Hello dear Xyliacs!
First off, thank you so much for ALL of your kind responses to my last post. Like Canterrain said,”Xyliacs are the most awesome people ever.” I couldn’t say it better myself. Thank you all for your kind words, and stopping by to say them. It means a great deal, and I’m sorry I didn’t respond last week.
It is a great relief to read so many of you say, “Take all the time you need”, and that you can be patient with me through this time of year. The idea of twice a month is one I have been considering reluctantly for a while. But one that may be necessary. I will keep you posted on whatever we decide to do. But in the meantime, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
————–TODAY’S PAGE——————————–
And at last… is that purple lady in the story? Guest cameo in a kilt is our pal, SCAScot- AKA Richard the Mac Wizard. Here is a link to his website and all of the amazing things he does. Your Executive Assistant
————–NEWS AND JUNK LIKE THAT————————————
Well, here in the midwestern state of Iowa, we are battening down the hatches in prep for the first winter storm. Sigh. Expecting a foot of snow, wind chills of 20 below, all that typical Iowa junk. Meanwhile, basketball kicks into five nights a week- sometimes two practices in one night, so on top of the many other activities, that becomes life around here. (Come on, we’re gigantically tall people. 
I am happy to report that as of today, my weight loss total is 45 lbs.! I am very pleased, I must say. If I can keep this up through the holidays, I really will have beaten my lifetime addiction to food and stress eating…at least for now. It’s a lifestyle change, and I’m trying to use running and working out to get relief from stress instead of cookies. Not easy! When my daughter has a bunch of birthday cake in the house, and the son brings home bags of leftover cookies at the end of the night from work. REALLY? Talk about your temptations… In January, I hope to start a boot camp workout at the Y along with swimming and see if I can’t get ripped. We’ll see. That’s the goal.
Before and after pics are always fun…
Speaking of goals, it’s nearly time for year end wrap up. I have looked about for my list of resolutions from last year and can’t seem to track them down, but one of them has always been, “get thee to the gym regularly” which I have done. So I’m pleased with that. I will be posting a thread in the forum next week to list our hopes and aspirations for 2010. Please join me!
The Xyliacs forum has been quiet lately, and I am as much to blame. Moreso, really since it’s my forum! That’s one of my resolutions is to get back into the Xylia world more actively! I hope some of you will join me there.
As we wind down another year, I also want to say a big thank you to the Xylia Team for all they did to help me in 2009. Josh, Kez, Peg, and Richard, you all played a big part in keeping this project from either floating away or just plain sinking, and I want to thank each and every one of you for your support and sharing your talents here. Thank you.
Finally, I hope you terrific and always supportive Xyliacs will join me in saying a prayer for the wonderful man in my life. He is in Iraq, and work is very challenging right now (understatement) If you would just send some well wishes that way that things will get more stable, I know it would mean a great deal to him. (He is a Xyliac, too. )
——————–XYLIA GOODY BAG——————
YAYYY!!!NEW INCENTIVES!!! For $3.00 donation incentives, we’ve got a couple fun new pics, one is a piece that will be in the upcoming Xylia art calendar- Andy Warhol inspired Tychia, the other Xyliatales’ homage to my favorite band…the Fab Four! Your donations keep this thing going! Thank you very much! Click any of the below banners to go to the donation site. As always, if you encounter any problems receiving your downloadable art, please email me and I will get it to you directly.
Most of the other incentives are still available for $2.00 – $10.00 amounts, including the nude faeiries (if you are 18+)! Get em while they’re hot! ^_^
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Follow Barb’s Twittering! I try to announce Xylia things on Twitter as I get them done- hear about it first here!
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From time to time, I will broadcast live while I work on pages. This happens sporatically- I will announce it with a tweet, and a forum announcement, so if you want to get in the loop, subscribe to my Tweets, or join the forum.
To join me, or to watch past USTream episodes, please go here:XYLIATALES ON AIR TALK SHOW SITE
Thank you for reading, and as always thank you for your support and understanding. I hope that you all continue to enjoy Xylia.
Hugs,
~B
December 7th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Marvelous page.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Wow, Claudius is taller than me? o.O
December 7th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Yay! Update! You look great, btw!
December 7th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Also, “Unremarkable”? Nah, you’re just dressed for an SCA event…
December 7th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Cool page. It’s nice to see Xylia again. I agree wtih Prairie Ghost, you look great!
December 7th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Terrific page, and the artist is lookin’ pretty terrific, too!
December 7th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I said it before and I’ll say it again- Barb, you look amazing and what you’ve achieved is remarkable! I think you will make it… I wish I was there and could cook yummy-healthy things for you! You know they say that the Mediterranean cooking is the healthiest- balancing all the good things, eating lots of fresh veggies etc… But I don’t even know if you have good eggplants in Iowa!
I love this page (more kilt please!) and I can’t wait (well, I can) to see how come Claude see’s the title persona of this story at last!
I send my well wishes and hopes for you fella. As an Israeli, I have all the more reasons to wish for quiet and peace in Iraq… But as your friend I have even more reason!!! Good luck!
December 7th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Great update! Finally, Xylia!! XD Congratulations on the weight loss, Barb. You look amazing!
