Date:	2006-08-27 01:51
Subject:	Mermaid's Tale
Security:	Public
Mood:	satisfied
Music:	Wynton Marsalis - Foggy Day

Wow, that took much longer than I thought it would. I just posted the story and some appropriate artwork to my web site. If you like it, let me know.

Carrie

Here's a little story I just finished. It's not much like the other stuff I've written, but when I get some artwork done to go with it I'll post it to my web site.

luv
Carrie

Date:	2006-05-29 22:31
Subject:	Reading and Following Directions
Security:	Public
Mood:	sad
Music:	David Grusin

I received the following letter as feedback recently. I thought I'd share it with you

He wrote as follows....

"i clicked on a link

"I clicked on a link to go to your site and when I was greeted by your disclaimer, I immediately knew that it was the same site I had visited once before. If I stopped to read all the way through every one of these bullshit disclaimers, I'd never get anything done. They're all the same anyway. So if you insist on insulting me because I didn't choose to read it, then you can go fuck yourself and your shitty website. (sic) I'll just keep surfing until I find something else. And btw, this is my spambox and I never check it, so if you feel the need to reply to my little rant, I won't see it. Just remember, you were an ass to me first"

The letter wasn't signed, but according to the address it belongs to Jason Garris.

This is an open reply to Mr. Garris. He says he won't be back, but somehow I doubt that.

It is not a disclaimer. It is an intelligence test. It is intended to force you to read that warning so that you know what you are going to find on the other side. If you failed it, and subsequently felt like an ass, I feel sorry for you, but I don't apologize. After all, I never promised you that clicking on the word "Enter" would do anything.

I feel sorry for you because you trust when you should not. You think you will be safe in agreeing to a legal document which you have not read. Confidence men, African Princes and Internet Bankers are lining up at your door right now.

I feel sorry for you because you have no sense of whimsy or fun. When confounded by a trick and some much deserved teasing you get ugly. Sure, teasing can go too far. Calling someone names, pointing out their genital short comings, or their inability to find a date, these go too far and I wouldn't do that.

I feel sorry for you because in you anger you turn to profanity and abuse. Imprecations have their best effect when used sparingly for shock value. Vomiting a stream is neither clever nor effective.

I feel sorry for you because thousands of other people have found their way through the maze, entered the web site correctly and enjoyed what they found. In fact, I've gotten as much positive feedback about the Warning as negative.

I feel sorry for you because you've exposed more about your soul in your pathetic rant than I have in seven years of running a web site.

Best of luck in the future, Mr. Garris. You're obviously going to need it.

Carrie

Date:	2006-05-09 23:44
Subject:	Most people
Security:	Public
Mood:	lonely
Music:	David Sanborn - Lotus Blossum

Most people write in their blogs nearly every day. Okay, so we’ve established that I am not most people.

It’s kind of amazing how vast the world wide web has grown. Even in my own little corner I can drop out of sight for months and only a couple of people have complained. Not that I’m complaining, I like the relative anonymity. Hollywood has never really come to understand that privacy and fame are polar opposites. I really wouldn’t know how to behave if I ever found myself in the spot light.

Even so, like everyone else I crave attention. Maybe not as much as most, certainly not as much as those who post their whole lives on My Space, but occasionally, you know, it’s good to hear from a friend. Even if it’s a friend I’ve never met.

So why have I gone into this self imposed sensory deprivation? Well, mainly because I’d run out of things to say. It seems that lately I haven’t been able to string together more than a sentence or two. I don’t really know what the problem is, but I suppose that it’s psychological. But I’m afraid to go back on the medication for fear that I loose all my creativity. Pod people are happy, but aren’t generally employed in the arts.

The second reason is more physiological. I’ve developed tendentious. I didn’t know that at first, of course. I thought I’d slept funny or something. Then my back started bothering me. Finally the pain got so bad I went to the doctor. I told him that I didn’t know what was wrong with me but that it seemed to be aggravated by stress. “Why do you say that?” he asks. Well, cause it doesn’t go away on the weekends, but it’s definitely worse at work. So he does some really simple tests involving me holding my arms out and pushing and when I yelp he says “you’ve got tendentious.” So seven weeks of physical therapy later, it’s better, but not fixed.

