Hello, Xyliacs!

I’m sorry that last week got away from me as well as the first part of the week, I know  I need to get better about scheduling Xyliatales back in my world.  I had a couple of rush projects and then of course a house full of teenagers which makes concentration nearly impossible.  (at one point my son had ten of his friends in here recording a shouted chorus to one of the songs his band wrote)  0.o

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Most of my work on Xyliatales has still been in my head, and I haven’t moved into that scary place of doing actual work on it. It’s really weird to be so afraid of creating something that I once enjoyed so much.  I know I’m creating a bigger problem for myself the longer I wait, but work and family, chores and storms, appointments, exercise, friends and events…there is always something to use as an excuse to stay away from it. Still hoping to move past that.

Since I haven’t drawn characters in so long, I did take some funny reference pics to sort of help me as I go, and I thought I would share them here on the update- I’m hoping to do some sketching this week, and I hoped these images would help inspire me with poses and lighting.  See if you can see the different characters that I’m posing for. (The one place my crazy nature is actually useful- posing for different characters…LOL!)

I have two different approaches to ‘reloading’ the story- and it’s just deciding the best way to go….I think if I just start writing it will become clear.

Once I get back into this thing, I hope to release that long promised Volume I.  Honestly, when the prints came back, I wasn’t 100% happy with them.   That has to be worked out too…

One last thing here- if you haven’t read Josh’s great review of Last Airbender- please do, and feel free to join in the discussion!

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One of the great things about blogging is getting feedback from other folks- all ages- seeing that they go through similar things that I do.  It really helps me feel less alone in my crazy journey, and I hope those of you kindred spirits feel the same way:  maybe I’m not crazy, maybe the world is. 

Anyway, I want to thank those of you who shared so many supportive thoughts and stories about your own struggles with depression. Most people at one time or another find themselves dealing with it, which is why I find it useless to be embarrassed or secretive about it.

The last two weeks have been much better for me.  I have been working quite a bit, and getting to the gym very regularly, and these two things seem to play a big part in keeping the blues at bay. Particularly running.  I’ve been trying to jog at least a little while every day, and that really makes a huge difference.  Except when you fall off a treadmill in front of a bunch of people…but that’s another story.  ^_^  I’ve also been getting out and spending time with friends for coffee and dinner- my social schedule is actually a little too busy for my work schedule and I need to pare that down a bit.  Always a balancing act.   Got on stage and sang again too with my son- which people always find really cool in a Partridge Family sort of way- but music still doesn’t feel like something I want to really get into regularly.  It’s still fun once in a while, though. 

This week finds me mired in more ‘real world’ icky issues- sales tax, accountant stuff, and getting projects out the door. But I’m going to get this blog up TODAY….(if you’re reading it- success!)

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Tinkerwrks: Thank you for the kind words.  I feel a lot better too- and that’s the main reason I want to work out.

Crisjin: Congratulations to you TOO on your fitness goals!  I’m actually considering a Zumba class, but it looks so complicated to me.  I’m not good at following dance steps AT ALL. Running is easy, but I have a lot of friends who have knee problems and can’t.   Thank you for the encouragement!  Same to you!

Joseph: Congrats again to you too on your weight loss, and keeping it off!  I do hope to get to Xylia sooner than later!  Thank you for the vote of confidence!

Wayfarer: “creatophobia” – I like that!!  I also like your ideas for solving it- the trail of lollipops, etc.   But this statement is very true for me too: “Sometimes I think there’s something in me that finds the prospect of actually accomplishing anything to be the most terrible and horrible of fates”   Almost like the fear of success is the strongest fear.  Not sure what to do with that one…

Jamming: Thank you very much for the kind words.  ^_^  To me, getting comments on my silly blogs is like a ray of sunshine!!

Francisco: Thank you very much!  I have achieved many weight goals, just not my ultimate one.  I hope you are getting closer to reaching your goals too!

Octodude: Yes, Xylia seems to be quite squashed in this image…what is up with that? So you like that pic?  Thank you for the nice comments and ideas on writing, those are all excellent.   I think one of my biggest problems is discipline.  I need to MAKE TIME to implement things like you suggest.  And in so doing,  I do hope to get going on Xylia again.

Athena: Thank you for coming out of your lurking to write your kind words.  It is hard to come back to something if you can’t find a concrete financial reason for it.  But there are many other reasons to work on Xylia that can’t be measured financially.  I really have terrific readers, and to have such a wonderful audience with nothing to give them is a frustrating thing indeed.  But I can’t allow the frustration to stress me into not accomplishing anything.  That’s the real danger.  Thank you again for your nice comments.