December 7th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Love the page!! Your art is always, always, always, worth waiting for.
45lbs!!! SWEEEET! Congrats, you look super! Winter’s tough for me too, it’s hard to get to the gym when hubby takes the 4-wheel drive to work. Good thing I’ve got weights at home, and an unassembled Bowflex, but we won’t talk about that right now…. ;D
December 7th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
It’s funny, I looked at SCAScot’s website, and chances are he lives within five miles of me. Small world.
Congratulations on your weight loss, Barb. Now comes the real hard part…keeping it off!
December 7th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Congrats on the 45 lbs lost! You look fabulous!
I think very few of us would complain with twice a month, honestly. And those that do will be eaten. *grin* Seriously though, if its less stress on you and works better with your schedule… we can adjust. This is a hobby you love, not paying work. It should be a stress reliever, not a stress inducer! Plus, you could work on it in stages rather then scrambling to get it done all at once.
Sending along many well wishes and protective thoughts to your honey. That must be super scary for you, I can only barely imagine. My own fiancee wants to run off and join some military force just to pay off his school loan and I keep going “Uhm… no. *mentally freaking out*”
So yes.. many well wishes and protective thoughts!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
December 7th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Your guy is serving in Iraq? I like and respect him already.
Whoever you may be, sir – I thank you for your service to this country.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Thank you for this page! Every day that you update is like a Holiday. And I agree with what everyone has already said above– you look absolutely fab and so does the page (brilliant kilt-ige). And to your man– I wish him safe returns and thank him deeply for serving this country.
Keep on being awesome.
December 8th, 2009 at 12:22 am
You look great! Keep up the hard work and your website is awesome
December 8th, 2009 at 2:32 am
*whew*
Been awhile since I’ve been around–like a month or so. ^///^
After waaaaay too many weeks without a working power source for the comp I’m using, I’m trying to make a come-back and catch up with all the comics I read. (Xylia being first on the list.) ^o^
Hey, you’re doing an excellent job, I just re-read the last few chapters of Xylia to re-acquaint myself with where I left off and I gotta say…it just keeps getting better! It’s great to read through it as you finish a page, but it’s even better to go back and go through a whole mess of pages–it’s an easy way to see how the flow is going. Which, is very well. ^,^
I’m very happy to hear things are looking up for you–it’s about time you catch a break in life! (You deserved it.) =D
Seeing the before and after pictures is awesome, congratz on dropping the pounds! ^o^
Also, not being around as frequently as I used to, I don’t mind how long you take with updates–I want to get back into the comic-reading-groove, but as I’ve said before, Xylia has ALWAYS been well-worth the wait. You just update when you can and I’ll be happy.
Many well-wishes to the man in your life. May he forever be healthy and may no evil befall him…And may you all live long, happy, bountiful lives. ^-^
December 8th, 2009 at 2:41 am
Looking good Barb, congrats to the weightloss.
Love the update btw, so lovely.
Holding my thumbs for your mans return to the states in good health.
Remember if you need to have more time between updates than we who are your true fans will accept that and wait for the uppdates patiently because we know you will gives us quality work when you update, I rather see fewer updates with great artwork and storytelling than more updates with art and storytelling that aren’t as good.
December 8th, 2009 at 6:07 am
YAY !!!!! ^.^
brilliant page as usual and major gratz on the weight loss! i can’t see the pic but i bet you look stellar!
Keeping a thought for all the guys and gals in iraq x But as you asked nicely a little extra for your guy
December 8th, 2009 at 10:04 am
First, Great page!
Second…. O.O I want to be like you. The weight thing is amazing. Maybe you can be my inspiration to finally get healthy!
December 8th, 2009 at 10:22 am
First, loving how you’re rocking the hat, Barb. Nice.
Second, congrats on the weight loss. I’ve lost a bunch of weight too, so word up. >:-)
Third….I’m sorry, but I’m not believing that that’s OUR purple lady. I just can’t believe it after all this time and after the wools been pulled other times (I’m thinking mainly of Alitria here).
December 9th, 2009 at 7:43 am
Congrats on the weight loss, good luck to your other half on his tour…having done a couple cruises, and being the one staying home too, I know how much stress that might put on a person. I hope he gets through it intact, and I’m sure he’ll be more than ready to come home to you!
The page is awesome…and I hope you’re not teasing me here…I’m yearning for these two to find a way back into each others’ arms!
December 9th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Grats on the weight loss, you look great. I know how hard that sort of thing is, especially this time of year. Trying to do the same myself. In other news….I can’t see the page in Firefox. Used to be that I couldn’t see it in IE back when you were having issues, so I switched to FF…now I can only see it in IE? Is it just me?
December 9th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Thanks everyone for stopping, and for the comments!
Houseofmuses, thank you!
Richard(SCAScot) Well, you are both the same height really, but you are walking in front of them.
PrairieGhost, thank you very much for both! ^_^
Tinkerwrks & Joseph – thank you both too!! ^_^
Hagar- wow, i would love to have some of your Meiterranean cooking! Awesome. And yes, I agree about peace in the part of the world where you both are.
