tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34295470465072083272024-03-13T12:04:32.766-07:00oxyborbthe official blog of David Harrison Ayeoxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.comBlogger254125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-86663655380337859602024-01-27T14:30:00.000-08:002024-01-27T14:32:11.631-08:00The Sandbox Storytelling Success of Minecraft, Dungeons & Dragons, and Me...<p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">2016’s Stranger Things kicked off a resurgence in
the popularity of Dungeons & Dragons, and I am a part of that resurgence.
My D&D group began in 2017, a collection of longtime friends and theatre peeps.</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnl6KhwvBnDwuPMvzCt5KlwuFRvlNoiSJsh1tuzW3agOX_Q_r1KXdJ09tX8uzqER6PvzA9Ig6s31nkHvv_26TxI1FKFVD4fYdminvpLoTaq8UTRWNhdzaonD41tAjEipyXHswYRBkTFtq-FTmWM3QEGBaZ6Psg7Okr_sN7oBU58_j5k_UOeC6BpAvrP2D/s368/JOR%20RR%20token2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="368" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnl6KhwvBnDwuPMvzCt5KlwuFRvlNoiSJsh1tuzW3agOX_Q_r1KXdJ09tX8uzqER6PvzA9Ig6s31nkHvv_26TxI1FKFVD4fYdminvpLoTaq8UTRWNhdzaonD41tAjEipyXHswYRBkTFtq-FTmWM3QEGBaZ6Psg7Okr_sN7oBU58_j5k_UOeC6BpAvrP2D/s320/JOR%20RR%20token2.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">art by my friend Casey</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><i style="font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-size: x-large;">Man</i><span style="font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-size: x-large;">,
there were phenomenal actors in that group. I was the “backstage” guy, so it
was a bit intimidating trying to roleplay with that crowd. I think I found my
niche with a studious little gnome wizard named Jor R.R. Molkien. He was a bit
self-centered with tunnel vision, but he did the right thing when it came down
to it. We played together for four years.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyqYCXvieiYO7qze7i6M9rRbJBrsrngTmc_Sz-FQ3Z2MOfGtqKCypwtYxHRWUA4fjndL2ENLAe23qWolCjNVWYWVZv1j6qj5J0w85TbLbZcyhbRi9puVh3doGqaB0Q3DhCLtUqZwY5i-83hu-lSYWq3DYArMv47WwTtxDZ6v9-wT0wgvjgMTyhQwsSwx0/s1440/24879798_10101377070132878_2095287605730283202_o%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="1440" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyqYCXvieiYO7qze7i6M9rRbJBrsrngTmc_Sz-FQ3Z2MOfGtqKCypwtYxHRWUA4fjndL2ENLAe23qWolCjNVWYWVZv1j6qj5J0w85TbLbZcyhbRi9puVh3doGqaB0Q3DhCLtUqZwY5i-83hu-lSYWq3DYArMv47WwTtxDZ6v9-wT0wgvjgMTyhQwsSwx0/w640-h136/24879798_10101377070132878_2095287605730283202_o%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">My friend who ran the campaign (the dungeon
master) allowed us to create our own mini-quests and have character goals
outside of the story he had been planning. He had created a vibrant collective
sandbox world for the players to play in. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">In videogames, I think sometimes the concepts of
“sandbox” and “open” world get mixed up, usually, I think, because many sandbox
games are open worlds and vice versa. But, I’d like to give a quick definition:
“Open worlds” are games where there are minimal limits to a player’s decisions
about where to go on the map. Players are encouraged to roam, search, explore,
and select the tasks they wish to complete. “Sandboxes” are games which give
the player the tools to be creative and then sets them free to employ their
imaginations. There’s a bigger emphasis on players being able to change and
control the gameplay.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">By my definitions, it’s pretty hard to think of a
game that is a sandbox without being an open world. The one I’ve come up with
is <i>The Sims</i>. Back when I was a teen,
this game gave you a plot of land. You built a house, created a family, and
then you got to watch your Sims play out their lives. You got the tools to
enjoy messing with (or sometimes torturing) your Sims in a million creative
ways, but it was contained to the house you built. There wasn’t a huge open
world to explore. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJq1Sg_hbGI0Nl8RRa46OO6gVZ7TNU7xuF3OBJU_hCTNtschbrqn2uE4HPZk-95DpRHxF6WtTrsXH5FE3ILyDLfH_JwCD4cNiz_5CAnkVs01_LEGHTpns0SCsCogSZTgHuzuDleZSnaTKFRBvp6qK2Q24G3A92UO5DVE-z8q0JfU_WIom2u-gre_Jio_QG/s6592/DSC01648.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="6592" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJq1Sg_hbGI0Nl8RRa46OO6gVZ7TNU7xuF3OBJU_hCTNtschbrqn2uE4HPZk-95DpRHxF6WtTrsXH5FE3ILyDLfH_JwCD4cNiz_5CAnkVs01_LEGHTpns0SCsCogSZTgHuzuDleZSnaTKFRBvp6qK2Q24G3A92UO5DVE-z8q0JfU_WIom2u-gre_Jio_QG/w640-h136/DSC01648.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">On the flip side, a game that rests in an open
world but is not really a sandbox might be Marvel's Spider-Man for the PS4. You
can go anywhere you want in the world, but you can’t really creatively
manipulate and control the world within all that much. For example, when you web
a citizen, nothing really happens and they run away. There’s not much
experimentation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">A more sandbox-level game like GTA would allow you
to do what you want to the citizens (however, there are consequences, such as
the police chasing you down). Actions get reactions, sometimes unexpected.
Often generative of the moment. And, of course, there are varying degrees to
which a game can employ the elements of open world and/or sandbox gameplay. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">My DM would often say, <i>“Tell me what you want to do, and I’ll tell you what to roll to see if
you can do it.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">I think that’s what made my longtime D&D
campaign so great. My DM understood how to properly balance open world and
sandbox elements, which allowed the players to collectively be a part of the
shape and direction of the story. <br />
<br />
<i>“The path is never a straight line.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">Minecraft came at me during a whirlwind time of my
life. I got swept up and carried away by major life decisions and transitions,
and I think this is where my virtual life became a bigger sandbox than my real
life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_J0SXg_D0bizugft7uyTQxumU5YVyrQ2L9VZLFoUyEx4365dz4IbN5JpomJa3yj2NAZXLDi-q4YJrRCUo4n5jcwpbLLmgI62g2aMgl9NOvVavunizoBaMNfnygYR9jRWCt-ACUWV2KiOjsJAUDmCMcPg8UQ_dtgKz3Vj8n0s6lrGnVG1i96JHQkNz3YE/s1080/19238027_10102050921858328_7620612108905373750_o.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="1080" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_J0SXg_D0bizugft7uyTQxumU5YVyrQ2L9VZLFoUyEx4365dz4IbN5JpomJa3yj2NAZXLDi-q4YJrRCUo4n5jcwpbLLmgI62g2aMgl9NOvVavunizoBaMNfnygYR9jRWCt-ACUWV2KiOjsJAUDmCMcPg8UQ_dtgKz3Vj8n0s6lrGnVG1i96JHQkNz3YE/w640-h186/19238027_10102050921858328_7620612108905373750_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">I joined during the Alpha. The first time I played
Minecraft, it was just block madness. I remember my first time logging into a
game. I played in-browser. You could place blocks or destroy them in an instant,
and it was all creative mode. This was after summer, 2010. I had just graduated
college with my English Education degree. I had no job prospects. I had no idea
what to do next. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">But I did have a girlfriend of two years. She set
her heart on moving as far away from Belleville as possible, and to that, and
my choice became either get married and go with her or end it and enter the
unknown of adulthood by myself. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-size: large;">I scrolled back through my social media during
that time... interestingly, my reading choices then were Mark Z. Danielewski’s </span><i style="font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-size: x-large;">House of Leaves</i><span style="font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-size: large;"> and Stephen King’s </span><i style="font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-size: x-large;">It</i><span style="font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-size: large;">. Both of those books are mind-bending
cornerstones of my reading life. The end of </span><i style="font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-size: x-large;">It</i><span style="font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-size: large;">
struck me from the inside out</span><i style="font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-size: x-large;">.</i> <b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><Spoilers></span></b><span style="font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-size: large;"> the town caves in on itself. Derry was the
monster, or one aspect of it. With the death of Pennywise, the city could not
maintain itself. I remember reading that, but I was there. </span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-size: large;">
I was in Belleville, Illinois, but walking down the same streets as the Loser’s
Club. Would I always be here? Or would I ever leave? My friends had moved on
already, to live and work across the map of the USA. The prospects of becoming
a “townie” were growing. I was Mike Hanlon, the only one to stay. My
rock-and-roll bandmates left. My theatre company was nearing the end. Everyone
else was finding success across the map.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">Meanwhile, my digital life took off. I started a
Minecraft server of my very own. It was a java server, meaning, I could update
it with mods or whatever I wanted. I posted the link on a Minecraft forum and
people started trickling onto my server from all over the world. We built
cities on one map, which I titled “Otherside.” As the owner of the server, I
played god. I could cultivate the community and set goals. I could destroy. I
could create. I could fly around and make others take the train.<br />
<br />
My escape into Minecraft was perpetuated, I realize, from my real life’s lack
of sandbox and open world elements. I couldn’t go anywhere. I couldn’t do
anything. In fact, I barely knew what to do next, other than go to work each
day at the Home Depot, watching old ladies choose between swatches of carmine
to crimson (don’t paint your living room red, yo, you’ll regret it) and
blending it for them in the cheapest bucket they could find (but do we really
need primer?). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">So, when my girlfriend decided she was going to
leave, move far away from Belleville with or without me, I chose what looked
like the path of adventure. I got married in October of 2010. Minecraft went
into Beta in December. My new wife and I moved to Seattle in July of 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_hskmCJONqlCn7zC2FYgVCFPPd-z2yoUGy_KmUH7iZqnFIGpjMozfi4cBDZQTFclhnir-IrVmBw7-5cnxnniovbbpVY8_TC0ClIt3UBdkl4kX5_tKDVQx9sDWkdhRt44NPnl6-0TjI7LhBUvRLjcLt8iZ9rJBJcFqPPNfb_vBgxOlN1y59sd2wKYQch7/s640/HNI_0081.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="640" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_hskmCJONqlCn7zC2FYgVCFPPd-z2yoUGy_KmUH7iZqnFIGpjMozfi4cBDZQTFclhnir-IrVmBw7-5cnxnniovbbpVY8_TC0ClIt3UBdkl4kX5_tKDVQx9sDWkdhRt44NPnl6-0TjI7LhBUvRLjcLt8iZ9rJBJcFqPPNfb_vBgxOlN1y59sd2wKYQch7/w640-h237/HNI_0081.JPG" title="at a rest stop driving from Belleville to Seattle" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At a rest stop driving from Belleville to Seattle<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">Leaving Southern Illinois felt like my first true
“open world” reality moment. I quit my job. I sold my car (my wife’s was
better). I got rid of any possession that I couldn’t deem as essential. I even
remembering telling my Minecraft server to expect a hiatus while I got settled
in a new city. We packed a car and drove off across America. She had a job
lined up, but I didn’t. We didn’t have an apartment, either. Nobody told me
what I needed to do next. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">All my life, there was a track. School, mostly.
Elementary, middle, high school, university. I remember seeing the giant wind
turbines in Wyoming, thinking, I was as free as could be. Not sure if I really
was, but the feeling was there. We stopped and bought cherries, fresh from a
farm, ate them while viewing the mountain ranges of the State of Washington for
the first time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">Landing in Seattle had some beautiful chaos to it.
We stayed in a hostel for a few week as we sorted out the details. Our stay was
in the International District, and during the Chinese Dragon Festival. The
streets each day were fun to be on. I explored this new world, doing whatever I
wished. Of course, I also spent time job hunting. I got hired after about 2
weeks to one the hardest places I’ve ever had to work, which was at KinderCare
Learning Center. We did get an apartment, too. Our first year in Seattle had
many fun things: starting-over, making all new friends, seeing completely new
sights... etc. After that year, I think the open world elements scaled back
quickly. I don’t think either of us were happy. What had been refreshing—not
knowing anyone and starting over—became isolating and lonesome. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">I dove deeper into my Minecraft server. Back to my
escape. My server grew. I had hundreds of different people on each day. People
built entire cities. Entire worlds. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">That marriage didn’t work out.
I moved back to Belleville after two years, and my perspective was fresh.
Seattle was different but not <i>that</i>
different. Belleville wasn’t Derry. A few of my friends moved back, too. As my
life lost direction, my need for Minecraft slowly faded. I enjoyed having a
sandbox of reality again, and wild things happened constantly. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqFH1n_seR-AbjRwCylAFaXGFW6YeBwYywu9XGKA-dPPq7abekO2JGgcE0kWZOq3bsHc-vA1nn-7u5J4Qf0-ubGK98l-JQniJTpbEREL9WWqdoK2L7vrynWWvxpVwW0lxzmrHLZ7MC78VZ_I4AcBWfnGtvvSKe21l0a4_qerp9CF7NlcZWnyXQAxCf8iq/s1075/457511_336174563108213_223074503_o.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="1075" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqFH1n_seR-AbjRwCylAFaXGFW6YeBwYywu9XGKA-dPPq7abekO2JGgcE0kWZOq3bsHc-vA1nn-7u5J4Qf0-ubGK98l-JQniJTpbEREL9WWqdoK2L7vrynWWvxpVwW0lxzmrHLZ7MC78VZ_I4AcBWfnGtvvSKe21l0a4_qerp9CF7NlcZWnyXQAxCf8iq/w640-h168/457511_336174563108213_223074503_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">Minecraft.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">I think what makes it easily one of the greatest
games of all time is that it is not a story, but it is a platform for
storytelling. It’s a reality, where storytelling elements are baked in. Secrets
are threaded throughout, but the mysteries are what the players make of them.
