Taffey on 14/1/2024 at 20:54
Quote Posted by mxleader
You are a toddler. :joke:
I joined in 2002 but I don't think I started posting for a couple years after that because I was really intimidated by what I was reading in Commchat. TTLG was the first of any kind of forum that I joined and the one I've been lurking around ever since. Also I got out of the service in December of '93 and started my new career in 1994. What a trip its been.
Indeed I am in this community :cheeky: I got into Thief around 2001 through my older brother and started playing myself in 2005. I wasn't even aware of TTLG until around 2016 but joined in 2018 because why not.
Hit Deity on 15/1/2024 at 05:04
So, thanks, Gloria Creep. We got some sorta good news on that front: the new doctor did not recommend surgery at this time, and that we should monitor the cyst regularly and keep a close watch on it, with ultrasounds and MRIs. Not the best news possible, but far from the worst, definitely.
Sadly, we were just getting back into our normal routine after the week it takes us to take down and store all our decorations from Christmas... and one of our dogs died suddenly of what the veterinarian could only guess was a massive stroke. I am devastated. He was a serious part of our family, one of those atypical Pomeranians that doesn't have one of those smushed-in faces. He was the most loving, loyal, and cuddly little sweetheart, and while he was supposedly "my wife's dog" as she so often reminded me when he was giving anyone else attention, he was just as warm and snuggly with the rest of the family and always made a point of comforting every member of the family who would accept his affection.
I can't believe it. I've lost pets in the past, but this is one that just ripped my heart out and gutted me. I can't even look at pictures of him or I break down in tears. Typing this is painful. I never knew a dog could be such an integral part in our lives, but I think it was the manner of his passing that has hurt the most: He was fine up until about 4 days before it happened, and then he stopped eating, and about 3 days later stopped drinking water. We took him to the vet of course, but they couldn't find anything seriously wrong with him. His bloodwork showed he was slightly anemic, and he did have an infected tooth, so the vet started him on antibiotics and something for his appetite to try and build his red blood cell count up..
The very next day, I was at work and my wife called me and said she had given Fritz a dose of the appetite med, followed by the antibiotic an hour later. She said after about 30 minutes, he started pacing around, agitated, then jumped off the bed to follow her to the kitchen and he just fell over on his side and never moved on his own again. She told me to meet her outside the employee entrance of the hospital where I worked, so we could take him to the vet. I'll never forget her telling me that she thought he was dying, and this might be my last chance to see him. When she got there he was just lying in her arms and staring blankly, unblinking. An image that will haunt me for a long time. :(
We rushed him to the vet's office, but an hour later, they decided all they could do was watch and monitor him, his heart was beating fine and he was breathing okay, and keep him on IV fluids, but that he had no brain activity and his pupils weren't reacting to light, he wasn't blinking... all signs of traumatic brain injury.
I hadn't sat down at my desk at work and 5 minutes later my wife texted me that he had passed away.
I couldn't believe it. I bawled like a baby in front of all my coworkers, everyone just standing there looking at me in disbelief, and I had to run to the bathroom in embarrassment. The pain was physical and gut-wrenching. I have never felt such loss in my life. I don't understand it. I've lost probably dozens of pets in my lifetime, have had grandparents pass away... what is wrong with me? As I get older, am I just getting more tenderhearted? I don't know. 3 days and it doesn't hurt any less. Just takes time, I suppose. I have to think of all the fun times and great memories he gave us. He was only 11 years old, we expected to have him so many more years, but life isn't that forgiving sometimes. He didn't deserve this fate. He was such a great dog. I don't know how my wife isn't a blubbering mess; they were so close. She's just tougher than me, I suppose.
I keep going through my phone looking for pics I took of him, so I can get them printed up and have some pics to keep, but also maybe make a collage of them somehow. It's very difficult though.
Hopefully this passes soon. But 3 days already feels like a lifetime. :(
Barking Goose on 15/1/2024 at 12:19
Hello Everyone!