I’ll let you know as the mood strikes.

luv
Carrie

Date:	2006-01-01 19:28
Subject:	Happy New Year.
Security:	Public
Mood:	optimistic
Music:	Fiona Apple

Today's word of the day is ""Vim." As in "Uncle George certainly is full of vim, vigor and vitality today." Personally, I think Uncle George is full of shit.

The Quote of the Day: "You live and learn. At any rate, you live." Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001)
I think the point here is that some people never learn, certainly not Uncle George.

The Pun of the Day: "Florence Nightingale had many suitors because men liked to go with the Flo."

The S.A.T. Prep Question of the Day:
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

While the faculty curriculum redevelopment committee has drawn up detailed ------- plans, full ------- of the newly devised curriculum program is expected to take three to four years.

A peremptory . . drafting
B preparatory . . disengagement
C final . . expansion
D preliminary . . implementation
E auspicious . . conceptualization

I'm guessing the answer is D, but I'm pretty sure anyone who would use the phrase "newly devised curriculum program" when they mean "the new curriculum" probably has issues with which I'd rather not have to deal.

The Wine of the Day is a 2002 Pinot Noir from Giant Steps Winery of Yarra Valley, Australia. It is firm, balanced and layered over a scaffold of dusty "top of the mouth" tannin and comes with a convenient screw cap for reuse. In addition the bottle can be used to send messages if one is later stranded on a dessert island without a cell phone.

Whine of the Day: My favorite radio show has been on vacation since December 22nd and I miss it. The Stephanie Miller Show has become part of my daily routine. How in the world am I supposed to know what is going on in Tinsel Town, Right Wing World, or even the world in general. I probably wouldn't know a thing about that kid who spent his Christmas Vacation traveling to Badged, or that once again, the Justice Department is investigating who leaked the illegal activity to the press rather than building a case against those who broke the law. Hurry back Stephanie! (Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 146)

Hmm, I've spent a lot of time not talking about the web site. Well, it's a new year and time for new things, BIG THINGS. Things which I can't (or won't) talk about too much because I don't want to give away the surprise. Also, I don't have a clue how soon any of it will be ready to post. I really haven't made any progress on a new Cap'n Kitten story, other than a broad concept for an ongoing series. I have made some progress on a new story, totally unrelated to anything I've done before, but it's not going to be done for a while. And I've made some progress on what I call the new "Amphibian Project," although when I step back and look at that one I see there's a whole lot more work to do. (Maybe it'll be ready sometime in 2008).

I've also gotten a request. I'm still thinking about that one. I really appreciate my fans, and any feedback they are willing to give me. And while I'm always open to suggestions, I'm not sure I'm ready to take orders. There are many artists out there who will cheerfully accept commissions, heck they may even be depending on them. Personally, I do this for kicks. So if word got around that I'd take on requests for free I can see two problems. First, I'd be inundated with requests. Second, I'd piss off the artists who need the money.

Till next time
Carrie

Date:	2005-12-05 04:57
Subject:	Stick a fork in me.
Security:	Public
Mood:	exhausted
Music:	Elivs Costello - Little Atoms

That was the inspiration for this month’s caption cartoon celebrating the completion of the Beneath the Beyond the Revenge of Just Behind and a Little to the Right of the Planet of the Slime Drooling Girl Eating Space Toads from Beyond the Universe Saga. Hey for me this is a big event. When I posted the Preview for this story I really wasn’t sure that I’d pull it off. After all, the previous stories were all short, nine panel things. Okay, Bistro 2 was twenty some pictures but that was absolutely the longest story ever. The “Monster Movie” is twenty-four chapters, plus a preview and an epilog. By my count 535 pictures. That’s HUGE! Okay, I fudged a bit on one picture in Chapter 23 by copying one from the Preview, but only because I really liked the way the two boys looked in that one, and the background is completely different.

Okay, it took the better part of three years to finish it, so what? The point is that it’s done! Yea me!

