S THERAPY JOURNEY:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzq0OLpWIFxWe80BdzBcEY43PwFhZsqjM&si=E-C-KA2CHHpLOc5T
Part of my hopes with creating a ‘Patreon’ was to show how a very influential / inspirational show I discovered, Birdz features a character who goes through the process of improving their mental health and well-being through seeing a therapist / psychiatrist. My son, Peep, helped me to get clips of the show off of YouTube to use towards this goal, but I never felt I could upload these videos on my own given the limitations of being 100% blind and using a video-based platform. However, despite missing a few things, I feel I succeeded in making this goal.
***
If you have time to check out the playlist, which I linked above, I would love to hear your thoughts on Mr. Nuthatch’s Therapy Journey. I am also interested in seeing if anyone would be interested in me creating videos of myself discussing Mr. Nuthatch’s therapy sessions with Dr. Storkowitz and how they played a relatable part in my journey towards my mental health.
***
Other ideas I have, which I plan to do until I can come up with some good story ideas, is go through my Gallery to better organize the content that I’ve uploaded here over the past 16 years. Hopefully this will make what I’ve worked so hard on over all this time more enjoyable to visit by those who may feel a bit intimidated by my over 1,200 posts.
***
I’m really just trying to find more ways to interact with everyone while making new friends. If you have any ideas for stories, or things I should try to do to get more involved with the community, please let me know.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
I’ve lately felt like a lame duck. So, to help regain my spirits, I decided to try and see if I could figure out how to, through use of my screen-reading software, upload videos to YouTube…
…And I was successful!
MR. NUTHATCH’S THERAPY JOURNEY:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzq0OLpWIFxWe80BdzBcEY43PwFhZsqjM&si=E-C-KA2CHHpLOc5T
Part of my hopes with creating a ‘Patreon’ was to show how a very influential / inspirational show I discovered, Birdz features a character who goes through the process of improving their mental health and well-being through seeing a therapist / psychiatrist. My son, Peep, helped me to get clips of the show off of YouTube to use towards this goal, but I never felt I could upload these videos on my own given the limitations of being 100% blind and using a video-based platform. However, despite missing a few things, I feel I succeeded in making this goal.
***
If you have time to check out the playlist, which I linked above, I would love to hear your thoughts on Mr. Nuthatch’s Therapy Journey. I am also interested in seeing if anyone would be interested in me creating videos of myself discussing Mr. Nuthatch’s therapy sessions with Dr. Storkowitz and how they played a relatable part in my journey towards my mental health.
***
Other ideas I have, which I plan to do until I can come up with some good story ideas, is go through my Gallery to better organize the content that I’ve uploaded here over the past 16 years. Hopefully this will make what I’ve worked so hard on over all this time more enjoyable to visit by those who may feel a bit intimidated by my over 1,200 posts.
***
I’m really just trying to find more ways to interact with everyone while making new friends. If you have any ideas for stories, or things I should try to do to get more involved with the community, please let me know.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
An Apology / Patreon Hiatus
General | Posted a year agoHamha,
I’d like to begin by apologizing to everyone who has kindly supported me over on Patreon. I had so many great ideas for things to share and offer in exchange for your support, but I just cannot do them all on my own… yet.
Since I am not able to share unique content in exchange for your patronage, I am putting my Patreon on hiatus. My hope is to, after resolving the issue with the state of my house with The Seeing Eye, to try and teach myself how to successfully post to Patreon and YouTube with as little help from anyone as is possible. I do not know if I will be able to work Patreon, YouTube, or other relevant sites for the ideas I have to earn your financial support, but I do plan to try my best to offer a unique experience that continues what was started with Coping With Limitations Through Pony while creating interesting art and stories with Lucca and giving an insightful look on what life is like when you go from having some eyesight to none at all.
Again, I thank you all for your support. I look forward to catching up on all the real life stuff I need to do in order to get my next Seeing Eye Dog, returning home, familiarizing the dog with the routes I travel, and then doing all I can to restart the Patreon by finding the most accessible ways to share what I want to share without as much reliance on other people to make it possible.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)[/b][/i]
I’d like to begin by apologizing to everyone who has kindly supported me over on Patreon. I had so many great ideas for things to share and offer in exchange for your support, but I just cannot do them all on my own… yet.
Since I am not able to share unique content in exchange for your patronage, I am putting my Patreon on hiatus. My hope is to, after resolving the issue with the state of my house with The Seeing Eye, to try and teach myself how to successfully post to Patreon and YouTube with as little help from anyone as is possible. I do not know if I will be able to work Patreon, YouTube, or other relevant sites for the ideas I have to earn your financial support, but I do plan to try my best to offer a unique experience that continues what was started with Coping With Limitations Through Pony while creating interesting art and stories with Lucca and giving an insightful look on what life is like when you go from having some eyesight to none at all.
Again, I thank you all for your support. I look forward to catching up on all the real life stuff I need to do in order to get my next Seeing Eye Dog, returning home, familiarizing the dog with the routes I travel, and then doing all I can to restart the Patreon by finding the most accessible ways to share what I want to share without as much reliance on other people to make it possible.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)[/b][/i]
Dog Difficulties
General | Posted a year agoHamha:
First, and foremost, I have to share that I did not get my new Seeing Eye Dog. Instead, I was brought all the way to Morristown, NJ to be told that the lady who picked me up to attend the school to get my new dog felt I was not fit to have a new one at this time. This resulted in me being driven home less than 24 hours after I had arrived at The Seeing Eye.
Why did she say I was unfit to get a new Seeing Eye Dog? It was a result of allowing her into my house to use the bathroom. In her, at most, 5 minutes of time, she determined the condition of my home to be too cluttered for the new Seeing Eye Dog to safely live within it. She further felt I was not taking proper care of my current Seeing Eye Dog, which is a statement that hurt me more than her review of the home Lucca and I share. Uri / Buddy and I have been a solid team for nearly 7 years. I have more than kept up on his vet visits and pay over $60 per month for his insurance. We have walked many miles together over the years and, despite what she may believe, he is in great shape and at the perfect weight for a dog of his size. (They say if you can feel the ribs of your dog when pushing lightly on their side that they are a healthy weight. His working harness also does not squeeze him tightly around the barrel of his body.).
