I realized today that I hadn't posted a journal in over 3 years. Holy shit! While I'm not posting much on this side of things, I have been busy on the staff side of things helping the community.

I also noticed the journal displayed on my profile was boring AF so I thought I'd leave a video that never fails to bring a smile to my face in hopes it'll make you smile too. Enjoy this duet performed live between a man in space (Commander Chris Hadfield) and a group on Earth (Barenaked Ladies and the Wexford Gleeks).

https://youtu.be/AvAnfi8WpVE

It's already the middle of February! Woah.

So quick update sine I know some of you enjoy them. I've been super busy with 3 jobs, but thankfully I love them all so it doesn't feel like a chore. I've been sneaking in Overwatch when I have the time as well as catching some Olympic Figure skating. I've loved watching figure skating since I was little.

I have some things I'm really really looking forward to next month, but I'm not quite ready to share details yet. We'll see soon!

Putting the key info in bold so you can skim if you'd like!

BF was diagnosed with Influenza B last Friday and he had it really bad. All weekend and into this week I took care of him and went a bit nuts with hand washing and lysoling to ensure I didn't get it. Good news: I didn't get it woo! Bad news: He's still got a nasty cough and some complications from that. At least he's not contagious anymore, eh? In the midst of all this our kitty's stomach issues came back strong. X-Rays showed severe gastritis. We're in the middle of a treatment plan for that now. This means every 30 min I'm feeding a pretty baby girl while doing my best to make sure the man is also alright and trying to keep up with my own stuff as well.

Illness section. Check! Onto hockey!

So he grew up a Senators fan in Ottawa and I grew up in Boston Bruin's territory (though I didn't follow hockey until we got together, so I'm a Sens fan.) For those of you who don't follow hockey; The two teams are currently in the middle of a playoff series against one another. We live about an hour from Boston and he scored tickets to Game 4 of the playoffs. We went to the game on Wednesday night to watch a great match where our Sens beat the Bruins. Lots of drunk angry Bruins fans... that was a fun trip home on public transit. Overall, though, it was absolutely amazing. The energy in the arena was great and the game was so intense. I'm so glad we were able to go!

While we were there we were stopped by a journalist from CBC Ottawa who wanted to chat with some Sens fans. Our candid conversation resulted in him talking about us on his radio show as well as giving out a key piece of info:
 trey and I are engaged!
We used the photo he took of us as well as his radio piece as an engagement announcement (how fun!). We'll be getting married in November.

So now I have something to look forward to after FAU! Right now I'm entirely consumed with how much fun that con is going to be. I'm really super excited to see so many of you again and hopefully meet more of you!

First of all, I absolutely loved it. Honestly it may be my favorite Marvel film to date. That being said, it was very difficult to watch. The following is more about how it hit me personally than it is a film review. You've been warned.

Some of my older watchers will remember I was a dog groomer for 5 years before I tore my L4-L5 and L5-S1 while working. This resulted in multiple steroids, muscle relaxers, cortisone injections, physical therapy, chiropractics, and ultimately an injury that will never heal causing unending pain ever since. It also cost me my grooming career, one that I loved dearly. That was almost four years ago.

Watching Doctor Strange wake up and see his hands was too familiar. I completely understood the horror he was processing and that fear that your life has been stolen, but the hope that maybe it hasn't. And then watching him go through every possible option he had and just continually get let down, that was so familiar too. For over a year I thought I would heal. I thought the pain would end. I thought I'd have my life back. I'd be able to groom again, to not fear car rides, to be able to ride roller coasters like i love. Watching him exhaust all his options was almost like reliving my own struggles.

When he ended up in Kathmandu and eventually the Kamar-Taj I understood that hope. I had that hope with my cortisone injections. It was the last chance I really had to regain a semblance of normal. I was optimistic and desperate. And then he realized that it wasn't at all what he thought it was. I experienced that too, discovering that the injections actually made my pain worse and introduced sciatic symptoms I didn't have before.

