#ukrainewar

Howdy!

It definitely seems time for Cooper and me to return home. Things are still quiet over there, and there have been a couple of attacks closer to here instead. The danger fortunately keeps its distance, from the roads back also.

Thanks for sticking by in these dire times, and especially thanks to the very kind lady who made available her apartment for us to stay in. I will make sure to get everything squeaky clean with no trace left of us ever staying here. I really hope the flat and region stay intact. It is wonderful around here.

Please bear with me as I get back. Some things at home still need fixing, but slowly and surely things will get back to how they used to be, at least when it comes to firmflexing.

Greetings!

From one day to the next, the attacks over at home seem to have come to an end. It may be safe to head home sooner than expected, but I will wait it out a little to make sure of that. I’m both excited and scared to go back. Excited for getting some normality back in my life, scared to find out what remains.

Thank you for sticking by in the meantime. All the love and support is very much appreciated and helps a lot! ❤️

Hi!

No news really. The weather has stayed great and things have quieted down completely here, while over at home the attacks and shelling are still going on as ever.

To the many of you who have offered me a place to stay abroad, please know that I really appreciate it, no matter the intentions. There just is no way for me to easily and safely get out of the country. I would have. I really hope you offer it to whoever needs it there.

The best way to help out is financially, whether that is me or any organization here. Thank you so very much for the continuous support!

Hello!

I’m still safe, and so is mom. At least, as safe as we can be in our whereabouts. The danger has been sneaking up on me a little, with some missile strikes nearby, but compared to the situation at home it’s nothing. No reason to panic.

On the bright side, the skies have cleared up, with spring and the perfect workout weather making a return. This time it seems like it will last.

Question of the week.

In case you have pets yourself, how are they?

Just in case you don’t know, Sonya is our cat and Cooper our dog.

Hiya!

Unfortunately, mom went back home. I don’t think I will ever understand it, but seeing how anxious and miserable she ended up becoming here, I hope this at least helps improve her psyche. Thankfully, she arrived safely. She promised to come back here if things get too dangerous again. I just hope and pray for that it wouldn’t be when it’s too late.

The damage at home isn’t as bad as we thought. Apparently, the house was hit by just a blast wave, which blew out the windows on one side. Nothing seems to have happened in the direct neighborhood since we left, but with ongoing attacks in surrounding areas, it’s still far too dangerous for my liking. I will stay put for the time being.

Howdy!

Still safe and sound, as you and Cooper can see.

Mom has gotten incredibly homesick though. She apparently has never been away from home for this long, and I don’t think she can put up with it much longer. Despite the ongoing danger and all the unknown, she really wants to head back. I can’t.

Greetings!

The weather is mirroring the situation these days. Whenever the sun breaks through, there is hope with the conflict seemingly dissolving. Unfortunately, spring didn’t last long with the past days being cloudy with rain. The situation over at home isn’t improving much with lots of attacks and explosions still, and the mood in the country as a whole is rather grim too with the very worst things happening to the most innocent people.

I’m really grateful to still be safe, alive and well, and that my loved ones are too. I just wish it were the same for everyone else.

At least the weather forecasts for the next few days are positive.

Hey!

Not much has changed, except that spring has just arrived here. It makes working out a lot more pleasant, compared to having to fight the cold of the past weeks, so I hope it stays that way. I become increasingly more grateful to be able to go outside and to exercise as if nothing is going on here. It helps to clear my mind.

I am also increasingly more thankful to have such a loving and caring community. I really could not thank you enough for all the support, even for just the likes and comments. I was so certain that there would be a lot of hate and distastefulness, especially with this being the internet and there being a lot of that elsewhere or even on my usual posts. Instead, I could count such remarks, all of them, on just three fingers, which truly warms my heart. ❤️

Hi!

As fortunate as it is unfortunate, not much has changed.

