Category: Ponies

Seven Years a Brony

Facebook has the lovely “remember this?” memory function that most of the time fills me with unabashed shame or a surfeit of giggles. Needless to say, I seldom share.

Today marked the seven year mark of my first pony picture of my OC (original character), Wine Quill. I would, once again, be remiss if I didn’t share him with the world:

Wine Quill
Wine Quill, Brian’s OC

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic has had a remarkable impact on my life; on what I feel about friendship, love, and how I could cope with depression. I still carry ponies on my person, and am proud to have a husband who became a Brony as well. The series may have just ended, but it lives on in our hearts. *sappy music plays*

Wine Quill & Pumpkin
Wine Quill celebrates Halloween.

As as a PS, I once made a custom pony for my friend Dan. He may have lost the pic, but I have not!!

And a Big Bowl of Ravioli

We’re here listening to My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Christmas (thanks, Uncle Scott!). Pinkie Pie’s “Twelve Days of Christmas” is especially epic.

Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive these past few, hectic weeks! Mom seems on the mend, so fingers-crossed, all will be well.

Hopefully we’ll get to game some Tails of Equestria this week, and maybe squeeze in a dance lesson or four. I miss my Dana. <3

As I’m now a public figure of sorts, my heart is open to the world. I’m glad that there are those who read this blog — I’m working hard to produce good work and am so thankful for all my supporters out there. Love you and happy holidays. xoxo

 

To the Moon and Back

No one talks about mental health, about how depression and anxiety can cripple your day-to-day life. I’ve never been shy about hiding my struggle with the aforementioned; I struggle every day. I eat pills like Tic-Tacs just to get by. What am I blocking? Thoughts of failure, misery in the workplace, worries about my family, and the endless grind that we all seem forced to endure.

But that being said, I have an amazing group of friends who would fly across the planet just to give me a hug. I can’t express how grateful I am for them, because even a casual text saying, “I’m thinking about you,” or, “You’re a numpty!” — it’s all love. I embrace that.

I recently started on a new treatment for medicine-resistant depression: Special K. Typically a party drug, this form (Sprovato) has a molecule removed and, according to my doc and my own personal experience, helps lower my anxiety and keep me focused on things I love, like gaming, ponies, and cookery. My husband has been my biggest supporter as I go through the treatment, because:

I GO TO THE MOON AND HE GETS TO WATCH.

Chris: “How are you feeling?”
Brian: “You’re in a honeypot.”
Chris: “What?”
Brian: “Weeeee.”

My appreciation not only goes out to him and my doc, but to all my friends who understand what depression and anxiety can feel like, and to all my friends who have the pleasure (?) of getting ketamine-induced texts from the stars.

I love you all to the Moon and back.

<3

Of Ponies and Books

JP’s pony is well on its way to completion; he’s even got his soul patch going on! We just have to do the eyes and Cutie Mark. (The pony’s name is Critical Roller, by the by.) If any Bronies out there want a custom poneh, let me know! We paint them for free. It’s very cathartic, seeing how the end of MLP: Friendship is Magic wrecked me like Geena Davis in A League of Their Own.

As an aside, on Monday we’re stopping by the local Keyport library to talk about my books. Exciting! It’ll be nice to see my work stocked in my go-to book purveyor.

It’s also freezing today, which makes it the perfect time to make Ina Garten’s lentil sausage soup, although it serves about 300 people and we’re only two (the cats don’t eat lentils).

Just a small update. xoxo

Out of the Box

I’ve been a bit silent lately, I know. One would like to think that’s because I’m knee-deep in Apprentice edits — which, by all means, is where I should be — but the truth is that I’ve been contracted to do some translation work in Manhattan. The commute from the moon is insane. MERG.

I don’t even have time to put my ponies back in their pony-box, and so they gradually start to assemble around my keys, sayings, “No, Brian… don’t leave us!”

Pony Control
They are holding my Magic Mouse captive.

