For those of you who were following my dog Linnie's progress, I am very sad to report that she passed away on January 24, 2012. She just got too sick, too fast and despite numerous tests, we could not figure out what was wrong with her. She passed on her own terms about an hour before the appointment we had already scheduled to make that decision for her.

Before I adopted her, Linnie was severely neglected and, as we later came to believe, abused. She was in poor shape when I got her and it took many months to get her healthy and trusting again. From the moment I brought her home, it became my mission to make her the healthiest and happiest dog she could be. And for the time we had her, she was happy and full of attitude and energy. The last Christmas we had with her was the best she had ever been. Unfortunately, things went downhill fast just after New Year's and whatever it was hit too hard and fast for us to do anything about it despite our best efforts. I was incredibly torn about the decision to put her to sleep, but Linnie gave me a gift back and took that decision away from me and went peacefully on her own. She waited until my whole family and I were with her at the vet to leave us.

Linnie, I love you and miss you very much and even though our time together was far too brief, it was so very special.

I just want to leave this poem for her that I found on a pet loss resource website. I feel it is incredibly fitting and ends on a hopeful note.

"They say memories are golden
well maybe that is true.
I never wanted memories,
I only wanted you.

A million times I needed you,
a million times I cried.
If love alone could have saved you
you never would have died.

In life I loved you dearly,
In death I love you still.
In my heart you hold a place
no one could ever fill.

If tears could build a stairway
and heartache make a lane,
I'd walk the path to heaven
and bring you back again.

Our family chain is broken,
and nothing seems the same.
But as God calls us one by one,
the chain will link again.

–Vicky Holder"


I won't lie, I'm kind of a mess at the moment, so I have absolutely no idea when I will be active on here again as far as making costumes and responding to messages, favorites, comments, etc. So please don't be offended if I don't respond to something for a few weeks or even a month. I promise I am not ignoring anyone, I just need some time to take care of myself and to take care of Linnie's final preparations. She was incredibly important to me and she was a family member first and foremost, and a pet second.

Thank you.


Meanwhile... My current plans... Many of which have been put on hold, but should hopefully be finished in time.

Convention Attendance:
- Chibi Pa: Moto (November 2011) - Attended
- Anime Boston 2012 (April 2012)
- Connecticon 2012 (July 2012) - Possible
- Anime Festival Orlando XIII (August 2012)

Costumes:
- Elena (FFVII: Advent Children) - for me - August 2011 finish date - ~completed~
- Kilala (Inu-Yasha) - commission - April 2012 finish date - on hold
- Kadaj (FFVII: Advent Children) - for me - April 2012 finish date - ~completed~
- Witch (Left 4 Dead) - for me - April 2012 finish date - on hold
- TBA (Pokemon) - for me -  April 2012 finish date - on hold

Plushies:
- Momo (Avatar: The Last Airbender) - gift - finish date TBD - on hold

Other:
- Breast Cancer Awareness Tote - commission - December 2011 finish date - ~completed~
- Holiday Themed Totes X 6 - commission - December 2011 finish date - ~completed~
- Penguin Themed Tote - commission - December 2011 finish date - ~completed~
- Popular Travel Collection - Chibi Pa: Moto - November 2011 finish date - ~completed~
- Popular Keychain Collection - Chibi Pa: Moto - November 2011 finish date - ~completed~
- Derpy Hooves Messenger Bag - on hold