Sadly, it also signals the end of “regular” updates. From this point I’m going to have to return to the old system of updating when I have something to post. At this point I’m not sure when that will be. It’s not for lack of material, mind you, but for a lack of a clear and organized mind. I’ve got to get enough of my shit together to take on a much smaller project. Something interesting to me, something that will help me expand personally, and overall something doable. When I figure it out I’ll let you know.

luv
Carrie

Date:	2005-11-01 18:29
Subject:	Coming to the Conclusion
Security:	Public
Mood:	sad
Music:	It Might as Well be Spring -- Wood Shaw

I did have fun writing and drawing this chapter of the Space Toad saga. I realize that it’s kind of a cop out as far as vorephiles go, but I really couldn’t resist a Hollywood ending, it’s supposed to be a movie after all. For those of you who do not feel that this climax to the story is climactic enough, I suggest that you simulate Toad Slime with some petroleum jelly and green food coloring, then stroke whichever portion of your anatomy gives you the most pleasure.

The caption image is one I had previously thought to post, but decided against it because neither it nor the Toad chapter had any gratuitous nudity. Since Zoë provided plenty of gratuity in this chapter, I decided now was the time to publish a tame Bistro cartoon. Your suggestions will be most welcome.

If you are a regular reader here, and I don’t know why you wouldn’t be, you may have noticed the note from Syreene that Eric aka “Eric the Mad” has died. I’m really at a loss for words about that. This is the second person whom I have known only over the internet has died. And in this case, I didn’t really know him at all. From what some of his friends have written about him he was a very complicated man, not always easy to love, but well loved never-the-less.

Eric first contacted me through Live Journal back in April. He said he’d found my site through Muki’s Kitchen, and declined to explain further. I’ve no idea what his attraction to my little kink was, or where else he might have traveled. He was noticeably absent from any discussion of sheep. What he did say is "This is fascinating and arousing, but yet pretty disturbing on another level." Actually I think he had a pretty good grasp of the subject.

In August he responded to my update within hours of it being posted. At that time he mentioned that he was “already dreading the awful jonesing that's going to set in when it's over.” His sudden passing means that he never got to read the end of the story. I’m hoping that he’s beyond such trivial distractions now.

So I’m dedicating this chapter of Beneath the Beyond the Revenge of Just Behind and a Little to the Right of the Planet of the Slime Drooling Girl Eating Space Toads from Beyond the Universe in memory of Eric “The Mad” Nelson. I really hate loosing a fan, Eric.

Carrie

Date:	2005-10-02 01:31
Subject:	Zero Politics (almost)
Security:	Public
Mood:	sleepy
Music:	Antoine Roney - Estate

Maybe I should apologize for this month’s chapter, but I won’t. We’re telling a story here, and when we say “we,” we mean me. I actually like this chapter of the story, it’s probably one of the first chapters that was written and the only chapter which had a picture featured in the preview. I guess I find it satisfying because it’s exactly the way I envisioned it. I think Clemmy will like it too because of the image on page 13. I know the guys will like the tease for next month’s penultimate installment.

For this month’s caption contest I’ve set Antonio aside. Many of the regulars have been discussing the oft mentioned sheep in our Toad Saga. This one is for them.

In my never ending quest to share those odd little points of interest on the world wide web that simply fascinate me, here’s a link: http://www.fantasywithin.com

The Fantasy Within Collection by Lorlei

This site has images of figurines that beat anything you've seen on QVC. They described their collection as for "Mature Art Collectors." The figures include Mermaids in bottles, fairies, Vegas showgirls, nymphs, and more. My personal favorites are the witches. The sculpting is absolutely beautiful, and there's lots of nudity for the boys. They're three dimensional pinups. Most of them include a stand which provides an environment for the figure. I only wish I had the money to buy one, they are quite expense. But while I am happy to point these pretty bobbles, I am not soliciting a gift. There are those web mistress out there who will list items they would like their readers to buy them. I am not doing that. While I encourage you to support artist in any media by purchasing their work, I want you to by them for yourselves or those actually close to you (Mom, Girlfriend, Wife, Mistress, Dominatrix, whatever). If after you have enjoyed your mermaid sculpture for a while and your girlfriend tells you that you must get it out of the house or she will no longer bake cookies for you, then write to me and maybe I might be talked into buying it from you (there's always ebay too).

