A little misery

[smokingboot]

Ralik our little boy cat has gone.

It's day 11. New area, I think he just went out to have a reccy...hasn't come back. He's collared, microchipped, and now famous in the area as I have canvassed, put flyers on trees and lamp-posts and through doors, contacted the council, the local vets, the local charities...unfortunately the world is full of black cats with silver collars (local Tescos sells them), and one in particular keeps being identified as our hero. That cat is beginning to fear me. Every time it rests in a local garden, I magically appear and disturb it with my desperate coaxings. I keep hoping it will turn out to be him, and indeed it could be his twin...but it doesn't know me, and the collar is different. larians is being strong as ever, but our feelings can well be imagined. Any catpeople out there, please send your thoughts Ralik's way, cos we love him.

Things have been a bit tough recent. The move was intense of course, and then came Maelstrom, at which I couldn't stay due to a meeting which then got postponed.

I am having issues, definitely with Maelstrom and perhaps with all LARP. One should never feel one has to be 'braced' for an event. There should be room to relax. There isn't because everything aimed at the group from out of the white tent has a clumsy, badly executed WTF element to it. It's like working on a brief from the Knights Who Say Ni. I think it is all right for things to seem incomprehensible if you know there is reasoning behind it, but this keeps being a reassurance without proof. I need to know that things make sense, I need consistent worlds/politics/mythologies to keep my suspension of disbelief going...or else I get going. I have great affection for those who own this game, I recall its fantastic beginnings and want it to do well. But the system relies very heavily on one's trust that it is being run consistently, despite all evidence to the contrary, and my trust runs out/has run out. As a player, I need the world to make sense to me. Not all of it, but the basic tenets of it. Or I'll get back to the real world which is actually more fun, more rewarding and less muddy.


Or perhaps I am just very tired and disheartened. The move, a little exzema, the cat, the naff event, work and of course, the issue I mentioned to a few of you a few posts back, everything has just got on top of me. I can't focus and I really need to.

So, after this miserable post I start again.

Comments

[sack-boy.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you my dear *hugs back*

[littlemiscowboy.livejournal.com]

Oh hun - I hope Ralik turns up :-(

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your loving wishes, hope to catch up in a happier time - love to you, Mistah Bruce and Mastah Garret x

[thru-her-lens.livejournal.com]

Hoping Ralik returns to you soon!

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you my dear, you are very kind indeed.

[squintywitch.livejournal.com]

We send all catwishes Ralik's way. Snowy regularly goes awol and comes back, so fingers crossed.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Cheers Squinty! He hasn't done this since he was about 1, and even then, it was never this long. But hey, cats do this so as you say, fingers crossed xxx

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

Oh hon, I'm so sorry. I shall keep my fingers crossed that he mysteriously reappears...sometimes they do.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you for those crossed fingers dear fairy. I too hope for a mysterious reappearance.

[evilwillow.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

I know what you mean, ever since Russ told me last week I've been seeing Ralik all over the place, I saw his twin in my garden yesterday.

I really hope he comes back soon.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you from my heart, loving fairy catmother xxx

[ellefurtle.livejournal.com]

That's horrible, I hope he's ok.

By the way - meet up for a glass of wine somewhere sometime?

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

I would love that, shall we make it for November? This month is turning into a right mare...

[mitchy.livejournal.com]

Oh sweetie! *hugs* Sending "come back home safely" vibes from me and Rob the Furball.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you both:-) I am sure Rob must be very happy to have you back safe and sound. Cuddle your furball long and well from me xxx

[jadeent.livejournal.com]

Big hugs for you and Ralik. I hope he finds his way home soon.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Me too my dear. Thank you for your kind wishes. Much lovexxx

[november-girl.livejournal.com]

Hopefully Ralik's been stuck with some old lady who is torturing him with too many cuddles and overfeeding him with yummy stuff and he'll be back soon.

I got your voicemail yesterday - sorry I couldn't return the call at the time (I was at a wake when I picked it up, so it wouldn't have been appropriate) but yes, all okay on that, happy to help. Will try to call you later if I can get my head together today - yesterday was very emotional on a number of levels, and it's left me a bit hurty and very fuzzy. Nothing that won't pass, but no point me trying to be all together and sensible while it's here.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you for all this...I am sorry that you are going through so much, and re the voice mail, nothing there that won't keep.

My condolences and deepest respects to you. If there is anything I can do, let me know.

with love

Debbie

[the-pale-queen.livejournal.com]

I hope Ralik is finding his way back to you - any chance he could be chasing a lady cat?

On the Maelstrom front - it's been a bit bruising for all of us, I think. I hope we can work it all out. I hope we get to see you soon, at any rate.

*hugs from the North*

Ladycats

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Mr Ralik is a done gentleman, so I would expect his interest in the fair sex to be platonic. He is part demon though, so you never know...