Jande: Thank you very much for your words.  My friend Peg once sent me the song “Tubthumping” (a song my band once performed) at one of those knock down times- it’s a great one to listen to- “I get knocked down, but I get up again, but it never gonna keep me down…”

Anonymous: Thank you for voting EVERY DAY!  WOW!  ^_^  I’m still drawing, just not Xylia.  I hope that changes soon.

Hagar: I’m sorry to hear that you have had some struggles too.  Lithium? Yikes. That’s one that they very rarely use anymore- there are many more products that are far less damaging to the liver.  I don’t’ know if you have tried exercise, or looking at food too- strangely, some foods can effect mood too.   Best of luck with your search for a teaching position!  We will all be pulling for you.  Yes, I’m going to try to keep up with this blog (haven’t done too well with consistency, but I’m working on it!) Thank you, Hagar.

Dana: Thank you for sharing your story of your own challenges, and I thank you for saying that sharing my weight loss journey has helped inspire you in some way.  I really appreciate your kind words, and for sharing your own story here, that actually is inspirational and helpful for me!  Good luck with continuing your own fitness goals, keeping the blues at bay, and grabbing those words in your mind and getting them typed or written!  I know you can!

Julie: Thank you SO much for sharing your story and also your success in turning off those nasty ‘negavox’ as we like to call them here.  You are absolutely right!   Those thoughts spin and grow and become unmanageable if allowed to run free.  What a great job working through those things!  And like you, I have an amazingly understanding boyfriend, and that does really help, doesn’t it.  You are both an inspiration in working through issues like that.  It always makes me feel less alone when I meet another person who ‘gets’ it- but especially when they have found a way to rise above the challenges of having an over creative, sensitive mind!  This seems to be true of many Xyliacs!  Thank you again, Julie.

Olivia: “Depression sucks”  Very well said, Olivia.  It does.  It really does.  I’m sorry to hear about your struggles with the “Black Dog” and with stress,  but I’m glad that you are taking it head on.  Stress and Depression seem to be a lovely tag team, don’t they?  Hard to know who comes in the room first, but they like to work in tandem, and it makes things all that more difficult because Stress has that lovely talent for throwing a wrench into our physiology.  Hard to accomplish any real headway when loaded down with adrenaline, and the effects that causes.  Then Depression can wander in and start whispering all kinds of nasties in our ear…

But awareness- that’s huge. It’s power.  Because once those two are called out for what they are, then we can start figuring out how to catch them and stuff them in their cages.  Yes, they may escape from time to time, but once we have the skills and tools to overcome them, their power diminishes greatly.  You keep it up too, Olivia, and know that I’m rooting for YOU  and all my friends who are working on their challenges with depression.

Strange Ian: Thank you!  This is an outfit I found …somewhere…it’s a 1915 dress and jacket with an embroidered sash and matching hat. I loved it. ^_^

Graceofbass: Thank you, I always worry that my blogs are overindulgent.  But, it is my blog after all, so I can do what I want!  LOL! I know that frustration, and I wish I could get myself straightened out and update my blog at least with more regularity.  I’m trying to get better at it.  Actually, replying to the comments takes a good while, but it’s something I want to do.  It’s just finding a block of time to concentrate and do it properly. (I really shouldn’t be doing this now, but it’s been TOO long!!) thank you Grace!

Silverwolf: thank you very much!! Stick figure drawing- that’s kind of funny, and not a bad idea.  I like your Stick Figure Special concept.  Excellent.  And I completely agree with you about concentration- well, if you are ADD like me, you know it really truly doesn’t exist.  Tis like…faeiries. 

Ash: Yes, you are right about that necklace being familiar.  That is her poii gem. The dress is actually Edwardian, but it harkens to a Victorian style which really suits Xylia.  When I started researching NIgel’s Opus (which takes place in 1915) I was quite disappointed how the lovely Victorian fashions had become much more simplified during WWI, and weren’t as elaborate or even as flattering. Probably a lot more comfortable and affordable though.

Ladyfox7oaks: Thank you for the hugs and warm wishes.  Yes, sadly the all mighty dollar tends to take precedence over most everything.  Just the way it goes. But thank you so much for your support!!

Thank you everyone for stopping by in this down time of Xyliatales. I really don’t deserve all the loyalty that you bestow.  I will really try to do much better on being timely with the blogs.

Thank you again for all your support!  See you very soon.  (shootin’ for MOnday…we’ll see…)

Hugs,

~B