Imagine being teleported to the world of Sherlock Holmes—the atmosphere is
ready, the world is populated, everything is randomly generated, and the clues
have been hidden throughout. But—the clues direct the players to the mysteries
the players they themselves generate. I think of this as sandbox storytelling. Minecraft
is a platform, the game is whatever the players decide. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;">I have more to say about this, but I think I’ll
end with this: My goal is to author a platform, not just a story. I want to
figure out the magic that can turn a book I write into a sandbox where readers
can take the lead and go wherever they want to. That’s the secret ingredient I’m
working on discovering. </span><div><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBODW1rYqU-xNHRVg6hGL1u7fHq0XqkJ_rHAh3is7Bc71fGtWeR7aKlH4QfIgX2cpyarIQY_1HAfyehrGcPWz1UihOl0Gq02n5XbHJHZejTJl20zZ6L42ew8a77htasP5x56Pqg876B2HLukhOLPmXQt3gUfsgvxUxo31hOB_2KrV2NMaDquBtj4ICnPm/s6592/DSC01682.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1165" data-original-width="6592" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBODW1rYqU-xNHRVg6hGL1u7fHq0XqkJ_rHAh3is7Bc71fGtWeR7aKlH4QfIgX2cpyarIQY_1HAfyehrGcPWz1UihOl0Gq02n5XbHJHZejTJl20zZ6L42ew8a77htasP5x56Pqg876B2HLukhOLPmXQt3gUfsgvxUxo31hOB_2KrV2NMaDquBtj4ICnPm/w640-h114/DSC01682.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-31026136861316845392023-05-26T03:43:00.005-07:002023-05-26T03:46:10.496-07:00A trip through a maze...<p><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: large;"><b>True story: I once created a maze with a hundred
other people.</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcExypvi0-rAQNxYs9PFj9wIfn3dRh9oWiIuXuI0rvJI8gs8V4CKKbcRK5ilGPFP5TBFPzkFAdrlWUDE6CZ_Zbs2Eq0JpWnaaPvhs-XkenEQAAmKfI553kIRV2UKf8AiFusuoUsFjXpYM5Agvktb-542tPebnbaAR0Y1bKWWWIBLWdorF3ikgttdsm_Q/s1698/maze5.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="1698" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcExypvi0-rAQNxYs9PFj9wIfn3dRh9oWiIuXuI0rvJI8gs8V4CKKbcRK5ilGPFP5TBFPzkFAdrlWUDE6CZ_Zbs2Eq0JpWnaaPvhs-XkenEQAAmKfI553kIRV2UKf8AiFusuoUsFjXpYM5Agvktb-542tPebnbaAR0Y1bKWWWIBLWdorF3ikgttdsm_Q/w640-h190/maze5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;">In a fully 3D digital world, the maze was a series
of rooms or “levels” where the player would often reach one of several
different doors/portals/secret passages. These paths all led to other levels.
Sometimes they’d take you closer to the end, sometimes they’d take you
backward.</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;">I know there was at least one drop from way high
in the sky that took you near the beginning. </span><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: large;"><b>The maze had a hundred different
levels.</b></span><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"> Each level usually contained a theme or challenge. Sometimes you can to
successfully jump to the top of a mountain, over a series of platforms. A fall
could mean a hot lava bath (or accidentally stumbling upon the next door).</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNB4hm4f_s6uQEA2IRK1goz1UPBRv8h0WXVgDHlbg3P-87EdcIeZMh9ZQotFU5MGDrhKXXGJB49vHFFa042YjkphaB3yPA-jxTOPShz93rwjgupBtyNVa4Z3XS9VXoA9bi809zj3niZ2cLrgXK5bLEaAvOHDHamJaz39zSqpNxfCgDcezDmET8yuSHvg/s1698/maze2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="1698" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNB4hm4f_s6uQEA2IRK1goz1UPBRv8h0WXVgDHlbg3P-87EdcIeZMh9ZQotFU5MGDrhKXXGJB49vHFFa042YjkphaB3yPA-jxTOPShz93rwjgupBtyNVa4Z3XS9VXoA9bi809zj3niZ2cLrgXK5bLEaAvOHDHamJaz39zSqpNxfCgDcezDmET8yuSHvg/w640-h190/maze2.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I was just out of college when I started on making
this maze. Gradually, I opened it up for people to create their own levels,
which were carefully woven into the rest of the maze.</span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> Hundreds of people
contributed.</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Some just worked with others. Some decorated. Some spend hours
building their own level by themselves.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;">When I reflect on that time, I think about the
artistry involved.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;">Each of those levels was beautiful, really. The
decoration, mood lighting, etc.. It was all there. Most levels were pretty
creepy, mysterious (as a maze should be!). Some levels were entirely based on
chickens—literally the platforms would only move if a chicken would randomly step
on a button or not. There was a giant chicken at the end of that level to
reward you and tell you that you are, in fact, worthy.</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWxk-SF59lwEAxpaiyQGKr6ih3MVW6bWPmTnnzYptOloILZCAqpUhmpkuwWJMIlMFVocVFtILcXmMH8ZYKxLtyxL0OxQIdnWrzqHyrBst7dSTMKSEx3xgw-r59W5HxGf3B7y752uYRsD_2xwLKV6Al-LQrxawPB1VyDDPr-SvIEGPkExDu-Ng7qfymg/s1698/maze1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="1698" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWxk-SF59lwEAxpaiyQGKr6ih3MVW6bWPmTnnzYptOloILZCAqpUhmpkuwWJMIlMFVocVFtILcXmMH8ZYKxLtyxL0OxQIdnWrzqHyrBst7dSTMKSEx3xgw-r59W5HxGf3B7y752uYRsD_2xwLKV6Al-LQrxawPB1VyDDPr-SvIEGPkExDu-Ng7qfymg/w640-h190/maze1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We had creepy forest levels, dark dungeon—fight the
monsters—levels, underwater glass tube levels, steel cage rooms, extremely long
hallways filled with empty treasure chests, </span><b><span style="font-size: large;">floating orbs of water in a black
void that you had to swim up</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">, a bookcase library maze, an entire level
dedicated to Waluigi where you had to ride a train through a giant replica of
his nose, a bamboo jungle, a level where you had to solve a mystery of a nuclear reactor in a small town, a level where you had to take a boat off a fully
circular waterfall (falling toward the center of the circle), a trivia
challenge level, and I know I’m forgetting a lot of it.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I think what made it special was that throughout
the maze, there were signs to read. Each sign said something different. Like a poltergeist,
trying a bunch of different tactics to get in your head. But the signs had
personality. </span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Going through the maze was like having a conversation with this
poltergeist, but the poltergeist made you question yourself.</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Sometimes the
signs had jack-o’-lanterns pinned to the tops, as if the pumpkin were the one
speaking.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;">To reach the end, you had to hit the Door Level.
Literally, hundreds of doors. Pick the right one, and you’d make it to the
final level. The final level was a battle against monsters, of course. There
was an automated final boss, too. You had to shoot arrows at particular spots
of a giant Pumpkin King Monster, then run through the door to win.</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoq0q6-ae1iJmEdLbL-GL-wHiJ38wxaDCduu8ZI4FubghV3nhEniSye40ThySFezUuwKHhhSzv0c9FLJRXW_b9XgPv0AiZ9-hB3WZKdehAOD3jVyx7N_APPMeX7bRDwt5iTTdCzY-nZkUUFVOIcFu-FAqnSGf2bAt7ZRkBFJZBjk1Qrg4pyWmn0p_ZTw/s1698/maze4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="1698" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoq0q6-ae1iJmEdLbL-GL-wHiJ38wxaDCduu8ZI4FubghV3nhEniSye40ThySFezUuwKHhhSzv0c9FLJRXW_b9XgPv0AiZ9-hB3WZKdehAOD3jVyx7N_APPMeX7bRDwt5iTTdCzY-nZkUUFVOIcFu-FAqnSGf2bAt7ZRkBFJZBjk1Qrg4pyWmn0p_ZTw/w640-h190/maze4.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: medium;">I’m not sure anyone ever legit won. The maze was
severely hard and confusing. Even I, the curator, easily got lost in it. The
files for the maze were lost for years, but I recently managed to get it
working. Still, it’s pretty glitched and non-functional. The code I used to
create the portals is dead, for one thing. So, to explore you have to cheat by
breaking open the walls. Some of the walls won’t even load at all, leaving
empty space.</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The artistry behind it. The scope. </span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Some rooms were legit as tall as skyscrapers or as wide as entire cities, some levels CONTAINED entire cities.</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"> The people behind it. The hours spent. So many levels, all together. I think it may be one of the best art projects I ever did. I certainly put my passion into it. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNuP4lHK9Fc3xU9PD_sdhZ-jVDdPFmw9Eqkh8uN07tQOuuJhG_kgqbZFTdN_yAxHab1ZRM9iUMYuYcnsUj1N9041WW4FuEbIEIlPV2Aor5kXxLLWEzxvoPQ48EM56jKuMYmW--3m0s6E8N-L4PDExppVtnWxyw8IvKPy1ihOaL-dZ_ZU1BfY1RDckpg/s1698/maze3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="1698" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNuP4lHK9Fc3xU9PD_sdhZ-jVDdPFmw9Eqkh8uN07tQOuuJhG_kgqbZFTdN_yAxHab1ZRM9iUMYuYcnsUj1N9041WW4FuEbIEIlPV2Aor5kXxLLWEzxvoPQ48EM56jKuMYmW--3m0s6E8N-L4PDExppVtnWxyw8IvKPy1ihOaL-dZ_ZU1BfY1RDckpg/w640-h190/maze3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Comfortaa; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /></span><p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And now the maze is lost, mostly unplayable. Nobody has accessed it in years (except me). I don't have the time to fix it up. I have bigger art projects going on. I teach a creative writing class, and next semester my students will be creating a choose-your-own adventure together, building a maze with levels and rooms, leading all over. </span><b><span style="font-size: large;">So, the maze from long ago still inspires me. I still think about who I became after I reached the end. </span></b></span></p>oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-55475502553636515902023-03-04T17:44:00.000-08:002023-03-04T17:44:00.495-08:00AI Generated Art is Mad<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">DALL-E is an AI that generates images. I think it's really incredible.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">I typed "tarantula made out of trees" and seconds later it generated these:</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3eHY9UDDEZKmGTzEWAxY81frb6Q7_F4rwR2d7QBwrRRAYLQjw8j5KJwO-T7nY4h5MLUiha-lwAGurY17oC4rkEIlzgQKz3wGdSqETkbb_gRYNfQIP-mS4v6dZPvR6WAsLlBt_NEupqdxK1PFOrjphMOsHT80ZGx4ZuwOQBlFkBteuu_W2wXTltu9fw/s2073/Tarantula%20Out%20of%20Trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2073" data-original-width="2073" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3eHY9UDDEZKmGTzEWAxY81frb6Q7_F4rwR2d7QBwrRRAYLQjw8j5KJwO-T7nY4h5MLUiha-lwAGurY17oC4rkEIlzgQKz3wGdSqETkbb_gRYNfQIP-mS4v6dZPvR6WAsLlBt_NEupqdxK1PFOrjphMOsHT80ZGx4ZuwOQBlFkBteuu_W2wXTltu9fw/w640-h640/Tarantula%20Out%20of%20Trees.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">And these aren't just photos mashed together. It actually generates them. There are <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1cF9QCu1rQ">YouTube videos that explain it well</a>. So, I'll just say I'm pretty amazed.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">"A Monster With Hooks for Hands"</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ju9doTXKApTnvNbDueWhlLBxNvHgNUm4CZIUChImzdlVORJg91AMjklrjY7dKGxj9eUnLv5fJgQd5FUKKXV3Zsmev7ynbUm19WaR4wxCgU8zsoGTbwI-0t2BvyUfoCJvauE8Ctn8JMf0GdOGEJjejQs-2IXQEZbRHojfvNTUVrzqru5g_SyEMJMHIg/s2073/A%20Monster%20With%20Hooks%20for%20Hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2073" data-original-width="2073" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ju9doTXKApTnvNbDueWhlLBxNvHgNUm4CZIUChImzdlVORJg91AMjklrjY7dKGxj9eUnLv5fJgQd5FUKKXV3Zsmev7ynbUm19WaR4wxCgU8zsoGTbwI-0t2BvyUfoCJvauE8Ctn8JMf0GdOGEJjejQs-2IXQEZbRHojfvNTUVrzqru5g_SyEMJMHIg/w640-h640/A%20Monster%20With%20Hooks%20for%20Hands.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">"A Scarecrow Man Turning Into A Flock Of Crows"</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLewS-sS4WjR_D5EiNV8rTw-bOKyoD1gKLzpEVNLVb9Rn9DAIouWG2m0g9aSVUp0Z8xUiwx4BHgXxOfv-dHzbb2iB6SQ_wOQqXLecIFDvzV_fm3kimWVvDk0wUWTm1ajCuSafbxwlO4WMj7HmWDp2zSQFKwDmDEuiNcWkLx5XmAzfDav2MWXlQz1qMQ/s2073/Scarecrow%20Turning%20Into%20a%20Flock%20of%20Crows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2073" data-original-width="2073" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLewS-sS4WjR_D5EiNV8rTw-bOKyoD1gKLzpEVNLVb9Rn9DAIouWG2m0g9aSVUp0Z8xUiwx4BHgXxOfv-dHzbb2iB6SQ_wOQqXLecIFDvzV_fm3kimWVvDk0wUWTm1ajCuSafbxwlO4WMj7HmWDp2zSQFKwDmDEuiNcWkLx5XmAzfDav2MWXlQz1qMQ/w640-h640/Scarecrow%20Turning%20Into%20a%20Flock%20of%20Crows.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">"Reality"</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mv9lwxvu7ClACRzS1JPHl6QfUUjHKXOBK_ba_PU0lenBsxrGAs-svhHSUi_kx-MyUKu95tOJQOBdPnrUn0WXf4o3To1zjDB0DAqhzoXfPw920m10uU8YkakFPOzfWJ3pMD0unwuP0bzZdYL97z4R4mIDDj_joE7wqgv8fWouC0YFcoNQdMRTXYJjHw/s2073/Reality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="2073" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mv9lwxvu7ClACRzS1JPHl6QfUUjHKXOBK_ba_PU0lenBsxrGAs-svhHSUi_kx-MyUKu95tOJQOBdPnrUn0WXf4o3To1zjDB0DAqhzoXfPw920m10uU8YkakFPOzfWJ3pMD0unwuP0bzZdYL97z4R4mIDDj_joE7wqgv8fWouC0YFcoNQdMRTXYJjHw/w640-h326/Reality.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">Here's a few more random ones I generated. But, I must say, this tech is impressive and terrifying. Either way, it's here, and it's only going to get better.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Automation is a crazy thing, but this art is better than 90% of the stuff you see in your local cafes, and generated within seconds. Why would companies in the future ever pay an artist when they can generate logos/ads through an AI? <br /><br />Everything will change. Someday, the AI generated books will be better than the ones that writers write. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwcAbAHJnRK_jc8-67w6kGrUfFS9H-hstZwHIYUsW6jTneUs0x-IKupCZ_lnxlWnAsA1zqqGcLvQIpKyfcE1mbqnnUH3wdu_jxja3dqy4wShyFrGYYVpN8XHG688Id7-IBkQ5S2nSw_NXljbY9ZBblXhvpmDnVh86TPGSU5gvS6tfJ3xqRJMUZMawsg/s1024/DALL%C2%B7E%202023-03-04%2017.44.39%20-%203D%20render%20of%20a%20girl%20with%20autism%20living%20her%20best%20life%20digital%20art.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwcAbAHJnRK_jc8-67w6kGrUfFS9H-hstZwHIYUsW6jTneUs0x-IKupCZ_lnxlWnAsA1zqqGcLvQIpKyfcE1mbqnnUH3wdu_jxja3dqy4wShyFrGYYVpN8XHG688Id7-IBkQ5S2nSw_NXljbY9ZBblXhvpmDnVh86TPGSU5gvS6tfJ3xqRJMUZMawsg/w640-h640/DALL%C2%B7E%202023-03-04%2017.44.39%20-%203D%20render%20of%20a%20girl%20with%20autism%20living%20her%20best%20life%20digital%20art.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jnnJGtIfRTZOw8lBOgi8N8l-3mfUcM-NCHROpNfbX1eEmhOaFAaBZHt0wb89g32uw5Bi6B2Avj1L6Ara520mZN6YKauMw21t-BIwpue4LeC6oxMJcsQzpmp2EDKt5UPoqvaT_kGlmDP2KFPbFYfxEi6gAf9quOEO_DPUddUHXAKQQITr9-y4q1_u6Q/s1024/DALL%C2%B7E%202023-03-04%2017.45.55%20-%20a%203D%20render%20of%20a%20mushroom%20wizard%20%20digital%20art.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jnnJGtIfRTZOw8lBOgi8N8l-3mfUcM-NCHROpNfbX1eEmhOaFAaBZHt0wb89g32uw5Bi6B2Avj1L6Ara520mZN6YKauMw21t-BIwpue4LeC6oxMJcsQzpmp2EDKt5UPoqvaT_kGlmDP2KFPbFYfxEi6gAf9quOEO_DPUddUHXAKQQITr9-y4q1_u6Q/w640-h640/DALL%C2%B7E%202023-03-04%2017.45.55%20-%20a%203D%20render%20of%20a%20mushroom%20wizard%20%20digital%20art.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38prEqUAavAFltKNExBMvI9SwRBdWLeYvx_1pTNDkY6kouziW3CQ8D-U52Ye7FYuY-QHcDG3pQswNjkD3WuZVOvviLoN5HSs0pwDpyu4uqvLfq85YokM2jYERjHH0OgrH-eImc528HJIBs1UHOwGq3-l6hN76bWE2H_7l44LXUbn8Mmp1wSmaPCFTQg/s1024/DALL%C2%B7E%202023-03-04%2017.44.07%20-%20an%20arbuscula%20meandering%20digital%20art.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38prEqUAavAFltKNExBMvI9SwRBdWLeYvx_1pTNDkY6kouziW3CQ8D-U52Ye7FYuY-QHcDG3pQswNjkD3WuZVOvviLoN5HSs0pwDpyu4uqvLfq85YokM2jYERjHH0OgrH-eImc528HJIBs1UHOwGq3-l6hN76bWE2H_7l44LXUbn8Mmp1wSmaPCFTQg/w640-h640/DALL%C2%B7E%202023-03-04%2017.44.07%20-%20an%20arbuscula%20meandering%20digital%20art.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-91052612256404912023-01-21T04:54:00.001-08:002023-01-21T04:54:12.283-08:00School<p><span style="font-size: 24pt;">I switched jobs this past year. I stepped down as Artistic Director of Central
Visual and Performing Arts High School so I could move back home to Illinois
and become an English teacher.</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><span style="font-size: 24pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 24pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I’ve been pretty quiet about my new job, mostly because what my former
colleagues/students have been going through at CVPA. A former student entered
their building with a gun and shot and killed a student and a staff member.
