OC: Life and Stuff
Cross posting this to the other journal as well.
Okay, so … I sort of alluded to it in my last post and I guess that its just far easier to simply say it and put it out there. Some of you have known what I’ve been contending with over the course of the last year; others haven’t. A lot of that is simply me. I don’t talk about such things often, if at all. And so, as a result, far too many people know very little about me or what’s going on in my life. Which is both good and bad, I guess.
Anyway, other than some at times ridiculously high blood pressure and some minor aches and pains, my health has been decent. However, it seems that the word that has become a central part of my life lately has been Cancer.
You see, back before the holidays last year, Dad was diagnosed with colon-rectal cancer. We got through the holidays as best we could, given what was on all of our minds. Of course, it was rather eerie that two weeks after Dad’s diagnosis, the mother of the Chef at Our Lady of the Perpetual Agnst was diagnosed with the same thing ... which only made for an interesting and strained work environment for both of us and the rest of our supportive staff. Anyway, January comes and Dad began 16 weeks of chemo, followed by surgery. Thankfully that timed out right with my work schedule at school and I was able to go home to be there, without added angst and problem. They removed most of it with surgery, but some had adhered to the bone … and so more chemo was to be had. Of course, they didn’t tell Dad the complete reality of the situation until July, but in the meantime, Mom and Jacquie are doing the understated yet obvious freak-out, while Brett (my brother-in-law) and I are trying to hold our shit and theirs in check.
Before Dad starts the second round of chemo, it seems that he had adhesions in the colostomy passage (basically it was doing what the body does normally, which is close up an unnatural opening in the body, I guess). So another stay for him in the hospital for several days. Then, Jacquie arranged for a second opinion at Dana-Farber in Boston. Now D-F is one of 3 major colon cancer facilities in the US ( Sloan Kettering in NYC is another, and someplace in TX is the third.) They wanted him to come there for treatment … one that would apply the medication in smaller, steadier doses over a longer period ... that being 6 months. Well, Dad was not uprooting himself and Mom to live at my sister’s for 6 months. So that got shot down, in favor of local treatment in a larger dose over a shorter period.
Now, last week, Mom calls with yet more news. Not Dad this time. No, it seems that one of my cousins … 54, mother of 3, youngest in college still ... has been diagnosed with colon cancer that has spread to the liver. She too is about to start chemo treatments. Of course, this is further freaking out my collective extended family beyond what they were already feeling regarding Dad. Mom and Dad is adamant that Jacquie and I both get colonoscopies, which I’ll likely schedule before I go back to school or during new staff orientation week … since I have to go in to the Doctor’s for my annual TB test (yes, when you work with kids, you have to take one every year, state law).
So yah … that’s been what I’ve been dealing with, among other rather normal things. Which sorta brings me around to the FANGS. Rather fucked up segue that it is.
As most of you saw from my previous post, FANGS are the animated figured that I’ve done for the various characters that populate the gaming world that I sometimes are a part of. Still other people have asked me to do LINGS, for the Changeling PCs, but that’s a whole different story. Anyway, it was my original intention that after I saw the demand for FANGS with the first batch that illustrated characters from the last chronicle, I would do things differently this time. I had thought about setting up a Pay-Pal account and charge for them. Not money for me. No, I thought it would be a decent way to take the money that I received from the FANGS and donate it to charity. The obvious choice would be Colon-Rectal Cancer Research, or to a specific center like Dana-Farber.
While, initially, that seemed like a good plan, I’ve thought better of it since then. I realize that Cammies can be an impatient lot at times. That is not the case with those whose FANGS I did in the first 4 tiers; they have been all too patient, and I thank them for that. I mean in general, however. And personally, with everything else in my head that I have to contend with and the prospect of returning to the academic schedule at work, I realized that it would be far harder to expect people to put up money and wait. Or conversely, to do the work and then try and collect. Like always, a lot of it would have to be on the honor system, but frankly I didn’t need the additional headache that I foresaw coming. Add to that, memories of EQ and trying to make trades bought and sold on Ebay. No, I didn’t need that.
So basically, I’ve decided to go back to old tried and true methods. The FANGS get done, when they get done. Hopefully, some people will be appreciative enough this time around that I might actually see some roleplay out of it. Last time, it was a lot of “I want a FANG! Oooh I want one! How do I get one?” and what followed was that as soon as it was in their hands, I never heard from them again. So yah ... these are the people that I thought I might make a charitable donation? The same people that balk at site fees and then plop money down to wing their happy asses to the next con? I’m thinking … no. So, I guess that maybe this time things might be different. Maybe, just maybe, they’d actually show some appreciation by roleplaying.
Don’t get me wrong. If people want to make donations, as was my original intent, that’s damn kewl. I’ve included the link below, but I certainly don’t expect it … not when the minimum donation that one can make seems to be $25 at most applicable facilities (and atleast this one is regional). In the meantime, I’ll try to do the artwork as I can, when I can. Patience being what it is, and that way I have less headaches over people chomping at the bit. Maybe I’ll get some RP ... maybe I won’t. In any case, its sometimes a distraction, which is never a bad thing.
Again, to all those who are who they are with my great admiration … you know who you are … and I thank you for your patience and understanding and simple presence. All of it is greatly appreciated.
