FURRY FRIDAY: A Look Back at 2022

2022 was a tumultuous year with war, COVID-19 restrictions still in effect for many places in the world, wider availability of vaccines, worldwide inflation surges and government protests. The primary focus of the year was Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion into Ukraine, seen with condemnation of Russia around the world that led to sanctions against the country.

However, the Russian invasion also brought out the best in humanity worldwide with many countries offering support to Ukraine with military aid, food, medicine and supplies to the Ukrainian army and refugees.

We also lost some beloved movie stars. On a lighter note, more celebrities came out as gay, and a Nobel Peace Prize winner auctioned off his medal and used the proceeds to benefit refugees of the war. This Furry Friday focuses on the year 2022 and features bearded men who have influenced the world in 2022 or been part of a major event in 2022.

Vote for your favorites!
~ Noah and Ben

PRESENTING GEORGE “JEWEL” ANDREWS

He certainly doesn’t go by George! His mother didn’t even call him that. He was her “jewel” and that’s how she referred to him. And “him”? Well, he’s not sure. Jewel’s comfortable enough being a he, just not the same boring “he” as his father (who abandoned him when he was about ten years old).

But Jewel has been seeing friends come out as nonbinary and genderfluid, and it’s making him wonder. It certainly checks off some boxes. But damnit, he likes being a power

PRESENTING CARSON MOSKOWICZ (and a partial history of Mattel)

Named specifically to pay tribute to the creators of these dolls. Carson is the “actual” last name of Ken, his full name being Kenneth Sean Carson. And Barbie was the idea of co-founder and co-creator, Ruth Handler nee Mosko. It was her idea that turned Mattel from a tiny company to a Fortune 500 company selling billions of dollars worth of dolls.

And for those interested in a pretty cool story (and an article at the website Antique Trader written by Paul Kennedy) ….

As president of Mattel, a company founded by her husband Elliot – along with Harold “Matt” Matson, a friend of Elliot’s – in 1945, Handler was a dogged businessperson who trusted her instincts. Despite the naysayers in her own company, she was convinced her new doll, named after her daughter, Barbara, would be the hit of the show.

I’M SO EXCITED TO SEE WHO ARRIVED TODAY!

Now this guy I bought, at a fairly decent price on eBay. See, I decided that maybe, just maybe, Kenneth and Allan—my first two Little People—needed a special friend.

And if I going to find them a friend, instead of that buddy being a modern Ken doll (all pretty and looking barely 21), that I should look back at the vintage dolls. Afterall, my Ken is probably circa 1962 and the Allan is from 1964, the year he was released (the original Ken had flocked hair that tended to come off, so they stopped doing that and painted the hair on instead).

SO….

This Ken doll that was posted on eBay as “Vintage Mattel 1968 Ken Doll Blonde Blue Eyes Made In Taiwan.” Any experts out there can tell me if this is true or not. He does appear to have bendable legs. Was there a year that Ken started getting bendable legs?

A new sweet Facebook friend I have met because of dolls, Zoe, told me that Mattel used the same parts for 30 years, so on eBay when people post vintage Barbies as 1960s, they might actually be

Alien, Fate of the Nostromo

Most Monday nights (for going on 15 years).is the night our very dear friend William comes over (he was even a part of me and R’s wedding) for dinner and a movie or series. Tonight, instead of watching movies, we played, for the first time, a game called Alien, Fate of the Nostromo. And as Will said, we, by “the skin of our teeth, we beat the alien. I’m not a big gamer, but I’m learning, because everyone else IS, and when l play, they get to play. Luckily, I’m also learning to enjoy games, especially cooperative games, where we all win or lose, and this is one of those! I had fun! Hooray!! We should have more game nights!

PRESENTING ZAC MILES and JAMIE HAMILTON!

I know more about them and thinking of putting together a little soap opera about my (Mattel) men and post the “chapters” here. Thanks to all of you who are playing along, and special thanks to Chris Miles and Kathy Hamilton for suggesting the names I fell for!

And thanks to whoever sent these guys to me, it makes me so happy. ❤️❤️❤️

It might well have been at least a month before I would have had the resources to get them myself.

I’m addicted, and it’s a much healthier than my eating disorder. This is all getting me wanting to create again.

And every Little Person who joins the family is only going to want me to create all the more! I can’t wait until I can justify getting another one! 😄☺️😏😁

Am I Right, or Am I Right?

I ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED TODAY!!!!

The Three Bears went shopping and we came home, Amazon had left me with these two guys! R and Noah totally and completely deny that they ordered them, and I pretty much believe them. R actually seemed a little annoyed (we are supposed to be getting rid of stuff and not bringing more into the house) and Noah, well, you cannot hint to him that you might like something, you have to tell him directly.

I am crazy about them! Two more guys for the Oscar Wilde Apartments, Kenneth and Allan have two more neighbors, and they are a surprise to all. But I am especially excited that one of this new pair is actually shorter than all the rest!! In the 12-inch doll business, this is rare.

They have already told me a little about themselves. That is what happens to authors, right fellow-authors? The little people in our heads talk to us, we couldn’t write if they didn’t!

I know B is shyer, not much older than 18 or so, and very self conscious about how very thin he is. He is worried to death what his family is going to do when they find out he’s gay. A is at least 21, very self assured, and more than a bit surprised he seems to have a boyfriend (that is what B is calling them). A has been enjoying exploring being gay and has been a tad…promiscuous. He doesn’t think of it that way, but he certainly has some notches on his bedpost. Will they make it?

(this is romance, you know the ultimate fate of course – and I am a strict believer in happily-ever-after!)

I will *probably* get their names from the wonderful suggestions you guys already made, but if one of them suggests something to you, let me know! LOL!

This all brought me to tears. I am so happy about this sudden new hobby. I can’t wait to see what happens next, and what other new people will come to live at the Oscar Wilde.

Peace and Love My Friends! And Namaste!

PRESENTING DARIUS ASHLEY and KIRQUE McLAUGHLIN

Thank you Anya Justanya, Sarajane Ilamathi, and Meredith McLaughlin for supplying the names for my Little People that rang true the most for me. It was a very very hard decision, so thanks to all of you who made so many wonderful suggestions.

For some reason I don’t know yet, an entire floor of the Oscar Wilde Apartments (I should do a post asking for suggestions on how that happened!) is unoccupied, so a few other men will be moving into the available units! I’ll be back for more names (if I don’t snag them from the already offered monikers!) soon. Dolls are fun. And something Magickal is happening. They are inspiring me to want to write again..

Darius and Kirque haven’t been together long, but they both somehow know that this right, different than other men they’ve known, dated, or simply “been with.” They’re both young, have a lot to learn, but welcome that. They’ve got “old soul” on their side. And they just love their older neighbors, Kenneth Handler and Allan Segal (points to those who can figure out how I picked those surnames ☺️), and want to get to know them.

Hugs and love to all who love to pretend and imagine!

SO I NEED HELP!

I’ve done something silly… I figured Ken and Allan need friends, right? So baby bear took me shopping…. And now Ken and Allan have new neighbors in their building, the Oscar Wild Apartments. But!! They don’t have names! Help me name this couple?

R? Noah? I promise I am not going to go out and buy a thousand Ken dolls!

Mostly…..