Speaking of writing to me, someone has decided to add me to their list of virus spam. At first they tried using an address that I might consider safe, and I reported it to the actual owner, then I started ignoring it. After sending about seven e-mails spoofed from that address they've switched tactics and started using a variety of e-mail addresses. I’m hoping that they will grow bored, but I’m afraid that my current address will be flooded with penis enhancement spam by Christmas.

So here's the thing. When sending me an e-mail, be sure use the subject line, and make some meaningful reference in it. Something like our dear friend Mark uses: "September Caption," or "Caption" or even "Hooves of Fire." (Okay, his alter ego Nobby the Sheep sent that one but surprisingly, I knew it was for me.) If you're not sending me a caption try something else meaningful. "Chapter 23 was fantastic," or "My Thoughts on Cap'n Kitten," or even "Hey, Carrie, read this!"

And if you want to send me a file or a picture, please make contact first. With so many viruses out there I'm just going to delete e-mails with attachments unless I know they are coming.

And let me apologize in advance if anyone receives spoof e-mail from my address.

And if the person who's targeting me with viruses is reading this, just stop it please. To my knowledge I haven't done anything to you. If you don't like my web site you don't have to visit it. Remember, The Adventures of Cap’n Kitten is intended for adults, for as long as the Attorney General allows us to continue practicing our rights under the US Constitution to free speech. Please just relax, eat another donut, try to think of something nondestructive to do.

Hey, I almost kept politics out of this one. ;)

luv,
Carrie

Date:	2005-09-05 22:49
Subject:	If something important happens... you can always change the channel
Security:	Public
Mood:	sad
Music:	Bobby Hutcherson - Whisper Not

Here's the full quote....

“Hey, Alex - You know the really great thing about television? If something important happens, anywhere in the world, night or day... you can always change the channel.”
-----"Reverend Jim" Ignatowski, Taxi

I’ve been having a hard time writing this update. Recent events in the Gulf of Mexico have sapped my ability to be glib. Events like this tend to make me want to curl up in a ball and cry. Until I hear some idiot like my younger sister blame the victims of the hurricane for not getting up out of their wheel chairs, hospital beds, or whatever and walking out of the path of the hurricane. Sure, there are those who chose to stay when they could have left, and there are those who have behaved very badly and made a bad situation much more difficult. But blaming the victims for being victims makes as much sense as blaming a politician for the weather.

I knew that this chapter of the toad saga would be a crowd pleaser. I think that Paul first mentioned Albert’s larder in a story about a Chinese volleyball team. That got me started. And, of course Zoe couldn’t just die. How would you ever know what was going on if Zoe just got eaten? The Toad has already shown he’s not interested in men or sheep. for the look of the larder, I was influenced by a couple of images I saw on one of the really old WE sites. I don’t even remember the name of the site but they feature naked girls in small individual sized packages. Sexy, yes, but I suspected that you vorephiles out there would enjoy a little more. Besides, I like drawing naked people.

The caption picture was based on the idea that Antonio would have to do his marketing somewhere, so why not at the wharf.

I’m asking that you do what you can to help those in need in the gulf states. Stay safe yourself. And the next time you get the opportunity to choose a leader, choose one who doesn’t try to change the channel.

luv,
Carrie

Date:	2005-08-01 00:34
Subject:	Post Vacation Blahs
Security:	Public
Mood:	relaxed
Music:	Bethoven Piano Sonata Number 8

Pardon me if this seems a little scattered. I haven’t really been able to put together a coherent thought this week. You see, I’m on vacation, or at least I will have been on vacation but by the time you read this I’m already back. Vacations never last as long as I really need. And there’s something really sick about my needing to get back to my regular schedule.

The nice thing about being on vacation is the amount of time it is socially acceptable to be naked. Much more so than during the regular work week. It’s a lifelong dream of mine to find some occupation I can perform in the nude. Okay, not lifelong, as a toddler I doubt that I had any concept of occupation. On the other hand, I didn’t have any trouble pulling off the Pampers and living the way God intended.

