Happy Easter to everyone and I hope that you all have a great day with your friends and family. I am at home for Easter with my mate and we are having a great visit with my parents. It's been a great weekend, one of many to come together. Take care and eat lots of chocolate :)

So life has taken a little bit of an unpleasant turn for me today. My car died and it turns out my alternator is bad, requiring me to put $300 into my car. Add to this the fact that I was let go from my second job today (the one that gave me money to do things like fix my car) so now I have not the funds to pay for my car's repairs. I had offered commissions previously to try to help get to AC, but now more important things have come up (paying to get my car fixed, pay utilities, etc.). I don't want a hand out and so I'm wanting to try to do some commissions to help cover my monthly expenses and now my car repairs so please consider me for a commission :)

Commissions:

I'm offering several types of commissions so there are a few to choose from.

Musical Art ($15): http://whaletrainer2002.deviantart.com/art/Mother-s-Christmas-Gift-106831202

For this, I'd take a line of your choice from a song that you have selected and place the lyrics, the musical score for that line, and some decorative work around the music that you feel best fits the lyrics and song. It would be on 5x11 inch cardstock.

Sports Team Emblems ($15): http://whaletrainer2002.deviantart.com/art/Redskins-Emblem-107743631

A traditional media colored ink drawing of your sport teams icon on 7x9 inch cardstock. I will do digital versions also if you would prefer.

Conbadges ($15): http://whaletrainer2002.deviantart.com/art/Firesong-Badge-75687663
http://whaletrainer2002.deviantart.com/art/Otter-Badge-81128434
http://whaletrainer2002.deviantart.com/art/Anuana-Conbadge-107744269

The badges are colored and inked on 5x7 cardstock and are either portrait or full bodied drawings of your fursona. What I need is a description or preferably a reference picture of your fursona as well as some ideas about what you would like them doing, items to be drawn with them, etc.

Inked Drawings ($15): http://whaletrainer2002.deviantart.com/art/Ian-Commission-Final-107744716
http://whaletrainer2002.deviantart.com/art/Azurewolf-gift-art-Take-2-83241485
http://whaletrainer2002.deviantart.com/art/AzureWolf-birthday-gift-inked-95745963

Inked drawing of your fursona with a simple background on standard size cardstock. I can do more complex background, but it please let me know before hand what you are looking for and we'll discuss that prior to starting the commission. I will also do multiple characters for an additional $5. I also can do color using traditional media if you are interested.

All the prices are excluding shipping. I'll be sending your commission to you via priority mail unless you specify otherwise.

Auction:

Would anyone be interested in participating in an auction on an item, such as a inked, colored commission if I did an auction on say furbid?

I figured I'd try again and see if anyone would like to be on my Christmas card mailing list this year. I'll be sending them out soon and I'd love to send one to you if you'd like one. Just reply here and I'll add you to the list. All comments are screened. Have a Merry Christmas :)

mood: bouncy

It's that time of year again :)

I'll be sending out my custom Christmas cards and I wanted to find out who would like to receive one from the folf. If you would like one then reply here with your address. All comments are screened so only I will see it. Have a Merry Christmas :)

Also, if you're sending out cards can let the folf know?

mood: bouncy

Everyone's heard the adage "Do what what ye will so long as ye first do no harm to others". I realized something this week about my own actions and what they really say. God gives us all too many blessings to count when we choose to believe in Him. Despite our saved state, we are still human, we are still tempted. Sometimes we stumble and get up and sometimes we don't. We get prideful with the blessings we have and begin to use those very blessings he has given us to run to our sinful desires and embrace them. The world says "It's ok because you are only affecting yourself. You aren't harming anyone so do as you please". That couldn't be further from the truth. Each time we embrace a life of sin we are not just, as Ezekiel put it, practicing in prostitution to our idols, but we are taking those very people around us and sacrificing them to our idols, to our sins.

