No, I didn't get a new job. . . hahahaha, could you imagine?  XD

What's really going down this weekend then?  Totoro Forest Project, that's what!  And there was no way I was going to miss it.  So this Friday, I'll be making the trek up north with traveling companion Cleverblue  to visit Pixar Animation Studios where the auction event is to be held.  This is really a fascinating project for those of you who may be Studio Ghibli fans, particularly of My Neighbor Totoro.  See what it's all about here.

And I've never been to San Francisco (where we're staying), so this is going to be an adventure!  Wish us luck and excitement!  (safety too, would be good)

Wow, well it seems like so much has been going on these summer days, I've almost lost track of all the stuff that's gone down since I last caught everyone up.  ComiCon!  I'll start with that.  ComiCon this year was awesome; I had the chance to meet a lot more deviant artists and industry professionals this year.  Border Crossings was warmly received at the con, which was a real encouragement.  Buuuut, after some deal talks, I decided to step down from illustrating the graphic novel in light of the time constraints and the stress involved. . . it would have been madness to try and fit that in with my full time work as it is now!  I plan to return to graphic novels and short one-shots on my own time, when I'm ready.

In other news, Scalawags won first place in the Orange County Fair's Animation Celebration!  This was an absolute surprise, as I had been told that it was merely a viewing gallery, and not a competition. . . caught me off guard, that's for sure!  Now what am I ever to do with a World of Warcraft war chest for a grand prize?  Seems counter-productive to paying off my student loans . . .    Money plz?  
Hehe but seriously, thank you OC Fair and congratulations to the Scalawags team!

Sigh. . . so with all of this traveling, and summer adventure, and social blossoming, and growing up, I wonder if I'll ever come around to finishing the Halo fiction I started well over a year ago.  I know there are some who have been patiently waiting all this time for a new chapter, and I feel a little wedge of guilt for not returning to it.  I've come to the conclusion that I am one of those writers who can't work on an update by update basis.  It will never be finished if I do, and that's the way it's been with all of my previous attempts at fanfiction (with the exception of The Secret Path).  But I've realized that with Verisimilitude, I've dug a deep well of possibilities that's going to take alot to work  through and make it something good.  And I want it to be good.  So no. . . it's not being abandoned; simply, it is being worked on until its completion, and only then will it be ready to read.  And it's probably going to take me a good amount of time to do it.  So as much as I appreciate the pokes, it won't get you a chapter any faster!  

Stop kicking puppies!






Fiction :: Read at the Storyteller's Copse

Fanfiction :: Read at New Harvest

_{Covenant Daughter :: The Journey of Eto 'Kovasulee
[01] The Secret Path Pt. 01 Pt. 02 Pt. 03 Pt. 04 Pt. 05 Pt. 06 Epilogue
[02] Verisimilitude A Preview
[04] A Promise}

Hmmmm, so this is v6. . .  sleek!  I dunno, how do you guys like it?

Well, not much to say right now, just that it's my friend's birthday and I FINALLY POSTED ART WTH. XD
I hope you can forgive me if you sent me a note or a comment AGES ago and I still haven't replied. . . I'm getting through this stuff very slowly.  I've been spending lots o' time hanging out with friends and family enjoying this awesome summerness and finally getting around to doing things like play with the henna powder I bought from the sooq in Canada!  I even got adventurous over the 4th and discovered that bullfrogs taste delicious.  Ohhh, and Avatar started back up again today. . .  o w o  It makes my inner animator gleeful and fuzzy.  Otherwise, I'm always curled up on the couch after work deeply absorbed in the current book I've chosen for pleasure reading.   

So yep.  That's pretty much it right now.  


. . . and I was kidding about that bullfrog.  XD
      _{No. . .srsly.}






Fiction :: Read at the Storyteller's Copse

Fanfiction :: Read at New Harvest

_{Covenant Daughter :: The Journey of Eto 'Kovasulee
[01] The Secret Path Pt. 01 Pt. 02 Pt. 03 Pt. 04 Pt. 05 Pt. 06 Epilogue
[02] Verisimilitude Pt. 01
[04] A Promise}

Oooooh, maaaaan. . . it has been a little while.  I will never cease to be amazed at how suddenly and voraciously life will rear up and consume one's will to relax and keep up on things.  