Now that you’re good and titillated it’s time for a confession. I’m way too shy to fulfill that dream. I have actually tried in the past few days to attempt to live without shoes. I can’t do it. I’m no Carrie Bradshaw willing to spend my rent money on a new pair of Gucci ankle strap pumps. But I can’t seem to go without them for more than just a few hours. Perhaps it’s my semi-puritan -- edge of Amish Country background. Even when sneaking out under cover of darkness to the boat dock wearing only a t-shirt for the soul purpose of slinking into the water for some skinny dipping and heavy petting I had to stop ten feet from the cottage and go back for my flip-flops.

Flip-flops, by the way, are the greatest invention in the world since sliced bread and the noiseless vibrator.

So I am disappointed in myself and in my life.

Another thing that bothers me: why do I have to shave more while I vacation and he shaves less? Just an observation, I’m not really expecting an answer.

Oh, the Space Toads? Well as you can see, things have gone from bad to worse. I know the splash page was a little miss leading this time and I felt bad about that because I got comments about how people were looking forward to it. I hope those people aren’t too disappointed. Just admire the splash page for Chapter 22 and ponder this question? Is it a hint or is it a tease?

I got a whole lot more response to the Independence Day Antonio cartoon than I thought I would. Thanks to all of you, I’m happy to have inspired you. (An aside to Mark, “Carrie” does not rhyme with “gladly” at least not until the 7th beer of the evening, and by that point no can remember what the limerick is about.)

I suspect that this month’s picture to give you some trouble, but then I’ve been wrong before.

luv,
Carrie

Date:	2005-07-02 14:50
Subject:	Independence from who?
Security:	Public
Mood:	cynical
Music:	Houston Person

It’s fairly clear to me that my country is in a hand basket and is proceeding down a road paved with good intentions. I don’t like to blame the messenger, but when Sandra Day O'Connor announced her retirement the nation news media’s behavior reminded me of sharks smelling blood in the water. I’m sure that it’s only the tip of the ice berg, the politicians and the lobbyists in Washington have to be lining up, making deals, arranging junkets and looking for that one perfect Justice that will fill the empty position and make them the most money. I just don’t want to hear about it over and over and over again for the next six months. I’m seriously considering blocking FOX News on my television.

If this chapter doesn’t get me in trouble with the armed forces nothing will. It is an absolute coincidence that “Senseless Destruction” is appearing near July 4th, and I could have held it back till August, but I’d really like to get this sucker finished and I don’t think anyone would be happier about it later. I’m sticking to my story, I wrote this before we were at war, before it was politically incorrect to laugh. I could claim that it’s a political statement of the pitfalls of the government using a military solution to a problem they don’t fully understand, but I won’t. The fact is that in all these movies, at some point someone calls in the Army and it really doesn’t solve anything. This is a parody, and I thought the whole thing was at least as funny as M*A*S*H. So if Don Rumsfield doesn’t like it he can go bite a land mine.

I got a lot of response to the “Caption” cartoon last month, especially from one or two guys. I called the cartoon “The Apprentice.” based on the TV show of that name. I was thinking that Antonio’s assistant might have had some trouble, and one of the meat girls might take advantage of it. Okay, I guess that just didn’t come off in a single panel cartoon. But I’m feel sure that some of the lines I received were funny to people who didn’t see the cartoon the way I did. This month’s cartoon doesn’t have any hidden deeper meaning, and was probably inspired by guilt over the Space Toad chapter (see paragraph above).

I was trying to put away some old papers and came across a bunch of early Space Toad related sketches. They are character designs and such. I was still looking for a style when I was doing these. (so may say I’m still looking for a style, -- Ha! beat you to it!) I figured I’d throw them up a little at a time. While I was scanning them it occured to me that if I collected all my “Cap’n Kitten” originals into a book and put them on Ebay, I might actually get some money for it. What do you think? any interest it such a collector’s item? Well, if I do that, it’ll probably be the last thing I do before I retire from the genre.

luv,
Carrie.

Date:	2005-06-01 22:03
Subject:	Didn't they say farewell a few years ago?
Security:	Public
Mood:	optimistic
Music:	Eagles Farewell Tour

Sometimes I get the weirdest ideas.

There hasn’t been a whole lot of feedback regarding the most recent chapter of Beneath the Beyond the Revenge of Just Behind and a Little to the left of the Planet of the Slime Drooling Girl Eating Space Toads. I suspect a major reason for the deafening silence has been the total lack of nudity and/or sheep.