As a result of the unfair review by the individual who thought it best to drive me all the way to Morristown before sharing her concerns, I have suffered a huge blow to my self-confidence. Though it has also put Lucca and I in a very tough situation of trying to figure out just what and how much we have to do to improve the house so that I can, potentially, be considered for the October class at The Seeing Eye. (No particular recommendations were given as to what needed done. The only thing that was shared were vague statements about reducing clutter and having Uri / Buddy lose weight.).
I was supposed to be away at class getting my new dog from Monday, July 22nd through Thursday, August 8th. Instead, I have been home since Tuesday, July 23rd working the best I can with Lucca to make as many updates to our house as our limited resources allow us to. We are making steady-and-slow progress, but feel we need to do quite a bit more work before calling The Seeing Eye to have one of their instructors drive back down to give it a look over to verify I can be eligible for the October, or November, class. (These two classes are the earliest I could get into if everything works out when the house gets, I hope, a thorough review instead of a 5 minute quick glance.).
Wish Lucca and I luck as we do all we can to show how everything is perfect for welcoming in a new Seeing Eye Dog while proving how Uri / Buddy has been, and always will be, cared for as best as can possibly be.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
First, and foremost, I have to share that I did not get my new Seeing Eye Dog. Instead, I was brought all the way to Morristown, NJ to be told that the lady who picked me up to attend the school to get my new dog felt I was not fit to have a new one at this time. This resulted in me being driven home less than 24 hours after I had arrived at The Seeing Eye.
Why did she say I was unfit to get a new Seeing Eye Dog? It was a result of allowing her into my house to use the bathroom. In her, at most, 5 minutes of time, she determined the condition of my home to be too cluttered for the new Seeing Eye Dog to safely live within it. She further felt I was not taking proper care of my current Seeing Eye Dog, which is a statement that hurt me more than her review of the home Lucca and I share. Uri / Buddy and I have been a solid team for nearly 7 years. I have more than kept up on his vet visits and pay over $60 per month for his insurance. We have walked many miles together over the years and, despite what she may believe, he is in great shape and at the perfect weight for a dog of his size. (They say if you can feel the ribs of your dog when pushing lightly on their side that they are a healthy weight. His working harness also does not squeeze him tightly around the barrel of his body.).
As a result of the unfair review by the individual who thought it best to drive me all the way to Morristown before sharing her concerns, I have suffered a huge blow to my self-confidence. Though it has also put Lucca and I in a very tough situation of trying to figure out just what and how much we have to do to improve the house so that I can, potentially, be considered for the October class at The Seeing Eye. (No particular recommendations were given as to what needed done. The only thing that was shared were vague statements about reducing clutter and having Uri / Buddy lose weight.).
I was supposed to be away at class getting my new dog from Monday, July 22nd through Thursday, August 8th. Instead, I have been home since Tuesday, July 23rd working the best I can with Lucca to make as many updates to our house as our limited resources allow us to. We are making steady-and-slow progress, but feel we need to do quite a bit more work before calling The Seeing Eye to have one of their instructors drive back down to give it a look over to verify I can be eligible for the October, or November, class. (These two classes are the earliest I could get into if everything works out when the house gets, I hope, a thorough review instead of a 5 minute quick glance.).
Wish Lucca and I luck as we do all we can to show how everything is perfect for welcoming in a new Seeing Eye Dog while proving how Uri / Buddy has been, and always will be, cared for as best as can possibly be.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
Returning To The Seeing Eye
General | Posted 2 years agohOI!!!!!!
Back in October 2017, I headed off to Morristown, NJ to get my very first Seeing Eye Dog. It was here that I spent the next four weeks living and learning how to best work with my dog, Uri / Buddy, before returning home to see just how well a service dog worked compared to a White Cane.
I was nervous to put my trust in Uri for my travels about town, but I soon began to realize that he really did know how to navigate around obstacles while being very safe when it came to making all sorts of street crossings. It wasn’t long before I couldn’t ever think of going anywhere without him.
Now, nearly seven years later, Uri / Buddy is ready to retire from being my sighted guide to all those places I would ever want to go that are within walking distance. The trainers at The Seeing Eye informed me that the dog will let you know when he is ready to retire and Uri / Buddy is just not all that excited about going on adventures like he used to be.
Earlier this year, I began to notice the signs of Uri / Buddy getting ready to retire. It started around his eighth birthday and has only become more obvious by the day. Knowing it could be a long time before I would be able to get back in to get a second Seeing Eye Dog, I called the school, explained Uri’s / Buddy’s status, and was invited to apply for my second Seeing Eye Dog.
Flash forward to this past Tuesday, July 9th, and I got a most surprising call from the manager of admissions at The Seeing Eye. The wait for getting a service dog to take over for Uri’s / Buddy’s duties was already over! Not only that, but I was asked to return to the school in Morristown, NJ on Monday, July 22nd to begin work with one of two possible dogs who will be best able to keep up with all the walking I like to do on a regular basis!
Needless to say, I’ve been scrambling to get paperwork together so that I can successfully attend the, for returning students, three week session to acclimate myself to the new dog. Upon my return, which is approxated as being Thursday, August 8th, Uri / Buddy will be 100% retired and, hopefully, happy to have a new friend to play with who is far more excited about going out for a long walk than he has become after nearly seven years of service.
I’m quite nervous to be gone from home for such a long period of time, but it is necessary if I want to continue using a Seeing Eye Dog instead of a White Cane. Personally, I can tell you all that having a Seeing Eye Dog is extremely liberating compared to using White Cane techniques to go from place-to-place. I also can say that people are more likely to talk to me / acknowledge my presence with a Seeing Eye Dog than they ever were when I’d travel with the White Cane.
***
Thank you all for your support and for all the amazing times we’ve shared since the last time I attended school at The Seeing Eye. It amazes me how much has happened over the time in which Uri / Buddy and I began our journey together. I look forward to sharing even more good times as I journey off for my new, canine companion and start working towards acclimating him to where I live as much as I have acclimated Uri / Buddy to the area. These dogs are truly amazing and seeing mine ready to retire is sad, but I am very grateful for everyone who supports The Seeing Eye to allow those, like myself, to acquire such an invaluable aid / friend.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
Back in October 2017, I headed off to Morristown, NJ to get my very first Seeing Eye Dog. It was here that I spent the next four weeks living and learning how to best work with my dog, Uri / Buddy, before returning home to see just how well a service dog worked compared to a White Cane.
