I always look forward to the Critical Mass ride, on the final friday of the month. Last month was Youko's birthday dinner, so I had to miss... this month I showed up early, riding a new bike I modded (it's a 20" BMX that I extended the back on and put a 24" rear tire on) and what happens? Six whole people show up. Six. Of course there's some other ride going on somewhere else that the other twenty or thirty people are attending, and the five people not me... they decide to go to that ride too. Critical mass is not too critical, or too massive with one rider.
I'll have to get my fix at the British Tweed ride next saturday.

Well, it's been forever since I posted anything here. Life has been good. I've been working semi steadily doing construction, attending the most useless apprenticeship classes, and trying to renovate the house Youko bought. The house is coming along, slowly but surely, it finally actually has drywall on the walls. In other news, I finally changed my hair, you may call me Dreadwing, instead of Redwing now, as my hair is finally all locked up. (technically it'll be a solid 6 months before it's fully locked, but it's no longer straight, and that's what's important.) Here's a couple of pics.






Hope everyone is chill out there in cyberspace,
R

Yeah, so here's like 680 pics from my trip to Disney last week. I decided to try the whole photobucket thing... it appears to somewhat randomly rotate some of the pictures, but all in all I think I like it.

http://www.yourpsychogirlfriend.com/beav/

Just had to share. I ran across the instructable and had to read the whole thing.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Compubeaver---%3E-How-to-case-mod-a-beaver---in-29-e/

It makes me want to do case mods, but not with taxidermy.

A good thing is staying up all night with that special someone close by.
A bad thing is staying up all night cause that special someone isn't close by.

Work has been terrible, due to this horrid 4pm to 1am shift, I can't seem to lock into a sleep schedule.  Luckily that will all be over after tuesday.  I'll be back to working like a human, the monday-friday daytime thing.  I think I'll call into work after my union class this morning, another day at Wal-Mart with no sleep just seems unbearable... but if I do, what should I do with my time?  There's a munch tonight with some lovely people (julyloreli, and nikitangel specifically) but I was also invited to a party... choices, choices.
 Oh well, I'm sure I'll figure it out.
Peace amidst chaos,
Redwing

I'm actually really enjoying Cincy. I miss so many people and things about Chicago, but I've already met so many great people here. The kink scene here is small to me, but it's also so much more personal. Already I've been invited to non kink things by some of my new kinky friends, something which rarely, if ever happened in Chicago.
In other news, I've been addicted to Swap Bot, a website for artists and crafters where you trade things, and I feel like a hot commodity on there (one person said "you're awesome...it's akin to hero worship you know, you're just fucking cool!" direct quote) Mostly I've been doing ATCs (art the size of playing cards) If you're crafty or an artist, you should check it out.
On the job front, well I managed to get a crappy wal mart job, second shift, horrid pay. I think the managers read I'm into age play, they misunderstood and treat me like a 5 year old. Hopefully I'll be able to get back into construction soon.
Beyond that, there's not much going on, I hope all is well with everyone out there.
Peace
Redwing

So I read this...

Following his fourteenth birthday in 1941, Ratzinger was enrolled in the Hitler Youth—as membership was required for all 14-year old German boys after December 1939
In 1943 while still in seminary, he was drafted at age 16 into the German anti-aircraft corps. Ratzinger then trained in the German infantry  (from wikipedia)

Then I read this...

Is belting the Pope worse than genocide?

Some bloggers are understandably confused -- well, they seem more irate than confused -- that ordinary Catholic priests can grant absolution in the case of genocide, while other "sins", such as aiding an abortion, the assassinating a pope, or desecrating the eucharistic Host, must be referred to the Church's Apostolic Penitentiary for papal absolution. The source of that concern seems to be this account of the Penitentiary in the Daily Telegraph.

from this bbc site...  http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ni/religion/

Does it strike anyone else as odd that an organization headed by a former Nazi lets it's lowliest members pardon genocide?

1. Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times:
Umm, no fair, too many to choose from...Braveheart

2. Name a movie that you've seen multiple times in a theater:
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie:
Steve Buscemi

4. Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie:
Jean Claude Van Damme

5. Name a movie that you can quote from:
Most of them...let's go with Mallrats

6. Name a movie musical that you know all the lyrics to all the songs:
Moulin Rouge

7. Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with:
Moulin Rouge

8. Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see:
Pan's Labarynth... or anything with exploding pants...