But another part of me has to wonder if the inclution of the military is at all to blame. The world is a funny place right now (funny sad, not funny ha-ha) and making jokes about the military is definately not politically correct. After all, our young men and women are fighting to protect our freedom, and poking fun at them is cheep and unpatriotic.

Actually, poking fun at anyone is cheep, so singling out the military as off-limits is disingenuous. I think that the military will be able to stand it.

A lot of humor isn’t politically correct either. It never has been. Whether they are cancilling Bill Maher’s television show, or black listing Hollywood writers whom may be communists, or just stringing up the court jester in the dungeons, the people in political power don’t like to be made an object of fun.

So for a little while I did consider attempting to rework the chapters in which the military appear. It’s not my intention to show disrespect the my cousin who is serving in the Army, or to any of his comrades, or officers. My intention is to spoof the 1950’s monster movies. And like George Lucas, my story was written long before America was at war with “terror.” Any similarities between this story and actual events is all in your guilty little militant right winged minds.

Carrie.

Date:	2005-04-02 22:28
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	relieved
Music:	Mindi Abair - Save the Last Dance

Well, five weeks have gone by and I guess you’re wondering where the update has been. Well wonder no more. Actually the hold up this month wasn’t with the computer (thankfully) or the Space Toads (a race notorious for obsessions for cleanliness, manors, and marmalade) but the caption cartoon. I had one finished and ready to go, but I decided it was too subtle. It was similar to the one I’ve published, but with fewer characters. I just felt that it lacked the inspiration required to generate the e-mailed feedback I crave. I’d put it up anyway, but it’s too similar in it’s theme. One day I promise I will post it.

One of the things that I’ve discovered over the past year or so is a series of stories which are called “Naked in School.” Apparently an author called Karen Wagner (wouldn’t you know it’d be another Karyn) wrote a story in which the world is suddenly turned on it’s head and public nudity and sexual experimentation are taught in school. Along the way there’s some bondage, semi-consensual domination and even a public spanking. Talk about hitting all my buttons.

Okay, it does go a little overboard. At one point in the story “Karen” is gang raped, at least by my definition of rape. Though “Karen” doesn’t see it that way, or at least doesn’t define it as rape. So who am I to judge? Gynophaglia isn’t exactly main stream.

The evidence indicates that my buttons are not the only ones that were pressed hard by this story. At least 30 other people were turned on by the concept enough to write their own “Naked in School” stories. It’s quite the cult.

If this sounds interesting to you the stories are collected at http://www.asstr.org/~NIS/Naked.htm

til next time... luv,
Carrie

Date:	2005-02-25 22:39
Subject:	Return of the Cap'n's Updates
Security:	Public
Mood:	drained
Music:	Santana

The long wait is over!

Okay, don’t get too excited, I wouldn’t want you to sprain something.

I really hadn’t intended it to take seven months or so. One thing just kind of lead to another and things spiraled out of control from there. First my computer melted down. Then I melted down. Then I started to feel better but the computers had problems again. Anyway, there was a lot of smitt hitting the fan.

So this update may seem a little lame, but it’s all part of the great plan. “You’ve just gotta believe in the plan. Stay the course. Fear is your only option...” Sorry, I was channeling Dick Channey there for a second.

What does the future hold? Well, I’ve managed to get an excellent head start on the rest of the story. Theoretically there’s no reason for any future update to be late. So you can look forward to a new chapter each month for the next 9 months anyway. Along the way I hope to include a few more single panel cartoons, but I can’t promise anything there.

I’ve been thinking about a Cap’n Kitten novel next. Something like “Cap’n Kitten and the Mission from God.” I’ve been toying with the idea of doing this in 3D, but I think I’ll have to upgrade my computer before I get into that. Well, first of course I have to write the script. Would it surprise you to learn that I wrote the Space Toads script about a year before you started seeing it? Would you be disappointed to learn this is version 4 of the script. If I can find Version 1 I may post it as a “DVD Extra” so you can see how the project has evolved. I know that in Version 3 the plan was to animate a silent movie. Fortunately I came to my senses. You’d be lucky to see a Chapter a year if I had to animate each one.