God brings people into our lives that are believers, who are looking to us for strength, for support, for hope. When we decide to embrace our sins it removes that support from their life, it removes one they can look to for hope, for proof that Christ can and does make a difference. God also brings those into our lives who do not believe in Christ, who look to us to see if our faith really is all it is cracked up to be. They are watching us... carefully. These people, both saved and unsaved, are the ones we go to for our fallings. Many sins take two to happen and we are often more than happy to bring them along with us as we know they are more than happy to oblige. When we take someone into our sins we say this to them, we say "I care more about satisfying my desires through you than I do bringing you to a relationship with the Lord". We sacrifice them on the altar of our sins. We need to think of these people when we are tempted as they are the ones who are affected by our failings, they are the ones that we need to fight for, in addition to ourselves.

mood: contemplative

Much needed chilling was done by the folf this weekend.

Saturday:

Blaze and myself wandered about, watched the third Harry Potter movie. Also, I got to grill for the first time in a while. Apparently neither of us remembered how to easily start to get coals burning as it took us about 30 minutes to get the coals burning using 1) newspaper 2) pine straw 3) lighter fluid. Hotdogs and baked beans for lunch followed by a trip to Hard Rock Amusement Park. It was a great time had by the both of us. We rode a few coasters, saw a show, and played a few games in the arcade.

Sunday: Went to church, then ate lunch back at the house and watched the fourth Harry Potter movie. You know that you are getting old when neither of you can stay awake for a whole movie :P Also, I got to work on the new tablet given to me by a furr that I know from church.

Monday: I spent my morning working on some art, cleaning my house, making some chili. Blaze came by my house and we went to meet up with a third furr who lives a bit north of us. We hanged out at his (Jon's house) for a bit to see his pet sugarglider and laugh at lolcat stuff. We then went to play miniature golf at a Dinosaur themed miniature golf place. It's hard to play miniature golf when you haven't played in ages. The three of us were all 12 over par at least. I also managed to land my ball in the parking lot next to the course when I tried to loop the ball around a curved whole by hitting it a bit too hard. We also went to Dixie Stampede together. The show was amazing and the pre-show show was just as awesome. I'm sad to say that the North lost today, but we put up a good fight. Dixie Stampede is a rodeo themed dinner show with horse riders, trick riding, and really good food. Afterwards we made a quick pit stop at Kroger (don't ever drink a gallon of iced tea all by yourself as you reeaaaaaaaaaaallllllllyyyyyyyyy got to go after that XD) and then we went to play another round of miniature golf at a Jungle themed golf course that we had free passes for. It was cool as you had to ride a train up to the top of the course. I had two holes in one on the course, Jon had one. It was much fun had by all and next week... the trip up north to visit a furr before he deploys so stay tuned for more adventures of the folf :)

mood: happy music: Life and Living - PC3 tags: labor day

I just got back from Anthrocon and I had a great time. I had some things come up recently that had affected my involvement in the furry fandom and had resulted in my considering leaving the fandom. Due to the effort of my friends at AC, I'm alright now. I also saw a theme in this Anthrocon... flexibility.

I flew out Thursday afternoon to AC and arrived in a severe thunderstorm. Also, as soon as the plane took off I realized I had left a few items at home (socks for the fursuit, lyrics for the worship service, and reference sheets for my fursona). As a result, the baggage delivery was delayed as there was a lot of lighting and so the airport staff were not permitted onto the tarmac to unload the planes. Kodywolf met me at the airport and we waited there for my bags and the weather to clear. When we got to his car we quickly found out that we had too much stuff and not enough car. The next 30 minutes were spent creatively packing the car and I ended up riding to the hotel with a giant inflatable ball on my lap. We arrived at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center 10 minutes before registration ended and we just barely made it in time to register that day. We checked into our room and then met up with :iconEaglesF: and his family and hung around the zoo for a bit.

The next day we had our first devotional time as a group and also had breakfast at the Steel City Diner. I skipped out on the opening ceremonies to go to wait in line for the dealer's den. While waiting in line for the dealer's den I ran across the reason for the above mentioned distress concerning the fandom and that through me for a loop as I wasn't expecting to see them there. My goal for the Dealer's Den was a commission from Tani da Real (who was in the Artist's Alley) and I succeeded in acquiring that commission as well as a print called "Misery Loves Company". Also, I purchased a commission from Kyote of my and :iconarracraidira: in steampunk garb. Also, :iconHeavy-Horse: arrived that morning compliments of Walker Baptist Church, who paid his way there to do a magic show for those at AC. He did his magic show in the Zoo and advertised the FFC worship service and the Jungle Kits program (kids/parents program).