Tried to kill more, but luckily the active shooter protocols worked well to
delay him before the police got there and killed him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 24pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 24pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I feel like I can’t go on blogging without writing and acknowledging
this. I cried a lot. I screamed when the press release said the shooter’s name.
I went to a balloon release and hugged a million people. I went through some
depression and numb periods. Five days after this horrible tragedy, I was a best
man at one of my best friend’s wedding. Two weeks after that, he was a best man
at my wedding. I wished I had had time to go to more CVPA vigils and memorials,
but I just didn’t with the two weddings. I feel guilty about that, even though
I know there’s nothing I could do. Emotions were all over the map.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 24pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 24pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I wasn’t at CVPA during the horrible day, and I’ve tried not to push my
feelings publicly much at all because I don’t want to insert myself in the
narrative in any way. Even though I’m writing about this now (more in support
and love for the students/staff than anything), this is not my story and I want
to make that clear. I can’t imagine what the students/staff who were there... I
can’t even finish that sentence. There were true heroes at work that day. None
the least is the staff member who died. She was a very kind person, big heart.
Loved what she did, did it all for the benefit of her students. <br />
<br />
I have so many more things I could say, but I really don’t want to because it’s
not my story. I wasn’t there. My suggestion to anyone who wants more insight is
to look to the students. See their art and performances. Support them. Their
voices are the key to the restoration of that community. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 24pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 24pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">CVPA students and staff, you are loved and didn’t deserve this. I’m so
sorry for what you’ve had to go through. My heart has been constantly there.
This does not define you. I cannot wait to see you on stage, when you’re ready.
This is your space, and nobody can take it from you. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 24pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 24pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I mentioned that I’ve been quiet about my new job, mostly because I don’t
want to be insensitive to my former one. Things have been going really well for
me there. Teaching is the best. I really love it. I put on mini-performances
and make students laugh all day. Also, I can REALLY tell that my students are
getting more intelligent. I feel the difference I’m making. It’s great. One of
my student’s mothers brought me pumpkin muffins to parent/teacher conferences. I
had a student sing a poem on my first week of class. Bonfires and football
games, plays and homecomings. I might do another blog about this sometime. I
guess I’ll end with that I love my students. They are hilarious. Students who
took my one-semester class last semester have barged in during my lunch to tell
me that they miss me. One student drew me. Some have written me letters of how
they enjoy my class. One went and told my boss that I’m the first teacher they
feel they’ve really enjoyed reading with. So, my new job is going well for me.
Just busy all the time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 24pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></p>
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border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; 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line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnjhlxwAoN3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by David Harrison Aye (@oxyborb)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 24pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-33153079785484904972022-08-27T13:13:00.007-07:002022-08-28T09:19:19.574-07:00 I made hall passes<span style="font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;">I can hear the eyes rolling already, "Really, Mr. Aye?..."</div></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpywerP8RZG4KbZbRHOx0zEgfOfooCtfcjLhJ27flUOUpoWElLAIh9mmBkfhMnKvd6su5m27ZwjqaUEpQG5MOcGqQ3coOdUjJN3oKfX8v3OWKeCJyGYsjUH6MQZfQHrfC1aUdpkK-MTTxrCqaJ8CQ-yLImX2y1sXNzKGUzHXCrEbDB4308hkDGGmHImQ/s2048/kitty%20hall%20pass.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpywerP8RZG4KbZbRHOx0zEgfOfooCtfcjLhJ27flUOUpoWElLAIh9mmBkfhMnKvd6su5m27ZwjqaUEpQG5MOcGqQ3coOdUjJN3oKfX8v3OWKeCJyGYsjUH6MQZfQHrfC1aUdpkK-MTTxrCqaJ8CQ-yLImX2y1sXNzKGUzHXCrEbDB4308hkDGGmHImQ/w414-h640/kitty%20hall%20pass.jpg" /></a></div></div>oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-19182431115702822372022-07-30T07:08:00.007-07:002022-07-30T09:20:31.655-07:00Sun, Moon, Star, Fire<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhEIrg6ulqzqL0jQBe7nDJJvp3rDLVoNL5Xxk11ZmsJ3gHF-NP8Nx9h_8jM0yupK0urzanRQP8DxYjNTf_4DGys5cG0JGdSDYhkKEBX4jzJZQy29MntCo0Szq7Tv7gh2Ih6KfMDdQFlmkTYPDTE8ReWxcOfJKo-ncRgxH9TUhlicQOky_5FV2N0j-WQ/s4983/SunMoonStarFire.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4315" data-original-width="4983" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhEIrg6ulqzqL0jQBe7nDJJvp3rDLVoNL5Xxk11ZmsJ3gHF-NP8Nx9h_8jM0yupK0urzanRQP8DxYjNTf_4DGys5cG0JGdSDYhkKEBX4jzJZQy29MntCo0Szq7Tv7gh2Ih6KfMDdQFlmkTYPDTE8ReWxcOfJKo-ncRgxH9TUhlicQOky_5FV2N0j-WQ/w640-h554/SunMoonStarFire.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">click image for higher res</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span><span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-large;">Been exploring mixing up digital and traditional mediums lately. I drew a black-and-white version of this by hand, scanned it in, then used a bunch of different design programs to layer colors and textures throughout. </span><a name='more'></a></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP98PHAdLUSIGyjzixDkuNRGQ03UKQ07bOad6H8tBzwmIovVNroxr0CFUgRQp1hRkTQxhBJxjqqXgBAIfrY59tZgYBflixCPa8y6Luw4PpNhNBity2_RYkhSmhtF8acATcFsNeyzbuGYTHOFE9tQ_nHgkyrjIS4IAwd3grTj5AEqbQeOG37_qvCf6Obw/s4946/SunMoonStarFire_Tan.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4283" data-original-width="4946" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP98PHAdLUSIGyjzixDkuNRGQ03UKQ07bOad6H8tBzwmIovVNroxr0CFUgRQp1hRkTQxhBJxjqqXgBAIfrY59tZgYBflixCPa8y6Luw4PpNhNBity2_RYkhSmhtF8acATcFsNeyzbuGYTHOFE9tQ_nHgkyrjIS4IAwd3grTj5AEqbQeOG37_qvCf6Obw/w640-h554/SunMoonStarFire_Tan.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">without the digital color, click for higher res</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-33290932862346974172022-05-19T06:43:00.002-07:002022-07-30T06:58:42.260-07:00Big Life Changes - summer 2022<p><span style="font-size: large;">Marriage, new job, moving across state lines.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;"><i>Yeah, it’s all going to change by the end of this
year. </i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircsd4vaGDFrkaO_VfUUB2N6LmkhW9VyWXYLkjWjiSW27ZRpmLtdVEwbTisG3CUfe5WcmOV2ATqAdr3G5E67TvD5hkXKp5w2N9LyiPsrr8h3v0rx066ELZaezbHZ1HVcuwnhxosFP8K6jN6xoGe67fdAMpRtClQMRYPOv-fD5crVGBi0SB8-uLTg8ZYA/s2245/20220521_092625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1263" data-original-width="2245" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircsd4vaGDFrkaO_VfUUB2N6LmkhW9VyWXYLkjWjiSW27ZRpmLtdVEwbTisG3CUfe5WcmOV2ATqAdr3G5E67TvD5hkXKp5w2N9LyiPsrr8h3v0rx066ELZaezbHZ1HVcuwnhxosFP8K6jN6xoGe67fdAMpRtClQMRYPOv-fD5crVGBi0SB8-uLTg8ZYA/w640-h360/20220521_092625.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">me right before watching seniors graduate!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">Easy place to start is getting married. Been
living alone for quite a few years... I'm pretty good at it. Decorating
my apartment the way I want, eating whatever I want, the quiet... It’s nice
that there’s not constantly a TV running (I grew up with my grandparents, and
they never<b><i>EVER</i></b> turned off the tube). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">My current job as artistic director of a
performing arts high school is all about serving everyone constantly. I’m
always helping teachers, staff, always working to make students’ visions for
art come to life. I love it, but it can be draining.</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">I guess that’s why I love the quiet so much. I barely ever listen to the radio when
I’m in my car (people think I’m weird, but I just need the mental clarity time).
Coming back to a quiet home has helped me. It’s like meditation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">All this to say, I’m going to have to learn how to
not live alone again. My fiancée lives with like 3-4 people depending on the
day. She never eats dinner alone, always spending time with family. I’m very much the opposite. It will take me
some mental adjustment.</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">So, Cari lives in a different state than me...
which is why I’m moving.</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<br />
I’m moving back home to Southern Illinois, finally. Been awhile. I’m looking
forward to it. St. Louis is busy,
busy. Lots of road rage there... The very first day I
moved to STL, my Internet installer ran into my apartment and slammed the
door.... Some random guy had attacked him with a coat hanger. I called the
cops, and he had been trying to attack cars. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">Southern Illinois is more my speed. It’s a mix of suburbs
and cornfields, shopping malls and cows. When I drive through Illinois, I
always forget how peaceful it is. There’s good and bad in every community, but
the spacing is bigger in the ‘burbs+rural, so you just don’t see it as often. Plus,
it’s home. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">Third big change is my new job. Yes, I’m leaving
my position as artistic director. I'll be teaching high school
English. Technically, that’s always been my background, so I’m looking forward
to using my degree as I originally planned. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">Starting as Technical Director and then getting
promoted to Artistic Director was a great ride. I’ve learned so much, so many
new skills, met so many interesting people. I had a lot of fun! It was the most
work I’ve ever had to do at a job, but some days were just the best. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
I think it will be interesting to go from being the department chair of the
fine arts department to the new guy, low on the totem pole. I’m looking
forward to worrying about my own classroom and not everyone else’s, but there
will be many things I miss. I wrote my students a letter of farewell, and so
many of them have come up and wished me well (or tell me they are mad at me for leaving <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span>).