Worry not; though! Tomorrow is the last day. I WILL FINISH THE BOOK THIS WEEK. REALLY.

All I have to do is survive tomorrow.

The Day the Ponies Danced

The Day the Ponies Danced
Pinkie Pie’s and Applejack’s styling courtesy of Mary; Trixie’s beautiful bob done by me and her plait by James. Sunset Shimmer is already fabulous, and nothing could be done for Shining Armor; he needs plugs.

Wahoo! I’ve hit the 75,000-word mark on Apprentice! The original ‘target’ for the first draft was 90k, but as Librarian ended up at 96k, I imagine its sequel is going well into the 100,000-word range. So! 75% of the way there on the first draft!

Of course, rather than continuing writing with my usual gusto, I took the moment to gather up all the wonderful ponies on my desk and have them do a little dance around my MacBook Pro to bestow upon Apprentice the magic of friendship.

I’m totally sane, right?

*goes back to playing with his dolls*

The Day Draws NEEIIIIGH

I’ve been in freaking-out geek mode for several weeks now. The stars have all aligned to give me the most powerful weekend of fandom in all of history; the only way it could get ANY more insane for me was if something Sailor Moon came out tomorrow, too.

So, tonight, I’ve got J-Law in CATCHING FIRE, woot-woot, then tomorrow, a MLP marathon, Equestria Girls TV premiere, THE FIRST TWO EPISODES OF SERIES FOUR OF MLP, then the Food Network’s Thanksgiving Live with (hopefully drunken) Ina Garten, and then the DAY OF THE DOCTOR! I am beginning to feel the blood trickle from my nose as I type.

I will be in my knickers, with a bow tie, and a fez. A sonic screwdriver and perhaps a liquid Screwdriver in each hand. Such excitement. Such excitement this blog post hasn’t been constructed very well at all. Or informative.

But here, I’ll add something deep. Life feels oppressively long sometimes, so much so that we don’t always realize [that] we’re all living on borrowed time, and even human relationships — family, friends, lovers — are fleeting. So find a pony, have some wine with a friend, and smile; and as my mother would say, inhale the moment. Find those fhets and make yourself enjoy every bit of happiness life affords. Sparkle.

xoxo

bao

 

FLUTTERBRI

As I type this update, I am currently wearing a pair of pegasus wings and My Little Pony ears. Yes, I’m pretending to be Fluttershy. I have a shirt and a long pink tail to pin to my bum, but I’m saving that for Halloween.

Flutterbri

Part four of “The Eighth Bible of New Egypt” has been released, leading up to its conclusion next week on the 31st. Spoooooooky! Be sure to check it out and give it a share. 🙂 Word of mouth is how I roll, kiddos, so, uh… roll with me and tell your friends!

Speaking of sharing, my friend Chris has started a freelance typography business, and having sampled his work, he knows his stuff! Be sure to check it out at palermo-stone.com.

Haunting of Bao

Happy October!

I’ve long thought the woods around me have been haunted, especially in the autumn months. You can feel a kind of cloying darkness in the night air, and sometimes even the moon (normally my ally) looks at you suspiciously.

I’m house-sitting at the moment, normally a source of great joy for me because I enjoy the alone time, but of course, the spirits, as always, appear to have it out for me. Around 23:00 last night, the security system goes off, a terrifying noise (especially when one is tucked into bed and trying to sleep!), and I was at a complete loss of what to do.

Was someone in the house? Was I about to be murdered? I’m one of those Americans who doesn’t have a gun, so in true coward fashion, I locked myself in my room and waited for the police to come. I contemplated using my MacBook Pro as a bludgeoning device but considered it was probably worth more than my body.

There were no attempts at forced entry as far as anyone could tell, so the police wrote it off as a ‘glitch in the system.’ Very comforting. I did what any crazy young man with an overactive imagination would do: I sat awake in bed with a vodka on the rocks, popped a Xanax, and watched My Little Pony for two hours while clutching an eight-inch chef’s knife.

Don’t expect much productivity from me today!