I was nervous to put my trust in Uri for my travels about town, but I soon began to realize that he really did know how to navigate around obstacles while being very safe when it came to making all sorts of street crossings. It wasn’t long before I couldn’t ever think of going anywhere without him.
Now, nearly seven years later, Uri / Buddy is ready to retire from being my sighted guide to all those places I would ever want to go that are within walking distance. The trainers at The Seeing Eye informed me that the dog will let you know when he is ready to retire and Uri / Buddy is just not all that excited about going on adventures like he used to be.
Earlier this year, I began to notice the signs of Uri / Buddy getting ready to retire. It started around his eighth birthday and has only become more obvious by the day. Knowing it could be a long time before I would be able to get back in to get a second Seeing Eye Dog, I called the school, explained Uri’s / Buddy’s status, and was invited to apply for my second Seeing Eye Dog.
Flash forward to this past Tuesday, July 9th, and I got a most surprising call from the manager of admissions at The Seeing Eye. The wait for getting a service dog to take over for Uri’s / Buddy’s duties was already over! Not only that, but I was asked to return to the school in Morristown, NJ on Monday, July 22nd to begin work with one of two possible dogs who will be best able to keep up with all the walking I like to do on a regular basis!
Needless to say, I’ve been scrambling to get paperwork together so that I can successfully attend the, for returning students, three week session to acclimate myself to the new dog. Upon my return, which is approxated as being Thursday, August 8th, Uri / Buddy will be 100% retired and, hopefully, happy to have a new friend to play with who is far more excited about going out for a long walk than he has become after nearly seven years of service.
I’m quite nervous to be gone from home for such a long period of time, but it is necessary if I want to continue using a Seeing Eye Dog instead of a White Cane. Personally, I can tell you all that having a Seeing Eye Dog is extremely liberating compared to using White Cane techniques to go from place-to-place. I also can say that people are more likely to talk to me / acknowledge my presence with a Seeing Eye Dog than they ever were when I’d travel with the White Cane.
***
Thank you all for your support and for all the amazing times we’ve shared since the last time I attended school at The Seeing Eye. It amazes me how much has happened over the time in which Uri / Buddy and I began our journey together. I look forward to sharing even more good times as I journey off for my new, canine companion and start working towards acclimating him to where I live as much as I have acclimated Uri / Buddy to the area. These dogs are truly amazing and seeing mine ready to retire is sad, but I am very grateful for everyone who supports The Seeing Eye to allow those, like myself, to acquire such an invaluable aid / friend.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
Thinking Out Loud -- Positivity & Self-Doubt
General | Posted 2 years agohOI!!!!!
Ever since getting put on Abilify, which is a medication that helps in coping with anxiety and depression, I have noticed that I have a lot more energy and positivity. However, I also seem to have more doubts about myself, my abilities, and my goals.
***
The biggest thought that troubles me is how I don’t feel my writing is really all that worth doing. I don’t plan to stop writing, but I feel I need to rethink what sort of content I put my time and effort into.
Other thoughts that plague me are whether-or-not I am a good friend to those who are my friends? Do I do enough to be there for those who wish to share their time with me? Do I truly show everyone just how much I appreciate them and their time?
The final thoughts are mostly money related. I know I need to make more of it to offset the 3 home repair loans that Lucca and I now will be paying off for the next decade. I know we can cut back on a few things, but we’ve already cut back on a lot of things and, as most should agree, you need to find opportunity to do something meaningful for yourself in order to not feel overwhelmed by life’s responsibilities. Just yesterday, I purchased a Pokemon T-Shirt that features Pikachu & Flamigo and feel bad that I did so. Did I need a shirt, yes. Should I have made it a Pokemon shirt, well, I feel less sure for how I feel I need to be responsible while not feeling guilty for doing things that help make all that responsibility and sacrifice worthwhile.
***
Expanding more on the money part, I have started to look for work again. Unfortunately, I haven’t been hearing back about the opportunity to work at the local YMCA that I applied for. The ‘Career Counselor’ and I have both reached out to explain how I can do the job if the right tools are available and compatible with their software systems. However, I do not know if this will work out and I really worry about, even if it does work out, how long it will take for a software upgrade to force me out of the job. I know I shouldn’t worry so much about how long I will be able to hold the job as much as I would be able to get back to work and earn some muns to help with our home expenses, but it still scares me to think how technology has always been my downfall to success where it should be what allows me to succeed.
I haven’t heard of any other job opportunities that go best with my skillset and how easily I can get to-and-from work. I do plan to see if I can identify possible other opportunities to reenter the workforce, but knowing I have to get the company to take the time to make sure I would have a job at the end of the hiring process is both frustrating and demoralizing.
***
On a positive note, my sister and I are getting along again! Winry has been a lot nicer and has told me that she was largely grumpy towards me as a result of how things were for her during and after her pregnancy. (It is hard to believe Owlbert is almost a year old now..).
What I think I should do is see if I can find a way to talk to my therapist again. I love all the energy and positivity I have been feeling, but these anxiety-inducing butterflies in my stomach are driving me nuts and making me doubt parts of myself that I know I shouldn’t be putting so much extra thought into.
***
That’s it for now. I thank you for reading this and will gladly take any questions, comments, or other thoughts you may have to offer. Perhaps there is something that you have noticed about me that I need to do better with and/or consider to feel less anxious about who and what I am? No matter what, I always feel better after writing these journals and hope that you all know I am here as much as is possible to be a good friend and creative colleague.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
Ever since getting put on Abilify, which is a medication that helps in coping with anxiety and depression, I have noticed that I have a lot more energy and positivity. However, I also seem to have more doubts about myself, my abilities, and my goals.
***
The biggest thought that troubles me is how I don’t feel my writing is really all that worth doing. I don’t plan to stop writing, but I feel I need to rethink what sort of content I put my time and effort into.
Other thoughts that plague me are whether-or-not I am a good friend to those who are my friends? Do I do enough to be there for those who wish to share their time with me? Do I truly show everyone just how much I appreciate them and their time?