It’s bittersweet. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">But, starting lots of new things is pretty much my
theme in 2022. <br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span>
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p>oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-41089861633078678992022-01-15T12:36:00.000-08:002022-01-15T12:36:02.085-08:00mostly melted<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I miss snow. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I tell my students, when I was their age, snow would get as deep as your knee and school could be out an entire week. All they know are the crop dustings we’ve been having. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">We get less snow every year. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I remember building forts out of the towers that the city snow plows would put at the end of my street’s dead end. Back then... when I was a kid, you could buy orange trash bags with jack-‘o-lantern faces, but now leaves don’t fall by October (and nevermore in September). They stopped selling those, at least in this area.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Probably for the best. I’ve seen people burn leaves through January. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The West Coast and Australia burn uncontrollably during summers, nowadays. We’re so desensitized that seeing a half-charred koala wrapped in a blanket, hauled away by vets is perfectly acceptable. I remember when a hurricane front passed over Belleville. I sat in bed, reading a book, waiting it out. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Leave your car running in the garage, and the fumes can kill you. Highway vehicles release about 1.7 billion tons of that toxic contaminant into the air each year. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I think the human brain can’t process numbers in the billions (I definitely cannot). But 1.7 billion is a lot-alot. Saturn is 886 million miles from the sun (average). 886 x 2 = 1772. So, if 1 mile = 1 TON of toxic fumes, then our toxicity level is about to Saturn and back... each year. What are the repercussions? Well, let’s ask our friend, Common Sense: </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">He comes often recommended, and common sense is great for common problems. Fight or flight? Should I wear a coat when it’s snowing? Should I take a shortcut or the busy street? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">For complex problems—problems that aren’t understandable by just the 5 senses, you may consider shopping around for complex sense. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">You can’t look out your window and see how drinking sodas sold in plastic bottles have increased the amount of diseases in the world. Say, that particular plastic bottle is covering the bog, killing the duckweed, which starves the tadpoles, so decreases the frogs, which increases the mosquitos, which increases the spread of disease. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Our brains barely process numbers in the billion, so why should the same common sense I use to pick out which flavor jelly to put on my toast be used to process what effect 2 Sun-to-Saturns worth of car emissions will have on the population of koalas? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I guess, all this to say, I miss snow. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It snowed a little today, mostly melted after a few hours. I’ve only had to scrape my car windows like 3 times this entire winter so far.</span></div>oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-65023961467263931042022-01-02T14:31:00.002-08:002022-07-30T17:29:22.733-07:002022222222222222222222 <p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>New Year post. Here's what I did in 2021...</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b><br />
I proposed to my girlfriend the other day. So, I’m engaged now. That’s probably
the coolest thing on this list. The rest is mostly in chronological order. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CX9yQ76pYfM/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CX9yQ76pYfM/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CX9yQ76pYfM/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by David Harrison Aye (@oxyborb)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>In January of 2021, I became the Artistic Director
of a school. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXPmuMTjyzX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXPmuMTjyzX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXPmuMTjyzX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by David Harrison Aye (@oxyborb)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>The US Capitol building was breached.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>I played a lot of Stardew with Cari.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><b style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Marvel had awesome TV shows on Disney+.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>I played a lot of D&D with two groups. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>I got summoned for jury duty. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CWRpaP-Jfii/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CWRpaP-Jfii/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CWRpaP-Jfii/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by David Harrison Aye (@oxyborb)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Did a lot of hiking with Cari (highlights:
Mastodon, Pere Marquette, and Castlewood State Park) <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Watched a ton of Impractical Jokers.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><b style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Went to an art gallery for a friend.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Helped Cari through a major car accident and
shopping for a new one. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Went on a fantastical Disney vacation with a road
trip.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Dealt with some hard times...people I care about
in the hospital for extended stay. They are OK now.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Started a very serious diet and lost weight. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Worked on some seriously awesome writing projects
that I can’t talk about yet. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Lots of art fairs. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b><br />
Felt sad when Scruffy, cute little doggo, died. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Went to the STL Renaissance Festival.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Went to MO Games Con with Reed and Ryker. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CT-AVFwgcDF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CT-AVFwgcDF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CT-AVFwgcDF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by David Harrison Aye (@oxyborb)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Created a new show called PerformLAB.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Brought back live performance to my art school. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Did a ghost tour at the Fox.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Celebrated 4 years with Cari. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>I put on a CommUNITY Fun Day.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CYH07AjJVge/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CYH07AjJVge/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CYH07AjJVge/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by David Harrison Aye (@oxyborb)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Got back into Animal Crossing.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Cooked a turkey for the first time.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Got my mom a birthday lunch. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Put on a Dance concert, a play, and a Winter music
concert (7 total performances) in one month.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b><br />
I enjoyed Spiderman: No Way Home<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXhgyMgphcb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXhgyMgphcb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; 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height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXhgyMgphcb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by David Harrison Aye (@oxyborb)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Hosted a Christmas party.</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-43657242116089685802021-07-22T15:18:00.002-07:002021-07-22T15:18:45.268-07:00The 2021 Road Trip Vacation of Cari and David<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i>That time we raced a hurricane and won....</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tGM-C6uzxMU/YPnuOa-gPbI/AAAAAAAAVY8/JBxQjWlQ0YoDKkAdNnkUudXyC5-io32AwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210713_171019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tGM-C6uzxMU/YPnuOa-gPbI/AAAAAAAAVY8/JBxQjWlQ0YoDKkAdNnkUudXyC5-io32AwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/20210713_171019.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /><br />Since they started building it, I’ve dreamed of
going to Harry Potter World. We had planned to go do Orlando theme parks in the
summer of 2020, but... you know. Originally, we were going to drive down
through Atlanta and back, but Cari had a great idea to make a loop around the
Carolinas and visit more places along the way. My friend from work (thanks Ms.
Rovira!) gave me some good tips on locations, so we used that to plot out a
course up the coast.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">With everything booked, tickets bought, etc. etc....
We’re about to set off... Reports come in about Hurricane Elsa to make landfall
in Florida the day after we’re supposed to arrive... By the way, what butthead
decided to name a hurricane “Elsa” that is set to brush by Disney?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> <br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-esbIasC6YMg/YPnuXoPbv8I/AAAAAAAAVZE/H78mSohG5_QKL-ORlopamwutB_hle21igCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210707_132849_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-esbIasC6YMg/YPnuXoPbv8I/AAAAAAAAVZE/H78mSohG5_QKL-ORlopamwutB_hle21igCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/20210707_132849_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Great, so, a hurricane. I am not trying to be
insensitive! I know and sympathize that there are FAR WORSE and terrible things
that happen due to hurricanes than a ruined vacation, but still... It was a
scary prospect. Had to do some risk analysis as we went. Many of our plans were
non-refundable.</span><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">July 4 – St. Louis, Missouri to Nashville,
Tennessee<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Cari and I set out from St. Louis early in the
morning. We saw a Superman statue and made a stop to take some selfies. We also
stopped by of the Grand Ole Opry for sight seeing.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BY3lu78lCzQ/YPnrH_bo01I/AAAAAAAAVXE/A4yR1Q_TZoM9I6fY3UenrkO5SLAxGkOqACLcBGAsYHQ/s6592/DSC02290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="6592" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BY3lu78lCzQ/YPnrH_bo01I/AAAAAAAAVXE/A4yR1Q_TZoM9I6fY3UenrkO5SLAxGkOqACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/DSC02290.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Before knowing about Elsa, I had thought leaving
July 4<sup>th</sup> could be fun, so we could do fireworks in a different city.
Turns out, Nashville claims to run the biggest fireworks show in the country.
Brad Paisley performed a concert, then fireworks were set off, timed with the
Nashville Symphony Orchestra. It was pretty great!</span><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">July 5 – Nashville, Tennessee to Atlanta, Georgia </span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">We drove pretty hard all day, waking up late. We
were tired after the fireworks, also driving in Atlanta was stressful. We had
planned on doing some historical exploration, but we were beat. We instead
opted for swimming and eating dinner at the hotel (most of our hotels were
Drury, so we always had a pool and they do a “free” dinner/drinks each night). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> <br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yNxQaNXAul0/YPnrZPLuQHI/AAAAAAAAVXM/M-11rRAWgD45RxsKAOqmTzNBBnMa6PW7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210704_134449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yNxQaNXAul0/YPnrZPLuQHI/AAAAAAAAVXM/M-11rRAWgD45RxsKAOqmTzNBBnMa6PW7wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/20210704_134449.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Also, we watched the weather reports and
formulated a decision. Basically, the hurricane was hitting the shores of
Florida (a good ways north of Orlando) on July 7<sup>th</sup>, and then passing
above Florida to the Savannah, Georgia area. So, the choice was wait it out
another day or two in Atlanta, or get to our hotel in Orlando tomorrow and outrace
the arrival of the hurricane and hope it doesn’t suddenly turn toward us. We
chose to go for it!</span><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">July 6 – Atlanta, Georgia to Orlando, Florida </span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3WEvSMUb_FA/YPnrhlYThuI/AAAAAAAAVXQ/3SucCCRPgaQ_7piB4EZLXbFv3PUJwCidwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210706_104833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3WEvSMUb_FA/YPnrhlYThuI/AAAAAAAAVXQ/3SucCCRPgaQ_7piB4EZLXbFv3PUJwCidwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/20210706_104833.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">We were serious about making the 8 hour drive as
quick as possible to avoid Elsa, so we ate breakfast and made good time. We blazed
through the drive. Had about 5 minutes of Florida-type rain, but the rest was
clear skies and an easy drive. We got to the hotel and swam, enjoyed our
evening. We made some stops to enjoy the palm trees and catch some rays.</span><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">July 7 – Orlando, Florida </span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I opened the curtains early and it looked stormy
and windy... but that passed quick. The hurricane completely missed us,
basically. Far north of us. Anyway, that was that, and it was Harry Potter
World/Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure day! It only really rained in the
morning, and the lines were pretty short (probably due to locals cancelling
plans for Elsa). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> <br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0iv-O73hUeI/YPnrpjhTjhI/AAAAAAAAVXY/8PH5H36tY9AcmYObuV6m2SKkW0W-N2utQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210707_122747_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="2048" height="214" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0iv-O73hUeI/YPnrpjhTjhI/AAAAAAAAVXY/8PH5H36tY9AcmYObuV6m2SKkW0W-N2utQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h214/20210707_122747_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I’ll take a moment here to say I know Harry Potter
is going through a problematic phase due to the author’s dumb opinions on an
important matter that she is 100% wrong about. I have very complex thoughts in
regards to supporting Harry Potter as a franchise (but I don’t want to go into
them here, but I would discuss it with anyone who wants to message me privately).
Regardless, I had an amazing time seeing Hogwarts and Diagon Alley, and
everything. Special, magical, full immersion into my childhood’s literary
escape. I will say, I liked pumpkin juice more than butter beer, but the butter
beer ice cream was fantastic. We also rode Transformers, Jurassic Park’s River
Adventure, Skull Island Reign of Kong, Shrek 4D, Revenge of the Mummy, and a
special surprise was how amazing the Bourne Stuntacular was (we got in right
before our shuttle back to the hotel came)!<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Overall, we really lucked out, missing the
hurricane. Whew!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">July 8 – Orlando, Florida </span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Our original plan was to hit up the beach and rent
a goft cart, rest up before more parks tomorrow... but David got the bright
idea to switch it up and do Disney’s Animal Kingdom instead.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> <br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yo-dUeRBjlE/YPnr1eg4dXI/AAAAAAAAVXk/RNtYbxZbh00Y94s6XG4ifmoK9pNk01QJACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210708_084607_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yo-dUeRBjlE/YPnr1eg4dXI/AAAAAAAAVXk/RNtYbxZbh00Y94s6XG4ifmoK9pNk01QJACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/20210708_084607_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I REALLY loved Animal Kingdom! I think it’s the
best designed park out of all of them, for this reason: constant shade. This
park was just pleasant to walk through. Lots of plant coverage, between rides
and animal exhibits. We did Kilimanjaro Safaris, The Lion King show, Kali River
Rapids (the first and last ride of our day!), Maharajah Jungle Trek, Expedition
Everest. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">About mid-day, we had lunch under this sheltered
area, and it proceeded to DOWNPOUR rain pretty hard... but honestly, it felt
WONDERFUL and cooled the park off for the rest of the day. Also, as soon as we
were done eating, the rain stopped and didn’t return (we timed it well!). We
rode Dinosaur the Ride, Bug’s Life Show, Na’vi River Journey. The Flight of
Passage’s lines were 2 hours, so we skipped and rode River Rapids again. Overall,
just a fantastic day at a park we hadn’t originally planned on going to. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">July 9 – Orlando, Florida </span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Magic Kingdom – a hot day, but we got it all done!
