Hello, Xyliacs! Still running several hours behind on my schedule. My apologies. This blog entry will be short too, I am hosting a jam session in a couple hours. Yikes!
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Please vote- sorry for not getting something new up- hope to change that VERY SOON. Today’s pic is still one I posted a year or more ago- of the mysterious White Twins, Damara and Dalia… 
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Barblog———————————-
If you’ve been following my battle with the bulge the last few months, you know that I have been working out and losing weight. I post my progress on Twitter and Facebook because it keeps me going when people comment with encouragement, but the real joy is when someone ELSE is encouraged by my success!
I have dealt with weight issues my entire life. Back in August 09, I made up my mind not to ‘diet’, but to change my lifestyle. Exercise became something like brushing my teeth- I HAVE to do it. It’s not an option not to. The first month I saw no progress. In the past, I would have dove into a cake or french fries to assuage my disappointment of the fact that “I just won’t ever lose weight”. This time – I didn’t do that. I kept going to the gym, five times a week. Kept eating 1200-1700 calories a day. Finally, on the fifth week, the weight started to go. First five pounds in one week, then six, and so on until I had dropped 30 lbs. in a little over two months.
As of Monday of this week, I have lost an additional 19 pounds. This puts me in the ‘normal weight’ category, and within about 20 lbs. of my ultimate goal. Yes, I’m happy. I feel so much better, and I can buy clothes anywhere not just in oversized stores, and that is way less expensive.
I want to say thank you to all the Xyliacs and friends who have encouraged me and continue to do so on this journey. And to my sweetheart who has been supportive through everything.
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Xyliatales On Air will be broadcasting on Sundays, along with the occasional last minute broadcast! (Just had a fun one last Thursday night!). I’m going to try for a regular time- like 7PM CST. I know some of you will find that an inconvenient time in other parts of the world- hopefully it will work for some of you! XYLIATALES ON AIR TALK SHOW SITE
Remember, you can follow my announcements on Twitter
Or consider friending me on Facebook- just make sure to let me know that you are a Xyliac when you send the request.
——————–XYLIA GOODY BAG——————
Please consider donating for the Xylia cause! I plan on adding new things in the coming weeks- first I will be creating a series of hi resolution downloadable character cards, with profile images and bio information! In the meantime, browse our existing wallpapers and other things. As always if you don’t receive your download, please email me directly at bji2001(at)mchsi.com.
See all y’all on Wednesday! Y’all come back now, y’ hear?
Hugs,
~B
March 10th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
I just love the play of light and shadow of the sunlit trees across the character’s faces, it’s a very vibrant effect.
A man faerie was a surprise; I was half-expecting Xylia herself!
I also like December’s locket, I wonder if it has something in it with emotional meaning to her.
A technical detail I noticed that’s probably an error – the words ‘He’s frozen!’ lack a speech bubble, so they might be easy to miss.
March 10th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Hmm. You got me, I was expecting Xylia! So who is this man faerie and will he be revived? Tune in next week!
March 10th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
He’s beautiful, whoever he is.
March 10th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Wow, unexpected! NICE!
March 10th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
OH my! I was not expecting THAT faerie! I wonder who this is!?
March 11th, 2010 at 3:23 am
Rillly! Rilly! Don’t let December drag you off! Help the faerie! Dooo iiiit!
(And Yay, Barb, on the weight loss! My struggle is mainly with my Four Baby Belly (along with mild overweightness) and have had the same struggle with staying on a regular schedule of *anything* because of getting discouraged from lack of visible progress and well, the high maintenance kids and depression… but One Day, dangit *shakes fist*)
March 11th, 2010 at 4:24 am
!!!
What a great page. Each and every part of it! The expression on the “statue” face, the shadows, the ivy… splendid.
I think I know who he is but I’m keeping my suspicions to myself…
Can’t wait to next week!
Side note- Skinny Barb is just so cute! I wish you’ed put more pictures and show-off your entire body! I want to see some legs! But I must say that that picture is just so funny- love your expression in it… keep on girl! And go buy some cloths! ^.^
March 11th, 2010 at 11:22 am
If Lana hadn’t said something about the words He’s frozen I wouldn’t have seen them.. even looking I barely found it. I can’t wait to see where this story line goes! Keep up the good job
March 11th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Well, I didn’t expect that! He is gorgeous. Dibs! Not sure what my husband would do though. The colours and the serenity you have portrayed here is just lovely. Well done!
