Figuremaster Les' Figural Fabrications

[xenoviper]

All the best Les. May all the troubles be gone!

 

[Les Walker]

VERY heartfelt thanks to everyone.
Back, sorta. Been in and out all day. Took Ma to an out of town hospital yesterday, and my sister came down from Atlanta, and it's been busy, but I am back at the desk. Trying to sort things some, and catch up. I will get over to my Reeve head thread and post info there, and names of those ordering etc. Just let me catch up a bit.
I'll try to clear my PM box some also. Anyone needing to reach me please email. Thanks.
Be back soon.

Again, thanks for the support guys. It's been a tough couple of days.

 

[thedarkknight]

Is your Ma okay?

 

[abake]

Hope things get better Les!

 

[McFly]

Emerging from long-time lurker-dom to wish you and your mom all the best, Les ... all fingers and toes securely crossed for you both!

Best,
Matt from NZ

 

[Les Walker]

Is your Ma okay?

Not really.
LONG story. I will try soon to explain more so you guys can understand more.
In short, Ma is a diabetic, with heart problems, (an artificial heart valve AND a pacemaker) and add to that, she is Bi-Polar, something I haven't said much about before now. She had a stroke in the operating table in 1999 when she had her valve put in, and she hasn't been the same since.
What's been so hard on me this year, THIS LONG YEAR, is seeing her go downhill fast since about March.
When I took my "two week break" the first two weeks of April, little did I know what was about to start. Long weeks of change and hard to process aspects of her personality that in taking care of her, has worn my 77 year old father and myself down.
I simply never saw it coming.
She has been paranoid and thinks we talk about her. Things like that. Dark days of what I could actually call abuse, but that she can't help. I know that, but the pain of seeing my mom, my bestest supporter, change before my eyes has been THE WORST EXPERIENCE IMAGINABLE for me. A long, slow torture where I see her go through changes I cannot affect.

We tried one home, a nursing home, and that didn't work. She stayed five days before checking herself into a clinic to try to get her meds corrected. I supported it, but it didn't go well. Then she was back home.

Then the new place, with the room and the chair and all that. Now, she hears things there, and has shown abberant behavior such that they were ready to call the law to take her to a new place to try to get her meds fixed yet again, but with better doctors etc. But about 45 miles away.

So, Monday was me taking her, against her will at first, a SCARY THING TO BE SURE, as I actually had to face the notion that she might never forgive me, and that my relationship with her might be forever altered. That was the scariest day of my life. I still went, because I would not let them call the law to do what I had to do. So I did. It went ok. But the fear remains. I had awful dreams of being on high buildings at night out over an abyss and was afraid. That sort of dream.
NO FUN I assure you.

And in all this, has been my attempts to stay on my workload, and keep painting. I live for this stuff, the figures, the collecting, the painting, all of it. I would so prefer to be on my own, something I am planning now, to move and have my own place again, with a studio and everything, because THIS is my life, my love, my Art.
But, I still have to see to my parents as best I can.

It's been a long, scary and unnerving road. Ma is at that hospital now, trying to fight her way back to some sense of normalcy. I can only hope that they can help her have some of it back. That is my hope for her.

But, even she wants me to have this, my life. THIS! Sharing and being one of you guys and catching up this cool stuff and doing more. So, at least I know she is on my side and wants this for me.

So, that's a lot of what's been going on. Sorry to get so specific and detailed, but there it is. I am dealing with rifts in the family due to others not understanding, and the fears of all that. But, I persevere.
It is with the knowledge that many here, and elsewhere out there, simply know something. So I don't feel so alone in this. It has been so scary, seeing her go down like this.

I plan to make a serious video to share on YouTube soon, a comment to anyone out there who has a Bi-Polar family member, so I can feel like I can let them know they are not alone either. This stuff makes you feel alone. It scares and frustrates and makes you want to give up on a lot of things.
I have had to fight to keep my interest and energies up for this. YOU GUYS help me in this. The cards, emails, PMs, and just outright support many of you show me, and I sure hope, others at this site, have helped me get through a lot of this.

