The-Lone-Wulf

Yup, it's been almost a year and a half since I wrote a journal.  I don't have a reason why beyond not having really written much. At least nothing that I've finished or felt compelled to share.

Can't really explain what happened.  Years ago, writing was my escape.  I could imagine anything I wanted and write it out because it was my imagination. Then one day, nothing would come.  Oh, I could comment on things and post out a few ideas to what others had said but it was just that: reactions to other peoples' works.  All my original works felt shut off at the tap. I could force it and after a time would be able to write for a bit, but it was never satisfactory afterwards.  It's possible I bit off more than I could chew, put too many irons in the fire, what with my dozen unfinished works, or maybe it's my exhaustion or change in family status.  I don't really know.  I hope to break out of it sometime.  When I do, though, you'll all be the first to know. 

Anyways, since I'm here, I did actually manage to get a few things written and I'll be posting them.  They're a little older and are being salvaged from the Battle.net forums since they're merging a few sub-forums and I don't want to lose them.  I hope you enjoy them.

What is with people recently? Why is it okay for you to post your opinions, inflammatory as they may be, on a public forum but not okay for people to respond back in opposition? I've seen it multiple times in the past few weeks! It's as if these people feel that their opinions and statements are above reproach and any dissention should be squashed quickly, lest it lead people, including the original poster, to think for themselves and/or debate the topic at hand!

Let's get something straight: Your right to freedom of speech does not override or negate anyone else's, and even less so if you're posting or saying it in a public medium! If you do not want to see peoples' opinions that are different, or if you just can't handle them, then I'd strongly suggest not posting them at all, especially when they're political hot-button topics or are insulting or verbally assaultive to a large group of people! You will be met with opposition, you will be given opposing opinions, and you may be told descriptively where to stick your opinion, regardless of how "right" you feel it is. Keep this in mind before you say or post divisive topics. If you can't handle the above-stated expectations then I'd strongly advise you keep your thoughts to yourself.

(No, this is not a singling-out of anyone. Welcome to the internet.)

I still haven't been doing much writing.  How much of that is writer's block and how much of that is my now-involvement in RP online is debatable, but I know that when I sit down to write my own works I sorta fall apart.  Nothing feels right, nothing seems to want to work, nothing reads like it was supposed to be there.  I chalk that up to my own personal self-doubt.  For as much positive feedback I've gotten on my writing, I still feel like a crap writer. I know that it's my own insecurities rearing their ugly head but that doesn't make it any less a problem.  It's not conducive to writing, let alone GOOD writing.

I've been noticing that there have been several great artists and photographers who seem to be feeling the same way.  Either their depression is getting to them, their self-doubt is eating at them, pressure from outside sources is pushing their artistic drive away, or a plethora of other issues that just seem to grow.  Eventually, they manifest themselves in this dark-fashioned entity that looks like us but hates everything we do.  This "Dark Side," if you will.

Well, I don't know about you all, but I am mad as hell, and I am NOT gonna take it anymore!  These "Dark Siders" need to know their place!  This is my head, dammit, and I'll make the decisions!

I've made a joke with a few people about lining up these "Dark Sides" against a wall and spraying them with a fire hose until they got the point.  So, I'm putting it out there: Who wants to spray their Dark Siders into submission with me?  Come on, don't be shy!  I even brought a few extra pumper trucks and managed to find an enchanted fire hydrant!  So, come along!  Put your Dark Sider against that wall and hose'em down real good!

Well, it's been about a month since I've posted.  Truth be told, it's been a month since I've really done ANYTHING!  Why's that?  Well, I've been sick.  I don't mean, "Boo hoo, I got snifflies" sick, I mean, "Wow, I slept for 40 out of 48 hours!" sick.  I'm talking chills and fevers between 102.5 and 103.5 and rediculous body cramps sick.  I'm talking a persistant, hacking cough that's only just starting to clear out three weeks later sick.  Yeah, I've been sick.

Almost exactly 3 weeks ago, my 2 year old son started showing the typical signs of being sick.  He was clingy, extra-grumpy, and was all kinds of stuffed up and coughing.  My wife took his temperature at the time and he was showing a low-grade fever, so we just pumped him full of juices, water, and very carefully calculated (my wife's a senior pharmacy tech) doses of cough and congestion medicines.  That night, I started feeling rather rough.  I went to bed a little early because I was feeling cold and a little grumpy.

Next morning, getting out of bed was a virtual impossibility.  Through two blankets and pajamas I was freezing cold.  When I did go to move EVERYTHING hurt.  I eventually forced myself out of bed and moved to the couch.  With socks, slippers, sweatpants, a t-shirt, a fleece jacket, and a fleece blanket, the 68 F house was freezing cold.  The only bits of the day I remember was waking up in a ball on the couch to small noises, looking at the clock to see that 2-4 hours had passed, my wife dosing me with dayquil, and then finding a warm spot on the couch and passing out again.  That was my day.  The next day wasn't any better, and the whole time my son was in the same boat.  I also got to discover why my son hates the nasal bulb syringe.  That thing is uncomfortable to have used!

Over the next two weeks, I was pretty rough.  Cold medicines helped but not a whole lot.  Work was miserable, especially with me trying to keep my distance from everyone.  I let people know what was going on and they wisely hung back.  Fortunately for me, my 6-day weekend was upon me and I didn't have to be at work while horribly for long.

Three weeks later and I'm finally feeling myself again, save for this blasted cough.  That's dying down, though, so yay!

Anywho, if you've gotten this far, I just want to say thanks to those who've given me well-wishes through facebook and messages.  I'll be back on like I usually am, happy to provide my opinions and support for my favorite artists!

Here I am, sitting at work with about 8 hours until midnight, and it seems like I've caught up most of my DeviantArt stuffs.  I still have some updated chapters for No Way Back that I could post, I suppose, and I have a few people asking for more The Dream Stalkers, but everything that I said I'd have up is up.  All social agreements have been met (I think).  So, now's the time I get to take a break and tell everyone who's watching that I hope you all have a Happy New Year!  

Also, I just noticed this earlier: I hit four thousand pageviews!  Whoa, when did THAT happen?!  Thank you all for coming around and thank you, everyone, who've had such nice words for me!  I can't tell you how much it all meant to me.  For as much as everyone insists that I do decent work, I tend to not see it.  I guess being hit over the head with it like a frying pan makes it hard to not see it, so thank you all so very much!