Octopus Overlords

I mean, he hasn’t posted in about a month. Not even to discuss dungeon crawlers. I’m starting to get a little worried.

hepcat wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2024 9:52 pm I mean, he hasn’t posted in about a month. Not even to discuss dungeon crawlers. I’m starting to get a little worried.

Yeah, I'm passed worried. Thanks for posting this.

Does anyone have a way to contact him - and just get an "I'm fine, go away!" or something?

Sorry, it's been a month (apparently). Everything terrible happened all at once and I guess I've been actively trying to do anything other than not think about stuff. I knew the CDC COVID-19 changes were coming (which was stress), and then they released it early (more stress) and work has been been quite busy, but nothing out of the ordinary. That said, I've also been dealing with some personal insane stuff for the last 2+ years that both Trent and RM9 can confirm (broadly), but that I won't/can't detail here. Suffice to say, it's been a constant, near daily issue (unrelated to work) and for the most part I think I've been compartmentalizing and keeping myself tethered to reality well enough.

However, in the midst of all this we found out that our 9 year old dog has terminal cancer. Took her in to have a skin lump removed and found out that it was apparently late stage skin cancer with a 3-6 month prognosis. Just typing that out I'm getting all verklempt again. I know there's a sick pet thread, but I genuinely cannot handle sad stories about animals. I am an emotionless robot but apparently have unresolved grief issues surrounding the loss of my first dog while I was away at college 28+ years ago.

So yeah, I've been distracting myself with anything and everything possible - TV, gaming, reading - pretty much anything to keep my brain fully occupied. I can't believe it's been a month. We did get some good news today that suggests she might respond to immune-boosting medications, so as long as that's true and she's not suffering we're going to try that route. She's the kindest, sweetest dog and the idea that she just randomly developed cancer has made me angry at the universe. I think that's where I've been for the last month.

Anyway, I'm alive, but drifting. The COVID-19 stuff is also really wearing on me; I'm at the end of my rope. Maybe it's the dog cancer, but I keep thinking about all the stuff I (we've) missed over the last 5 years and for what? That same week that kicked off my last month I was talking to a friend that had just contracted COVID-19 for the 3rd or 4th time; he told me it's the sickest he's been in years. He then gave it to his wife; also totally debilitated. Nothing has changed. This is life now.

I guess I'm rambling (this is why I've been keeping myself distracted), but I do appreciate the ping ( ). This site is probably one of the only things keeping me (mostly) sane.

Crap, sorry…I sometimes confuse the board name Smoove with Smutly. My bad.

…


But seriously, glad you’re okay, although I’m sorry to hear about the other stuff.

Glad you're safe, Smoove! Sorry for what your dog's going through.

Thanks for checking in. We missed you, man. Sorry about your pooch.

I, for one am glad to see your smiling face. (if that is indeed you)

I'm sorry for all you've been going through, Smoove, but also relieved to hear from you.

I've been worried as well. Thanks for letting us know that you're OK.

Glad you are relatively OK. Hang in, hang out, hang tough, hang loose or hang up as you see fit.

Sorry to hear about the pup, Smoove. Hang in there.

OO's own Surgeon General is still at his seat. No worries.

And I hope and pray all goes well for your doggy

Now we just need to convince malchior that what happens in R&P isn’t worth leaving OO over. It’s a jungle in there, but it’s nice and civilized everywhere else.

Glad you posted, Smoove.

Appreciate the check-in! Sorry it's been such a rough month.

Hang in there, Smoove. Glad that you have some in person OO support, too.

Best wishes to your doggo and the rest of your family. Glad you stopped here to check in.

I can’t help but wonder though if this is Smoove’s kidnappers posting under his account, or forcing him to post. How can we be sure that he’s really not being held captive by a Lithuanian cartel and being made to dance daily for their leader?

Smoove, what’s the safeword we taught you years ago in case that happened again?

Sorry to hear about your puppy. I knew you were OK enough to play games though.

Thanks for the update and sorry to hear about the rough patch. Don't hesitate to hit up your OO fam if there's anything we can do to help.

Hope things improve for you soon, good sir, in all aspects.