Alan- Thank you! And yes, XYLIA!
Christine- Thank you very much for the nice comments- and yes, i have weights at home too- but they never seem to
work like the ones at the gym!
Lloyd- Wow! That is a small world! Very cool. Thank you- and yes, keeping the weight off is the challenge. I’m doin two months of maintenence right now before I try to lose any more.
ACWN and California Dave- thank you very much on all counts especially for the well wishes for my gentleman friend. I want to clarify that he is
working in Iraq as a civilian- he would be upset if he felt anyone was misled- he has utmost respect for the troops there, and his job is in support of them.
Vadia and Chelle- Thank you!! ^_^
Chameleon Kid, welcome back!! I’m glad that Xylia is worth waiting for as many times as I’ve asked you all to wait. Thank you for all your kind words!
Silvara & Gemz- thank you very much for the kind words and well wishes for my my guy. ^_^
Kyastar- thank you very much. Actually my inspiration was three things. Number one, I was interested in a man (always helps) Number two, two of my best friends (mother and daughter) had successfully lost a lot of weight in a year and a half, and they really inspired me. Thank you Molly and Lucy! And three- that picture of myself (the before one) taken by my son’s girlfriend around the Fourth of July was a real wake up call. I knew I had gained weight, but I didn’t really know what I looked like until I saw that picture. I was done.
Thanks, Brent! It’s great to see you again! So, you don’t think that’s Xylia, hmm?
Tigershark, thank you very much for the kind words, and again thank you for the well wishes for my boyfriend and for your service to our country.
Hans, I’m sorry you are having page issues- I checked on my Firefox and it works. Maybe try a hard refresh and see if that works. As far as the weight loss thing- I started my journey with it in August. At first, no weight came off- even though going to the gym five-six days a week, cutting my calorie intake and eating better- my weight stayed the same. Let me tell you – THAT was discouraging. But even so, this time I didn’t let myself give up. I kept going because I felt better. If I was stressed out, a good run or forty minutes on the eliptical made me feel better.
Then suddenly about five weeks in, the weight started to drop off. One week five pounds. One week seven. It was amazing. I had built up enough muscle that my metabolism had shifted and I started to burn calories. On my trip, where I was gone for ten days and never went to a gym, I still lost five more pounds.
When November started, I started reintroducing more foods and upping my intake to a maintanence level through the holiday season. I’m still going to the gym five days a week, but eating more (I let myself have a cookie or two, and turkey and stuffing) Even so, I’m still losing weight. About a pound to a pound and a half a week, which is really ideal.
Having struggled with weight issues since I was eight or nine years old, I know what it’s like. This is the first time I’ve come close to feeling even somewhat in control- and if I (a busy artist/ mom who sits most of the day working or driving) can do it, BELIEVE ME, anyone can!! I guess I would tell anyone deciding to get healthy (which was really my goal, since I was toeing the line at ‘obese’) it would be to not give up even if the scale says there’s no point to it. It will happen. And remember that once you get through those first weeks of soreness and stiffness- it feels good to get exercise. It really does. And even if you’re busy, it’s really important to make that time for yourself and your health- like brushing your teeth or sleeping- it’s part of maintaining a healthy body.
Thank you EVERYONE for your amazing support and kind words!! <3<3
~B
December 9th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Thanks, for a beautiful comic. Thanks for the time you put into making all out lives a bit better every time we visit. You’re looking great too. Congratulations.
December 10th, 2009 at 12:43 am
Okay – your guy is working with our military. He still has my thanks and respect.
December 10th, 2009 at 8:27 am
MG- Thank you very much for your kind words.
California Dave- thank you very much for that- I feel exactly the same way about him.
December 10th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Excellent page! So happy to see Xylia back!
Congrats on the weight loss! I recently lost 80 pounds, and I know exactly how you feel! It exhilarating and just a little scary. Good luck with the boot camp in January – you’re a braver woman than I.
And yes, before and after pic are very fun. I love mine.
December 12th, 2009 at 10:12 am
B , You and the rest of Team XyliaTales have our support, no matter the update frequency. I second ACWN’s (and others) thoughts on the subject of updates – It should be as much a blessing to you as it is to us, rather than a source of stress. We’re happy to get new pages when we can, no matter the interval.
Welcome to Epsilon, SCAScot!
B! Congrats on the weight loss, the burgeoning fitness, and the dramatic before-and-after goodness!! You kick booty, Queen o’ the Faeries!
I dig the hat too. It works. ^_^
It is great to see our Purple Lady making an appearance – but I have to admit, I suspect our boy Claude is not out of the proverbial woods yet – I think he still has his work cut out for him…. We have faith in him, though! :-]
Keep up the great work, in and out of the gym! You ROCK!
^_^
January 16th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Hey! Love your comic so far I just started reading it today. I am a big horse person and have owned two horses in my life. From one artist to another I just wanted to give some tips. I want to make clear I am not at all demeaning your ability. A horse with a back proportion would have a longer neck. Depending on the breed the legs would be longer. It is unusual for a horse to have a back that long but there are some (My first horse had a long back) But i do understand that it is difficult to draw horses. Please take this as constructive criticism. Love your work keep it up!