He then was shown that they did offer something life changing, but was told it wasn't something he could obtain. He was thrown into the street where he begged and begged to be let back in. I was fortunate enough to try cannabis while on a vacation. For the first time I experienced being pain free. I just kept crying because I was so happy. I didn't ever think it could happen yet here it was. And then I came home, where I couldn't legally access it. To know there was something that could make me feel normal that I couldn't access was infuriating, but at least I knew there was a solution. It may take years, but at least it existed. Strange was eventually let back into the Kamar-Taj. I was fortunate enough to obtain legal medicinal access.

And finally at the end of the film, after everything... his hands still shook. It was a reminder that no matter what I do, my injury is still there, I can just hide the pain a little sometimes to focus on what's more important. He lost everything due to an injury and while his old life isn't back, he has an incredible new one that wouldn't be possible without the loss of his old. I can relate, seeing as I wouldn't have many of the wonderful friends I do now if I was still grooming. I wouldn't be able to spend almost all my time with my kitty at home. I'm happy with my life as it is, and there is no way I'd be in the situation I'm in had I not been forcibly removed from my career.

Holy shit wall of text. This was really just more for me I think, but I wanted to try to get into posting a bit more again so... looks like you're stuck with it.

Hey everyone! As some of you know my cat River is a very important member of my family. My boyfriend and I take care of her as if she was our child (because I mean, she is right?)

River just had surgery on Tuesday to remove a bladder stone. Surgery went well, however she appears to have a reaction to one of the medications used. She's been having trouble holding food down. She held her first tiny meal today and she'll be eating throughout the day in tiny tiny amounts. She's also in the midst of normal recovery, so she's not allowed to jump or be crazy-go-nuts while her incision heals. This means that any moment she's not in a crate with an E-Collar (cone) I have to be keeping a close eye on her. She rests better when not in the crate and resting is vital to her recovery, so I keep her out as much as I can.

This of course results in me not having much time to do my normal activities, and I apologize for any delay in response on my end. Whether it's making a meal, answering tickets, or playing games everything is put on the back burner when my baby girl needs me. I may be a bit slow, but I promise I haven't forgotten anyone. <3

So! I was convinced I had a polyp since I had one previously and it felt the same (though this one progressively got worse.) This is why I haven't been singing. Well, I just got home from the specialist. He looked at my vocal chords and he actually found I don't have a polyp! Yay! That means I don't have to be on vocal rest :D

So what is going on with my voice? Muscle Tension Dysphonia. which is "a change in the sound or the feel of your voice due to excessive muscle tension in and around the voice box. This tension prevents the voice from working efficiently." - Johns Hopkins Medicine.

This means I DO get to sing again finally, but I also have to go to vocal therapy to fix those muscles. So, there is still work to be done buy yay I can sing!!!

As noted in my last journal, I'm participating in Extra-Life, a 25 hour gaming marathon to raise money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. So far I've collected nearly $300 in donations for Boston Children's Hospital. We'll start gaming Saturday morning at 8AM and play until Sunday morning at 8AM. Donations can be taken until the event is over. Please consider donating to help children in need. 100% of your donation goes directly to the hospital.

Click Here To Help Boston Children's Hospital Give Kids The Care They Need


https://youtu.be/6dmTHfnXnjs

Thanks everyone!

Hey everyone! I'm excited to announce that this year I will be participating in Extra Life, the biggest gaming charity event of the year.
From the official site:
On an Autumn Saturday each year since 2008, tens of thousands of gamers have joined together to save the lives of local kids in a celebration of gaming culture that we call Extra Life. From console games to tabletop RPG's to even lawn sports, Extra Life gives people that love to play a chance to do what they love to save lives and make a difference.

So on November 2, 2013 I'll wake up early, and at 8AM start gaming. Normally Extra Life is a 24 hour event, but because of Daylight Savings this year 8AM-8AM will be 25 hours of gaming! That's the easy part. The hard part is getting donations. That's where friends and family come in.

