Last week Friday I got up and got ready for work. My wife had already left, catching the ferry into work as I usually do but on Fridays I often have to drive in so that I can pick up my shipment for the shop. This allows me a few extra minutes of sleeping in.

Walking into the bathroom I found my fuzzy buddy, Soldier, curled up in the bathroom sink, as he would always do. He had claimed it for his bed when we got the bathroom renovated a couple years ago.  
So I picked him up put him on the floor and continued to brush my teeth etc.
But I noticed Soldier wasn't his usually noisy self, begging for food. But I figured perhaps my wife had given him some "mushy mush" food before she left.
It still kind of bothered me as he seemed a bit more lethargic than normal though.
But hey, calling a cat lazy is kind of redundant and he would often get like this after the initial "Hurray, my people are awake".

When I came home that night I mentioned to my wife that "Hey, I'm a little worried about Soldier, he seemed a little distant this morning. Had you fed him before you left?"
She replied that she had not fed him but he had been acting normal, giving her head butts and so forth.

He was sleeping when we came in and when he later did get up continued to act sort of lethargic and didn't have much interest in food, water or playing. VERY strange for Soldier. He still cuddled up to me that night though purring loudly, as he would always do, but it was obvious he wasn't himself and we decided in the morning we would take him to the vet.

Saturday morning we saw the vet. When she took his temperature it was 105! And he was very dehydrated.  She said this is rather serious so they gave him fluids and antibiotics as well as a shot to bring his appetite back. She instructed us to make sure he has plenty of water and food and if someone could watch him during the day. She said they could keep him at the vet but it was better for him to go home where he wasn't stressed and could relax.

All in all it sounded like he had a bad flu, but deep down I knew this was bad.

My wife stayed with him during the day as I went to work and she  informed me through phone calls and texts that he seemed to perk up, drinking water and, although still not eating, seemed to be acting a bit more like himself.  Later that night we gave him water with some ice (as we had been instructed by the vet) and he seemed to like it drinking a good deal of regular room temp water and cooled water.
But it was like he couldn't get comfortable, moving to different spots in the house, the wife and I watching him closely. He even threw-up a couple times... just water really. Again all symptoms of the flu.

We let him rest and tried not to bother him too much, just gentle petting. At about 2 or 3 in the morning we went to get a rather restless sleep.

At 6'ish I woke up to my other cat, Warrior, walking around my head. I immediately got up to check on my buddy who was right outside my bedroom door. I could see he wasn't doing well. He was panting a bit and I when I moved the water to him he just sort of flopped back onto his side. I immediately woke the wife and we called the vet.

When we told her the symptoms she said we should come in but it would be best to prepare ourselves as it did not sound good.

I broke the speed limit the whole way to the vet. My wife Dawn and I sat there petting and talking to our furry four legged son, waiting for her.  As soon as she arrived we went right to the back room. When I put him on the table Soldier sat there for a second and then he flopped over as if he didn't have the strength.  I caught his little head in my hand before it banged against the table. The vet hadn't even listened to his chest yet and I knew this was the last time I would hold my boy.

She told us his body was shutting down and he was not going to recover. It was just time now.

I remember I had to choke out 'Don't let him suffer." twice. The first time it just came out as an unintelligent, moaning shudder from my lips. As if the words themselves didn't want to form.


I have had many cats growing up but, Soldier was MY first cat. He chose me when I when to the SPCA. He stood up in his cage while the other kittens huddled in the back and he walked up to me as if to say "Well, it's about time you got here. I've been waiting to go home, Pop."  
He and his little brother, Warrior, even made an appearance in the Jessie one-shot issue.  

I loved him like a person.
He NEVER hissed or scratched at me, though, he did give me plenty of cuts and scratches as he climbed over me in the middle of the night, or tried to lick my goatee as I slept.
YUCK! 

I think that he must have been sick for awhile as he had lost a lot of weight. But he was getting older and still so healthy and active. The vets never found anything wrong with him in his checkups and they think that this may have been Cancer.
I can be thankful that it was fast. I remember on Thursday night telling him to stop chasing Warrior as they play fought constantly, running through the house like maniacs.