The final thoughts are mostly money related. I know I need to make more of it to offset the 3 home repair loans that Lucca and I now will be paying off for the next decade. I know we can cut back on a few things, but we’ve already cut back on a lot of things and, as most should agree, you need to find opportunity to do something meaningful for yourself in order to not feel overwhelmed by life’s responsibilities. Just yesterday, I purchased a Pokemon T-Shirt that features Pikachu & Flamigo and feel bad that I did so. Did I need a shirt, yes. Should I have made it a Pokemon shirt, well, I feel less sure for how I feel I need to be responsible while not feeling guilty for doing things that help make all that responsibility and sacrifice worthwhile.
***
Expanding more on the money part, I have started to look for work again. Unfortunately, I haven’t been hearing back about the opportunity to work at the local YMCA that I applied for. The ‘Career Counselor’ and I have both reached out to explain how I can do the job if the right tools are available and compatible with their software systems. However, I do not know if this will work out and I really worry about, even if it does work out, how long it will take for a software upgrade to force me out of the job. I know I shouldn’t worry so much about how long I will be able to hold the job as much as I would be able to get back to work and earn some muns to help with our home expenses, but it still scares me to think how technology has always been my downfall to success where it should be what allows me to succeed.
I haven’t heard of any other job opportunities that go best with my skillset and how easily I can get to-and-from work. I do plan to see if I can identify possible other opportunities to reenter the workforce, but knowing I have to get the company to take the time to make sure I would have a job at the end of the hiring process is both frustrating and demoralizing.
***
On a positive note, my sister and I are getting along again! Winry has been a lot nicer and has told me that she was largely grumpy towards me as a result of how things were for her during and after her pregnancy. (It is hard to believe Owlbert is almost a year old now..).
What I think I should do is see if I can find a way to talk to my therapist again. I love all the energy and positivity I have been feeling, but these anxiety-inducing butterflies in my stomach are driving me nuts and making me doubt parts of myself that I know I shouldn’t be putting so much extra thought into.
***
That’s it for now. I thank you for reading this and will gladly take any questions, comments, or other thoughts you may have to offer. Perhaps there is something that you have noticed about me that I need to do better with and/or consider to feel less anxious about who and what I am? No matter what, I always feel better after writing these journals and hope that you all know I am here as much as is possible to be a good friend and creative colleague.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
Just Quackers -- Life Update 05/28/2024
General | Posted 2 years agoHamha!
It makes me so happy to share that I have just about caught up on all those submissions I missed out on while battling with depression. I had no idea over three years worth of art and stories had been buried beneath sadness that I had not been able to properly manage. It feels amazing to have been able to check out all I missed, commented on what I could, and added new favorites for others to find within my favorites folder.
Along the same lines, I want to thank everyone for supporting my Inspirational, Yet Unseen, Art postings that I have done over on 'Twitter / Cap X' along with on 'Patreon'. The series will continue as a way to spotlight work that has influenced me through the author's presentation and subject matter, but was largely used to help show love to those whose works I failed to see for so long.
***
If you are a part of 'Twitter / Cap X', you can look me up at yosheoducky. I mostly share what I put up on 'Patreon' along with the posts done by friends along with retweets of birdwatching photos and videos.
If you'd like to help Lucca and I out by supporting our work and ideas, you can do so for a small, monthly donation at the following link.
https://www.patreon.com/LuccaYoshArtTherapy
***
Other news is that, despite feeling I never could do so again, I am attempting to find a job where I can succeed despite my lack of physical eyesight! I have already found one lead and, through the aid of someone at PA Career Link who checks to see if the employer is committed to 'Universal Design / Diverse Workforce', I am seeing if it may be possible to be employed again.
***
That's it for now. Thank you all for your kindness, patience, and caring support. I couldn't have gotten to a better place within my mind without you.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
It makes me so happy to share that I have just about caught up on all those submissions I missed out on while battling with depression. I had no idea over three years worth of art and stories had been buried beneath sadness that I had not been able to properly manage. It feels amazing to have been able to check out all I missed, commented on what I could, and added new favorites for others to find within my favorites folder.
Along the same lines, I want to thank everyone for supporting my Inspirational, Yet Unseen, Art postings that I have done over on 'Twitter / Cap X' along with on 'Patreon'. The series will continue as a way to spotlight work that has influenced me through the author's presentation and subject matter, but was largely used to help show love to those whose works I failed to see for so long.
***
If you are a part of 'Twitter / Cap X', you can look me up at yosheoducky. I mostly share what I put up on 'Patreon' along with the posts done by friends along with retweets of birdwatching photos and videos.
If you'd like to help Lucca and I out by supporting our work and ideas, you can do so for a small, monthly donation at the following link.
https://www.patreon.com/LuccaYoshArtTherapy
***
Other news is that, despite feeling I never could do so again, I am attempting to find a job where I can succeed despite my lack of physical eyesight! I have already found one lead and, through the aid of someone at PA Career Link who checks to see if the employer is committed to 'Universal Design / Diverse Workforce', I am seeing if it may be possible to be employed again.
***
That's it for now. Thank you all for your kindness, patience, and caring support. I couldn't have gotten to a better place within my mind without you.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
05/19/2024 Life Updates & Creative Progress
General | Posted 2 years agohOI!!!!!
I’d like to start by thanking everyone for all of your support. I’m FINALLY getting to submissions that, to my disbelief, I had not gotten to in over 3 years! I had no idea how much I allowed my depression to freeze my ability to communicate and show appreciation to my friends. Please forgive me while knowing that, thanks to my new medication, it takes a lot more to get me to where I give in to the awfulness of depression making me disconnect from the world.
***
I also would like to thank everyone who has made a monthly donation to our Patreon page. Even the smallest of amounts has helped us to keep up with the cost of maintaining our home.
Right now, a majority of what I’m posting to Patreon, as it is taking longer than we thought to get to Subscribe Star and Kofi, is free to all to see. However, I am open to suggestions on what you’d want to see for paying more than the minimum. Perhaps some “TRULY BLIND GAME REVIEWS” and/or “TRULY BLIND SHOW / MOVIE REVIEWS”? Maybe you’d like to have an “ASK BOX” where I can answer questions you have in a video-based format?