I guess that’s all for now. I’ll try to keep you updated with a bit more frequency.
https://www.dana-farber.org/how/gifts/gift.asp?page=single
Okay, so … I sort of alluded to it in my last post and I guess that its just far easier to simply say it and put it out there. Some of you have known what I’ve been contending with over the course of the last year; others haven’t. A lot of that is simply me. I don’t talk about such things often, if at all. And so, as a result, far too many people know very little about me or what’s going on in my life. Which is both good and bad, I guess.
Anyway, other than some at times ridiculously high blood pressure and some minor aches and pains, my health has been decent. However, it seems that the word that has become a central part of my life lately has been Cancer.
You see, back before the holidays last year, Dad was diagnosed with colon-rectal cancer. We got through the holidays as best we could, given what was on all of our minds. Of course, it was rather eerie that two weeks after Dad’s diagnosis, the mother of the Chef at Our Lady of the Perpetual Agnst was diagnosed with the same thing ... which only made for an interesting and strained work environment for both of us and the rest of our supportive staff. Anyway, January comes and Dad began 16 weeks of chemo, followed by surgery. Thankfully that timed out right with my work schedule at school and I was able to go home to be there, without added angst and problem. They removed most of it with surgery, but some had adhered to the bone … and so more chemo was to be had. Of course, they didn’t tell Dad the complete reality of the situation until July, but in the meantime, Mom and Jacquie are doing the understated yet obvious freak-out, while Brett (my brother-in-law) and I are trying to hold our shit and theirs in check.
Before Dad starts the second round of chemo, it seems that he had adhesions in the colostomy passage (basically it was doing what the body does normally, which is close up an unnatural opening in the body, I guess). So another stay for him in the hospital for several days. Then, Jacquie arranged for a second opinion at Dana-Farber in Boston. Now D-F is one of 3 major colon cancer facilities in the US ( Sloan Kettering in NYC is another, and someplace in TX is the third.) They wanted him to come there for treatment … one that would apply the medication in smaller, steadier doses over a longer period ... that being 6 months. Well, Dad was not uprooting himself and Mom to live at my sister’s for 6 months. So that got shot down, in favor of local treatment in a larger dose over a shorter period.
Now, last week, Mom calls with yet more news. Not Dad this time. No, it seems that one of my cousins … 54, mother of 3, youngest in college still ... has been diagnosed with colon cancer that has spread to the liver. She too is about to start chemo treatments. Of course, this is further freaking out my collective extended family beyond what they were already feeling regarding Dad. Mom and Dad is adamant that Jacquie and I both get colonoscopies, which I’ll likely schedule before I go back to school or during new staff orientation week … since I have to go in to the Doctor’s for my annual TB test (yes, when you work with kids, you have to take one every year, state law).
So yah … that’s been what I’ve been dealing with, among other rather normal things. Which sorta brings me around to the FANGS. Rather fucked up segue that it is.
As most of you saw from my previous post, FANGS are the animated figured that I’ve done for the various characters that populate the gaming world that I sometimes are a part of. Still other people have asked me to do LINGS, for the Changeling PCs, but that’s a whole different story. Anyway, it was my original intention that after I saw the demand for FANGS with the first batch that illustrated characters from the last chronicle, I would do things differently this time. I had thought about setting up a Pay-Pal account and charge for them. Not money for me. No, I thought it would be a decent way to take the money that I received from the FANGS and donate it to charity. The obvious choice would be Colon-Rectal Cancer Research, or to a specific center like Dana-Farber.
While, initially, that seemed like a good plan, I’ve thought better of it since then. I realize that Cammies can be an impatient lot at times. That is not the case with those whose FANGS I did in the first 4 tiers; they have been all too patient, and I thank them for that. I mean in general, however. And personally, with everything else in my head that I have to contend with and the prospect of returning to the academic schedule at work, I realized that it would be far harder to expect people to put up money and wait. Or conversely, to do the work and then try and collect. Like always, a lot of it would have to be on the honor system, but frankly I didn’t need the additional headache that I foresaw coming. Add to that, memories of EQ and trying to make trades bought and sold on Ebay. No, I didn’t need that.
So basically, I’ve decided to go back to old tried and true methods. The FANGS get done, when they get done. Hopefully, some people will be appreciative enough this time around that I might actually see some roleplay out of it. Last time, it was a lot of “I want a FANG! Oooh I want one! How do I get one?” and what followed was that as soon as it was in their hands, I never heard from them again. So yah ... these are the people that I thought I might make a charitable donation? The same people that balk at site fees and then plop money down to wing their happy asses to the next con? I’m thinking … no. So, I guess that maybe this time things might be different. Maybe, just maybe, they’d actually show some appreciation by roleplaying.
Don’t get me wrong. If people want to make donations, as was my original intent, that’s damn kewl. I’ve included the link below, but I certainly don’t expect it … not when the minimum donation that one can make seems to be $25 at most applicable facilities (and atleast this one is regional). In the meantime, I’ll try to do the artwork as I can, when I can. Patience being what it is, and that way I have less headaches over people chomping at the bit. Maybe I’ll get some RP ... maybe I won’t. In any case, its sometimes a distraction, which is never a bad thing.
Again, to all those who are who they are with my great admiration … you know who you are … and I thank you for your patience and understanding and simple presence. All of it is greatly appreciated.
I guess that’s all for now. I’ll try to keep you updated with a bit more frequency.
https://www.dana-farber.org/how/gifts/gift.asp?page=single