Also, that day we met a new furr on his first trip to a furry convention named Brian. He wandered around with myself and some others from the FFC. Crusadercat was also there as well.

That day I also got to do something I had never done before, which was fursuit at a furry convention. I mascot for my church as a giant parrot and they allowed me to bring the suit to Anthrocon. Kunkmeister was my spotter and let me say did an amazing job doing so. After that we went back up to the room and then met up with :iconHeavy-Horse: to talk some as I was still upset from the earlier encounter I previously mentioned. Talking with him helped a good bit and then I went up to the room to set up for the room party that the FFC had with the Unicorn and Gryphon pub, the other Christian furry group at AC.

The FFC hosted the party in our room and I made an assumption that created a bit of a problem... I didn't clarify who was bringing the food as I thought someone else was providing it. It turns out that we were supposed to bring it *looks embarrassed* but I was given some great leadership advice by :iconHeavy-Horse: which was "roll with the punches". :iconhollyann: saved the day by bring making poutine, which is fries covered in gravy and cheese curds, and we all enjoyed that while playing Wii bowling, which rocked. We had a good showing for the room party, with a number of people from the FFC and the U&G as well as a few new faces to our group: Raiderwolf, Crusadercat, Brian, and others :) .

Saturday was the best day by far as we had the fursuit parade and the Jungle Kit's program. :iconEaglesF: and I met for breakfast and then headed back to the FFC room for group devotionals. Afterwards, I went down to the Dealer's Den with Crusadercat and Brian, before running back to the room to put on the bird suit to run down to the meet Raiderwolf and :iconEaglesF: and then we went to the ballroom where the fursuiters were lining up for the fursuit parade. It was awesome to be in the fursuit parade, particulary as the fursuit parade was a world record for the most costumed characters in one place (453 WOOT!). Afterwards, :iconEaglesF: and his wife went to set up the Lawrence Room for the Jungle Kit's program. I went through the Dealer's Den and the Convention Hall to find kids to come to the program. We had 4 kids that came and they made tails, masks, and watched "Peter and the Wolf". After the kid's program we all grabbed dinner at a Chinese Restuarant (note to AC attenders: DO NOT EAT AT THE CHINESE RESTUARANT NEAR THE STEEL CITY DINER) and then afterwards followed Kunkmeister around as he fursuited through the convention center.

Afterwards, I spent some time praying for the worship service that would be the next day, for those who would attend, and for those who would be speaking. Also, I went to meet up with Kodywolf and another furr and we talked about fursuit making, how to order a fursuit, what should go into a suit, etc.

Sunday we had the FFC organized worship service, which went pretty well. We had about 10 in attendance and, though we had some glitches (no cable to connect the laptop to the projector, no lyric sheets, better signage leading to the room) it went well. God was there in our midst and I definitely think that He spoke to us there. Afterwards, we went down to the Dealer's Den to do some last minute shopping and to pick up some commissions that had been ordered. I picked up a conbadge for :iconarracraidira:. That night :iconEaglesF: and I fursuited together one more time and then I met up with a furr from Hampton Roads that I know named Amraswolf. We grabbed some fast food and then went to hang out with some of his friends and we chatted about academia, crazy students, acapella groups, and such. I enjoyed it.

Monday morning I returned to the Grand Strand and also found out that there is another furr in the area as I rode back on the plane with him. We chatted some, exchanged contact info, and also I got to do a sketch for him while waiting for the plane.

Here are the photos: http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d53/whaletrainer2002/Anthrocon%202008/

location: Home mood: happy music: It's a Jungle Out There tags: anthrocon

It's hard to reach the point where you realize you can't do anything to change a friend, that they are beyond you, and that really all along this is only something God can do. It's hard to do, but it's something I need to learn and I wish I didn't have to. I found this song on youTube and I think it fits what my prayer is right now:

mood: drained tags: prayer

Happy Easter to all! I just wanted to share a story with you this Easter. As many know, my grandmother passed away over Christmas. She had been battling stomach cancer and went home on Dec. 23, 2007 at 10:30pm. However, God was present even in the midst of all the suffering and pain. My grandmother kept singing "O Lord my God..." the first line in "How Great Thou Art" and sang that song with us again and again in the last days of her life.