Should you wish to check out our Patreon, you can do so at...
https://www.patreon.com/LuccaYoshArtTherapy
More on our mission to get established on Kofi and Subscribe Star coming as soon as Lucca can better narrow down all that is needed to put up relevant content for your enjoyment.
***
While working on stories, I have been finding inspiration through the creation of the INSPIRATIONAL, YET UNSEEN, ART concept I’ve been sharing with everyone on Twitter and Patreon. This series takes four images from a given artist, or artists, and links them back to their creator for people to discover art and/or stories that have gotten my imagination to see / experience what I never got to see with my own eyes. It is my hope that this series shows just how powerful the words, [ALT TEXT], and ways in which you communicate with others brings creative content to life without one needing any physical eyesight to enjoy it.
Want to follow me over on Twitter? You can do so yosheoducky.
***
This seems like a good place to leave off for tonight. Overall, I am happy to be on a good medication regiment that allows me to do more than just feel sad over not being able to do all those visual things that exist in our world today. Some days are easier than others, but all your support and encouragement has gone a long way. I look forward to continuing to push past the sadness to bring myself joy while sharing positivity through any and all conversations we may have.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
I’d like to start by thanking everyone for all of your support. I’m FINALLY getting to submissions that, to my disbelief, I had not gotten to in over 3 years! I had no idea how much I allowed my depression to freeze my ability to communicate and show appreciation to my friends. Please forgive me while knowing that, thanks to my new medication, it takes a lot more to get me to where I give in to the awfulness of depression making me disconnect from the world.
***
I also would like to thank everyone who has made a monthly donation to our Patreon page. Even the smallest of amounts has helped us to keep up with the cost of maintaining our home.
Right now, a majority of what I’m posting to Patreon, as it is taking longer than we thought to get to Subscribe Star and Kofi, is free to all to see. However, I am open to suggestions on what you’d want to see for paying more than the minimum. Perhaps some “TRULY BLIND GAME REVIEWS” and/or “TRULY BLIND SHOW / MOVIE REVIEWS”? Maybe you’d like to have an “ASK BOX” where I can answer questions you have in a video-based format?
Should you wish to check out our Patreon, you can do so at...
https://www.patreon.com/LuccaYoshArtTherapy
More on our mission to get established on Kofi and Subscribe Star coming as soon as Lucca can better narrow down all that is needed to put up relevant content for your enjoyment.
***
While working on stories, I have been finding inspiration through the creation of the INSPIRATIONAL, YET UNSEEN, ART concept I’ve been sharing with everyone on Twitter and Patreon. This series takes four images from a given artist, or artists, and links them back to their creator for people to discover art and/or stories that have gotten my imagination to see / experience what I never got to see with my own eyes. It is my hope that this series shows just how powerful the words, [ALT TEXT], and ways in which you communicate with others brings creative content to life without one needing any physical eyesight to enjoy it.
Want to follow me over on Twitter? You can do so yosheoducky.
***
This seems like a good place to leave off for tonight. Overall, I am happy to be on a good medication regiment that allows me to do more than just feel sad over not being able to do all those visual things that exist in our world today. Some days are easier than others, but all your support and encouragement has gone a long way. I look forward to continuing to push past the sadness to bring myself joy while sharing positivity through any and all conversations we may have.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
VG Concept -- FRCC: Cosmic Crisis -- Types of Rooms
General | Posted 2 years agohOI!!!!
It's been a while since I shared information on the video game style story, Further Realms - Creative Campaign: Cosmic Crisis. So, at long last, I give the Alpha Version of the types of {Rooms} a player would encounter while playing through the game and its story.
TYPES OF ROOMS:
“FRCC: Cosmic Crisis” uses an overhead / bird’s eye view of a randomly generated sequence of {Rooms} that is determined by the [Routes] a player decides to go through during the completion of a Run.
The following is a list of the types of {Rooms} a player will find and how these {Rooms} become available for a player to access during a Run.
{START ROOM}
All [Paths] begin in this {Room}. The {Start Room} itself is based on the [Path] the player has chosen to start their Run.
Nishidor’s Realm
Thanksalot’s Realm
Owlnard’s Outpost
Cthulhu’s Realm
{Storage Room}
This {Room} will always appear to the ‘left’ of the {Start Room}.
Contains a Storage Box that allows the player to equip Consumable Items that they had stored in a Storage Box they visited during the completion of a Run.
Features an ATM Machine that allows the player to withdraw CHIRPs that they had placed in an ATM Machine they had visited during the completion of a Run.
There is a Wardrobe where the player can access different costumes for their character to wear in which they have unlocked through the completion of Runs.
A Cabinet will be accessible for the player to equip Projectile Attack and Melee Attack weapons they have unlocked through the completion of Runs.
{NORMAL ROOM}”
Most {Rooms} fall under this category. The number of Exits in each {Normal Room} will be dependant on the randomly-generated map of the current Region of the player’s chosen Path to complete their Run.
{Mini Boss Room}
The {Mini Boss Room} will contain a randomly generated ‘Mini Boss’ in which the player must defeat in order to unlock all the Sealed Doors. There can be more than one {Mini Boss Room} on a given map that the player is actively completing during their Run. Mini bosses will be discussed later in this document.
{Boss Room}
The player will encounter the given boss monster for the map they are currently completing as part of their Run. The boss monster must be defeated in order to unlock all the Sealed Doors upon entering into the {Boss Room}.
{Shop Rooms}
Each map on a given Path towards completing a Run can have one, or more, of the following {Shop Rooms}…
Goatella’s Shop
o What a player can acquire in exchange for collected CHIRPs will be discussed later in this document.
Macaroni’s Shop
o What a player can acquire in exchange for collected CHIRPs will be discussed later in this document.
o
Lesbuni’s Shop
o What a player can acquire in exchange for collected CHIRPs will be discussed later in this document.
Kiwi’s Shop
o What a player can acquire in exchange for collected CHIRPs will be discussed later in this document.
{Secret Room}
A {Secret Room} is accessed through using an Explosive Charge on a Secret Door. They can be one of the following…
Aro’s Archeology
o An item will be available atop a pedestal in the middle of the {Room} in which has a rarity value of four, or greater.
