http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:DaYog&section=today deviantART RSS for by:DaYog en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:27:12 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://DaYog.deviantart.com/journal/26920042/ http://DaYog.deviantart.com/journal/26920042/ Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:33:05 PDT
"All the earth is a grave and nothing escapes her."--Nezahualcoyotl (Hungry Coyote)

"Death? Why this fuss about death. Use your imagination, try to visualize a world without death! ... Death is the essential condition of life, not an evil."--Charlotte Perkins Gilman

"Religion is the human response to being alive and having to die."--F. Forest Church

"Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
and things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art; to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul."
--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood. I'd type a little faster."--Isaac Asimov

"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge -- myth is more potent than history -- dreams are more powerful than facts -- hope always triumphs over experience -- laughter is the cure for grief -- love is stronger than death."--Robert Fulghum

"I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter."--Winston Churchill

"A young mockingbird woke
And began to sing and lament.
"Hush," was all she said,
and the world went—
silent."
--Me

]]> ~DaYog http://DaYog.deviantart.com/journal/26807584/ http://DaYog.deviantart.com/journal/26807584/ Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:58:29 PDT

[link]

]]> ~DaYog http://DaYog.deviantart.com/journal/22173791/ http://DaYog.deviantart.com/journal/22173791/ Wed, 24 Dec 2008 18:38:49 PST
Currently I'm just numb and exhausted. I barely even realize that tomorrow is Christmas—so tired.

Thankyou to everyone who has been kind and supportive through this mess.

]]> ~DaYog http://DaYog.deviantart.com/journal/22059308/ http://DaYog.deviantart.com/journal/22059308/ Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:49:53 PST
What do you get your father for his last christmas on earth? I don't know. If he's even conscious and capable of cognitive I will be somewhat surprised. Perhaps I'll just find something the three of us can blow up. That's always a good father/son activity.

I'll see you all when I get back. Have a good weekend and a happy holiday.

]]> ~DaYog http://DaYog.deviantart.com/journal/19809626/ http://DaYog.deviantart.com/journal/19809626/ Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:36:21 PDT
"As you may know, Dan has completed three rounds of chemo. Within the last two weeks, the pain has almost been unbearable - literally taken him to his knees. We assumed the pain was the expected pain which comes with bone cancer; however, now his oncologist isn't sure. He has extreme pain in his shoulder, spine, hips and legs. He has almost lost the use of his left arm. The doctor isn't sure if a tumor is pinching a nerve or what. Today he had an extended MRI of the chest, and tomorrow he goes back for another MRI of the shoulder (these are done with and without contrast - haven't a clue what that means!). They are trying to see what's going on in the soft tissue.

He's now taking massive does of pain meds - just about anything that begins with "Oxy!" When I call, I'm not sure if he remembers our last conversation or not. He's really loopy! I laugh and tell him that's why this stuff has such a street value. Even with the humongous doses, his pain is still at a "6." He's not sleeping at night and has virtually no appetite - his weight is down to 148 as of today!!

If I understand correctly, if they discover a tumor which could be reduced by radiation, they might start down that road. The good news is that the chemo seems to be reducing the number of cancer cells. The bad news is this cancer will keep popping up in new places and his "quality" of life lessens with each day. He still is very concerned about Barbara and has even tried to give her some foot massages to help her relax. She is a jewel indeed - often staying awake for hours to use a heated massager on his neck and shoulders to relieve the pain. I'm so thankful that she's in our lives and I love her dearly.

Another round of chemo should start in about a week (August 4 or 5), provided his blood work will allow. The cancer has really trashed his blood, but we're hopeful that he can continue to take it! I've always heard that chemo will either cure you or kill you!!"

]]> ~DaYog http://DaYog.deviantart.com/journal/19280033/ http://DaYog.deviantart.com/journal/19280033/ Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:14:08 PDT
To those who have better journey's ahead of them, you have a twinge of envy from me. To those who have darker days lying ahead, you have my sympathy and my empathy.

