Hello Xyliacs!
Thank you again for reading my blogs and for all the nice responses! I’m still shocked at how many of you are reading this blog and responding to it. Thank you so much.
Some of you took the Myers/Briggs personality sorter and we had some guardians and masterminds out there! Very cool! ^_^ Hopefully some of you enjoyed that little quiz and maybe learned something about yourself or other folks out there. I know the personality description for me was SCARY right on, and I know others have said the same.
Thank you for the well wishes for the Deekster- as you can see from my pic, he is still with us and doing 100% better! No more throwing up, and he’s got his spunky sassy on again! ^_^
———————-Xylia News—————
Not much to announce here yet I’m sorry to say – I can’t really divulge anything about that promotional avenue yet. Hopefully soon. Still trying to work through the way I’m going to get the story moving again. It’s really frustrating. So I continue to sketch and concept. Today’s drawing is a bit of an inside joke; perhaps me letting off steam? It’s something I thought about drawing for a long time and finally did. That’s all I have to say about that. Ahem.
Glad y’all seemed to like the pic of Claude, Ty, Livy, and Libros. I love how characters interact with each other- especially when they don’t get along. Meh!
———————-Barblog————————
This last week found me starting out well in my fitness goals and ending disastrously. I started a new hour long class with weights three days a week, and got a few runs in, but at the end of the week I had a weekend business trip doing caricatures and staying in a hotel with a food stipend, and….well….I indulged a bit more than I should. <.< I did hit the hotel gym once and run three miles, but that was about it. Most of the three days were spent sitting on my can eating or drawing caricatures. So I gotta hit it HARD this week.
Falling off the wagon is only bad if you don’t get back on the wagon. I’m running after it right now. ^_^
As I mentioned earlier in the blog, Deek made a complete recovery from whatever ailed him. Thank God. He eats on his own, and is 100% better, running around wagging his nubbin and barking at the neighbors when they stop by. He went to see my friend Pat play in concert Thursday night and tried to get up on stage with the band! Deek is back… Deek the star.
I am fortunately in a good state of mind, I just need to keep focused on projects and force myself to sit and write each day. That’s my goal for this week.
And finally my grumble/stupid moment of the week: last Thursday, I was a block from home, forgot to put my seat belt on, got pulled over and given a $125.00 ticket for not wearing it. Really? GAHHHHHH!!!! So WEAR YOUR SEATBELT. Sigh.
————————Responses to August 25, 2010—————————
Nathaniel: Thank you very much for the nice comments about the comic, and thank you for reading my rambling blog. Thanks for the well wishes as well.
TKDB: Wow, thank you very much for the kind words about Xylia, and welcome. I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts and opinions on my work, it really does help a lot. I hope you keep coming back!
Caitydid: LOL, The Corgi and The Unicorn works, except that Libros is actually an Amphekeron or a winged bicorn. ^_^ (He gets pretty ticked off at being called a unicorn! ) Yes, Deek is doing much better and thank you for the well wishes!
Ladyfox7oaks: Yes, Claude and Ty in the same room again…it’s going to be so much fun! Thank you for the well wishes for Deek!
Slamlander- Still an ENTJ? Were you expecting a change? ^_^ Wow – an extroverted writer?! That’s something! My Introvert scale is about as high as it gets and many other writers I know are the same. ENTJ is an extremely rare personality.
Omegon- Another Rational! INTJ is another very rare personality, and basically you are the introverted version of Slamlander’s type. Being introverted is not to say you don’t do well around people, it just means that you draw energy from time spent alone, whereas the extroverts draw energy from time spent with others. Your personality type was the one I was shooting for with Claude, but I realized when I had ‘him’ take the test, that he really was an Idealist after all.
Strange Ian- thank you for the nice comments. Yes, Deek and I are both doing much better. Thanks so much!
Elizabeth: I think those personality profiles are pretty cool too- yours is similar to mine, only the extrovert model. ^_^ You like the parties, I like the cozy quiet room with a book or sketchpad. ^_^
Harena: I think I remember that when I brought this up before- you have the same type as me, Josh, Kez, Richard, and a whole bunch of other Xyliacs. ^_^ As well as Claude.
Kyastar: that is the same type as my mom and my best friend. My daughter is also in that group of personalities. I get along with those types really well! ^_^
MCat: Yay! Another ‘Mastermind’. (I always think of Stewie Griffin saying that…) Rationals are VERY rare personalities, and here we have three just like that! Thank you for the well wishes for Deek! He is doing so much better.
Passing Shadow: Thank you for coming to read the story and for taking the time to comment here! I completely understand and actually appreciate your desire for me to want to continue the tale, and I hope to get going soon…
SkeweredViewpoint: You know, I always wondered if people’s personalities could shift on this quiz- the first time I took this test was over twenty years ago, and it has always stayed the same every time I’ve taken it. But it wouldn’t surprise me if someone’s outlook could change how they view and ultimately exist in the world.