Another of her favorite songs was "Amazing Grace" and so we'd sing it to her also. The day that she died we all were in her room talking to her and singing. We started to sing Amazing Grace to her. It had been dark the entire day, overcast, solemn, and depressing. In the last chorus there are the lines "When we've been there 10,000 years, bright shining as the son. There are no less days to sing God's praise then when we first begun." The sun came out at the start of that verse, shining down into her room and on all of us, peaking at the words "Bright shining as the sun" and continued to the end at which point the clouds came back and all returned to dark. I believe that was God reminding us "I am here" that He was in the midst of all that was going on and reminding us that my grandmother wasn't losing out in dying, but rather that she was going home, that she was going to a better place.

Today, Easter Sunday is the reason why she could go home. Before Christ's resurrection death had its victory, death reigned. In Christ, it was defeated so that when our time to die comes, we needn't fear it, but embrace it knowing Who we are going to. All we need to do is believe in the One who died and rose so that we could live again. So here's the song, enjoy it, and remember the Amazing Grace that is shown to us in Christ.

mood: contemplative tags: easter

So today is my 26th birthday. This past year was, I believe, one of the most spiritually challenging years of life. In it I saw times of great spiritual growth, times of spiritual struggles I have never experienced before, and also includes the day that I finally came to know the One who I thought I had known for many years prior. I heard a song that is kind of my song for this year. It's called "My New Dawn" by an artist I've not heard of before, but I think it covers my feelings today. This is a new dawn for me, with many exciting things ahead and I can't wait to see what those things are that God has in store for me.

location: home mood: cheerful music: something tags: birthday, new start

Happy Valentine's Day to all ! May you show your love to all the loved ones in your life, even if you don't have a significant other. There are many in your life who you love so show it to them today :)

Also, this was done by Azurewolf56 for my mate so just wanted to share it with you:

mood: cheerful

I just wanted to let people know that mistresssusan and I are now a couple. Spread the happy news and let everyone rejoice... especially me :):):)

mood: happy music: This is the Night

Still Called Today Lyrics
Steven Curtis Chapman

There a hole the size of a cruel word In a wounded heart somewhere that's learning to hide the pain
There's a thorn stuck in the conscience of Someone who spoke a word in anger
And they can't wash away the stain, sorry's such a hard word to say

CHORUS

But while it's still called today, won't somebody make it right
Before the day slips into night and the moments waste away
While it is still called today, we've got to say the words
That are longing to be heard 'cause tomorrow may be too late
Go on and say what you need to say while it is still called today

There's a girl who's waiting day after day To hear her daddy say "I love you,"
now the days have turned to years There's a wall that silence has turned to stone
Between a man and woman, she's holding back the tears
And he's holding on to his fears

(Chorus)

BRIDGE
'Cause there's a time when the sun goes down And the flowers are laid on the grave
Will the tears that fall to the ground Be the tears of regret for the words someone didn't say


Just some thoughts to those out there...

I just lost my grandfather and the one thing that he asked most for, the thing I always found myself to do, was to write to him. I would call, I'd talk, but never took the time to send him the old fashioned letter he wanted so much. To those out there with loved ones... MAKE THE TIME FOR THE THINGS THAT SHOULD BE IMPORTANT. Take the time to write that letter, to do that drawing, to let them know that you love them as you never know when they will leave this world and you will be left with regrets. I'm not directing this at anyone in particular, just figured that someone out there might need to hear it.

How was everyone's Christmas? Christmas for me was a bit of a roller coaster with the passing of my grandmother, with a little bit of sadness at the lack of a normal Christmas day for me as there was a lack of the regular activity, opening of gifts, christmas dinner, etc. As a result, this folf was a bit down. However, I was reminded of something that I had honestly forgotten, something that should have been at the forefront of my mind the whole time. My mother recruited me to sing at the nursing home for the residents and their families at the the Christmas banquet and so I reluctantly did so. In the beginning I sang but was not all to happy or joyous, but as things went on I slowly felt myself being changed. The bleah and grrrness I was experiencing was slowly replaced by joy and peace. I realized as I was singing that the whole day isn't about the gifts, isn't about the dinners, it's about giving to others, about bringing joy to others lives, about remembering Christ's birth and the ultimate gift that it was. It was very much like the end of the Charlie Brown Christmas where he realizes the true meaning of Christmas. When we were done I was no longer miserable, whiny, and such but instead had a heart that was finally back in the right place and set to what Christmas should be about :) . I was thinking it might be good if people wanted to share their own holiday stories here, what things happened to you, your thoughts, etc. *hugs* Merry Christmas to all (yes I know it's the day after but Merry Christmas anyways)

mood: cheerful music: Silent Night tags: the true meaning of christmas

Another update....