Cari surprised me by pulling out a Minnie Mouse skirt and shirt that matched my
Mickey shirt. She had me do her hair in Minnie Mouse ear-buns. I did my best! I
called her Cutie Mouse all day and she blushed (not deleting that, sorry, Cari!).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> <br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ei9Nss6BW8Y/YPnr-OWz3vI/AAAAAAAAVXo/Y2EdQE1DCtYwAxBWonohDLL83ETUA-OTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s6592/DSC02452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="6592" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ei9Nss6BW8Y/YPnr-OWz3vI/AAAAAAAAVXo/Y2EdQE1DCtYwAxBWonohDLL83ETUA-OTQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/DSC02452.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">We headed straight for Pirates Of the Caribbean, did
Jungle Cruise, Tiki Tiki room show, ate some snacks then went to Splash
Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain. Country Bear Jamboree was dead. We did
Mickey’s Philharmagic to cool off, then It’s A Small World. We explored the
castle, then did Space Mountain (ride half-broke down, so it took longer), Buzz
Lightyear’s Space Ranger. We had a fancy dinner date at the Liberty Tree
Tavern, then the fireworks show began right after. Truly a magical day!</span><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">July 10 – Orlando, Florida </span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Our final Theme Park day was at Disney’s Hollywood
Studios. Yes, I got my 7am queue for Rise of the Resistance. I really think
this was the best ride/ride experience I’ve ever had! I LOVED it! We did Star
Tours, Smuggler’s Run (top three best rides EVER), and explored the Galaxy’s
Edge. Muppets were broken down, sadly, but we ate lunch at Rizzo’s Pizza (Pizza
Rat) which was awesome! During lunch, we heard everyone in the restaurant gasp,
yell, or shout... turns out it was the second and last shot to get in queue for
Rise of the Resistance, and everyone was either really happy or sad. The
virtual queue experiment is frustrating to me. There’s got to be a better way. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> <br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Upe5BVrFTo/YPnsJiMCD-I/AAAAAAAAVXw/O2k-oUjwVm0RYMmp3xOqs0XUCh1xvCUGgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210710_101511_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Upe5BVrFTo/YPnsJiMCD-I/AAAAAAAAVXw/O2k-oUjwVm0RYMmp3xOqs0XUCh1xvCUGgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/20210710_101511_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway was
phenomenal (top three best rides EVER). The projection mapping + trackless ride
is such an amazing experience. We did Toy Story Mania, watched more shows, and
of course, the Tower of Terror. Another hot day, but I think Runaway Railway,
Smuggler’s Run, and Rise of the Resistance were the best rides ever in any
theme park. So awesome!</span><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">July 11 – Orlando, Florida to Savannah, Georgia </span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g-5-VD51kds/YPnshWwbH_I/AAAAAAAAVYA/RClechns2YIA7nmxxAAnkZjJTZ_KrhfMgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210711_144150_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g-5-VD51kds/YPnshWwbH_I/AAAAAAAAVYA/RClechns2YIA7nmxxAAnkZjJTZ_KrhfMgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/20210711_144150_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Before setting out to Savannah, we headed to Cape
Canaveral to do the NASA visitor’s center. It was really fantastic. Gotta thank
Cari’s aunt for the idea to go. Took a bus tour, watched some shows. Saw a
spacecraft or 6. We ate space ice cream. Definitely go do this if you have an
extra Florida day to use! It was a nice break from theme parks with an
educational slant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">We didn’t get<br /> to spend as much time downtown
Savannah as we wanted, because we were sleepy after so much walking. But the
hotel was nice!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">July 12 – Savannah, Georgia to Greenville, South
Carolina </span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pY88-lUd-yQ/YPnsvXNAgDI/AAAAAAAAVYE/Uz2ahROa-4g_dS717m8ZdVBuzP4G0CTnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210712_111754_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pY88-lUd-yQ/YPnsvXNAgDI/AAAAAAAAVYE/Uz2ahROa-4g_dS717m8ZdVBuzP4G0CTnwCLcBGAsYHQ/w225-h400/20210712_111754_HDR.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Before heading to Greenville, we stopped at Tybee
Island in Georgia and went to the Lighthouse Museum. We climbed to the top,
explored several houses with furniture/items from the era. We then headed off
to the beach and took in some sun. We waded through the ocean, then enjoyed a
moment at a beachside restaurant. I collected some seashells. I had found Tybee
while browsing Google Maps. Definitely recommend going for a chill day of
Lighthouse and beach! Wish we had another night here, actually. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> <br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Got to Greenville, ate, and swam at the hotel. Relaxed!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">July 13 – Greenville, South Carolina to Asheville,
North Carolina, then to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee </span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RRcz9BPA57A/YPns8cqBiwI/AAAAAAAAVYM/u2o5AHmxDMk1-CXIg8T7KuNA5BqeSpOSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210713_131923_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RRcz9BPA57A/YPns8cqBiwI/AAAAAAAAVYM/u2o5AHmxDMk1-CXIg8T7KuNA5BqeSpOSwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/20210713_131923_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">From Greenville, we drove to The Biltmore Manor, a
giant home that housed some extremely wealthy people. We took the manor tour
and did a wine tasting. A fantastic day, really. Drove through the Blue Ridge
Mountains a bit on the way.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> <br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">After, we drove to our next hotel in Pigeon Forge,
staying at a place with three swimming pools, two hot tubs, a splash pad, and
an entire lazy river. We stopped on the road and got Bojangles, which is a food
place that one of our favorite Youtubers talks about. It was a big box, so we took
the rest with us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">The rest of the drive was beautiful, as we headed
through the Smokey Mountains. Stopped several times at some viewing spots and
took in the majesty.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">July 14 – Pigeon Forge, Tennessee</span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oVBsxYeORHk/YPntHlYvBTI/AAAAAAAAVYU/dnrtqL_ldp4qKzovGx2D0H2FxQM0Avz9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210714_101412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oVBsxYeORHk/YPntHlYvBTI/AAAAAAAAVYU/dnrtqL_ldp4qKzovGx2D0H2FxQM0Avz9gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/20210714_101412.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our first full day here, we took a down day. We
mostly enjoyed the hotel pools and hot tub (which we had to ourselves). Ate the
rest of the Bojangles. We went out to drive up and down the Pigeon Forge strip,
which is a giant tourist trap, but I love tourist traps so there’s that. We
stopped at some shops (some were so bad we left immediately). Cari saw a Wax
Museum, so we did that. After, we headed to our reserved dinner at the Pirate’s
Voyage Dinner and Show, which was absolutely fantastic. Lots of special
effects. Great food. Great talent! Makes me want to create something like that
for my students... </span><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">July 15 – Pigeon Forge, Tennessee </span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fGILUAAihh0/YPntlp3xkII/AAAAAAAAVYo/pEHJb2MMeOURIUQ0eAKrlyhj2N8XmnbRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210715_182127_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fGILUAAihh0/YPntlp3xkII/AAAAAAAAVYo/pEHJb2MMeOURIUQ0eAKrlyhj2N8XmnbRQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/20210715_182127_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">With our Wax Museum tickets, we got entry into
three other activities. One was a robot 3D shooting game/ride. Then we did a
Zombie-themed haunted house, and after was a really good house of mirrors. The
lighting in the mirror house made all the difference. Like, mirror mazes can be
cheesy, and they did have a discount Fiona, but the house was well painted and
lit up. <br />
<br />
We went back and swam in our hotel pool, and then we headed to Dolly’s Stampede
Dinner and Show. It had nearly the same food at the Pirate’s dinner, so that
was annoying. The show was fantastic, but not nearly as good as the pirate one
(plus, it smelled bad). Kinda felt awkward to be in a North vs. South show,
especially since it’s 2021. It all ended with a “We’re ALL united in the USA!” type
song, which is weird considering the premise, but OK. We sat with the North and
the North won. So, history, it seems, has not changed. </span><br /><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">July 16 – Pigeon Forge, Tennessee to Louisville,
Kentucky</span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KPUX_z2l5Jc/YPnt5a1GFkI/AAAAAAAAVYw/pBg7sTQOujImnlEA0dpvjLNjaOgUVGDmACLcBGAsYHQ/s6592/DSC02521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="6592" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KPUX_z2l5Jc/YPnt5a1GFkI/AAAAAAAAVYw/pBg7sTQOujImnlEA0dpvjLNjaOgUVGDmACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/DSC02521.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">We headed for Louisville to our next hotel. Unpacked,
finished some pizza we got on the road, then did a Mega Cavern tram tour. I
figured at this point, we’d enjoy doing something that drove us around (our
feet were dead), and a cavern tour sounded different from anything else we’ve
done. The underground tour took us below the grounds of the zoo, and we saw a
stockpile of road salt that was enormous. Lots of mannequins displays there,
and a random movie about nuclear fallout. I enjoyed it! Cool and refreshing!</span><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></o:p></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">July 17 – Louisville, Kentucky to St. Louis,
Missouri</span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6L3v0kf7Re8/YPnuBlj4nYI/AAAAAAAAVY0/K5ioZF6Z2Igt9dX2CcDbEkrVKBCKxQHbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/tower%2Bof%2Bterror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="2048" height="210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6L3v0kf7Re8/YPnuBlj4nYI/AAAAAAAAVY0/K5ioZF6Z2Igt9dX2CcDbEkrVKBCKxQHbQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h210/tower%2Bof%2Bterror.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">We wanted to drive by the Churchill Downs before
heading home. The Downs were beautiful, but the surrounding neighborhoods were
pretty run down. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> <br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">We drove home and enjoyed a night in a soft bed! </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i>I’m editing a big video from the vacation, so I’ll
be posting that soon!</i></span><o:p></o:p></p>oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-72600670538593797662021-07-21T09:14:00.002-07:002021-07-21T09:14:22.314-07:00One Small Orange Sweet Bell Pepper, for reference<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wN1Q0pbDfnQ/YPhH0d6X3FI/AAAAAAAAVWM/X68v4_JAqPMefaXZWEZ7PvXuG8kBHY7NwCLcBGAsYHQ/s352/one%2Bsmall%2Borange%2Bsweet%2Bbell%2Bpepper.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="233" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wN1Q0pbDfnQ/YPhH0d6X3FI/AAAAAAAAVWM/X68v4_JAqPMefaXZWEZ7PvXuG8kBHY7NwCLcBGAsYHQ/w424-h640/one%2Bsmall%2Borange%2Bsweet%2Bbell%2Bpepper.png" width="424" /></a></div><br /><p></p>oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-89096935387586590802021-04-16T16:10:00.001-07:002021-04-16T16:11:55.224-07:00Relativity<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lsTafILhZxw/YHoWe0OsPJI/AAAAAAAATmw/3OPtn8wFxO0Vp9GisX4jaeCgoRo86jIKACLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/df1f86d63a9d5d8877f31484a0cdca5a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="1024" height="612" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lsTafILhZxw/YHoWe0OsPJI/AAAAAAAATmw/3OPtn8wFxO0Vp9GisX4jaeCgoRo86jIKACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h612/df1f86d63a9d5d8877f31484a0cdca5a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I think Albert Einstein's theory of relativity is one of the most mind-boggling concepts. It has really pushed by brain for the fiction concepts I've been working on. <p></p><p>I'll start this out by saying, I'm no scientist (or mathematician or physicist...), so I might get some things wrong (feel free to point errors out to me). I also have a simplistic concept of relativity stored in my brain, which is warped by the artistic abstractions and imaginative modifications I come up with.... so... This writing isn't about balancing any equations or being spot on. Most of my research comes from a read of A Brief History Of Time and also Google searches.</p><p><span style="background-color: #cccccc;">Concepts I found on the Internet: <span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="color: #202124;">1. The basic idea is that instead of being an invisible force that attracts objects to one another, gravity is a curving of space. The more massive an object, the more it warps the space around it.</span><br /><br />2. Gravity has an infinite range, although its effects become weaker as objects are set farther away from each other.</span></span></p><p>The classic example used to break your brain into understanding relativity is playing a game of ping pong on a moving train. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wMCNnvSioKI/YHoVeKJ3uoI/AAAAAAAATmo/TrG89h4ib14X54LK1LbV44qrHtxcGUX0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1008/different-speed-ping-pong-balls.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wMCNnvSioKI/YHoVeKJ3uoI/AAAAAAAATmo/TrG89h4ib14X54LK1LbV44qrHtxcGUX0ACLcBGAsYHQ/w634-h640/different-speed-ping-pong-balls.jpg" width="634" /></a></div><br /><div>So, if you're watching the game of ping pong from on the moving train, it will look like it's going the normal speed... but in reality, it's going the normal speed plus the speed that the train is moving. </div><div><br /></div><div>If the train were transparent, and you viewed the game from on the ground, you'd see the ping pong ball going 100 mph and not 10 mph. </div><div><br /></div><div>I think that's mind boggling in itself. </div><div><br /></div><div>But then, to think of gravity as not just an attraction of an object to the ground, but a curving of spacetime itself... That gets my mind going. Also, gravity has unlimited range, but weakens as the objects get farther away. <br /><br />Imagine the sci fi of that. What if a machine could trick the laws of physics into making two objects that are far apart be considered by universal law to be close together? What if you could curve space so that two distance spaces touched? I know a million shows have used wormholes and portals, but the concept is really much deeper if you really think about relativity. </div><div><br /></div><div>Even the word <b><i>relativity </i></b>inspires me creatively. Like, isn't so much of art about relating this and that? Isn't so much of why a character can enchant a reader about the relativity of that character to the universe she/he occupies? </div><div><br /></div><div>Break relativity down into an artistic abstract for a minute. Think about the relativity of creating a fictional world, but putting something of significance into it, something that affects the gravity of your world/story. </div><div><br /></div><div>Create a home, in your brain. Create a family. Create where the adults work, where the kids sleep and play nearby. Now, create a dangerous object, hidden somewhere. That danger really curves the space, warps the universe of the story. Who will find the dangerous object? Who will use it? Where did it come from?</div><div><br />Think about the relativity of yourself in your real life. How do you bend/shape/warp/curve the family/friends/coworkers/places/gravity around you? <br /></div>oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-12277985898408301852021-04-04T03:06:00.000-07:002021-04-04T03:06:01.298-07:00Fun Weekend<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h_kx3W8i_9A/YGmPaCjlBYI/AAAAAAAATgQ/0ctrhADJr7kqMVst3JPcyNhmLOtQcxwbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/165784087_10104238889413808_1811630649379318112_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h_kx3W8i_9A/YGmPaCjlBYI/AAAAAAAATgQ/0ctrhADJr7kqMVst3JPcyNhmLOtQcxwbgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/165784087_10104238889413808_1811630649379318112_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fa2QXs2OhuI/YGmPaHc-XMI/AAAAAAAATgY/O0H_2AJbgRwcproI-eiQ5o3lKXPPfYUMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/166433927_10104238889453728_3836278104015079534_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fa2QXs2OhuI/YGmPaHc-XMI/AAAAAAAATgY/O0H_2AJbgRwcproI-eiQ5o3lKXPPfYUMwCLcBGAsYHQ/w360-h640/166433927_10104238889453728_3836278104015079534_n.