There is a very Dolcett like script that I co-wrote many years ago, and have never gotten around to illustrating. That may end up being my next project, simply because the writing part is already done. For the last year or so I haven’t been able to get much writing done. I’ve had several ideas that obsessed me for a while, but they petered out after a few pages. For some reason right now it’s easier for me to work on the images than the story lines.

luv,
Carrie

Date:	2004-12-25 03:48
Subject:	Merry Winter Solstace Holiday
Security:	Public
Mood:	melancholy
Music:	Vince Guaraldi Trio - Charlie Brown Christmas

I thought I would write a quick note to wish everyone a happy holiday season and to let you know I’m still alive.

I’ve been having some very mundane problems lately, and haven’t been able to give the Cap’n Kitten web site the attention I would like. Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious, just tedious. And I am still trying to get it together to finish the Invasion of the Space Toads story. When I get an episode done I’ll be sure to post a notice on all the fashionable forums.

In the mean time, I hope your old year is ending well, and your new year is both happy and prosperous.

Merry Christmas, too.

luv,
Carrie

Date:	2004-08-04 21:28
Subject:	Hey what date is it?
Security:	Public
Mood:	tired
Music:	Norah Jones

A rather late announcement of the almost as late latest installment of Beneath the Beyond the Etc. Etc. ad nausea. Is it the 15th of July already? What do you mean Labor Day? Okay, my ability to stay on deadline has been shot to hell. I guess that’s to be expected in late summer.

So this month’s chapter sends Zack and Zoë on a quest for the Truth. They know it’s out there, perhaps it’s way out there, but they’re going to find it. During the production of this chapter my computer had a major meltdown. (As in pack me up and send me back to Apple). So I didn’t have time to do much in the way of embellishment to the straight story. You might remember that in previous updates I’ve mentioned adding little things to the story, to keep the faithful interested. Like I didn’t realize that the Nurse would be a victim until I spotted her in the park while Zack and Zoë were walking home. And I hadn’t planned on showing most of the cheerleaders disappear. Well, this one is pretty much exactly as originally planned.

The obvious place to as a little extra appeal was to show a little of Miss Magnolia's plight. Maybe after I finish the whole thing I’ll do a little revision. For now I’m pressing forward. After all it’s nearly Labor day and I haven’t even started on Chapter 16. Oh, there was one other area I considered for appeal. In an early version of my outline I speculated that one of the side effects of Toad Slime was that it made girls not want to wear pants. I pictured Zoë going bottomless for most of the last half of the story due to her repeated exposure to the slime. But I tossed that idea out. I don’t remember why exactly, I think I thought it would be pandering to your baser instincts. I get the silliest ideas sometimes.

Carrie

Date:	2004-06-20 01:41
Subject:	Happy Father's Day
Security:	Public
Mood:	optimistic
Music:	Candy Dulfer

Well, another month has zipped by. I’d actually hoped to have more than just a Space Toad Chapter this month, but it didn’t work out. Real life just keeps getting in the way. Plus, I was a little less than inspired. Oh, there were a couple of ideas rattling inside my poor little brain, but neither of them matured. So now a I make a funny sound when I turn my head.

So in this month’s thrilling episode, Zoe and Zack find themselves in Dr. Strangelust’s laboratory for some inevitable exposition. If you are following the arc of the story, this is what they call a dip. Of course Steven Spielberg, doesn’t believe in them, adventures should be nonstop downhill thrill rides. But as George Lucas once pointed out to me, I’m not Steven Spielberg. Okay, George Lucas didn’t point that out to me, I’ve never met him, but shouldn’t I get points for figuring it out on my own? Now if I could only remember I’m not Audrey Hepburn. Anyway, you may have guessed (now that most of the rest of the cast has been eliminated) that from this point the story will focus more on the lovers. Oh, I’m sure that there will be gratuitous nudity and violence, but we still have to tell a story here. Okay, it’s not a particularly important story, but I hope it remains interesting.

