Hey all,

I know it's been ages since I posted here, and my last entry left a bit of a negative slant on the way things were going. Well, most would argue that things didn't improve since that journal entry, but I'm still here, and while I'm not 100% health wise, I'm not letting it affect me if I can help it. The medication is working for the most part and most of my symptoms are manageable. Thankfully my government assistance on my medication has kicked in and I can enjoy free prescriptions until the end of the year! At that point, it's another $1600 before it kicks in again, but .. better than nothing.

First, an update on the health stuff. I've been on Vencomiacin twice now to kill of a bacterial infection that was found shortly after leaving the hospital. Ironically, my doctor had said repeatedly that my symptoms pointed to Crohn's disease, but a CDIF bacterial infection would also look this way in -nearly- every respect. We're both hoping this might be all it is (which is not going away anytime soon, but it's better than a lifelong illness). I'll post results as I get 'em.

Most people who know me know that 3 weeks after leaving the hospital, I took a trip down with a bunch of furs to Seattle to hit up Boeing surplus while it's still around, and just generally hang out with friends. At around 7:30 on Saturday morning, I made a left turn from a stop sign across a blind intersection, only to have a speeding kid, going about 50mph on this residential street, swerve away into my lane to 'avoid' me, correct, and t-bone my 2004 SRT4 on the driver side. It rotated the car into the opposite curb and destroyed my new 18" billet rim as well as the suspension on that side, besides the irreparable damage done to the drivers side of the car. Most people who see the damage (www.bluesrt4.com) say I'm lucky to be alive.

Even with 5 witness statements, including two from people I didn't know, and the repeated admission at the scene that he was 'late for school and was going to be expelled if he didn't get there', ICBC and all the laywers I consulted said that none of my evidence would hold up in court and assigned 100% blame to me. Oh ya, I should mention... i didn't have collision coverage at the time. I'm expecting repairs to be around 10k once everything is done. The over $900 tow bill back to Vancouver was thankfully covered by ICBC roadstar. I'm awaiting parts so I can begin repairing the car with the help of my great friend Andrew, who works at Elite autobody.

To continue with the 'woe is me' type stuff, I found out about a few months ago that Volker Deecke, the whale researcher I've worked with for the last 2 or 3 years, needed a hand for another Alaska research trip. I asked for the 2 weeks I'd need off of work, but my boss put the kaibash on that real quick and said I'd already taken enough time off (not including the hospital). So, I had no choice but to decline the offer to go. Then I found out that apparently Volker is moving to Scottland after this to take up a research position there. That means.. this was likely my last chance to ever work with the equipment I built, and to get out on the water in a research designation. Ya... I was very upset. Who knows what the future holds tho, I suppose. It took me years to get that place though. :(

Ok.. NOW for the happy stuff!!

To say I've had a shitty year is a tremendous understatement, as I'm sure is evident in the paragraphs above. Still, all is not lost! Financially, emotionally, and physically, I've had a lot of trouble thinking positive, but my family, my girlfriend Steph (I love you babe), and all my friends have been there for me and have lifted me up when I felt like I couldn't stand a moment longer. I am still an amazingly lucky person and I care for you all deeply... truly.

I might as well mention a few of the things I've had fun with this Summer.

RC Cars - I got into these again by buying a used 1/8th scale gas buggy off of a forum posting I found while I was in the hospital. I can't believe how much fun i've had with that thing. I got out to two races this year, and hopefully will get to more before the end of the season, plus found friends who I knew in the past who had gotten into the hobby as well. In fact, I was out until close to 10 ripping up a baseball diamond with some friends at Mahan park in North Vancouver last night! There are a few pics of my cars here: http://www.tailslap.com/RC/

Cooking - Ok, I was bored and had nothing to do in that hospital bed, so I figured.. why not learn to cook? Ok, well, I failed in that department, but I DID get an appreciation for cooking that I didn't have before! I've become a halfway decent sushi chef and I've made the stuff a few times for myself and family. It's fun! Hopefully Thai and chinese cooking is next on the agenda.

Furry - Ok.. wow.. have I ever been relying on this to keep me happy. And it's worked! I always knew that being around my furry friends made me happy, and so I've tried to ensure I got out to as many furry events as I can. This past weekend was Rainfurrest, a startup con in Seattle that my buddy Trappa started up with a guy named Gene. Wow.. what a blast that was! I spent a great deal of time with WhitePaws, Terk, and Amran doing fursuting related stuff at the dances and otherwise. We even won the Masquerade with our "pirates" skit!



I can't believe how incredible the fursuits were at this event. I know my fursuit is only my first attempt at making one, but when I'm standing beside suits from latin vixen, scribblefox, and whiteyfawks, it's difficult to think overly highly of my lowly dolphin costume.
http://www.tailslap.com/furry/rainfurrest0-2007/slides/DSC_1474.JPG

The whole event was awesome. I became staff in short order when they needed help with reg, and from what I can tell, it looks like I'll wind up running registration next year. Trappa even called me up to the front during closing ceremonies for a round of applause for my help with the con. I really don't think I deserved that, but it was flattering nonetheless! I was in fursuit at the time too, so it made it particularly unique :)

well, that's about all I can put for now. I have to get to work! Thank you all for your support, and with luck, my future postings will be on positive notes!

*squeak!*