My current goal is $100, though I'd love to raise more. 100% of the proceeds go to help kids in need. All donations made on my page will go to Boston Children's Hospital, one of the best children's hospitals in the USA. I'm hoping my friends will consider donating $1 per hour played, which is a single donation of $25. Please keep in mind that there is no donation amount too small.

To donate simply go here: http://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=49462

To participate in the gaming and help raise money for the Children's Miracle Network Hospital of your choice, go here: http://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=512

Thanks for taking the time to read this, everyone!
Asia

https://youtu.be/6dmTHfnXnjs

Many of you know that I live in the most awesome part of the USA, New England. So you may wonder why I'm going to celebrate Canada Day. Well,  trey grew up in Ottawa, and he is a Canadian citizen, even though he lives here with me. SO we are heading up to Ottawa to celebrate his country's birthday. We're also visiting family up there as well. We'll be gone from June 29 - July 10th. Don't expect much (if any) activity from my account between those dates as I won't have easy access to FA.

SO CANADA DAY IN OTTAWA!! I'm so excited!! Chris Hadfield is going to be there, which is probably what I'm most excited about. For those of you who don't know who he is, you need to check this out: The first music video filmed in space. Yes he had Bowie's permission, they planned it before he went up. Chris went out of his way to try to educate young people about space and get them super excited about it again. He did this many ways, including Reddit AMAs, tons of fun Youtube videos, and teaming up with Barenaked Ladies to write the song ISS: Is Somebody Singing. ISS was was sung every Monday with schools all around Canada. The cool thing? Chris would sing it with them from space. I strongly recommend you check out ISS, as a musician I am totally in awe at how cool it is to see a man in space singing with a group on Earth, and the lyrics make me teary CUZ IT'S SO COOL!!

Okay, so apparently this is my Chris Hadfield journal. Looks like that should be part of the title now. And so it is. There are lots of other fun things about Canada Day too. Musically I'm looking forward to Carly Rae Jepsen and Terri Clark as well. My tummy can't wait for poutine (Fries with cheese curds and gravy. Sounds gross but it's amazing.) and Harvey's. We really need both of those south of the border. I also LOVE parades and fireworks, so seeing those in Canada's Capital is really going to be awesome.

This will also be my first 4th of July that I'm not in the USA. So, Happy 4th to all my friends! You better believe I'll be watching the Boston Pops Firework Spectacular either while in Canada or after we get back home!

Have a great week everyone!

What's my New Year resolution? To crank out those Spotlights!

I have it actually written into my schedule. Most of the business with my grandmother (As far as what concerns me) has passed, I just have to make a few more trips down but emotionally I'm doing great!

Time to get back on track!

Hey guys! I just recently heard that one of my favorite books, The Giver, is being made into a film. It got me to thinking about other books I've loved that would make great movies.

So I ask, what books do you think would makes great films? I'm curious to see what you guys think!

Mine:
World War Z - I know they are making one, but it doesn't seem to be true to the book. I'd love to see a documentary style version.
The Ear, The Eye, and The Arm - Young Adult detective novel set in Africa. Three children of a wealthy General go on an adventure. The General hires three unusual detectives to find them.
Ender's Game - I know they are making this one too, I'm excited to see it and hoping it doesn't suck. Orson Scott Card gave his blessing, after all.
Temeraire series - Alternate history set during the Napoleonic wars. Most of the world already has an Air Force, but instead of planes they are dragons. Temeraire is a rare dragon, fighting for England, and the books follow his and his captain's adventures.

Thank you so much for sharing this with your friends guys! It has nearly 11k views in 3 days. A radio station in Kentucky (92.5 WBKR) actually played some of it on their morning show too! When I found out the next day I gave them a call to thank them and they did a quick phone interview. I know it's not a huge deal, but it's still really cool to me.

Thanks to you guys and my FB friends, it's now been sent to various sources such as Ellen and local stations.

https://youtu.be/MnsaMtDPX6c

Hey everyone.