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NVwcIaNkpT8/YGmPaD12y1I/AAAAAAAATgU/AILhRfANrsIl2Rk0Tq5Clqq8CeO_mn5FQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/166655075_10104238889508618_6084289332839794058_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NVwcIaNkpT8/YGmPaD12y1I/AAAAAAAATgU/AILhRfANrsIl2Rk0Tq5Clqq8CeO_mn5FQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/166655075_10104238889508618_6084289332839794058_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VZQz86bMVRQ/YGmPajvfimI/AAAAAAAATgc/HdboufwbVqgKayBTgAfbzdJOZXoIsBvMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/168454771_10104238889892848_5625251997805375287_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VZQz86bMVRQ/YGmPajvfimI/AAAAAAAATgc/HdboufwbVqgKayBTgAfbzdJOZXoIsBvMwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/168454771_10104238889892848_5625251997805375287_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-47774230580973542862020-12-25T12:39:00.002-08:002021-01-17T11:23:16.680-08:00Teaching myself how to draw a chameleon, then painting one<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ngxDxZuiuxM/X-T8h70xJHI/AAAAAAAASfE/nKl5tz8acpwGyfk3sHcK5xGbtuzr66uzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-12-24_052535.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1918" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ngxDxZuiuxM/X-T8h70xJHI/AAAAAAAASfE/nKl5tz8acpwGyfk3sHcK5xGbtuzr66uzgCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h320/2020-12-24_052535.jpg" title="1" width="300" /></span></b></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">1</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The first attempt. Never really sketched a chameleon before. I studied a few examples of live chameleons. I decided it was important to have spikes on the back and chin, and blank stare-faces.<br /><br /><br /></span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KtTGn32Gzr4/X-T8h8trxfI/AAAAAAAASe8/z8PoXV2ye0QW6fa6ldg3rUHY54ZiEISvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-12-21_053931.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1713" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KtTGn32Gzr4/X-T8h8trxfI/AAAAAAAASe8/z8PoXV2ye0QW6fa6ldg3rUHY54ZiEISvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-12-21_053931.jpg" width="320" /></span></b></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">5</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">My fifth go was pretty good. I started thinking about the way stripes/colors would work. I added mouth scales. I thought about how many toes they have.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pq1tsRpfvQQ/X-T8ieJM9oI/AAAAAAAASfI/BqX-Kj4DQxoM8Ybpa_DVlGfUYb0LiEPkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-12-24_053031.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1912" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pq1tsRpfvQQ/X-T8ieJM9oI/AAAAAAAASfI/BqX-Kj4DQxoM8Ybpa_DVlGfUYb0LiEPkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-12-24_053031.jpg" width="320" /></span></b></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">8</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">My second try at color didn't quite get it, but it was a start. I got the idea to use the eye as ridges for the accent colors. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i-sP7VA4M_M/X-T8hwlHKQI/AAAAAAAASfA/CauIGl6oMlgUwV1w1M7Mlo7L_JbIqf7FwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-12-24_052909.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1687" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i-sP7VA4M_M/X-T8hwlHKQI/AAAAAAAASfA/CauIGl6oMlgUwV1w1M7Mlo7L_JbIqf7FwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-12-24_052909.jpg" width="320" /></span></b></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">9</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;">This one got the color right, but not quite the form. <br /> <br /></span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VU2Uy5oqGb0/X-T8jU9zk8I/AAAAAAAASfM/zp0iACD1jFoLnCoVfEffFCj93INr77lUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s6511/DSC01924.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3589" data-original-width="6511" height="321" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VU2Uy5oqGb0/X-T8jU9zk8I/AAAAAAAASfM/zp0iACD1jFoLnCoVfEffFCj93INr77lUwCLcBGAsYHQ/w584-h321/DSC01924.JPG" width="584" /></span></b></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> I ended up using the form of number 5 and the color scheme of 9 to create this painting. I love how it came out. I gave it to my mom for Christmas. </span></b><p></p>oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-79980493525925892462020-12-20T05:21:00.006-08:002022-07-30T17:33:31.269-07:0020 $%&#ing 20 <p><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-large;"><b>This year....</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">The worst year for America--perhaps the planet--in my entire lifetime. <br /></span><p><br /></p><p><span><br /><span><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-large;"><b>Me? </b></span><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zsQO--4THA0/X99O2i5NqfI/AAAAAAAAScc/fhbKpP6TJLoVn333lNAJoUFdJLYNCtooQCPcBGAsYHg/s3648/20201205_202542_HDR.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zsQO--4THA0/X99O2i5NqfI/AAAAAAAAScc/fhbKpP6TJLoVn333lNAJoUFdJLYNCtooQCPcBGAsYHg/s320/20201205_202542_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DkksJR-mrJw/X99TdFWa08I/AAAAAAAASdE/hBrHCzQrGvoiqnifBbKRLXXK9IjDew5aACPcBGAsYHg/s2592/20200608_070341.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DkksJR-mrJw/X99TdFWa08I/AAAAAAAASdE/hBrHCzQrGvoiqnifBbKRLXXK9IjDew5aACPcBGAsYHg/s320/20200608_070341.jpg" width="320" /></a></span>Personally, I have been OK. I have an excellent, wonderful, beautiful, hilarious, perfect girlfriend. My job remained in tact, and I've been given new responsibilities (doing the artistic direction for a performing arts school, pretty cool!). That is a blessing, and I don't discount that I work in the arts and maintained a full-time job. I had a major virtual show, which was amazing. Earlier this year, I had a very big challenge at work, though. Man, it was hard.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y-04L8cFHAo/X99TdG1m0hI/AAAAAAAASdE/6j0gzeOvjfo07tdLktOeMMRjAUQ6QWyUgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/20200613_151638.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y-04L8cFHAo/X99TdG1m0hI/AAAAAAAASdE/6j0gzeOvjfo07tdLktOeMMRjAUQ6QWyUgCPcBGAsYHg/s320/20200613_151638.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Members of my family had COVID-19, but no deaths. No friends lost. Blessings. I got my teeth fixed. My teeth also pain me a lot. I guess, I made progress. I can smile in public now, anyway. I definitely gained weight during the pandemic. 2021 needs to be the year that changes me.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LMIrBrOz0f4/X99TLzCczOI/AAAAAAAASc8/DbwW-vfl8qYD_opVN0Kz5ZifgrDzSVgeACPcBGAsYHg/s3648/20200926_163928.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LMIrBrOz0f4/X99TLzCczOI/AAAAAAAASc8/DbwW-vfl8qYD_opVN0Kz5ZifgrDzSVgeACPcBGAsYHg/s320/20200926_163928.jpg" /></a></span>My art moved a lot after the pandemic first hit. When we were forced to stay home, I used any free time I had to work on my novel, do edits. After the summer, my art slowed down, as my work took over again. My work is art, though. I guess it all works out. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Npc2oJdBXc/X99PZCJVL0I/AAAAAAAASck/hIkOGfgvemk1o2WLXihsWjGVMiwz6GtaACPcBGAsYHg/s2592/20200521_194952.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: helvetica; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Npc2oJdBXc/X99PZCJVL0I/AAAAAAAASck/hIkOGfgvemk1o2WLXihsWjGVMiwz6GtaACPcBGAsYHg/s320/20200521_194952.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">Maybe the worst part of 2020 </span><i style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">(...in my little, insignificant cutout of the world...) </i><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">was cancelling my road trip to Disney World and Harry Potter World. That was a bummer. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-large;"><b>Good things that kept me going in 2020:</b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Dungeons and Dragons with friends. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Playing Jackbox Games with my Discord Server.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Poker with my girl.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">My girlfriend.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QQNpGECba7A/X99Pq_Dx2lI/AAAAAAAAScs/ddgxoObr3ugVQsOFoT7s1o81z4vUXgurgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/20200309_133717.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: helvetica; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QQNpGECba7A/X99Pq_Dx2lI/AAAAAAAAScs/ddgxoObr3ugVQsOFoT7s1o81z4vUXgurgCPcBGAsYHg/s320/20200309_133717.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">I went on a New Year's hike with Gabe and his mom. That was on Jan 1. A good workout!!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Fluxx. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Painting. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">I bought a VR headset. Perfect timing. Can't go anywhere? Well, now you can go anywhere in VR. I played a ton of Skyrim, No Man's Sky, and other games. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">I upgraded my phone. My old one died.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-large;">2021</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-44jwLPov5rU/X99TBY1Dg-I/AAAAAAAASc4/xYJKd7Y_hdAKE1qSrgAnc2HzrYGWs5ZDwCPcBGAsYHg/s1398/FB_IMG_1604925006621.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-44jwLPov5rU/X99TBY1Dg-I/AAAAAAAASc4/xYJKd7Y_hdAKE1qSrgAnc2HzrYGWs5ZDwCPcBGAsYHg/s320/FB_IMG_1604925006621.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Beats me. I have no idea what next year will be like. Hard to guess. More pandemic fallout, for sure. I hope the vaccine comes quick, and that the world gets back to normal.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I want to go to conventions again. I want shopping at nerdy stores to be fun again, and not a germ-atorium. I miss being out and about. I guess, all in all, I just want to create more art in the new year. I want to see students back in schools (when it is SAFE for them and staff). I want to create more. I want to reschedule a Disney trip. I have secret plans, too. :-D </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Stay safe, ya'll. </span><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">SEE?!?</span></i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> you in the New Year! </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-70734088465399519422020-06-29T05:36:00.000-07:002020-06-29T05:36:28.890-07:00Brighter Side<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm probably not the only person feeling a bit down about the state of the world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zaI8TLAL9M8/XvngEsZbBkI/AAAAAAAARNg/twedJbHYrNgP8okOiZb1U00UEys7i3HwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/battybat-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zaI8TLAL9M8/XvngEsZbBkI/AAAAAAAARNg/twedJbHYrNgP8okOiZb1U00UEys7i3HwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/battybat-1.jpg" width="287" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was supposed to go to Disney World at the beginning of the month, but I know how minuscule that problem is compared to what the world is going through. Quarantine and social distancing does make me a little batty. I miss people! The idea of Halloween being cancelled is sad. That's like my spirit energy, my happy place. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, the brighter side. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I guess, acknowledging how awful the world is and will continue to be.... acknowledging the revolution the USA is going through because of the murder of George Floyd.... acknowledging that 502,387 globally have died and are continuing to die makes any of my issues potatoes shrunk to singular atoms...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have been using my free time wisely. I've been making a ton of art. I've been working extremely hard on my writing. I made some major changes to my novel, and it's sooooo good right now. I'm super hyped for it. Man, I never thought I'd have this much free time to focus on art. It has been a deep dive. I've been really trying to avoid timesuck-type things like video games, and instead, immersing myself in art study and practice. That part has been great.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hope to get more done before my job starts back up in August (I'm a theatrical technical director). Anyway, hope is hereafter (<- a phrase from <a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-unraveler-novel.html">The Unraveler</a>, meaning hope is the dream of the future)! I am sure that things will get better. I am sure the world will grow stronger because of everything going on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-175606547313145502020-06-24T09:10:00.000-07:002020-06-24T09:10:30.952-07:00COVID-19, a blog entry<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif; font-size: 26pt;">The
world is an absolute mess. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 26.0pt;">
<br />
My brain has been trying to piece it all together. I think it always comes back
to... we as a society have allowed, even encouraged, some dreadful things to
happen. To fix things, we have to dig through the mud and listen to each other.
<br />
<br />
I love being an American. I love the USA. I see many amazing things about my
country, but I’m wise enough to see the glaring problems. Most of them are
connected. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 26.0pt;">In
fact, I believe most of our issues boil down to greed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 26.0pt;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 26.0pt;">Poor
people want more money. Rich people want more money. Middle class people want
more money. The top 1% of the rich want more money. Who doesn’t? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 26.0pt;">But
if it takes money to make money, then the top 1% of the rich (hereafter
referred to as the 1%) have a startling advantage. The 1% can afford to create
ad campaigns to convince the poor and middle classes that what they really want
is to give the 1% more of their money (they don’t say it directly, of course,
but use [fake] “common sense” to logic the public into the desired end result).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 26.0pt;">Pull
out your cellphone. I remember a time when a family shared one phone that was
wired to a house. Do you understand?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 26.0pt;">I’m
not saying landlines are better (they are not), I’m saying we’re all paying
$60-$120/month cellphone plans. We lease our phones these days, pay a monthly
fee that will someday total $2,000, then we scheduled upgrades and repeat the
cycle. Certain companies have even proven to be intentionally slowing down
older cellphones so that customers are forced to purchase new ones out of
frustration. And society gives them a pass... mostly because the 1% can afford
to brainwash you with a bombardment of advertisements. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 26.0pt;">In
my cellphone example, you might even think all that is reasonable. But, we have
radio towers that deliver free radio into the airways. Why don’t we have WiFi
towers? Why isn’t the entirety of the USA blanketed in free WiFi? It should be.
Populated areas are already blanketed in WiFi anyway, but consumers lock their
routers behind pre-issued WLAN passcodes. <br />
<br />
But seriously, think about it. If we modified all radio towers to become free
WiFi towers, then there would be no more monthly cellphone fees or monthly home
Internet fees. Phones can make calls over WiFi, radios can play over WiFi,
television is streamed over it... etc. But, that would benefit everyone except
the top 1% of the rich, so we don’t do that. The top 1% enjoy that monthly
tribute you pay to them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 26.0pt;">That
is one example. Almost everything these days is based on that model. To
brainwash you that you NEED something, then make you pay forever to have it and
have it again and again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 26.0pt;">That’s
not the tone I want to take in writing this, though, that’s more of the
setting. We live in a world of consumerism. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 26.0pt;">So,
COVID-19 is spiking again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 26.0pt;">COVID-19
changed the world, man. I’ve barely been out-and-about since March. The entire
world shut down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 26.0pt;">Then
America opened up early. Now, COVID-19 is spiking. As of this writing, </span><b><span style="background: #222222; color: #bdbdbd; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 120.0pt;">121,279 p</span></b><b><span style="background: #222222; color: #bdbdbd; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 120.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">eople in the USA have
died of COVID-19.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 26.0pt;"> That font
change was accidental, but I think I’ll keep it for emphasis. That’s like 40x
9/11. Freaking crazy. We’re so desensitized to this death, some people just don’t
care. Or maybe they’re too shocked to believe it? It’s so painful to me. But,
we’re opening up anyway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 26.0pt;">The
European Union is even set to ban US citizens from traveling to their
countries. We’ve got it the worst. We can’t control the spread. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 26.0pt;">And
people want to moan and cry about putting on masks. Why? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 26.0pt;">I
wish I didn’t know, but I do. It’s because people have been brainwashed by politicians
(funded by the 1%) into believing that COVID-19 is a hoax. Why? Because the 1%
needs their workers to get back to work and make them money. Simple as that. It’s
greed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 26.0pt;"><br />
I empathize with regular folk who want to work. I really do. It’s not those who
are greedy. It’s the 1%. But, we have not destroyed COVID-19. We have no cure.