]]> ~DaYog http://DaYog.deviantart.com/journal/18772782/ http://DaYog.deviantart.com/journal/18772782/ Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:05:30 PDT
About a month ago my uncle had a heart attack and spent several days in the hospital. Apparently he's doing well, and has had a good recovery. It got me thinking about my own mortality though as both of my grandfathers died of heart attacks at relatively young ages (both were in their 50s).

About three weeks ago my mom went into the hospital for major surgery. The doctors discovered a grapefruit-sized cyst on one of her ovaries. In order to prevent any further chance at cancer, they decided to also perform a complete hysterectomy. The good news is that she is doing fine, and she's getting a little better each day and a little more ornery—which is good for her.

While she was in the hospital I learned that people say the darndest things when on morphine. At some point this I will have to write an essay on this. It should be good for some laughs.

This past Saturday evening my dad called me from Washington DC—where he lives—and told me that he has been diagnosed with lung cancer. To make matters worse it's been classified as malignant melanoma that has invaded the lymph nodes. I don't know what stage the cancer is in yet but it is likely contributed to his recent anemia. He is still in denial that smoking cigarettes had anything to do with him contracting cancer. He'll probably die with a cigarette in his hand.

Tomorrow morning he goes in to discuss treatment options which will include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and who knows what else. At some point in the next few weeks he wants to fly my brother and I up to DC to spend some time with us. I don't exactly know how to feel about it at this point. My dad and I have not had the strongest relationship. His relationship with my brother has been even weaker. It will make for a strange journey no matter what happens.

Yesterday on the way home from school, while sitting at a stop light, a car slammed into me from behind and totalled my car. I'm OK except for a little soreness in my neck and back. In order to get back and forth to work I have had to borrow my mom's car.

I keep thinking the next 30 days have to be better than the last 30.

Oh, and today's my birthday. Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me. LoL Ah, such wonders the world has to behold.

]]> ~DaYog http://DaYog.deviantart.com/journal/18731414/ http://DaYog.deviantart.com/journal/18731414/ Sun, 08 Jun 2008 13:25:05 PDT [link]

Please stop by, read a poem or short story or two, and say hello.

]]> ~DaYog http://DaYog.deviantart.com/journal/18651452/ http://DaYog.deviantart.com/journal/18651452/ Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:12:31 PDT
Hypothesis: If you display an attractive woman showing lots of skin (bikini), then the picture will be widely viewed.

Plan: Since I already had a model of Brandy handy, all I needed to do was put her in an appropriate scene and render. The bucolic and pastoral river scene seemed highly appropriate. Bikini: got that, just had to retexture it in nice shades of blue. Armor and weapons: moved and positioned on the ground. Hair: needs to look wet so I imported and reworked her hair. Skin: same as hair, new texture. Posture: check, just a few hour of work and a few mistakes later and it was all good. Facial expression: good enough for the experiment (smiles work best for drawing postive attention). Figure: muscular yes, but then she's a warrior and she should be. Granted for the purposes of the experiment I could have slimmed her down to draw more attention but I really didn't feel like deviating from "Brandy" too much so I left it.

Execute the experiment: I posted her to deviant art and waited to collect data.

The data: After four days, she's been viewed 109 times, downloaded three times, and favorited once. Source comparison: "Beast-woman." "Beast-woman" has been up 16 days, viewed 13 times, downloaded 0 times, and favorited 0 times.

Conclusion: Deviantart is adolescent male testosterone driven. Show a sexy lady in skimpy, or better yet, no attire and people will love you.

Well that was fun, what next?

]]> ~DaYog http://DaYog.deviantart.com/journal/18532264/ http://DaYog.deviantart.com/journal/18532264/ Tue, 27 May 2008 18:06:07 PDT
So I was playing over the weekend and thought to myself, "If Brandy went on a picnic what color would her dress be?" To that end I've created several different dress colors for Brandy. Yes, I know her armor is close by behind her. What do you expect, the girl is always in some kind of trouble.

What I need to know is what color scheme looks the best?

Oh the link: [link]

]]> ~DaYog