Dawn’s Dive
o The player will be able to choose one of the following…
Return to the beginning of the Run with all the CHIRPs, Consumable Items, Buffs, and other items they have collected over the course of the current Run.
Taken to the next Region within the given Run the player is advancing through.
• If a Path is not unlocked yet by the player, Dawn’s Dive will not make it a choice to be advanced to.
Faux’s Shop
o What a player can acquire in exchange for collected CHIRPs will be discussed later in this document.
o Stan’s Shop
o What a player can acquire in exchange for collected CHIRPs will be discussed later in this document.
Casino Celeste
o Various games of chance can be played here in exchange for CHIRPs.
The ATM will be accessible in this {Room}
o What a player can acquire in exchange for collected CHIRPs will be discussed later in this document.
{Endurance Room}
The {Endurance Room} will feature a random assortment of enemies associated with the given map the player is on in their current Run. Defeating all the enemies will unlock all Sealed Doors while an item of rarity value no greater than three will appear at the room’s center.
{Hospital Room}
The {Hospital Room} is where the character, Anomolly , will restore up to three hearts without any cost.
A player may CHIRPs for the following…
o All hearts restored to their maximum health value
o Completely filling your Recovery Meter
o Strength Buffs
o Defense Buffs
{Exit Room}
The {Exit Room} will take the player to the next map of a given Run.
Always found connected to only the {Boss Room}
Has an ATM
Has a Storage Box
Has a {Hospital Room} connected to it
Has a {Rune Room}, or {Library Room} connected to it
{Rune Room}
The {Rune Room} is where a player may use the runes they have acquired during a run to perform a Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 spell
Runes will be discussed later in this document.
Requires the player to have acquired a Spell Book from a {Library Room} in order to cast a spell
{Library Room}
The {Library Room} features the character, Phoebe Vogelsong. She will offer the player a free Spell Book
Spell Books remain in the player’s inventory if they are able to finish a Run
The types of Spell Books will be discussed later in this document.
Thanks for giving this a look over. Once I share the master document with my son, I will try to work towards making the full document available on our Patreon for anyone who is interested in reading through the whole thing as it is developed. (The story and game concept are also meant to be accessible to anyone to freely use if they should desire to make the game, or a game based upon the documentation itself.).
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O'Ducky
It's been a while since I shared information on the video game style story, Further Realms - Creative Campaign: Cosmic Crisis. So, at long last, I give the Alpha Version of the types of {Rooms} a player would encounter while playing through the game and its story.
TYPES OF ROOMS:
“FRCC: Cosmic Crisis” uses an overhead / bird’s eye view of a randomly generated sequence of {Rooms} that is determined by the [Routes] a player decides to go through during the completion of a Run.
The following is a list of the types of {Rooms} a player will find and how these {Rooms} become available for a player to access during a Run.
{START ROOM}
All [Paths] begin in this {Room}. The {Start Room} itself is based on the [Path] the player has chosen to start their Run.
Nishidor’s Realm
Thanksalot’s Realm
Owlnard’s Outpost
Cthulhu’s Realm
{Storage Room}
This {Room} will always appear to the ‘left’ of the {Start Room}.
Contains a Storage Box that allows the player to equip Consumable Items that they had stored in a Storage Box they visited during the completion of a Run.
Features an ATM Machine that allows the player to withdraw CHIRPs that they had placed in an ATM Machine they had visited during the completion of a Run.
There is a Wardrobe where the player can access different costumes for their character to wear in which they have unlocked through the completion of Runs.
A Cabinet will be accessible for the player to equip Projectile Attack and Melee Attack weapons they have unlocked through the completion of Runs.
{NORMAL ROOM}”
Most {Rooms} fall under this category. The number of Exits in each {Normal Room} will be dependant on the randomly-generated map of the current Region of the player’s chosen Path to complete their Run.
{Mini Boss Room}
The {Mini Boss Room} will contain a randomly generated ‘Mini Boss’ in which the player must defeat in order to unlock all the Sealed Doors. There can be more than one {Mini Boss Room} on a given map that the player is actively completing during their Run. Mini bosses will be discussed later in this document.
{Boss Room}
The player will encounter the given boss monster for the map they are currently completing as part of their Run. The boss monster must be defeated in order to unlock all the Sealed Doors upon entering into the {Boss Room}.
{Shop Rooms}
Each map on a given Path towards completing a Run can have one, or more, of the following {Shop Rooms}…
Goatella’s Shop
o What a player can acquire in exchange for collected CHIRPs will be discussed later in this document.
Macaroni’s Shop
o What a player can acquire in exchange for collected CHIRPs will be discussed later in this document.
o
Lesbuni’s Shop
o What a player can acquire in exchange for collected CHIRPs will be discussed later in this document.
Kiwi’s Shop
o What a player can acquire in exchange for collected CHIRPs will be discussed later in this document.
{Secret Room}
A {Secret Room} is accessed through using an Explosive Charge on a Secret Door. They can be one of the following…
Aro’s Archeology
o An item will be available atop a pedestal in the middle of the {Room} in which has a rarity value of four, or greater.
Dawn’s Dive
o The player will be able to choose one of the following…
Return to the beginning of the Run with all the CHIRPs, Consumable Items, Buffs, and other items they have collected over the course of the current Run.
Taken to the next Region within the given Run the player is advancing through.
• If a Path is not unlocked yet by the player, Dawn’s Dive will not make it a choice to be advanced to.
Faux’s Shop
o What a player can acquire in exchange for collected CHIRPs will be discussed later in this document.
o Stan’s Shop
o What a player can acquire in exchange for collected CHIRPs will be discussed later in this document.
Casino Celeste
o Various games of chance can be played here in exchange for CHIRPs.
The ATM will be accessible in this {Room}
o What a player can acquire in exchange for collected CHIRPs will be discussed later in this document.
{Endurance Room}
The {Endurance Room} will feature a random assortment of enemies associated with the given map the player is on in their current Run. Defeating all the enemies will unlock all Sealed Doors while an item of rarity value no greater than three will appear at the room’s center.
{Hospital Room}
The {Hospital Room} is where the character, Anomolly , will restore up to three hearts without any cost.
