Alpha HQ WIP Art + Gratitude List

Hey Jammers! So, the reason I haven't posted since the very beginning of this month has to do with the fact that I like to do larger posts with more content. I only found bits and pieces this month worth posting about, so I kind of... waited for more. 

Also, you know how I promised I would draw up an idea for an "improved" Alpha Headquarters? I wanted my next post to show my idea, but it's taking some time.

As proof that I'm not just using this as an excuse to be lazy, here's what I got so far:

The uncolored parts are pretty faint, I know. I'll be doing a ton of coloring today though.

Basically, I think the ideal Alpha HQ would be less flashy, more earthy, and blend in better with the other rooms on AJ. It would incorporate lore a bit more– I can't believe there are no images of Mira or Zios throughout the whole current building. That's why my version will have two huge images of the two guardian spirits on the wall. X) 

I'm including the same clickable adventure items that are already in the current HQ– I think those are a great idea. I want to display them a little more naturally, though. For instance, boomseeds and whirlpearls are pretty common in adventures, so I think it's better for them to be haphazardly placed on a table than get their own little pedestals.

Also, I'll include the armor shop– but in a less flashy display.

Overall, I'm trying to make more of an HQ than a mansion. A place where Alphas can actually get stuff done.

Along with an eventual exterior of the building, I might add an upstairs and change some stuff around. That's kinda why I've been hesitantly coloring this in– I'm still figuring stuff out.

So, what's my overall goal with this?

Share it with AJHQ, of course. I know it might be insensitive to do so, considering the amount of work they put into the current building, but I feel it must be said that a giant crystal palace looks out of place in the Township. 

I'm not necessarily asking them to use my exact design (even though I'll give them permission to). I just wanna suggest that maybe they should consider something like it *wink wink nudge nudge* B)

What do you think? Should I follow through?

The next half of this post will be about different ways to celebrate Thanksgiving.

This image is from the Instagram page of Woodstock Animal Sanctuary, a wonderful place I've visited before. They do an event called ThanksLiving where you can sponsor a turkey rescued from being killed for Thanksgiving. 

The turkeys at the sanctuary are so sweet– their feathers are soft and angelic, their voices gentle, and they approach you for pats, just like little kittens.

Before I begin, I'm not trying to make you upset if you're going to eat a turkey's body today– you probably don't have much say in it, and this is in pretty short notice. I completely understand, I've been there as well. I just want you to think a little bit about the future, any situation when you can choose whether or not you eat another animal's meat. 

Let's talk about Thanksgiving. It's a holiday centered on eating a whole lot, probably more than you actually should! Abraham Lincoln started its practice in the USA, on the grounds that during colonization of North America there was a "first Thanksgiving feast" involving a nation of Native American people and white settlers. 

This is what you might have been taught in school, but given the brutal history of colonialism that often goes under the educational radar (and also the lack of recorded evidence so long ago), the idea of a "first Thanksgiving" is definitely more fantasy than reality.

However, I'm not trying to make you feel bad. I'm celebrating Thanksgiving with my family, as many of you who also live in North America probably do. Of course, me and my family don't eat many animal products like milk, eggs, or meat, so we're not going to be eating a turkey. We're gonna eat vegan pumpkin pie (which is super good), stuffing, and lots of veggies!  

I guess I'm telling you this to know for future reference: you can be really happy with meat not being the center of everything you eat. A growing number of people are!

Aside from eating, I thought it would be a fun idea to have a little list of things I'm grateful for... and invite you to add to it in the comments! 

So, today I am grateful for...

• Animal Jam (duh XD)
• The planet I live on and all its beautiful creatures, unlike anywhere else in the universe!
• The sun which lets this planet exist and thrive
• The moon that moves the water from which the world drinks
• My whole family, who let me be myself 
• The forests that are like cities for millions of creatures
• My grandfather, who is an amazing person and artist
• My school, which isn't perfect, but I'm still happy to go there
• My classes this year, which are really fun for once! 
• My favorite books that I love to reread over and over again ^-^
• My little group of school friends who are always there for me
• My AJ buddies and everyone who reads this blog :) 
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What are you grateful for today? I'd love to hear in the comments! 

See you in Jamaa, my friends. Remember: your choices can change the world!

~DoomyPanda