It wasn’t a very good year for me. I’ve been suffering the kind of health problem where it feels like you’re going to die, but it doesn’t actually kill you, and things have not gone nearly as well after the move as I’ve hoped.
Furthermore, I found that, at a time when my life seemed very bleak indeed, Botaram became bleak in my mind as well, to the point where I was seizing upon excuses not to work on it. I’ve found myself putting my creative effort into more trivial and light-hearted things, by way of escaping. Of course, one can only run from one’s dreams so far, if one is to retain any self-respect at all.
I am still working on improving my lot, but one way or another, I mean to return. I may have to back the story up a few pages should I find that I’ve hit a blind alley. To those who have been inquiring, I thank you for thinking of me. I will try not to disappoint you.
Title: Rituals of Need
(Aun continues to prepare the pods as he talks to Chax.)
Aun: And sometimes they have things that you need, and you can’t explain that you may need it more than they do.
Chax: We do have to take some things against their will, just to survive. How do you deal with it?
Aun: Many of these things were negotiated by the Ancestors, in ages past. There are rituals you follow to make sure it’s fair to take.
Chax: For my part, the Craisht commands. The disobedient may perish...
(Some of the pods that Aun processed earlier start to shiver and make odd noises)
Aun: In this case... by taking more pods than usual, we are stretching part of the ritual.
I need to be sure that this won’t affect the quality of the eluctuant.
Chax: How will you tell?
Latest Comics
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#27. Preparing to Feed
45 13324 Dec 07, 2006
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#26. Chimmer Comes
50 13244 Dec 04, 2006
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#25. On Endings
72 14235 Nov 30, 2006
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#24. Yearnings
37 13313 Nov 20, 2006
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#23. A Thing Unheard Of
42 13279 Nov 16, 2006
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#22. Noises in The Night
36 13232 Nov 13, 2006
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#21. Serendipitous Negotiation
40 13377 Nov 02, 2006
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#20. The Rod Is Fixed
43 13369 Oct 30, 2006
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#19. It Will Fail Again…
54 13389 Oct 23, 2006
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#18. Something Important
47 13311 Oct 19, 2006
2013 in Review…
Further Progress
The move is over, and I find myself hollowing pathways through a mass of cardboard boxes and trying to reassemble the positive parts of my former environment. I expect it to be a while longer before I have put a creative space back together, but when I do, Botaram will return.
To all who are still watching, thank you for not giving up.
To all who are still watching, thank you for not giving up.
Progress Report
I’m in the middle of moving to a new apartment. I hope in the process to leave a bunch of problems behind and acquire not as many in exchange. Once I’m settled in and some of the stress is reduced, I expect to return to Botaram.
To all of my readers, thanks for your patience as I work through some troublesome times.
JJA
To all of my readers, thanks for your patience as I work through some troublesome times.
JJA
Feeling Aliver…
I’ve been largely miserable for the past few months, but some things may be getting better now and not all was as bleak as I feared. Getting out into the fresh air helps a lot.
Since BiggerJ asked, I do have a Paypal account for donations, and there’s a yellow donate button at the bottom of each page. I’m not comfortable with the idea of asking for money at a time when I’m not producing any art, but if you’d like to show your support in this way, please feel free to do so. If you can’t stand Paypal, and many can’t, contact me via the email address in my profile (link also at page bottom) and we can work something else out.
I may not have to mention it, but kind words are always welcome. Thanks to all my readers for their encouraging comments, and to those who are still reading for sticking with me as I work some things out. Botaram will return.
[Also, some site functions (navigation button images and Archive script) are broken at the moment because one of my domains is down. This should be fixed soon.]
Since BiggerJ asked, I do have a Paypal account for donations, and there’s a yellow donate button at the bottom of each page. I’m not comfortable with the idea of asking for money at a time when I’m not producing any art, but if you’d like to show your support in this way, please feel free to do so. If you can’t stand Paypal, and many can’t, contact me via the email address in my profile (link also at page bottom) and we can work something else out.
I may not have to mention it, but kind words are always welcome. Thanks to all my readers for their encouraging comments, and to those who are still reading for sticking with me as I work some things out. Botaram will return.
[Also, some site functions (navigation button images and Archive script) are broken at the moment because one of my domains is down. This should be fixed soon.]
Still Still Alive…
Still recovering and still feeling down because I can’t get anything done, Botaram included. I hope things get better soon.
I’m Still Alive…
Even if I don’t feel like it. %?)
Between my slow recovery and trying to keep my business going, I’m having a rough time right now. Thanks for bearing with me. I will persevere, and I hope to continue soon.
Between my slow recovery and trying to keep my business going, I’m having a rough time right now. Thanks for bearing with me. I will persevere, and I hope to continue soon.
Next Entry
Health is still improving slowly. Next entry should go up on Tuesday evening.
Thanks!
Health Improving
Things have gotten much better (I was able to leave the house for a few hours today), but the extended bedrest means that I’ve fallen behind in a lot of work, Botaram included. I was way over-optimistic with my previous estimates, as usual. I will strive to straighten things out this weekend.
Too Much Power…
As of this writing, I am back online in a warm and well-illuminated house. I’d like to thank our neighbors, Laura and Alexis, for sharing the use of their generator during the first few days, and our friends, Betsy and Stefan Burr, for opening their house to us, sharing dinner with us, and lending us their generator in our time of need.
However, it seems that while wrestling with setting up the heavy generator, I dealt my back a blow from which it has yet to recover. I am therefore bedridden for now, and so am postponing the next entry of Botaram to the coming Monday.
Until!
However, it seems that while wrestling with setting up the heavy generator, I dealt my back a blow from which it has yet to recover. I am therefore bedridden for now, and so am postponing the next entry of Botaram to the coming Monday.
Until!