So for anyone who took the time to read this. I thank you. And if you have a pet, please give them a little extra attention today. Take some pictures and videos.  And feel free to write a little tidbit about your furry family member here.

I'm a huge Spidey fan.  And want to get some opinions on a new subplot that started in Amazing Spidey #659. So there may be spoilers if you haven't given the issue a read yet.
Peter Parker has a new girlfriend a forensic investigator named Charlie Cooper.
Now Peter has had to go on an adventure with some other supers (the FF) and so had to make up an excuse to protect his identity, that he is out of town on a business trip/conference or some such. Charlie trying to be the good girlfriend stops by his job with a care package and asks Peters employer to forward the package to him at the conference. The job tells her "Peter isn't at any conference."

Now Charlie, upset, goes out with the girls, gets very drunk and decides  "You know what not -so-perfect Peter would hate?"  if I got a tattoo!
Ok, she is out for a little drunken revenge. Granted,  but still has the clarity of mind when picking out a design in the portfolio to say to herself "Chinese character...No. Unicorns, No. MOM Seriously? People still get those?  Butterfly above the crack of my butt? Why not E-Z on my Forehead?"
Instead she decides to get
A GREEN GOBLIN TATTOO! because "Yes, yes! Peter HATES Osborn! He'll have a conniption when he sees it!"

Without going into too many details let me just say:  this Tattoo is a sign for a new "cult" that has sprung up recently that sides with Norman Osborn (the once Green Goblin). Charlie is affiliated with the police so she knows all this. She is dating a guy who had his "first love" killed by the Green Goblin/Osborn, I'm sure THIS would have popped up in conversation with Peter if she knows he hates Osborn.
I think that convo would go like this
Charlie : Why do you hate Osborn him so much, Pete?"
Peter: "You mean besides the fact that he killed my girlfriend, Gwen Stacy, Daughter of Police Captain Stacy?"
Charlie "Oh..."

I mean talk about going a bit to far for "revenge"!  That is like a girl getting angry with her Jewish boyfriend and getting a swastika tramp-stamp just to annoy him.
I haven't seen the next issue but if I was Peter its no forgiving something like that. That is a "Your crap is in a box at the door grab it and run don't walk out of my life!" situation.

But I don't want you guys to think I'm angry at this sub plot, In fact I think its awesome. that is really good storytelling and writing. Its THIS kind of story that gets the fans chatting and laughing in the comic shop as they discuss .  It has pushed the envelope a bit without getting too deep  (ie Gwen Stacy had a affair with Norman Osborn and birthed 2 kids from him)

So I want to hear some more opinions. What do you think about the Tattoo fiasco?

As the title says I have been away from DA for way to long and so I'm going to make make more of an effort to swing by and update with commissions and news on CONTRACT. Thanks for everyone who has shown support and continues to do so.  
You all rock!

Hi all, I just wanted to show my support for Jeff Stokely and his cool character The Sparrow! in the Stan Lee create a hero contest. He is looking for all the support he can get so please swing by and cast your vote. IT IS SUPER QUICK AND EASY!
www.talenthouse.com/creativein…


Below is his DA Journal entry:
The voting is now OPEN! If any of you have ever wanted to show your support for my work then please PLEASE go here:

!!!!!---->www.talenthouse.com/creativein…<----!!!!!

You don't have to sign up or anything!


****UPDATE****

Hey guys, just wanted to shout out a quick update. I am currently in the TOP 15 and Im getting a good amount of votes but I could still use lots of support!!!

If you have already voted via Facebook, you can vote AGAIN via SMS !!!

If you dont have a Facebook account please try the SMS! Here's a break down:

For US residents, Talentouse does NOT charge for voting, your standard messaging rates may apply, so its like voting for American Idol! Hahaha
Just text "TH GRY2F5" to # 66337 to vote! And imagine Stan Lee saying "THE SPARROW!"

If you live outside of the US and want to vote via SMS just go here: www.talenthouse.com/creativein… and check out the details.

I dont normally enter contests like this so I need every bit of help!!
If you can, PLEASE spread the word! Show your support!

www.talenthouse.com/creativein…

Ive posted a bigger version of my hero design here: