It's a sure thing that--for the short-run--I'm going to be watching all of you more than submitting! Since returning, I've read nearly all of my messages. My deviations--that's a different story!

I've got them down to 6,200-ish--which is a major accomplishment, considering they were just over 8,000 when I started! And yes--I am looking at them ALL!

I've been asked what I've been up to since abruptly disappearing at the beginning of the year. Well--I've since gotten married (on September 20th), and I'm now seriously contemplating moving to Canada--perhaps during the next year.

I'm hoping to get back into the art (both photography and drawings) during the next few weeks, but until then--as my favorite "Guv-ernor" once said, "I watch you!"

Oh--and if any of you are on Facebook, send me a message! You can look me up by j_manio@yahoo.com.

Anywho, back to job hunting!

After dealing with the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" (or--more accurately--the "extreme lack of" the latter), I'm finally back.

Not only has dA changed a lot, but I almost fainted when I saw the count(s). Looks like I have a lot of catching up to do. Also have to figure outa whole lotta things with this new interface...argh.

To all my friends, I apologize for my abrupt departure. I'd like to say aliens abducted me...then again, maybe they did!

Anywho...drop me a note to say hello. I have to keep this one short, because come the morning, I'm going to resume my Don Quixotic battle against the windmills of life.

I'll update you all soon--and hope to hear from you all!

Peace and Love.

J (a.k.a. BlueMoose07)

When the funds are low, and the debts are high (and they are)!

First, I'd like to thank for the subscription. I apologize that I haven't been online to make use of it--until now!

Since getting back to San Francisco, I've been playing catchup (might as well be "ketchup"), "putting out fires" as well as trying to prevent some from starting up!

Although I'm still optimistic about the year--there are certain realities I'm dealing with (and without ye ol' "rose-colored glasses"). I'm reminded of the line from the poem "Don't Quit" that goes "When the funds are low and the debts are high..." And believe you me, brothers and sisters, they are!

If I can get through February--and get certain "lolly-gagging-drag-their-feet-in-paying-me" clients to fork-up, pony-up, feed-this-kitty.... I don't like to burn bridges when it comes to clients, but I'm telling ya--certain people are going to have to pay "up front" if they want me for future jobs, after this!

I'm in a sink-or-swim and/or do-or-die situation--financially this year. I don't want to croak anytime soon. However--I'm going to have to compromise on certain things--like my art...

I'm going to have to limit projects to weekends... Let me rephrase that--I'm going to TRY TO LIMIT WORKING ON MY ARTWORK TO WEEKENDS!

Believe me--I'm already going through major WITHDRAWAL, and certain projects (already started) are crying for attention...especially one Misty work inparticular...

Oops! I'd better cut myself off before I let the proverbial "'cat' out of the bag!"

For conclusion--I want to thank all my watching friends who continued to comment, note and view in my short and self-imposed absence. I will reply to all messages *gulps* all 450-plus of them, and I will view all deviations *double-gulps* all 1,066-plus of them!

Ten-sixty-six, eh? William the Conqueror had it easy in 1066, it seems. Gadzooks--I have my work cut out for me!

Pray as if everything depended on God...work as if everything depended on YOU!

My friends and watchers (including the "ships in the night" that randomly stop by) always have a way of moving this Goofy! Now that I've purchased another 24-hour block of high speed internet action here at the Beach Club Villas, I was pleasantly surprised to see 6001 page views on my home page... I'm especially touched, considering I haven't submitted a damn thing (except journal entries) since returning from Canada!

I also have my work cut-out for me... a whole ton of deviations to look at, and close to 294 messages to read and to reply to! :w0w: I just wish the plane had free WiFi already...not to mention the airport...

Anywho...it's the Monday after the 15th ("XV") Anniversary of the Walt Disney World Marathon and the 3rd running of the signature "Goofy Race-and-a-Half Challenge." And--it's the 3rd time this "Goof" has run and finished in it!

I was rather pleased with my Half Marathon time on Saturday. I crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 27 minutes and 53 seconds (I was aiming for 2:30). I crossed the finish line of the Full Marathon in 5 hours, 31 minutes and 6 seconds (I was aiming for between 5:30 and 5:45).

The best part--my legs are feeling pretty could, and I could go out for a training run today (no, I'm not kidding), but I'm forcing myself NOT to. I did--however, go to the gym and worked on the old upper body!

I dunno if I've mentioned this before, but as a runner I've never been blessed with speed. What I do have is 1) high endurance (must be 'cause I'm so stubborn) and 2) quick recovery.

I've already signed-up for next year's Goofy Challenge, and I'm aiming for 2 to 2:15 hours for the half, and under Between 4:30 and 5 hours for the full!

I'll be posting a few pictures from here--perhaps in the scraps--before I fly back to California on Wednesday afternoon. Right now, I'm beginning the "working" part of this "working vacation" here!

But I didn't join dA to blabber about my annual exercise in masochism--er, I mean my annual pilgrimage to Disney World....

I will be continuing artwork--Misty-related, of course--that I've had in "cold storage" since before Christmas, and I will be starting on some new ones!

I've also had requests from my fiance--who tells me that she's also joined dA--to do other "non-Pokemon" work. Um--did I mention that in addition to being a Pokeshipper I'm also a "Disney-phile?"

Anywho--thanks again for not only reading this regular drivel I post here, but for also looking at what I pass off as "art!" Take care, all!

My JetBlue red-eye flight out of San Francisco to Orlando (via New York) was delayed one hour because of weather--but not the new storm that blew through the Bay Area yesterday... It was something to with New York.

I still had more than an hour (even with the delay) to catch my connection at JFK. My flight took off and the tail winds were with us, because the pilots made up nearly half of the hour delay... Then the air traffic controllers at JFK intervened.

First...they had us circle in the air for nearly 45 minutues, so we lost more time. Second...when we finally did touch down, the same air traffic controllers parked us inbetween runways, and we got to watch plane, after plane, after plane take off. Needless to say, we lost even more time.

By the time I got into the terminal at 9:15 a.m., my flight had already started boarding--one ground shuttle and a sprint up the ramp of another terminal away! I was a little winded--but I made it just in time.

So--here I sit, in my cozy 1-bedroom (with kitchen) suite at the Beach Club Villas... I'm missing my tablet (again) and marvelling at how many deviations and messages I need to catch up on!

Hope everyone's week has been going well... I have two days to my Half Marathon on Saturday. The weather forecast calls for "scattered showers." It's Sunday--and the weather for the Full Marathon--that's concerning me, because of a higher chance of scattered thunderstorms.

Of course--today's weather, and tomorrow's, and the day after calls for sunny and warm! Go fig!

Gotta go get some sleep. More drivel to come tomorrow--evening perhaps! TTFN!