So, I WILL be posting new work, sorry if it is a tad late, AGAIN...that annoys me WAY MORE than it can ever annoy you, believe me. Who wants to have folks mad at you for being late? I can't imagine that is a desired thing. So I want nothing more than for my work, to be in your hands, as fast as possible, but work that matters. MY WORK. My best. Not rushed crap. Not stuff you don't deserve even after your long waits.

Most of you are so kind and patient, that I owe you all something. I am working on that. Some kind of reward. I have an idea in mind. And some of you are tired of waiting, and I understand that. You are only human and I really do appreciate the frustrations. To you I can only say, I never saw any of this coming, and I hope it does not come off as "lame" excuses.

So, hang with me just a bit longer. You will see some stuff you will be getting from me that will hopefully knock your socks off.
You all deserve that much.
I promise you all my very best.

And pray for my Mom. She deserves it. I wouldn't be the artist I am now without her.

Thanks, and know more updates are coming!
COOL STUFF!

 

[thedarkknight]

I'm surprised how well you are holding up with all this going on. There is no way I could even imagine what you are going through. You have amazing strength and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

As far as my head goes, don't worry about me. I'm not upset at all. It's done when it's done.

Take Care of yourself.

 

[Buttmunch]

Les I had no idea how hard of a time you are going through. You can take as long as you need to get our stuff to us. I mean you are going through alot and not exactly an everyday kind of thing. I can't even begin to imagine how hard this has been on you, and yet you are still worried about our stuff. Trust me, it can all wait. Helping with your Mom is exactly what you should be doing. Don't feel guilty about it or obligated to work on our stuff until all of this calms down.


Family before figures, ALWAYS.

My prayers are with you and your folks Les.

 

[bcm77]

As always Les,take care of your family first,and try and make sure you get some rest yourself where possible,even if it's only for a short period.
You are doing amazing given the circumstances and everyone here is behind you 110%.

 

[abake]

Oh Les, I'm so sorry to hear about these times you and your family are going through.
I can't think of anything to say to help you feel better and cope better with all the stuff that you're going through, so just hang on, be there for your folks and do what you need to do to keep sane.
If there's anything I can do to help dude, count on me.

 

[metaphorge]

I've been there Les, it sounds a lot of what you are going through is stuff I went through with my mom. If you need to talk any of that out, you know how to call.

 

[Reinhardt]

I don't know what to add more than what's already here, but my thoughts and prayers will always be with you. anything i can do, just let me know. anything.

 

[superdoug]

hang in there les, we're praying for you.

i know my family has been going through some stuff similar but it's never easy to see a loved one fade into a shadow of what they once were. i know one of the things we've kept in mind is how she was when she was healthy but it is difficult (mentally and physically) when you are trying to help them and they are trapped in their own world. That’s been the hardest part for me, when they ask you to help them or get them out of the hospital and you know you can’t but they don’t understand it.

 

[uscmhicks]

man , as you already know I'm sure , thats alot to deal with.
Just keep positive and keep it going. My thoughts and prayers are always with you and your family .

 

[Rogue Trooper]

Nobodys going to be mad at you for showing off the work late Les, take all the time you need dude you derserve it.

My Mother went through a very similar thing with her Father, not all nice. Hope everything turns out for the best.

 

[man_vs_machine]

Man, I"m surprised you get anything done at all bro, hats off to you for even being able to work at all while all that is going on. I know how hard it is to deal with someone who is bi-polar. My father was bi-polar and it was not easy to say the least and his circumstances weren't anywhere near the level of what you and your mom are dealing with. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and yours bro.

 

[LChinoz]

Missed this update. Sorry to hear about everything Les. Thoughts and prayers of course go to you and your family. All the best.

 

[thedarkknight]

My new signature might cheer you up.

 

[paulcarson]

Les, hang in there buddy, brighter days are coming. Don't worry about anything here, we're all sending our support your way so don't feel alone . You're one hell of a great Guy and you'll get through this, you ALL will.

 

[Sachiel]

Waiting for a little painted 1/6 head is nothing compared what you're going through.

So do what you gotta due. Family is much more important.

It does annoy me, though when family members (or people in general) pop up and start crap about stuff they have no idea about. I believe you said something about that before and kind of hint at in your recent post. I may be wrong.

But we're there for ya, man.