Octodude: Yes, I am Batgirl. ^_^ Heh. Yes, Deek is much better and I am so blessed that I have such a wonderful man in my life that could help me out with a loan for some of the vet expenses. I’m glad you like the self portrait. ^_^ Thank you for the comments *rides off into that Texas sunset…*
Scim: Thank you very much for the kind words about Xyliatales, and for the words of support with my stumbling. I really want to update soon. I hope y’all know that. ^_^ thank you for reading!
Cat: Thanks for the info on IBD, but I’m very sorry about the loss of your cat. Dogs and cats have very different physiology, and they don’t really get too many similar maladies. I have a feeling that Deek had colitis brought on by a gradual intolerance to his Hills RD food. I switched him to a different food, and I think he is going to be fine.
Silent Mech: Like I said, my mom, daughter and best friend are all Guardians (as is Ollie) and I quite like them a lot! I should take the test as Xylia! That’s a smashing idea.
Thank you everyone for reading, commenting and just supporting this project through this time… and supporting me as well!
Hugs,
~B
August 30th, 2010 at 3:42 am
Mwa ha ha ha. I’m an INTJ Mastermind. I must’ve missed though what this is in regards to. INTJ… just like Thomas Jefferson… and Hitler.
August 30th, 2010 at 4:39 am
I’m an INFJ. I remember taking the test in college for career guidance and the reviewer said, “Wow, you are the most introverted person I’ve ever seen.” I like the picture and the pun. “Tinkerhell”
August 30th, 2010 at 5:59 am
VERY glad to hear Deek is OK!
And yeah- They say it doesn’t matter how many times you fall down (or off…) so long as you get UP one more time than you fall.
August 30th, 2010 at 7:39 am
I find the best way of dealing with the times that I don’t go swimming to simply resolve to go again (and follow through). The real question is: Did you enjoy yourself and/or was the business trip productivity? If the answer to either is “yes” then it wasn’t that bad.
For me, the easiest way of me pigging out is to tell myself off. If I just accept that I didn’t exercise then I find it easier to go (and be good with food).
I’m glad Deek’s feeling better.
Ps.
There was a personality test?
<< going to go back to look
August 30th, 2010 at 8:05 am
Being an internet based test, I’m not sure how accurate is it but I’ll mention it here: It gave me: ENFJ.
August 30th, 2010 at 10:43 am
Glad to hear Deek’s doing better, yay!
Also, in personality test department, I do so like being in such Fabulous company… boosts me way the heck up ^_^
August 30th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Yay – another sketch and blog update! ^_^ You are really on a roll with those…
Dang – Tinkerworks beat me to it – I was going to say “TinkerHell”… I think I may know who that fellow who ran afoul of our delightful villainess may be…. Though, the identity may change in time of need. ;-]
I know there are times I wish I could WHOOSH someone like that… …and that’s probably why I can’t. *sigh*
I’m willing to bet your fella thinks *he* is the blessed and fortunate one. I’m just glad you got the help you needed, when you needed it. ^_^
I like the thought of those Texas sunset rides… I understand you have new hat just for those occasions?
Keep up the great work, B! I (and I know everyone else) am loving seeing the sketches!! I’m glad you’re writing again. You don’t have to love everything that you write right away, but I think it is important to get the process in motion. We have faith in you, B, and we support you!
August 30th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
Yay!! Deek is doing better. That is awesome to hear
Also, so totally understand about “chasing the wagon”, lol! I had a tea party w/ my girlfriends on Sunday and there were tea sandwiches, scones, muffins, and cupcakes from a cupcake “boutique” over the mountain in State college. O_o Boy were they good. Although we did play a fierce game of croquet afterwards, so that helped. ;D One of my girlfriends is an avid runner (does marathons!) and is determined to get me to run in a 3 miler this coming weekend. I told her as long as I can run/ walk it and as long as no one minds I’m slow as molasses I’ll do it. oye!! Hopefully I don’t keel over. heh.
So glad, too, that you’re feeling better and doing some writing!! As I’ve said before, please be kind to yourself when the darkness strikes. It thrives on our self-doubts, insecurities and self-hatred. If we take that part of ourselves that hurts so badly and wrap in kindness like a warm blanket, that might just help to weaken the darkness. It’s hard to remember to do, but maybe we can remind each other.
And to echo OctoDude… We definitely have faith in you Barb and know that we’re behind you 100%.
August 30th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
You’re very welcome. I appreciate the work that you do on the comic, and beyond that, you’re an interesting person! And also, rambling often simply reveals who a person really is, to some extent.
Sorry about the seatbelt ticket… the government tries to get money any way it can. I hear that not coming to a complete stop at a stop-sign in Williamsburgh costs something like 1000 dollars. It’s insane.
I’m glad that Deek is doing well again!
