Show Shinanigans

For some stupid reason, I'm starting up a Zodiac Tribes comic book series. I won't even think of uploading a single page until I have at least the first book done. Which will probably be the first chapter in the first story, and most likely end up being a giant-sized comic instead of a regular twenty-some page one. I'm doing it all digitally and putting in extra detail for web viewing, so it'll probably take me a while. I wouldn't be surprised if I never publish it for public viewing. And if I do, I'll try to find some way so that the whole book won't be free to see ... because I don't think most people realize how much I love these characters and this story line. I can't get it just right, and that's my only problem. Otherwise I may be halfway through writing the whole series. XD

I've been working on the first page for the past few days. I still have a lot of the scenery to work with, because that's my main focus. Background and lighting. It's what I struggle with most, okay? I'm still a growing mostly self-taught artist. It works for me, especially since I'm so damn competitive.

That isn't to say that I'm working extensive hours on it each day. Maybe only an hour or so per day. I have other things going on in my life.

For example, yesterday.

I woke up about noon, which is early for me. I usually stay in bed until about one, 'cuz I stay up 'till about three. I try to go to bed early, but it isn't working. Especially since Puddin decides to freak out every now and again. She's a psycho spazz.

I ate, but I quickly had to bury Gru (I put off his burial for a while), which wasn't easy since our yard is clay. It hasn't rained for a while, so it was as hard as a rock. I'm not the strongest person to begin with, but pulling out a handful of dirt at a time when I was practically jumping on the spade shovel was not fun. So, with one of my occasional good ideas, I grabbed a gallon of water and poured it down the hole I began. I let it soak in for a few minutes, and dug that way. I took care of the other rabbits while I waited for it.

Once he was buried, I (didn't) threw Jill into the three-hole carrier, loaded up supplies into one of the other holes, and put Puddin into the last hole.

I have no idea where the time went, but it was almost two thirty by the time I had everything packed. It was three by the time I finished taking care of my friend's chickens and kitties for her. After that, I went to my other friend's graduation party, visited her horses, showed off my buns, and then I was off to pick off another friend to hit a show an hour and a half away. People who know me call me crazy for traveling so far just to show off my rabbits.

Especially rabbits I knew wouldn't do so well. I knew Jill would be DQ'd. For one, she was five pounds. The maximum weight for a Mini Rex doe is four and a half pounds. Secondly, when I was clipping her nails before packing her up, I noticed for the first time that she had mismatched toenails. Either I don't clip her nails enough, or that just happened ... but I never noticed that before. Puddin, on the other hand, I wasn't initially planning to bring, but when I measured Jill, I threw Puddin on the scale and saw she met the minimum weight requirement for a junior. I brought her along for the hell of it. Besides her baby fur, the judge didn't have anything bad to say about her.

I met a lot of nice people, though. You have no idea how nice rabbit people are. The people who set up next to us (they had a lot of Silver Fox rabbits, but some Thriantas as well, which I've never seen in person before) were missing teeth and not so well kempt, but they were chatty and friendly. I asked around to see if anyone would tattoo Puddin for me (pretty much another reason I brought her along) and met a nice train of people leading up to the guy that tattooed her. For free, mind you.

Then, before the judging, I was walking around to see all the rabbits. A lot of the people that come bring sale rabbits, and I wanted to see if anything really struck my fancy. I found a few chocolate Mini Rex does, and a lot of Holland Lops, but nothing I wanted to buy. Until I walked by this one grooming table with Netherland Dwarf sale bunnies. I looked them over, and then started to leave, telling Olivia that I was looking for a certain color. Another guy, whom I think was buying their otter ND, told me that there was a doe ... of one of the colors I was looking for. He pulled the rabbit out, started explaining all these things about the rabbit ... and it was beautiful. If I wanted to start NDs, that's the exact rabbit I would want.

"Are you sure it's a doe?" I asked, grabbing it off the table.

"Yeah," he replied. Or something of that effect.

I flipped the rabbit over ... and it certainly was not a doe.

"Aw, man, did I grab the buck?" the actual owner asked. Well yes, you did.

I still bought him. I bought a flippin' Netherland Dwarf. I don't have enough space to breed Netherland Dwarfs. But I bought him anyway, and am now looking for the perfect doe for him. He's only four months, though, so I'll definitely be showing him in the meantime. First I need to work on his posing, and he absolutely hates that. He's a nippy little thing, too.

So I'll be looking for a nice doe for him at the Charlotte show next month, as well as bring any rabbits I'm selling, and Puddin and this buck. Puddin and this buck are my show rabbits, so of course they're coming.

My parents threatened to not let me go to shows if I bring home a rabbit every time. Well ... I didn't buy Puddin at a show. I just bought her. Because I was looking for her. I'm looking to strengthen my herd, and they don't understand that. I have a couple nice does now, and I hope one of the bucks I bred will be a good brood buck (and show prospect), but it's going to be ever-changing if I want to keep up with competition.