What's the deal?  No art?  No fiction?  Well, truth be told I've been lacking in my motivation to finish things these past months after feeling overwhelmed in the aftermath of one thing after the other.  XD  The art is there and waiting. . . pages of story have been written. . . ideas have been scrawled into my moleskin notebook. . .it's all just been gently set aside again and again as I've dabbled in life's distractions.  
I detest the thought of boring you with the intricate details. Rather, I'd look to comment on the difficulties of discovering what one is truly looking for in a soulmate; the patience it takes to care for a baby animal; the hard, shameful lesson learned in drinking too much and too fast; the potential frustration of simultaneously working full-time and freelance; the utter glee of hitting the waves again. . .  

Yeah.  In a nutshell.  X3  

On top of this is prep for Comicon, my fellow artists.  Who will be there?  Will you?  I will!  Cleverblue and I will be there all four days, accompanied here and there by many of our friends who will be going a day or two.  I've actually industry-ish things to attend to this year, as the graphic novel that I have been working on a pitch for with my partner, writer Christian Sager, is picking up interest with publishers. . . *EPIC GLEE*  I only wish I had more time for this sort of thing.  But yes!  Preview art on that soon, so you can see why I've been hiding away from all of you people these past months.  Lol.  

Let's see. . . movies!  The animated stuff out right now is lovable.  I recommend Kung Fu Panda and WALL-E for your viewing enjoyment this summer.  I think I liked them nearly equally, but for very different qualites.  


Mostly funny.  Stunning 2d animation segments.  MOAR PLZ.


Charming, engaging, and injected with personality.  


You might be curious about that baby animal I mentioned earlier.  He was a baby sparrow named Monkey, and I raised him for three weeks until he was able to fly.  Sadly, he didn't make it through that last heat wave we had. . .  *sigh*  It bothers me still.  He sure was a sweetheart, though.  



Oh, and before I leave to try and make sense out of my poor, abused, and messy DA-ness, we went to Renfaire over the Spring.  Twice!  I had fun putting together the Corsair Gypsy outfit this year:  [link]  
It was hot this year.  But. . . perhaps not as hot as it's going to be out on Lake Gregory this 4th of July. XD  Have fun and take care over the holiday you guys!

  
        

Oh God. . . my inbox.  It is exploding.






Fiction :: Read at the Storyteller's Copse

Fanfiction :: Read at New Harvest

_{Covenant Daughter :: The Journey of Eto 'Kovasulee
[01] The Secret Path Pt. 01 Pt. 02 Pt. 03 Pt. 04 Pt. 05 Pt. 06 Epilogue
[02] Verisimilitude Pt. 01
[04] A Promise}

*sigh*  Yep. . . just one of those weeks.  It's a sighing week.  Imagonna watch Juno, it gets ya peppy.  ^ __ ^  

Okay, so. . . Grawr!  Tagged by     

Yeh got me.  I don't usually do these things, but. . .  eh, I had the strange tickle to do so. . . that, and the one that Choco just did recently with the deviations I was also itching to try, but we'll see.  I'm a lazy bum when I want to be.    

As the survey goes. . .