A player may CHIRPs for the following…
o All hearts restored to their maximum health value
o Completely filling your Recovery Meter
o Strength Buffs
o Defense Buffs
{Exit Room}
The {Exit Room} will take the player to the next map of a given Run.
Always found connected to only the {Boss Room}
Has an ATM
Has a Storage Box
Has a {Hospital Room} connected to it
Has a {Rune Room}, or {Library Room} connected to it
{Rune Room}
The {Rune Room} is where a player may use the runes they have acquired during a run to perform a Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 spell
Runes will be discussed later in this document.
Requires the player to have acquired a Spell Book from a {Library Room} in order to cast a spell
{Library Room}
The {Library Room} features the character, Phoebe Vogelsong. She will offer the player a free Spell Book
Spell Books remain in the player’s inventory if they are able to finish a Run
The types of Spell Books will be discussed later in this document.
Thanks for giving this a look over. Once I share the master document with my son, I will try to work towards making the full document available on our Patreon for anyone who is interested in reading through the whole thing as it is developed. (The story and game concept are also meant to be accessible to anyone to freely use if they should desire to make the game, or a game based upon the documentation itself.).
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O'Ducky
Updated Patron / Star Coffee / Star Subscriber Efforts
General | Posted 2 years agohOI!!!!!!
https://www.patreon.com/LuccaYoshArtTherapy
So far, I have yet to create particular categories as to the type of content you’ll find on our Patreon page. This update is to fix that oopsie by letting you know what you can expect going forward.
TALES OF UNSEEN ART:
Tales based upon digital and traditional artwork that, with permission, I write short stories to show how the Mind’s Eye of a Blind Guy can use what I know about the artist, the artist’s characters, and artist’s interests to bring the image to life through my talents as an author.
INSPIRATIONAL, YET UNSEEN, ART:
This series highlights those creative submissions that I have found inspiring, but did not write a story for. It is meant to highlight those who have been supportive towards making their art accessible to those with limited, or no, eyesight through the use of [ALT TEXT] and/or [VISUAL DESCRIPTIONS] within the works they post.
CREATIVE CAMPAIGN: COSMIC CRISIS:
Join me in making a story built upon concepts and ideologies utilized during the software development process. Creative Campaign has always been about finding new ways to tell a story and ‘Cosmic Crisis’ is no different.
METROID – PEEP:
A long-awaited fan fiction based upon Nintendo’s ‘Metroid’ franchise. I currently do not have enough fleshed out about it to share much more than how this project is one I am very committed to completing. Look for posts regarding this Yosh-E-O and Peep inspired entry in Samus Aran’s ongoing effort to ensure the galaxy is safe from the Space Pirates and the parasitic Metroids.
MIND’S EYE MUSIC:
Music that I’ve used to write stories, build inspiration, etc. Sound is a blind person’s greatest strength and I want to show you how the imagination can flourish with the right melodies playing outside, or inside, your head.
THERAPY WITH MR. NUTHATCH:
Clips of Mr. Nuthatch from the 1998 animated series, ‘Birdz’ that I have used to self-motivate, self-improve, and build upon the foundation of mental health tips-and-tricks I’ve acquired before and after I lost the rest of my eyesight. My personal interpretations will be included with the hope that you, too, can use various forms of media to help in your journey towards improving your self-esteem and self-worth.
There will be other categories, along with individual posts that do not fall under a given category. Lucca and I just wanted to find a way to show you all what you are helping to support through your monthly donations. If you have any ideas for something Lucca and/or I can do to make our Patreon / Subscribe Star more interesting, please let us know.
SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS AT:
https://www.patreon.com/LuccaYoshArtTherapy
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky
https://www.patreon.com/LuccaYoshArtTherapy
So far, I have yet to create particular categories as to the type of content you’ll find on our Patreon page. This update is to fix that oopsie by letting you know what you can expect going forward.
TALES OF UNSEEN ART:
Tales based upon digital and traditional artwork that, with permission, I write short stories to show how the Mind’s Eye of a Blind Guy can use what I know about the artist, the artist’s characters, and artist’s interests to bring the image to life through my talents as an author.
INSPIRATIONAL, YET UNSEEN, ART:
This series highlights those creative submissions that I have found inspiring, but did not write a story for. It is meant to highlight those who have been supportive towards making their art accessible to those with limited, or no, eyesight through the use of [ALT TEXT] and/or [VISUAL DESCRIPTIONS] within the works they post.
CREATIVE CAMPAIGN: COSMIC CRISIS:
Join me in making a story built upon concepts and ideologies utilized during the software development process. Creative Campaign has always been about finding new ways to tell a story and ‘Cosmic Crisis’ is no different.
METROID – PEEP:
A long-awaited fan fiction based upon Nintendo’s ‘Metroid’ franchise. I currently do not have enough fleshed out about it to share much more than how this project is one I am very committed to completing. Look for posts regarding this Yosh-E-O and Peep inspired entry in Samus Aran’s ongoing effort to ensure the galaxy is safe from the Space Pirates and the parasitic Metroids.
MIND’S EYE MUSIC:
Music that I’ve used to write stories, build inspiration, etc. Sound is a blind person’s greatest strength and I want to show you how the imagination can flourish with the right melodies playing outside, or inside, your head.
THERAPY WITH MR. NUTHATCH:
Clips of Mr. Nuthatch from the 1998 animated series, ‘Birdz’ that I have used to self-motivate, self-improve, and build upon the foundation of mental health tips-and-tricks I’ve acquired before and after I lost the rest of my eyesight. My personal interpretations will be included with the hope that you, too, can use various forms of media to help in your journey towards improving your self-esteem and self-worth.
There will be other categories, along with individual posts that do not fall under a given category. Lucca and I just wanted to find a way to show you all what you are helping to support through your monthly donations. If you have any ideas for something Lucca and/or I can do to make our Patreon / Subscribe Star more interesting, please let us know.
SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS AT:
https://www.patreon.com/LuccaYoshArtTherapy
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky
Goodbye Neopets... (Life Update)
General | Posted 2 years agoHamha,
I learned that those lovable, virtual pets who got me through all the trials and tribulations of completing my Masters Degree / Graduate Studies are becoming super-popular again. This lead me to discover that the sets of Neopets I had put together between 2005 and 2008 have become quite valuable. Knowing that I need to get ahead of bills / debts as Lucca and I do more to make our Patreon / Subscribe Star worth investing in, I have decided to sell more than half of my collection.