Thank you for your kind wishes. Re Maelstrom, I feel for Russ who, on top of total fatigue and giving it the best he could (love to have seen anyone do better under the appalling circumstances) had to put up with a massive sh*tstorm courtesy of the Knights who say Ni deciding that they want a haddock, no,no, a shrubbery - again! Russ hasn't complained at all but he's a much better sport than I am. The group can sort it out, cos it's a good group, but I think it may well be time for me to withdraw. I'll know after the winter event, where I look forward to seeing you and everyone *hugs back*

[blackcurrants.livejournal.com]

Oh! It must be horrendous. I don't know much about cats, but I do hear they come back in the strangest circumstances, after the longest periods of time. Here's hoping Ralik is on his way back to you right now.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you, your words really cheer me up. They do have a habit of turning up/never turning up/at the strangest moments. Thank you for your hope:-)

[ravenrigan.livejournal.com]

When mine have gone they tend to reappear JUST as you have let go of the belief that they will come back. Bast guide him home.

Sorry to hear about Strom.

Curious what about the world not making sense? Have you discussed it with PD, or is it something not in their control?

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your words re Ralik, it makes magical sense. May Bast indeed look after him...

Strom, well, it is something they control, though not necessarily very consistently, who can say? We're supposed to find out in play! Perhaps it is sufficient to say that if the gods had been deliberately constructed as political idiots I could stand it. If the old world was constructed as a hotchpotch of political idiocy I could stand it (though the players should have been warned that the average intelligence of beings in Maelstrom world is what we would consider sub-average). But both together? I begin to suspect that political idiocy isn't a deliberate policy...

[cyanidemigraine.livejournal.com]

*smile* i get a wish on my birthday, right? guess ive just decided what to use it on


good excuse for a cake too,

hang in there,even if the wish doesnt work, gone does not mean suffering or not with us anymore, necesarily, if that is any comfort, the old granny keeping him locked up in her kitchen of delights is not beyond possibility as someone has said before,

must be very hard for you all round, you and russ, give him a huge hug and kiss from me and we shall have to find an excuse and a time to meet up.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Hello beautiful birthday man!

Thank you for your kind wish. I have one for you; True Romance! I know you have plenty but one can always use more.

It has been hard, I'll give Russ that hug and kiss from you, and look forward to catching up with you soon.

[chainmaildoug.livejournal.com]

I am thinking good catthoughts and hoping for the safe return of the demon lord.

D.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you my dear. I'm sure his infernal majesty will appreciate it!

[hybridartifacts.livejournal.com]

Massive hug.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you *massive hug back*

[squeezypaws.livejournal.com]

Boy cats really are tinkers for causing their owners to worry. They are also teflon coated. Nevertheless of course you are worried sick and it must be agonising for you. Sending all good thoughts for his safe return.

Hope the other general fogs lift soon. All sounds rather oppressive.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your thoughts and words. He's a neutered Tom, I thought that would make it better. And it did - until we were in a new territory! It is agonising.

This other stuff is just pointless. It should be enjoyable but all it did was add to already horrendous stress levels. Phooey!

Back to the point, thank you for your good thoughts, and licking cat - you both cheer me up immensely!

[cat-that-walks.livejournal.com]

Luck with the AWOL Ralik.
As for 'strom, I know what you mean.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Cheers Mistah re the cat. Re the Knights Who Say Ni, fuh, I am out of ideas!

[nyarbaggytep.livejournal.com]

Hope little moog reappears soon.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you, so do I xxx

[lucyas.livejournal.com]

Poor you. I hope your cat comes home.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you, you are very kind. If the Badwitch knows of any good catcomehome spells, I'd be grateful to hear!

[velvet-the-cat.livejournal.com]

Positive 'cat-comes-home-soon' thoughts headed your way.

A cat I had years ago went missing for one night and I was a total wreck, so I can only imagine how you two feel.

*hugs*

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the positive vibes *big hug back*

[andsoitisso.livejournal.com]

I hope you find Ralik. I hope he is okay.

Missing cat

[lucyas.livejournal.com]

Has your cat come home yet?

I've been thinking about him a lot. I remember how upset I was when Charlie cat went missing. I've been a bit busy over the past week but this morning I have had a little bit of time to look into spells for finding things. Mind you I'm sure you know more about that kind of thing than I do. However, to help you find missing or stolen items, apparently heliotrope blossoms and bay laurel leaves, places in a bag under the pillow are supposed to give you dreams that will help you locate what you have lost. Mallow leaves, placed in your shoe, are supposed to guide your feet to what you have lost. Vervain leaves, worn on your clothing are also supposed to help you find missing things or people.

I really don't know whether any of that will help.

BTW - would you be offended if I use the subject of spells to find a lost cat as topic for my blog one day? I wouldn't mention you personally (unless you asked me to, of course) - I would just say something like "The other day someone asked me if I knew a spell to help them find their missing cat..."

Re: Missing cat

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your suggestions, no, I won't be offended at all!

Lots of love, hope to see you soon x

[imthelorax22.livejournal.com]

Hope your cat comes back! I know how that feels and its horrible!