Three Things You Want To Do Before You Die:

1.) Marry the love of my life
2.) Be a momma  
3.) Travel to the european and asian continents

Three Names You Go By:

1.) Kelleh!
2.) KELLDAR (The Magnificent)
3.) Kellirenae

Three Screen Names You Have Had (Other Than This One):

1.) Kellitoli
2.) Etoligirl
3.) Makakelli

Three Physical Things You Like About Yourself:

1.) My Hands
2.) My Eyes
3.) My Feet


Three Parts Of Your Heritage:

1.) English
2.) French Canadian
3.) Cherokee

Three Things That Scare You:

1.) Falling
2.) Unnatural sounds
3.) Losing loved ones

Three Of Your Everyday Essentials:

1.) A hot shower
2.) My sketchbook
3.) Good food

Three Things You Are Wearing Right Now:

1.) Whisker-dyed boot cut jeans
2.) Red and white striped blue tank
3.) Brown hooded sweater

Three Of Your Favorite Bands/Musical Artists:

1.) Iron and Wine
2.) Jack Johnson
3.) Alanis Morissette  

Three Of Your Favorite Songs:

1.) Hand in my Pocket (Alanis Morissette)
2.) Innocent Bones (Iron and Wine)
3.) LDN (Lily Allen)

Three Things You Want In A Relationship:

1.) Love
2.) Affection
3.) Selflessness
  

Two Truths And A Lie (in no particular order):

1.) I've jumped from an airplane
2.) I've got a naughty tatoo hidden where most people can't see it >D
3.) I've never been pulled over by a cop.  

Three Physical Things About The Preferred Sex That Appeal To You:

1.) A warm, mischievous smile  
2.) Broad shoulders
3.) One who is a head or so taller than I am  

Three of your Favorite Hobbies:

1.) Drawing
2.) Reading/Writing
3.) Animal Husbandry

Three Things You Want To Do Really Badly Right Now:

1.) Finish all of my work
2.) Swim
3.) Kiss that special someone. . . who hasn't come into my life just yet

Three Careers You're Considering/You've Considered:

1.) Equine veterinary specialist
2.) Photographer
3.) Journalist

Three Places You Want To Go On Vacation:

1.) New Zealand
2.) Thailand
3.) The Greek Islands  

Three Kid's Names You Like:

1.) Toby
2.) Emily
3.) Gabriel

Three Ways That You Are Stereotypically A Girl:

1.) I get giggly when there is talk of men and other such shenanigans
2.) I glance critically at every reflective surface I come across
3.) I shamelessly enjoy clothes shopping

Three Ways That You Are Stereotypically A Boy:

1.) Gamer?  First Person Shooter?  Bring it!   
2.) Every day I wear the same getup: jeans, flip-flops, shirt.  X3     
3.) I like the dark, frothy stout beers.  Yum.  

Three People That I Would Like To See Take This Quiz Now:
  

GO!  






Fiction :: Read at the Storyteller's Copse

Fanfiction :: Read at New Harvest

_{Covenant Daughter :: The Journey of Eto 'Kovasulee
[01] The Secret Path Pt. 01 Pt. 02 Pt. 03 Pt. 04 Pt. 05 Pt. 06 Epilogue
[02] Verisimilitude Pt. 01
[04] A Promise}

I would like to share something with all of you.  

It has been a different sort of week.  I had missed a call from my friend Sid early Wednesday evening before I had gotten out of work,  and thought it was strange,  knowing he usually waited to call me until later in the evening . . . and I got an uneasy but excited gut feeling.

Many of you who have been Sid's friend or have come to know him here on DA as 5thanamoly know that he has been waiting a very long time for a new heart and lungs.  When I spoke to him that evening, it was with the wonderful news that they had finally found organs that would fit him.  He had been mineature golfing just the hour before--had just then gotten off of the jet and was on his way to the hospital.  You know him--couldn't have been more calm and peaceful in all of it, with that cheerful sort of hope, the way he's always been.  He was hoping it wasn't another false alarm, but that if he didn't call the next day, that it would be good sign.  He laughed at the perfect timing of it all; he'd be missing the Comicon this year, but he'd sure be getting his hands on MetalGear while he was in recovery.
See you in three months, he said.

I told him to hang in there.

I could only ask God's peace and His Will when I learned that he was still bleeding on Friday.  It was yesterday that I learned the surgery had claimed his life.  