I want my family to live through this—all of them. I want my friends to
survive. This is going to take implementing stages of when things open. Some of
the states have this, and the numbers prove that it works. I know none of this
will happen for many states. It’s sad that certain political leaders think we
should slow down testing to increase his poll numbers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 26.0pt;">I
don’t have all the answers. I do think we need 400% more compassion in the USA.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-52571505460105301712020-06-22T12:01:00.000-07:002020-06-23T04:59:08.122-07:00These Sidewalks Are Suicide, a poem<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even water can feel like flames</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">within your lungs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Storm stifles on the fly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It suffocates the turf that kept us dry,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and free from the birds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We’ll climb toward their beaks,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">but it gets worse!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Because these damn sidewalks are suicide<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">when the people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">they walk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BSb31EqCfg4/XvD_1tX7NiI/AAAAAAAARBQ/uFMwZPKA7Rcs8t2twA3Ox6M7-FoUhwY6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/evil%2Bcrow.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="973" data-original-width="1290" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BSb31EqCfg4/XvD_1tX7NiI/AAAAAAAARBQ/uFMwZPKA7Rcs8t2twA3Ox6M7-FoUhwY6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/evil%2Bcrow.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">in stride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">in stride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even the sun knows all the shit I’m in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Its rays will warm the ground and dry my skin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I cannot crawl, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">though I’ve tried!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My body’s fried onto the blacktop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And them, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">with their massive machines used for grinding below,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">only by their unfortunate attitudes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">will they look down and see our own,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and only by that extreme rare chance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">will they be charitable enough</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">to ignore our hideous exterior</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and lift us from this inevitable death</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and the hopelessness of breathlessly crawling along the bottom of an endless
flood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Because even the sidewalks are suicide<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">when the people <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">they walk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">in stride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">in stride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For fortune is to be simply tossed back into the grass,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">where earthworms have a chance to survive the rain.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Song Version</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(written by me, performed with Brian Wood and Scott Weber)</span></div>
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<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="300" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/130720820&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe><br />
<div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: "interstate" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "garuda" , "verdana" , "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: 100; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; word-break: normal;">
<a href="https://soundcloud.com/oxyborb" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="oxyborb">oxyborb</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/oxyborb/these-sidewalks-are-suicide" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="These Sidewalks are Suicide">These Sidewalks are Suicide</a></div>
oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-28105016966317633502020-06-01T09:47:00.000-07:002020-06-10T09:48:46.918-07:00I support you!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-edvSxnfdug8/XuEL2cNjELI/AAAAAAAAQ4w/CM--0SIWRxERE-FZsxKo5pMnrbGvPt9zwCEwYBhgLKtMDAL1Ocqw2Tf6LsJhyHvNfcv4hr36d2-LSIhMEWaFI9eMsh-1IFUcqdZ9BbbWZntigGUkPGjzJ1j2zbIfKE8n8Vtoypg9woxbnOdP7kHROYG7olXLU_PqEV0oUxloSlCHMVvfFfAz4rn_b0JBgZlSL5n4VXJgV7TdTJGfauYaFmS1BLc-CAzTdQlD9hKXCjUTKmdQT6ReY4qi_g8Fwg8lBm7-L1c_hiEggAqkeT0laG6N3nLjwQ3kth-XSwwjzlu-JT7b6_3-VwidZZAnXDZP3OUom-fniteDTMbhZ-n2olqVE03atxLhg99yxhiSi_XWR0iprnwuN0KzyRIZTmnQePWQxCS-4C9boqLlSPaW32oZYfbQjDDvjYwCT89Ui933wXY4_4p-absesdC3CIkCnMh9s9wMQdP5Qtz7uW28RNg2g_jXNjkMLWIw8hdhI3h8Z8Mkqq-ShUZpyuHpakOZpwv6W0PazPXYq2p64epxDtsvaL1RXBuHI7GCBiu5zkqG_4KDw6r4oNiASMO9bWgNBIisCLBkd4Ifc3VXaS-zoq-WSu5yuKtg5rkSXHs_HZpjnRZZXFmk26dkYlwY0NjfjZCsg3A3iBTXSn4GXeH7lQhVBVYQwiqGE9wU/s1600/blm2.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="336" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-edvSxnfdug8/XuEL2cNjELI/AAAAAAAAQ4w/CM--0SIWRxERE-FZsxKo5pMnrbGvPt9zwCEwYBhgLKtMDAL1Ocqw2Tf6LsJhyHvNfcv4hr36d2-LSIhMEWaFI9eMsh-1IFUcqdZ9BbbWZntigGUkPGjzJ1j2zbIfKE8n8Vtoypg9woxbnOdP7kHROYG7olXLU_PqEV0oUxloSlCHMVvfFfAz4rn_b0JBgZlSL5n4VXJgV7TdTJGfauYaFmS1BLc-CAzTdQlD9hKXCjUTKmdQT6ReY4qi_g8Fwg8lBm7-L1c_hiEggAqkeT0laG6N3nLjwQ3kth-XSwwjzlu-JT7b6_3-VwidZZAnXDZP3OUom-fniteDTMbhZ-n2olqVE03atxLhg99yxhiSi_XWR0iprnwuN0KzyRIZTmnQePWQxCS-4C9boqLlSPaW32oZYfbQjDDvjYwCT89Ui933wXY4_4p-absesdC3CIkCnMh9s9wMQdP5Qtz7uW28RNg2g_jXNjkMLWIw8hdhI3h8Z8Mkqq-ShUZpyuHpakOZpwv6W0PazPXYq2p64epxDtsvaL1RXBuHI7GCBiu5zkqG_4KDw6r4oNiASMO9bWgNBIisCLBkd4Ifc3VXaS-zoq-WSu5yuKtg5rkSXHs_HZpjnRZZXFmk26dkYlwY0NjfjZCsg3A3iBTXSn4GXeH7lQhVBVYQwiqGE9wU/s640/blm2.webp" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
Right now, I'm trying to listen, educate myself, and see, more than give my (frankly, unneeded) opinion. But, I wanted to say this publicly.<br />
<br />
I stand with Black Lives. I recognize that systemic racism needs to be addressed immediately. George Floyd was murdered in cold blood.<br />
<br />
I've been thinking about my students a lot. With COVID-19 leading to an early summer break, this'll be the longest I go without seeing them in person. To you, students, I hope you're well. I see you. I support you. As a white man, I can never know your pain but I will always struggle to try. Stay safe. You are the future, the ones that will decide where this country goes next. We're counting on you to eradicate racism, because my generation surely has failed you.<br />
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<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>VOTE!</u></b></span> That is such a huge thing. Voting is the key to changing this country. The younger you begin to vote, the better the world will become. And, make your friends get in on this voting thing, too. </div>
</div>
oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-83740569605707355942020-05-13T09:27:00.000-07:002020-06-23T09:22:58.635-07:00Stage Cross, a painting<div style="background-color: transparent; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: large;">My painting is complete!<br /><br />One of my goals was to make this a painting that was highly reactive to light. The amount of light and direction you're standing determines how this painting looks. More sharp light or angle, more sharp points. Also, the actual light in the room determines how well you can see the red seats in the background. She's a character from my book.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Painting is a skill I am taking up because I want to be better at it. I'm new, so I've still got a lot to learn. I am happy with this one, though!</span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gLIqnAVMiT8/XvIrbGRgSCI/AAAAAAAARDQ/paXKpSQhE1oon-QNtSe_xGKfqNvslMxqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/stage%2Bcross%2Bpainting2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="821" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gLIqnAVMiT8/XvIrbGRgSCI/AAAAAAAARDQ/paXKpSQhE1oon-QNtSe_xGKfqNvslMxqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/stage%2Bcross%2Bpainting2.jpg" width="328" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stage Cross</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y92tIGM7E9E/XuEI1gJKpLI/AAAAAAAAQ4E/AzKt785Iv-kXHkI09hdwi3LVIcKJ6LYpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC01749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y92tIGM7E9E/XuEI1gJKpLI/AAAAAAAAQ4E/AzKt785Iv-kXHkI09hdwi3LVIcKJ6LYpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSC01749.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">normal light</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kXeSByrX5bE/XuEJR-CiCSI/AAAAAAAAQ4U/BHbjj_VfAJ8go2VZnOCUhSfbnWR-QHzqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC01750%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kXeSByrX5bE/XuEJR-CiCSI/AAAAAAAAQ4U/BHbjj_VfAJ8go2VZnOCUhSfbnWR-QHzqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSC01750%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dark</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iP_gKaSW-BI/XuEJSIVkBUI/AAAAAAAAQ4Y/rLh0Ip8rdTA4VEl-44JIX1DsoZhMCQLfACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC01747%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iP_gKaSW-BI/XuEJSIVkBUI/AAAAAAAAQ4Y/rLh0Ip8rdTA4VEl-44JIX1DsoZhMCQLfACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSC01747%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bright light</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0xBZpLMDsnE/XuEJR_iF4GI/AAAAAAAAQ4Q/ghX-hGo-hG8gO4Att065pSSba_xF16NGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC01751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0xBZpLMDsnE/XuEJR_iF4GI/AAAAAAAAQ4Q/ghX-hGo-hG8gO4Att065pSSba_xF16NGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSC01751.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">face</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lODhwuKJPn0/XvIrvF7ngOI/AAAAAAAARDY/URYH5gPlIksQYqVP0Hr6reDp8ErCsytRACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/closer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1413" data-original-width="1600" height="564" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lODhwuKJPn0/XvIrvF7ngOI/AAAAAAAARDY/URYH5gPlIksQYqVP0Hr6reDp8ErCsytRACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/closer.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">face 2, bright</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i style="background-color: #f0eae8; color: #040000; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for checking this out. If you enjoyed, why not read my short story about <a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-king-of-azkaban-short-story-by.html" style="color: #7a50ff; text-decoration-line: none;">what happened at Azkaban</a> next?</span></i></div>
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oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-6655398925872831662020-02-09T12:26:00.000-08:002020-02-09T12:26:45.915-08:00My Top Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC Choices for Fighters Pass 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Geno from Super Mario RPG</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hwsLjhcK3pU/XkBoKu7XkNI/AAAAAAAAPPs/2LXgabPd4dYbm5k5CdHLXhdjFkKAfiguwCEwYBhgL/s1600/694729_jwklvstheuniverse_geno-4-smash-dlc.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1476" data-original-width="1600" height="367" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hwsLjhcK3pU/XkBoKu7XkNI/AAAAAAAAPPs/2LXgabPd4dYbm5k5CdHLXhdjFkKAfiguwCEwYBhgL/s400/694729_jwklvstheuniverse_geno-4-smash-dlc.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Geno is not the most deserving, but he'd be an interesting character. His moves in his game are very unique and fun. </div>
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Steve from Minecraft</div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A8uKTTMmue0/XkBooZygysI/AAAAAAAAPP4/A2JZifC2wcc0ChV-3olKTjOXVeqVK8e1QCEwYBhgL/s1600/kmvus91nx4h21.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="854" height="221" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A8uKTTMmue0/XkBooZygysI/AAAAAAAAPP4/A2JZifC2wcc0ChV-3olKTjOXVeqVK8e1QCEwYBhgL/s400/kmvus91nx4h21.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<o:p>Steve is a gaming icon on the level of Mario and Sonic. His moveset has extreme potential, and his stage would be amazing.</o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Crash Bandicoot<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L7pgJPbM_zc/XkBoopwG5II/AAAAAAAAPQE/Vb-C3PdmVaksru7kcy3-XgHAWPTtKUd6ACEwYBhgL/s1600/xyjvt2yuatk01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="1211" height="183" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L7pgJPbM_zc/XkBoopwG5II/AAAAAAAAPQE/Vb-C3PdmVaksru7kcy3-XgHAWPTtKUd6ACEwYBhgL/s400/xyjvt2yuatk01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Crash would be fun to see in the game, as an icon of early Playstation gaming. Imagining him VS Banjo is really cool. I have a good feeling he'll happen!</div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rayman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NB6dR_SaSoY/XkBoooM-q4I/AAAAAAAAPP8/0WZNoUAIi0c3MkHT6DUUowVBxEDtusNzwCEwYBhgL/s1600/rayman-stand-alone-character-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="948" height="383" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NB6dR_SaSoY/XkBoooM-q4I/AAAAAAAAPP8/0WZNoUAIi0c3MkHT6DUUowVBxEDtusNzwCEwYBhgL/s400/rayman-stand-alone-character-art.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<o:p>Ubisoft deserves a spot on the Ultimate roster! No character fits better into this world than Rayman. I'd like to see how they make him float for an amiibo.</o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Infested Kerrigan from Starcraft<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kZ-v6Q57pnQ/XkBooaHwZfI/AAAAAAAAPP0/VhPIbJ9JGd0ClhyLmnFeZ4-TFEQvfQURgCEwYBhgL/s1600/KerriganHydralisk_SC2-LotV_Art1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1354" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kZ-v6Q57pnQ/XkBooaHwZfI/AAAAAAAAPP0/VhPIbJ9JGd0ClhyLmnFeZ4-TFEQvfQURgCEwYBhgL/s400/KerriganHydralisk_SC2-LotV_Art1.jpg" width="337" /></a></div>
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This would be an extreme WTF character. I love playing as the bad guys... Ridley, Bowser, K Rool... Kerrigan is the icon of Starcraft, which was a game that appeared on a Nintendo system!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Dragonborn from Skyrim<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTi5mjOB0tE/XkBon6QDOxI/AAAAAAAAPPw/KkVDf33vwXYkArIrF6Wfv6HyWBZutSY0QCEwYBhgL/s1600/elder-scrolls-dragonborn-smash-bros-ultimate-roster.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTi5mjOB0tE/XkBon6QDOxI/AAAAAAAAPPw/KkVDf33vwXYkArIrF6Wfv6HyWBZutSY0QCEwYBhgL/s400/elder-scrolls-dragonborn-smash-bros-ultimate-roster.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<o:p>To get an Elder Scrolls rep... would be awesome. Give him an axe instead of a sword... shouts, magic, and a dragon.</o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Dream ideas.... </i></b></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Skull Kid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Sackboy</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Waluigi</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Gengar</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Cooking Mama</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Maxwell</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Chibi Robo</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Dillion</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Scorpion</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Ganon (pig form)</span></div>
oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-82057732214843995252020-01-01T19:07:00.005-08:002023-06-02T13:45:22.580-07:00Short Fiction, Poetry, and Other <a href="https://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2019/06/after-game-of-throneswhere-does-jon.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6OFzSoO0RhHGlIqUw0bL23PmQwQIQNdNTEnESwJD4Ugf1xCjRDnfpaE8kPaK-uRCiewgkONblmCBFB_K9ETFHKaELpbiwwtvvTSCkkOvqLLgp9WTfkzc4RtJ85MNOgp4xIn1vwoLk3wPg4N96E9BxWg5Z-LMcsYfttq15WyMDWeR7WgnqcJOM6uDtQ/s1600/albumghostsandgiants.png" /></a>
<a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2013/11/dime-dozen-poem-and-song-by-harrison-aye.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oMvZezkkST0GPv1Uj7A57MrpYus8C3MTBVU_Y_ogvTpd2g4HH7DVa-bhvb1ru3PlwTeuBdsBLrInk6aCk7zGACKe5QniBG_GYAiu-g-l05tHnLhL69tAsvNPs5nzJVSgdx4zHAwgR9RpqumQ2km_dNYjtgNW_BAUxm57gqtTsszZ5rnQVWExq1Denw/s1600/albumdimeadozen.png" /></a>
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<a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2020/06/these-sidewalks-are-suicide-poem.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_CUyGVmui2XCfiRS_wn-YtxivnYYQAXvNar5T4VmEcnrikCYTSzS6SJSlOiBlH_gnV3_8BtqlZg2M3hzGTFsax0zIMtEzJ1SpTlnKa-QDO0U6UIY9m77vbjLACpNnvVW4N46el627hotrED1-z2uMz0aLWKSPxLAdDLrG_DTIHCFNTUgjSeANxWj2g/s1600/albumsidewalksaresuicide.png" /></a>
<a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-king-of-azkaban-short-story-by.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICFo2OGU4hUuYARt1l-cOacptwkl_UGiezlCjD5-ZF8DtjZFHYuzkkPkRkggIluT2QjvnMla2Ryx86sckKEwTWIANa5_oelOGO--EMgqw_U7ZTUmXcmfQxj8Jurcwe_x3XmeOduSe8PYvxyk42nDKEWEtM51Vn3gH1oaBE6YgG6U7eNWgfR_TX6Ff2A/s1600/albumkingofazkaban.png" /></a>