9. Name a movie that you own:
Yes??? How about the worst movie I own...Catwoman!

10. Name an actor that launched his/her career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops:
For fun I'm saying Kevin Smith... he's a comic book author

11. Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in?:
Yes, multiple times

12. Ever made out in a movie theater?
Of course

13. Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven't gotten around to it:
Boondock saints

14. Ever walked out of a movie?:
The ex made us walk out of the House on Haunted Hill remake

15. Name a movie that made you cry in the theatre:
Don't think one ever has...

16. Popcorn?:
Extra Butter

17. How often do you go to the movies?:
Not as often as I'd like, they're too expensive now... plus my living room has a projector...

18. What's the last movie you saw in the theater?:
Dark Knight

19. What is your favorite/preferred genre of movie?:
Comic book, or fantasy

20. What was the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?
Return of the Jedi

Well, that's right. We have a scant 8 days till we depart Chicago. As of right now, we are planning to be at GD on Saturday (for the social, then back around 11), come give your goodbyes. If we don't see you, send me a message, maybe we can get together sometime next week. I know there are so many things I'll miss here. Friends, the wonderful kink community, hotdogs, the chilly breeze off the lake, and the el, just to name a few. Thank you to everyone who has made Chicago so wonderful, if you happen to be in Cincinnati, look us up, we'll even have a couch to crash on.

Redwing

Well, as predicted Cincinnati is pulling me back. Much like an inescapable black hole... Youko and I, plus her mom, went in to Cincy for Thanksgiving. It was fun, but busy. While there we looked at townhouses and houses for rent. We finally decided on a place in Madison Place, near Mariemont. The house is really cool. Hardwood floors, coved ceilings, arched doorways, and sweet old school metal cabinets in the kitchen. It's got some useful features too. Central Air, utility room, fenced yard, garage, screened porch... It's a sweet place. 3-4 blocks north of Mariemont square. We're really sad about leaving our new friends here in Chicago, but the job market is better there, everything is cheaper, and my kids are there. The really unfortunate thing is, I'll be leaving here on the 20th. If anyone wants to say goodbye, shoot me a message, or see me at GD. I hope to be there a lot for the next couple of weeks (there are zero clubs in Cincy... sadness)
Well, much love to those I'll soon be leaving, and much to those I'll soon be seeing again.

Milkshakes are good... milkshakes that use chilled Irish Cream instead of milk are amazing.

There are many things that currently make me happy...
Family
Youko
Friends
Chains
Mead
Bruises and welts
etc.

but right now, do you know what would make me really happy???
Finding the little (expletive deleted) that programmed the malware vundo and ripping his (expletive deleted) little heart out. I just spent a day and a half trying to fix all the bugs that little thing gave my computer...
before you think "well idiot that's why you use anti-spyware programs" know that the THREE that were protecting my computer let it through (anti spyware is not like anti virus, having more than one is not a bad thing)
I did, as a side effect learn a few things. Super Anti-Spyware is probably the best freeware program (actually it's better than the retail Spyware Doctor) there's nothing more annoying than having every page EXCEPT your email services load fine (I'm sure there's something more annoying) and I like Opera better than FireFox

It's all better now

Too tired to rhyme, and thinking naptime,
the words barely ring, but I remain, Redwing

This is more for the novelty than the function of it, but I couldn't resist. After discussing with a couple of friends, I created the CAT5-of-nine-tails.



Yeah, sweet.
Redwing

Well, this weekend was a total blast. My sweet little kitty is in Rhode Island with her sister, so I went camping. LAFF (Lake Area Furry Friends)was doing a camping trip that Mariner, The Joe, Simba and Sirius were attending, so I decided to go. Good decision... I met some really cool furs, it was so fun getting (and staying) pleasantly tipsy, and the rafting trip was more fun than I've had in water in years (I was rafting on an air mattress with someone really amazing). But the greatest thing was that I had the pleasure of introducing the cutest little wolf boy to the joy of flogging. Unfortunately I had not brought any toys with me (why would I?) but I did have a decent length of cotton rope. So I made a flogger from that, then took some soft nylon rope from some rafts and made a really gentle flogger. (Note- from now on I'm carrying a small assortment of toys with me everywhere) We only did a really short session, some caressing, light flogging, scratching, building up to some medium-ish flogging and punching. Of course there was some kissing and licking too, general stuff for a flogging. All in all it was an amazing weekend. The only thing that could have made it better would have been if my kitty was there. Although that may have changed the dynamic a little between the wolf boy and I, it would have been great to share with her.