It's at the end of things, or will be soon. My family and I are heading up to visit her for what will likely be the last time the day after Christmas. I thought that I had come to terms with things, that I was ok and ready but in reality I'm not...

She helped raise me, she rocked me to sleep when I couldn't get there myself, she took care of me when I had the chicken pox, taught me that my brother wasn't the pest I thought he was, bought me my dorm room stuff when my parents couldn't afford it, and gave when she really couldn't but did anyways. I don't know how I'm going to cope with this amidst the knowledge that I have less than 4 months to complete my thesis. As I'm worn out as it is, have no ambition or desire to finish, merely to push on as I have come this far and might as well finish. The only way I know to cope is to just push my feelings aside and cope later after I'm done with school as I don't know if I can do both my thesis and my mourning...

It's also hard as I'm the one my mother leans on for support, so I have to be strong for her. I've always been the responsible son so when the mess hits the fan I'm the one who ends up being a listening ear. So please be praying for my grandmother, my family and for me.

mood: depressed tags: tears

So finally, the long awaited Myrtle Beach Furmeet Report...


And a week later....

It's that time of year again. I'm going to send out Christmas Cards and if you would like to receive one then you can reply here with your address (comments are screened so only I see them). So let me be one of the first to wish all a merry christmas.

location: The North Pole mood: Christmassy music: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I met with my advisor today to discuss my research and the data analysis that has been done on my research thus far. We were at a point where it was likely to go either way, possibly being done, or needing more sampling. I had spent the past few days crunching numbers, inputting stuff into Excel, and running stats. I reached a finishing point and the numbers came out to be statistical significant (read I was right) and so I took these numbers to my advisor. He looked at them, smiled and said "I like what I see". We discussed the data, its meaning, its implications and when I asked about future sampling he said "No need to. We have what we need so you are done."

As I'm supposed to be a mature college student (ha ha) I did not run around going squeeee!!!!!!!!!!! (that will be when I get home). However I did go up and down my phone list and tell people the good news. I have completed the second big hurdle of my thesis, which is collecting the data. I'm taking a few minutes to celebrate, to back up my hard drive, and then it starts... the writing, the re-writing, the mental labor. It feels good to have accomplished something, to have taken the odds, the likilihood of failure and beat it back. Thank you to all who have encouraged me to this point *hugs* Thanks to Becca for her keeping me awake on my early morning drives to research, to eagle's flight for the help with excel formulas that confused the heck out of this folf, to Jasper for his friendship and encouragement when I wanted to quit or to scream with frustration from the dealings with difficult boat captains and to all the countless others who got me to this point. *hugs all*

mood: cheerful

So I had my second to last Saturday of research today. It was rather disappointing as there were no dolphins to be found except for one dolphin who lost the boat not once, not twice, but three times. Also, some sad news.... a dead calf was found last week and we did not know whose calf it was. After today we know that is was the calf of the dolphin we saw today, named Eve. I was saddened by this discovery, but such is nature.... some live and some die and there is nothing that can be done about it.

After research I raced home to find my ears and tail had come in the mail *grins* and I left them after grinning wildly and happily to go to the local race track as I had heard from topher_fox that he would be there as part of the crew for one of the cars in the race. I have never been to see this part of southern americana that is NASCAR   and so I was excited to go. I got to the races a bit early so that I could meet Topher during the autograph signing on the track. It was awesome to put a face to the name of a furr that I had been chatting with online and then I went to the bleachers to watch the race. Talk about loud! Next time I shall bring some ear plugs as my ears are still ringing from the engine roar. I never realized that NASCAR was so much fun to watch. The car that Topher was on the crew for was Car #65, a bright orange car much akin to the General Lee in color. In fact I was even able to snag a photo of the fox (topher that is) at work as the car pulled in for a pit stop....

mood: happy tags: races, tails