WHY THIS IS A BIG DEAL TO ME:
As I mentioned above, Neopets was the best way for me to enjoy gaming while in the thick of completing projects and homework while keeping my grades well within the required 3.0 / B average needed to graduate with my MBA. (If I had brought my GCN to my college apartment, I doubt I would have been able to have kept as focused as I did. Especially when Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door came out.).
Neopets was the first time I ever played a game that was, to me, only limited to what I could imagine to be my goals. For example, after creating my Green Scorchio, Caldma, I spent a year earning enough Neopoints to buy the Baby Paint Brush to color Caldma into a Baby Scorchio. I also adopted a Red Zafara, Jar_Zar, who I just had to earn and use the Royal Paint Brush on. (The original design for the Royal Girl Zafara was too cute!).
Along with making up fun adventures for Caldma and Zarra, I delighted in participating in the events that Neopets had on their site to support the releases of each set expansion of the Neopets TCG. I was confused on how to be a part of 'Battle For Meridell' and 'Hanna & The Ice Caves', but did make quite a splash during the events of 'Curse of Maraqua. (I even earned the exclusive sidebar theme that, if anyone logged into my Neopets account, would still be proudly displaying this aquatic sidebar / user interface in which features heroes and villains from the card set and in-game story.).
WHY IT IS HARD TO LET GO:
Those adorable, virtual pets helped me to rekindle my passion for the creative arts during a time that I was really struggling to have any part of beyond being an observer. I practiced to draw Scorchios and Zafaras and, just before the first major eye disaster in Fall 2006, submitted a story that won me first place in a Neopets story writing contest. (Some of you know it as Zarra's Great Adventure.).
Some of the first toys I ever shared with my son were Neopets plushies. The talking Scorchio and Shoyru were most notable. I also, before my son was born, drew conceptual art of him as a Baby Scorchio.
I also made some great friends through Neopets. Most notably,
Boom. Doodle Noodle and I would go on to work together for over five years in being an active part of 'BronyCon' through Coping with Limitations Through Pony.
Truly, without Neopets, I would have given up on ever being any kind of writer of any kind of story. although my diminishing eyesight made playing Neopets next to impossible, it got me to where I joined FA and made great friends who kept my creative spirits alive.
FUN FACTS:
My first FA User Icon was King Roo from Neopets!
My User Name, Yosh-E-O, was derived from a book you could buy and read to your Neopets. This being "Scorch E O".
My first Baby Fur / Little stories I shared and wrote on FA were based after the adventures of Baby Caldma, Princess Zarra, and her Christmas friend, Deathblade Darkfire (DB).
Selling the cards was hard, but the right choice given how I'll never be able to enjoy them from a visual perspective ever again. I always feel better knowing that something I once enjoyed can go on to give someone else happiness. I may no longer have most of my phyiscal cards, but the memories of my time and inspiration from Neopets will be with me forever-and-ever.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
I learned that those lovable, virtual pets who got me through all the trials and tribulations of completing my Masters Degree / Graduate Studies are becoming super-popular again. This lead me to discover that the sets of Neopets I had put together between 2005 and 2008 have become quite valuable. Knowing that I need to get ahead of bills / debts as Lucca and I do more to make our Patreon / Subscribe Star worth investing in, I have decided to sell more than half of my collection.
WHY THIS IS A BIG DEAL TO ME:
As I mentioned above, Neopets was the best way for me to enjoy gaming while in the thick of completing projects and homework while keeping my grades well within the required 3.0 / B average needed to graduate with my MBA. (If I had brought my GCN to my college apartment, I doubt I would have been able to have kept as focused as I did. Especially when Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door came out.).
Neopets was the first time I ever played a game that was, to me, only limited to what I could imagine to be my goals. For example, after creating my Green Scorchio, Caldma, I spent a year earning enough Neopoints to buy the Baby Paint Brush to color Caldma into a Baby Scorchio. I also adopted a Red Zafara, Jar_Zar, who I just had to earn and use the Royal Paint Brush on. (The original design for the Royal Girl Zafara was too cute!).
Along with making up fun adventures for Caldma and Zarra, I delighted in participating in the events that Neopets had on their site to support the releases of each set expansion of the Neopets TCG. I was confused on how to be a part of 'Battle For Meridell' and 'Hanna & The Ice Caves', but did make quite a splash during the events of 'Curse of Maraqua. (I even earned the exclusive sidebar theme that, if anyone logged into my Neopets account, would still be proudly displaying this aquatic sidebar / user interface in which features heroes and villains from the card set and in-game story.).
WHY IT IS HARD TO LET GO:
Those adorable, virtual pets helped me to rekindle my passion for the creative arts during a time that I was really struggling to have any part of beyond being an observer. I practiced to draw Scorchios and Zafaras and, just before the first major eye disaster in Fall 2006, submitted a story that won me first place in a Neopets story writing contest. (Some of you know it as Zarra's Great Adventure.).
Some of the first toys I ever shared with my son were Neopets plushies. The talking Scorchio and Shoyru were most notable. I also, before my son was born, drew conceptual art of him as a Baby Scorchio.
I also made some great friends through Neopets. Most notably,
Boom. Doodle Noodle and I would go on to work together for over five years in being an active part of 'BronyCon' through Coping with Limitations Through Pony.Truly, without Neopets, I would have given up on ever being any kind of writer of any kind of story. although my diminishing eyesight made playing Neopets next to impossible, it got me to where I joined FA and made great friends who kept my creative spirits alive.
FUN FACTS:
My first FA User Icon was King Roo from Neopets!
My User Name, Yosh-E-O, was derived from a book you could buy and read to your Neopets. This being "Scorch E O".
My first Baby Fur / Little stories I shared and wrote on FA were based after the adventures of Baby Caldma, Princess Zarra, and her Christmas friend, Deathblade Darkfire (DB).
Selling the cards was hard, but the right choice given how I'll never be able to enjoy them from a visual perspective ever again. I always feel better knowing that something I once enjoyed can go on to give someone else happiness. I may no longer have most of my phyiscal cards, but the memories of my time and inspiration from Neopets will be with me forever-and-ever.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