And I hope to finish at least one prose story to post here too. That’s one of the other things creating that rattle. I’ve got the first part, and part of the second part, but I really hate starting to read a story only to find out it’s not finished (Paul’s stories not withstanding) and I may have to wait months for the conclusion. So I vow that I won’t do that to you. At least until I decide that I will do that to you.

luv,
Carrie

Date:	2004-05-15 20:37
Subject:	May Update
Security:	Public
Mood:	tired
Music:	Shawn Colvin

I just posted the so called “the long anticipated and eagerly awaited Chapter 13.” I know it was called that because I called it that myself. It really broke my heart when I realized that there was no way I could have that Chapter done in April. I really hate missing deadlines, even when I set them myself. But this chapter is so long, and as of April 1st I didn’t even have the basic sketches completed. But it’s that familiar story of work and family and oh yes, turning 30! that set me behind. So having just finished this one, I really have to dive right in again and start on Chapter 14.

Of course, Chapter 13 wasn’t initially going to be that long. In an early draft of the story I was playing it closer to the way I think real 1950s movie directors would have done it. Bare bones story telling. Advance the plot and nothing more. But I realized the bare bones approach would deprive the story of bare buns girls. So I added everything from the time Gretta goes into the kitchen to the last three panels. I probably added some more in the beginning too, to help tie it all together. I don’t honestly remember when she got added, but Inga wasn’t originally in the story and doesn’t have much in the way of lines. I think that I wrote her in when I realized I’d need someone for Holly to talk with at the end, and everyone else was occupied. Fortunately, Inga was available, and I think she would have been a big star, if she had survived, or if she’d have been a real person.

I didn’t ge much in the way of feedback on the Submit a Caption cartoon, but then I honestly didn’t expect much. I actually thought of it more as a possible wall paper than a cartoon in need of a caption. But due to a lack of skill with Poser, I couldn’t get it rendered larger than 640 by 480, so it’s not much use as a wallpaper. I thought the t-shirts turned out nicely.

I also got a nice long letter from Daniel congratulating me for making it halfway through BTBTROJBAALTTROTPOTSDGESTFBU, and begging for a more detailed picture of the Space Toad. I mention this because several people seemed to ask for this in the various forums. Okay, two words... Not Yet. Where’s the mystery if you see the monster too soon? If you know everything about a story half way through it, what’s the point of going on? Truthfully, I’ve debated whether or not I should let you know when you’ll hear from this toad himself...

"ME, AUEEDJSKIKUEEPTHHHMOTHBRIE, YOU CALL ME, EDDY."

...but I think it will only depress you. Better, I think if you continue to tell me what you liked and disliked about the story, and keep me interested in finishing it for you.

luv,
Carrie.

PS: Happy Birthday, Daniel. I hope you aren’t too disappointed.

Date:	2004-05-01 22:29
Subject:	Hey, this is new.
Security:	Public
Mood:	cheerful
Music:	Liz Phair

Welcome to my new journal/forum. My longtime friends and visitors know that my little web site started out on a host called InternetDump. I really don't know the story behind them, but they offered free web hosting for questionable content and that suited me just fine. Yes, their server was incredibly slow, but it was free. I'm not trying to make money from this, and I'm not trying to spend a whole lot of money on it either. So slow or not free was very good, for a while.

As part of their service they offered a Forum which I used until it filled up. I was able to delete old messages, but I was never able to reset the counter that told the system that the forum was full, so it became impractical. I jumped from one free forum provider to another but never found one that worked very well or stayed free. But the background of this forum leads me to believe that it might work out.

I-dump also offered a Feedback mechanism which allowed readers to rate the sites. Along with a numeric rating for design, content and appeal there was a small space to leave a comment. Some of those comments were so much fun I decided to share them, and toss off an answer which I hoped would make you smile. Well, it lasted a lot longer than the forum function, but for the past six months or so I haven't been able to access the part of I-Dump that would allow me to read the Feedback. So updating that page has been out of the question.

I've been toying with the idea of opening a Journal for about a month now. My first glance of the place lead me to believe that it would work as a Forum. I was hoping to get the chance to explore more of this site's potential, and problems but I haven’t had time. So I’m just diving in and declaring this my new forum site.

Actually this my work out better because I can put in my own comments on the cartoons, and my upcoming projects and life in general. And you can comment too! When ever you want.

I want to thank David, who is sometimes known as “Jonus Vilianious” for introducing me to Live Journal. I’m hoping that this works out better than the last forum.

luv,
Carrie