My Grammie has end stage renal failure, which means her kidneys are giving out on her. She's on hospice at home, so they are doing their best to make her as comfy as they can. Kidney failure is said to be one of the more gentle ways to go, so I'm not worried about her being in pain aside from her hip which she broke a few weeks ago. She's been on morphine pills along with many other pills to help with that.

Last night she couldn't take pills anymore, she just won't wake up for them. She's getting a morphine drip this morning if she held on through the night. It looks like today will be her last, if she even made it to today. I'm very close with my family, so it's hard to see her like this, and hard to see my family so sad.

My Grampie, her husband, passed away a few years ago. Since then she has been depressed. She's talked to him in her sleep. I know that she's happy with the idea that she will be with him again soon. In the past week she's joked about death and how imminent it is. I know that she is comfortable in knowing she is going to pass, and she is ready. This helps a little, but it's still hard.

I just wanted to post this here because it helps me feel a bit better, even if nobody reads it.

For those of you who listened to the preview I posted done by  gede, make sure to check out the full version!
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8056452/

He and Kikennaime took the raw vocals from my cover of Hallelujah, played with them a bit, and used them for a techno piece. Make sure to give it a peek and leave some love.

So,  luchs and  datbaldur are crazy awesome and made me a surprise track for my birthday. It's hilarious and awesome. Love you guys!

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7848525/

I was once again able to work with the insanely talented  foxamoore. this time on an extended version of the Bitter Lake theme we had previously done. Check out this awesome trailer for the upcoming album!

Filmwork by  ezwolf
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7461858

As many of you know, I'm a dog groomer. I completely love my job, but some days you just wonder why in the hell you got out of bed. Today was one of those days.

My shift started at 12:30. First dog of the day, a GIANT St. Bernard. He's a sweetie, but he has trouble standing since he has bad joints. He's also very sensitive about his feet being touched. Just brushing him out and trimming his tummy made me sore. 1 point for the handsome Bernard.

So I get him in the back into the bath, and I get covered in drool and soaked with water and shampoo. This is actually normal. What isn't normal is how much he hates the dryer. Now, keep in mind that a St Bernard is a very large, very fluffy dog. Now imagine drying him with a giant blow dryer when he's scared of the sound. Now imagine the person drying him hobbling around like Quasimodo. 2 points for the St Bernard.

At this point he has to dry a bit in the kennel since I just can't do much else. I get some work done on my other pups, grab a bite to eat, and finally muster up the courage to tackle the gentle giant again. I get him on the table (I'm still miming a hunchback a bit) and start working on his feet, which are bigger than my hands. He decides to kick me in the face. 3 points for said gentle giant.

He's nearly done, so I keep on trucking, now hobbling like an idiot and having a massive headache. I finish trimming up his tail and his tush, and all in all he's looking pretty handsome! As I finish trimming near his hind foot, I hear this sound, this horrid sound that could be a sneeze. It wasn't a sneeze. It was the biggest St Bernard shart I have ever seen. This sweet creature just had explosive diarrhea all over the wall, the table, and (mostly) my back. 4 points for the lovable pup.

I just about died. Thank goodness I was able to change my smock and wash my arms. At that point he was finished so we called his parents and he went on his merry way. My amazing boyfriend took good care of me when I got home. He had a hot shower ready and a tall glass of hard cider.

I just had to share this with you all, thought some of you may get a good chuckle.

As of today, I now have more time to record. Well... I work today, so maybe as of tomorrow.

Anyhow, over the next few weeks I plan on finishing all collabs I am working on. Most notably,  Karuno and  Nathanael_platier. You two have waited far too long for a good vocal recording. Once I get those completed I'll be ready to take on more collabs and super fun stuff.

I'm so excited! So today at 4PM, I'll be getting the most awesome tattoo ever. I'll post pics :)

Update: So I got it done! It didn't hurt like I thought it would, it just felt like kitty scratches. It's awesome! Pics coming shortly.
See here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6999187/

Gah, sometimes I feel so useless!

No spotlight this evening because I spent all day with my mother, helping her get things sorted out for being home after her hospital visit. There WILL be a spotlight this week, I'll get it out ASAP :)



TESST