I am still in good health, at least physically. A really big part of me wants to get out of the country, not even just for safety but also to be able to do some work. Mom doesn’t want to leave at all though, and I don’t think I should leave her alone or with just the pets.

So it is what it is for now. I really hope there will be some progress soon. I would love to go home, but I have no idea what home looks like, if there even still is a home, a gym, anything. But I am ready to help rebuild everything. The wait just adds to the dreadfulness.

Thank you very much for the continuous love, the support, the prayers. Rest assured that it all helps a lot! Just a little less worrying would be very much appreciated though, as it doesn’t help when feeling and being safe. Know that I am and will be alright.

Hello!

Just so you know that I’m alive and well at the moment.

First off, thank you so much for all the support and kind wishes! It really helped and continues to help keeping up my spirits. I was really afraid that not only anything physical, but also anything virtual that I worked on for so long would collapse. I really appreciate you sticking by!

The days here mostly consist of following the news on TV, working out in the cold outside, and caring for the pets. We’re staying in a small house made available by someone who fled to Germany early on. It is really quiet and peaceful here for the time being, especially compared to how it was at home. The sirens did sound once but it didn’t lead to anything. I hope it stays that way, but even more so I hope that my hometown and the rest of the country will get to experience this again soon.

I will try my very best to post something every once in a while, but the internet and phone connections aren’t great here. There also will still be weekly exclusives in my members area, to be found under ‘join’ (or 'feed’ when logged in) on my website, linked in my bio.

Day 1320. A post I never wanted to make.

The purpose of firmflexing has always been to provide a distraction and to inspire. Knowing that I could keep your thoughts off of anything depressing is what kept me going for all this time. If it were up to me, this would just have been another post like that. I promise I tried my very best.

Over these years, I overcame many hurdles, like my account and posts being restricted, social media platforms not working, none of which could stop me. I even carried on while the Russian dictator and his army invaded my country and started attacking my people and hometown. But then, last week, I myself was bombed out of my house.

Please know that I am safe for now. It’s just that I cannot create new content for the time being. Therefore, the daily posts are put on hold.

I value my privacy and security, hence I kept my location private for all this time. Even without sharing it, people found ways to look up my personal information, with some trying to visit me. That is not and will never be okay. Do not use this information as you please, just know that I had no choice by telling you about what happened.

If you wish to help me have some income, any website order would be very much appreciated. Only if you can afford it, of course. Donations are more than welcome too, but I prefer you get something in return for the support.

I will be back, firmflexing will be back, the only question is when.

Slava Ukraini!

I’m releasing this print as part of a campaign to raise funds for the people of Ukraine… full details below.

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Print details:

Title - Vergiss

Details - Giclee print on 314 gsm, 100% Acid Free Cotton Fibre paper. Matte Finish/Textured Surface

Size - 12x 16.5 in

Price - 85 EUR (shipping included)

Timed open edition (72 hours beginning 10am GMT Saturday March 26th)

To purchase go to -

https://alwaysart.com/Ukraine/FinDAC (see link in bio) and enter Voucher Code: 3418KH9D

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During checkout, there is an ‘additional donation’ spot as well as opportunities to add prints from the other artists… every little will help. The biggest additional donation will receive a large signed, 1/1 version of my print with another additional donation receiving a 1/1 print from WRDSMTH.

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Model/muse - @vanesacodes

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Campaign details:

A timed open edition print release by myself and some other artist friends to help fundraise for the people suffering through the war in Ukraine.

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The full list is myself, @wrdsmth, @zoueh_skotnes, @nunoviegas.pt, @dimafatum, @alessia_iannetti, and @paolopedroni.

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All net profits (minus materials, credit card fees, and shipping fees) will go towards the campaign. All labor, fulfillment, and printing has been donated by @straatmuseum, @dorothycircus, @realalwaysart, and @monochronicle_network which will maximise donations.

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NB: Please allow a minimum of 3 weeks to fulfill orders.

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