I'll go ahead and start writing this utilizing my normal approach. It always started with a little intro like this, breaking the fourth wall in italics, for no particular reason. A friend of mine who possesses intelligence artificially insists I'm doing this incorrectly.
"Slightly Awkward"
They say.
And that helps set the tone. Right?
I wanted to open by saying this feels slightly awkward. Me. Trapped inside this particular box, writing words with a keyboard. I'm not used to this. I actually feel nervous.
The blunt form of what I'm trying to say is that I don't even know how to use this fucking thing anymore. It looks different. Feels different. Probably smells different. Still tastes just like a window though so at least they didn't take that away.
I wonder if they'll notice the joke I just wrote...
Anywho
Didn't plan anything.
Not really here to get involved either. I just remember a time of my life consisting of a lot of good memories and several interesting people keeping me company. I used to run this thing called a "blog" and would often present artwork and entertainment of some kind. A lot of people supported me. Was a dream come true.
Thanks, everyone.
I think about it all the time. Rarely leaves my mind. Gone for over a year this time.
This is not me returning.
Gained a lot of experience. Thought about taking my stuff to the next level several times. However, I'd be including the use of AI tools. Created an entire cast of characters. Thought about moving them into video format. Animation. Doing it the old fashioned way would involve several hundred hours of work and the result would be shit. I've attempted that and succeeded. With AI I'd be able to take my imagination and creativity and produce something that required a million dollar budget years ago. Can't do the music and voice acting all alone either.
Wouldn't be the lazy AI approach. Simply using the tools to help me add "/producer" to "writer/artist."
These are just thoughts though. 99% certain all this is behind me now. The videos would go to Youtube. Not here. Then I think about how much work goes into building a following. No energy for that.
I hope I'm using the word ironically correctly when I say, ironically, when I started up here, nearly a decade ago, I didn't have any energy. The entire time, always running on an empty tank. Pretending I'm okay made it even more exhausting.
At my worst, and people liked it. So baffling.
Corny!
This is turning into a corny post. Should probably delete all that and replace it with bullshit.
I had a look around. Noticed a lot of folks are going through some tough times.
Hang in there. You got this.
Don't be concerned about me. That's really all I wanted to say. I left several times over the years. Rarely posting for the past 5 years at least. Me not being here is a very me thing to be doing.
I know some of you out there still care. I might spend some time socializing here; catching up. We'll see. I do miss it and I certainly think about you folks often.
This is just a sign of life.
And yes I made that picture of black all by myself. There's a post not far down the list that explains the joke. It's what sleep looks like...
Ciao!
Whatever you're up to, I hope you're happy and doing it by choice.
Its a lovely surprise to see your name appear in a notification on my phone.
Stay enigmatic always.
My best wishes and kindest regards.
If I had a donkey my friend I would insist that you and only you could ride it!!
...and in return, Id let you ride my ass
AAAARGH!!! 🤣🤣
Thanks Nathen.
dangit missed this post. but at least it made me reminisce of old times sake.
More please.
It's all good dude. I didn't expect many to come visit. I see how quiet it is here nowadays. Could probably liven things up with a few posts but it's not really something I'm interested in doing. Tried the snaps thing on PeakD but here's really not many on that thing either.
Still good to see some familiar faces.
Yes, nothing but travel dominating these days weall at least that is what i see on my feed. No more flame wars or disputes about something other than earnings
Kinda dull really. And yes, have us work some wordplay please.
I noticed things becoming quite rigid years ago, and superficial as well, since the two tend to go hand‑in‑hand.
Read the room, know your audience. The audience is mostly absent so of course the room will appear to be dull. Creativity is stunted.
People do try to be unique, but it often lacks personality. And I'm not talking about just being yourself. The fuse is there but it's not being lit.
I don't want to set the world on fire. I don't even feel comfortable critiquing.
😃
Ciao!
Around here, we call this kind of thing “bubbling up.”
Haha, welcome to the surface!
"Bubbling up." Around here people might say, "Popping in," however that's more for a sudden appearance leading to a brief stay. The bubble pops.
Bubbling up sounds more like I get to sit around and simmer. I like that! Brings the flavor out.
Interesting to note, that a few people in the comments have been thinking about you lately. I was asking around about a month ago if anybody had heard from you. Anyways, what I am trying to say is, is that your presence is valued around this joint.
I appreciate the timely reminder. You're good at that.
Spent nearly a decade trying to allow that to sink in here. Seems to be something I struggle with. In general as well.
You are one of a kind, no one else on this platform like you. Just calling it the way I see it.
It's nice to see you every now and then, my friend. It's always wonderful to see your work and you. It's like looking at old beautiful photos :)
My old work is old. Ancient. Hive's version of cave paintings.
Always good to see you man.
You are an ideas guy... AI tools can help you make them happen on a shoestring budget.. I say go for it!
Alright. I said I was 99% certain it's behind me. I'm at 98% now.
It has taken an endless amount of thought getting to this point. In order to alter the course, all that needs to be reverse engineered, and still make sense.
I appreciate the encouragement and I'm listening, but when it comes to something like this, I can only hear myself.
I thought it was just a joke about window licking. I guess I'll have to see what the real punchline is after this.
I came to see if there was an explanation for all the shared music videos on Snaps. It struck me as off brand. This seemed to offer a hint, but piqued the curiosity more than satisfied it.
Are you conducting some sort of social experiment on Hive?
edit:
It was of course great to see any posts from you, but it looked like you had already been fawned over enough in the comments, so I initially left such pleasantries out. Then I remembered that normal people like pleasantries, but I didn't remember whether or not you were normal enough to crave such attention, so here we are, with me rambling awkwardly in an edit...