It's gotta be my first post on this forum, even though I've been watching it for more than a decade... I'm not sure why I didn't post anything maybe I was too anxious.
The Thief games have been my favourite series for many, many years. I first played TDP when I was a child (9 or 10) and it absolutely terrified me. :cheeky: Somehow I managed to reach the Bonehoard, but that was it for the time - it was too scary and too hard for this kid, especially since I didn't speak English and the game didn't have any subtitles. It was years later when I bought the whole trilogy and fell in love with it, especially with the first two games.
I think it's amazing how long this community has continued to work and create such incredible stuff. The FMs are one of the reasons I adore the Thief games - they are the expansion of the beloved world, but done with care, love and attention to details that are sadly NOT present in many modern productions.
I know that the passage of time is often quite... merciless, but still, I hope that the Thief community will continue to thrive. Really guys, you are doing such a great job.
Hit Deity on 15/1/2024 at 20:17
Quote Posted by Barking Goose
The Thief games have been my favourite series for many, many years. I first played TDP when I was a child (9 or 10) and it absolutely terrified me. :cheeky: Somehow I managed to reach the Bonehoard, but that was it for the time - it was too scary and too hard for this kid, especially since I didn't speak English and the game didn't have any subtitles. It was years later when I bought the whole trilogy and fell in love with it, especially with the first two games.
Holy cow!! I was 28 when TDP came out and I couldn't finish that one for a while, I was soo tense. My hands would sweat so much I thought my keyboard was going to short out. Finally had to get a fan and aim it across my keyboard just so I could continue.
Welcome!! Hope you stick around for a while. :)
Twist on 15/1/2024 at 21:12
Oh gosh Hit Deity, I'm so sorry. That intense grief you feel tells you and everyone around you how much love you feel for him. I can only imagine how special Fritz must have been. I'm just thankful he existed so you could experience such love.
Kubrick on 16/1/2024 at 14:52
I'm sorry about your familiy member, Mike. I also have an 11 year old dog but don't let her know, her energy is still the same as when she was 2, and she really is something. It's the smartest dog I've ever seen and I'm not saying it because I love her. People that hate dogs adore her. I can not command her: we make mutual arrangements. But she's so lovingly, she thinks herself so above other dogs, she's so attentive to me and my "commands" that she ends up being incredibly well behaved. She goes almost everywhere I go with me. Regardless we're all seeing the marks of age coming down on her. And I cannot fanthom a world without. I don't know how you feel at least yet but I can imagine. Old age does make people more sentimental and although it hurts I think it's probably one of the best things of growing older. Plus a dog's passing is a time when one can mourn and cry all that wasn't mourned and cried for yet, at least in what I've seen from the people around me. Sending you hugs and strenght.
downwinder on 17/1/2024 at 05:56
i been the leading voice on adding barking dogs sounds into thief fan missions for years now, so they can live forever in fan missions :)
Kubrick on 18/1/2024 at 17:50
Quote Posted by downwinder
i been the leading voice on adding barking dogs sounds into thief fan missions for years now, so they can live forever in fan missions :)
One of the reasons I love Seven Sisters is because you can hear both a dog and a cat somewhere.
Hit Deity on 19/1/2024 at 00:03
Quote Posted by downwinder
i been the leading voice on adding barking dogs sounds into thief fan missions for years now, so they can live forever in fan missions :)
Awesome!! I remember hearing the ones in Seven Sisters and thinking I would definitely have to put something like that in a mission if I ever made one again.
:rolleyes: And I suppose cats, too. :laff: We actually have a very friendly outside cat that is quite adorable, actually. I just wish it wasn't so damn hot or freakin' cold 95% of the year so we could get more outside time with him. He follows us around like a dog when we decorate outside for holidays. He just lounges nearby so he can see us and I swear it looks like he's watching us to make sure we do it right! :D
Quote Posted by Kubrick
One of the reasons I love Seven Sisters is because you can hear both a dog and a cat somewhere.
Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate it. And I hope you have many more enjoyable years with the ones you love; sounds like they are well taken care of.