It is difficult. . . words seem trite.  The shock and grief of loosing a friend is very real and at the same time like a dream, as though I'll be hearing his voice again, and I don't know how to describe that.  If you knew Sid, then you know the measure of his faith and the strength of the life he lived in spite of his health.  I admired him for that.  He told me he wasn't afraid to die, having lived so long in its shadow; but even more, knowing that if his body were to fail him, he would be with the Lord.  And it was something that we smiled and laughed over.

There is the joy of knowing that he is with the Father now, and that alone brings peace to me; but please. . . be praying for Sid's family right now. . . and for his mother.




Sid. . .  you inspired us all.    

  

          
        



         






Fiction :: Read at the Storyteller's Copse

Fanfiction :: Read at New Harvest

_{Covenant Daughter :: The Journey of Eto 'Kovasulee
[01] The Secret Path Pt. 01 Pt. 02 Pt. 03 Pt. 04 Pt. 05 Pt. 06 Epilogue
[02] Verisimilitude Pt. 01
[04] A Promise}

Finally. . . FINALLY got around to pulling up the waiting word doc for Verisimilitude and doing the second-pass read through and edit.  Good news is, it means the first chapter of the story is up tonight!

The ah. . .persistent poking of you few who have been particularly watchful of its progress has truly helped me stay on target with getting the handwritten stuff typed up and tidied for the general public to read.  :3  As always, it's getting updated on the New Harvest database website before it gets posted here, so you can always be sure it will follow suit shortly here on DA.

I had a lengthy chunk developing as I got deeper into the introduction, and in the end I decided to cut into it and start with a prologue chapter.  You may find it a bit cryptic, but I'll fill you in soon no worries.  That chunk that I cut into is now composing the introduction into the second chapter.  

Anywho, I'm going to keep submitting these chapters to my scraps section until I finish each book (and get a cover art piece painted), so read and enjoy!   [link]

If I may suggest for further reading. . .  Choco has updated Vestige with a fantastic new chapter.  You're missing out if you haven't read her stuff.  Go!         






Fiction :: Read at the Storyteller's Copse

Fanfiction :: Read at New Harvest

_{Covenant Daughter :: The Journey of Eto 'Kovasulee
[01] The Secret Path Pt. 01 Pt. 02 Pt. 03 Pt. 04 Pt. 05 Pt. 06 Epilogue
[02] Verisimilitude Pt. 01
[04] A Promise}

Yep, it got me.  It got me goooood.  Er, bad.  

Whatever is getting passed around work is now munching contentedly at my brain, and I'm sure my officemates gave a sigh of relief when I left early for home today.  >__<   Bleeeaaah.  Full relapse is not fun.  
I feel bad for not having ansered my phone for like. . . the past week, so I hope you who know who you are can forgive meeee.  My throat is quite thoroughly keel-hauled and incapable of anything but a gutteral grinding sound for the time being.  

The good news is, this Genacol stuff hasn't slowed me down so much as to not be able to work on things like Verisimilitude and this ah. . .Valentines painting thing that's coming up alarmingly fast.  It's all moving very slow, but it's still coming along.  

_{Fellow LOSTards. . . OMGTHEPLOTTHICKENS.}

Buuuuh. . .  okay, I go drip on the couch now.  I mean, write some more.      

  






Fiction :: Read at the Storyteller's Copse

Fanfiction :: Read at New Harvest

_{Covenant Daughter :: The Journey of Eto 'Kovasulee
[01] The Secret Path Pt. 01 Pt. 02 Pt. 03 Pt. 04 Pt. 05 Pt. 06 Epilogue
[02] Verisimilitude <pending>
[04] A Promise}

My inner geek just squealed with delight:  [link]


Hellz yeah.  






Fiction :: Read at the Storyteller's Copse

Fanfiction :: Read at New Harvest

_{Covenant Daughter :: The Journey of Eto 'Kovasulee
[01] The Secret Path Pt. 01 Pt. 02 Pt. 03 Pt. 04 Pt. 05 Pt. 06 Epilogue
[02] Verisimilitude <pending>
[04] A Promise}