Sucks about your dog, I’m sorry. I’m going through a period where ‘my boys’ (two large, young dogs) keep me sane with all my personal shit going on…so I feel your pain at the diagnosis.

Zarathud wrote:Hang in there, Smoove. Glad that you have some in person OO support, too.

That is of questionable quality.

Good to hear from you again.

RunningMn9 wrote:

Zarathud wrote:Hang in there, Smoove. Glad that you have some in person OO support, too.

That is of questionable quality.

Smoove has you, Hepcat has me and seppe. Questionable is our quality.

Oh, thank god you didn't fucking die.

I'm certainly not happy to read that you've been going through all that you shared - but I'm really glad you are still with us.

hepcat wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 7:24 am Now we just need to convince malchior that what happens in R&P isn’t worth leaving OO over. It’s a jungle in there, but it’s nice and civilized everywhere else.

I honestly wish some people would reach out to Malchior and see if he's okay as well.
I miss his input.

Kraken wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2024 11:23 pm Thanks for checking in. We missed you, man. Sorry about your pooch.

Perfect. Succinct. I'm going to add my +1.

Unagi wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 10:29 am

hepcat wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 7:24 am Now we just need to convince malchior that what happens in R&P isn’t worth leaving OO over. It’s a jungle in there, but it’s nice and civilized everywhere else.

I honestly wish some people would reach out to Malchior and see if he's okay as well.
I miss his input.

I assume Exodor would let us know if there were anything big going on since they're brothers.

I'm hoping that malchior just decided to take a forum break for a while and eventually returns. Glad to see Smoove back too so I'm not the biggest COVID freak.

hepcat wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:30 am I can’t help but wonder though if this is Smoove’s kidnappers posting under his account, or forcing him to post. How can we be sure that he’s really not being held captive by a Lithuanian cartel and being made to dance daily for their leader?

Smoove, what’s the safeword we taught you years ago in case that happened again?

He gave me the proper countersign.

Is it ‘condensed soup’?

Sorry you are going through all that.

Hope you know, we're always here for you, or anyone, that needs help or just needs to vent...

ImLawBoy wrote:

Unagi wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 10:29 am

hepcat wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 7:24 am Now we just need to convince malchior that what happens in R&P isn’t worth leaving OO over. It’s a jungle in there, but it’s nice and civilized everywhere else.

I honestly wish some people would reach out to Malchior and see if he's okay as well.
I miss his input.

I assume Exodor would let us know if there were anything big going on since they're brothers.

I'm hoping that malchior just decided to take a forum break for a while and eventually returns. Glad to see Smoove back too so I'm not the biggest COVID freak.

No I'm his brother lol. He's fine as far as I know. We have lunch thing for my dad this weekend so I can confirm he's alive.

And I didn't realize Smoove was awol as I have been trying to avoid doom scrolling politics lately. Just so happen to ping him yesterday.

Octavious wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:30 pm

ImLawBoy wrote:

Unagi wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 10:29 am

hepcat wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 7:24 am Now we just need to convince malchior that what happens in R&P isn’t worth leaving OO over. It’s a jungle in there, but it’s nice and civilized everywhere else.

I honestly wish some people would reach out to Malchior and see if he's okay as well.
I miss his input.

I assume Exodor would let us know if there were anything big going on since they're brothers.

I'm hoping that malchior just decided to take a forum break for a while and eventually returns. Glad to see Smoove back too so I'm not the biggest COVID freak.

No I'm his brother lol. He's fine as far as I know. We have lunch thing for my dad this weekend so I can confirm he's alive.

Gah, I knew that.

I mean, I've never seen Exodor and Octavious in the same room at the same time...

Octavious wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:30 pm No I'm his brother lol. He's fine as far as I know. We have lunch thing for my dad this weekend so I can confirm he's alive.

What's his safeword so we know you're not lying.

Thank you for posting, Smoove. Sending all good thoughts to you and yours.

Just as an FYI, if anything had happened to SmooveB, I would have alerted you all immediately.

Yeah, but only through your paywalled site, RM9 NEWS. I'm STILL paying for the last time you got me.