March 11th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
I bet if they could unfreeze him, his hair would be purple.
March 12th, 2010 at 3:49 am
Just the appelation ‘man-faerie’ is enough to want to squeeze April to pieces and challenge that guy to come to life just to nag.
And extreme congratulations on your weight adventure!
March 12th, 2010 at 10:02 am
He looks romanesque. Can’t wait to find out who he is! I love the way the wings are drawn, they’re pretty cool.
March 12th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Just FYI, I still get only a missing image icon when I first load the page “http://comic.xyliatales.com/”. I then have to click Previous, then click Next from the previous page, where the link would then have the date included. I’m running Snow Leopard (Mac OS X 10.6) and using Safari 4.0.4, but it also happens on my other computer that’s still running plain old Leopard (10.5).
March 13th, 2010 at 11:46 am
I predict the next page has Rilly hugging the fairie while December tries dragging her off by her feet making a rope out of April between the two.
Also, I have a feeling that this statue will be very important…. (Kez: “Well, DUH!”)
Congrats on the weight loss! You look great!
March 13th, 2010 at 11:46 am
I predict the next page has Rilly hugging the fairie while December tries dragging her off by her feet making a rope out of April between the two.
Also, I have a feeling that this statue will be very important…. (Kez: “Well, DUH!”)
Congrats on the weight loss! You look great!
March 14th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Hey everyone! Thank you so much for all the nice comments.
First an apology on the Photbucket bandwidth issue. I don’t know WHAT’S up with that. Grr….
Anyway- to respond to y’alls comments…
Lana- thank you so much for the nice comments. I do love to draw dappled lighting – I used it in Talismen quite a bit. I always love that type of lighting in real life. December’s locket…we shall see- hopefully a close up will happen at some point… Thank you for catching the missing balloon- I have fixed it- you have to refresh to see though. Thanks.
Tinkerwrks- hee hee… I sort of knew you would expect Xylia. Ain’t I a stinker? Who is this man fay? Hmmm….
MCat- actually he has been revealed before…and is across the board the fangirls’ favorite male character. hee hee he…
Kez- YAY! I surprised you! ^_^
Tigershark- I love to hear ‘I wasn’t expecting that’! My favorite thing is to surprise readers….
Harena- thank you so much for the support- I only have a two baby belly, and it’s plenty. That part is frustrating but at least I have something precious to show for it. The big rear end not so much… LOL! Lack of progress was always the tough one for me too. To push through that phase is the biggest challenge. To switch the muscle mass to a higher amount so that your body starts burning more and faster- it’s tough but if I can do it, believe me- anyone can! But I fully understand how the demands of family make the time investment tough.
Hagar- thank you so much! I think you know who it is too… LOL! Skinny Barb? Not quite skinny, but I’m not fat Barb anymore! LOL! I thought I did post full body pics… I may have to do that again. My legs aren’t quite where they should be- my thighs and rear are my biggest problem area and will be the last things to look good, but I’m getting there….
Elizabeth K – Thank you for the heads up on the balloon too- I fixed it, but you will need to refresh to see it, please! Thank you!
Aquila- hee hee, yes this man faerie is a hottie, will say that for him. Thanks for the nice words.
Two Corgis- cheeky, aren’t you? LOL!
Tantz- yes, I had to get that ‘manfaerie’ word in the story. There is a button on the forum somewhere… I need to find that…THanks for the congrats!
Karstel – most of the Xylia concepts are sort of ancient Greek in vibe, but because he is a real being frozen into stone, he would have a more natural Romanesque sculptural quality. Good eye!
Joan- thanks for the heads up- I am not having issue on either of my comps- Snow Leopard or Tiger- is any one else having issue with the page load?
Brent…hee hee….predictions predictions! We’ll have to see, won’t we?
Thank you all, for the comments, and as always for reading!
<3 B
March 21st, 2010 at 3:04 am
Hmmm…. I’ve got a guess who yer “ManFae” is, but I ain’t sayin’. ^_^
Good job on the proper contraction of “y’all” – most folks get that wrong. :-]
Your “legs aren’t quite where they should be”? Aren’t they atttached at the bum? ;-]
All seriousness aside, love the pic of the new you in the old pants – congrats on the fitness success and the weight loss – you are looking great, and more importantly, feeling better!! Thanks for being an inspiration and an example for the rest of us – keep up the great work!
I second Lana’s dig of the dappled lighting; it looks great!
Excellent, as always, B! ^_^