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<a href="https://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2020/05/stage-cross-painting.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOKO7P1b-NRHj9Z-ha5suFdNY_vQqbQ5ZuMu-A1VmQGREmzsdIfydfopWKa1s4zUzCN5sVZqgosX8hHnJEffGU7S3j_VrsMdcQftS33jLGkUm_CanmSCkOVRHIoiQTP_Am173nmeFFmZxF12Z4HoxsG8NJKnRsjV8AcXY7ZWofW73CXGlsnTKxOrUyQ/s1600/albumstagecross.png" /></a>
<a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2017/06/flash-fiction-3-craftsmanship.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEzF7Z_UROsQMyYxGUp59ONcktXNfHs_RMpQ1UfZYTMJCZp74n-v5hD7eeo3mDWIP-tVlnhFrG8J42yz7oeZVg_4WIX8I6TjYJwI9fCpQ8m1eu-O9_UwD5pUaYrNjLZ7Ofyy2aT3_X61E2w_Xw27jG7gb7As6frkOL6BiGds9JWeD4SSMR2LESGlAVA/s16000/albumarachni.png" /></a>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Short Fiction:</b></span></span><br />
<a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2013/10/threewordscarystories.html">#threewordscarystories - Twitter Trends</a><br />
<a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2014/07/i-typed-this-out-as-soon-as-i-woke-up.html">spots of the earth had sunken in</a> <br />
<a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2015/12/twitter-short-stories-odd-osment-moment.html">An Odd Osment Moment - Twitter</a> <br />
<a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-king-of-azkaban-short-story-by.html">The King of Azkaban - a fan fiction</a><br />
<a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2017/06/flash-fiction-3-craftsmanship.html">Craftsmanship, Overpacking, & NL Terry</a><br />
<a href="https://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2019/06/after-game-of-throneswhere-does-jon.html">Ghosts and Giants- a fan fiction</a><br /><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Poetry and song:</span></b></span><br />
<a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2013/08/sea-lampreys-comedic-poem-by-harrison.html">Sea Lampreys - Comedic Poem & Song, YT</a><br />
<a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2013/08/eclipse-poem-by-harrison-aye.html">Eclipse - YT</a><br />
<a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-other-night-poem-by-harrison-aye.html">The Other Night</a><br />
<a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2013/10/caterpillars-of-commonwealth-poem-and.html">Caterpillars of the Commonwealth</a> <br />
<a href="http://oxyborb.tumblr.com/post/64868187309/imagine-the-beach-and-the-red-army">thoughts, like jellyfish</a><br />
<a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2013/11/dime-dozen-poem-and-song-by-harrison-aye.html">Dime a Dozen - YT</a><br />
<a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2014/02/it-surrounds-and-binds-us-all-poem-by.html">it surrounds and binds us all - YT</a> <a href="http://unravelreads.blogspot.com/2013/06/my-june-and-poem.html"></a><br />
<a href="http://oxyborb.tumblr.com/post/88019083349/grip-things-we-are-supposed-to-join-uncounted">grip - Tumblr</a> <br />
<a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2016/02/jan-far.html">Jan&Feb(so far)</a><br />
<a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2016/03/shimmer-vertigollo-poem-by-harrison-aye.html">Shimmer Vertigollo</a><br /></span></b></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Other stuff:</span></b><br />
<a href="http://oxyborb.tumblr.com/">My Sketches, a collection of drawings - Tumblr, Updated Frequently</a> <br />
<a href="https://soundcloud.com/oxyborb/sets/sidewalks-are-suicide">These Sidewalks Are Suicide, a rock album</a><br />
<a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2013/05/paint-and-me.html">My Paintings, a collection of snapshots</a> <br />
<a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2013/08/comic-figure.html">Flexible Figure, a comic</a> <br />
<a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-squid-lady-painting.html">The Squid Lady, a painting</a><br />
<a href="https://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2020/05/stage-cross-painting.html">Stage Cross, a painting</a><br />
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</span></b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Best-of Collections:</span></b></span><br /><a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2017/03/best-of-me-around-internet-part-1.html">Part 1 - Azkaban, Praying Mantis, Smash Brothers</a></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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All works (including writings, drawings, and photography) by David Harrison Aye unless otherwise noted. Thank you for the support!</span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8ELxieu4DIQ/WHLNVF_9EBI/AAAAAAAAEQU/CeMctAzSmJUIZtQQKqxDm0Y0iMTzS7c-QCPcB/s1600/crow%2B2.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8ELxieu4DIQ/WHLNVF_9EBI/AAAAAAAAEQU/CeMctAzSmJUIZtQQKqxDm0Y0iMTzS7c-QCPcB/s200/crow%2B2.gif" width="193" /></a></span></b></span></div>
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</span></b></span>oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-35236761854210941222020-01-01T17:42:00.006-08:002023-06-02T12:10:33.033-07:00About D.H. Aye<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5SEKvL-G9yY/XuD46KF7q8I/AAAAAAAAQ34/peE6u6g3hDgqTLz9Pee5RwHYOBqm1J4YgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/profile%2Btop%2B2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="1582" data-original-width="1454" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5SEKvL-G9yY/XuD46KF7q8I/AAAAAAAAQ34/peE6u6g3hDgqTLz9Pee5RwHYOBqm1J4YgCLcBGAsYHQ/w368-h400/profile%2Btop%2B2.jpg" width="368" /></b></span></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Halloween is the blood that pumps through my artistic style. I <a href="https://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2020/05/stage-cross-painting.html"><span style="color: blue;">paint</span></a>, <a href="http://oxyborb.tumblr.com/post/88209224729"><span style="color: blue;">draw</span></a>, <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DsiXX1qUUAELZ8m.jpg:large">design sets</a></span>, <a href="https://soundcloud.com/oxyborb/sets/sidewalks-are-suicide"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">play instruments</span> in bands</span></a>, <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfqSs_qeSa8">act</a></span>, <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ovhejiYw1o&t=1989s">direct</a></span>, <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-king-of-azkaban-short-story-by.html">etc</a></span>, <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2017/06/flash-fiction-3-craftsmanship.html">etc</a></span>. However, the primary focus of my life is writing fiction with a core rooted in fun.</span></span><span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h17QBzdWhvY/XuD36qK1YxI/AAAAAAAAQ3w/T9d9A0FaQIgKpjyWLeT2Ucy9pV1-qKAAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/42378269_10102744203805748_7591531699872202752_o.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h17QBzdWhvY/XuD36qK1YxI/AAAAAAAAQ3w/T9d9A0FaQIgKpjyWLeT2Ucy9pV1-qKAAQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/42378269_10102744203805748_7591531699872202752_o.jpg" width="400" /></b></span></a></div>
<span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b>My full name is David Harrison Aye, a writer and artist from the St. Louis metro area. The big thing I’m promoting right now is a novel called The Unraveler, which is a <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-unraveler-novel.html">YA fantasy</a></span> through this world and <i>under</i> with a skeletal rat. I also have an assortment of <a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2013/08/short-fiction-poetry-and-other-writings.html"><span style="color: blue;">short stories and poems</span></a>. </b></span></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> </b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbFwEu2YQpx-1QywKD8o31yFL3Bts29VwiyZ5pBfjDMtSYnPKvM-3MdcQcdSbG5YkMOhO35nrfRPG_oRnbCF1S35ivciV9LdkGebU3RhvRVJhnOWvcSiRD8evJpwa8-luacZk7XRg6j6HC7GDMzweEyFJHx5Rh5U5M2SYMoZUgd06tIvuQnXtQS9uLg/s211/jackolantern.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="183" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbFwEu2YQpx-1QywKD8o31yFL3Bts29VwiyZ5pBfjDMtSYnPKvM-3MdcQcdSbG5YkMOhO35nrfRPG_oRnbCF1S35ivciV9LdkGebU3RhvRVJhnOWvcSiRD8evJpwa8-luacZk7XRg6j6HC7GDMzweEyFJHx5Rh5U5M2SYMoZUgd06tIvuQnXtQS9uLg/s1600/jackolantern.png" width="183" /></b></span></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "times";"></span></div>
</div>oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3429547046507208327.post-78015252731628105212020-01-01T17:29:00.026-08:002023-07-28T18:56:20.628-07:00straw men burn and leave no bones<style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"MS 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --></style>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #fce5cd;"><span>_____</span><span>_</span></span><b><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-large;">T h e<br /></span></b></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kcI6CvLs0dPFnCGf5FfMJFD_0Qi9Yt2RObmX6BmrLgLLiJr_BVmeEnQS0AX6YK21yhfls7tKvd8iLne_dc-sJ0yzq_cLLAIhFnWOa-GG-T8TBQfvSLTiozJA4obNvW6C_2M1xZMnpLpvG9pEsNbBlfADzkIoj3EWOeTlncmegXOlt5T-l1wd2xSCFw/s742/UNRAVELERbanner2022Glow.png" style="clear: left; display: inline; font-size: xx-large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="742" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kcI6CvLs0dPFnCGf5FfMJFD_0Qi9Yt2RObmX6BmrLgLLiJr_BVmeEnQS0AX6YK21yhfls7tKvd8iLne_dc-sJ0yzq_cLLAIhFnWOa-GG-T8TBQfvSLTiozJA4obNvW6C_2M1xZMnpLpvG9pEsNbBlfADzkIoj3EWOeTlncmegXOlt5T-l1wd2xSCFw/w640-h330/UNRAVELERbanner2022Glow.png" width="640" /></a><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiGuiyRaCYyZQqxROhX2N-xGI4PBLInhp1ghRIPuhwPYCZoSC5b2WwgZtKILcUtD_Cpvq7H49_D15-XOV5JwVroPvs6fveNNNS1de-FOoOxLnz9K96ZZ9UQOjZHHUZeplgQcO9amxSUpjfGes1BRVF6ihXAE0hW_nBetyuVNawnPCN688NqGGdm46LQ/s961/new%20rosalyn%20remix%20sideways.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="749" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiGuiyRaCYyZQqxROhX2N-xGI4PBLInhp1ghRIPuhwPYCZoSC5b2WwgZtKILcUtD_Cpvq7H49_D15-XOV5JwVroPvs6fveNNNS1de-FOoOxLnz9K96ZZ9UQOjZHHUZeplgQcO9amxSUpjfGes1BRVF6ihXAE0hW_nBetyuVNawnPCN688NqGGdm46LQ/w311-h400/new%20rosalyn%20remix%20sideways.png" width="311" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: x-small;">The Poet Rosalyn</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Prince Kobias always wanted to explore the abandoned Brine
Family Theatre. After investigating every secret within the four hundred and
forty-four rooms of his home at Castle Oversalt, you would think his talent for uncovering hidden
passages would help him sneak into some run down playhouse. </span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iP3X7cmT0WA/Xvnn8RYyuQI/AAAAAAAAROY/mweGaUzoOJs1Vuu9g2InRs9UomPgTME3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Dewlap%2BHD%2BPNG.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1435" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iP3X7cmT0WA/Xvnn8RYyuQI/AAAAAAAAROY/mweGaUzoOJs1Vuu9g2InRs9UomPgTME3wCLcBGAsYHQ/w358-h400/Dewlap%2BHD%2BPNG.png" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: x-small;">Dewlap the Gat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: verdana;">But boards and mortar block every window and door, leaving the prince
and his friends to merely speculate about why the building has been left in
disrepair (and what remains inside). </span>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYTlo-MdBNQ/XvPGZ1YmAPI/AAAAAAAARGs/6G56fRa_Blw1mkZLrfHnkkVaKnlepuC8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/kobias%2BHD2.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;"></span></a></div>
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</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEuWR43MbL45lDM_Hrmz-ZaKm8Kuh1laQ-uTwXU7syszmYIjG3lCI_auELjRwAT2OI50cEijBKrVVQVtj92mvbEgR7Fir8nFm3Fdd4ezQEIs5XnvKmC031-EBU54kkboDWS3cztKiNOw6LpkPaGeZHrKLR2K0WwbM4q8fIwzQjoFPi515Xylqb9Kzuw/s1892/phyrianHD2022remix444444444444.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1892" data-original-width="1443" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEuWR43MbL45lDM_Hrmz-ZaKm8Kuh1laQ-uTwXU7syszmYIjG3lCI_auELjRwAT2OI50cEijBKrVVQVtj92mvbEgR7Fir8nFm3Fdd4ezQEIs5XnvKmC031-EBU54kkboDWS3cztKiNOw6LpkPaGeZHrKLR2K0WwbM4q8fIwzQjoFPi515Xylqb9Kzuw/w305-h400/phyrianHD2022remix444444444444.png" width="305" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: x-small;">High Executive Arch</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: verdana;">One evening, Kobias notices a man walking through the theater’s wall,
but even after a close inspection, there is no telling how he did it. The next morning, 15 years after the last
closing of curtains, the theater is suddenly being reopened by the mysterious thespian, Ehro, with a new staged play titled, “</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">The Ratking’s Unraveling</span></span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: verdana;">.”</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8x6l6WTiuoo/XvPIRYB6T3I/AAAAAAAARHQ/XJgXoAjLxBEwv4pLaN4DqAAXcU8Dc1fRACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/kuda2.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;"></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JCtMRDZFu-A/XvnlrsJIvMI/AAAAAAAAROM/932qewgN5tYYRTZVm15Vatm0D_W_eX8WQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/kudanite%2B444%2Bremix.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="728" height="308" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JCtMRDZFu-A/XvnlrsJIvMI/AAAAAAAAROM/932qewgN5tYYRTZVm15Vatm0D_W_eX8WQCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h308/kudanite%2B444%2Bremix.png" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: x-small;">A kudanite</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: verdana;">Anticipation builds throughout the city, yet even Prince Kobias never imagined that this would be a performance to </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #741b47;">die
</span></span></span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">for. </span><br /></span>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XspeZGRlZfg/WHL2JuNO6tI/AAAAAAAAEQ0/vgr0ObMP74EQi_ZErA-fctNYx6U989zcQCPcB/s1600/post%2Bcrow%2Bbanner%2Bnocrow.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" height="64" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XspeZGRlZfg/WHL2JuNO6tI/AAAAAAAAEQ0/vgr0ObMP74EQi_ZErA-fctNYx6U989zcQCPcB/s640/post%2Bcrow%2Bbanner%2Bnocrow.gif" width="640" /></span></a><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMc3DHwLbjp_ks0lFNvWqXpPfHP28nzn1RAlSM-wenWyat0woizY47oJW66_s3ODMUm_ZDrMAKPFAH6PQ1A8AbE8vzMdXSpoj5gjnK2bGHtudIJ7RYyq2YjZga8l0V50zELfz02zI27ji5aVwp4aABRMYXRdqCWj-ef2smpkqT1-h-KjeZfuMmtx_gqA/s2497/Vectorman%20Remix%202022.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2497" data-original-width="2262" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMc3DHwLbjp_ks0lFNvWqXpPfHP28nzn1RAlSM-wenWyat0woizY47oJW66_s3ODMUm_ZDrMAKPFAH6PQ1A8AbE8vzMdXSpoj5gjnK2bGHtudIJ7RYyq2YjZga8l0V50zELfz02zI27ji5aVwp4aABRMYXRdqCWj-ef2smpkqT1-h-KjeZfuMmtx_gqA/w363-h400/Vectorman%20Remix%202022.png" width="363" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: x-small;">A vectorman</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">My novel, </span><i><span style="color: #20124d;">The Unraveler</span></i><span style="color: #4c1130;">, is a 90,000-word YA fantasy that aims to bring readers a fun adventure through a theatrical world and </span></span><i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Playfair Display;">under</span></i><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: georgia;">. This website is dedicated to my journey to seek representation and, with any luck, publication. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i>If you'd like to keep up, follow me<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/oxyborb/">on Instagram</a>. Thank you so much for <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">your support<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">! </span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: x-small;"><i>Or consider reading some of my <a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2017/06/flash-fiction-3-craftsmanship.html">short fiction</a> or <a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2020/06/these-sidewalks-are-suicide-poem.html">poetry</a>!</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0zfFHCc7dfs/WGecwPP4NyI/AAAAAAAAEMI/Xa_tIJjM9YEZKdp96MAmP86nUJAA-yjgwCPcB/s1600/wel%2Bmid%2B2.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" height="84" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0zfFHCc7dfs/WGecwPP4NyI/AAAAAAAAEMI/Xa_tIJjM9YEZKdp96MAmP86nUJAA-yjgwCPcB/s640/wel%2Bmid%2B2.gif" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></div>
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<span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #783f04;">Hello, my name is David Harrison Aye, and I'm a writer/artist. Halloween is my artistic spirit.</span></span></span><div><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2013/08/who-is-harrison-aye.html">➤ Full bio</a></span></b></div>
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<span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> </b></span>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The Unraveler is a novel I'm working to get published. Interested literary agent? Learn more about this project here... </span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br /></span>
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-unraveler-novel.html">➤ My novel</a></span></b></div>
<span><span><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br /></b></span>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span><br /><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #4c1130;">This blog is all about my thoughts on writing, other art I'm working on, happenings in my life, and more. </span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br /></span>
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/">➤ Page 1</a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span><span><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #073763;">I have a few samples of my writing and art online. Let me know what you think!</span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br /></span>
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://oxyborb.blogspot.com/2013/08/short-fiction-poetry-and-other-writings.html">➤ Short writings</a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></div>oxyborbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914783254816270425noreply@blogger.com0