Still smiling ear to ear, and fighting back the haze of beer,
happy in the joy the memories bring, I remain, Redwing.

I would like to cast my vote for the "Winter edition Cocoa Chex Mix" as the greatest snack food ever, and add that the General Mills Corporation are a bunch of communists for not offering it year round.

It's been so long since I posted here that I'm sure many of you thought I'd died, or closed my account. No, I've just had nothing to say. I'm still on my huge unemployed streak (haven't worked yet in 08!) I'm finally going through with my plan of getting evicted. I guess when you don't pay rent they don't like that too much, and this month I just can't seem to pull anything together this month(I think that since I've been "pulling it together" since october, I'm doing pretty well) So I've thrown in the towel, and I'm going to get a storage unit for my stuff and be homeless!! (actually I'll be staying with Youko) In other news, things are going well for me on the relationship front, I'm enjoying my time as Youko's Master (more than I admit to her) We spend almost every Friday and Saturday at GD2, which is exceptionally enjoyable, and I'm so glad for all the wonderful people we've met there. Bonelord's wedding to the Sheath is coming soon, and although I'm not sure how I'll get there, I'm positive I will (after all, I introduced them) I'm quite excited, and sure it will be great fun. Seeing as it's April 15th I suppose I should try to call the IRS (again). You would think they'd be more helpful, I can't do my taxes until they force my employers to give me my w2s. I've tried with the employers, and I just don't get anything but run-around. Well, back to packing, I'm sure after reading that many of you are thinking, why did he post? Yeah, I'm asking myself the same thing.
With a mind that cannot think to rhyme, and a body merely biding time, my wings are tied with leaden string, and sadly I remain, Redwing.

And so it continues... I'm still unemployed, big shock there, so posting this update seems kind of pointless. Sure there are other things going on in my life. I've been trying to keep busy producing more art, I've started attending poetry readings again, and I've finished re-doing my deviantart pages. It seems weird to admit, but for the first time in my life I actually want to start working again. I don't even really care what I do at this point. Of course I'd like to do something artistic, dare I even say photography related, but I'll do anything.
I'm slowly beginning to wonder if this wasn't the best idea I've ever had. The whole "I'll move to Chicago and assume that I wasn't deceived about having a job when I get there thing" But I still wouldn't change my decision. I'm far too happy in my personal life to let a little thing like having no money get the best of me. No I think that until I get evicted (give it another month) sued for money issues (that's in process) thrown in jail (this is where the child support office comes in) and starve to near death (I've still got a good supply of ramen to stave that off) I'll stand by my decision.
Recently Sirius posted about people whining too much on here, and I must agree. I know that I seem a little down and whiny in this post, but it should be noted that I'm not saying "my life sucks, I don't have an extra twenty bucks to go to the movies, boo hoo I'm gonna go slit my wrists with a butter knife" or some such emo shit. I stand by my decisions, and hold myself fully accountable. Yes, parts of my life are less than ideal, yes that is mildly upsetting, but I still am so grateful for what I do have. Chiefly among the things that I am grateful for are my friends and loved ones. My pet Youko is always there for me, amazing people like Mariner, Sirius, all of my friends in the Ohio Posse, and of course my family. Even though I don't often see any of them, these people are never far from my heart.
So I guess what it really comes down to is this... In my life I measure success not in monetary terms, but in friendships and love. By this measuring stick, I'm more successful than most of the people I see on the street, and that, above all, is what truly matters.

As feathers fall from clouded sky, and tears run from a steel blue eye, my sadness leaves my heavy breast, for through it all I am much blessed, and despair for me has no sting, so smiling I remain, Redwing.

For any of you who ever look me up on Deviantart, I'm splitting my art into three different pages. Photos will remain on Gaehlon-Redwing, other art is moving to Master-Redwing, and fashion is on Gryffon-Designs. I figured while I'm sitting, unemployed, it'd be a good time to actually do it. Bored beyond the edge of tears, with nothing to see but my fears, I sit on the cusp of nothing, and I remain, Redwing.

Yeah, I snagged this from Mariner, and was surprised by it's a. accuracy, and b. totally upbeat and cheerful outlook. Nothing about my egotism, or jackass behavior.

What Ryan Means

You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.