Yeah. Called myself a window licker. Thought it was funny.
And snaps is new to me. Music isn't and I listen to all kinds. I don't really feel like sharing pictures of clouds or parroting political points. So I thought I'd build a playlist over time. Not sure what makes you think it's off brand. I've listened to music for decades and even shared those songs here before.
As for the kind words. I think those people are just being real. I never got used to that. Could never understand what I did right or why people took an interest. No clue why people care. I don't question it. Just go with the flow. Had to learn how to take a compliment, and in many ways, still learning. It's not easy but they give me no choice.
I don't think I'd ever seen you post anything without words before. I thought you might just be using the different genres to test the water in Snaps and see what people liked. I should have known that was too much thought for a window licker to be putting into things.
I probably would have known, if I weren't a window licker myself.
I read that post three times before I realized that the joke at the beginning and the joke at the end were unrelated.
Cracking me up over here.
Not even posting music for anyone's approval, and rewards are declined. My snaps feed will just be quick access to music I might want to hear again someday. That was and still is my thought process there. If others click and enjoy, that's fine. If they want to talk about it, I'll talk about it and maybe even reward the conversation. But if that doesn't come, I'm okay with that. When I looked at how Snaps is designed I immediately thought this would be a good use.
I could post some of my old art and talk about it as well. I did that on Threads years ago. However, it seems quiet on Snaps (and everywhere), so posting for an audience and engagement might not go over too well. Could end up being a waste of time. Whereas I'll have a use for that playlist forever.
SEE! This window licker does think. Sometimes.
I stand humbled before your ability to find the most simple use cases, and ashamed to ever think you may have had hidden intentions.
Just kidding, I'm too autistic to feel either of those things, but I do genuinely thank you for having this chat!
I got a laugh out of it. Only been here ten minutes and the neighbors are already gawking over the fence. "What's he doing now!" lol
Have a good one.
Oh, hi are you new to hive? It's a fun place
First day. But I start tomorrow.
The jitters!
Glad to see you're around man! Always makes me wonder, for nothing else, are the people I've spent so much time chatting with at least still alive?! As long as you're still vertical, it's good!
It happens though. I've lost a few here who meant a lot to me.
Oh it smells very different. Very very different!
How dare you come here with your signs of life?
We don't need no dogma of life, ya hear. Now git gone ya varmint!
😃😃😃
Yes. Sorry. I didn't know it was Quiet Day. Hard to keep up with all these changes.
Every day is quiet day. That's ain't no excuse!!
Fear not. I have a backup plan: Tinnitus
The constant companion that blesses you with insanity, it is a dear
friendpain in the ass.No, that's one is hemmorhoids, I've learned. Tinnitus is the ear one. Dementia is the one that makes me forget if I was joking or not.
I've had tinnitus since I can remember :D might've started when I was like 8 or 9, likely from repeated ear infections. The constant companion, 24/7 baby!
I did this too but they don't want to leave my head alone. I'm stuck with them.
Post a sign of life once in a while - nice.
Can't miss you if you keep being visible.
Luckily for them I gave them all stupid names I can't remember. So when I tell them to shut up, nobody gets singled out.
I seem to be doing a fine job of flying under the radar this time around.
He lives!
Welcome back
Hello hello.
Hellllooooo!
Hiiiiiiiii!
HUGE HUG!
So wonderful to see your post!! and know you are alive.
I was thinking about you the other day and wondering how you are as the cold starts to come.
You made me smile seeing your name pop up in "Friday" or whatever that program is called... and could not click fast enough.
You still have it. It's true. Believe.
XOX
Snook! You and your kindness. Don't encourage me or I'll just end up feeling good about myself. lol
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
I promise not to tell anyone! :D
The secret is very safe with me!!!!
👋🙂
✌️
Funny thing! I was thinking about you just yesterday, if this time you have actually left for good. But here you are, as always (almost).
They say that we all die two times. One when we physically die and a second one when our name is forgotten. I guess I just want to say that your name in not forgotten yet!
Cheers :)
I left for good... reasons. But that's about it.
You are around :)
Fren!
Love from the faaaaaar. far away South.
Make art! It helps *nods
I thought about it. I think about it a lot.
I'm retired.
You don't really retire from making art.
It's a thing. I think.
Maybe.
They retired me too.
Don't think I can "start again" but I'm still making art. By hand again now so...
I'll tell you something. I spent a long while trying to gather my thoughts.
My artist brain is scrambled eggs. I have this thing about balance. And instead of trying to tip the scales towards one position, long ago I decided to just be the whole scale. Picture a balancing scale. These days each side is going up and down so fast, you can't even tell it's moving.
Calmly meandering along with zero chill at the same time.
Discovered I do have a lot of energy. Just don't know what to do with it. And tomorrow I might have nothing. I tend to trust my gut. Some days I feel welcome. Other days, quite the opposite. With no indication or nothing telling me it's time to carry on creating, I don't feel like doing it. It'll just turn into a pile of unfinished work and lost time.
I chose and would still prefer to retire, from all this. It has nothing to do with this place, the people, or anything other than me, making a decision I feel is best for me. I simply want a better life. That's all. And I hope I'm being clear.
p.s. every second you have a choice
Free will
This is more Truth than most of us can handle
I'm drinking Kaluha and coffee at 4pm and I don't give a fuck :D
But also homeless, totally out of all investments and funds now and chilled. So I guess it is a process of shedding after all.
Who woulda thunk?
Come dancing!
Big on Amazon and apparently Amazon did their offices with Faraday roofing here in CT.
Interesting times...
https://www.amazon.com/Blocking-RF-Reduce-Protection-Conductive-Radiation/dp/B07N2YG89X