I hope that you can catch up to the wagon very quickly! I’m confused, though, since I only started reading this at the last post. Did you have/do you have an issue with overindulging with food?
I hope (I’ve been saying “I hope” a lot…) that you can get the comic back on its tracks. It has one of the most fascinating plots and neatest art of all the webcomics I know of.
Have a good day!
August 30th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
The most important thing is to keep going, as you already know.
I came up as a Guardian when I took the test, and that is very true! {{{HUG}}} Still reading….
August 31st, 2010 at 12:19 am
Glad to hear all is getting better!
Re your writer’s block – I know Xyliatales is very personal to you, but perhaps a co-author might help. Bouncing your ideas off someone you trust may help, and the other person’s idea/feedback may inspire you…kind of in a hey-I-never-thought-of-that-before kinda way.
Just a thought!
August 31st, 2010 at 3:41 am
Somehow I missed the personality test on the last post, so here are my results (btw, I do read all your blogs, but apparently it takes an internet test to make me comment!):
I’m apparently an “architect” (INTP), the description for which is *very* much me. My highest score was for Introverted, with Thinking being a far away second and Perceiving a close third. http://typelogic.com/intp.html
Glad to hear Deek’s doing better, although the bit about the seatbelt is unfortunate.
August 31st, 2010 at 5:20 am
Somehow I, too, missed that personality type test, but I always get INTJ. I went back and took it and got ESFJ with that one you posted, which is really odd, and sounds nothing like me. So I went with INTJ, because not only does the description fit me almost to a T, I checked out the fictional characters and hey, if one of my favorite quote sources wasn’t the second name down. I think really, I’m stuck somewhere between I and E, because I was always strongly introverted til I went to England for the year- now I find myself being much more extroverted in that I’ll talk to folks I don’t know and seek out people to hang out with, but once in a large group of friends I still behave like an introvert- I sit and listen and don’t always talk. But I love being in groups of friends. It confuses the poor tests, and I suspect I’d need a whole ton of questions to figure out which side I lean more to… although I believe it’s Introverted still.
You know after I posted my comment I went back and said, “Wait, that can’t be a unicorn, it’s got two horns!”. Awhoooops. I think Libros is a very pretty Amphekeron! And also this week’s sketch is great! “Tinkerhell” for sure!
So glad little Deek is alright! And re: seatbelts… my friend always gets after me because I tend to unhook my seatbelt at the end of my block on the way home, and her car beeps obnoxiously if you do that, til you put the seatbelt back on. I’m convinced no one would go without a seatbelt if all cars made that horrible noise. It’s a pretty annoying reason for a cop to be pulling people over, too, although I guess maybe he or she didn’t know you weren’t far from your own home? Still… annoying! And good luck with the exercising! I’m starting the Couch to 5k thing this week, which may turn out as a miserable failure that I have to try 3 or 4 times to get right. But we’ll see!
August 31st, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Aww boo!
I missed the last blog. I used to get email notifications telling me to come see it, but I didn’t last time (or this time…I just wanted to drift over and look at the sketch I remembered being up). What gives? And where can I find older blog posts? I want to find out my Myers-Briggs personality type! 
August 31st, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Oh…*sheepish grin* the back button apparently does wonders.
August 31st, 2010 at 1:01 pm
*SPAM*
Well…what do you know. I’m an INTJ Mastermind. That’s a change. I don’t know what I used to be title-wise, but I’ve evolved over the years from ENFP, to ENFJ, to INFJ, and now I’m INTJ. Am I going to lose the ‘N’ next? 
September 1st, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Well, now I need to go find that personality test. You sound so much happier B, I’m glad things are starting to look up. I’ll probably post again w/ my results of the personality test too
September 1st, 2010 at 3:31 pm
I am an ESFJ, a Provider. Sounds about right
September 1st, 2010 at 8:29 pm
That guy, the one on fire… He is a real guy, right?
September 2nd, 2010 at 4:02 am
Please go to the newest blog to see my responses to all the comments!
September 6th, 2010 at 3:24 am
Barb–I hope you will try taking a particular homeopathic I can really recommend. It’s ok to take with meds too. It’s ignatia amara (couch grass) and you simply dissolve 3-5 little pellets under the tongue when things are really overwhelming. You might need to take two doses close together, say 15 minutes apart, the first few times you use it but over a few months it needs using less and less and finally it’s just not even something to think about. I used this when my father died, and later after my mom passed. In each case it was a huge help with regaining balance and function, being able to just DO what I had to do. 30x or 30c potency is the strength I used. If you try it, tip the dose into the cap and from there into your mouth, and just let it dissolve under your tongue. Don’t be surprised if you cry after the first dose but feel better very quickly afterward.
It’s used for both grief and emotional distress (one person I knew used it to deal with highway driving).
January 11th, 2011 at 3:18 am
I got Inventor (ENTP)